Showing posts with label Brittany Matsen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brittany Matsen. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

#Review - The Spellcaster's Weapon by Brittany Matsen #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: The Weapon of Fire and Ash # 1.5
Format: Kindle, 170 pages
Release Date: November 19, 2020
Publisher: Bookwyrm Books
Source: Kindle
Genre: Fantasy / Paranormal

Ever since that night in the alley, strange things have been happening to Adrianna and now Emma is missing. All at once, it seems her whole world is crumbling, especially when people’s memories of the Shediem attack from the homecoming dance are suddenly returned. With no other choice, she trusts in the odd freshman girl that claims to have answers. But she didn't expect answers concerning her mother who abandoned her seven years ago. And just when she begins to learn who she is and what she’s capable of, the ruthless, yet handsome Shediem General, Tlahaz, steals her away to Sheol to perform a spell only she can do. As sparks fly between the two, war draws nearer, and Adrianna must accept her role in it all. **Must Read Weapon of Fire and Ash First!*



The Spellcaster's Weapon, by author Brittany Matsen, takes place between The Weapon of Fire and Ash and The Throne of Broken Bones. I suggest that you read The Weapon of Fire and Ash first since you will be totally lost if you don't. Ever since that night in the alley, strange things have been happening to Adrianna Hall, and now Emma and her mother have been missing for days. (If you've read the first installment, you'd know why.) 

To make matters worse, whenever Adrianna gets angry or scared, things tend to explode. What's more interesting is that Adrianna has begun to see people's aura's in different colors. All at once, it seems her whole world is crumbling, especially when people’s memories of the Shediem attack from the homecoming dance are suddenly returned. With no other choice, she trusts in the odd freshman girl named Sara who claims to have answers. Sara does have answers, but not the kind that Adrianna was expecting. She didn't expect answers concerning her mother who abandoned her seven years ago.

She didn't expect to be kidnapped by the ruthless, Shediem General Tlahaz, who steals her away to Sheol to perform a spell only she can do. And to create a spell to remove the memories Levaroth has of Emma. As sparks fly between the two, war draws nearer, and Adrianna must accept her role in it all. She also didn't expect that there was a prophecy that may or may not be about her, and her role in saving or destroying the world. 

"And when the earth is split by dark and light, there is one-the most powerful magic-wielder, who flies through the air on immortal wings. For if she can bind the ultimate darkness, then the world will not die. But if she cannot condemn the ruler or death, the darkness will swallow the world forever."
This story alternatives points of view from Adrianna and Tlahaz. There are several questions that were not answers, one being what ever happened to Adrianna's mother. Guess I'll have to finish the series to find out!





Friday, April 22, 2022

#Review - The Mark of Fallen Flame by Brittany Matsen #Fantasy #Paranormal

Series: The Weapon of Fire and Ash # 1
Format: EBook, 378 pages
Release Date: March 13, 2020
Publisher: Bookwyrm Books; 2nd edition
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Young Adult / Urban Fantasy

The balance between good and evil comes down to one girl.

But is the darkness really so bad?

Emma Duvall starts senior year with one thing in mind: make Seattle, home.

All her life her mother lived with one foot out the door, but no more. That is, until Emma discovers she has the power to turn terrifying creatures of the night to ash with a single touch. That one moment unveils a hidden world of supernatural beings, both good and bad.

Suddenly her best friend is acting strange, the new guy that's mysteriously in every one of her classes is too beautiful to be human, and an ancient, powerful being is stalking her.

To top it off, the "good guys", the Giborim, aren't convinced that Emma can be trusted. But their unofficial leader, Blaze, becomes her unwilling protector--and perhaps something more--setting fire to millennia of hard-set prejudices.

Especially when her newfound power awakens a deep and dark hunger that can only be sated with death.


Brittany Matsen's The Mark of the Fallen Flame is the first installment in the authors The Weapon of Fire and Ash series. 17-year-old Emma Duvall starts her senior year with one thing in mind: make Seattle, home and find a way to go to college where she can finally have a life. All her life her mother Laura has lived with one foot out the door, but no more. That is until one night, Emma and her best friend Adrianna are attack by terrifying spider-like creatures, and Emma kills them with a single touch. 

Thanks to Laura's secrets, Emma has no idea how important she will one day be to either the light, or the darkness. Emma discovers a hidden world of supernatural beings, both good and bad. When war started raging in their city causing catastrophic devastation, crazy things started happening, including unholy creatures that should not exist. The story also features Levaroth, a General under a Demon Prince who also goes by the name of Rowek. 

Rowek takes an interesting in Emma, but it seems as though he has a much greater plan in store for her after her school dance is attacked by demons, and someone messes with the survivors memories. To top it off, the "good guys", the Giborim, an immortal race of protectors, aren't convinced that Emma can be trusted. But their unofficial leader, Blaze Thomas, becomes her unwilling protector--and perhaps something more--setting fire to millennia of hard-set prejudices. 

Emma's newfound power awakens a deep and dark hunger that can only be sated with death and she soon learns that the violence and kidnappings in the news and her state stem from an ancient supernatural battle for power. I think one of the biggest problems I have with this story is the secrecy behind Laura not letting Emma know about her past, and why they are always moving to keep out of reach from some dangerous people. 

I haven't spoken of Adrianna yet, and that's pretty much because she gets a book all of her own called The Spellcaster's Weapon which will explain why Adrianna will one day be just as important as Emma. The final part of this story is action packed while also leaving a stunning cliffhanger ending which will pick up in the third book in this series. Even though Laura acted strange throughout the book, I honestly can't hold it against her for not telling Emma the truth about her heritage and who she really is. After all, Emma will soon know the truth, and there's nothing good that comes from being angry at a character.