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The Impostor Queen, by Sarah Fine
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The elders chose Elli to be queen, but they chose wrong in this beautifully crafted novel in the tradition of Kristin Cashore and Victoria Aveyard.
Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.
But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.
Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.
- Sales Rank: #370058 in Books
- Published on: 2016-01-05
- Released on: 2016-01-05
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 8.25" h x 1.40" w x 5.50" l, .0 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 432 pages
Review
"Fine's portrayals of fire and ice magic are scorching and chilling...Full of passion, fire, and ice. " (Kirkus Reviews)
"Readers will find conspiracy, magic, war, romance, prophecy, corruption, and the truth that there are multiple sides to every story. Stay tuned for a sequel. VERDICT Recommend to readers who enjoy magical fantasy with a little romance mixed in—especially to fans of Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen." (School Library Journal)
“Readers who love unique world building and magic will embrace this story easily, but the qualities of bravery, love, and devotion will extend its appeal even further.” (Booklist)
"Elli's quest is absorbing, the story well-paced, and the world and its magic intriguing." (Publishers Weekly)
“Fans of Rae Carson’s books and Victoria Aveyard’s Red Queen will find much to love in Fine’s engrossing novel.” (VOYA)
“Sarah Fine presents a fresh and fascinating magical world with its own rules and rituals, riveting action and relationships (and a sequel-worthy ending),featuring a protagonist who grows in wisdom, compassion, and self-awareness.” (School Library Journal, "Magic, Dastardly Villains, and Less-Than-Perfect Heroes")
About the Author
Sarah Fine is the author of Of Metal and Wishes, Of Dreams and Rust, The Impostor Queen, and The Guards of the Shadowlands series. She was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast. When she's not writing, she's working as a child psychologist. Visit her at SarahFineBooks.com.
Excerpt. � Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
The Impostor Queen
CHAPTER 1
The heart lies before me, still, colorful, and more mysterious than I want it to be. I lean over the diagram etched onto the scroll, trying to memorize it all at once. The main vessel that carries the blood to the rest of the body is marked in red ink, and I slide my fingertip across the label. Valtimo. I like the word. It’s vital and meaty. “Elder Kauko, are the vessels in a loop, somehow? How does the blood know when it is time to return to the heart?”
Elder Kauko, seated next to me at this sturdy table laden with scrolls depicting livers, brains, all the bones of the hand and fingers, and so many other fascinating things, adjusts his robe over his round belly. “You are so clever, Elli. Yes, it is like a loop. The blood never leaves the vessels, merely travels through the tunnels until it passes through the heart again.”
I frown. “Why, though? Why is it so important, if all it does is flow through our veins? What does it do?”
He smiles. When I was little, his lips used to fascinate me; they stick out like two grubs pasted to his pale face. “The blood is life itself. It carries warmth to the limbs and strength to the muscles.”
My fingers trace the path of the blood into the lungs. “And what about magic? Does the blood carry magic throughout the body too?”
The elder lets out a breath as if I’ve elbowed him, then starts to chuckle. “Magic is more complicated than that.”
I blow a strand of my hair off my forehead, frustration warming my skin. “I know it’s not simple, but if the blood is life�.�.�.” I glance at the elder, who waits patiently for my thought to form. “When magic leaves a Valtia, she dies. So it seems as if magic is life too. And if that’s true, then—”
He puts up his hands, as if in surrender. “My dear Saadella, magic infuses the wielder. It is everywhere within her.”
I tap the diagram. “Including the blood?”
“Yes, yes. Including the blood. But—”
“Can you distill the magic from the blood, then? Will it separate like oil from water if it sits out overnight? Have you ever—”
The elder starts to laugh, his belly wobbling. “Darling child, do you ever stop? Some things simply are, and it is best to be at peace with that.”
“And magic is one of them,” I say slowly. How many times have I heard that from my tutors? “But where does it come from, Elder? I know the Valtia’s magic passes to the Saadella, but what about the other wielders?”
Elder Kauko nudges my hand, which has now curled around the edge of the scroll, and in my eagerness, crumpled the paper. “We never know how it chooses a wielder.” He taps the tip of my nose with his index finger. “We only know it chooses wisely.”
I smooth my fingers over the wrinkled paper. “But when I had my geography lesson with priest Eljas the other day, he told me the Kupari are the only people in the world with magic. So why did it choose us?”
“Why did it choose us?” He gestures toward the corridor that leads to the grand domed chamber of our temple. “Because we serve it and keep it well, and�.�.�.” He bows his head and lets out a huff of quiet laughter. “It just did, my Saadella. But I, for one, am not surprised. There is no better people than the Kupari, none stronger or purer of heart.”
Like I so often do in my lessons, I feel as if I am banging against a closed door, begging entrance. “But if that’s true, and we should all be at peace that the magic chose us, then why do all the priests spend their days studying it? What are they trying to figure out?” I point to the deep shelves of scrolls in Kauko’s personal library. He is the physician, but he is also an elder, one of the more powerful magic wielders in this temple. “I know these texts aren’t only about anatomy. When will you teach me about the actual magic?”
He sweeps his hand over the open scroll. “We teach you things every day, child!”
I bite my lip. “I thought when I turned sixteen, my lessons might include more than teachings on the natural world. I hoped I could spend more time with the Valtia and learn how she rules.”
Kauko begins to roll up the scroll, and that mysterious heart disappears into a spiral of brown paper. “The Valtia must keep her focus on her magic, and using it to serve the people. I know you mean well, but she cannot be distracted from that.” His thick lips quirk up in a sheepish smile. “And I know a horde of old priests are not equal to her company, but please believe we are dedicated to preparing you for the throne.”
I look away from him, feeling ashamed of my selfishness. “I do,” I murmur. But I can’t help the way my heart yearns for my Valtia—nor my desire to learn from her.
Elder Kauko gathers the scrolls into a pile. “You will have all the knowledge you need when the time comes, Elli,” he says, his voice gentle.
“You don’t know when the time will come,” I say as urgency coils in my gut.
His smile becomes wistful as he gives my arm a tender pat. “The other elders and I will guide you in the magic once it is inside you.” His dark eyes twinkle with a teasing mischief. “Besides, you cannot possibly know what you most want to ask until you have experienced the magic for yourself, hmm? Then you can bombard us with your questions!” He takes me by the elbow. “Come. I think it is time for your afternoon rest.”
The only person in this temple who doesn’t treat me like a child is Mim. I almost say it, but my words clog in my throat as he turns me to face him.
“We all know how devoted you are to your duty.” His expression is full of pride, and it makes me stand a little straighter. “We prize that in you. My dearest hope is that you come to understand how devoted we are to you.”
My throat is tight, but not with questions now. With emotion. “I know, Elder Kauko. I am so fortunate to have you. All of you.”
An echoing shout for Elder Kauko from down the corridor has us both turning toward the door again. “Coming!” he calls.
I follow him into the stone hallway that connects this rear wing to the grand chamber of the Temple on the Rock. The shouting is coming from there. Elder Kauko runs his hand over the dusky shadow on his bald head, his fingers steady and smooth. It’s a habit of his. “Elder Aleksi, is that you?”
Elder Aleksi rushes into the hallway, carrying the limp body of a boy who is bleeding from his head, his hands, his knees. My red skirt swishes around my ankles as I stop dead and stare. Aleksi, his heavy chin jiggling, gives the boy a concerned look. “He was hit by a horse cart,” Aleksi says as Kauko reaches him. Then he sees me hovering a few steps behind. “He was so eager to reach the temple that he wasn’t watching where he was going.”
He mutters something else that I don’t hear as he lays the boy, who can’t be more than ten and is skinny as a pole, on the tiles. “I fear we’re losing him.”
“No, he’ll be fine. I’ll do it right here,” says Kauko, leaning over the boy, his hands hovering over the child’s crimson-streaked sandy hair. He looks over his shoulder and gives me a faint smile. “Our Saadella can watch.”
My heart speeds as I take a step closer. Aleksi’s brows are low with warning, an expression I see every time I ask to watch the apprentices practice their wielding skills in the catacombs. “My Saadella, this is an ugly business, and—”
“But it will be something I can do when I have the magic inside me, correct?” I ask, edging along the marble floor. Only a few wielders can heal. To do it, they must have both ice and fire magic—a great deal, as I understand it—and the two opposing forces must be balanced. The Valtia’s magic is the most powerful, and it is also perfectly balanced, so this means—
“Of course, Saadella, should you ever wish to,” says Kauko briskly. “And it is sometimes an excellent gesture of goodwill toward the citizens, to do healings on ceremony days.”
“Then show me!” I say eagerly, and then gasp. As Kauko’s palms hover a few inches from the boy’s scalp, I can actually see the skin knitting together over a ragged wound. I open my mouth to ask how exactly Kauko manages it, but Aleksi puts his hand up.
“My Saadella,” he says quietly. “Healing takes complete concentration.”
Elder Kauko leans back after a few minutes, smiling and rubbing his hands together. I want to grasp them in my own—would they be burning to the touch? Icy cold? Both at once? “There. He is out of danger.” He meets Aleksi’s eyes. “Take him down to the catacombs and get him settled, and I will attend to the rest of his wounds after I have escorted the Saadella back to her chambers.”
“The catacombs?” I ask, peering at the boy more closely now. “Does that mean he’s a wielder?”
Aleksi nods. “His name is Niklas. He was apprenticed to a cobbler, who was kind enough to let us know he’d seen Niklas leave scorch marks on a piece of leather he was working. I thought it might be a false lead, but this boy clearly has fire. I knew it as soon as I was in the same room with him.”
Kauko shakes his head. “I’ve always admired your ability to sense such things.”
Aleksi grins at the compliment. “I don’t know how much magic is inside him yet, or whether he has any ice magic too, but we’ll test him once he’s well.”
I smile down at the boy, whose fingernails are black with grime, whose cheeks are hollow with deprivation. “Then he already knows how fortunate he is to have been found—it’s a shame that excitement got him hurt.” On impulse, I kneel next to him as his eyelids flutter. My fingers brush over his sharp cheekbone. “We’ll take good care of you, Niklas,” I murmur. “You have a wonderful life ahead of you.”
The boys eyes pop open, and they are dark blue, like the waters of the Motherlake in spring. He blinks up at me, then his eyes trace the white marble walls around him and go round as saucers. Just as his mouth drops open, Aleksi gathers the child in his arms, his plump fingers curling over lanky limbs and holding tight. “I’ll take him now,” Aleksi says as the boy starts to squirm and whimper, probably still dazed from his injury.
He stands up and strides down the corridor toward the entrance to the catacombs, the maze of tunnels and chambers beneath our temple where all the acolytes and apprentices train and live. Kauko turns to me. “Well, that’s enough excitement for the afternoon, eh?”
I look down at his hands, which are firm and strong-looking, unlike Aleksi’s. “But I would love to hear more about how—”
Kauko chuckles. “Perhaps another time, my Saadella. Our lesson is over for today, and I am sure Mim would be disappointed if you did not partake of the lemon scones she has acquired for your tea.”
My cheeks warm. Mim knows all my favorite things, and the sight of her smile as she gives them to me is loveliness itself. “Well then. I would never want to disappoint my handmaiden!”
Kauko grins and walks with me into the circular grand chamber, toward the eastern wing of the temple—the Saadella’s wing. My wing. As we reach it, heavy boot steps sound on the marble and the Valtia’s sedan chair is carried into the grand chamber from the white plaza outside. My heart squeezes with longing—I am only allowed to see my Valtia two days a year, at the planting ceremony and the harvest ceremony. She rarely leaves the temple, though, so I am frozen where I stand, gaping rudely. I narrow my eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of her face behind the gauzy material that covers the windows of the small wooden chamber where she sits. All I can see is the coppery glint of her hair, plaited and twisted and pinned into an exquisite coil atop her head.
Elder Leevi, lanky and stooped, walks next to the Valtia’s chair. “I was simply saying another trip beyond the city walls does not seem like a good—”
“You saw that homestead, Elder,” the Valtia replies. “I cannot in good conscience sit within this temple while our farmers live in fear. The raids are worse than ever, and the people might lose confidence if I did.”
“You are wise, my Valtia, but there is danger in the outlands. We could bring�.�.�.” His voice fades from my hearing as the Valtia and her procession disappear down her corridor toward her chambers.
“What kind of danger is there in the outlands, that it could put the Valtia at risk?” I ask Kauko as he tugs on my sleeve, leading me to my own rooms. “I know the outlands are full of thieves and bandits, but the Valtia can defend herself against any threat, can’t she?”
“Of course, my Saadella,” says Kauko, quickening his pace. He is probably eager to get back to the boy, the newest magic wielder in our temple, but once again, my questions burn inside me. I place my hand on his arm.
“Is it the Soturi? Is it so bad that they have become stronger than us?” The raiders from the north have struck hard this year—or so Mim tells me. She sneaks information to me from the city whenever she can, even though the elders have admonished her for it twice already.
“The Soturi are no threat to the Valtia,” Kauko says slowly, as if he is thinking about every word. “But the strain and stress of the travel is wearying for any queen, and especially one who is a vessel for such powerful magic. Elder Leevi’s chief concern is our Valtia’s health.” He looks back at the doorway to my room, where Mim probably waits for me, laying out a blanket for my legs near my favorite chair by the fire. “A Valtia is all at once a magnificently strong and exquisitely fragile thing. For her to do her duty, she must be careful of what she demands of her body and mind. She must save her energy for when and where it is needed most.”
And trips to the outlands must be exhausting, riding for hours over the hilly, rough terrain, having to constantly be on guard for bandits or, stars forbid, the vicious and brutal northern warriors who stab at our shores, seeking plunder.
“She wants to help the farmers, though,” I say, my brow furrowing. How terrible she must feel, having to choose between her people and her health. Then I smile as an idea hits me. “Are we compensating the farmers for their losses?” I ask. “We have plenty of copper—I’ve seen the acolytes wheel it in. Surely we have enough, and it is more valuable than the bronze coins in the town. If she is concerned about the confidence of the people, maybe we could—”
Kauko makes a quiet sound of disapproval that silences me. “My dear, when you are on the throne, we will discuss all of this, but forgive me when I say that right now you are talking of things you do not understand.”
I flush with the reprimand, and Kauko’s frown softens. “I realize that all your ideas and questions sprout from the best intentions,” he says. “And I will speak with the Valtia about ways she can reduce the raids and bolster the confidence of the people while maintaining her health. I will also tell her you are concerned for her.” He winks. “And in a few days, you can tell her yourself!”
I nearly bounce on my heels as I think of the upcoming harvest ceremony. I haven’t spoken to my Valtia in months. “I certainly will. I want her to be with us for years to come.” Everyone knows that Valtias fade young, but Kauko makes it sound like it is possible to live longer if care is taken. And I want my Valtia to take care—not just because I love her, though I do, with every shred of my soul—because I fear I will never meet the standard she has set as our queen. “I—I feel as if I won’t be ready for a very long time,” I add quietly. “If I ever disappointed our people�.�.�.” Even the thought puts a lump in my throat.
Kauko gives me the most kindly smile. “I am going to tell you something very important,” he says. “I was going to wait, but it seems like you need to hear it now.”
I stare at him, his smooth face and silly-looking lips, his merry eyes. “What is it?”
“All Valtias are powerful, but not all equally so. Some burn bright and fade quickly, while others are more steady, strong but muted. We never know what kind of Valtia we will have until the magic enters a Saadella. Except with you.”
I have the strange urge to claw at my stockings to peek at the red flame mark that paints my left calf with its numb scarlet tendrils, the one that appeared at the moment of the last Valtia’s death—when I was only four years old. “What do you mean?”
“There is a prophecy,” he says, glancing up and down the hall. “One made hundreds of years ago.”
“Yes?” I whisper.
His bald scalp is beaded with sparkles of sweat in the light of the torches that line the walls. “When we found you in that shabby little cottage by the city wall, too skinny for your own good, we made sure to check the town register for the day and season of your birth, and the exact position of the stars in the sky on that very day. It matches what was foretold precisely.” He grasps both my arms, giving me a little shake, as if to force this knowledge into me, to make sure I believe. “When the magic leaves our current queen and enters you, Elli, you will become the most powerful Valtia who has ever existed.”
Most helpful customer reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Review for The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine
By Alyssa
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Impostor Queen by Sarah Fine
Book One of The Impostor Queen series
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: January 5, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Sixteen-year-old Elli was a small child when the Elders of Kupari chose her to succeed the Valtia, the queen who wields infinitely powerful ice and fire magic. Since then, Elli has lived in the temple, surrounded by luxury and tutored by magical priests, as she prepares for the day when the Valtia perishes and the magic finds a new home in her. Elli is destined to be the most powerful Valtia to ever rule.
But when the queen dies defending the kingdom from invading warriors, the magic doesn’t enter Elli. It’s nowhere to be found.
Disgraced, Elli flees to the outlands, the home of banished criminals—some who would love to see the temple burn with all its priests inside. As she finds her footing in this new world, Elli uncovers devastating new information about the Kupari magic, those who wield it, and the prophecy that foretold her destiny. Torn between the love she has for her people and her growing loyalty to the banished, Elli struggles to understand the true role she was meant to play. But as war looms, she must align with the right side—before the kingdom and its magic are completely destroyed.
What I Liked:
Let me tell you all about the state of PANIC that I was in when I finished this book. At this present moment, Goodreads has this book listed as a standalone (no information about a sequel or anything) So I freaked out because there is NO way the book could end the way it did and NOT have at least one book to follow. Thank goodness for Publishers Weekly Rights Report - I dug up the one from the week of November 3, 2014, which stated that there would be TWO books in this series. Win!
Elli is the Saadela, the girl who will succeed the Valtia of the Kupari when the magic leaves the Valtia and enters Elli. She's been made ready since she was a small child; when the time comes, the Valtia dies, and the magic leaves her... but it doesn't enter Elli. Elli is forced to leave the temple, and she flees to the outlands. A young man finds her almost dead, and takes her to a cavern full of thieves; strangely, a lot of them are wielders of fire, which is strange because any wielders are taken to the temple at a young age. The more Elli learns, the less certain she is of her life at the temple. One thing is for sure - the war is coming now, and Elli will play a decisive role.
I am a huge fan of Sarah Fine's books - I've read ten of her eleven published books (Burn is the odd one out, but I have it for review!). This is book ten for me, and I absolutely loved it. The ending is satisfying but left me wanting so much more (as did book one of her other YA duology - Of Metal and Wishes).
Elli is ignorant and naive at the beginning of this story - she has no idea what the true nature of anyone around her. She is wrapped up in the love of the Valtia, and her handmaiden, Mim. She has people who care about her, and she likes her life. When the Valtia dies, Elli is devastated, and when the magic doesn't enter Elli, she is crushed. She ends up half-dead in the outlands, and a young man helps her. I LOVE Elli's determination to learn the skills she never knew - for example, dressing herself by herself. Elli doesn't ever stop trying to learn, to do more, to earn her keep.
Oskar, the young man who takes her in to his family (his mother Maarika, and little sister, Freya). is stern and compassionate and almost withdrawn. Everyone in the cavern has their secrets, and Oskar is no exception. Elli has her own too. Oskar struggles with his, and Elli wants to help him in any way she can. He's distant, but she never stops trying to help those who are helping her.
As always, Sarah Fine does an amazing job with the characterization of the protagonists and secondary characters. Elli really grew on me (I wasn't sure what to think of her at first), and I loved Oskar from the moment we meet him. Maarika and Freya are easy to like in their own ways. Sig, a young man and former friend of Oskar's, is hot-tempered and difficult to handle, but even he is such a well-constructed character. The "villains", whom I will not disclose, are malicious but we can see why they are the way they are.
I love the world-building of this fantasy novel. The idea of a Valtia (queen who has both ice and fire magic) and a Saadela (empty vessel who will be filled with that power when the current Valtia dies) is an interesting one, fairly original and definitely intriguing. I loved the setting of the outlands the most - it's like Iceland or one of those gorgeous wintry European countries (check out the character names, too!). When the secrets and prophecies and magic unravel, everything starts to make sense. I really like how the magic unfolds in this book, and how big a role it plays.
There is romance! The author had me guessing for a part of the book because I was sure that Elli would fall for this boy in the temple, but it was way too early in the book. You can probably already tell - the love interest is Oskar, and we are introduced to him in the outlands. As soon as he emerges in the story, you KNOW he's the love interest. I like him a lot! He's like a lumberjack. The romance doesn't start as soon as they meet - it's a slow-burn romance, the kind that Fine is really good at writing. I love the romance! No love triangle.
The ending isn't a cliffhanger (not really), but it isn't quite wrapped up, and there is so much more to be discovered in the next book. I wish for a smidgen more of a happy ending in some areas, but then, other areas are happy ish. Basically I want the sequel. Which is also the conclusion novel. I want it!
What I Did Not Like:
Ehhh. I can't think of anything specific that comes to mind. Maybe more romantic scenes. There were a good amount, and given that Elli was raised like a nun, I understand why Fine held back a bit. Perhaps there will be more in book two (but I doubt it, given something that the author told me about the setup of book two). Still, this book was great! It's getting four stars not because of anything "bad", but because it doesn't feel quite like a five-star read.
Would I Recommend It:
I sooo recommend this novel to any fantasy lover out there! Also anyone who loves a swoony slow-burn romance. Oskar is probably everything I like in a guy (minus the beard, I hate beards. Stubble, maybe). An epic story that will continue in 2017 - don't miss it!
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (maybe I'm still a tad bit mopey over the ending). No cliffhanger but... the sequel couldn't come fast enough!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Fantasy with a great balance of magic, romance and action
By Madison's Library
3.5 stars. A solid fantasy, The Impostor Queens brings together a balance of magic, romance and action.
When Elli was just four years old she was chosen to be the Saadella, the girl who would become queen when the current Valtia died, taking on queen's power, a balance of ice and fire magic. But when the Valtia dies, the magic does not rush into Elli like it should. The priests are desperate for a ruler and threaten Elli's very existence in their efforts to make her magic manifest. Scared, Elli runs, leaving the opulence of the temple for the harsh reality of life outside the city. Rescued by a hunter, Oskar, Elli is taken to live with the bandits in the outlands. There she finally learns more about her powers, or lack of them, and her role in righting the wrongs that have so long been allowed to occur.
It is easy to tell from the first few chapters how this book is generally going to play out, who is going to be the bad guys and how they are going to take power. Elli has a lot to learn. When the book starts she is a pampered and childish girl, secluded from the world. But for all her naivety, she isn't stupid, asking questions and seeking to know more about the magic, where it comes from and why. I had to drag myself through the first part of the book, waiting for when she would have to flee, hoping this would either a) make things more interesting or b) give Elli the shake up to make her into a more likeable character. Fortunately it does both, as the book develops into something more complicated and far more enjoyable.
The death of her mentor, the Valtia, really shakes Elli, as does her lack of magical ability and the sudden loss of her home, power and everything she holds dear. All this sudden hardship makes her into a much stronger character. Once Elli escapes from the temple the book really increases in pace and interest and I had no trouble devouring the chapters. I enjoyed reading about the time Elli spends in the bandit caves, as she shows her true determination to be helpful, stand on her own and learn.
There is an undertone of LGBT, mainly bisexual, in this book as, completely isolated from the world except for the priests and her servants, Elli silently desires and loves her handmaiden. But when she escapes the temple she also falls for her rescuer, Oskar. These new feelings only confirm those she felt for her handmaiden, but she seems to realise that there is no future for that relationship and is happy to progress with the one that develops between her and Oskar. Oskar makes for a wonderful hero and romantic interest. He is protective, kind and gentle, wanting only to care for his family and those around him, while hiding his true, dangerous skills. I enjoyed reading about Oskar and Elli's developing relationship.
This book provides everything a good fantasy should, romance, magical battles, lush landscapes, plenty of action and danger, and the complications of politics. However, I couldn't help finding it a little too predictable and standard. There are no big surprise twists or original ideas that hit you out of nowhere, which is fine if that's how you like your fantasy novels, but I wanted something to really set it apart from all the other magical tales out there. That said, it's a solid book. The end is by no means final. It is not a cliffhanger, but there is plenty more to resolve, plenty more battles to be fought, more to finalise on the romantic front, and more room for Elli to grow as a strong and independent character, so I'm just going to assume there will be a second book.
The publishers provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
YA Fantasy at its best!!
By Nicole Hewitt
After reading a few reviews of this book, I just knew it was a ME book and that I needed to read it. I was right. This is my favorite type of fantasy - character-driven with a strong magical presence and a good dollop of action.
The book follows Elli, who's spent her life preparing to be the Valtia. She knows that this will be a great sacrifice - after all, Valtias don't typically live past thirty because the fire and ice magic within them eventually becomes too powerful to control - but she also knows that her kingdom needs her magic in order to thrive. She believes the sacrifice is worth it. But when the current Valtia dies and the magic refuses to inhabit Elli, her life takes a turn she never expected. She's willing to do almost anything to bring her magic to the surface, but nothing works, and it soon becomes apparent that the priests aren't going to wait around - their solution is the only one that Elli can't stomach, so she runs to the Outlands, where she finds that the magic of her people is far more complex than she ever imagined.
What I enjoyed:
The magic!
I loved the fire and ice magic in this book and the different ways that it interacted. The balance of the two magics was essential and intricate - and the amount of one magic or the other that a person had could drastically affect their abilities. The Valtia was the only person who was able to wield both fire and ice in equal amounts - and with great power. While the magic in this book was sometimes complicated, it wasn't hard to understand, and the nuances were explained throughout the book (no info dumps here). For me, this is the perfect fantasy set-up!
Elli's journey.
Elli started out as a relatively weak character, despite the fact that she was to be a queen. It's clear that the priests see Elli as a bit of a pawn, and her complete acceptance of the sacrifices needed to be Valtia can be hard to swallow at first. She is willing to go through horrible trials for the sake of her people - which is both admirable and a little scary. Then, when Elli discovers that she hasn't inherited the magic of the Valtia, she is completely lost for a while - after all, her whole life has been spent preparing. As the book goes on, Elli truly comes into her own. I loved seeing her progression from sacrificial lamb to a force to be reckoned with!
Revelations.
Elli discovers so much about herself as the book progresses, and I was eagerly awaiting each and every reveal!!
The romance.
For the most part, I was a fan of the romance in this book (see my negative for the one aspect that threw me). I appreciated the fact that Elli's sexuality was basically treated as a non-issue (she has feelings for both her handmaiden, Mim, and the man who saves her in the Outlands, Oskar) - and I thought it was fantastic how Fine showed Elli's feelings for both of them and compared and contrasted her relationships with them. When it came to the main romance in the book, I felt a connection between Oskar and Elli right away, but I loved that the romance was slow-burning. They forged a bond over magic and a deep need for each other - and I loved every minute of it!
The negatives:
Kept bracing myself for a (non-existent) love triangle.
From the beginning of the book, it was made clear that Elli was in love with her handmaiden, Mim. So, when Elli goes off to the Outlands and meets Oskar, I was sure that, at some point, Mim would enter the picture and throw a wrench into the newly blossoming relationship with him. My fears were unfounded, but it meant that I spent a good portion of the book trying to brace myself for the destruction of a romance I was starting to love - and trying not to get TOO attached to Oskar. But there was no love triangle - Yes, Elli had feelings for two people (one who happened to be a girl and one who happened to be a guy - that is not at all stressed in the book, it just is), but there is no back and forth between the two. So, this negative is barely a negative because it didn't actually happen - but my worries about it happening made it hard for me to invest as fully in the romance. Does that make sense?
(In the end, I couldn't even bring myself to take off a half star for this because, the more I thought about it, the more deeply I felt that Elli's relationship with Mim added to the book more than detracted from it. So, five stars it is!)
Apparently, this book is part of a duology, which makes me even more excited - no possibility of middle book syndrome! This is YA fantasy at its best! I give this book 5/5 stars.
***Disclosure: I received this book from Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
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