Jessica Cluess

"When her unusual powers mark her as the one destined to lead the war against the seven Ancients, Henrietta trains to become the first female sorcerer in centuries--though the true nature of her ability threatens to be revealed"--

A Shadow Bright and Burning

Shawna Delellis

I decided not to finish this book at 57% through. It was boring and repetitive.

Rachel Kanyid

I loved this! Looking forward to reading more from this author!

Steysha

I would describe this book as a mix of Shadow and Bone + Infernal Devices. 

Perhaps, many might think that this story is full of clichés, but I don`t see this as a problem. Don`t we often look for a book that will be similar to our favorite novels? I was in a reading slump when I started A Shadow Bright and Burning, and the fact that it reminded me of a couple of my favorite fantasy books sealed the deal for me.

The story begins typically: we are introduced to the main character, she is an orphan, lives in the girls' school along with his childhood friend, Rook. The heroine is aware of her abilities - she can set herself aflame - but hides them, as she fears that she`s a witch and will be killed for it. In their world, there are three types of wizards: witches, magicians, and sorcerers, and only the latest are in high esteem.

One day, the sorcerer comes to their school, and at that moment the dark forces decide to attack them. To save her friend from death, Henrietta has to use her abilities in front of the sorcerer. Sounds familiar, doesn`t it?

And now she`s not a witch, but a sorcerer! And not a simple one, but the one from the prophecy! Yes, she is a special snowflake. What pleased me was the fact that Henrietta did not deny that she was special and immediately jumped at the opportunity to change her life. If she takes the training, she`ll fight with an army of Origins in the name of the Queen! Instead of sitting in a school for girls and getting beaten by an old bastard. She opens a world of new opportunities and Henrietta is ready to do anything to make her and Rook`s life better.

But here's the catch ... it looks like she's not the prophesied one… 

Once she becomes a student, she meets with other sorcerers – all boys. Among them are two: aka Mr. Darcy and Magnus (he also reminds me of someone, but I can`t figure out who). One is a handsome Earl who dislikes our heroine and doesn`t believe that she is able to fight on par with the rest of the sorcerers, and the second is an ardent feminist, humorist and just a cutie pie.

By the way, this book is the most feministic book I've ever read. In Victorian London, a woman is just a beautiful toy who is not supposed to think. So when the woman becomes a sorcerer, especially the one who is charged with the fate of England, many regard her with hostility. Henriettа teaches men that women also deserve respect. She won`t allow them to treat her like a mindless puppet.

This book fascinated me from the first page and till the last. I fell in love with her funny, witty, cunning characters. I also liked that the plot wasn`t based on the romance, although it was there. I predict that there will be a love triangle in future, and I`m a bit confused by one of its corner - Rook. He`s probably the only character who generally lacked any personality. The only thing I can say about him is that he is a childhood friend of Henrietta and that he constantly needs saving. Of course, he is in love with the heroine, and she thinks that she likes him, too. But why? What`s so great about him, but the fact that he was the only man in her life before she came to London? If the author wanted to create a love triangle with him in the lead roles, it was necessary to make him a more vivid character, so readers at least could have a chance to love him. There are those who like Mal, right?:D But he had no chances, because Rook didn`t play any special role in this book. 

Also, this story has a huge amount of plot twists. Some were easy to predict, some surprised me. If the author manages something like that in the continuation of the series, I will be immensely happy.

All in all, I recommend this book to fans of Shadow and Bone, the Red Queen and Infernal Devices - you should give it a chance. 

Despite the fact that I gave it 5 stars, there were some things that made me cringe (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!) 

(view spoiler)[1. Some plot twists have been illogical and just convenient to the author. For example, a prison guard who have been deceived by Henrietta. Well, for fuck`s sake, he's not just some stupid redneck, he`s one of the royal guards! How could he be THAT stupid to go to the sorcerer cell and do whatever it is she says? For what purpose? And what did it mean "he looked at her strangely"? Well, fuck, he also behaved very strangely! Did it mean that he wanted her, or pitied her? I haven`t seen any explanation of what motivated him. A very illogical moment.

2. No one stays dead in this book. It`s a pattern. The author will have to work very hard in the next instalment to surprise us, because we already know what to expect. 

3. Gwen. Can anyone explain to me why she suddenly became evil? If she was such a great sorcerer, then she could definitely resist Origin`s magic. But no, she went to them willingly. Why?

4. 7.	I still have no idea how Henrietta looks. It may be my lack of attention, but I did notice that she was called “dark” a couple of times. What does that even mean? Dark-haired? Dark-skinned? (hide spoiler)]

Can`t wait to read the sequel!

"Vivid characters, terrifying monsters, and world building as deep and dark as the ocean." --Victoria Aveyard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Red Queen I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years. The prophesied one. Or am I? Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves? Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces a powerful, unforgettably heroine, and a world filled with magic, romance, and betrayal. Hand to fans of Libba Bray, Sarah J. Maas, and Cassandra Clare. "The magic! The intrigue! The guys! We were sucked into this monster-ridden, alternative England from page one. Henrietta is literally a 'girl on fire' and this team of sorcerers training for battle had a pinch of Potter blended with a drop of [Cassandra Clare's] Infernal Devices." --Justine Magazine "Cluess gamely turns the chosen-one trope upside down in this smashing dark fantasy." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "Unputdownable. I loved the monsters, the magic, and the teen warriors who are their world's best hope! Jessica Cluess is an awesome storyteller!" --Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author "A fun, inventive fantasy. I totally have a book crush on Rook." --Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author "Pure enchantment. I love how Cluess turned the 'chosen one' archetype on its head. With the emotional intensity of my favorite fantasy books, this is the kind of story that makes you forget yourself." --Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen "A glorious, fast-paced romp of an adventure. Jessica Cluess has built her story out of my favorite ingredients: sorcery, demons, romance, and danger." --Kelly Link, author of Pretty Monsters

A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire, Book One)

Sheila

2.5 stars. If Pride and Prejudice was magical, included otherworldly demon things, and played out in a reverse harem scenario, you'd have this book. While the themes of this book were extremely derivative, and the writing was pretty much all dialogue with little substance, it's hard not to get that little twinge in your heart for the Mr. Darcy/grouchy cinnamon roll teen Blackwood! I can already picture this as a reverse harem anime, and frankly it would be brilliant as one.

Don't read this if you're looking for something fresh. If you want to curl up with some jaunty teen Victorian sorcerer boys, however, this is the book for you!

Erin Russell

3.5/5 stars. It becomes more enthralling the farther you get. If you aren't taken with it in the first 50 pages just push a little longer and you may get into it. That was the case for me, at least. I really appreciated the magic system after it is further explained later on in the book. I will be reading the next installment some time soon!

Lila Harrison

4.5 stars. loved it loved it loved it!!! i sense this series will be a new favorite and i can't wait to get my hands on the sequel!!!

Sahi K

This book has the typical YA storyline – orphaned young girl Henrietta is living a dull and occasionally tortured life until she is told by the sorcerer Agrippa that she is the Prophesied One who can destroy the Ancients and bring an end to the war. She travels with him and her childhood friend Rook to London Proper to train formally and receive a commendation from Queen Victoria. She joins with the other young boys under Agrippa’s tutelage and all of them train together. There are many who don’t like a woman with magical abilities and she has to fend off a lot of attacks – both physical and verbal. When she is rocked by the truth of her lineage and betrayal from unexpected quarters, she is forced to make choices that might change the fate of England forever.

The story was okay and I was able to get through the book. I didn’t really like Henrietta’s character because she I felt she was too selfish sometimes and would do anything for Rook, the whole world be damned. I think I expect a little more from the main protagonist. Rook was not a very steady presence in the book, so I don’t know if have formed any opinion about him yet. I really liked the characters of Agrippa, Magnus and Blackwood. They are almost always there for her and are ever ready to fight to protect her. The loyalty of all the boys is commendable but I especially liked Magnus, the charming flirt and Blackwood, the eternal brooder. I think I will read the next book in the series for their sake. I am usually a big fan of fantasy world building and it was missing here, so I still don’t know a lot about the world and its villains. My final verdict – the book is fairly enjoyable due to some good characters.

Toni Turner

This is so quirky. 
It's funny, and whimsical, but dark and intense at times. I have a few problems with it. 
Also, i better get more of Wolff and Lambe in later installments because wth they are so so in love. And I want to know more about Dee! 
And about Netties family. 
BUT REALLY JESSICA MORE WOLFF AND LAMBE PLEASE

Viry

"In a perfect world, we would be able to declare our abilities openly. Then again, in a perfect world there would be no war against seven vicious monsters."
  
 I have to admit this was a fun read, but as I went on with the book it started to feel very formulaic and very similar to other "chosen one" stories. I did enjoy the aspects of feminism in Henrietta standing out and kicking ass in a world dominated by men, it's just felt like it wasn't anything new.. I really enjoyed the world building and the magic system that was established, I'm not sure if I will be continuing on with this series, maybe in the future.

Neva Davies

After Cluess's behavior on Twitter November 30, 2020, in which she attacked an Afrolatina educator unprovoked, I am no longer reading her books. Her tweets (which she has since deleted) were irredeemable and full of racist vitriol.

Alexis 

I picked up and put down this book so many times, despite hearing amazing things about it. I eventually pushed through the first few chapters and completely understood the hype on this book. I highly recommend this book. I'm now impatiently waiting for the sequel to come out now.

Alejandra Bran

I read so many bad reviews about this book still I decided to read it, and I liked it. I do understand that it's not the most original book, but I think that the story has a lot potential.

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

In this novel, written by Jessica Cluess, Henrietta is the prophesied girl to bring about the end of the Ancient ones, seven monsters tormenting England during Queen Victoria’s reign, by becoming the first female sorcerer, not to be confused with the illegal witches and magicians, since Joan of Arc. Oh, and she has an Unclean best friend whom she is trying to save.

Honestly, that is the best way I can think of describing this book without giving anything away.

I enjoyed this. But, as I was writing that summary, I realized that not much happened in this book. The characters grew, there was a lot of character development… on a few characters. And, while the characters are teens, and there is nothing that MAKES this an adult novel, I feel like this would appeal to adult fans of Harry Potter. It is a very, very similar plot, with the exception of length, detail, and the fact that the main character is a girl.

And, the biggest reason I think this has been categorized as a YA novel is the fact that, if this was an adult novel, this would only be the first half or the first section of the story.

Who would like this novel? Fans of Harry Potter, I think, would be the best. Historical fiction fans… maybe?

Things this book did that I didn’t like: the random addition of Fey. We don’t get to see them more than on occasion, and they should be a bigger part. Particularly since, while there are a lot of Fey novels and stories out there, I think that many people still don’t know those stories. And, because of the variety, an author needs to describe their world fully. That is the biggest downfall of this written, is the description of the world itself. We get bits and pieces, but not much of the world as a whole.

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers-- the first female sorcerer in hundreds of years. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her.

Georgiana.aysha

** spoiler alert **
           After a couple of days I’ve forgot what happen in this book ... 
I remember she was a teacher then something happen and she went to a school that teaches magic and because she was the chosen one other stuff I can’t say be side to spoiler happend.

Jessica 

As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way. 


First things first: I have to admit, I had both doubts and intrigue when it came to this novel. Mostly doubts. I'm a huge fan of a good fantasy novel that deals in witchcraft and the like. So much so that sometimes I get a bit jaded. I naturally hesitated. Hear me out: it took me a bit of time to really get into it, but my guess it was because I had been reading it in between time at work/while I was at the doctors office with my friend. But when I did get into it?

Holy cow, it was so bloody good. Actually, it was fire. I'm telling you guys, this book was practically as flame-worthy as the stunning cover art you see next to my thoughts. Jessica Cluess paints a dark, vivid and magical world in A Shadow Bright and Burning--one thing's for certain based on this release: we're in for a lot as the series continues. I'm more than ready for this adventure.

I should warn you guys that A Shadow Bright and Burning is a fantastic trip but it also had its moments where things felt a bit slow or underwhelming, like we'd been here before. There will be elements that you've seen in other releases of similar plots. But (but!) that's okay because while it did have these hiccups, it was still an excellent read that was fast paced and fulfilling. I found the novel, as a whole, to be a huge page turner once it really got into its groove and it definitely doesn't allow its flaws, nor its slow start, to define it.
Continued: BOOKEDJ

A Shadow Bright and Burning

Reviews