A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom of Fire #1)

by Jessica Cluess

Hardcover, 416 pages

Publication: September 20th 2016 by Random House Books for Young Readers

4.5/5 books

ARC provided by Blog Tour

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I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer in hundreds of years. The prophesied one. Or am I? Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she’s shocked when instead of being executed, she’s invited to train as one of Her Majesty’s royal sorcerers. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the chosen one, the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorizing humanity. She also meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, handsome young men eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers that the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, what does it mean to not be the one? And how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

Henrietta or Netti to her friends has the ability to use fire, but she keeps this hidden since women who were seen using magic were killed. Henrietta is only found out because she uses her ability to save her friend Rook from being killed, after that she is asked to train to become a sorcerer.

Henrietta is thrust into a new world, living under the same roof as a number of young men who are also training to be members of the Queens Royal Sorcerers, there were a number of possible romances here, but Netti never let that stop her from her goal. Netti faces roadblock after roadblock from both her classmates and other men who see her as something that is not part of the natural order of being a sorcerer. She didn’t let any of this deter her. She was determined to keep going, even if she did have doubts in the back of her head.

Nettie finds out things about herself and her past while she undergoes training, which makes her question why the laws are the way they are when it comes to those that can use magic. Her choice will not only affect her but it can possibly affect her relationship with Rook and the other members of the Royal Sorcerers.

I do have a bunch of questions that I do hope will be answered in the next book. What are the Ancients? What exactly is the difference between Sorcerers and Magicians? What is happening to Rook and his “curse”?

I am looking forward to the next book, and I can’t wait to see what happens with Nettie, Rook and the guys.