REVIEW: Ariadnis

ARIADNIS

by Josh Martin

Pages: 356

Publisher: Hachette

Publication Date: 9th Feb 2017

ISBN: 9781784298210
Received From: Hachette

Summary 

Back then I thought that if it weren't for that cliff, our cities would be one and there would be no need for all this fierceness toward each other. But then I learned about pride and tradition and prophecy, and those things are harder than rock. 

Joomia and Aula are Chosen. They will never be normal. They can never be free. 

On the last island on Erthe, Chosen Ones are destined to enter Ariadnis on the day they turn eighteen. There, they must undertake a mysterious and deadly challenge. For Joomia and Aula, this means competing against each other, to end the war that has seethed between their cities for nine generations. 

As the day draws nearer, all thoughts are on the trial ahead. There's no space for friendship. No time for love. However much the girls might crave them. 

But how you prepare for a task you know nothing certain about? Nothing, except that you must win, at whatever cost, or lose everything.

Review

I got this book through unexpectedly and was so excited to read it! I had heard whispers about it on the bloggosphere and it completely lived up to the hype surrounding it. The story is original, the characters are unique and overall I really enjoyed reading it. Aridnis came out last week so if you muggles haven't read it yet I would recommend it hole heartedly! 

The book itself follows not one but two chosen ones over the cause of a year as they work towards their shared destiny. Generations of chosen ones have all worked towards this moment and Joomia and Aula now have to compete against each other to end a long war between their two cities. Joomia's city is built within the trees under the cliff in which all civilization lives with its people taking knowledge from nature, where as Aula's lives on raised levels atop of the cliff. Both believe their way of living is the way forward for what is left of the human race but it is up to our two protagonists to battle it out and win the knowledge that will make one city great. 

Okay, so lets start with the things that stopped it from being a 5 stars. Firstly it took a little while to get into, the beginning didn't instantly grab me and I think that is because I was struggling with all the different names for things. If I'm completely honest I'm probably still pronouncing half of them wrong when I talk about this book to people. It shouldn't be that big an issue but when you have to pause to spell out some of the names in your head a couple of times it does slow down the reading and in hand makes it hard to get into to start with. However, that is the only real flaw I found and if I did half rankings it would be 4.5 so don't let this put you off as it is a great book!

The story arc of Aridnis is like nothing I have ever read before. I've read so many different dystopian books, where something has happened and we have a new world order and seeing how the human race copes with the world the author dreams up. With Dystopian there is a habit of plots crossing over and it seeming very familiar but this book was not like that at all. The premise is original, the characters are diverse and magical and the promise of book two looks to be exactly the same.

Overall I really did like this book and after I got my head around the unusual names I wasn't able to put it down. I NEEDED to know what happens next and the characters found a place in my heart and I found myself on tender hooks waiting for the next plot twist.

**I received this book as an ARC from Hachette to read & review. This is a 100% honest review.**