Lume by TM Ghent

Synopsis:

The capital city of Lume is on the brink of chaos. A newly formed underground city begins a rebellion, threatening Lume's complacent king.

A Prince, content with a warm bed and a full glass, must choose between his family and his honor.

A Girl, buried beneath her past, must decide whether to risk everything she has for her dreams.

A Lawless, forged to be a leader among the rebels, must find a way to remain in control.

They never wanted to be heroes.

Ruled by old traditions, Lume is plagued with new technology it isn't ready for. In a world filled with betrayal, hard truths, and broken pasts, can Lume be saved or will it succumb to its eventual destruction?

Rating:

Thoughts:

Is this a fantasy book yes? Is this a sci-fi book? Also yes.

I love a good fantasy novel, and TM Ghent's debut novel did not dissapoint. The world building was done beautifully as she introduced us to her world, with it's unique economics, politics, and even different names for the seasons and the sun. Prince Rajveer hasn't had the easy life I think that most people assume he has.  They think he's a spoiled prince, except that while he may have money, his father is emotionally unavailable and abusive.  Theodora, our FMC is a strong independent lead but also has a vulnerability that she keeps locked away. Her ex-girlfriend, Danika, who is a satelle (think king's guard, or even a knight) was a brilliant way to show Theodora's growth. One of my favorite quotes from the book shows this growth.  Yesss, Theodora. 

There's also Maddox, which is a bit of a mystery, and love interest of Theodora's. They've known each other for most of their lives, and Theodora does her best to keep him and everyone else at a safe distance from her heart, but as they work together on a job for the prince she finds herself spending more time with him. 

This duology leaves us hanging a bit at the end so fair warning...it's a "to be continued" type of ending. Definitely looking forward to book two to see how this all plays out.

Lume is available for purchase at Amazon and Bookshop.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!