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Incendiary

(Hollow Crown #1)

Zoraida Córdova (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating details · 4,158 ratings · 1,055 reviews

I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.

Renata Convida was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a Robari, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata's ability to steal memories from royal enemies enabled the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the dea ...more

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Hardcover, 450 pages

Published April 28th 2020 by Disney-Hyperion

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Average rating 3.96 ·

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· 4,158 ratings · 1,055 reviews

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May 01, 2020 jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

this is a very read-worthy story, in the way that most YA fantasy books tend to be. but i am unconvinced that this offers anything new to the genre.

its quite tropetastic - a minority group with magical abilities is hunted/persecuted by the royalty in power, one girl has a unique and sought-after ability, a group of rebels seek to bring down the kingdom, the girl works to ruin those who rule from the inside, a prince who has secrets of his own, and a bunch of predictable little twists and turns ...more

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Jun 04, 2020 Miranda Reads rated it it was ok

Shelves: published2020, owlcrate

2.5 stars

Extra bonus BookTube Video is up - unboxing OwlCrate's Latest bookbox - plus a mini review of May's books - Incendiary and Witchy.

June's Reading Vlog Video is up! Click the link to see where this one ranks (along with all my other June books!

Full written review to come, but in the meantime, enjoy the book box pictures!

The Written Review

“Crooked smiles for crooked hearts.”

It came as no surprise when Renata was stolen. She may have been just a child but she was a Robari.

One of ...more

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May 30, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fairyloot, hardback-own, owlcrate, young-adult, own

Loved the beginning and the rest was pretty good

Now I’m effing pissed!! I got my May Owlcrate today and it’s the same damn book as my April FairyLoot (everyone is behind due to covid, which is fine) and that’s two of the same books I’ve gotten from each the past two boxes. This doesn’t happen that I often, but I may have to cancel one or the other after all these years 😕

Well my April FairyLoot just got here and while I love the sprayed edges, I like the cover with the girl on it better! Of cours ...more

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May 21, 2020 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it

This is not great but it is still good, original, captivating!

I truly cried liked a baby and maturely threw my remote controller against the wall and I cried more because I have no idea how to turn on the TV without it, after getting my rejection from the NetGalley for this book.

I looked at the beautiful cover and sniffed more as if I’m looking at the photo of unrequited lover. Nope, it was something more torturing like looking at the cases of selected wines’ photos and price lists when you ...more

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Jul 25, 2018 Zoraida rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Shelves: my-books

UPDATE 3/18/20
After much deliberation, we have decided to cancel the tour. Due to the CDC's recommendation to cancel or postpone events for 8 weeks, we don't want to risk the public safety of any reader. I'm so heartbroken to have to do this, but I hope that you still pre-order the book and share it! The book will still be published April 28th.

Love,
Zoraida

______

UPDATE 3/5/20
I'M GOING ON TOUR! I hope I get to see you at one of the stops.

_______

UPDATE 11/27/19:
We have ARCs! If you've like a ch ...more

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Feb 09, 2020 Emma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasybookreview

Renata Convida has a special type of magic. The kind that can rip your memories away. She can take a little: your first kiss, your biggest loss, the secret codes of a rebel army… Or she can take it all. Make you a ‘hollow’, nothing more than a shell of who you used to be. Ren is everyone’s nightmare. But now she works for the Whispers, renegades fighting against the persecution of those with magic, the Moria. Not an easy task when it emanates from the highest echelons of society. When her comman Renata Convida has a special type of magic. The kind that can rip your memories away. She can take a little: your first kiss, your biggest loss, the secret codes of a rebel army… Or she can take it all. Make you a ‘hollow’, nothing more than a shell of who you used to be. Ren is everyone’s nightmare. But now she works for the Whispers, renegades fighting against the persecution of those with magic, the Moria. Not an easy task when it emanates from the highest echelons of society. When her commander and lover is captured by the Prince, she vows to rescue him. But things are not quite as they seem and Renata is going to have to find the answers in herself before she can truly help anyone else.

This a deceptive, thoughtful read. One that morphs from one thing to another, moulded by the protagonist’s path of discovery. It gives the book its own kind of investigative momentum, with the reader learning at her pace. Ren might hold the memories of hundreds of others, but she has lost so many of her own, hidden within the Grey that blocks her from her past. Her remembering is the story. The narrative changes, she changes, as this process unfolds, as she evolves from what others tell her she is, to who she really is… and who she wants to be. It’s for this reason that the point of view is, and has to be, determinedly hers, a perspective characterised by her position as perpetual outsider. She has never been trusted, never been truly safe. Both her usefulness a weapon and as an inescapable danger to others shapes their every interaction with her. That, plus her lack of ability to recall her own story, makes her a volatile character, often reactionary and emotional. In seeing her flawed and floundering, it is impossible not to think about how the choices we make are based on what we know, what we’ve learned. Take that personal journey away and it would be like trying build our identity, our very selves, out of rumour and dreams. There’d be nothing solid to hold on to. It's an idea, a feeling, communicated in the book's opener, set up like you’re starting in the middle of something. Though there was a moment of disconnection, when I just had to quickly check that I hadn’t missed a book, the author’s reasoning became ever more clear as I read further. It makes sense to give the reader a taste of what Ren feels: the challenge of not knowing what came before. It creates a shared experience. The blanks are filled in for reader and Renata together, finding out that way brings us closer.

This structure gives the plot a somewhat uneven pacing, but the battery of revelations during the finale was perfectly pitched. There was so much awesome in this last bit. My heart nearly couldn’t take it. While the hints had probably been clearer to the reader than the main character, the way the reveals were piled on each other in the final section gave it a punchy feeling. The new direction offers a real freshness and a much more interesting cast list. There's no doubt I'll be reading what comes next.

ARC via Netgalley ...more

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May 06, 2020 Tani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

RATINGS: 4 STARS

Incendiary is set in Inquisition-era Spain where the royal family of Puerto Leones are recklessly determined to kill the magical people called Moria. Renata Convida, a memory thief, was kidnapped by the royals to help them kill her own people. After being free from the royal's cage, she works for the Whispers, a rebel group formed by Moria. When Dez, the leader of her unit gets kidnapped by Prince Castian, Renata has to enter royal palace to save him. Oh, I forgot to mention tha ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Lucy Langford rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am a shadow. I am a drop of ink. Vengeance in the night. I am a Robari.

While this wasn’t the most original of fantasy books- a rebellion plot, it was unique in its own way.

Ren is a Robari and part of the Moira people- people who have “magical” abilities, whether this be persuading others emotions, illusions, mindreading or the most rare: the ability to steal memories. The Robari have the ability to steal memories and for this they are feared. Steal too many memories and a person is left to bec I am a shadow. I am a drop of ink. Vengeance in the night. I am a Robari.

While this wasn’t the most original of fantasy books- a rebellion plot, it was unique in its own way.

Ren is a Robari and part of the Moira people- people who have “magical” abilities, whether this be persuading others emotions, illusions, mindreading or the most rare: the ability to steal memories. The Robari have the ability to steal memories and for this they are feared. Steal too many memories and a person is left to become a husk.

The Moira people under the King’s rule are a persecuted people- people who have had to gone into hiding due to executions and imprisonment. Ren is part of the rebellion of the Moira that are left... however she wasn’t always part of this group. Ren is unique, she spent some of her childhood in the palace under the Justice’s watchful eye, learning more about her ability and being used as a weapon. When the boy she loves deeply is taken into the Kings palace by the bloodlust-filled Prince Cassian, Ren will stop at nothing to get him back, even if it means going into the heart of a place she’s been taught to hate.

Ren was an interesting character as we get to see her grapple with the questioning of her belonging: her loyalties to the Moira people and their fear of her ability, and her previous loyalty to the Justice, who treated her as a daughter. Ren also has a difficult time with her memory, taking others memories will do that, so she has an issue of determining which memories are hers and which ones are from other people.

Ren is mistrusted, unsure of where she belongs, and frightened with the force of her power. All she knows is that she must succeed, even if it means betraying the orders of those closest to her.

I really loved the magic in this book. Ren had the most interesting power. This book was unique as the MC had been part of the rebellion and under the watchful eye in the Kings Palace. I found that the political set up and the rebellion were really well done in this. This book also finished in an intriguing place so I’ll definitely be picking up the second one! ...more

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May 04, 2020 Lia Carstairs rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

Actual Rating: ⭐⭐.5
Wow, I so called that.

I think I've gotten tired of the whole "MC is a rebel who goes undercover to help overthrow the evil tyrant on the throne." Not that I hate it or anything, but I've read too many of them—most of them I liked, but this one......eh.🤷‍♀️

I kinda hate how we got no new information from what we already knew in the synopsis until over halfway through the book. It pretty much made it hard to get through the beginning. It did start to get good from that point, ...more

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May 22, 2018 Sabrina marked it as to-read · review of another edition

“...loosely based on the Spain of the 15th century, reimagining the Inquisition...”

Assassin’s Creed anyone?

...more

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May 05, 2020 Rebecca Roanhorse rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars. Another YA fantasy that I very much enjoyed. It starts with a bang, slows a bit and then really ramps up with an unexpected murder about 10 chapters in, and from there it's pretty nonstop. The story was wonderfully plotted and has lots of great twists and turns that keeps the reader on their toes. The magic system was unique and the MC's power has some wonderful consequences and implications that had me thinking, well after I was done. The relationship between the MC and her "mentor" ...more

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Feb 28, 2020 Umairah | Sereadipity rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars

Incendiary was an action-packed fantasy set in a world inspired by 15th century Spain, reimagining the Inquisition. While it had many of the tropes that are common in YA fantasy such as a main character with rare/ special powers it didn't feel boring or unoriginal to me and managed to make those common tropes exciting.

One of my favourite aspects of the book was the magic system. It was heavily based on the senses and the mind which is not something I see often (most magic systems I ...more

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May 19, 2020 ❀ Alex ❀ (The Scribe Owl) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to ❀ Alex ❀ (The Scribe Owl) by: Deb

Shelves: owned, high-fantasy, magic, young-adult, fantasy

It wasn't that I didn't like this book. I did, for the most part. The problem was that it wasn't anything new. It was a little troupe heavy. There. Said it. This book was one massive troupe! I'm a little sick of the whole undercover rebel infiltration the royals thing at this point. I even see a love triangle coming in the next book!

I read the synopsis for a book before I read it. That's a normal thing. Then why do we not get any more information past the synopsis until halfway through the book ...more

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May 02, 2020 Jypsy rated it it was amazing

Thank you Fantastic Flying Fiction Book Club and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Incendiary
Hollow Crown #1
By: Zoraida Córdova

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆

"I thank the goddess every day that the Whispers came for me. Who would I be if I had never left? A monster. A killer."

These words, spoken by Renata Convida, are at the heart of Incendiary. Ren is quite special because she is one of the Moria, those possessing magic, and her magic is rar Thank you Fantastic Flying Fiction Book Club and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Incendiary
Hollow Crown #1
By: Zoraida Córdova

REVIEW ☆☆☆☆☆

"I thank the goddess every day that the Whispers came for me. Who would I be if I had never left? A monster. A killer."

These words, spoken by Renata Convida, are at the heart of Incendiary. Ren is quite special because she is one of the Moria, those possessing magic, and her magic is rare. Ren is a Robari, meaning she has the ability to steal memories from anyone, in part or in whole. If all are taken, the person becomes a Hollow. When Ren was young, the King stole her and weaponized her. She has been used for terrible deeds her entire life. Fortunately, the Whispers, a band of Moria rebels, rescue Ren. Even among her own people, however, Ren is adrift. No one trusts her because of her past. First a weapon, and now, an outsider, Ren has no place in the world and doesn't know who she is. Ren's own memories are muddled with memories stolen, so she lacks an anchor to tie her to her roots. Slowly, Ren remembers and pieces together her life. This girl is powerful and dangerous, but unwanted and despised for things beyond control. Ren changes as she recalls, and her confidence grows, as well as her self reliance. When a mission goes south, Ren must infiltrate the very place from which she was rescued. How will returning affect Ren? Make her stronger or tear her down? No matter what transpires, Ren must hold tightly to her true self and own every aspect of her being, else all may be lost. This story is absolutely amazing in every way. Cordova has crafted a world of magic and evil at odds. The characters could step out of the book into reality because they are so, well, real. Ren, raw with emotion, tears at your heart in so many ways, and I loved her. Incendiary is a favorite of mine this year, and I encourage everyone to read it, even if you aren't a fan of ya fantasy, etc. because it's awesome. ...more

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Nov 29, 2019 Nilufer Ozmekik marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: can-t-wait-to-read

I already gave my votive offerings to the Ancient Gods and performed ritual dances when I lost my hope of request's acceptance from my Fairy God Mother NetGalley and Goodreads Giveaway campaigns! It's torturous to wait for the normal release date. I wish I had a soul to sale for early reading chance of this book!

And last minute update: I got rejection 🤦🏻‍♀️😰😰I should cancel my Disney Plus membership!! Oh, I am not member! Yes, that’s a relief!!!😂😂😂 ...more

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Apr 29, 2020 Lou rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Incendiary is the first instalment in the proposed Hollow Crown series and showcases Zoraida Cordova’s prowess in crafting compelling and richly-imagined young adult fantasy fiction. Set against the backdrop of fifteenth-century Spain during the Inquisition era we are introduced to Renata “Ren” Convida, a Robari who has the power to elicit memories from others with merely a touch leaving them a shell of their former selve. As a valid part of the Moria (those who possess magic) she is feared and Incendiary is the first instalment in the proposed Hollow Crown series and showcases Zoraida Cordova’s prowess in crafting compelling and richly-imagined young adult fantasy fiction. Set against the backdrop of fifteenth-century Spain during the Inquisition era we are introduced to Renata “Ren” Convida, a Robari who has the power to elicit memories from others with merely a touch leaving them a shell of their former selve. As a valid part of the Moria (those who possess magic) she is feared and shunned by the people/wider society. As magic is banned across the kingdom most practitioners have either been captured by the crown and imprisoned or are in hiding but a clandestine band of rebels, known as The Whispers, are actively working to ensure that those who hold magic powers don’t become extinct and disappear from the make-up of the kingdom entirely.

Ren has an intriguing yet less-than-ideal backstory in that she was kidnapped from her parents as a youngster and shipped to the Royal palace where she was forced to use her magic in a way that was beneficial to the King until she was rescued by The enigmatic Whispers, or, maybe more accurately, by the noble Dez. However, the group are wary and conflicted as to whether they can trust her given her past serving the cruel King who doesn’t think twice about persecuting them. As Ren struggles to reconcile her past actions, under duress or through bribery, with her true feelings about the Royals she must undergo a dangerous mission to infiltrate the palace she once knew as home in order to save Dez, the boy she loves, from a fate she once knew as her own.

This is a captivating fantasy I feel all ages can enjoy despite the YA categorisation, and although it begins in quite a pedestrian manner the pace soon lifts as events kick in. Written in beautiful, flowing and expressive prose, it’s really easy to fly through the pages once you have been introduced to both the world and cast of characters and the Latinx-influenced world is unique and riveting. The worldbuilding is incredibly well done but it’s both the magic system and the characters that make this story as superb as it is; there is more than one method of magic making the whole tale refreshingly original and the characters come alive on the page before your very eyes. Our protagonist Ren is a complex soul who yearns to fit in with her peers but before they will accept her she needs to accept herself and make peace with her past in order to move forward into the future.

I found the whole tale engaging from start to finish and appreciated the original elements Cordova brought to her book which really sets it apart from other fantasies. The action gets going pretty much immediately which allows your attention to be captured from early on yet the story doesn’t lack plot or character development either despite throwing you in at the deep end. The twists that are interspersed throughout are well thought out with some of them really taking me by surprise and there is also an emotional side to it all. A compulsive and fascinating opening instalment has me lusting after the sophomore offering already. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC. ...more

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Feb 10, 2020 Sophie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, 2020

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into the book because not a lot was going on but the end is so fast paced that I burned through it. There were a lot of twists and while I was able to guess most of them, I stayed entertained. I also thought the magic with the use of memories and how that played out with the story was cool. That being said, I wish that the magic and world had been better explained ...more

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May 08, 2020 Breanna rated it really liked it

THIS REVIEW & MORE → Paws and Paperbacks

What is this book about? Incendiary is set in a world loosely based on the Spanish Inquisition in which the royal family of Puerto Leones seeks to find and kill all Moria–people possessing magical powers. Renata once lived and worked in the palace as a child, but was rescued and is now a part of the Whispers, Moria rebel spies working against the crown.

What did I like? One of my favorite aspects about this book was the worldbuilding. I really loved the Spa THIS REVIEW & MORE → Paws and Paperbacks

What is this book about? Incendiary is set in a world loosely based on the Spanish Inquisition in which the royal family of Puerto Leones seeks to find and kill all Moria–people possessing magical powers. Renata once lived and worked in the palace as a child, but was rescued and is now a part of the Whispers, Moria rebel spies working against the crown.

What did I like? One of my favorite aspects about this book was the worldbuilding. I really loved the Spanish Inquisition-era setting. The magical system was well thought out and executed. This was my first book by Zoraida Córdova and I really enjoyed her writing and descriptions; it was very easy to find myself transported into the pages of the story while reading. I’ve read a few complaints in other reviews that Incendiary felt like a second story and readers were too confused at the start, but I would have to disagree. I think the book did a great job starting in the middle of the action. The author offers enough of the background and worldbuilding to understand without overwhelming the reader. I honestly don’t mind putting together more pieces as I read on as long as I have enough to work with at the start.

Another thing I absolutely loved about the book was Renata. I found her character and her backstory to be extremely intriguing and well-written. Renata is a Robarí and can take the memories of others. As a child, she was stolen from her family and forced to work in the palace helping the King hunt down other Moria. When she was rescued by the Whispers, many of the other rebels were distrustful of her. She struggles with the knowledge that people find her dangerous and that she doesn’t quite fit in anywhere.

Renata doesn’t remember much of her time as a child at the palace but it was interesting to see the memories that begin to pop up along the way and their implications. There are a few good twists in this book, but none of them are far-fetched and as a reader there are plenty of hints along the way if you look hard enough. It was fun putting the pieces together for both the twists I had guessed correctly and the ones that had taken me by surprise!

What didn’t I like? While the magic system is clearly given a lot of thought and is incorporated skillfully into the story, I still felt like there was a lot of information missing that needed to be explained. I would love some more background knowledge into how the magic is passed down (is it hereditary? random? both?) and whether the Moria are the only people in the world that possess magic abilities. If they are, why them?

Overall thoughts: Incendiary was exceedingly entertaining and easily draws the reader into the story. The Spanish Inquisition setting and magic system help create an interesting world and Renata shines as the protagonist. I look forward to reading the next book in the series! ...more

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May 01, 2020 ☆ sana ☆ rated it liked it

Shelves: diverse-reads

“this prince whose friendship made the palace a little less lonely for a moria girl. the prince whom i’ve spent half my life hating.”

3.5 stars. the plot of this book is SO good. also if i'm right this duology is serving childhood friends to strangers to enemies to lovers and i'm so here for it!!! #TeamCastian ...more

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Jun 23, 2020 Lina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I am a shadow. I am a drop of ink. Vengeance in the night. I am a Robari.

Hello and welcome back to one of my reviews.
It hasn't been a long since the last time I wrote a review, but I have to say for me this is a very different moment, because for the first time in a very very long time, I went speechless and awestruck after I finished it.
First of all, when I discovered this book a few months ago (it wasn't still published), I was astonished by the cover of the book. Can we please talk about the ...more

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Oct 28, 2017 Elle (ellexamines) marked it as tbz · review of another edition

Shelves: x-tbr2020

a thief getting revenge on the royal family. 15th Century Spain and the inquisition. guys, holy crap.

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May 02, 2020 Angelica marked it as to-read

I'm hoping and wishing and praying that this is a five star novel ...more

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May 10, 2020 The Nerd Daily rated it it was amazing

Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Nathalie DeFelice

This story is beautifully written, and will intrigue you long after you finish the last page. Zoraida Córdova has certainly woven some magic here, with charmingly frustrating characters, some serious romantic tension, and so much danger. Rife with betrayal, you’re constantly on your toes to see who’s going to betray who because it’s always the ones you least expect you plunge the dagger deepest. This story was certainly thrillin ...more

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Feb 28, 2021 ☆ Anneli ☆ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Incendiary
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The world building was amazing! But I was so bored reading this, probably because I expected more romance and there was...very little of that. I might pick up the next book, only because I’m interested in Castian and Dez.

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Jun 03, 2020 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, arcs-and-galleys, review-copy, young-adult

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/06/07/...

There is a dark vibe to this that is hard to describe, but I found it pleasantly surprising and it also made the story that much more poignant and gripping. Incendiary by YA author Zoraida Córdova is the first installment of a planned duology which takes place in Puerto Leones, a fantasy world loosely based on Inquisition-era Spain. King Fernando has declared all Moria, or individuals gifted with magical abilities, as a bl 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/06/07/...

There is a dark vibe to this that is hard to describe, but I found it pleasantly surprising and it also made the story that much more poignant and gripping. Incendiary by YA author Zoraida Córdova is the first installment of a planned duology which takes place in Puerto Leones, a fantasy world loosely based on Inquisition-era Spain. King Fernando has declared all Moria, or individuals gifted with magical abilities, as a blight on the land and must be hunted down and killed. Our protagonist Renata “Ren” Convida was just a child when her nation was conquered and she was kidnapped by the King’s Justice, who brought her to be raised at the palace of Andalucia as a political prisoner. As a Robari possessing one of the rarest and most powerful gifts of the Moria, Ren was immediately pressed into the king’s service to use her abilities to steal the memories and secrets of Fernando’s enemies. As a result, she was forced to witness the suffering and deaths of thousands of her own people, helpless to stop any of it.

Eventually though, Ren was taken in by a rebel Moria group called the Whispers after they stormed the palace and rescued her. Still, with few willing to trust someone with so much blood on her hands, Ren remained an outsider, despite aiding the resistance with her powers. Only Dez, her unit commander and the son of the Whispers’ leader was fully accepting of her, and the two became romantically involved. But now, a new threat looms on the horizon in the form of a weapon developed by the king to rid the world of Moria, forcing the rebels to turn to more drastic measures. Unfortunately, when Dez winds up being captured by the notorious Prince Castian, Ren realizes with horror that she may have just put her love’s life in danger by unwittingly disrupting a secret mission being planned by the Whispers. To destroy the king’s weapon and save Dez’s life, she must return to the palace of her nightmarish childhood under the guise of a loyal subject and convince her former captors that she is still on their side.

Incendiary is a book that hits the ground running, and if you’re not paying attention, you might get left behind! From the start, readers are thrown into the action, and there’s a feeling of stepping into a story that is already underway. I appreciate how the author didn’t waste time getting into the meat of the conflict, and any background information can be gleaned from snippets of details dropped along the way. This kept the pace moving smoothly and quickly, though you might run into a bit of confusion at the beginning, at least until all is made clear. Another downside to the way this novel is structured is that Ren and Dez are already a couple when the story opens, and before long he is captured so not much time is given to developing their relationship before they are separated. Considering how Ren’s motivations were predicated on her love for Dez, which was also the driving force behind the whole plot, this aspect probably could have been handled better.

But when the story gets going, it also gets a bit grim, which I enjoyed because you could never be certain where Córdova will take our characters. Speaking of which, Ren is an enigma, with a past that is gradually revealed. Even then, it is a long time before we get a complete picture, since she doesn’t remember all the details herself. Before her rescue by the Whispers, she was a child manipulated into doing terrible things with her powers. As a Robari, she has a special type of magic that allows her to steal memories from anyone with just a touch, and if she takes them all, her victim becomes a Hollow—an empty shell that has lost everything that makes them who they are. That said though, when used carefully, her abilities can also take away bad memories, freeing the person of any pain or trauma. While memory thieves are not exactly a new idea in fantasy, I did enjoy how this duality of Ren’s magic was explored and the way these dynamics gave her character more depth.

As for the plot, the pacing was a bit uneven, especially after Ren makes her return to the palace, which is where the story’s focus shifts to subterfuge and intrigue. World-building was strong, thankfully, which helped move things along. The final quarter of the book also blew up, with all sorts of game-changing revelations and deceptions uncovered that will make you rethink everything you’ve read. This final section was nothing short of brilliant, and more than made up for any fumbles along the way. The stage is now set for the next volume of the duology, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next. ...more

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Nov 07, 2020 Renata rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

You know the problem when you read a book that you loved is that you have no idea how to put all your thoughts in words and make a proper order and specially a proper review.

To start with the writting style, I think if you start reading this book you’d be consumed by it automatically because it’s so good, I missed enjoying reading absolutely every single detail in a book. I think the book itself has a great storyline with a few plot twists that you won’t expect AT ALL and the characters, serious ...more

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Apr 28, 2020 Leah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: hall-of-fame

My first Zoraida Córdova book, one I've been eagerly anticipating, and it did not disappoint for a second. Also, how on earth was this my first Zoraida Córdova book?!

Full review at Write Read Repeat. Blog tour and giveaway!

From the first page this was a phenomenal story! The plot is intriguing and cleverly unravelled. The world-building and the set-up of the story in the first 50 pages is just beautifully done. I am so in awe of this book and Córdova skill as a story teller! This is inspired by My first Zoraida Córdova book, one I've been eagerly anticipating, and it did not disappoint for a second. Also, how on earth was this my first Zoraida Córdova book?!

Full review at Write Read Repeat. Blog tour and giveaway!

From the first page this was a phenomenal story! The plot is intriguing and cleverly unravelled. The world-building and the set-up of the story in the first 50 pages is just beautifully done. I am so in awe of this book and Córdova skill as a story teller! This is inspired by the Spanish Inquisition, and let me tell you, it delivered. In this, the heretics in need of hunting down are those with magic, them must be tamed with a weapon that Renata is desperate to find. The plot twists in this are unreal and worthy of moments of regularly shouting NO to your house at large. One happens relatively early in the book that had me stunned beyond belief.

I adore Renata. I realize I say that a lot about female protagonists, but when they're brave and fierce, they get my love. Ren has not had the best childhood and she does not know where she fits in. As a young child she was stolen from her parents for her magic to serve under the Arm of Justice, taking memories from people and helping the king in his quest to hunt down the Whispers—the rebels with magic. But poor Ren doesn't remember much of that time, which keeps her at arms length from the rest of the Whispers who rescued her. They do not trust her, and she struggles with being part of a team that really just doesn't like her. Aside from Dez, of course, but I can't even talk about that without spilling some major secrets.

The magics system in this took me a few to get the hang off, but it feels like a very unique one. In this world, there are four types of magics a person can master of. One allows the person to read the truth in a person's thoughts. Another can draw out emotions from others and manipulate them. One can craft illusions to make anyone see what isn't there. And finally, the ability to steal memories. Memory magic we know the most of because this is what Renata has. That she has this magic does not endear her to the Whispers either, because they are dangerous. Ren can take every memory inside a person's head, leaving behind nothing but a Hollow. The shell of a person that will eventually die.

Ren's memory magic is so unbelievably important in drawing out the plot. We learn the back history of characters and past events through the memories she takes. I could not get over how clever this was! It was absolutely fascinating and the consequences it had were absolutely mindblowing for good and bad reasons. My absolute favourite way this was used as a plot device was to learn more about the villain, Prince Castian. I am literally bursting to say more, but I can't without, again, leaking some MAJOR spoilers. But it was so freaking well done and I am in love!

The ending was absolutely explosive in terms of reveals and changes in allegiances. Basically, I cannot wait until the sequel! ...more

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Mar 20, 2020 Fanna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-releases

April 11, 2020: Sometimes you anticipate a book so much, you're sure it'll get all your stars but then you read it and unfortunately, it gets the most average rating so now you simply wanna ~~die~~ cry. I won't say this doesn't have an interesting world or magics or a great writing but it definitely did not bring any character to life, for me, and that's a sure disappointment. The only two characters I found interesting got the least ~~screen~~ page time and I'll be reading the sequel for them. Full rev ...more

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Mar 14, 2020 Kate (GirlReading) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: poc-rep, fantasy, young-adult

3.75* Of course the first fantasy I've read in months that's left me desperately needing more , is the one fantasy I have to wait over a year to even get close to getting my hands on book two but THAT ENDING. I just... AHH.

This book took me a while to get through (as per usual with me and fantasy) and I did find it to be a little too lengthy (again, probably just because as much as I love the genre, I find fantasy hard work). However, the story intrigued me from the get go and honestly, after th ...more

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May 14, 2018 Ellie (faerieontheshelf) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-lit, anticipated-future-releases, fantasy

this sounds wicked af and I’m so excited because “inspired by Inquisition-era Spain” HELLO TAKE MY MONEY??? Also I’ve been dying to start reading something by this author for agessss so I’m v excited

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About Zoraida Córdova

Zoraida Córdova

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Zoraida Córdova is the author of many fantasy novels for kids and teens, including the award-winning Brooklyn Brujas series, Incendiary, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge: A Crash of Fate. Her short fiction has appeared in the New York Times bestselling anthology Star Wars: From a Certain Point of View, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Stories of Light and Dark, Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Fi ...more