story craft

Format: eArc

Genre: YA Epic Fantasy

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to love:

-magical horses
-bonded animals
-sibling bonds
-found family
-dealing with grief/loss
-vivid worldbuilding
-edge of your seat actio

Cautions: As with many fantasy novels, and books in the epic genre, this one takes on a good vs. evil theme. The theme of the book lends itself to some violence. Adams describes battle scenes in vivid detail, though she does leave some to the imagination. This story takes place in a war-torn land; there are betrayals and backstabbings galore. Torture and experimentation as a form of torture are also mentioned in this book; as mentioned previously, Ceridwen and Rafi are dealing with their own form of grief over each losing a brother. If your grief is raw and fresh, it might make you feel seen, like it did for me. But if you’re not there yet, maybe wait to pick up this book until you’re further along on your grief journey. Jakim’s story, as in the first book, mentions some family trauma and being sold into slavery by his brothers. This could also be triggering for some; more hints of romance, but no physical affection. I do love the way these books have perfected the slow-burn and built anticipation.

Main themes: Identity, forgiveness, courage, trust, identity, friendship

Main characters: Rafi Tetrani, Ceridwen tal Desmond, Jakim Ha’Nor, Finnian te Donal, Markham te Hoard, Liam, Iona, Nold, Kassa, Telweg tal Anor, Eagan, Craddock, Glyndwr, Moc, Iakki, Nef, Eshur, Aruk, Gordu, Sev, Lowen, Flick, Yath, Jasri, Rhodri, Astra tor Telweg, Ineth, Khilamook, Nahrog 

Favorite quote: “Rise and ride again.”

Review:

Forever fond of knowing what makes people tick, I love personality quizzes. Not because I think they’re perfect or can tell you the sum of a person—how could we ever sum up something so vastly intricate as a human being with a few simple questions anyway? 

And, shades, was I pumped when Gillian Bronte Adams posted a link with a quiz to figure out which magical warhorse from the Fireborn Epic I’d be most compatible with. Aside from being sucked into the world Adams created in the first book (Of Fire and Ash), this quiz got me. 

Because I mostly go stumbling into things, a little more like Rafi, I was surprised to be named as a Shadowrider. And yet, Finnian has always held a special place in my heart. (Take the quiz here to see what kind of magical warhorse you’d choose.)

But can I be honest here? I’d totally ride into battle alongside any of our heroes in this story. Ceridwen is bold and fearless. Rafi brings light, humor, and a bit of the unexpected. Jakim willingly puts himself in harm’s way to do what he believes is best in serving Aodh and the people around him. And they all refuse to give up. 

These are the kinds of leaders we could give up everything to follow, and the kinds of characters we’ll fall in love with page after page. 

Despite reading Of Fire and Ash, being part of the launch team, and being dubbed a shadowrider myself, nothing prepared me for the way this story sunk its scadtha claws into me and didn’t let go—the need to read one more page like a poison and my eyes scanning the final words of the Epilogue the only cure.

The story flowed effortlessly through three viewpoints so uniquely their own yet so intertwined they seem to only tangle up together even more as the story unfolds. Somehow, even with these unique points of view, I felt like there was a fourth—mine. Adams has such a way with words and skill for crafting characters who become fictional found family that I felt like I was right there with them in every setback, victory, frustration, joy, and even in the finding of common ground with a new friend. 

Beyond that, Adams also takes us further beyond Soldonia’s borders and deeper into the Que Territories and strongholds. Far from the vast open spaces of Soldonia where we mostly meet our friends and foes in meadows and mountains, here we’re drawn in on a ship and beached on the shore and trekking through the jungle. I felt like I could taste the salty breeze and feel the spray from the waterfall; and I could feel the steam. (When you read it, you’ll know.) 

But more than that, this story made me feel. If you’ve read the first book, it’s no secret that both Ceridwen and Rafi had each lost a brother. And I actually received and downloaded the eArc for this book just a few short hours before my dad called me to tell me that I too had lost a brother; I too would know what it was like to grieve and question and wonder and even feel misunderstood.

Although I wasn’t with my brother when he died and have no feelings of responsibility, I found myself wrestling with some of the same questions as Ceridwen and Rafi. Loss changes us irreparably, and I feel like Adams held such healing space in Of Sea and Smoke for the characters—and readers—to explore what it means to grieve and yet live. 

Beautiful story. Unforgettable characters. Amazing author. 

And I cannot wait to read the Fireborn Epic Book 3! 

💫 I received an ARC from the author, but the glowing praise and rambling thoughts are entirely mine. 💫

My take:

Choices must be made, and they can lay waste to our plans or cause our unraveling. But when the yes or no belongs to us, we have the power to change everything. We can start wars and end them. We can mend hearts or break them. We can open up or close ourselves off. We can love or we can hate. We can change the tides. And even when the tides change on us, we can rise and ride again. 

#quotd: What book has helped you heal through story? If you’ve experienced grief and read this book, or one like it, how did it help you?