Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly ~ a Review

by MK French

Aissa and her sister Zandra work as Technocrat apprentices, but at night plot to retake the city from them. Aissa is given the mission to kidnap the Technocrat heir, who is rumored to be Heartless - a person born without a heart that survives with a mechanical one. Her mission is complicated by researchers hoping to find a cure for the Heartless, and someone capturing her sister. Aissa will do whatever it takes to get Zandra back, even if it means working with the enemy.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

August 2020; Blink; 978-0310768142
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); YA fantasy

From the beginning, I was drawn into Aissa and Zandra's story. They aren't supposed to exist, as Mages were decimated in the wars against the Technocrats. The classic magic vs. technology story was taken to the most extreme form, leading to several wars between the factions. On top of this, the twins have the ability to use their magic on technical things, which they have to hide from their fellow mages for fear of being ostracised at best, obliterated at worst. Of course, there are the usual bits of having to hide their magic from techno friends and bosses and the practice that the twins have to do to keep their skills sharp. Their code name within the Mage group is Twin Daggers, and Aissa often uses a dagger. Zandra usually is fast enough not to need one.

There are some parts that I could guess right away, as to who the Heartless heir was, who the spies were, and who the traitor was. The Queen is shown more than the King of the technocrats, and she is exceedingly cruel so that the reader will want to take her down as much as the twins and the mages. The true history of the wars and the factions was hidden from each side and is revealed over the course of the novel. There are many features of the classic Hero's Journey in this, but that doesn't detract from the characters. Some aren't well fleshed out, but I felt for Aissa and Zandra, and that their journey took a lot out of them emotionally as well as physically. There will be more to their story, and I know I'll enjoy reading that, too.

Buy Twin Daggers at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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