La Biblio-Fille

Rivers For Storms (Twisted Blade, Book 1)

By

By Teshelle Combs

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Length: 246 pages

Format: Digital, via Kindle

Started: 12/17/2023

Finished: 12/21/2023

For transparency’s sake, I received Rivers For Storms as an Advanced Reader’s Copy (ARC) and my review is honest and unpaid/unsponsored.

Rivers for Storms is the first full novel in the Twisted Blade series, prequeled by Ripples for Skies.

Basics recap:

  • Em is Tru-Ori, passing as a Grounded Cryl.
  • Nkita is a Black Wing Cryl.
  • Crylia/Cryl are Gryffins that can take on human-like appearances.
  • There are Grey, Gold, Silver, Red, White, and Black winged Crylia.
  • Grounded Cryl are those who have lost their wings to accidents or punishment and are considered the lowest class.
  • Teth Cryl are make Cryl dedicated to the Cza at birth, thus tethering them to service to the Cza for the duration of his life.
    • See what Tess did there? Because it certainly took me longer than I’d like to admit to put that together….
  • There are multiple types of Tru as well, but Tru-Ori and Tru-Hana areall we have/need in this story. Tru-Ori have golden markings in their skin and Tru-Hana have blue markings and blue tips in their hair.

**There is an available Terminology sheet linked in the book to help you along!

Rivers takes place in the world of Miror, specifically on the run in the woodlands with lower classes of Cryl. We’ll meet Drago, Drosya, and many more characters. Drago is arguably one of my favorite characters, strictly based on the pure chaos he brings to the table. I hope we get to see more of him in the book(s) to come!

SPOILERS AHEAD!! Nkita and Em are running from the Cza after escaping at the end of Ripples for Skies to save both their lives thanks to the Rebels who believe in Nkita’s claim to the throne. During one particular attack on the couple, they were separated and Em found a…tonguekeeper? (To find out what that is, please read the story!!) This tonguekeeper is SUPER important and I’m positive you’ll love the plot twist at the end!

I cannot believe Tess has found yet another cliff hanger to leave us on, but I will cling here willingly until the next book in the series is available for consumption. The absolute chokehold her stories have on me is unreasonable, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

XOXO