Happy Release Day to For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig!
I received an ARC of this one from Harper Collins Canada (HCC Frenzy) in exchange for an honest review!
My rating: 4/5 stars
My thoughts:
'For a Muse of Fire' is a bold tale about family, honour, and sacrifice. Jetta's family are shadow players, and one of the best, thanks to her. Jetta's unique ability to see souls of the dead allow her to blood bind them to their dazzling puppets. As danger draws closer, her family seeks out refuge aboard on a royal ship to Aquitan, and closer to a possible cure. The plan becomes difficult when loyalties become less clear, and not everyone is who they claim to be.
There were a lot of things about this book that I really liked. The concept was dark and wicked, drawing readers in as the complex plot continued. The bold Asian fantasy world was historically rich and well described. The multiple points of view and unique writing style were interesting (first person narrative as well as play writing style), and I liked hearing from the various characters thoughts. The beginning of the novel is an immersion in the rich culture and unfamiliar phrases, and that took a bit to get accustomed too. It might appear intimidating and a bit confusing to some , but I am glad I continued. The finished copy seems to have maps and folklore graphics throughout the novel that the ARC had left spaces for, and that will be beneficial to readers.
Leo's character is my favourite in the novel. His charm and compassion make him easy to like, and his desire to help is clear. I would've liked to get to know him more, but that might come in the next books in the series. Jetta's character was a bit harder to support in the beginning. I found it harder to connect with the story, but later on it improved - once there was more backstory shared about her. I am excited to learn more about Theodora and Cheeky in the series, they have the potential to be very impactful individuals.
Overall, the slow start led way to a great fantasy novel with a strong heroine. Fans of dark, twisted fantasies will appreciate the necromancy aspects, and the bold characters will draw readers in.
Thanks for reading, and feel free to check this one out at your local bookstore!