The Burning Sky (The Elemental Trilogy #1)

The Burning Sky has all the elements a great fantasy novels should have-magic, unique world building which is convincing at the same time, a dashing hero, a bad ass heroine, wonderful romance and more than 400 pages. The last one is a joke but I do love it when they're longer. Even though I rarely read books over 360 pages.

You know those books where someone close to our heroine promises her they`ll always be there for her but when the time comes she`s forced to act alone without anyone`s help? Well, in this book, our heroine, Iolanthe, does have help from someone and that person is Titus, the prince of her Realm(or whatever you call it) who`s actually by her side every step of the way and is not afraid to get hurt as long as she stays safe. Now, that`s admirable! Titus even falls for her even though she`s dressed as a guy and has to cut her hair. He tries to keep it under wraps since everyone he cared about ended up dead. He obviously fails and doesn`t hide it well. But by this point I was sold due to Titus`awesomeness! He`s a real man who isn`t actually fearless and yet he would do anything to keep Iolanthe, or Fairfax(her boy name) safe. He will protect her from dragons, mean old ladies, their dangerous inquisitor even from herself.

Iolanthe has her doubts in Titus especially since she found out he lied to her and tricked her into a blood oath. She finds out she`s a rare elemental mage who isn`t yet convinced she`s all that. But she doesn`t complain even though she goes through so much in such a short period of time. She`s ready to fight and learn. To be better and to strive. Plus, she can play a great boy. It`s not easy being around them 24/7.

Romance was surprisingly well done. Well, I shouldn`t be so surprised. After all, Sherry Thomas did write a bunch of historical romance novels. But she obviously knows how to write one for teens so I applaud her for that. And that world building! Just marvelous!

I can`t wait to get my hands on the sequel. Too bad it`s coming out next year. Oh, the dreaded wait! And people will surely tease me with their ARCs while I sit and mope in my room.

Sherry Thomas was already known to me as author of several historical romance novels. I heard a lot of praise from my romance-loving friends and I planned to check out her work some day. Then I heard about The Burning Sky. Adult romance author writing a young adult fantasy novel? To say I didn't think the switch will work out would be an understatement. That’s why I haven’t read eARC of The Burning Sky, although I had it on my Kindle since March. Well, you can not imagine how sorry I am now because this book was awesome. It had all the elements of good ya fantasy novel I like and hit all the right feelings.

Iolanthe Seabourne is mage who can control the elements (fire, water, earth). When she tries to purify the potion-gone-wrong by hitting it with lightning (and pulls it off), Iolanthe reveals that she wields amount of elemental magic that only heroes from long-gone-times had. And, that’s how Iolanthe becomes ‘a girl who would never again be safe anywhere’…

Warned not to trust anyone, Iolanthe finds an unwanted ally in a young prince Titus. Together they run through their homeland, 19th century England and The Crucible (magical playground). Prepare yourself for flying horses; carpets; elemental, mind and other kinds of magic; dragons and a lot of action.

Iolanthe is the kind of heroine I wish all young adult novels have: smart, resourceful, with good decisions and set of values. Even when she is disguised as a boy in 19th century Eton, she’s not shy. She radiates charm, cockiness and confidence. Her playful banter with prince Titus often made me smile.

“If I hadn't interfered earlier, you’d be a drooling imbecile by now. So shut up and let me make my own decisions.”
He almost smiled. “That doesn't sound right. I am the brains of the operation. You are only supposed to provide the muscle.”
She wanted to touch his cheek, but did no such thing. “When there is enough muscle, it develops a mind of its own.”

And, as the quote above hints, there is an ongoing attraction between Titus and Iolanthe that slowly builds and makes them from enemies to… something more. Sherry Thomas used her previous experience in writing romance novels in the best way possible. The love story in The Burning Sky is not the theme in the book. It’s subtle, but it’s always there in small glances, touches and thoughts that will make you sigh and smile and swoon and get all misty-eyed.

The only negative thing that I can say about The Burning Sky is that it needed more world building. There are a lot of holes that are left to be explained in sequels and although most of the times these things can really irritate me, The Burning Sky had me in tight grip with action and romance so this didn't bother me at all. I can't wait for September 2014 and the sequel!

IN THE END…
It feels like Sherry Thomas took a list of my favorite elements in young adult fantasy novels and wrote The Burning Sky. It has a lot of action, strong complex characters, awesome magic contraptions, heroine masquerading as a boy, slow-building romance without any hint of love triangle and it even has dragons! And if you are my friend be prepared that I will recommend it to you soon. ;)

Disclaimer: I was given a free eBook by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for a honest review.

I was surprised that a book as sprawling and epic as this one is only book one in the series. It makes me giddy to think that we are going to continue on with the characters and world that I found myself instantly drawn into. The Burning Sky speaks well to the fantasy lover that I am and I loved how it mixed with historical fiction. Although it is a fantasy world there are elements of the real world mixed in. It was executed well as we drift between the two. There were a few points when I would get confused for a second but then as I continued reading my mind straightened out.

There are so many things I loved about the book but I especially enjoyed the character of Titus. He is not your typical prince. Rather than being unaware and protected in a bubble from the outside world, Titus is very well acquainted with the art of war. I’m not just meaning in the practical sense of the word but as well as political. He knows who and who doesn’t report to Atlantis and how to hold his cards close to his chest. He is also extremely clever and has not gone into action without having a plan and there is always a back-up plan brewing in his mind as well. I’m glad that he is also able to use mage powers and is not completely reliant on Iolanthe to save the world. He is able to add a little of his own contribution.

Iolanthe is also a character I enjoyed. It’s not often though that I like the main lead guy over the girl. Iolanthe is also clever and quick witted. We are talking about a girl who can fool a bunch of boys into thinking she is a boy. Not only that but be able to do things she had never even heard of before attending Eton college. Iolanthe is well aware of her powers but doesn’t quite understand the magnitude of who she is and who she has value to. In the book we see her really grow as she leaves her small town world.

The romance was completely adorable in this book. It made me smile at how adorably smitten the two of them are. There was just something innocent and pure about it. Like that first crush in high school. I love when the prince throws her off her feet or when she compltely astounds him.

I loved this book and I think if you are fan of fantasy mixed in with a little historical fiction you will love it too.