Andrea Robertson

"First in a new series"--Author's website.

Forged in Fire and Stars

Jess Ostrander

3.5 stars!

Thank you to PenguinTeen and Netgalley for the review copy!

Ara is the daughter of the Loresmith, the legendary blacksmith blessed by the gods to protect the kingdom. It's Ara's fate to inherit the title, but her father died before he was able to teach her the skills. Now she's living a quiet life in her small village. But everything changes when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara away to help on their mission to reclaim the throne. Along the way, they meet a thief and his fox, and they all set out to help Ara take her place as Loresmith and reclaim the kingdom. 

The premise of this book is so good. It really intrigued me and made me want to read it. And I think the beginning of the story was so interesting and compelling. But it kinda slows down and drags a bit towards the middle and end. I think we could have used more action and interest. The writing is really unique and I love the style. But plot and characters fell a little flat. It felt a bit predictable and the characters can be somewhat bland. I did appreciate the diversity we got with our little gang. I wish we got a more developed character arc for our MC, but maybe that will come in the next book. I do want to continue the series, but I hope things speed up in book two! I think this can happen sometimes with first books in a series because so much needs to be set up with the world and the characters; I think the potential for a great series is there though. 

I think it's definitely still worth the read, and still held my interest enough to want to finish it and want to continue the series. If you're intrigued by the premise, and keep in mind that there will be more books, I would recommend it. It's got lots of good epic fantasy components and feels like a fresher take on the whole knights/bards/blacksmith type of book and characters. The mythology and lore of the world is really cool, and I liked that aspect a lot. Overall, this book shines the most in world building and premise, and I hope character development and more action take the front seat in book two!

"Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse will flock to this new series." --Booklist Games of Thrones meets An Ember in the Ashes in this action-packed fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of the Nightshade series. Ara has always known the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of Saetlund, forging legendary weapons to arm warriors and protect the kingdom. She's been told it's her fate to inherit the title and become the next Loresmith. But since the monarchy's downfall in a vicious conquest years before, Ara has never truly believed she would be able to take up her duty. But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne and return Ara to her place as the Loresmith--Ara's whole world turns upside down. Suddenly, Ara must leave her small mountain village and embark on a dangerous adventure where she will uncover new truths about her family's legacy, and even face the gods themselves. With a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, and dark forces following their every move, Ara must use all her skills to forge the right path forward--for herself, her kingdom, and her heart. From internationally bestselling author Andrea Roberston comes a gorgeously written new fantasy series perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse or Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series. Praise for Forged in Fire and Stars: "An epic and classic fantasy." --School Library Journal "Epic fantasy isn't usually my thing, but Forged in Fire and Stars made me a believer." --TOR.com

Sophia Ejercito

"Fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse will flock to this new series." --Booklist Games of Thrones meets Shadow and Bone in this action-packed fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of the Nightshade series. Ara has always known the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of Saetlund, forging legendary weapons to arm warriors and protect the kingdom. She's been told it's her fate to inherit the title and become the next Loresmith. But since the monarchy's downfall in a vicious conquest years before, Ara has never truly believed she would be able to take up her duty. But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne and return Ara to her place as the Loresmith--Ara's whole world turns upside down. Suddenly, Ara must leave her small mountain village and embark on a dangerous adventure where she will uncover new truths about her family's legacy, and even face the gods themselves. With a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, and dark forces following their every move, Ara must use all her skills to forge the right path forward--for herself, her kingdom, and her heart. From internationally bestselling author Andrea Roberston comes a gorgeously written new fantasy series perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse or Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes series. Praise for Forged in Fire and Stars: "An epic and classic fantasy." --School Library Journal "Epic fantasy isn't usually my thing, but Forged in Fire and Stars made me a believer." --TOR.com

Forged in Fire and Stars

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