Violet is the princess of Neyr, the third of the Nine Realms of Amera. At least, she was until the day came when Violet was to demonstrate her abilities to the people and solidify her place in Ameran Society. The citizens of Amera have extraordinary abilities, from living on the ocean floor to flying in the air. But no one can turn back time.
Plot
This book starts out at a quick and intense fast pace. Violet’s coming of age test of her powers goes awry, causing her to fatally wound her own father. With many books that start so fast-paced, things often swing back in the other direction and end up unbearably slow, but that was not at all the case here. The plot stays full of intrigue and action from start to finish. The author does a great job hooking in the reader and keeping them interested well past the last page.
Characters
Violet, as the main character, does fall into some of the tropes of other “Princess separate from home” protagonists, but she grows into an interesting and unique lead. The cast is also filled with other unique characters, like the one of a kind AI, Hailey, who helps Violet throughout her story. I do wish that many of the characters had been introduced earlier on because they are so important to the plot.
Setting
At first, I had trouble understanding Violet’s world and I had a lot of questions in the opening chapters. It at first seemed medieval-esque but had elements of science fiction mixed in. However, the author slowly unfolds details about Violet’s kingdom and surrounding countries to turn her setting into a unique world that melds dystopia, sci-fi, and fantasy in a way that I grew to love. The author manages to find the perfect mix of technology and magic.
My Recommendation
The first book in S. Behr’s Evolutionaries series risks falling into a number of tropes and stereotypes but instead exceeds expectations. The plot is filled with high-intensity moments and twists that make for exciting reads. Violet and the others in the cast are well-developed and intriguing. But my favorite part of the book ended up being the world the author created, which is a fun and unique mix of sci-fi, dystopia, and fantasy. I’m looking forward to seeing how these elements continue to develop in the next books in the series.
