Heir of Memory and Shadow

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Heir of Memory and Shadow

Kaernan Asthore's seeker ability allows him to find lost loves. But not every love story ends happily. Guilt plagues Kaernan after a seeking assignment turns deadly, and wishes nothing more than to be rid of his ability. When his father signs him up for a commission to help Lady Adallia Pahame find her lost love, he finds himself hard pressed to say no. Accepting the mission he hopes it will be simple, but as he and his companions begin their journey, they will quickly realize there is more at hand than one lost love.

Heir of Memory and Shadow expands on the world introduced to readers in the first novel Heir of Amber and Fire. Readers will be immersed in a kingdom filled with magic and mystery. Kaernan's ability is vastly different from tracking down dragons, but the journey is no less enjoyable. There will also be a few returning characters from the previous novel who will provide a balanced mix of humor and seriousness to the team dynamics. As they embark on their journey to find Adallia's lost love, the group will keep readers entertained as they encounter magical challenges and formidable foes. There will be a few unexpected turns along the way that will make readers rethink what they have encountered along the way.

Kaernan is one of my favorite character types, complicated with a good heart. He does all he can to make the right decisions for his companions, but he is a reluctant leader. Kaernan doubts his choices due to the tragedy of his last commission. However, as the story progresses and he gains trust in his travel companions and abilities, Kaernan's personality and confidence grow. Witnessing a character come into their own and begin to believe in themselves is a wonderful journey.

The amount of tension in this novel is just enough to draw the reader in, but there's also this sense of camaraderie and positive intentions among the characters that help ease any situation. Heir of Memory and Shadow can be read as a standalone novel, though it does bring a bit of a spoiler to light from book one, honestly the first book will be just as fun to read knowing what happens. I encourage readers who enjoy fantasy novels to give this one a try!