Whispers of Shadow & Flame

Starred review from September 1, 2019
While the first installment in the Earthsinger Chronicles, Song of Blood and Stone (2018), follows events in Elsira, Penelope's follow up takes place in the neighboring kingdom of Lagrimar. Darvyn, the most powerful magic user in generations, uses his Earthsong for good and hides from the ruthless True Father. Meanwhile, Kyara wields a rare power called Nethersong. Where Earthsong grants life, Nethersong bestows death. Kyara is forced to do the True Father's bidding through blood magic, and her next assignment is to capture Darvyn. When the two meet, however, they realize that, despite their diametric abilities, they both want to help the people of Lagrimar and free themselves from their pasts. Through Kyara and Darvyn, Penelope has once again created an irresistible power couple who use their wits, empathy, and mutual trust to fight impossible odds. Like Elsira, Lagrimar is a richly realized world, made the more vivid through Penelope's beautiful descriptions and engrossing characters. This is a sure-fire recommendation for readers seeking epic fantasy. High stakes and dire twists will keep readers turning pages, and it's clear that this is only the beginning of what's sure to be a thoughtful, emotional, magnificent series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)