Karen Frost

A compelling, original, evocative fantasy novel for young and old. Part one of the Destiny and Darkness series.

Conspiracy of the Dark

Daughter of Fire

Jude Silberfeld

This is a frustrating read. Like other reviewers before me, I wonder why the story is being told in two different books. This one feels like an introduction and not much more. The world building is good (though it feels too much like Harry Potter meets GoT, I was having plenty of déjà vu feelings) and so is the writing, but I kept waiting for the real story to begin.

When we first meet Aeryn, she’s a child, living in a tiny village in the Ice Crown region, in the north of the kingdom. The villagers are not used to visitors and when a mage comes by unexpectedly, Aeryn is fascinated. We meet her again at fifteen, when she discovers she has magic. She trains as best she can to control the fire and bolts her body produces, not sure she can (nor is willing to) get proper training as a mage at university. Then she’s taken away from her family by soldiers of the King’s Regiment and brought to said university by a Hagrid-like knight. She makes friends there and learns that the world is not always as it seems. Also, there’s a war happening in the south of the kingdom and it all sounds very ominous. It also explains why Aeryn is being trained, as obviously war mages are needed to win and / or stop the war.

The first part ends on some sort of cliffhanger which is not a real surprise to the reader, even if it is to Aeryn.

As annoying as it felt to be stopped right when the story gets interesting, I’m looking forward to reading the second part, to find out what happens to Aeryn, whether she grows up to become a war mage and if the fledgling romance with Lyse gets anywhere. It’s announced for November, so not too long to wait.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

This thrilling sequel to Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark is a fast-paced, captivating fantasy novel for young and old.

The Darkness Rising

As I was hoping, the first book, Daughter of Fire: Conspiracy of the Dark, was setting the scene and this one is where the action really takes place. Yet not all the action since it, once again, ends on a cliffhanger, although it’s a lot less frustrating than the end of book 1.

Daughter of Fire: The Darkness Rising starts where the previous book ended, with Lyse restraining Aeryn, preventing her from attacking the ambassador of the people she holds responsible for her family’s death. There’s a lot Aeryn doesn’t know, and Lyse shares her theory with her on what really happened. At the same time, the two students keep investigating the unexplained disappearances throughout King’s City. While doing so, they meet Lady Asher, a young knight, whose interest in Aeryn displeases Lyse. Aeryn and Lyse try to navigate their feelings for each other, despite Lyse being bonded to Timo. If that wasn’t enough, a Dark mages conspiracy seems more and more plausible, and the little group of students at Windhall University might be the only ones able to fight it.

There’s a lot of action and growth and excitement happening in this second book and it all makes for a very enjoyable read, even though I couldn’t shake the Harry Potter feel. Some scenes drag on a little, which messes with the otherwise fast-paced rythm, usually when the heroine is overwhelmed. That said, who wouldn’t feel overwhelmed in her place?

Aeryn is the perfect YA heroine, in that she’s responsible and earnest, and sometimes unyielding. She’s arrogant in that way only gifted teenagers can get away with. Lyse is also becoming an interesting character. She’s much stronger than she lets on and I hope we’ll get to see more of that side of her in future instalments.

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, and am looking forward to the next one, hoping I’ll like it even more.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Daughter of Fire Conspiracy of the Dark

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