4-Star Reviews of THE FORBIDDEN THINGS SERIES by @Author_NikkiMc
The Forbidden Things Series
Written by Nikki McCormack
Genre(s): Epic Fantasy
Ascard power can strengthen, heal and create. It also has great potential to destroy, enough to topple entire governments. Indigo’s country places strict limitations on the use of ascard so she must channel her talents into the healing arts or risk severe punishment. An orphan from a disgraced family, trapped by her father’s treason, Indigo struggles to reclaim her place in a society that has driven her into an abusive engagement.
Then a mysterious stranger from a neighboring country contacts her using ascard. He needs help escaping his prison so he can bring an end to his emperor's oppressive rule or die trying. His unshakable devotion to his cause and the passion hidden behind his cool arrogance move her to help him at the risk of being branded a traitor herself.
When the politics of society bring them together a second time, Indigo decides to use her growing powers to help him fight his war. If only she dared fight for her own future with such passion. Perhaps she can find the courage to do so by helping the man she has fallen for win his revolution. She might have exactly the power he needs to succeed.
Then a mysterious stranger from a neighboring country contacts her using ascard. He needs help escaping his prison so he can bring an end to his emperor's oppressive rule or die trying. His unshakable devotion to his cause and the passion hidden behind his cool arrogance move her to help him at the risk of being branded a traitor herself.
When the politics of society bring them together a second time, Indigo decides to use her growing powers to help him fight his war. If only she dared fight for her own future with such passion. Perhaps she can find the courage to do so by helping the man she has fallen for win his revolution. She might have exactly the power he needs to succeed.
Bri's Review
The cover is absolutely gorgeous I had a read through of the blurb, there was no way I couldn’t read this book!
Straight away I found the plot of the story very interesting. It has a very different take on taking after your parents or following in their footsteps. I also really liked the world that the author built. I found it very interesting and very easy to put myself into. The characters drew me in as well.
I thought the characters were given quite a bit of depth. I liked the amount of depth and personality that the main character was given. The secondary characters were given a bit as well, though they could have used a tiny bit more. I still loved them though.
The pace was excellent. It really drew me in and made me feel as though I was a part of the story. It was very easy to get caught up in our main character’s life and choices and not even realise how long you had been reading. More than once I read well into the night (or morning) even though I had only meant to read a few chapters.
I really like where the series is leading and look forward to reading future books. With as invested as I became in the main character and the world, I really need to know what happens next, and I am certain you will feel the same way.
Overall, this was a very good story. The cover really draws you in and for once, the story is just as good!
Yiloch, the newly crowned Emperor of Lyra, stands accused of arranging the assassination of the Caithin royal family. Torn between love for Yiloch and her close ties with the royal family, Indigo wants nothing more than to prove the accusation false, but the evidence puts the blood of the family on his hands.
Trying to protect the Lyran prince from the swift descent of Caithin justice, Indigo exposes the workings of an enemy who is willing to kill to protect his secrets. In desperation, she unleashes magic that sends Yiloch deep into the desert of Kudan before fleeing for her life. She must find him again to save his life as well as her own.
Betrayed by ally and by love, stranded by uncontrollable magic, Yiloch struggles to make his way back to the Lyran capital before Caithin can declare war, but standing between him and his empire is a lethal new enemy, wielding magic unlike anything his people have faced before.
Trying to protect the Lyran prince from the swift descent of Caithin justice, Indigo exposes the workings of an enemy who is willing to kill to protect his secrets. In desperation, she unleashes magic that sends Yiloch deep into the desert of Kudan before fleeing for her life. She must find him again to save his life as well as her own.
Betrayed by ally and by love, stranded by uncontrollable magic, Yiloch struggles to make his way back to the Lyran capital before Caithin can declare war, but standing between him and his empire is a lethal new enemy, wielding magic unlike anything his people have faced before.
Just like the first book, I found the cover lovely. It really fit the story and drew me in.
In this second book, we are brought back to the story of Indigo. We pick up where we left off in book one, with a lot of fear, conflict and a surge of magic. Throughout this read, we are given the chance to get to know our characters more, as well as meet a few new ones. The supporting characters really added a lot to this story. We are given a lot to love and hate about each, whilst trying to guess what Indigo is going to do to help the love of her life.
I loved how much we got to know our main characters in this book. I loved them, in the first book, but I felt as though they really came to life in this second book. I was able to feel as though I knew them and was a part of the story myself.
The pace was excellent. There was a great blend of magic and action, as well as sufficient moments that gave us the opportunity to take in the details.
Overall, I was impressed with this second book of the series. I feel it was even better than the first and I look forward to reading more from the author.
Nikki lives in the magnificent Pacific Northwest with her husband, two horses, two cats, and one slightly crazy dog. She feeds her imagination by sitting on the ocean in her kayak gazing out across the never-ending water or hanging from a rope in a cave, embraced by darkness and the sound of dripping water. She finds peace through practicing iaido or shooting her longbow.
