Blood is magic. Magic is everything.
Brianna grew up hiding her elemental magic, using it only in secret. If discovered, she risked being enslaved by the king’s army. Her twin brother, Brayden, wasn’t lucky enough to avoid that fate. Taken at a young age, his power was controlled by a SpiritSinger.
After fifteen years apart, Brayden escapes and accidentally makes it back to a home he doesn’t … home he doesn’t remember. No sooner has he reunited with his family when their mother is captured by the same enemy. The twins must make a choice to leave their mother and carry out her wishes or attempt to find and rescue her.
It’s only the beginning.
Torn between choices, they travel to a magical university to learn to control their volatile powers. With the help of a snarky smuggler and his crew, Brayden and Brianna embark on a quest to hone their magical powers and learn who they really are.
Can they stay together long enough to save their mother? Or will an even greater evil tear them apart?
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There is a lot of story packed into this fast paced read! Just when you think you know what direction it is heading, something else is thrown in. I was worried it was traveling down well worn trope paths at a few points but the story worked and the ending left me wanting more. International intrigue, secret societies, smugglers, fighting, romance, travel, academy politics – there is a bit of everything and not necessarily in that order. It is a dense, well imagined world with rich, flawed characters and a consistent magic system.
No Mary Sues here. Although these twins are super powered, they are still fallible as well and still learning how to use their powers and how to trust one another. It is an interesting dynamic, meeting the part of you that has always been missing – but really not knowing them at all.
Their judgement and treatment of friends is an area that can use growth as well. Trying not to post spoilers – but I think this was the part where I got the most frustrated with them. That said, it seemed consistent with who they were and the very different pasts they were dealing with. These two come with a lot of baggage.
This book was a good introduction to the characters and setting and told a chapter in the story. While the ending threw some things into chaos, it felt more like it was setting the stage for the next chapter than a cliffhanger.
What an amazing book!! Heartbreaking ending, colorful characters that are superbly detailed.
Allow a long, full day for this PG escapade as Brianna and Brayden Kirk attempt to avoid the slavers of King Marcus of Carr. This is Book 1 of a series. I read an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.
Two siblings separated at three and accidentally
re-united at eighteen must get their lives re-established
in ** very ** short order to rescue their mother.
Pursued by vicious enemies and aided by an unlikely, and
highly unusual, source, they make their way to the university
where their mother had told them to go to begin their education
in magic.
This story is incredibly complex, well-written and character-driven !!
The characters are clear-cut, definite and totally engaging.
I hope you like this story as much as I did.
Enjoy !!
Phyllis S.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
If I could, I would give it 6 stars. This is a refreshing storytelling of magic.
The story begins with Brayden, he is a slave and Firewalker on the run from his captors. Brianna lives with her mother Kaelen in the mountains living a sheltered life. She doesn’t know that her life is about to change, when she meets her twin brother, who she thought was dead. But his captors, the spiritsinger Renn are closing in. They have to go on the run when they find the village burnt and half of the villagers killed and their mother captured.
On the run, they meet somebody who helps them escape to a kingdom where they embrace people who have magic. But the journey is full of dangers before they can manage to reach the University where they can control their powerful magic.
The story is full of twists and unimaginable adventures and dangers. There are so many plots going on, that you think you figured it out until it throws you back into another unforseen twist. Here and there,buried deep if you look, some life lessons are told of who to trust, especially who to count on. I enjoyed the journey of the twins going to the University to learns as much as they can to rescue their mother.
The story ends with a big twist and a sad end, what will happen with the twins. Will they survive the destiny that is plotted out for them?
I enjoyed the story from the very beginning. When you first meet Brayden I was
Wary of where the story was going. Then there was Brianna and you find out the
Connection.from there it is one surprise after another. Then you add regan to the
Mix and it really became much more interesting . There is the story of Braden and Brianna and their desire to find their mother. They go on a journey to find the
Magic university in bane. It is then a story of getting into the university and all the
Good and bad that happens. I can’t wait for the second book.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s different in ways that I found refreshing. The story has twin siblings that come together after experiencing different lives and help each other discover who they are and what they are capable of. The plot was enjoyable from page one and the adventure brianna and brayden go on, including a journey of self discovery, is just perfect. I loved the elemental aspect and how we get to learn about the ways of their world and the gods they worship. What a beautiful first book, it’s definitely a great read and it’s a great way to escape reality for a while. I can’t wait for more!
This volume is part of a series.
We meet Brayden, who has the FireWalker gift. So does his mother, Kaelen. Brayden is stolen by King Markus, the King of Carr’s men, as a small child and placed under the control of the Spirit Singer Ren Quill. Brayden has been a slave at Cathal Abbey, which is devoted to the Dark God of Death all this time. He uses his powers to escape at the age of eighteen.
A firey freckled red-head Wind Dancer, Brianna celebrates her eighteenth birthday on Alawn’s Day. Alawn is the God of Wind and Water. She and her mother live together in their small village in Malise Mountains.
Brianna is taking some time to herself when she sees a severely wounded stranger. That stranger is Brayden, who turns out to be her twin. Kaelen knows who Brayden is immediately and takes him into her home to heal.
Unfortunately, the Spirit Singer wants Brayden back. The Spirit Singer and his men attack the village. Kaelen sends the twins to safety. She gives instructions on what to do after three days have passed.
This tale tells you what happens then.
A four because more is to come. A free ARC copy and an honest review.
A fantastic read that really gripped me from the first page to the last. I was on the edge of my seat with all the twists and turns. The scenes are epic. And very Heart gripping. This Author has done an amazing job. I definitely recommend.
Shauna Joesten