"I have ignited a fire---a spark of a flame!"
I'm not normally a fan of fantasy. With the exception of a few popular series, the genre has just never really captured my attention. When my friend and debut author Travis R.J. offered me a copy of his debut fantasy novel to review, I was hesitant to accept it. It isn't the genre I would normally pick up, and I was nervous that I wouldn't enjoy the writing. As I opened the book, however, my hesitance soon began to fade. Magic by Fire: Spark of a Flame drew me in through a powerful opening that quickly introduced the main characters and hinted at the adventure to come. I was ready to go wherever this story was going to take me.
By all accounts, Liam is an ordinary boy. He lives with his mother in a small village, and the pair manage the local bakery. Each day looks much like the others, and Liam is perfectly content with this routine. After work, he often sneaks out of the town to the forested landscape that surrounds it. Liam and his best friend Pat spend the evenings playing with an enchanted ball and cautiously exploring their abilities with 'ignegic', fire-based magic. Being a Pyrend, someone who can perform this magic, is extremely rare. Moreso, practicing ignegic has been outlawed by the queen. Already it seems that Liam isn't as ordinary as we originally believed.
In Magic by Fire: Spark of a Flame Travis R.J. deftly lays the foundation of his planned trilogy upon the characters who inhabit it. The care with which he crafts each person and relationship directly translates into us connecting with them. The bond between mother and son, mentor and mentee, and best friends are each fully realized. The emotional connection with the characters served to heighten the action and drama that they encountered. More importantly, this careful character work grounds the fantasy in a sense of reality.
Whether you are someone who regularly reads the genre or are more like myself, there is something for a variety of readers to find in Spark of a Flame. The story sets up a classic hero's journey, placing the ordinary main character into extraordinary circumstances. An old prophecy sets most of the narrative action into motion, and it is up to the main character to determine if they will play into that prediction or go against it. In most fantasy I've read, it is the world-building that usually plods along and loses my interest. Travis R.J. circumvents this challenge by revealing most of the world through his characters and the events that unfold. There is a brief section at the midpoint of the novel that started to lag a bit for me, but it quickly gave way to more revelations and a suspenseful encounter in a faraway town. Ultimately, Magic by Fire: Spark of a Flame was exactly the kind of novel I needed to read to ignite my own interest in the genre. It promises to burn into a fully formed blaze over the course of the nest two installments.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2021, 8)
Great and well-written characters will always keep me flipping the pages, no matter what the story. I also don't read much fantasy, but the magical element and the whole forbidden magic sound interesting
ReplyDeleteI've learned that I can pretty much read any genre as long as I can latch onto the characters.
DeleteI’m not usually one for fantasy either but this does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly helped reignite my interest in the genre.
DeleteI used to read a lot of fantasy, but I don't read it as much anymore. I still enjoy a good fantasy series though. And the fact that you liked this book so much when you're not a fantasy reader says a lot. :)
ReplyDeleteIt can be fun to explore a genre you maybe haven't read in a while. This one would be a great place to start!
DeleteThis sounds really good. I would be a little nervous about reading a book that a friend wrote but it sounds like this worked out great for you.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely helps that my friend is a talented writer!
DeleteLike you, I'm not often drawn to fantasy but once in a while a synopsis will catch my attention and intrigue me enough to pick it up. I'm glad you took a chance on this one and it ended up working so well for you. Sounds like an exciting start to the series!
ReplyDeleteI'm really looking forward to reading the next one!
DeleteI'm not a big fantasy reader either but I loved Raybearer last year for a lot of reasons you mentioned her so I might give this one a look.
ReplyDeleteKaren @ For What It's Worth
I'll have to look into that one too!
DeleteAwesome review. It really worked out well for you when you are not a fantasy lover at heart :D
ReplyDeleteIt did!
DeleteI've not heard about this book but I'm a sucker for a good Fantasy book! Will definitely add it to my TBR ^^
ReplyDeleteIf you like a good fantasy novel, you'll love this!
DeleteI like the sound of this one.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd enjoy it!
DeleteOh, it would be a little tricky to read and review a friend's book! I bet you were relieved to enjoy it. It sounds like he is a talented writer, and I do enjoy fantasy. Mostly adult urban fantasy. This sounds sort of like Brandon Sanderson, maybe? My husband really enjoyed a series from him.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'm not familiar enough with the genre to compare it to anything, but it was certainly a good read.
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