Author: Sherry Thomas
Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 464 Pages (September 17th 2013)
From: the Publisher/Amazon Vine
Format: ARC
Add to: Goodreads
Order a copy: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
Synopsis: It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.
Review: 3 Stars - The Burning Sky, the first title in The Elemental Trilogy by author Sherry Thomas takes readers on a quest between two characters who have been destined to come together to change their world for the better.
This review is rough for me to write. I liked the book, just didn't love it. It's very different and I was somewhat confused more than a few times due to transition changes in points of view and how certain characters were involved. Maybe this is more from the fact that it took me quite a while to get into and it wasn't until the last maybe quarter of the book that things picked up and I couldn't turn the pages quick enough.
So how about I talk about the characters a bit. First we have Iolanthe an elemental mage who is extremely powerful yet doesn't know her full capabilities yet. She has no idea she is destined to help defeat the Bane, a truly evil mage who just so happens to be one of the strongest in The Realm. Then we have Titus who is Price of Elberon and has sworn to protect Iolanthe no matter what. He's willing to lay his life down for her. It's when he witnesses a sign he takes charge to get to Iolanthe and the two meet under very dangerous circumstances.
These two characters are different, quirky, flawed and very interesting. What they have to go through and what they've been through was also interesting. I liked how prepared Titus was, but when he met Iolanthe he realized that he hadn't planned for one major thing and that's for the person he was destined to help would be a girl. So much of the shocks were with Titus and how he watched Iolanthe learn and adapt after all he's put her through. Which made her a pretty fierce character to say the least.
And Titus... I had a love hate relationship with the guy. He was so guarded and often a jerk because of who he was and all he had to deal with. Due to his title it was hard to see through to the person he was underneath all the secrets and lies. I guess I felt more sorry for him than anything else because of how closed off he was forced to be and also because of what he wholeheartedly believed there was no changing the prophecy and his fate.
As mentioned above the last quarter of the book was the best. If was fulled with nonstop action and suspense. I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen between these two and to find out who would make it out alive.
There is plenty within this first installment that'll give readers who enjoy fantasy titles something to sink their teeth into and will leave them ready to come back for more. And since this is a trilogy I know many will be waiting to see what happens next. Am I one of those people? Sure... I'd love to see where this author takes these characters next and what trouble they might find themselves in. I'm looking forward to meet Titus and Iolanthe again and following along on their continuing journey.
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