Queen B’s Decree: There were a lot of moving parts in The Cavalier with multiple points-of-view. I really enjoyed seeing both sides of the “war,” with Velamir and Natassa slowly understanding there is more happening behind the scenes than they knew about.
Velamir was a strong main character; I loved his sense of self and his protection of his friends and his people. But he’s not just following rules blindly, he’s beginning to ask more questions and make his own decisions about right and wrong. Natassa was similar. She’s almost naively believes in those around her—even to her own detriment—but still fights for what she believes is right.
The second half of this book was like a whirlwind; so much action and new character additions, I couldn’t stop reading. The cliffhanger at the end surprised me and I absolutely didn’t expect such a twist.
Overall, a great YA fantasy debut and I’ll definitely read the second!
Book: The Cavalier by Israh Azizi
Series: Heroes of the Empire #1
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Plot Devices/Tropes: cliffhanger