The Last of the Firedrakes
By: Farah Oomerbhoy
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Pub Date: August 15, 2015
Pages: 488
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Copy received for a blog tour for an honest review.
A fantastic adventure story that will transport you to a dazzling world of myth and magic.
16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.
Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.
With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.
Purchase Links:
I honestly enjoyed how this book started out. I kind of got a Harry Potter-ish kind of vibe with Aurora being an orphan and left to people who didn't care for her. All of the quick beginning chapters, we lose those people quickly (thank goodness!) and move on to Avalonia...through a magical tapestry!
Once through the portal, we learn that there are different lands. Not just where we live. There are other beings, too. Magical beings! This story mostly discusses mages and the fae. We quickly find out that Aurora is the lost princess to this land, Avalonia. Unfortunately, her method of getting through the tapestry to the land landed her in a prison. In that prison, she met 2 fae. Thankfully, they were a couple of important fae and someone came to their rescue. Aurora was rescued along with the fae, and free for the time, away from the person who wanted her dead.
Once the story really got started, the names of the lands were confusing me. Once I kept seeing them mentioned and "meeting" people from those lands, I began to enjoy the story much more. I think with a physical copy of this book, a reader can flip and look at the beautiful map much easier than I was trying to do on my ereader.
With a medallion around Aurora's neck, we find the history of it and how it got there. It was the only thing she had from her childhood and she never took it off. Which, was a great thing! If she had, she would have discovered her magical abilities. In our human world, that would have been a disaster!
It is decided that she will go to a school for mages to learn how to use her magic. While there, we have some other Harry Potter-ish moments with a kind headmaster, a friend, and then the evil family who are out to aid their uncle in helping Aurora's evil aunt rule all of the lands. However, no one at the school, other than the headmaster and a professor know Aurora's true identity. It's for her safety that no one knows. Also, it's for her safety that no one knows that she possesses two types of magic: mage and fae. It's a combination she inherited from her parents, the kind and queen of Avalonia, who were murdered many years ago.
I loved the friends that Aurora made along the way. Her roommate at school, who helped her and truly liked her. Kalen, one of the fae who enjoyed his adventures and telling stories to Aurora. Then, there's the Black Wolf, AKA Rafe. Boy, oh, boy! Did I love Rafe! I was feeling the frustration right along with Aurora through the story. Haha! Rafe is a wanted man, who helps save fae. He has some interesting secrets that are revealed later in this book. It makes so much sense!
I truly did enjoy reading Farah's debut story and fell in love with her story-telling. I will have a copy of this book on my shelf and I look forward to the next installment. Very much!
I enjoyed Book 1 of the Avalonia Chronicles immensely! I can't wait for Book 2 and more adventures for Aurora and the crew!
For Farah Oomerbhoy, writing is a passion and reading her solace. She is a firm believer in the fantastic and magical, and often dreams of living in Narnia, Neverland, or the Enchanted Forest.
