Recently, I finished reading Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett, and I can’t wait to dive deep into my favorite parts of this four star read!

Characters

I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters. I enjoyed reading from the point of view of both Kate, who is considered to be a traitor to the kingdom, Rime, for a crime that her father committed, as well as Corwin, who is a prince of Rime.

The two used to be very good friends, but after Kate’s father tried to kill the king, Kate left the palace and she and Corwin’s relationship ended.

It was interesting, but also slightly frustrating to be reading from these two points of view, because Kate and Corwin are each other’s love interests in the story!

The supporting and side characters were also amazing. Everyone who was introduced in the story, clearly had a role in it and it was fun to learn more about each character and their relationships with each other.

World

Seeing as this book is a fantasy, there was a bit of world building at the beginning of the book, but I didn’t mind it at all!

The kingdom of Rime was so interesting to read about, especially regarding the politics. It was fun to hear both Kate and Corwin’s commentary on the current state of the politics and everyone involved in them.

The entire magic system is fascinating!

There are mages who work with the government and are tasked with keeping citizens safe from the wilders who possess elemental magic. Kate herself is a wilder, adding another layer of tension. She’s forced to keep that part of her a secret for fear that she’ll be hunted by the mages.

Plot

The book starts off with a high tension and high action scene, creating the perfect setting for what the rest of the book is like.

After the high adrenaline beginning, things slow down a bit more as we see the regular lives of Kate and Corwin, before things begin to get a little bit crazy.

We learn more about Kate’s father and what happened the night the king was harmed, as well as about the trials that Corwin is forced to endure as a possible crown prince. More characters are explored the further along we go, and the conspiracies and lies continue to expand, until the truth finally comes out in the end!

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book!

I loved how there was a lot of action and a lot of plot going on, but it also explored the idea of what makes a person truly human and truly worth living, as there is a constant chase between the mages and wilders, even though they are two different sides of the same coin.

There were so many things going on at one time, with the mysteries, the romances, and the threat of attacks. It was really fun to see two sides of the same situations through the eyes of Kate and Corwin.

I will definitely be picking up the second book, Shadow & Flame, as soon as possible!