Format: Paperback, 560 pages
Release Date: April 30, 2019
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
The final volume of the Gemmell Morningstar Award-shortlisted Swords and Fire fantasy trilogy, in which political scion Amalia and her bound fire warlock Zaira must save the Empire from a ruthless, magical enemy. Perfect for fans of Tamora Pierce, The Queen of the Tearling, and Uprooted.
While
winter snows keep the Witch Lord Ruven's invading armies at bay, Lady
Amalia Cornaro and the fire warlock Zaira attempt to change the fate of
mages in the Raverran Empire forever, earning the enmity of those in
power who will do anything to keep all magic under tight imperial
control. But in the season of the Serene City's great masquerade, Ruven
executes a devastating surprise strike at the heart of the Empire - and
at everything Amalia holds most dear.
To stand a
chance of defeating Ruven, Amalia and Zaira must face their worst
nightmares, expose their deepest secrets, and unleash Zaira's most
devastating fire.
The Unbound Empire is the third and final installment in author Melissa Caruso's Swords and Fire trilogy. The
Serene Empire of Raverra has seen 50 years of peace
after a 3 year war with the neighboring Witch Lords of Vaskander. But, that peace is now in jeopardy with certain Witch Lords believing now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. One
of the reasons the peace has lasted so long are magical users called
falcons. Falcons aka mages, are those who are born with mage marks in
their eyes. Some of these mages have unimaginable
powers of pure destruction.
All of the falcons are assigned a person who is called a Falconer. Falconers exist to control magic and those who use magic. With a jess, the magic is bound, with a word from a Falconer, the magic is unleashed. Lady Amalia is the daughter and heir of one of the most powerful people in all of Raverra; La Contessa Lissandra Cornaro. Two months ago, nobody really knew who Amalia was. She was happy being a bookworm, an inventor, and being overlooked by everyone. That changed after she became a Falconer to Zaira, a fire warlock who uses deadly Balefire.
Now, everyone is paying attention to her now including members of the Council of Nine who believes she may be getting too powerful for her own good. Amalia has saved Serene City and Raverra by doing what was needed. She temporarily stopped Ruven from taking over lands that belong to her father's people, and she's become the youngest member of the Council. But, she isn't through the woods just yet. She has to deal with several issues that could be the start of a new beginning for Falcons, or the end of her country as she knows it.
With her Falcon Reform Act making its way through the works with some absolutely against giving the Falcons their freedom, Amalia learns that Ruven is on the move and maybe be planning something so devastating that there may only be one person who is able to stand against him; Zaira the Fire Warlock. While she is dealing with a plate full of danger, she is also dealing with her political courtship with the Witch Lord of Crows, Kathe, as well as keeping options open for her best friend Marcello.
Ruven is apparently making allies into enemies, while also using some dark, dark magic to turn people into things straight out of nightmare. So, when Marcello is attacked, Amalia has to now deal with the fact that her best friend may be lost to her forever. One of the questions that has been hanging over this story is how the author is going to resolve the issue between Amalia and Marcello and Kathe. In a bizarre way, she does just that. How do you choose between Marcello, Kathe, and the Empire? The authors chooses common sense so that readers can walk away understanding this was the best resolution for everyone.
This is a setting that I've said before reminds me of Renaissance Italy. Venice in particular. The series is fraught with political twists and turns. Amalia has been thrust into the spotlight from the very beginning of this story, and continues to stand and deliver through a heavy heart, and a strong desire to do what's right for those who have been trampled on, or restrained by antiquated laws. I adored that Amalia and Zaire each come to terms with their own uniqueness by the time the story ends. Zaire even gets a bit of a adorable happy ending with someone she adores.
The Tethered Mage
The Defiant Heir
The Unbound Empire
No comments:
Post a Comment