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Reviewed by Miche Arendse for Readers' Favorite
Born of Shadow: Empire of Blades by Nicole Conway follows Violet, a young Viperi, caught and jailed for the murder of a blacksmith. Having no hope of anything other than the executioner's block, Violet seemingly has no choice but to trust the cloaked man offering her a different path. Roxus’s deal doesn’t come easily, though, as joining the league of deadly agents, The Zenith’s Call, will be difficult. And when Violet’s integrity is called into question, she will have to do everything in her power to prove her innocence.
Born of Shadow by Nicole Conway is a dark, fast-paced fantasy that hooks you immediately with a heroine who society has already judged and condemned. Violet is a sharp, resourceful protagonist whose struggle to survive in the island city of Sol’Karr feels raw and believable. Branded as “wicked” for her Viperi lineage, she lives under constant threat, and the tension of that prejudice hangs over every choice she makes. Violet’s chance at freedom through The Zenith’s Call is as dangerous as it is tempting, and the organization’s role as guardians of powerful magical artifacts adds intrigue and high stakes. The world-building is done brilliantly, unfolding slowly through Violet’s eyes and the endeavours of the league. With its blend of heists, hidden identities, and a protagonist fighting both external enemies and her own nature, this is a gripping tale of survival and self-determination. I think readers who enjoy morally complex characters, shadowy organizations, and magic that comes at a cost will find this story as hard to put down as I did.
