Review: Heir of Illaria (Illaria #1) by Dyan Chick



Author: Dyan Chick
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Publisher: Illaria Publishing
Publication Date: January 23rd 2017
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

In Illaria, there is a fate worse than death.
As long as I can remember, I’ve been taught to fear the Necromancer King. He controls the kingdom of Illaria with dark sorcery and the constant threat of his undead army. I never thought I’d have reason to cross his path. Everything changed the day his guards tried to kill me. That’s when I found out my whole life has been a lie. By joining a resistance group called the White Ravens, I’ve claimed new roles. Princess of Illaria, sorceress in training, and threat to the Necromancer King.




Review:
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
What fate could be worse than death? In Illaria, the Necromancer King takes over the bodies of his dead enemies, forcing them to slavery. This is a kind of dark sorcery, fitting to his cruel and dark personality.
Wilona has lived her whole life with her seamstress grandmother in a small town, never suspecting that her fate was far greater than she could have ever imagined. One day, the king's soldiers appear and kill her grandmother, who begs Wilona to flee. With the help of a mysterious saviour, Wilona is able to escape, but her grandmother still dies.
With her life in shambles, Wilona is introduced to the White Ravens, a rebel group against the evil king. Still, she doesn't understand why the guards were trying to kill her. Soon enough, Wilona learns that she is, in fact, the daughter of the previous king, who was murdered by his brother. She was sent into hiding with a servant to protect her life and, when her parents were killed, there she stayed.
Now, Wilona has to assume her role as the heir of a country at war as well as develop the magical skills she never knew she had.
Wilona's journey is a very powerful one. Never had I thought, going into this book, that the story would be so captivating. This is the tale of a strong girl that, after realising her whole life was a lie, still had the strength to push forward, be brave and set an example for every young adult out in the world.
A storyline that makes supporting characters shine is also something that makes this book stand out from others in the same genre. Even the smallest character has something important, strength is built trough unity and training. There are also values of sacrificing yourself for others and how family ties are not always what they seem, sometimes, a feeling is more important than blood. By the end, I start seeing signs of how envy and anger can destroy a person.
With fantastical adventures and peril, this is certainly a book that keeps the reader on the edge of his seat, making his heart beat faster at every second. You will laugh, you will cry and you will be as confused as Wilona sometimes. Because of this, I advise this book to everyone, since I believe it contains a little bit of everything.

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