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Arcera #1
Meadowcity
This is an ACE Edition with B00RH2XYDO
He wants to forge a new empire, at any cost.
And she's the only one standing in his way.
Professional adventurer Sylvia Thorne just wants to travel through the wilds between cities for a living, but when the governor of Skycity declares war on her home, she must embark on a quest that will determine the fate of the Four Cities forever.
And if she's not careful, it won't be just her life she's risking—but everyone in Meadowcity.
Governor Sorin Greyling of Skycity is obsessed with knowledge. When he discovers the Four Cities' darkest secret, he'll stop at nothing to obtain the knowledge and power that has remained hidden for centuries.
Will Sorin's discovery make him a legendary leader? Or will it drive him down a dark path of destruction?
He wants to forge a new empire, at any cost.
And she's the only one standing in his way.
Professional adventurer Sylvia Thorne just wants to travel through the wilds between cities for a living, but when the governor of Skycity declares war on her home, she must embark on a quest that will determine the fate of the Four Cities forever.
And if she's not careful, it won't be just her life she's risking—but everyone in Meadowcity.
Governor Sorin Greyling of Skycity is obsessed with knowledge. When he discovers the Four Cities' darkest secret, he'll stop at nothing to obtain the knowledge and power that has remained hidden for centuries.
Will Sorin's discovery make him a legendary leader? Or will it drive him down a dark path of destruction?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
First published December 31, 2014
About the author
Liz Delton
28 books129 followersLIZ DELTON is a notorious book-re-reader, tea drinker, and author with too many hobbies.
She loves reading and writing fantasy, especially the kind with alternate worlds. She's the author of the Arcera Trilogy, and the Realm of Camellia series, and the Everturn Chronicles. World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.
She loves drinking tea, and traveling. When she's not writing you can find her hands full with one of her many craft projects.
She loves reading and writing fantasy, especially the kind with alternate worlds. She's the author of the Arcera Trilogy, and the Realm of Camellia series, and the Everturn Chronicles. World-building is her favorite part of writing, and she is always dreaming up new fantastic places.
She loves drinking tea, and traveling. When she's not writing you can find her hands full with one of her many craft projects.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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March 26, 2020🎁 The complete Arcera Trilogy (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (3/26/2020)! 🎁
December 13, 2017
Solid piece of YA fiction. The world was concisely developed and thought out making the immersion into the story really easy. I enjoyed the rising tension and conflict that came from various avenues, adding to the exciting conclusion / cliff hanger. Very well done.
January 28, 2018
The word that kept popping into my head as I read this book is "enchanting." Delton does an amazing job of weaving a spellbinding tale of love, bravery, and adventure that sweeps the reader away into a far-off land. Sylvia's story is at once heartbreaking and heartwarming. The book lends the reader a feeling of warmth and home at the same time as it catapults the reader into pulse-racing, edge-of-your-seat action. It is impossible not to feel personally connected to the rich characters Delton creates, and every twist and turn of the plot will have you reading well into the night, unable to put the book down. One thing worth highlighting is Delton's skill with nuance. She gives life to realistic and relatable characters whose personalities are clearly light and dark and whose motivations are pure. The heroes each struggle with demons of their own, and there is surprisingly quite a bit to like about the antagonist. If you are a fan of fantasy, or if you just enjoy a great story, allow Delton to take you away to an enchanting universe of her creation for a while and you will be glad you did.
August 5, 2024
Book One of the Four Cities of Arcera is setting the stage for the story to come. You meet Sylvia, who is a rider. Riders deliver messages to the other 3 cities within Arcerna. From here, we get the world building and history (through Sorin, Governor of Skycity) of a world altering piece of information that is about to make the world much larger.
Now, for the moment the world is peaceful, the four cities trade and barter, riders travel to pass messages or deliver wares and everyone seems quite content.
As the real history begins ro unwravel, a decloration of war is made and the cities start undertaking fire. What's left to be seen is what will happen in the end.
This was a fantastic foundation laid and the world building was utterly fantastic. I need to finish this series now, because I have to find out what happens.
Now, for the moment the world is peaceful, the four cities trade and barter, riders travel to pass messages or deliver wares and everyone seems quite content.
As the real history begins ro unwravel, a decloration of war is made and the cities start undertaking fire. What's left to be seen is what will happen in the end.
This was a fantastic foundation laid and the world building was utterly fantastic. I need to finish this series now, because I have to find out what happens.
December 15, 2020
There’s one question that all YA should ask itself: why is this story not about adults? Some YA answers this question better than others. This is in a third category that doesn’t really answer it at all. For all I can tell, this story should be about adults. What kind of adult tasks a 16 year old kid to do potentially dangerous things when there are much more experienced adults? Adults in this story, apparently.
Additionally, I found everything to be very flat. The characters don’t seem to have much depth. Things are said or done with very little build up. It’s an easy, quick read, and if it wasn’t, this probably would have been a DNF.
Additionally, I found everything to be very flat. The characters don’t seem to have much depth. Things are said or done with very little build up. It’s an easy, quick read, and if it wasn’t, this probably would have been a DNF.
March 22, 2020
I picked this book up on a whim at a fair where the author was selling her books, and was referred by the story. Well written, week crafted, with good three dimensional characters. Must go find the rest of the series now...
January 3, 2022
The entire first 50 pages of this book, without its excessive wordiness and clichés, could be reduced to one paragraph that still wouldn't say anything about the character or her voice/struggle. Not for me.
December 12, 2020
Timeline is confusing...while I enjoyed the world building I honestly didn’t care for the narrator. It was monotone at best to me. The pitch hardly changed for different characters.
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January 27, 2017The concept of this book is a post apocalyptic world, where the surviving humans have rejected the technology which lead to their destruction, and have concentrated themselves in 4 main cities, Meadowcity, Lightcity, Riftcity, and Skycity. Each city is pretty much self-sufficient, and there is limited communication between them. The inter-city communication is handled by Riders, people who trained up to cope with the ordeals of tracking through the wilderness between the cities in order to delivery messages.
The book opens with the leader of Skycity, Governor Greyling, declaring war on Meadowcity, much to shock and consternation of the citizens of Meadowcity. The book follows Sylvia, a Rider, as she takes on a perilous mission to reach Riftcity, already under attack by Governor Greyling, in order to gather intelligence to bring back to Meadowcity.
The story is told from different points of view, alternating between Sylvia and Governor Greyling. The only thing that confused me initially is that there is also a time shift between these viewpoints. Sylvia's story is happening in the present, while Governor Greyling's is happening in the past. It took me a while to figure out the events were time shifted and not simultaneous.
The story was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to reading the sequels.
The book opens with the leader of Skycity, Governor Greyling, declaring war on Meadowcity, much to shock and consternation of the citizens of Meadowcity. The book follows Sylvia, a Rider, as she takes on a perilous mission to reach Riftcity, already under attack by Governor Greyling, in order to gather intelligence to bring back to Meadowcity.
The story is told from different points of view, alternating between Sylvia and Governor Greyling. The only thing that confused me initially is that there is also a time shift between these viewpoints. Sylvia's story is happening in the present, while Governor Greyling's is happening in the past. It took me a while to figure out the events were time shifted and not simultaneous.
The story was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. I look forward to reading the sequels.
March 29, 2015
I really enjoyed exploring this world. It took me a little while to figure out the time gap between the two halves of the story (one storyline takes place several years before the other) but wasn't put off by the uncertainty. The book is YA or even middle grade safe . Over all an enjoyable read.
While the book is clearly the first in a series, it avoids some of the pitfalls of series books in that there is a decent story arc and no annoying cliffhanger ending. It provides enough open plotlines/questions to make me eager for the next book (no idea when that is due out, sorry) without frustrating me as a reader.
I guess it is odd, but the character I cared the most about was the "bad" guy. I almost wish we'd spent more time with him.
While the book is clearly the first in a series, it avoids some of the pitfalls of series books in that there is a decent story arc and no annoying cliffhanger ending. It provides enough open plotlines/questions to make me eager for the next book (no idea when that is due out, sorry) without frustrating me as a reader.
I guess it is odd, but the character I cared the most about was the "bad" guy. I almost wish we'd spent more time with him.
March 29, 2015
fun adventure with great series potential
I really enjoyed exploring this world. It took me a little while to figure out the time gap between the two halves of the story (one storyline takes place several years before the other) but wasn't put off by the uncertainty. The book is YA or even middle grade safe . Over all an enjoyable read.
I really enjoyed exploring this world. It took me a little while to figure out the time gap between the two halves of the story (one storyline takes place several years before the other) but wasn't put off by the uncertainty. The book is YA or even middle grade safe . Over all an enjoyable read.
May 10, 2015
Future
The world was ravished by war, and a thousand? years in the future, survivors descendants now lived in four cities. But one of the governors has found a fifth city that still retains remnants of civilization and he wants it, and intends to force the other three cities under his rule. Good book but not a stand alone, and sequel not in sight.
The world was ravished by war, and a thousand? years in the future, survivors descendants now lived in four cities. But one of the governors has found a fifth city that still retains remnants of civilization and he wants it, and intends to force the other three cities under his rule. Good book but not a stand alone, and sequel not in sight.
September 26, 2016
Great book
A peace between four cities until a madman decides he needs all of them to help take over the fifth hidden city by force. With strange technology he attacks the other cities. But, standing between him and his plan is one lone scout. Can she get help to stop him? Great story and wonderful characters.
A peace between four cities until a madman decides he needs all of them to help take over the fifth hidden city by force. With strange technology he attacks the other cities. But, standing between him and his plan is one lone scout. Can she get help to stop him? Great story and wonderful characters.
May 3, 2017
A really clever adventure story for shelves that also contain works by John Flanagan (Brotherband Series).
Sylvia Thorne is a Rider in one of the Four Cities, all isolated from one another to spare each other infighting and war. After delivering a message to a neighboring city, upon return Sylvia is told of a stranger appearing on the edge of town with a tale of war.
Also occurring is the discovery of a Fifth City with technological marvels beyond what anyone's seen for hundreds of years. Sylvia and fellow Rider Ven have been tasked to take the mysterious stranger back to his town to see what exactly is going on while everyone prepares for war.
Told in two timelines that meet for one big revelation, the story moves along with nice pacing and just enough wonder to make you want to read the next installments. A good choice for adventure series readers and very well written with a mythology that keeps interest from the creation of the Four Cities to the discovery of a Fifth.
Sylvia Thorne is a Rider in one of the Four Cities, all isolated from one another to spare each other infighting and war. After delivering a message to a neighboring city, upon return Sylvia is told of a stranger appearing on the edge of town with a tale of war.
Also occurring is the discovery of a Fifth City with technological marvels beyond what anyone's seen for hundreds of years. Sylvia and fellow Rider Ven have been tasked to take the mysterious stranger back to his town to see what exactly is going on while everyone prepares for war.
Told in two timelines that meet for one big revelation, the story moves along with nice pacing and just enough wonder to make you want to read the next installments. A good choice for adventure series readers and very well written with a mythology that keeps interest from the creation of the Four Cities to the discovery of a Fifth.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews