Here's a review I wrote in 2009 for my work blog.
16-year-old Zira’s dying
Ruan mother brought a badly injured Zira to the temple after the fearsome
attack that left Rua in the control of the Sedorne. Zira’s memories of her life
before that night are gone, until the night ten years later when a Sedorne
force, sent by the king, attacks and destroys the temple. As the temple people
shelter in the Shrine of God, Zira’s memories are unlocked. She is not poor
Zira, warrior priestess in training. She is Zahira Elfenresh, the last
surviving member of the royal family of Rua. It is she who should be on the
throne as Reia, not the Sedorne king.
Once her identity is
known, Zahira becomes the leader of the temple refugees. She leads them,
unwillingly, to a Sedorne lord who becomes their ally, and much more. But her
alliance with the Sedorne leads many of her followers to doubt Zahira. They
want Rua for the Ruan, with all Sedorne either dead or driven out of the land.
But the Ruan are not a strong fighting force on their own, so Zahira must unite
the Ruan and Sedorne people in order to put an end to the Sedorene king's bloody rule.
Zira/Zahira is a smart, strong character
reminiscent of Tamora Pierce’s Beka Cooper or Robin McKinley’s Harimad Crewe.
The book is well-written and the story carries the reader forward quickly and
seamlessly. I will be the first to admit that I picked this book up because of
the striking cover art, but from the very first page I was hooked. I highly
recommend this title to fans of fantasy and strong heroines!
Marriott, Zoe. Daughter of the Flames. Cambridge, Mass., Candlewick, 2009. 5 Stars.
Originally read in March 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment