This is the story of two kings: one has taken to hiding among the shadows of a plague-ridden city while the other rules over his land with an iron fist, desperate to hold on to his stolen magic.

In Brindaigel, magic is worth a fortune. It’s worth killing for. And for those who seek the refuge of Avinea and a life among its broken lands, it’s worth everything.

Faris is a young girl looking for a way out. As a child, she watched her mother bring havoc and chaos down upon their household, all due her mortal sin – carrying forbidden magic and effectively, stealing from the Crown. After her home was effectively burned to the ground as punishment for her mother’s crimes, and Faris healed from the stab wound her mother inflicted upon her as a parting gift, life had to go on. The eldest daughter of a former clothier, Faris attempted to maintain some semblance of security in her family as the years of her childhood transitioned into young adulthood. Meager wages earned helped to keep her father in enough drink to allow him to remain sedated and immune to the pain of their existence, and stolen hours with the boy she was in love with kept her sane.

But despite their desolate surroundings and her lowly station in society, Faris couldn’t help but dream of something better. She also couldn’t help but allow the handsome Thaelan to spin her stories of the far-away land of Avinea, a place where they could start over and escape the hopelessness of their current situation. Avinea was a land where they could forge their own life among the beggars and thieves left to rot there after the war, and a place where Thaelan could forget about his betrothal to another. With a binding spell that would permanently link Thaelan to the King and thus dash any hope they have of escaping looming over their heads, Faris and her love make plans.

Decades before, a king was overthrown, and as a last act of vengeful spite, he set a plague upon the lands. Due to the passing of magic through bloodlines, the land of Avinea could not be saved — at least not until the overthrown king can be found, if he is even still alive. The former king Merlock has spent years slinking around in the darkness and shadows of the land he brought to destruction as payment for his betrayal, but there are those who are still loyal to the land of magic they grew up in. The loyalists refuse to back down to the nefarious characters that the plague has given birth to – veritable zombies and wraiths called hellborne, who achieve great joy in spreading The Burn across Avinea, all while taking pride in hunting down the small slivers of magic still lingering in the lands and trading it to the highest bidder.

One night Thaelan lays his plan bare — Faris is to immediately pack a bag and grab her young sister Cadence and come with him through the tunnels he has so painstakingly mapped out. The trail should lead them out of Brindaigel and into Avinea and eventually, a small life of freedom. But when the trio is caught, disaster falls down around them like a slap of thunder. Thaelan is murdered for his crimes against the Crown, as no one is allowed to leave Brindaigel. And Cadence is sentenced to a fate worse than death — she has a spell cast upon her that leaves her a mindless servant and a shell of the vibrant young girl she once was, set to performing any task her supervisor asks of her without question. Faris is able to escape but is left with the hardest of tasks; she must find a way to earn enough money to buy her sister’s freedom before Cadence is sold into something more salacious than her mind will allow her to contemplate.

Coming home one night after an evening spent in the fighting pits trying to earn a few pieces of silver, Faris finds an enemy in her home. Alistair Pembrough is the King’s hired executioner and a princess’s fiancée, and he was the one who personally killed Thaelan and any chance Faris had of a real future. With no love lost between them, the pair argue and spar before coming to a shaky agreement — Faris will submit herself to the tricky task of bringing magic into Avinea and under the guidance of Princess Bryn, will help to forge an alliance between Brindaigel and its bordering land. In return, Cadence will be released into Faris’ care. It’s a bargain that she has no choice but to accept, and so Faris accompanies the high-and-mighty Princess Bryn into a foreign land, complete with hidden magic snaking just under the surface of her skin.

But at every turn, things turn nasty. Before they even embark, the cold and calculating Princess Bryn binds Faris to her with a spell that does nothing but protect the Princess and ail the subsequent slave. Any time Bryn is scratched, stabbed, punched — it’s not herself that feels the pain inflicted, it’s Faris. As a result, the enmity between the two women grows strong and wild, and while the Princess does her best to keep her slave in line at all costs, Faris begins to weave a plan of her own making. The women find themselves face to face with the bloodthirsty hellborne, a group of scavengers who are addicted to the magic that runs in Faris’ veins and can whisk it away from her with just a touch.

After the two are kidnapped and locked in cages while awaiting their sale at market, they come across a traveler and his apprentice who eventually end up becoming their saving grace. North is as guiding as the star he is named for, and his steady promise to get them to their destination of New Prevast safely is a welcome reprieve — for Faris at least. The gypsy magician has secrets of his own, however, and the mission becomes one wrought with complications and trickery. Amongst the twisted politics between two lands that are both using her as a pawn, Faris will have to make some hard choices — and risk losing love, again.

Shimmer and Burn is the debut novel by daydreaming artist and educated writer, Mary Taranta. A Florida native by way of a small town in Ohio, Taranta grew up as one of ten children, which may be an inspiration when creating the ties that bind sister to sister in her novel. While diving into the world of fantasy and magic is no easy feat, I have to say that Taranta has knocked the ball out of the park with a fresh and exciting young adult novel that had me begging for more at the end. Strong characters lend an appeal that readers have come to expect with YA fantasy novels and the approach to the world of magic is new and crisp. Keeping true to the adage of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer, readers will be shocked and awed by the villains that hide as thorns among roses. I give the novel 4.5 out of 5 stars and am waiting on veritable pins and needles to read more. Fans of the fantasy powerhouse Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series will enjoy Shimmer and Burn, but may miss the sexual aspect Maas is known for. Shimmer and Burn is appropriate for ages 13+, with some violence and scary images the only things to consider in terms of appropriateness.

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

First of all, let me tell you about the beautiful writing. There were so many times I found myself rereading sentences or paragraphs simply because things were just stated so beautifully. a description of surrounds or a feeling, just sounded so lovely. Even if the moment was not light or nice, the author still found a way to add some beauty to dark thoughts or moments.

I enjoyed this book from the first page. It has everything a fantasy book should - political drama, magic, a heroine-to-be, an oh so lovable guy, SECRETS, sadness, and enemies coming at them from every direction. The world is built up pretty well, it seems large. I would love a map! (I don't know if the finished version will have one - this was an arc and it doesn't have one.) And, like a true fantasy, THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING. But on the bright side, I don't feel overwhelmed by that.

The magic system and history is a bit complicated at first. Farther in and as I learned more it started to make more sense, of course. That is probably my only real complaint about this book, if you can even call it a complaint.

This was exciting and heart wrenching. It was so easy to just fly through - and is surprisingly short for a fantasy at less than 300 pages! But there will also be a sequel, so I'm pretty excited about that and I need it immediately. Anyway, this book needs so much more attention! I can't wait to see more reviews come in for this, and Mary Taranta, be prepared, you just gained a HUGE fan.

Shimmer and Burn was everything I wanted and never knew I needed.

Bryn: A villain you love to hate but isn't what you expected.

Faris: A female protagonist who knows you must live to fight another day and that some battles must be lost. She has lost many. Many battles, Many people, and many parts of herself.

North: A boy who is more-so much more- but pretending to be less. Less than he is. Less than he could be.

There is set up for a potential love triangle in book 2, but I desperately hope it is written well and not an annoying bunch of miscommunications and cold shoulders based on untruths, assumptions, or the suddenly whimsical nature of the protagonists.

Magic, reluctant romance, usurping kingdoms, and curses...all done in the softest writing possible. It is a tale of desperation that burns within Bryn- for power, North- for peace, and Faris- for her only remaining family.

You will be desperate for book 2 in this series. I know I am.

Another grand slam in YA fantasy debuts, Shimmer and Burn is the third release of the year in this genre that I absolutely adored (see also Song of the Current and Caraval). With a unique take on magic and fantasy kingdoms combined with characters you'll love to, well love (and also hate), this book was such a fun read and I flew through it in record time. 

Y'all, I need the sequel. Now please?

First, there's Faris. Not your typical heroine. She's tough because she has to be, she steals and lies and fights because she has to. Every action, every decision she makes, there's a clear reason driving her forward and overall, she's pretty selfless. Faris puts herself in danger time and again for her loved ones despite the risks. She's chosen but she's not the Chosen One. A bit of unlucky genes and she just happens to run into the wrong people. Faris is the kind of girl that you can't help but root for, the underdog who could rise to greatness.

And then there's Bryn.

FINALLY a realistic princess who isn't good at everything, who was pampered based on her station and therefore not prepared to run across the country. Bryn was fabulously ruthless and ambitious, and I couldn't have loved/hated her more for it. I mean, she's absolutely a terrible person and definitely full on villain by the end, but I liked her for the role that she played. I don't think her motivation was as fleshed out as Faris's but you still basically knew why she was making the calls that she did. 

Then there's North. Who, okay, so his secret I guessed fairly early on BUT it was still a small shock to have it confirmed later on. It's a fantasy thing but one trope that I happen to quite enjoy. I also liked the way his character acted as a balance between Faris and Bryn. They needed that steadiness to keep moving forward so the three of them (and his apprentice) working together made for a well-matched adventure group. Plus, swoon-worthy magician? Mmm yes.

Clearly there was a LOT of character development but the story was just as good. I'm a sucker for fantasy quests and this one was no different on that front, filled with unsavory characters and increasingly difficult obstacles along the way, complete with a big reveal and cliffhanger to lead into the next book. Except, I didn't like that cliffhanger because this book isn't even out yet and I would very much like the next one before the wait drives me crazy!

To be honest, I TOTALLY thought this was a standalone since no series was listed but there's absolutely no way that it isn't the first in a series after that ending. 

Also, I do want to mention that this isn't exactly a light fantasy. It drifts into the realm of dark fantasy fairly often and Taranta doesn't hold back on the blood and gore. But I think that made it better for me, because I felt more immersed in the story.

Shimmer and Burn was a fantastic start to what I see as a highly promising YA fantasy series! If this book isn't on your radar then you need to fix that ASAP! An absolute must-read!

YA fantasy used to be one of my favorite genres in the past, but lately, I haven't been meshing well with it. But still every time that I hear about a new fantasy book releasing, my interests piques. Shimmer and Burn was one of those books that tickled my fancy. Then I took a closer look at the book summary, and the minute I found out the plot was centered around the relationship between two sisters, I was more than in. I'm thrilled that my gut feelings about this book was right.

The main element that kept me glued to Shimmer and Burn was the impressive world building. Mary Taranta builds up the world, foundation by foundation, in a spellbinding fashion. The Kingdom, riddled with corrupt dark magic that was literally killing people, was written so intricately, I was able to picture every aspect of it. I was equally fascinated by the background here, which much like the world building, builds up piece by piece, as the author reveals more and more information throughout the book. I loved learning about the different regions within the Kingdom, the past war and how the decimation of certain cities came about. Even more interesting were the politics in Shimmer and Burn. They are twisted, with corruption, betrayals and secrets in the midst of it all, which isn't all that unique when you think of it, but Taranta makes it her own with the way she weaves the political figures into the story. The book had the unlikely quality of being able to surprise me basically in every chapter - I swear my mind and heart were racing all over the place while I was reading Shimmer and Burn.

As for the characters in this book, I will say that I didn't form an immediate connection to them. Instead, it took for me learning more about their personalities to become interested in them. Faris, the protagonist here, was a dependable young woman who has one main goal throughout the book : save her sister. At the beginning of the book, while attempting to escape the city of Brindaigel, her boyfriend is brutally murdered and made an example of to anyone else wanting to escape. Despite the obvious grief that she was feeling, she doesn't falter in her absolute desire to save her sister, and her pure love for her sibling. Along the way, she learns more about the world that she lives in, becoming stronger, more confident, and more knowledgeable about the darkness within the magic infesting her world. She had her vulnerabilities that came out a few times during Shimmer and Burn, which made for an even more interesting heroine. For me, she was a character that grew considerably, which ultimately made her a heroine I enjoyed. She turned pretty ruthless by the end, and I'm excited to see where her character goes to next.

Shimmer and Burn has an equally compelling secondary cast. I especially enjoyed Bryn's character here. She was truly manipulative, often times having zero qualms for using the people around her for her own gains, and I was never quite sure what her intentions were. That made for such an intriguing and oddly interesting character for me - what can I say I love those characters you just love to hate. There was also North, and his tiger pet, who I enjoyed as a protagonist. He was also full of surprises, but underneath everything, he was a genuinely sweet guy with good intentions to save the people he cared for. He and Faris grow a bud of romance here, that I'm hoping to see will blossom into something a bit stronger. For now though, I was satisfied with what we got here because it wouldn't have made sense for Faris to jump into a relationship so soon after the death of her boyfriend, and in the middle of all the magical and political shenanigans.

Mary Taranta has a way with words and I can't believe this is just her debut novel. Shimmer and Burn was terrific, and ended on a very gripping note. It's going to be an excruciating wait for the sequel to be out. In the mean time though, you should certainly check out this fantastic YA fantasy read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of “Shimmer and Burn” by Mary Taranta. I absolutely love this book. It has sisterly love, adventure, unique magic, tragic romance, and such an interesting plot. This story truly is original. I felt like I was entering a familiar world of magic, romance, and struggle but I was unsure of where it was going to take me. This is such a rare adventure to go on these days. I have already pre-ordered a copy for myself. Anyone who enjoys YA fantasy will find a new favorite in this story.

I enjoyed this story and the magic of the world. Would have liked some more character depth with some of the side characters but overall an interesting start to a new series!

Truth be told, I almost gave up on this book early on...but I'm so glad I didn't. It caught me quick, and held on until the end...and left me so mad I don't have the next book already to read!!

Action, magic, betrayal, love and wicked, cruel deception. I'll be keeping my eyes out for the next to make sure I find out what happens in this duology.

Shimmer and Burn was much much darker than I expected and I LOVED it. A locked away kingdom ruled by a ruthless king, forbidden blood magic that is both beautiful and deadly, a power hungry princess, a dying world infested with diseased cannibals–this book had it all. That is, except for the main character, Faris.

This book was almost perfect for me, but I just wish that Faris wasn’t so bland. The book is carried by an extremely strong plot and well developed side characters but.. well the story just sort of happens to Faris. She is constantly made out to be a fighter but she ends up running or needing to be saved almost every time. She has one central motivation, her sister, and some heartbreak over Thaelan, but that’s really all her character really has going for her.

Thankfully the other characters help drive the plot forward. I’ve never been one to fawn over book boyfriends but that changed with North. I really like North and Faris together, even though their romance sort of shows up out of thin air in a mild case of instalove. I would expect characters to talk and have more interaction before they go falling “in love.” It’s not the worst thing in the world, I still liked the characters and their romance so I was willing to look past that.

My favorite part of the book is the absolutely incredible magic system which is unlike any other I’ve ever read. Magic is described as being beautiful like threads that can just as easily fray and destroy the magic wielder if not handled with care. It is treated as something alien, even for the humans with a natural born ability to wield it. I can’t overstate enough how much I love this concept. The intricate political relationships in this novel is also extremely well done and I’m so excited to read the next book.

A fair warning though, this book is definitely not for the faint of heart. While the romance may be clean, the violence definitely isn’t. This book isn’t the goriest I’ve ever read but it does not shy away from the gruesome details. If you can stomach the gritty content then I highly recommend this book, it’s one of the best YA books I’ve read in a while.

I received an ARC copy of this book via Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing in exchange for a fair review.

This started off really promising and I was loving the different take on magic and the world that had been created (even though I think it may be expanded upon in the last book) and I genuinely like the characters but it lagged in the middle and started getting a tad predictable for the genre. Probably will seek out the sequel to see how it ends.

This book was a mixed bag for me. I loved some elements of it. I felt like North's identity was obvious from the get-go. The magic system wasn't built enough, but the world itself was interesting. I think I would have rated this book higher...if it had been more than 4 months after boyfriend's death. I thought a LOT of time had passed between his dying and the adventure, but when I realize it had only been four months, and she only took a week to fall in love with North, I was like "uh, no." She'd barely left mourning for someone she'd known most her life. It was...bizarre. I couldn't bring myself to care about the ending.

Ultimately, it was a wonderful idea, and I liked the overall plot, but the details lost me.

SHIMMER AND BURN is not just another fantasy tale. It’s a story both dark and alluring that will sink its claws into you, dragging addiction into your veins until you’ve devoured the book whole and cling to the edge needing to know more. Absolutely captivating, thrilling, hellish, and delightful, this is a fantasy fresh with creativity and magic just waiting to be read.
-pooled ink Reviews