From a stunning new voice in science fantasy comes an action-packed debut of fire magic and ancient prophecy, in which the fate of a futuristic desert kingdom rests in the hands of a princess desperate for power and an assassin with a dark secret.
“A CAPTIVATING ADVENTURE.” —Peter V. Brett
The Ravani kingdom was born of a prophecy, carved from unforgiving desert sands and ruled by the Ravence bloodline: those with the power to command the Eternal Fire.
Elena Aadya is the heir to the throne—and the only Ravence who cannot wield her family’s legendary magic. As her coronation approaches, she will do whatever it takes to prove herself a worthy successor to her revered father. But she doesn’t anticipate the arrival of Yassen Knight, the notorious assassin who now claims fealty to the throne. Elena’s father might trust Yassen to be a member of her royal guard, but she is certain he is hiding something.
As the threat of war looms like a storm on the horizon, the two begin a dangerous dance of intrigue and betrayal. And the choices they make could burn down the world.
My thoughts: the beginning of a new fantasy series always makes me nervous; will I love it? Will I wish it had remained an idea? Thankfully, this one, the first in a trilogy, is definitely a keeper. I fell for Elena and Yassen, as they fell for each other. Which I predicted they would from the moment they met. She’s the heir to the kingdom, he’s the former assassin turned royal guard.
But first they have to survive all the intrigue, death threats, his former employers, the enemies on the borders, her father’s dangerous followers, politics and religion. When the heir turns twenty-five, they take the throne and the previous monarch steps down. Only Leo, Elena’s father, hasn’t told her everything. He hasn’t explained her mother’s death, or the terrible truths about their family’s reign.
But Elena is clever and when her bodyguard and surrogate mother, Ferma leads her to a chest full of her late mother’s scrolls and notebooks, Elena learns the truth. The fire they worship needs a sacrifice, a terrible one.
When Elena is about to be crowned, disaster follows, and now she and Yassen are on the run, as the neighbouring kingdom invades and the deadly Prophet rises. Can they risk everything to save the kingdom, can Elena retake the throne? Well, book two might have some answers.
I loved the world building and the characters, Ferma was my favourite, then it was the burri (horse/camel creatures as far as I can work out) who aren’t very impressed by tunnels.
Elena grew on me, and I came to really like her and root for her as she stood up to her father and all his secrets, demanding to know if he planned to treat her like a puppet when she took the throne or actually let her rule. Her slow burn love story with Yassen and their bond was also lovely.
I cannot wait for the next installment, this ends with so many questions and not nearly enough answers.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 