I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading MarcyKate Connolly's <i>Twin Daggers</i>, but I was definitely pleasantly surprised. Before going further, I want to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication. Although I am grateful for the opportunity, the following review is completely my own and not influenced by the publisher's generosity.

As I already said, I really liked this book. The book centers on two twins, Aissa and Zandria, who are in a precarious situation living among the Technocrats as they are magis living as spies. In this fantasy world, the Technocrats (those who believe and depend on technology and are completely against magic) believe that the magis were wiped out in a war to end all wars. In reality, a small group of rebellious magis do exist and Aissa and Zandria's family is one of the many who live and work among the Technocrats.

In this book, helmed as a futurist Romeo and Juliet, the story is told from Aissa's perspective. The story begins as the two finish school with the Technocrats and are going to start their apprenticeships, which have been finagled behind closed doors by the magis to ensure the twins are in important positions within the Technocrat society. Quickly, the two find out their basic mission, which I won't give away here.

Needless to say, not everything goes according to plan. Especially when Aissa finds herself quickly entwined and following in love with a Technocrat who is definitely more than what appears on the surface.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I found it fun and quick to read. I would definitely recommend to anyone who is looking for a new fantasy novel. I definitely look forward to seeing where the next book in the series takes us.

Despite the unique premise, I didn't go into Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly expecting much. And, for the most part, I was right--this is your typical YA Fantasy novel. That isn't necessarily a negative thing, though. I became so immersed in the world from chapter 1 and came to care for the main characters, the twin Magi sisters, soon after. The story was entertaining throughout, but I couldn't help comparing this book to others like it I've read before. In short, this book is fun but I'll probably forget about it in a couple weeks.

Rating: 2/5 Not-so-shiny-daggers

Format: ebook. I’d like to thank Blink and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To sum up:
In the world of Twin Daggers, an old hatred exists between the Technocrats (a technology-focused people) and the Magi (people with magic!). Two magi sisters attempt to spy on the world of the Technocrats in order to find secrets that will help their fellow Magi. When one of the sisters starts to fall for her mark however, things start to get complicated. This is pitched as a Romeo and Juliet with a fantasy twist.

What I enjoyed:
I think the premise is pretty cool. I love mash-ups with science and magic and this one definitely had the potential to do some neat things. I appreciated that the story was pretty easy to follow, the motives of the characters were clear, and the plot was fairly well constructed.

What was meh:
Unfortunately, I had a lot of issues with this one. The biggest problem for me was the author’s writing style. Connolly has a dramatic flair that errs on the side of repetitive, so felt that every revelation and emotion felt by the main character was both a little over the top, and stated at least three times. This got really exhausting and frustrating. Connolly also tended to state what I felt was obvious on every page, from facts about the way their world works that she has already stated, or the character’s inner thoughts given their circumstances. It ends up resulting in a main character that feels shallowly developed, single-minded, and naive.

Speaking of characters, we are mostly in the mind of Aissa (one of the twins) and the other characters are not really elaborated on with real depth. Their parents, who live with the twins are barely involved and don’t seem to notice their daughters escaping their rooms most nights. Aissa's twin seems to have a slightly different personality, but I still had to actually look up their names to remember who has who to write this. The other twin just doesn't really jump off the page. The only other character that has some interesting mystery and development is Aissa’s forbidden romance/love interest, Aro. A lot of time was spent building up their relationship but I had a hard time feeling their chemistry. This in part might be due to a lot of focus on tingly hand touching scenes and flushed necks, which just isn’t enough for me to understand why they are drawn to each other.

The next big issue I had was with the world-building. I was willing to give the author a lot of ground on the details here since a world where science and magic exist can be difficult to pull off. Ultimately, I felt like the details of this world were barely sketched out and most of the reasons for why the world was the way it is was not explained (other than the long-ago feud between peoples which was ultimately explored further near the end). I still don’t actually understand what being a Technocrat means. What kind of technology do they have and how is it different from our own? Instead of explaining how their technology is used in their daily life, the author focuses on frivolous things, like mechanical pets that follow people around, and mechanical flowers (like why though? Why not use sculpture, or paintings, or like anything else that isn’t as complicated?). It’s stated early on that a lot of living things aren’t around anymore (like plants and animals) which raises huge questions for me. I would have liked for the author to give us more information about why this is the case, and what do people eat if this is the case? This issue was pretty minor to the plot, but one that I had that is important to the plot revolves around “the Heartless”. It is explained early on that some of the Technocrats are born without functioning hearts, and therefore must have them replaced with mechanical ones. Already I have so many questions. Like how would a fetus survive a birth without a heart?? And if this society has developed technology to birth infants without hearts, then why give these babies mechanical ones? Why not develop an artificial heart from some other living tissue? (like whatever protein they have to be growing for them to eat?) I’m guessing because then this story wouldn’t feel as steampunk, which is a pretty lame answer imo.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this story. It had really great potential, but I got frustrated with the writing style and my questions about the world. The plot was alright, but I wasn’t blown away by the twists, I could see them coming a mile away because of the way the author writes. I just wish she would have cut out a lot of the repetitive details and given her readers more credit.

DNF (did not finish) at 20%. I wanted to like this, but not even 100 pages in and I am skimming the text. To me, the writing is nothing spectacular, and I'm unfortunately not drawn in by the story. After reading this 20% and other reviews, I can safely say that this book isn't for me, even though I really thought it would be, seeing as it is supposed to be a Romeo and Juliet retelling.

Thank you to the NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set in a world where the Magi and Technocrats are sworn enemies, the Magi have all but disappeared. Hiding in plain site, Aissa and her sister Zandria are training to become some of the highest level Magi spies in history. Through her apprenticeship, Aissa meets a kind research assistant with a soft spot for the Heartless, but there's more to him than meets the eye. When Zandria is suddenly captured during a late night adventure, Aissa must choose between following her orders or her heart.

This book absolutely wowed me. Fairytale rewrites are all to common at the moment, but Connolly managed to build a fresh and convincing world in Twin Daggers.

First, what I liked.
I absolutely loved the way the world was elaborately, yet clearly, built. I also was really floored by the character development demonstrated throughout the book, specifically by Aissa. I loved her warring internal monologue as she fought between her heart and her destiny. Twin Daggers is paced very well and held my attention completely. It was a quick and easy read for me, and I did not find myself struggling or getting bored of the storyline. The writing flowed well and I became completely immersed in the Technocrats' society. As far as fairytale rewrites go, this was less Romeo and Juliet than I was expecting, but that was a pleasant surprise.

Second, what I did not like.
I found a few of the twists to be a little predictable, and I was often frustrated by Aissa's blindness to obvious betrayals. I felt that the ending was a little rushed and was very open, but I'm hoping that will be resolved in the future.

Overall, I was extremely impressed by the freshness of this novel. Today, in young adult, I find that many stories are repetitive and do not pique my interest. Twin Daggers was a breath of fresh air. I absolutely recommend it if you are looking for a new young adult novel with the perfect balance of mystery, magic, and romance, while not compromising on quality.

Twin sisters Aissa and Zandria are about to finish school and begin their assigned apprenticeships. On the surface they appear to be dutiful, normal teenagers. In reality they are spies set on a lifelong mission to take down the ruling class who destroyed their people. Twin Daggers pins mechanically-inclined humans (Technocrats) against magic-wielding survivors (Magis who must live in secret) while drawing some inspiration from a Shakespeare classic.

Author MarcyKate Connolly gets credit for some originality, but I honestly would not have picked up on the Romeo & Juliet reference had I not read summaries prior to starting the book. Yes, there are opposing sides with a centuries-long history of war and deceit. And yes, there is a forbidden romance between main characters who belong to those opposing sides. But that’s where the similarities end - which is a good thing. In Twin Daggers, Connolly takes Shakespeare’s classic love story and imagines if Juliet (Aissa) had more power over her fate (and a twin sister) and sets the story in a fantastical world where magic and mechanics are at odds with one another.

This book wasn’t necessarily a page-turner up until the last quarter of the story. In the beginning, Aissa basically spells out the setting and background for the reader - a world-building technique that kind of annoyed me. After that, I will admit the guilty pleasure of reading the budding romance. As the story continues, more than one true identity is revealed and the stakes get higher - both of which drive the action to the very (open) end.

I appreciated the themes of confronting prejudice against “the other”, family loyalty, and resilience in the face of generational oppression. Twin Daggers is Connolly’s first young adult novel (her published works consist of children’s and middle-aged titles). I can see her adding this genre/audience to her collection as she continues in her career. And yes, there is a sequel in the works.

Thank you to Blink YA for a hardcopy and audio advance copy of Twin Daggers in exchange for a Full Review (Posted across all platforms 8/17)- Including Edelweiss

Fully Formatted Review Novellives.Com
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Twin Daggers By MarcyKate Connolly
Blink YA And Publishing

Before I discuss Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly, I want to note something important about Blink YA and its importance within the Publishing world. As both a bookseller and a veteran in the education field, I have noticed a value-add they provide. Parents and those at an age not quite ready for the content often categorized as Young Adult but have grown out of the "juvenile section" feel lost. Blink YA provides not just one book, but a safe harbor of books. I can point to the Blink YA logo as something to look for when trying to find a set of core values. Values/guidelines include but are not limited to:
1. Lack of cursing
2. Lack of drinking
3. There is minimal romance. Any romance that is present is very innocent (aka there isn't much beyond kissing).
4. There is minimal violence. Any violence that discussed will be in very broad or non-descriptive terms.
At the same time, do not let this fool you. Blink YA still provides a multitude of books that have representation (Wardens of Eternity Review and Q and A With Courtney Mouton), and deal with current events (Every Stolen Breath).
Twin Daggers (which falls on the younger spectrum of YA) by MarcyKate Conolly continues to follow the above traditions. Then, Mary Connolly includes themes around war and oppression. Lastly, how those born with medical needs can be left to fall through the cracks.
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Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly
This is one of those rare times I am not Captain America. I do adore Shakespeare. While Romeo and Juliette is not my favorite Shakespeare play, I do know it well. So, it is fair to say that yes I understand this reference.

Twin Daggers doesn't have enough for the retelling category. This isn't a knock against Twin Daggers or MarcyKate Connolly. I think it is a matter of proper marketing. Retellings are a huge trend right now, but mismarketing books into that trend can cause more harm. If I pick up a glass expecting wine and end up drinking water. It isn't that I don't like water, I was expecting wine.
Instead, this is a friends to lovers trope, not Romeo and Juliette. If readers go in knowing that, then they are more likely to enjoy it for what it is, instead of being disappointed for what it isn't. It isn't the first-time trends have run amok with comparisons, and it won't be the last.
There was, and still is, Six of Crows comparisons (and I love Six of Crows). So many brilliant books that I loved were set-up for failure because they were compared to it and were nothing like it. It is a marketing ploy that I hope becomes a fixture of the past.
All this to say:
1. Do not go into Twin Daggers expecting Romeo and Juliette.
2. Do go into it knowing it is the younger side of YA.
If you do those two things, you will enjoy Connolly’s latest book in a series of well-received titles.
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Characters
I am a sucker for sister power. Zandria and Aissa are twins that are magically gifted spies trying to help the Magi regain their place after the Technocrats took over and eradicated them after a long war. The Technocrats believe magic to be evil, and the Magi believe anything having to do with machines is an abomination.

Zandria is the flirty, loose and carefree of the two, while Aissa is more focused and grounded. Together they are known as the Twin Daggers, and they are a formidable team, especially for their age. Their parents were well-known spies within the ranks of the Magi spies.
Remy is the son and heir to the Magi leader. He is also their childhood friend. Aro is a Technocrat researcher, and that is all I can say about him. There is also a large assortment of supporting cast. While the girls attend a Technocrat school during the day to gather information, there are many school mates. Some the girls grow to care for, even if they are faking their enthusiasm for their classes.
Sometimes I wish our friendship with them could be real. We've shared so much- class, laughter, and the trials of staying awake through lectures. Everything I do must be a deception, but despite my best efforts, I've grown fond of them. So has my sister. It's a sad thing to admit you care for people who despise everything you are.
This quote represents the depth and layers that Connolly brings to all characters in Twin Daggers, both primary and supporting. As characters become intertwined and begin crossing paths, it adds tension and emotional anguish that increases throughout the story. It was also easy to invest from the beginning.
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World-Building
There were different landscapes within the city of Palinor. All of them are built out distinctly. It is easy to not just picture but feel and sometimes smell (even if I would really rather not) the different areas.

The tunnels beneath Palinor that the twins often had to sneak through when spying was grimy, dark, and filled with rats. The smell, dirt, and overall city waste of them felt like they were on my clothes and in my hair. It often felt claustrophobic, like the walls were closing in around me. There was an urgency that clashed with the darkness and unknown that held my attention.

The castle was every opposite of the tunnels in look and smell. However, when necessary, that feeling of danger and claustrophobia came through in very different ways. MarcyKate Connolly used unyielding threats of deceptions (known and unknown by various characters) being played out to keep up the constant feeling of being watched and looming danger.

There are things I can and can't say about the magic system. While some of it isn't original. It has been done before; again, this is a younger YA novel. That should be kept in mind. However, there are also things going on behind the scenes with how the magic systems work that I can't discuss because of spoilers. Having said that, it does have a flair of originality that comes toward the end of the book, as well.

Look, when the leader of the Magi comes and says (paraphrasing here) yes, I know you found this magical door, but I have something more important for you to do, then your parents kick you under the table? The proper response is yes, sir. Not, yes sir, but we are going to go sneaking around to figure out the door, behind everyone's backs, including your parents.

Wrap-up
Yes. I know. They are sixteen, and we don't have a plot without it. And from the onset, it all seems sneaky suspicious. It all smells as rotten as the state of Denmark from there on out. However, maybe involve your parents, at least. They are the greatest spies in history for the Magi. They could help. Definitely don't... oh, I can't tell you that because of spoilers. Kids will be kids, though.

From there, things go south fast. I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy how it all goes south, though. Plus, so many themes are interwoven that I mentioned above because of the cascading effect of these decisions. And all of those (above) themes, wrap-up into questions of loyalty, and when loyalty isn't as black and white as you thought.

Truth, perception, and lies don't always draw pretty lines in the sand, easy to stand behind. Sometimes they intertangle. And if you stand in their crosshairs? It can cause a lot of anguish. Also, it takes bravery, courage, and the ability to leave behind everything your life stood for, a foundation your moral compass was built on, to find something unfamiliar and new.

MarcyKate Connolly walks this tightrope with precision. She writes her characters on this tight right imperfectly because no one could walk it, in real life and not make mistakes. Not any age.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Blink Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my rating**

"Love, for us, is a mad, brutal thing. It will only lead to destruction."

I REALLY enjoyed Twin Daggers. The book follows Aissa, a Magi, who is tasked along with her twin sister, Zandria, to find the heir of a rival faction called the Technocrats. The Magi, who have magic over natural objects like plants and people, have long been at war with the Technocrats, a people whose society is only possible through their creation and use of machines. Aissa and Sandra are unique in that they are Magi who can control both natural and mechanical objects. However, their mission becomes compromised when Aissa begins to fall in love with a Technocrat boy named Aro. The choice becomes loyalty to her people or loyalty to her heart.

I thought the book was well written. It was a quick read with a magic system that was well explained and explored. Sometimes with Fantasy novels, the magic system can fall by the wayside or feel like there are things left unexplained, so it was nice to see an author make sure the reader has a thorough understanding of the beliefs, the history and the extent of the power for the Magi.

Aissa and Zandria's relationship was sweet. It was nice to see a sisterly bond where they can be open with each other and critical of each other, but they also are there for each other whenever the other needs it. Aissa also had what felt like the right amount of tension in her choices. It never felt like she was figuratively self-flagellating. She had a sense of duty to her sister and the Magi, but also a growing attraction to Aro. It felt angst appropriate without being overbearing.

The only downside I have to this, really, is that the synopsis for this book describes it as a "Fantasy spin on Romeo & Juliet." I think this is true in the sense of the book being about star-crossed lovers. However, I also think that description sets up certain expectations that aren't met in this book. I would've preferred if it was just set up as being attracted to someone you can't have. It's more of a badass Fantasy spy thriller than it was a Romeo & Juliet retelling. Definitely a book that held my interest throughout. I have a feeling there's going to be a sequel, and if there is, I would be excited to read it and find out more about Aissa's journey.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

.

Marketed as a fantasy spy thriller spin on Romeo and Juliet, I was very hopeful Twin Daggers would break the cycle of lackluster YA Fantasy ARCs I’ve read over the last several months.

Yet like many other reviewers, I unfortunately had a hard time getting through this story. Our MC, Aissa, has been placed as a Magi spy in the Technocrat capital with her parents and twin sister, Zandria. The book dragged on, despite most of the book centering around Aissa’s going back and forth between locations and using her job as an mechanic’s apprentice to infiltrate the palace for information. Connolly writes action and suspense scenes well, and many of them had me on the edge of my seat. However, these were not enough to save what I found to be a slow book filled with info dumps and repetitive details.

Aissa is a pretty standard YA narrator from 1st person POV. From the beginning we are told of her hatred of the Technocrats, but this never goes beyond surface level. Aissa was raised in the Technocrat capital and went to Technocrat school with Technocrat friends and neighbors, so I had a difficult time believing she harbored zero sympathy for any Technocrats. Living among them, she would have ample opportunities to see them as individuals rather than one homogenous evil group. At one point she states she used to befriend them, as her sister Zandria still can, but she lost these softer tendencies long ago. Why? We’re never given a reason for this. And of course, the only person able to break through Aissa’s Technocrat hatred and make her question her beliefs is her Technocrat love interest, Aro.

Despite the amount of scenes spent on Aissa and Aro’s relationship, their romance lacked chemistry. Aro works in the palace, so Aissa takes advantage of his crush on her to gain information and quickly finds herself becoming the mask. Although this isn’t an insta-love story, it still somehow felt like their love came out of nowhere and their romance didn’t drive the story forward. And no matter what the book blurb might say, this is not a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Unless there are connections I missed, the only similarity is that Aissa and Aro are from two enemy groups. Marketing their romance as a Shakespearean spinoff is misleading, which I know isn’t up to the author, but it still caused some disappointment.

Unfortunately I didn’t feel too attached to any of the other characters either. For a YA Fantasy where both of the MC’s parents are actually still alive, they weren’t in the book very much and didn’t check on their kids very often. The Technocrat king and queen are SuperEvil™ cardboard cutouts of villains who take pleasure in torturing Magi. I found it hard to believe Leon and Aro would trust Aissa, a new apprentice fresh out of school whom they’ve never met before, with such important, top secret projects in the palace. Isaiah, Remy, and the Magi Council had the potential to be interesting, but acted more as plots devices than anything. Lastly, I wanted Sparky to play a much bigger role! He could have been such a fun side character, like R2D2 or BB8 in Star Wars.

Regarding the worldbuildling and soft magic system, there are some interesting elements I enjoyed, but overall both felt a bit shallow while also seeming like an overflow of information. I appreciated that Aissa is already skilled in magic at the start of the book, so this isn’t one of those stories where our protagonist discovers secret powers and must learn to use them; however, I still would’ve liked to see her struggle with her abilities throughout the book, as her magic constantly seemed to provide easy solutions. I also liked that the Magi Council was nuanced and provided challenges for Aissa just as much as the Technocrats, and I would’ve liked to see this dynamic explored more.

Although there isn’t any info on a sequel on Goodreads (yet), based on the ending of this book it’s definitely set up to be a series since much is left unresolved. Sadly, Twin Daggers wasn’t for me and it has joined the list of 2020 YA Fantasy series I will not continue past the first installment.

Thank you to Blink via Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

Aissa and Zandria are twins and by day they are like the other normal Technocrats, eager to do their apprenticeships, but actually they are spies and assassins in training, Magi, willing to do anything in their power to get revenge on the Technocrats and retake their city. Even looking for a mysterious library in the tunnels under the city, against their orders and risking their lives.
When Aissa is given another mission, to find and kidnap the heir of the Technocrat throne, who should be Heartless (born without a functioning heart, so depending on metal one and a poisonous power source), her life and mission is complicated by the kind and handsome Technocrat, Aro, a researcher, who is determined to find a cure for the Heartless and asks for her help. But then Zandria is captured, Aissa is ready to do anything to get her back, but she doesn't know who to trust and what believe, when friends become untrustworthy and feelings could ruin everything she worked for.

Twin Daggers is a nice spy thriller, with interesting and stubborn characters and a fascinating worldbuilding, where magic and metal have an important role, representing the two warring factions, Magi, people able to use magic and Technocrats, those who thrive around metal, creating machines for any kind of purpose. All their Aissa and Zandria were taught Technocrats were brutal and evil and the queen and king are certainly so. After warring with the Magi and destroying them, the Technocrats believed the faction extinct, but people like Aissa, Zandria and their parents are still alive and fighting, plotting, spying to get back their lives and city. It was interesting reading about their training, both physical and in spells and to know more about the spy network, the Chambers and their fight against the Technocrats.

Aissa and Zandria are very different from one other. While Zandria is more cheerful and sometimes reckless, Aissa is more careful, more focused and her loyalty towards family and their goal is strong and unwavering. Until she meets Aro and she risks to lose her sister.
The story between Aissa and Aro is very sweet and well written, a sort of Romeo and Juliet in a world where magic exists and metal dogs are used as companions.
Aissa and Aro were taught Technocrats and Magi to be cruel and deceptive and to never trust them, but slowly, despite herself and her lessons, Aissa is attracted by his kindness and determination, surprised to meet a Technocrat so different from what she thought they would be and she's torn between her duty and her feelings. Aro is a very nice character, kind, sweet, his life changed by Aissa and, as for Aissa, is beliefs are turned upside down, pushing him to act and fight to do the right thing. I liked reading his interactions with Aissa and who sweetly and slowly they start to feel something for one other. Their connection is strong and beautiful.

I also like reading about Remy, the son of the leader of the spy network, is another interesting, but ambiguous character, torn between his family and friends. Darian is very deceptive and captivating and I'm really interested in reading more about his plans and what he will do.

In a plot full of twists, friends to enemies, enemies to friends to lovers, magic library, metal tree, torture, murder and spies, Twin Daggers is an interesting and captivating read, even though the pacing is a bit too slow, above all in the beginning. I enjoyed reading this book, but I was really invested in the story until half of it, because of the pacing. The characters and the plot are captivating and I want to read what happens next.

3.5 stars

I don't really have many strong opinions on this one. It's a fantastical Romeo and Juliet-esque story, with a bit of a twist: only one half of the romance knows they're enemies. It was decent, but not particularly memorable. I think people more into romance-centred fantasy stories would enjoy this one quite a bit. But personally I am more interested in other aspects of the book that weren't given a lot of attention as the romance is the focus.

For a book based around the romance, I found the relationship to be quite underdeveloped. I had nothing against Aissa or Aro. In fact I found them quite enjoyable characters. It just felt as though I were missing something. Especially since they didn't actually spend all that much time together, as far as we saw. Yes, they had lunch together most days but other than that (and a few other random events), he left her to do her thing. I wasn't convinced there was a relationship actually starting there for a while.

I do think the pacing was a bit of an issue throughout the whole book though, which may have contributed to my lack of feeling towards the romance. The beginning of this book was <i>so</i> slow, and kind of repetitive, so I lost interest for a while there. One of the main things in the synopsis didn't even happen until halfway through the book, so the main events didn't even start until then. Still, the pace didn't pick up until about two thirds of the way through, and then so much happened in such a short span of time that it felt almost rushed. I think the pacing issue could've been solved by spreading out the main events more. It feels like so much was packed into that last third that it was hard to keep focus and give a thorough explanation for everything going down.

However, my favourite part of the book was definitely the world. It was pretty unique. I've read a lot of fantasy books with warring people before, but never quite like this. It's magic vs. technology, which was pretty cool to read about. Especially the Heartless, which I wish were a bit more prominent in the story. They were working on finding a cure for the problems with their hearts, but for the most part that was glossed over. I wouldn't have minded learning more about the how and why of them.

If the pacing had been spread out more evenly, I think I'd have enjoyed this book a lot more than I did, but still I had some fun with it. I don't even know if this is getting a sequel (if it's not, then the ending was left a bit too open), but I'm not entirely sure if I'd read one if it does continue. But I'd definitely be open to reading more from this author in the future.

Disclaimer : I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review

This book was supposed to be great. I had high expectations for it, what was there not to like, spies, magic and sisterly bonds.
Unfortunately, this book let me down, it started great with a decent writing style, presenting our main characters Aissa and Zandria as these badass women. It all started to go downhill when Zandria meets someone she fancies. This supposed greta spy, spill alls the secret after first meeting a cute guy like !?!?!? hello ?!?!
When did this turn into a random girl unable to keep secrets !
Then Zandria gets kidnapped, big turn of events there, did not see that coming (sarcasm)!
Afterwards it DRAGS on, this book started to feel like an eternity, I just wanted to skip pages.
I get the romeo and juliet aspect between Aro and Aissa, okay why not, but like sooo unnecessary and I get that they are part of two rival factions, but apart from that it wasn't giving me any Romeo and Juliet vibes.
The twins were so immature, they did not make good choices, especially as they were supposed to make us believe they were these super important spies, that would save the world and such...
It felt unrealistic and boring at times.
I am really disappointed, It could've been great but the characters, felt like they were acting out of well characters especially with whom they wanted us to believe they were. If I was the one handing the missions to spies, I would've never trusted the twins. It was such a predictable book, there will probably be a sequel due to the open ending it had, but honestly I wish I could erase it from memory.
1/5 stars
Overall, something that could've been.
Bookarina

DNF'd @ 21%

Twin Daggers by MarcyKate Connolly sounded like it had so much potential. I mean, it's marketed as an a YA action-adventure spy thriller retelling of Romeo and Juliet. I needed to see how the author was going to pull off something that could be so epic sounding. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me at all. Probably around the 15% mark I began skimming as the further I got the less interested or invested in the world or characters I became. I shouldn't have been as bored as I was especially after a decent opening scene. Plus, it must come much later but I didn't catch any elements that would make it a Shakespearean retelling. I was expecting this to be great, but it missed the mark.

For a book blurbed as a Romeo and Juliet action and spy thriller, I was hoping for something a little... more. Unfortunately, Twin Daggers was slow moving and I couldn't get into the story. I loved the premise and I'm sure others will love the book. But I personally, am at the point of the year/quarantine that I need my reads to immediately captivate me and this just didn't.

Thanks to Netgalley and Blink for giving me an opportunity to read and review Twin Daggers.

Thank you to Netgalley, Marcy Kate Connolly, and Blink for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a great story. With a great mix of magic and machines/technology, the author has created an interesting dynamic between two factions. Little bits of history of the world and how they came to be where they’re at helps the reader to further understand those dynamics and get a broader picture.

Underneath the surface there are many issues and opportunities taking place that go against what each faction teaches their people and Aiss finds herself having to weed out what is true, who to trust, and how she should handle the new information. Great for fans of YA fantasy, dystopian, and I think steampunk fans would appreciate the machinery aide of this story!

I am very much curious about and looking forward to the sequel!!!

Twin Daggers had so many tropes that I love: rebellions, twins, compelling sibling dynamics, royal heirs, spies, and a unique magic system. If any of that sounds interesting, then I strongly suggest checking out this book!

I've read the author's middle-grade novels so I was very interested to see their take on a young-adult fantasy, and I'll say that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it! It has a steady pace, a compelling protagonist, and a fascinating world.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book gave me An Ember in The Ashes mixed with Ash Princess vibes. To be honest, the story has been done many times before. Does that mean I didn’t enjoy it? No absolutely not. I liked it very much, will I continue with the series? You’re damn right.

There’s always an oppressed race who wants to rebel against the race who’s ruling. There is usually magic involved. A revolution that needs the prince or princess in order to make all their wildest dreams come true. Sound familiar? Well that’s cuz I’m sure there are lots more where this one came from.

But I do however, enjoy these characters a lot. Even though the story is similar to lots of others. I enjoyed watching the progress in the book, it moved at a fairly decent pace. I wouldn’t say I was ever bored, and the story didn’t drag on for any number of pages. It flowed well, which helped keep the readers attention when it came to the story.

I realized pretty early on that this wasn't for me - around 10% or so. I stuck with it until 38% but I couldn't stand it any longer and started skimming... then quickly dnfed because if you're skimming what even is the point of reading?

By 10% I could predict where the story was going. By 40% it was going... exactly where I'd predicted. Now maybe I'm wrong and there's an amazing plot twist at the end but like, I'm not gonna slog through a book I don't like hoping for a plot twist.

The writing was littered with cliches: "can't make heads or tails of it", "jumped out of my skin", "on pins and needles", "my blood boils", "spitting image"... this strikes me as lazy writing. Cliches can *always* be replaced with something more original.

The text was SO repetitive. The 'must do anything so magi don't have to hide' comes up what feels like 100 times in the first 10%. Also *no one* is as evil as the king and queen are. They're cartoon villains.

The sisters seemed immature and I kept wondering why they'd been handed these missions that are so important and secret. Two seemingly young teens are the key to bringing down your enemy and saving your people? Improbable.

The only thing that kept me reading as long as I did were Aro and Sparky. but sadly they're not enough to keep me reading to the end.

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book!

I quite enjoyed reading this! While I would have liked some things to have a little more detail/background, it had a good story line and likable characters. I would be interested in seeing where the story leads with the cliffhanger ending!

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

MarcyKate Connelly's newest book, Twin Daggers, pits technology against magic in a tale of star-crossed lovers. Readers follow Aissa and her twin, Zandria. Their magic is different in that it is able to affect both organic material and machines. Aissa and Zandria must keep this trait hidden from the Magi and the Technocrats, even as they work as spies for the Magi cause. As the story unfolds, the sisters learn that politics rarely leads to loyalty that is black and white, and their allies may not always be who they think.

This book was fast paced and combined a variety of classic tropes in a way that felt refreshing and modern. I read this book in one sitting, as Connelly's writing style made it so easy to get sucked in and just keep making progress. Nothing was particularly unexpected as far as plot or "twists" went, but I think Connelly still executed the writing well. Being able to anticipate what would happen did not affect my enjoyment of the story, though if you're someone who isn't a fan of transparent plot lines, it may be better to leave this story to younger fantasy readers who may not be as familiar with common plot devices.

My favorite character was undeniably Aro, and I look forward to seeing how his choices affect future books. This book sets up well for a series, and I am certainly interested in continuing in the future.