Forged in Fire and Stars

March 23, 2020
Fifteen years ago, the Vokkan Empire conquered Saetlund after killing King Dentroth and his Loresmith, Yos Steelring—a blacksmith capable of forging god-blessed weapons. Saetlund’s people have suffered subjugation ever since, but revolution is coming: Dentroth’s children, “umber”-skinned twins Nimhea and Eamon, secretly survived the invasion and intend to retake the throne now that they are 18. A Loresmith would greatly improve their chances against Vokk’s army, but while Yos’s expectant wife successfully hid from the emperor, Yos died before he could train their daughter, Ara Silverthread. Now, according to myth, if pale-skinned Ara, 15, is to replace Yos, she must petition one of Saetlund’s gods, Ofrit, to activate her powers. First, however, she and the twins must survive the perilous trek to Ofrit’s enchanted home, with a charming young thief, Teth, to guide them. Underdeveloped characters, convenient plot points, and a muddled mythology plague this series launch from Robertson (the Nightshade series); though the book is more prologue than self-contained story, a cast filled with formidable heroines lends a feminist bent. Ages 12–up. Agent: Charles Olsen, InkWell Management.

This strong debut featuring an unlikely quartet moving to retake their birthrights is perfectly enhanced by the narration of Amy Shiels. Ara never believed she would inherit the Loresmith title and legacy due to the monarchy's downfall. But with the help of two royals she embarks on a dangerous adventure to prove her worthiness. Shiels delivers a versatile performance that embraces many different characters ranging in age, gender, and species. She slows down her pace when traversing the story's complex mythological elements and projects intensity during the dialogue. Adding to the story's strength, she captures the characters' emotions. Listeners will be captivated through the very last line. J.O. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine