Flamecaster

March 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Set in the same world as the "Seven Realms" books (Disney-Hyperion), this series opener starts with Adrian sul'Han (Ash) fleeing into exile after the death of his sister on the battlefield and the murder of his father before his eyes. He is determined to kill the person behind it all, the king of Arden-a goal he unwittingly shares with Jenna, a girl from an oppressed mining town who bears a strange birthmark. Jenna's two closest friends were killed in a confrontation with the king, and now she will stop at nothing to take him down. But when Ash must escape the place he has been hiding and the king begins to hunt down a girl with Jenna's birthmark, fate flings the two together and catapults them into greater danger. Readers do not have to be familiar with Chima's other books to jump right into this new series, but those who love the world she built in the "Seven Realms" will enjoy getting to live in it once more. The pacing seems uneven at points, and the final conflict is surprisingly emotionally flat. More nuanced looks at good vs. evil and the ethics of wartime are forgone in favor of two heroes facing off against an evil king, but the world the author creates is as immersive as ever, and the primary characters' initial motivations are satisfied, but the author still opens up further conflicts and mysteries to fuel the next installment. VERDICT A solid fantasy story for fans of the genre.-Gretchen Kolderup, New York Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2016
Chima revisits the Seven Realms for the next generation of warfare, intrigue, romance, and magic. Adrian "Ash" sul'Han, young prince of the Fells, has lost too much to the monstrous king of Arden and runs away to train as a wizard healer, devoting his spare time to assassination. Jenna Bandelow, destitute Ardenine coal miner, has suffered even more, and she joins the guerrillas rebelling against the crown. Years later their winding paths collide at the Ardenine court, with one a slave and the other a prisoner. Between Ash's deadly skills and magical power and Jenna's saboteur training and mysterious magemark, together they might achieve the vengeance neither could accomplish alone. Readers hoping for a cheery reunion with beloved characters will be dismayed at the pain, violence, death, and horror on tap from the opening pages, but those expecting immersive worldbuilding, twisty plotting, and complex characterization will be hooked. Guilt-ridden Ash is oddly well-matched with fierce, passionate Jenna; the large cast of secondary characters who help or hinder their quests all command attention as well. The secret of Jenna's magemark will surprise nobody, but it promises fascinating future ramifications; and even as one villain is foiled, a new, more sinister threat looms over the Realms. A welcome return for loyal fans and a splendid jumping-on point for new ones. Both will be panting for the next installment. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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April 1, 2016
Grades 8-11 Cruel King Montaigne of Arden holds the lives of four teens in his twisted hands: Jenna from the mining district, who has a distinctive mage mark on the nape of her neck; Adam, a young mage equally capable of healing or killing; Lila, a spy and smuggler who has the king's favor; and Destin, savvy son of the king's general and seemingly despised by his father. As the teens' lives converge, a kingdom and the Seven Realms hang in the balance. The children of characters from Chima's Seven Realms series start their own adventures, and this series starter introduces major players and conflicts. It takes a while to get everyone positioned, but the payoff is worth the wait, and by the time the teens come together, readers are already hooked by mild romance and hints of complications to comenot the least of which is the appearance of dragons. Chima fans will love this familiar fare, but also try it with readers of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series or Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Cycle.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)