I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young outcast and a prince on the run must band together when she is blamed for the prince’s “abduction” in author T.C. Marti’s “Spirit & Fire”, the first book in the Cymraeg Tales series.
The Synopsis
A troubled outcast on the run from her home nation’s wrath…
…An estranged prince escaping a dreary home life in a distant land
Mali LaSalle always wanted to exert revenge on a monarchy that rendered her family outcasts centuries ago. But the girl never dreamed she would cross paths and befriend a crown prince from an allied nation seeking to run away from a prearranged betrothal.
Now on the run, they learn that the monarchy framed Mali for kidnapping Prince Caer and employed more sinister entities than the duo could ever have imagined to arrest her. If caught, Mali will face a death sentence. If she and Caer can outrun the monarchy’s henchmen, then she will at least live to fight another day.
Spirit and Fire is rich in sword and sorcery, and elemental magic. If you like stories about forbidden love, chosen ones, ultra-complex plots, and thrilling fight scenes, this epic young adult dark fantasy is for you.
The Review
Serving as a prequel to the author’s Elementals of Nordica series, this book does an excellent job of delving more into the fantasy element of this franchise than ever before. The author really honed in on the age of kingdoms and magic perfectly, crafting a narrative that felt both large in scale and yet intimate all at the same time.
The heart of this story, as so often is in this amazing fantasy author’s work, is the rich character development and world-building that brought this world to life. The way the author was able to hone in on the history of this world, and the way the chemistry between Mali and Prince Caer brought out both the tension and the heart of the narrative really kept the reader engaged throughout this story.
The Verdict
From rich settings and detailed writing styles that honed in on the imagery this novel was rife with, author TC Marti’s “Spirit & Fire” is a must-read dark fantasy novel. The way the story plays into the future of this world from the Elementals of Nordica franchise, including the ancestors of some of the reader’s favorite characters, made this a thrilling and entertaining novel that is not to be missed. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
TC Marti has been an avid reader/writer for over three decades. He is the author of the Elementals Universe, a shared speculative fiction universe spanning multiple series. He is also a workout fanatic, and a fan of Arizona sports teams.
