LightFall

Epic Adventure Fantasy with great world-building and slow-burn romance

From the opening chapter to the end, I was caught up in this fantasy world that pits the forces of good and evil in the most ancient and stark terms. The world is just as messy and full of unclear magical belief as those presented in the middle-ages, but these misgivings in this world are real. A dreadmarked prince and his monster dragon are needed to stop the demon hoardes from destroying the light, devouring the land and the people. As in ancient times, a virtuous woman is needed to be sacrificed to satisfy the dragon to do his work. Neither the dragon, the dreadmarked prince, nor the virtuous woman (the chosen) desire to be a part of this eternal drama that happens every year and sometimes more often. Yet, each party feels trapped and must play their part in this ancient and seemingly eternal fight to save the kingdom.

In the midst of this is a protagonist who is not so easily categorized as good or evil, but is definitely not neutral. Feinan is an expert thief, and one who generally does not take on a fight unless it benefits her. She does not accept the world as it is but rather tries to bend it to her will through wit, creative cunning, and a solid desire not to die. Yet she may prove to be the most virtuous person on this journey, and the only one who can see a way to end this once and for all. I loved Feinan! We see the adventure, the clandestine machinations behinds the scenes through her clever eyes and mind. Yet she also shows a great deal of compassion and can't help but be in the middle of solving this eternal death drama.

I loved this unique world. I loved all of the creatures, the magic, and the political intrigue. The characters are unique and the relationships between them feel real. The action begins from the beginning when Feinan unwittingly jumps into the carriage of The Chosen and is put on the road to the Chosen's sacrifice, and perhaps Feinan's death as well.

Like paying a game of 3D chess, the interwoven moves of the characters build to a crescendo where any one move may end the world as they know it. I highly recommend this book to those who love epic adventure fantasy, with world-ending high stakes, amidst a chance for life-changing love.

For those who have read Elsa Jade’s shorter books about shifters, or alien grooms, or science fiction space opera romance, this book has all the adventure and characters and world building you love, but it is nearly double the length of those novels. This is EPIC fantasy adventure with a slow burn romance. If you approach it with that lens and take the time to get into the world and into the dynamics of the characters, I guarantee you will be rewarded. Jessa always pays off the promises she makes in the beginning. I hope the next book is coming soon, as I’m excited to see how she resolves all of this and molds good and evil for the long-term stability of life and a strong sustaining love.