The Fading Dusk

****

4 Stars/5

Thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for giving me this book to review.

Synopsis

In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder - murder by magic.

Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.

Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?

Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?

Review

The Fading Dusk is a very good fantasy novel with action, mystery and romance. It was very fast paced and I stayed up late into the night as I really wanted to find out what happened next. I really liked the city of Dusk as it had an atmosphere and reminded me of London in olden times. However, I would have preferred more world building especially about the old wars as it influences the story but is not explained very well.

Irina is a very likeable character who developed a lot in this book as in the beginning she was quiet and sometimes lacks confidence, but she becomes more self-assured and proactive. Leonid is grumpy but is also is a good leader who is protective and has good instincts. Aden is charming in an awkward kind of way and is friendly, and is a big fan of Irina. There is a love triangle in this story, which I usually do not like, but, it really did not develop the way I was expecting, so I did not mind it. I hope Coreen appears in the next book as this story did lack female characters.

I really enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to reading the next one in this series and other books by Melissa Giorgio. I would recommend The Fading Dusk to fans of Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M Lee and Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne.

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