Reviewed: February 26th, 2024
Released: October 21st, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy
Can the power of love save the world?
Ailie, a gutsy girl who possesses a sharp wit and a playful, irreverent voice that pairs well with that of her best friend’s, a werewolf; embarks on a quest for revenge with the help of her psychotic, warmongering, and good-hearted legal guardian. She alone can open the gates of hell just like Pandora did when she opened the jar that contained all evils.
And evil wants those doors open.
Fallen Angels conspire to help her with Cupid’s Golden Arrow.
She finds herself in a whimsical world of myths, legends, glittering gowns, priceless jewels, life threatening enemies, and eccentric immortals that call themselves Strzyga.
However, there are side effects to the arrow. What’s not to like about a gorgeous, two-hundred-year old Strzyga prince who is totally and completely head over heels for her?
But things never go as planned, do they?
Will Ailie manage to save the world, or will she accidentally open the gates of hell?
Helen’s Thoughts: 5/5
For Alesssandrini’s debut novel, this is a complex and richly imagined world. So well described, that you can imagine yourself in that terrible monastery along with the young heroine, Ailie.
What begins as a story of a young girl, bullied and down trodden by those who should know better, evolves into a story of discovery, of coming of age, love and adventure. Along the way, Ailie learns to control her blossoming powers and to find her place in life.
It is a little frustrating that everyone around her seems to know who she is, and that its safer for her in the monastery, but no one actually tells her why, until she comes of age, and the powers she knows very little about nearly overwhelm her.
Accompanied by her moody legal guardian, who drip feeds her information, Allie escapes the monastery and begins her journey into the larger word to face the enemies she never knew she had.
The story was easy to read, even if the odd word choice jarred and the repetition of the word ‘crap’ got a little annoying. But otherwise, an excellent start to the series in a well-imagined magical world.
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If you enjoy fantasy books then you will love my epic fantasy Sentinal series or the Romantic Fantasy SoulMist series. As a new threat against Remargaren is discovered, only one man can wake the ancient guards who can protect them, only he doesn’t know how. Start the adventure and stay for the journey. Sign up to my newsletter and download a free novella called Sentinals Stirring and get notified when my next books are published.
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