Magic, darkness, trials and a lost heir. All the makings of the stunning beginning of a new fantasy series by Sara Heshem. With echoes of ancient Egypt, we are dropped into the middle of a world at odds and meet Sylvia, a magical, orphaned heir on the run.
Sylvia’s magic, long hidden, is accidentally exposed when her kind nature overrides her survival instinct. It’s a mistake that sends her into training and an agreement with the dark Arin. With his help, she learns how to control her magic and confidence in the upcoming trials – in which she’s promised freedom for herself and her friends.
Numerous twists and turns leave unsure of where your allegiances lie. In full transparency, though, this is a dense and confusing read. I checked it out of the library twice to complete it, and I’m not sure if I’ll read the next installment. While I enjoyed the book, I kept feeling like I was misunderstanding layers of the story.
529 pages
Published by Orbit
Characters 3
Story 3
World-Building 5
Spice 2
Diversity 4
Total Stars 3
Would I buy this book for myself or a friend? No
Will I recommend this book to readers? Yes