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Alicia Wanstall-Burke
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Blood of Heirs: An Epic Fantasy Saga (The Coraidic Sagas Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Alicia Wanstall-Burke (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 350 ratings

The Woaden Empire lies to the north, far beyond the mountains that protect the Southlands.

Their magic wielders, doomed to first madness then death, have never threatened the clans.

Lidan Tolak is the fiercest of her father’s daughters; more than capable of one day leading her people. Until her clan is torn apart, attacked by mysterious creatures nobody understands. Creatures that come in the night. Creatures that don't die when they should.

Ranoth Olseta wants nothing more than to be a worthy successor to his father’s throne. When his home is attacked by Woaden Empire, Ran becomes his city’s saviour. But when powers within him begin to surface, he is condemned to death. Confused and betrayed, Ran flees his homeland and a truth he’s always feared:

That magic is poison.

That magic breeds madness.

But magic may be all that can save them.

Blood of Heirs is the first book in the complete Coraidic Sagas trilogy. Perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, George RR Martin and Mark Lawrence.

"...solid writing, real characters that you'll end up rooting for, excitement, moments of genuine pathos, and a young girl getting stabby - very likely to please." - Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire, The Red Queen's War, and The Book of the Ancestor trilogies.

"Wanstall-Burke is one of the best fantasy authors writing today, hands down." - Dyrk Ashton, best selling author of The Paternus Trilogy.

"A brilliantly imagined and vividly realised novel." - Anna Stephens, author of The Godblind Trilogy.

"A remarkably accomplished debut. Fast pacing, dynamic plotting and a convincing world of tribal conflict and dark magic." - Juliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn & Grim series.

“One of the finest debut novels I’ve ever read. A stunning, annihilating, all conquering assault on the grand bastion of epic fantasy.” - John Birmingham, best selling author of Weapons of Choice, The End of Days trilogy and The Cruel Stars trilogy.

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Coraidic Sagas
  2. Print length
    418 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 23, 2018
  6. File size
    2.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Warrior on mountain top

image of a woman in a forest holding a knife in a beam of sunlight, with text

image of a man in a forest, holding a sword and shield

woman crouching on a tree branch, holding a bow and arrow

IN A WORLD OF MYTH, MONSTERS AND MAGIC, FIGHTING TO SURVIVE WILL TAKE MORE THAN SACRIFICE. IT MAY DESTROY THE VERY CORE OF WHO YOU ARE...

graphic of the Blood of Heirs hardcover surrounded by descriptive genre tags

TORN FROM THE LIFE YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW, YOU MUST FIGHT WITH EVERY WEAPON YOU POSSESS.

* * *

IN THE FRIGID, ICY MOUNTAINS OF THE NORTH, TINY NATIONS BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AGAINST THE RAVENOUS WOADEN EMPIRE...

hand drawn map of Coraidin featuring mountain ranges, locations, rivers and islands

AND IN THE STIFLING, HUMID SOUTH LANDS, ISOLATED CLANS TURN NEW TECHNOLOGY AGAINST AN EVEN NEWER EVIL LURKING IN THE BUSH.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...solid writing, real characters that you'll end up rooting for, excitement, moments of genuine pathos, and a young girl getting stabby - very likely to please." - Mark Lawrence, author of The Broken Empire, The Red Queen's War, and The Book of the Ancestor trilogies"A remarkably accomplished debut. Fast pacing, dynamic plotting and a convincing world of tribal conflict and dark magic." - Juliet Marillier, author of the Blackthorn & Grim series"A brilliantly-imagined and vividly-realised novel of peril, persistence and coming-of-age." - Anna Stephens, author of the Godblind trilogy"One of the finest debut novels I've ever read. A stunning, annihilating, all conquering assault on the grand bastion of epic fantasy." - John Birmingham, best selling author of He Died with a Felafel in His Hand and Axis of Time trilogy"A superbly written, pulse-pounding, and evocative debut." - Petrik Leo, novelnotions.net"I laughed, I cheered, I cried, and I enjoyed every moment of it." - The Fantasy Inn

About the Author

Splitting her time between Central Queensland, Australia and Lancashire, England, Alicia is a writer, a mum and a cat-herder. There are rumours she may in fact be a quokka in disguise, but these are not to be believed. She began writing in her teens and never grew out of the phase, publishing Blood of Heirs in 2018, Legacy of Ghosts in 2019, and the final book of The Coraidic Sagas trilogy, Empire of Shadows, in 2022. She is an accomplished editor, holds a Bachelor of Education and has studied a Post Graduate Certificate in Ancient History.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07JN26KK8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Alicia Wanstall-Burke
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 23, 2018
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 2nd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 418 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Coraidic Sagas
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 350 ratings

About the author

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Alicia Wanstall-Burke

Alicia Wanstall-Burke

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Splitting her time between Central Queensland, Australia and Lancashire, England, Alicia is a writer, a mum and a cat-herder. There are rumours she may in fact be a quokka in disguise, but these are not to be believed. She began writing in her teens and never grew out of the phase, publishing Blood of Heirs in 2018, Legacy of Ghosts in 2019, and the final book of The Coraidic Sagas trilogy, Empire of Shadows, in 2022. She is an accomplished editor, holds a Bachelor of Education and has studied a Post Graduate Certificate in Ancient History.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
350 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, keeping them intrigued to the end, and appreciate its great character development. The writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting it's very easy to read. The pacing receives mixed reactions - while some praise the excellent pacing, others mention that the first half was a bit slow.

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Story qualityCharacter developmentEnjoymentWriting stylePacing
22 customers mention "Story quality"22 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a fascinating saga that keeps readers intrigued to the end.

"...and as with most well written fantasy series, my only real criticism is that I now have to wait to read the next book in a series that I have so far..." Read more

"...This is a story that doesn’t let up. The narrative grips readers from the first couple chapters and doesn’t let go until the end...." Read more

"...of chapters switching between Ran and Lidan and their stories, great action and sweeping scenery descriptions keep the pages turning ...." Read more

"...The first half was a bit slow, but still very good, and the last half was so fantastic!..." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...I really enjoyed meeting both the main characters and their respective clans; and their position in the clan allowed for a different dynamic to the..." Read more

"...their narratives remain separate throughout the book, both characters are believable and at moments you ache for both...." Read more

"...Great introductory world building and character development, her Aussie background breathes life into the fictional tablelands one of her characters..." Read more

"Great world and character development. I am really looking forward to where the story goes from here and what happens." Read more

8 customers mention "Enjoyment"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable and worth their time, with one customer particularly appreciating the world-building.

"...This one is worth your time. I’ll be grabbing the sequel. 4/5 stars...." Read more

"...This book was very good, and I cannot wait to set some time aside to read the next book." Read more

"...the action built well along with the tension, and I was kept constantly entertained and intrigued by the interplay of supernatural forces along..." Read more

"I loved this world; it feels both ancient--with bronze tools and clans--and new--with palaces and dukes and keeps...." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, with one noting it is very easy to read.

"...The writing style was excellent and I found that I was smiling to myself towards the end when I considered the presence of metal weapons "awe..." Read more

"...No major gore, language, or themes that would make this inappropriate for younger readers but it doesn't feel like a coming of age kids story either." Read more

"...Groundbreaking plots these aren’t but well crafted and written with nice character depth which makes for a promising start...." Read more

"Alicia Wanstall-Burke delivers a solid performance with this well written, smoothly flowing adventure series of two seemingly seperate stories,..." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"4 positive3 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it excellent while others note that the first half was a bit slow.

"...I like about Wanstall-Burke’s debut, foremost amongst them is the excellent pacing. This is a story that doesn’t let up...." Read more

"...The first half was a bit slow, but still very good, and the last half was so fantastic!..." Read more

"...that could change the course of all around them. The book is very well paced, with groups of chapters switching between Ran and Lidan and..." Read more

"Although it was a bit slow and Ran was often stupid, the characters were very well written and the story is very interesting!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jason Marles
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, great characters and some originality in an otherwise predictable genre!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Having read literally hundreds of fantasy novels, I go into a new series with low expectations. Whilst I fell in love with, and still really enjoy, the cookie-cutter "Unknown child discovers his powers, meets up with a bunch of travellers who keep most of his true identity secret while on his quest to save the world from evil; before eventually succeeding after making some sort of sacrifice", it's always refreshing when an author deviates from this classic formula.

    I really enjoyed meeting both the main characters and their respective clans; and their position in the clan allowed for a different dynamic to the beginning of the book than I would usually find in a fantasy novel. The writing style was excellent and I found that I was smiling to myself towards the end when I considered the presence of metal weapons "awe inspiring". A real credit to the author.

    There is the secret of "what's written in the scroll" that follows you throughout most of the book and I was pleasantly surprised when, not only did I not guess what it was, but had a little fist pump moment when it was eventually revealed.

    ... and as with most well written fantasy series, my only real criticism is that I now have to wait to read the next book in a series that I have so far thoroughly enjoyed :-)
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Calvin Park
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Page-Turner!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    In her debut novel, Alicia Wanstall-Burke has given us a page-turner. Blood of Heirs is a classic coming-of-age tale that doesn’t shy away from dark doings and bleak moments. Fans of grimdark will find much to enjoy here, though there is enough hope and nobility scattered throughout these pages that non-grimdark fans shouldn’t discount it simply due to the grim world and broken characters.

    There are a great many things I like about Wanstall-Burke’s debut, foremost amongst them is the excellent pacing. This is a story that doesn’t let up. The narrative grips readers from the first couple chapters and doesn’t let go until the end. Sometimes, with this sort of pacing, books can feel a little shallow. I didn’t have that sense at all from Blood of Heirs, however. There is quite a bit of depth in this book, particularly for the two main characters, Lindan and Ranoth. While their narratives remain separate throughout the book, both characters are believable and at moments you ache for both. Wanstall-Burke has done an excellent job using the two as foils for one another, telling separate coming-of-age stories that have similarities but also stark and interesting differences. It’s hard enough to tell a single young-person-finds-their-way-in-the-world tale that feels fresh, to tell two in the same book is quite impressive and deserves accolades. I know I’m emotionally invested in a book not only when I grow to love the protagonists but when I have a visceral, negative reaction to the antagonists or other characters. I definitely had those sorts of reactions while reading Blood of Heirs.

    There are a few elements of this novel that didn’t hit for me though. Before we get to those, I want to quickly share that there are depictions of physical and psychological abuse of a child that some readers may have difficulty with. The abuse makes sense as part of both the child and other character’s backstory, and it isn’t grotesque, but it does exist as an essential aspect of the plot. While I can’t criticize or call this a weakness, it did affect the way I received the novel. As for what didn’t work for me, I felt like the two main characters acted older than their stated ages. One main character is twelve, the other fifteen, but to me they felt more like fifteen and eighteen. It’s hard to write main characters in a non-YA book that are young, and I don’t think Wanstall-Burke was quite able to nail their characterization vis-à-vis their ages. I’m not sure why simply increasing their respective ages wasn’t an option during the composition process. I also found a key bit of the plot in Ranoth’s story, having to do with something he refuses to do for much of the book, wasn’t adequately explained.

    Blood of Heirs is a gritty, dark coming-of-age tale that doesn’t give you much time to catch your breath. There are depictions of psychological and physical abuse that one ought to be aware of going in. For me, the raw nature of the characters emotions is what really makes this novel hit. This one is worth your time. I’ll be grabbing the sequel. 4/5 stars.

    5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
    4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
    3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
    2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
    1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jeff Bryant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific debut
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Alicia's writing is like putting on a favorite sweatshirt, comfortable and cozy, you settle in to her style and immediately become swept up in her world. Great introductory world building and character development, her Aussie background breathes life into the fictional tablelands one of her characters inhabits
    The story tells the tale of two major characters, Lidan, the eldest daughter to a chief of one of the tribal horseclans inhabiting the Southern Lands, and Ran, the son of a nobleman of powerful city to the north. Both are thrust into conflicts with family and a shadowy evil that threatens the lands . Each must make life altering decisions that could change the course of all around them.
    The book is very well paced, with groups of chapters switching between Ran and Lidan and their stories, great action and sweeping scenery descriptions keep the pages turning . The books ending definitely presages the action to come and I couldn't help but hear a powerful sweeping score as I read the last sentence, a la the original Star Wars. Alicia's passion for her craft definitely shines through in her debut novel, hoping for many more wondrous stories from her. Recommended highly
    One person found this helpful
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  • Sierra
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good first book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This book was a great start to a series and I enjoyed it very much. I thought it was a bit slow at one point or another, but I understand it's to build the world and characters to make them so much more amazing. The first half was a bit slow, but still very good, and the last half was so fantastic! I love how the main characters lidan, and ranoth grew and matured through the story. I really enjoyed the person Lidan is becoming, and thoroughly enjoyed cheering her on and "watching" her grow. I know this was a somewhat short review, but I highly recommend reading this coming of age story, even if they're not your typical read. This book was very good, and I cannot wait to set some time aside to read the next book.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Lachlan Kendall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Fantasy Debut! Excited for more!
    Reviewed in Australia on November 7, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Blood of Heirs was an amazing read. It’s the kind of book you can easily get consumed with and forget to put down. I would know, I finished it within 10 hours and I could probably spend a fair bit of time raving about it. It has some amazing moments: I laughed, I cheered, I cried, and I enjoyed every moment of it.

    Blood of Heirs follows two main characters: Ran, the son of a Duke who goes from failed commander to hero to outcast in the space of a day because he accidentally acquired some magical powers. Whoops. The other main character, Lidan, is the daughter and heir to a clan chief. As her father has no sons, she’s in a position where she might be the first ever female clan chief and is constantly pushing to be taught how to be a ranger and how to fight.

    Both Ran and Lidan face interesting challenges as they upset the mold for how the heirs of their respective societies should be. Ran’s story is mostly a survival quest and we follow him as he tries to escape the noose that his sorcery has brought upon him. Meanwhile, Lidan faces challenges in her clan. Her mother is determined for her to be the heir, she’s the eldest daughter, but that might all change if one of the chief’s other wives births a son. Lidan must prove that she has what it takes to be the first female leader the clan has ever seen. Both characters are really compelling, and you can’t help but cheer them on.

    Another great thing in Blood of Heirs is the worldbuilding. Both MCs are in different parts of the world, with different social structures, and different levels of development. Ran’s duchy is quite advanced: it’s medieval era, with swords, siege weapons, and much more. Meanwhile, Lidan’s clan is the only one to have progressed beyond stone weapons, and even then they’ve only just been discovered and are fairly rare. What I really love about this is that the author shows that different areas of the world have different levels of technological advancement, something which I rarely see in my fantasy novels.

    Overall, I really loved Blood of Heirs and am excited for all my friends to read it and for the sequels. Would highly recommend it to people who enjoy:

    Epic Fantasy
    Dark Fantasy
    Compelling Characters
    Worldbuilding
    Forbidden magic
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  • Noor
    3.0 out of 5 stars Story picks up and becomes quite interesting but I had a few personal nitpicks
    Reviewed in Canada on February 17, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I picked up Blood of Heirs when it was on promo because it's an SPFBO5 finalist. My first attempt to read it was unsuccessful as I found myself bored with the character Lidan. I then tried again a few weeks later and it took me a while to get invested, but the story eventually picked up and moved at a fast pace, especially when the second character Ran showed up! There's a lot to like about this book including interesting hints of magic and a building threat of some creepy monsters. There were also a few things that really didn't work for me that are more personal taste than anything, including the length and pacing which, it seemed to me, were artificially drawn out so that one story could become a trilogy.

    This is pretty much the expectation now, but it bothers me personally because I grow tired of stories that force me to wait before reaching a conclusion, but of course there are others who prefer ten-book sagas and I think they would enjoy this.

    Overall, while it was light on plot this book did a good job of building the threat of the monstrous creatures that haunted the lands of both the main characters. Their development, from unexplained random accidents at first to the creepy hints and attacks later on to the realizations of what these creatures might be was very well-done.

    On the other hand there are a few things that bothered me:
    - Lidan did not seem like a 12 year old and her story got nowhere at all for the first 3/4 of the book
    - Lidan's mother was unnecessarily psychotic and -while reasons and backstory were hinted at- her treatment of her daughter, especially before we knew them at all, seriously strained my immersion in the whole story
    - Random f-words every other paragraph
    - The coding in this book, while subtle and probably completely unintentional, also bugged me. There's a lot of it and it permeates the world-building. It also makes the world hard to separate from some kind of version (or vision) of our world. When you compare the tech levels and appearances and lifestyles of the people who live in the North compared to those who live in the South it's all very reminiscent of stereotypical representations of peoples and cultures on Earth. The biggest one that jumped out at me was the representations of how the different societies treat their women. All I'm going to say is that if you're going to try to make your fantasy have feminist themes then don't go the lazy and extremely tired and tiring route of setting up a society that's based on a culture different from yours in order to criticize how you think their gender roles are set up. Like I said, it's lazy and so overused.
    - Finally, while the monster set-up was really, really well-done I felt the epilogue at the end to try and reveal enough about them before the second installment was really a weak way to end it. The story itself was very creepy and everything, just the way it was revealed felt rushed.

    You may have noticed my "issues" are mostly nitpicks. The book is good overall and, for those who like series it's sure to be a great pick. I probably would have given this book a 4 or maybe even a 5 if it had been a complete story rather than the start to a trilogy. As it was I felt it didn't need to be that long.
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  • Alan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy Goodness
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I am ashamed of myself, that I took so long to get around to read Blood Of Heirs, an SPFBO5 Finalist, and very well deserved because it is an absolutely fantastic debut. It is an excellent fast-paced and entertaining read. It's a finished trilogy, and it will be one I'll be devouring over the next week or so.

    Blood of Heirs is first in the trilogy The Coraidic Sagas by Alicia Wanstall-Burke. The author has woven a wonderful story together of two main characters, Ranoth, a noble son of a Duke, and Lidan, the eldest daughter of a clan chief. Her character development of these two individuals is brilliant. Both are young characters, and the trials and tribulations the author puts them through are bloody awesome as they they grow and develop throughout the book.

    I absolutely love Alicia Wanstall-Burkes writing. The story flows beautifully, and her prose is exquisite and has quite an addictive quality to it. Once I’d started reading It was very hard to put the book down.

    The worldbuilding and setting are brilliant, giving us a very dark feeling throughout as the characters are plagued by dead monstrous mutated beings hunting and killing. The book has a little bit of everything. It’s action-packed, clan warfare, bloody battles, political intrigue, and magic, which is a death sentence to all who those who weild it.

    In this book, The Dukes army has been overrun. With eminent defeat insight, his father orders Ranoth to be escorted home for his safety. On the run, Ranoth and his escort discover a house abandoned, looking for shelter. But they discover something more evil and death within, triggering something inside Ranoth that has been lying dormant. His life is about to change forever.

    Lidan is the Clan Chiefs' eldest daughter and heir. But for how long, only a chiefs eldest son can be heir by law, and her father only has girls until one of his wives gives him a son. Lidans' mother is head wife and will do anything to keep her position with political backstabbing, magic, and murder if necessary. With war eminent between the clans over an insult. Lidan must prove she is ready to become who she was meant to be and against her mother's wishes. A Ranger.

    Fantastic storytelling, it's so good, I'm halfway through book 2 already. If you are looking for something and exciting to read. Check out Alicia's Wanstall-Burke The Coraidic Sagas. I highly recommend....🗡🏹🗡😁
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  • Nikky
    4.0 out of 5 stars A fresh mix of gritty epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, family politics and horror
    Reviewed in Australia on October 30, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    One for fantasy fans who like their stories gritty, epic, and with a side of magic and monsters. If you love the Night Watch component of Game of Thrones mixed with the outcast prince trope and clan/family politics, you’ll find this series opener a page-turner.

    This book is a dual POV that weaves the two seemingly unrelated stories of Lidan, the teenage heir to the Tolak clan, who must fight tooth and nail to retain her birthright because she is a girl, and Ranoth, a Duke’s son and heir to the kingdom of Orthia, who discovers he has magic while fighting against the Woaden Empire and is exiled from his homeland as a result.

    Perhaps what makes Blood of Heirs stand out above other dual POV novels I’ve read, is that both POV characters are absolutely compelling. Despite these two stories not crossing (yet), at no point did I want to skip forward to find out what happens to one character over another. I was simply eager to rejoin with each character when the POV changed. To keep me wanting more of both POVs across the story is no easy feat and Wanstall-Burke has done a fantastic job here.

    The downside of telling these two seemingly separate stories, with characters who are kingdoms apart, is it does make the unfolding of the plot somewhat slow. Luckily, there’s plenty of mystery, action, family politics, and questions to keep readers turning the pages. However, some readers may find the ending somewhat open with not much in the way of resolution. If this is something that bothers you, I suggest having the next book ready to go so you can simply continue on as Blood of Heirs does leave you a little in the lurch with the sense that you've only read a third (albeit a gripping third!) of a much larger story.

    There is some wonderful character growth within the pages as Liden and Ranoth learn to navigate their equally precocious positions in their societies. We see Liden’s potential as a warrior and leader begin to bear fruit, as well as Ranoth’s privileged naivete stripped away as he uncovers ugly truths his family has allowed to go unchecked.

    In all, Blood of Heirs is an excellent start to The Coraidic Sagas series. Its fresh mix of gritty epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, family politics and horror combine to a read that keeps you on the edge of your seat and rooting for our heroes to succeed in a world where everything is against them.
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  • Dominish
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great characters and setting in an intriguing start to this fantasy trilogy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 5, 2021
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Blood of Heirs follows two main characters in very different settings. Lidan Tolak is the oldest child of the Tolak clan chief, and with no brothers, she just wants to follow in her father’s footsteps by being a ranger, to earn the respect of her people and to be named as heir.

    Ranoth (Ran) Olseta is heir to the Dukedom of Orthia and is fighting on the front line against the Woaden Empire. Ran finds himself alone in the wilderness battling the elements as he tries to evade the people hunting him down.

    The character work here really is great – Lidan in particular follows a path of character development in the book, whereas Ran’s plot is a bit more story driven. The change in both characters though, as they face and look to overcome the various challenges thrown into their paths, is very well handled.

    Coraidin is an intriguing world with a depth of history subtly peeking through the pages as you read. It’s interesting to see the two different settings of our storylines both feeling the tendrils of the same challenges, so you know there’s a proximity between the two even if the characters don’t yet cross paths.

    The overall writing, including both character- and action-driven scenes is of a high quality and although I found myself wanting more from this book, I really like the direction it heads in and look forward to reading book 2, Legacy of Ghosts. Book 3, Empire of Shadows, is out on January 25th 2022, so there’s no better time to pick up this series.
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