Young Adult books aren’t really my thing. New Adult either.
But, I am a total fangirl of all things Estep.Meaning, The first young adult series I read was her Mythos Academy stories, and I only started it because she hooked me with her Elemental Assassin series. Needless to say, she hooked me in, and I devoured each one of them in between awaiting more Gin Blanco.
Now the author has a new young adult series. (and I’m thrilled Gin is still going strong,) and I was lucky enough to get an advance copy!!! (Begging really does work)
So…here’s my thoughts on the new Black Blade series.
This world, fits right alongside that of Mythos and Ashland. Magic and monsters abound, but with the same unique twist/feel as Estep’s other books. I, as a writer, find it fantastic the way she can write each series with it’s own unique feel to the world, yet they all blend so well that you know it’s really all the same world, just each characters view of it. Just like we all live in the same world, but see things so differently due to where, and who, we are. This is just one thing that proves Estep is a talent unlike any other.
In the world of Cloudburst Falls, the most magical place on earth, Lila, our young thief/heroine isn’t as Kick-ass as Gin, but she’s young yet. She’s smart, agile (physically and mentally) and cold hearted when she needs to be. She’s also wicked good with a sword.
She’s a bit of a smart-ass too, which is awesome.
But my mom taught me all about the old traditions. I knew which monsters lived where in town, in the forests, and on the mountain, and what small tributes you paid them for safe passage through their territories. In fact, I’d always thought of the monsters as my own sort of standoffish pets. If, you know, you thought pets that could eat you were cool. Which I totally did.
All of the characters, Lila, Mo, Devon, Claudia even the pixie Oscar and butler Reginald are so well drawn you can picture them in your mind. Estep introduces them all, but keeps the story moving a decent pace, and the action never lags. There’s thievery, assassination attempts, sword fights, pixies with pet turtles, people-eating monsters, and a little romance thrown in to even things out. Oh, and bacon. Lots of bacon.
What more could you possibly want?
I’m not going to say anything else, because I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but trust me on this, if you like action, adventure, anti-heros with issues, young love, monsters and magic, or any combination of them, then this is for you. Â I can’t wait to go deeper into Cloudburst Falls and the scary good times I know are waiting there.
Cold Burn Of Magic by Jennifer Estep
There Be Monsters Here. . .
It’s not as great as you’d think, living in a tourist town that’s known as “the most magical place in America.” Same boring high school, just twice as many monsters under the bridges and rival Families killing each other for power.
I try to keep out of it. I’ve got my mom’s bloodiron sword and my slightly illegal home in the basement of the municipal library. And a couple of Talents I try to keep quiet, including very light fingers and a way with a lock pick.
But then some nasty characters bring their Family feud into my friend’s pawn shop, and I have to make a call–get involved, or watch a cute guy die because I didn’t. I guess I made the wrong choice, because now I’m stuck putting everything on the line for Devon Sinclair. My mom was murdered because of the Families, and it looks like I’m going to end up just like her. . .