The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope

Everyone should pick up a copy of this novel, and read it, then poke Elizabeth to write and get the next one released sooner :D

This is a truly lyrical novel. The words flow over the page and the pacing is wonderful. It also keeps me guessing, feeding me a little information at a time, enough to keep me hungry for more. It provoked many emotions from me, making me laugh, tear up, feel joy, sorrow, and everything else in between.
This is another of the love at first sight, and touch but it has a paranormal element, so that makes it a little better for me. They both have “gifts” and these gifts are amplified concerning one another. I like though that it feels like a pure relationship, there is just something different (good) about the way their interactions are written, be it dialogue or actions.
The love that Nora and Gavin have and develop is something that I long for and that I hope that my own daughter, like Elizabeth's, finds one day. It makes me ache for the purity and the strength of their love even through trials.
The characters are beautifully conveyed. Nora is a great protagonist, she narrates beautifully and she is easy to relate to. Her strength, love and ability to understand and forgive all make her lovely. Gavin is a heart-throb and going on my top 10 literary crushes. He is not a bad boy- he communicates and is emotionally real. He helps Nora to learn that she is valuable- for who she is not what she does and who she is to others. This is a wonderful message and I wish that all women could learn this lesson and have someone so awesome to help teach it to them. They built each other up and help to highlight the best in the other, and encouraged the bettering of themselves too.,
As far as secondary characters, they were amazing as well. Rena is a wonderful addition; funny and the type of best friend that I could only hope to have. Edna is a pleasant surprise, being a strong presence in Nora's life, whereas many YA novels have conveniently absent parents. The way that she cares for and took in Nora is commendable, and I love seeing their relationship played out and the sacrifices they will make for each other. I don’t quite understand the purpose of Holly and Kate unless just a way to meet Gavin, but it seems there would be another way. With as close as it made them out to be, they are absent; however the friendship between Nora and Rena that develops is sweet, and completely makes up for it.
Elizabeth writes so that her fantasy world just seems so real to me, and the characters feel so alive. I feel like I am taking part in this awesome story.
I love her message that even though there may be a bit of dark in us all, it is all about how we chose to respond, and how we can love and live and overcome, letting the light shine through. I also appreciate that fighting this darkness is a constant struggle, as it is in real life, but that the struggle itself does not make you bad, the fight can help to make you stronger.
The story has it all- an amazing love story, friendship, the moral that love prevails, good vs evil, magic, and mystery.

I have been thinking about this book ever since I put it down, and I recommend this to anyone and everyone!!