Whispers of Shadow & Flame

I was a little hesitant to pick up this book because of the countless bad reviews for the first in this series. No, I haven't tried reading it to give a judgement of my own, but well... the positive star ratings for this one definitely convinced me to read it. And it was worth it.

When I first started, I thought the plot was pretty similar to Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. A tyrant king who is immortal, and so strong nobody dares to oppose. A tyrant king who doesn't care about the well-being of his people, and because of that, a rebel group is born. And there, they work together to fight against the king. But thankfully, that's where the similarities end - which makes it a joy to read because it's so original.

The author certainly created a very interesting form of magic. The Lagrimari, the citizens that the True Father (their king) rules over, can be born with a Song inside them. The more common one is called the Earthsong. Those with that form of magic is able to make use of life force to do many things. The other is Nethersong, the complete opposite of Earthsong. Darvyn is an Earthsinger; Kyara a Nethersinger. That's one of the reasons this book is so cool: we get the best of both worlds. Plus, all the characters, whether they be Singers or no, have substance. And I love that. (Except, I think, the True Father, since he rarely appears.)

The mystery of The Queen Who Sleeps is intriguing, and I'd love to learn more about her. The author also makes sure to add in other forms of delightful fantastical information into the plot, and I felt that really brings out the solidity of the world she has created. This is in contrast to the reviews that I've seen from the first book, and thinking about it now, perhaps it's because that book took place in Elsira, and this one in Lagrimar? Whatever it is, I might just intend to find out for myself. I'm not so sure yet. What I am sure, however, is that I will most definitely pick up the next installment! The story of Darvyn and Kyara cannot end like this... Anyway, just when I thought the surprises ended there, a couple others came in, and I was amazed. My favourite part is when Kyara finally realised the true extent of what her Nethersong can do.

I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers who also adores romance. There is a rather good balance between the two genres, but more so fantasy than romance, just the right proportion for when the fantastical aspect is so darn epic. But due to an explicit scene, this book is only suitable for a more mature audience (the protagonists are in their early twenties).

This review is based on the ARC given to me by the publisher through Netgalley. It is completely okay to read this without reading the first book, but both events are linked in some way, disclosed only at the end of the book.

This series is among one of my favourites. I was just as in love with Kyara and Darvyn as I was with Jack and Jasminda. I think the world building in the Earthsinger chronicles, as a whole, is great. To me the series stands out as a unique read within the fantasy genre. I can't wait to read the next book!