ARC Review: Owl Eyes by Molly Lazar

Nora knows three things: she is a servant, her parents are dead, and she lives in the kitchen house with her adoptive family. But her world is torn apart when she discovers that her birth father has always been right there, living in the house she serves.
This discovery leads Nora to more questions. Why was she thrown in an ash-covered room for asking about her father? Why is a silver-bladed knife the only inheritance from her birth mother? Why is magic forbidden in her household—and throughout the province of the Runes? The answers may not be the ones Nora hoped for, as they threaten a possible romance and her relationship with the adoptive family she loves.
With the announcement of a royal ball, Nora must decide what she is willing to give up in order to claim her stolen birthright, and whether this new life is worth losing her family—and herself.

I received a copy of this novel in return for an honest review

I want to give this novel four or five stars so badly. This was a Cinderella retelling in the best way. The author was brilliant with her characters and her world building.

Nora was a great character and each line was chosen with care and consideration. This was a unique and magical book. I was hesitant at first because the opening line isn't all that great, but once I started reading this I couldn't put it down.

The magic in the book is different then what I've seen before and I wish Nora had embraced her mother's lineage. This novel doesn't end the way a Cinderella story normally does and it was refreshing. 

I really enjoyed reading this.

But...

**warning for spoilers****

The ending, ugh the ending. It was so rushed, it didn't feel like the rest of this magical book. It left dozens of questions unanswered but wrapped up enough that there's no need for a sequel. I think the author should seriously consider rewriting the last few chapters, adding some scenes. Like Nora getting back her mother's necklace, how people react when they find out who Nora actually is. How does she break the news to Edward she doesn't want him, and get the king to be ok with it?  How do her sisters react knowing they are her sisters and her cousins?  I needed another ten pages or so to make me feel like the story truly ended. 

Aside from that, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat.