Kate Elliott is a great writer to begin with. This new series starting with Cold Magic (The Spiritwalker Trilogy)
was better than I’d thought it would be. Now I thought it would be good because of the author, but it surpassed expectations. First of all, it is written in first person but has the feel of epic fantasy, which rarely works. First person often defines the character but in this case, there is significant world building, that you see in the epic genre side of things. Which means at 600 plus pages you are not going to just fly through it, it is going to be savored. Now when there is great world building sometimes writers get bogged down in the beginning because they see the whole picture and those novels take a bit to get into even if they are worth the journey in the end. With this novel, it jumps right into it and reveals slowly as you go along so you get all those nuances.
The character Cat (short for Cathrine) is an orphan after her parents died in an accident and she is taken in to be raised by close family. Right in the beginning (I feel free to mention it due to the fact it is on the back cover) she is betrayed by her family and forced to marry a Cold Mage. She is thrown into a volatile political environment and is simply trying to survive and protect her cousin. On the way, she learns some puzzles of her own history which raise more questions than answers. There is a lot of history and culture in this story that brings it alive as we are drawn to Cat’s personal story. It is an excellent story and I am looking forward to buying the next one.
“From one of the genre’s finest writers comes a bold new epic fantasy in which science and magic are locked in a deadly struggle.
It is the dawn of a new age… The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.
Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can’t be trusted, who can you trust?”Cold Magic (The Spiritwalker Trilogy)
I actually did burn my way through the second installment called Cold Fire (The Spiritwalker Trilogy)
as well. It was a bit slow to start actually. I sort of don’t like repetition in the beginning of a second book, especially when there is a great deal of it but it did pick up speed and get into it. However, I have read several books since then and didn’t write any impressions down about it so no review on this one other than I rather did enjoy it.
“Cat Barahal and her beloved cousin Bee think they have reached a safe place to shelter. But the Cold Mages who are conspiring to take them prisoner are closing in. The warlord who hopes to conquer all Europa is convinced their destiny is to aid him, whether they want to or not. And the man Cat was forced to marry is back, as vainly arrogant and annoyingly handsome as ever.
Worst of all, as Hallows’ Night approaches, powers hidden deep within the spirit world are rising. Cat must seek allies against these threats and figure out who to trust, for if she makes the wrong choices, she’ll lose everything.
Only one thing is certain. When Hallows’ Night comes the Wild Hunt will ride- and it feeds on mortal blood.”Cold Fire (The Spiritwalker Trilogy)
The Wyrd 