Review: Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Foody

Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival’s Freak Show.

But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed…until one of them is murdered.

Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn’t actually exist. Her search for answers leads her to the self-proclaimed gossip-worker Luca, and their investigation sends them through a haze of political turmoil and forbidden romance, and into the most sinister corners of the Festival. But as the killer continues murdering Sorina’s illusions one by one, she must unravel the horrifying truth before all of her loved ones disappear.

My Review:

3/5 ⭐️

While I did enjoy this book it felt a bit meh compared to her second book Ace of Shades which I enjoyed a lot more. This felt a bit slow moving and boring at times. I did power through it but I wanted to DNF it many times. I can definitely see where Amanda grew after writing Daughter of the Burning City though. I think she was just juggling too many characters with an idea that could have been fleshed out over more than one book. I think if you want a carnival read you would be better off picking up The Night Circus or Caraval. This one did start off with beautiful descriptions and a whimsical world but it soon fell flat for me after the first three chapters. It floundered! I will say though to Amanda’s benefit she has a knack for writing adventure stories which is a plus for her in my book. This was just not it for me.

Me @ this book

About the Author:

Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After a double life as an accountant preparing taxes for multinational corporations, she now spends her free time brewing and fermenting foods much more easily obtained at her local grocery store. She lives in Philadelphia, PA with a hoard of books guarded by the most vicious of feline companions, Jelly Bean.

She is the author of DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY and THE SHADOW GAME series, including ACE OF SHADES and KING OF FOOLS. The final installment in the trilogy, QUEEN OF VOLTS, will release on September 1, 2020.

Her middle grade debut, WILDERLORE: THE ACCIDENTAL APPRENTICE, hits shelves Spring 2021.