Author: S. Jae-Jones
Genre: fantasy
Similar books: Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Once Upon a Dream by Liz Braswell
Rating:
Summary (provided by publisher): Magic flickers. Love flames. Chaos reigns.
Magic is forbidden throughout the Morning Realms. Magicians are called an abomination, and blamed for the plague of monsters that razed the land twenty years before.
Jin Zhara already had enough to worry about—appeasing her stepmother’s cruel whims, looking after her blind younger sister, and keeping her own magical gifts under control—without having to deal with rumors of monsters re-emerging in the marsh. But when a chance encounter with an easily flustered young man named Han brings her into contact with a secret magical liberation organization called the Guardians of Dawn, Zhara realizes there may be more to these rumors than she thought. A mysterious plague is corrupting the magicians of Zanhei and transforming them into monsters, and the Guardians of Dawn believe a demon is responsible.
In order to restore harmony and bring peace to the world, Zhara must discover the elemental warrior within, lest the balance between order and chaos is lost forever.
My opinion: The Cinderella influences on this plot are clear but it's not a strict retelling. Rather, it's a framework that the author uses to build a unique world and plot. We are deeply exploring magic, demons, and the spirit world, the ideas of balance and the cost for making changes. There are clear and consistent rules for how magic works and for it's role in society. There are a lot of complications, all of which serve to further the plot. The characters, too, are complex and nuanced. This is the beginning of a series with a lot of room to grow and continue to impress.
Advanced Reader Copy provided by NetGalley
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