Melissa Caruso
Orbit
October 24th, 2017
Lady Amalia Cornaro has been researching how to engineer gadgets–some that use the powers she does not possess–for years. She’s a scholar, not one of the Falconers–those who control the mages that do wield those powers.
That’s why she’s completely unprepared when Zaira lets loose on the street. Zaira has been living on the streets most of her life, and using her frightening powers of fire to protect herself. When she loses control in front of a Falconer, the Falconer grabs the closest brave person–Amalia–and tells her to slip the jess on Zaira’s wrist. Now Amalia and Zaira are linked–Amalia holding ultimate power over Zaira, and how–or if–she uses her destructive powers.
The two come from very different points of view, and both need to learn how power and politics interact in their country very quickly–if they’re going to work together to prevent an imminent war.
Beginning to an interesting new series, The Tethered Mage gives us both a bit of fantasy, sorcery, and political intrigue. Entertaining and interesting, I’ll be watching for the next one.
JL Jamieson is a strange book nerd who writes technical documents by day, and book news, reviews, and other assorted opinions for you by night. She is working on her own fiction, and spends time making jewelry to sell at local conventions, as well as stalking the social media accounts of all your favorite writers.