Silvercloak provides such a fascinating world, and I could not get enough of the magic system. There are different categories of magic which can be used and potentially specialized in if the individual is adept enough to pursue it and get certification, the most fascinating of course being the Timekeepers who were eradicated due to their magic being considered to dangerous to continue.
I was so addicted to learning more of the different orders, especially this branch of power that was rid from the gene pool because of the chaos created by repeatedly changing the timeline. On top of this, the author throws in magical detectives, so I was a goner for this book from the get-go. As if I could resist magical detectives and a plot for revenge.
Saffron makes for an intriguing main character with an explosive start to the story that starts with her at age 6 and shows perhaps the most formative experience of her life. This event provides her reasoning for joining the Silvercloaks and seeking to bring down the Bloodmoons to get her revenge on the group. The lengths Saffron will and does go through to avenge her family reveal how clever and resourceful she is and made her a very admirable character. She also has a unique secret that she has been keeping the entirety of her life, that she cannot be affected by magic cast on herself, which had me wanting desperately to know why this was the case. It’s also a perfect example of how resourceful she has learned to be because she has to act like magic affects her around others when it is cast on her, and she does this through illusions, faking “symptoms” so to speak, and whatever other means convinces others magic works on her the same as anyone else.
Perhaps the most interesting character for me was Levan, son of the Bloodmoon’s Kingpin and not entirely what one would expect from this role. He is unexpected at every turn, and despite their different upbringings he and Saffron actually have so much in common and can’t help but form a connection because of it. He is tortured and standoff-ish, reluctant to let anyone in because of the hardships he’s faced and I found him so easy to love and feel for.
I really ended up enjoying Silvercloak, at times the pacing felt slower and I didn’t move through it as quickly, however, I did find about the last half I absolutely flew through and legitimately had a hard time putting the book down once I started reading. It really picks up the pace in the latter half and I got even more hooked. With the way this first book ended I also find myself needing the second book right away because it left so many things up in the air and had my anxiety for characters so high. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series and cannot wait for it.
