Excellent musing on and subversion of The Chosen One trope. I’d gladly read more stories set In this world. ( )

Vividly written and left me wanting more. ( )

There is a reason that there is a distant feeling for the characters in this adventure in which a young servant mage, a person bound into service by the Liberationists who a couple of generations earlier ousted the Monarchists, is taken by a small group of Monarchists who require her specific ability to rescue some of their trapped forces. But the result of the distancing is to remove immediacy from the telling. The same adventure could have been told as a better read, but this is a better story than going the default route. ( )

I have read well over a thousand fantasy and sci/fy novels over the years and this is one of the worst. I noticed that the author has published over twenty novels in the genre in the past so I was expecting something good. It seems that Ms. Elliott is just going through the motions rushing to get to the end to get to the next book in a series. The characters and settings are not well developed and the plot is very sketchy. ( a young girl with powers is kidnaped to help rescue a baby in an ill defined revolution).. Don't waste you time on this one. ( )

Pros: interesting politics, fascinating magic system, fun characters

Cons: too short

Fellian is rescued from her indentured servitude by a group of Monarchists who need her help as a Lamp - a fire mage. But are the Monarchists really any better than the liberationists that overthrew them years ago?

This is a novella so you’re not getting the in dept world-building you might be hoping for. It’s a bit of a shame as the world is interesting and I’d have loved to learn more about the politics and magic. I loved the idea that human magic is caused by demon-wraiths nesting in their bones. The politics were complicated and messy as expected when a revolution has recently occurred.

Fellian asks a lot of questions, annoying her companions but giving the reader vital information. She’s clever and resourceful. Her team is an interesting mix and I enjoyed their dynamic.

The book is fast paced and compelling.

This is a quick, enjoyable read. ( )