City of Bastards by Andrew Shvarts -- Review

Title: City of Bastards
Author: Andrew Shvarts
Pages: 377
Publishing: June 5th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

Synopsis:

Tilla, bastard of House Kent, has it made. Safe from her murderous father in the dazzling capital of Lightspire, she lives a life of luxury under the protection of the Volaris King, alongside her boyfriend Zell and best friend, Princess Lyriana.

So why isn’t she happy? Maybe it’s the whispers and stares that follow her wherever she goes, as the daughter of the traitor waging war against Lightspire. Or maybe it’s the memories of her beloved brother, Jax, who lies cold in his grave even as she tries to settle into a life in the city's prestigious University.

Then, Tilla stumbles upon the body of a classmate, a friend. The authorities are quick to rule it a suicide and sweep it under the rug, but when Tilla herself is attacked by a mysterious man with terrifying powers, she’s convinced of a conspiracy. Her friends beg her to stay silent; what she's suggesting is impossible... and treasonous.

But Tilla can't, won't, let it go. And the deeper she digs, the more questions she uncovers. How is the West beating the supposedly invincible Lightspire Mages in battle? Is it connected to the shadowy cult wreaking havoc in Lightspire? Nothing is as it seems in the glorious capital, and Tilla’s presence might just be the spark that sets the Kingdom aflame. 

Review: 

I was a huge fan of the first novel in this series, so I was really looking forward to reading City of Bastards. All of my favorite characters were back, but this time we were transported to a new world in the City of Lightspire. I loved the world building in this novel and could picture the city perfectly. It was such a fun setting and it made me really wish I was in the world with the characters. I really enjoyed Tilla's character in this novel and her always spunky attitude was back, but it was a little dampened by trying to fit into a new city. That added an extra level to her character and I enjoyed the added complexity. 

This novel was a lot of fun, fast paced, and full of twists and turns. I would highly recommend reading this novel if you enjoyed the first in the series or if you enjoy YA Fantasy novels. I would definitely read the first novel prior to picking this one up because you may be a little lost if you don't read it first. Thank you to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review. 

Rating 3.5/5