Sword and Sorcery
Frostfire
Sword and Sorcery is an exciting fantasy novel in which gifted teenagers fight for a better tomorrow.
Four teenagers are desperate to protect those whom they love in Ethan Avery’s fantasy novel Sword and Sorcery.
The world in Sword and Sorcery is divided into four nations, each with its own population—and its own version of history. Caught in the middle of their elders’ secrets, grudges, and lies are impetuous Erevan (half-elf, half-human, and with a hardscrabble past); nervous Aireyal (a human who struggles to live up to her powerful mother’s legacy); bold Nya (a secretive courier on a deadly quest); and thoughtful Zale (an apothecary’s assistant who teaches Aireyal to believe in herself). Connected by enchanted mirrors and a dangerous secret, the quartet learns that the world is far more complicated than they have been told.
The narrative ably moves between the perspectives of Erevan, who is eager to follow in his mercenary father’s footsteps, and Aireyal, whose inability to do magic jeopardizes her mother’s career and her own plans to help the people of Lanasall, her homeland. Though they have never met, and though they are opposites in many ways, the two share a dedication to truth and justice that puts them and their loved ones at risk. They meet Nya and Zale in time, learning about their counterparts’ elven powers and deep secrets.
The book’s geopolitics and systems of magic are elaborate, immersive, and vibrant. The teenagers’ world is captured in terms of numerous diverse locations, including an elite magic school, a city of pirates beset by a mysterious illness, and a deadly forest that’s inhabited by creatures who follow their own rules of conduct. Intrigue and action flesh these features out further: Erevan engages in frequent sword battles, while Aireyal is menaced by a mysterious girl in a cloak. Physical and emotional perils lurk behind each new development, resulting in empathy. In the process of navigating these challenges, the foursome learns to be brave and confront their biggest weaknesses.
Simple but beautiful illustrations begin each chapter, hinting at what is to come. By the end of this installment of their story, the characters have taken the first steps toward honing the skills they need to overcome future obstacles, though they still have a long way to go in order to save their world from looming threats.
Sword and Sorcery is an exciting fantasy series introduction in which gifted teenagers fight for a better tomorrow.
Reviewed by
Eileen Gonzalez
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
