Thursday, March 7, 2013

Book Review: Gown of Shadow and Flame by A. E. Marling...

Title: Gown of Shadow and Flame

Author: A. E. Marling

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Pages: 327 (Print), File size: 1648 kb

ASIN: B00AFHSQHW

Purchase: Amazon



Summary from Amazon:

Her brother throws the first stone. Her family tries to kill her, but Celaise chooses to live, even if it means leaving humanity behind.

She weaves a gown from strands of night and despair. The forbidden magic protects her. It isolates her, and it binds her to a three-headed overlord.

Her lord commands Celaise to save lives, on pain of death. She rescues Jerani, a warrior adorned by a sunburst of scars from a tribal ritual. Jerani fights to defend his family and their sacred cows from crystal-eyed monsters roaming the savanna. He learns to rely on Celaise's magic, she on his strength.

Jerani thinks her divine, a volcano goddess. Celaise dares not confide in him. Engulfing the throngs of beasts in the inferno of her dress will loose her magic's hunger. Then the greatest threat to Jerani and everyone else she has come to care for will be herself.

My thoughts:

A. E. Marling does it yet again. This is the third book I have read of his and it is the third time I have been blown away! A. E. Marling writes with such elegance and clarity, I find myself fully enveloped in the worlds he creates.

His first two books brought me into the world of Hiresha, his Enchantress, and her magic. Along with the sort of chaos that usually surrounds her. This time, I was brought into the world of Feasters.

The Lord of the Feast has given Celaise a very special task. At first she finds it almost impossible to fulfill, what with the myriad of delicacies assaulting her senses. However, where there is a will, there is a way. Hunger and threats eventually lead her to the solution.

Jerani is a very pure young man, with innocent thoughts of this beautiful girl he mistakes for a Handmaiden of Angry Mother, the volcano. He is confused, but grateful that this wonderful girl with the magical dress has chosen him to aide her. How could he, a simple mortal boy, assist a powerful, beautiful goddess?

Together, they fight to protect Jerani's family and the Greatheart tribe from an invasion of destructive creatures. But to tell you any more would mean I would start to give a lot of this book away. There is pain and loss for Jerani, who has been charged with protecting his siblings, Wedan and Anza. But there is also courage and triumph.

I could go on and on about this book as much as the other two I have read, but you really have to read them for yourself. The imagery woven into the intrinsic tapestry of Marling's writing is amazing!

Once again:

5 out of 5 skull and crossbones.

3 comments:

Tyrean Martinson said...

It sounds like an amazing read!

Bethany Elizabeth said...

That sounds amazing! All right, I'm definitely checking those books out. :)

Mel Chesley said...

I absolutely recommend all of Marling's books! You won't be sorry. :D