Hexborn. Abomination. Unclean. Young Shiloh knows exactly what she is. She just refuses to let that stop her. Her illness might make her an outcast, but her broken body hides great magical power. And she intends to make the most of it.Silas, the king’s ruthless fixer, seeks to use that power to preserve the uneasy peace the kingdom has enjoyed since the end of the Siblings’ War. Silas hauls … hauls Shiloh from her mountain village to the wizard academy at the king’s court, where magic and political intrigue conspire to create danger around every corner.
Can this child of war save the peace? Or will old sins rise to threaten Shiloh, Silas, and the kingdom of Bryn?
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I loved Ms. Manay’s November Snow Series. I wondered if a new story line could rival that…yes it could. In fact, it could even surpass it. I found myself drawn deep into “Hexborn”. Shiloh grew up considered unclean by the population even though the laws against her kind had disappeared. Shunned, she was being educated to use her strong magic. Dealing with illness and deformity she develops an inner grace and strength. Suddenly when her teacher dies Silas arrives to bring her to the King’s court. Silas seems the perfect villain and I love the relationships she builds in court. Then there were surprises along Shiloh’s journey that she answered with her heart. I admired that about her. The flashbacks were skillfully used so the reader could understand how things developed. What her body lacked, her fortitude made up for. I’m hooked on the magical girl with pink hair and eyes. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. If I could give this more than five stars I would. It may be a YA, but it’s for adults, too. I highly recommend this book!
I’m happy to start 2019 with a review of Hexborn (Hexborn Chronicles Book 1) by A. M. Manay. Read on for my thoughts on this interesting fantasy novel!
Synopsis (from the author):
Hexborn. Abomination. Unclean. Young Shiloh knows exactly what she is. She just refuses to let that stop her. Her illness might make her an outcast, but her broken body hides great magical power. And she intends to make the most of it.
Silas, the king’s ruthless fixer, seeks to use that power to preserve the uneasy peace the kingdom has enjoyed since the end of the Siblings’ War. Silas hauls Shiloh from her mountain village to the wizard academy at the king’s court, where magic and political intrigue conspire to create danger around every corner.
Can this child of war save the peace? Or will old sins rise to threaten Shiloh, Silas, and the kingdom of Bryn?
What I liked:
Hexborn was an interesting twist on fantasy. Shiloh and Silas are strong characters, while the King is weak. The story follows court intrigue, arranged marriages, and religious persecution, all as a backdrop to Shiloh’s growing power and Silas’s concerns over her power and the threat of her heritage. All told, it’s an excellent read!
What I didn’t like:
My only real complaint about Hexborn (Hexborn Chronicles Book 1) was how long it took to explain fully what hexborn meant. Other than that, good stuff!
Overall impression:
I enjoyed the book! Great characters, plenty of action, intrigue, and hints of romance kept me turning pages. If you like fantasy, try Hexborn!
My Rating:
5 Stars
Hexborn by A. M. Manay is a young adult high fantasy with mages who fight with weapons and curses in a backdrop similar to the Tudor Dynasty. Shiloh is a young woman who survived her cursed birth without a hand, pink eyes and hair, and deadly maladies that can manifest at any time. Taken under the wings of a powerful mage, she reveals hidden magical power that surpasses most mages. After her mentor dies, the king’s ruthless fixer, Silas (who reminds me of Thomas Cromwell) takes her to be trained in the Royal Academy of Mages.
At the King’s court, Shiloh becomes immersed in political intrigue and religious fervor of everyone surrounding the king. She earns the favor of the king when she saves his family from dark magic. Though she is considered unclean, a hexborn, she slowly wins the hearts and respect of instructors and students at the Academy, particularly Silas. However, her loyalties are tested, and she faces danger from those who threaten her, Silas, and the kingdom. She must rise above her humble beginnings and dark secrets to help preserve the uneasy peace since the end of the Siblings’ War.
A. M. Manay is a masterful storyteller, weaving in back story at the beginning of each chapter to give insight into the current situation. The story is told primarily from the perspective of Shiloh and Silas. The three-dimensional characters have flaws, but they are engaging. We understand each of their motives as they struggle to come to grips with their challenges and feelings. Shiloh is an inspirational protagonist who teenage girls can aspire to be like. Although she has suffered as an outcast, she draws strength from her experiences and learns how to use her supernatural powers for the good of the kingdom and others. Silas also dramatically changes as a result of his interactions with her.
I highly recommend Hexborn for both young adults and adults who love reading fantasy with strong female characters who can rise from their humble beginnings and learn from their experiences to meet the challenges in life’s journey.