Review of Tayna Chronicles

Wy_Bertram · Post by **Wy_Bertram** » 24 Feb 2022, 14:26

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Tayna Chronicles" by Sara &Scaron;krobo.]

4 out of 4 stars

Share This Review

Sofija Filipov is trapped. Stuck in a classist society imposed by a brutal dictator, life does not seem to hold much promise outside of work and family, but this all changes when Sofija learns that there might be a chance to save her terminally ill grandfather’s life. Outside of her small town, the world seems to hold limitless possibilities, but Sofija never expects to find Tayna, a secret magical city that was almost completely erased from all memory. Having suffered the brunt of the new oppressive regime the most, the denizens of Tayna are planning a rebellion, and Sofija discovers that she is an essential part of this battle, an immense pressure she must shoulder as she begins to navigate her abilities and her magical heritage.

Tayna Chronicles: The Secret City is Sara Skrobo’s take on the Harry Potter stories, this time featuring adult characters and much higher stakes. The first in an upcoming series, this book excellently laid down the groundwork for the subsequent novels, introducing the reader to the unique structure of Danubia. I particularly enjoyed the duality of this somewhat fictional nation as on one hand, many of the socio-political issues that plague many parts of the world today - classism, for one example - are prevalent in Danubia, but then, there’s the added intrigue of a secret magical city and an incredibly powerful megalomaniacal leader who would go any lengths to keep his power.

The author’s style of writing worked well in this case, sophisticated without being overly complex, it enabled a seamless flow of the narrative from start to finish. The book’s unique plot was also supported by realistic and relatable characters, who, due to their slightly advanced ages, seemed to make better decisions than most YA fantasy novel characters.

While I did initially enjoy the pacing of the book, I believe too much time was spent trying to set things up. Months went by without any action from either side of a brewing war, and it doesn’t make much sense that the evil president would hold off on his plans because the good guys were in mourning. I expected that by the middle of the book, Sofija would have at least come to understand the nature of her abilities, but that was not the case.

Despite this slight issue, I’m glad to rate this book four out of four stars. The text was professionally, but not exceptionally edited (this is an extremely important distinction on this platform). While it was a smooth read, I did encounter some conversational grammatical errors, though I believe this to be indicative of the fact that English is not the first language of these characters, and their proficiency with the language might be a tool the author used to allude to the character’s level of education, or rung in society, or mental state. It does not take away from the enjoyment of this book in any way.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy modern fantasy novels, especially series. It contains minor profanity and some romantic aspects but should be suitable for young-adult readers and above.

Enjoy.

******
Tayna Chronicles
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

Pauls_ · Post by **Pauls_** » 25 Feb 2022, 01:23

I love reading books that contains magic and adventure. I would also like to know what happened in Tanya and how Sofija was able to survive. Great review.

Mathurambiga Maniom · Post by **Mathurambiga Maniom** » 25 Feb 2022, 03:12

The cover of this book itself captured my mind to read this book! The plot seems to be very adventurous and imaginable and I'm glad to find this book.