Zohra Nabi

Magic and adventure hit with every page, while friendship, family, and determination create drive and heart.

Yara wants to put an end to the problems, which are killing magic, and free her mother from prison, especially since nobody else seems to be doing much about it. After an argument with her friend, she stumbles across the injured familiar of her mother. It carries a message from her mother, telling her to return home. Clutching to the hope that she'll find a powerful magic to defeat the Grand High Sorceress, she sets off with her friends on a dangerous journey. What she discovers isn't only very unexpected, but threatens magic as they know it.

This takes off where book one left. So, it is important to read this one as a series, and that best with one shortly after the other.

From the very first page, the troubles facing the magical world and Yara take off. The first scenes unveil Yara's concerns and frustrations, and display the dire need she and the others around her are facing as the magic slowly dims. Her personality hits like a whirlwind, especially when unfolding with her friend, Leyla. The relationship between the two is something to enjoy in these pages, but then, many of the characters bring personality and heart.

There is quite a bit going on. Not only do several plot threads continue from book one, but new ones layer in, too. It keeps the story moving along and something happening on every page, and yet, it wasn't quite as smooth as book one. Still, it is an enjoyable, rich read. Yara's facing quite a bit more and has several new things to learn. Her sister brings an unexpected and tale-changing twist, which slides into another unexpected direction toward the end. All of this seemed as if a book three were underway, but the entire tale rounds off at the end in a quick way.

There is quite a bit of richness in the story, not only in the magical setting with clashing sides and intrigue, but family and friends bring warmth, rough moments, and heart. The lyrical magic continues to spin with enjoyable flair, and even takes on a slightly different direction than book two. Then, there's the growth of Yara, who is a character to root for from beginning to end, and has her own issues to overcome underway.

Fantasy friends, who enjoy adventure, tons of magic, and slightly darkish intrigue, will enjoy this duology, and I'm looking forward to see what the author produces next.
I received a DRC and enjoyed this tale quite a bit.… (meer)

Imagination, adventure, family, and friendship whirl to form an exciting world, where magic meets sinister schemes.

If her mother's death wasn't enough to flip Yara's world upside-down, the letter her mother left behind made sure it was. Following the instructions, Yara leaves her home in our world and portals back to her true home, Zehaira. There she must not only find footing in her own world, but realizes there are more secrets than she suspected...and some of these threaten to destroy everything.

This is a fantastic ride into a vibrant world with magic, djinn, sorcerers and more. The world is very rich and brings something amazing at every turn. It was fun to get lost in the pages and wish it truly existed. The author does an amazing job at bringing this unique realm to life. Add the great cast of characters with their quirks, and it's no problem to sink right in and want to stay.

Yara has a good sense of right and wrong, and is ready to fight for what she believes in. Still, she's hesitant, at times, and does require assistance and guidance. It makes her easy to root for and sympathize with. Mixed with a sense of family and the forming of wonderful friendships, this creates a heart-warming atmosphere as well. Still, that doesn't mean the action suffers. It doesn't. There is quite a bit going on in these pages as Yara faces all sorts of situations. The mystery concerning her identity is also well-laid and very hard to guess. Plus, the world and the more evil plots keep her on her toes, too.

It was a treat to dive into such a rich fantasy world and simply get lost in the story. It's clear that there is so much more to come, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes from here. I received a DRC and found this to be a very enjoyable read.… (meer)