The Burning Sky by Sherry ThomasPublication Date: September 17th, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Count: 464 pages
Format: Finished Copy
Source: NCIBA Conference
Genre: Fantasy
Ages: 14+
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It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…
Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.
Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to avenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.
But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.
After hearing everyone rave about Burning Sky and how amazing it is I knew it would be a great book club pick and I was not wrong at all. High fantasy is incredibly rare in YA these days and I'm always looking for a mystical, magical world to sink myself into so Burning Sky became a must read. Let me just tell you, if you're looking for a world like Hogwarts or Narnia but for teens, than this is the book for you. Burning Sky is a mixture of high fantasy thriller and magical realism that will keep you guessing until the last page. I'm so thrilled that this is going to be a trilogy because I still have so many questions!
Iolanthe is supposedly the greatest mage of her generation and everyone wants something from her. The enigmatic and standoffish Prince wants her love, the Bane wants her power, but Iolanthe just wants to be free. Iolanthe is a great character. She's still naive enough to make poor choices, but strong enough to stand on her own when she needs to. There are also a lot of secondary characters that I just loved and I really hope that they come back in the next novels.
If you're looking for an exciting and fast-paced fantasy story this is one for you. I know this book has been getting a lot of hype but it's for a good reason. My entire YA book club loved it and agreed that it's a great edition to the YA genre. I can't wait to see what else Sherry Thomas comes up with and I need more Prince Titus in my life! If you've been on the fence about reading this one than definitely sway toward READING IT NOW! I promise, you won't be disappointed! Burning Sky is great for fans of Graceling, Harry Potter, and Tamora Pierce!
