The Kithseeker

Title: The Kithseeker
Author: M. K. Wiseman
Genre: YA/ Fantasy
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 4/5

Favourite Quote: “Just because you’ve magick does not mean you must disappear into it.”

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.*

It’s been 9 months since Liara was banished and walked out of Dvigrand, only to find herself back at the city gate with Nagarath’s hand in hers. The villagers were all gone and their home in Parentino left behind them in ruins thanks to Liara and her spell to destroy her library Catalogue. With no where else to go, they start their next adventure where they began.
They had left Anisthe in Vrsar incantate, stripped of his magic and power to those around him, only Anisthe is determined to reclaim his powers by any means necessary, even if it means hunting for a rumoured fairytale object, Khariton’s mirror. Said to be one of the most powerful objects in the world and the key to restoring him to his rightful place as the most powerful mage. The mirror not only threatens innocents, but also Liara with her unwanted link to Anisthe should it restore his magic. With her being connected to Anisthe for two more years as his progenaurae, Nagarath and Liara have no choice but to follow him and his accomplice, Domagoj, on his journey across the seas in the hunt for a fairytale.
With Liara finding it difficult to understand how Nagarath can so easily forgive her after everything that happened in Vrsar and for destroying their home, the journey together becomes a greater challenge to piece their friendship back together.

‘Clenching the hand that Nagarath had let go, knowing his brief abandonment to be one of practicality, Liara blinked back illogical tears. It was nonsense to think that the mage would hold her hand forever. But his withdrawal left her feeling numb.’

The second installment of The Bookminder and a great storyline to continue Liara and Nagarath’s journey. I loved this book even more than the last with it’s interesting plot, new questionable acquaintances, a hint of romantic curiosity as well as far off exciting lands to continue their adventure.
Liara and Nagarath are only getting more captivating for me. It’s clear they are growing feelings for each other, but Liara is still too young to identify the feelings she has for him and Nagarath’s unlikely chance of running into his old attachment; Amsalla DeBouverelle, has caused an underlining string of emotions to surface with his actions.

It’s easy to find how Liara struggles to keep her emotions in check when she has never experienced feelings like this before. Jealousy sneaks it’s way into her life which catches her more off guard when Liara realises how real her feelings are for her wizard. Not that she would tell him of course with his attentions on Amsalla. Even with her emotions up in the air, Liara gradually changes from the immature selfish girl from the previous book and we see her grow into an independent young woman who opens herself up to the world around her with her new experiences and trials in becoming a presentable woman in high society with the assistance of her new companion, Sophie. Liara can’t help but secretly crave the life that would bring her back to Parentino’s library with her Nagarath, just the two of them living the simple life within the castle walls.

The reader keeps the pace perfectly to allow us to get to know our characters, the locations they end up in and the whirlwind of emotions that follow them along. I still feel like I don’t know Nagarath’s character well enough yet though. We get glimpses into his previous life as he takes Liara around the world where they end up in Versailles in France where they stay with old friends and see old acquaintances. He obviously previously lived a very comfortable life with high connections in society that easily acquires them with an invitation to the King’s palace itself. No magic required. His feelings for Liara are very intriguing. He puts on a front to keep up appearances in society for he can’t be seen traveling with an eligible young woman on his own without some family connection between them. His old friends can see past the facade of being her ‘uncle’ simply by the way he looks at her openly in a room full of people. It’s adorable and I feel, besides his previous attentions to Amsalla, he hasn’t allowed himself much experience with women. His actions are almost as young and innocent as Liara’s.

‘Feeling sheepish for such an omission to her courtly education, and reckless from how much she looked like herself, Nagarath’s carefully rebuilt barrier came crashing down. Propriety be damned. She was going to know how to dance when she entered the court of the King of France.
Nagarath made a neat half-bow and waited. He prompted, “Liara. You’re learning to dance.”
“Now?”
Nagarath simply waited for Liara’s answering curtsy.
“But…” Liara hesitated, and seeing how Nagarath was going to keep waiting for her, she clumsily curtsied and then stood awkwardly. With a grin and flourish of his wand, Nagarath set into motion the music box which sat on his mantle, the tinkling melody repeating itself in perpetuity through the lesson.’

I really liked the amount of action and adventure within this book compared to the limited locations in the previous one set mainly in Parentino and Dvigrand. The author allowed us to see the world from their eyes set back into the 1680’s around Europe, from Italy to Spain then ending up in streets of Paris before stepping into the Parisan court of Versailles. The author has really done well to set the scene in the historical settings.

‘Even the shabby buildings were impressive. Matched brickwork and rows of windows stretched the length of the street only to meet another building, equally grand. It was as though the buildings were courtiers, too, each trying to outmatch its neighbor with its perfect proportions or grand entrances of arch after arch. Everything seemed so delicate, breakable. The exact opposite of what Liara had grown up knowing; solid, simple, rustic, and serviceable. In Paris, everything seemed designed to look like something else. Gloves looked like curtains, pruned trees resembled statues. Every available surface had been carved, patterned, and decorated. It was dizzying to look at.’

I’m really looking forward to reading the next instalment when it gets released to find out what happens with Nagarath and Liara in their next adventure!

 

Goodreads Review:
France, 1680
Liara’s defense of the Wizard Nagarath has rendered Anisthe incantate–bereft of magick–but even this cannot guarantee her safety. Because the death of her father-in-magick would seal the girl’s fate, necessity demands she and her wizard maintain a watchful eye on the war mage, while protecting her from his dark designs.
Anisthe has embarked on a journey across Europe, aided by his half-fey manservant with an agenda all his own. They search for a legendary mirror that contains the world’s most powerful magick. Although the stuff of fairytales, the possibility of its existence compels Nagarath and Liara to seek the artifact themselves. Both know that should Anisthe lay claim to that power, Liara would be at his mercy and not even Nagarath could save her.
Thus, the pair find themselves at Versailles, surrounded by agents who ferret out magick users and destroy them. Uncertain who is friend and who is foe, with their rival on their heels, they must discover the mirror before Anisthe releases its evil, or worse, it lays claim to Liara’s magick and brings doom upon them all.