Reader's Review: "A Splash of Truth" by Amy Hopkins

Synopsis from Amazon:

A boy is missing, and Emma needs to find him fast. The High Seat's request to hunt down a traitor on the Council will just have to wait.

When Emma's search leads her to the gritty underground where half-blood children are made to fight for sport, she'll require every ounce of cunning and skill she has to bring the operation down. She must not only mingle with the arrogant nobles who run the operation but finally face down the one person who means her the most harm - her sister, Aveline.

Putting off the High Seat's task, however, may be a bigger risk than she bargained for...

>>>>>>>>

My Review:

Oh goody!!!

A few years ago, I read the first two books, back when it was billed as an "urban fantasy gritty adventure" series. It was an okay fit, and I really did enjoy both books--but then Hopkins pulled, edited, and re-branded the Talented series as a "cozy urban fantasy mystery" and holy heck what a difference a simple change of genre focus makes! All that to say, while I ended up reading the first two books twice over (just to make sure there wasn't anything huge that would have to change my reviews at all--great news, there wasn't! Every word still applies!) this was the first book in the series that I only had to read once--and it was absolutely spiffing!

Hopkins does an excellent job with the continuity of character relationships--from Emma's interactions with Harrod and Martin and Charlie, all the way down to Ellandra and Lenny. Everybody's falling into a rhythm with one another, and taking up certain roles in Emma's story. In the first book, she's barely having anything to do with the Inner City life--and after the events of Book 2, we see her now attending events as "Emmaline Beaumarchais" and acquainting herself with the side of her life that has rejected her for so long (and in some ways still does.)

A Splash of Truth deals with more of a challenge to high-ranking officials than ever before, and marks Emma's transition from "preserving one's own life" (as in the first book) and "crimes done in the seedy underbelly of society" (as in the second book) to "secrets held among the elite"--but she absolutely shows the same tenacity!

The other thing I like best is the fact that, even with an extraordinary Talent that "nobody should possess", Emma is not an indomitable, over-powered, invincible Mary-Sue--she's still being trained how to use it (though sometimes the training doesn't go so well), she's still susceptible, vulnerable, and by no means proficient--though she learns some important lessons about her Talent that give her more clarity than ever before.... Just in time for things to ramp up yet again, in preparation for the final book!

A Splash of Truth demonstrates the importance of pursuing all the facts in the matter rather than accepting things at face value--and how dangerous it can be when one kernel of truth is swamped in a sea of lies. At the same time, a "splash of truth" can be the key to one's freedom. It's got super-powered children, battle magic, enchanted disguises, vicious villains, intense plot-twists--and a whole lot of heart! I give A Splash of Truth the full *****5 STAR***** rating, and it still warrants an Upstream Writer Certified ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED endorsement. Because seriously--if you like fantasy and magic and you're done with the Harry Potter series and want more like it, look no further! This is undoubtedly the series you're looking for!

Further Reading: (Also by The Author/Urban Fantasy/Delightful Characters)

Talented Series--Amy Hopkins

     -A Drop of Dream 
     -A Dash of Fiend 

     -A Splash of Truth *(This Book)

Lord of the Wyrde Woods--Nils Visser
     -Escape From Neverland 
     -Dance Into The Wyrd 

The Books of Winter--R. R. Virdi
       -Dangerous Ways 

The Chronicles of Lorrek--Kelly Blanchard
        -Someday I'll Be Redeemed 
        -I Still Have A Soul 
        -I'm Still Alive 
        -Do You Trust Me? 
        -You Left Me No Choice 

The Therian Way--Kimberly Rogers
       -Leopard's Heart 
       -Wolf's Path 
       -Tiger's Shadow 

The Fair Folk Chronicles--Jeffrey Cook and Katherine Perkins
        -Foul is Fair 
        -Street Fair 
        -A Fair Fight 
        -All's Fair 

-Dreamtime Dragons--Dreamtime Fantasy Authors

The Vemreaux Trilogy--Mary E. Twomey
       -The Way 
       -The Truth 
       -The Lie 

The Portal Prophecies--C. A. King
     -A Keeper's Destiny 
     -A Halloween's Curse 
     -Frost Bitten