Title: Silver Tongue Author: AshleyRose Sullivan
Links: Bookshop (affiliate link) |Goodreads
Rating:
Summary: Although the writing could use a polish, the exciting plot and creative world building, done in a believable way, made this book a great read.
In a world where the colonists lost the revolutionary war, where magic and a curses exist, Claire feels like an outcast because of both her mixed heritage and her magical powers of persuasion. Her friend Phileas also feels different because of his intellect and his sexuality, while her friend Sam is hiding a secret of his own. This secret only comes out when his aunt is murdered, throwing all three friends into a surprising adventure as Sam seeks revenge.
There were very few things about this book I didn’t love, so I’ll get them out of the way first. There were a handful of sentences that felt clunky to me and another handful with typos. The prose was very plain. The clues that kept the characters moving forward were heavy-handed, sometimes feeling too obvious and sometimes feeling as though chance was working in their favor to an unbelievable degree. However….
There were many more things about this book that I did love. The world building was fantastic. The author created an alternate history I really believe could have happened, then added a delightful dash of fantasy and steampunk elements. The world seemed well thought out and I’d bet the author knows details she hasn’t yet included in the story. The exploration of different cultures, the mixing of mythologies, and the fun historical figures the characters encountered kept things interesting, as did the fast pace of the adventure.
The character development was decent, although there were some ethical questions (such as the main character persuading people to do things that could get them killed) that I really think needed to be addressed. The romance was incredibly well done. It was often on the characters’ minds, but they didn’t prioritize romance over action at inappropriate times. I thought it was one of the more believable teen romances I’ve ever read.The confrontations with the bad guys were also some of the most believable scenes I’ve read, taking into account the main characters youth and inexperience.
With the promise of a sequel in which the characters’ talents grow to face new challenges, I think this is an author to watch.
Heather J @ TLC Book Tours
That balance of romance and the rest of the story is difficult to get right but it sounds like this author did just that.
Thanks for being a part of the tour!
DoingDewey
I really hate when romance takes over a story or characters focus on romance when their lives are in danger, so I appreciated how well the author balanced the romance here! Thanks for including me on the tour 🙂
AshleyRose
Thank you so much for your thoughtful and honest review! I so much appreciate it!
DoingDewey
Thanks for stopping by AshleyRose! I really loved your book and would love to read whatever you write next 🙂
Becca
I think this sounds like a really interesting read. I hate when romance takes over a story or is the sole focus, as well.
DoingDewey
The romance was managed very well here! I don’t even find it realistic when characters are too focused on romance, so I really appreciated what the author did here 🙂
Charlene @ Bookish Whimsy
I”m curious about the historical elements and the different mythologies in this – it does seem to be a unique read. I would be bothered by the grammar issues, but it’s great that you enjoyed this book overall!
DoingDewey
It could have ended up feeling like a real mish-mash, but the author brought it all together really well! Although the writing could have been a bit better places, there were so many things done so well, I definitely think this is an author to watch 🙂