Blog Tour: Incendiary (Hollow Crown #1) by Zoraida Cordova

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on April 28, 2020
ISBN: 9781368023801
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, Action & Adventure, Survival Stories, Romance, General
Pages: 464
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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Set in a lushly drawn world inspired by Inquisition Spain, Zoraida Córdova's hotly anticipated new fantasy is an epic tale of love and revenge perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Maas. I am Renata Convida.I have lived a hundred stolen lives. Now I live my own. Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people. Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred-or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace. When Dez, the commander of her unit-and the boy she's grown to love-is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to Andalucia and complete Dez's top secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it. But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom-and end the war that has cost her everything.

Incendiary.  The Ability to cause fires, and boy does this book burn up in your hands.  Agreeing to take part in this book tour is one of the best decisions I have made.  The book cover, the title and the words contained within was a dead cert to win hearts and capture aspirations.  I opened the first page and I was lost to the magnificence and by the end I knew I would never be the same again.  A maze of enchantment, the words melded into one and I was lost.  

Upon turning the final page on this piece of art, I knew this would be a difficult review to write.  Where would I find the right words to do the plot justice, the right words to capture the magic, the right words that will hypnotise your mind just like I had experienced.  This review is going to messy, raw and gritty and by hook or by crook I hope I do this book justice. 

Renata Convida.  A woman.  A warrior.  A lover.   The will to survive coursing through her blood, putting everything on the line to succeed in the ultimate goal.  She is ready for anything.  She is ready to lace those boots and kick some ass.  She takes names, sheds some blood and unearths deep seated secrets.  She has type of magic that strips away your memories and becomes her power.  A power she can use.  A power she can use against you.  Give her the chance and she can take it all way from you.  Leaving you nothing but a hollow.  She is dangerous and never as dangerous as those she works with, The Whispers.  They are a renegade team that are working to annihilate the crown that wishes them gone.  They want to strip their power away, leave them with nothing and no ability to fight against them.  Her lover and commander is captured by the system and Renata captains a team to go in and rescue him.  It goes wrong – badly wrong and it will have lasting consequences for the team and Renata. 

Incendiary is a magnificent take on the coming of age tale.  It is a tantalising exploration of what makes us us.  How events and trauma not only define us but strengthen us.  The author at no point cowers away from storylines that makes the reader scream with frustration and anticipation.  Our reactions make us face reality that we are not in control of how Renata reacts and tackles situations.  Rest assured you are in good hands with the author.  She will steer us right, she knows just how guide us to the end point, with ease. 

The narrative is outstanding.  The story moulds into something else as Renata grows and develops.  Her magic doesn’t transform her into a higher being, but it takes its toll.  As she takes more memories she loses a part of herself – her own early memories.  Lost in grey.  She knows what she must become to survive but just how does she do that?  She must evolve.  What came before?  How does that translate to the battle that she must now face? 

Incendiary is a testament to resilience and strength of character.  It fizzes and crackles with electricity.  A true coming of age fantasy. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoraida Córdova is the author of nine fantasy novels for kids and teens, most recently the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series, Incendiary, and Star Wars: A Crash of Fate. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, and Toil & Trouble: 15 Tales of Women and Witchcraft. She is the co-editor of Vampires Never Get Old: Eleven Tales with Fresh Bite. Her debut middle grade novel is The Way to Rio Luna. She is the co-host of the podcast Deadline City with Dhonielle Clayton. Zoraida was born in Ecuador and raised in Queens, New York. When she isn’t working on her next novel, she’s planning a new adventure.

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Zoraida Cordova