The Last Feather

I enjoy urban fantasies – like I do like epic and high fantasies, especially with tons of quests available for the taking – but there's something almost easy about urban fantasies/fantasies set in the modern world (since I think urban fantasies are specifically set in cities and not smaller towns like some modern fantasies?).

I like urban fantasies/modern world fantasies because it's sort of more accessible for new readers. Also to readers new to the genre. There's less of the typical fantasy names (listen, those apostrophes and accent marks are difficult even to a trained fantasy reader!); there's not too much world-building and info-dumping because you already know most/half of the world presented to you.

Cassia's love for her sister is plain to see from the get-go. I mean she did literally go into a who ‘nother world to help save her sister. Basically all of her motivation throughout the book is focused on her sister. As someone who really likes (positive) sibling relations; I definitely appreciated seeing the love Cassia has for her. I really like Cassia and Lucas's close friendship (bit of a spoiler but they stay friends and don't go any further). As someone who's not a fan of friends to lovers in books (it has to be written a certain way), I cherish any friends who stay friends. I like how they were dependent on each other growing up and they came back to that a bit in this book and I hope the next book has that more.

Speaking of morally-grey characters, we have one in the form of Lochlan and he was great. Definitely can't wait for the next two books to see what he gets up to. I don't know if I was a fan of morally grey characters in my younger years (my word, that sounds weird to type) but I definitely am now that I'm older. Maybe it's because I can tell (most) authors have a lot of fun writing them and that makes me like them more. Lochlan is probably one of my favourites so I'm only going to say nice things about him because I usually had a grin when he was on the page.

Dual-Pov for the win! Patel Papathanasiou did it well as I liked how it went from a newcomer (Cassia) and she's learning about the world-building and the magic system and we, as the readers, are learning about it with her. And then it switches to Lucas and the way he thinks of the worldbuilding and the magic system – there's no real second guessing because he's very familiar with it. Which I liked as well because it allowed me to ease more into the world-building because of the easy way he viewed it.

I always enjoy it when I can see that the author is passionate about their writing. It shines through in their work and also wherever they talk about their work. I could see it on all of Shameez's social media and all throughout the book. It makes for a more enjoyable read – the author enjoyed writing it, therefore you can enjoy reading it.

There was a bit of found family and I relished every bit because – I mean – it's found family. What else can I say? I hope that the found family aspect is a bit better written in the sequel and that it comes easier – the camaraderie and the way the characters interact with each other.