3.5/5

For fans of: Throne of Glass, The Hobbit, Stardust, love triangles, talking animals, familiars, lost memories, diverse cultures, instalove

The Big Questions:

• What genre is this in? YA Fantasy

• Are there any swoon-worthy characters? I love a mysterious, white-haired boy with a bow and arrow and this does not disappoint

• Is it spicy? Nope

• Is it violent or gory? Fight scenes involving bears, but nothing too intense

• Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? Borrow it!

Synopsis: Trusting him is the only way to save the kingdom. Betraying her is the only way to keep them both alive.

Stripped of her memories and her magic, Raven has been left for dead. As a prisoner in the enemy’s mineral mines, her only clue to who she is and where she came from is the mysterious map tattooed on her hand—a map containing hidden secrets that some people would kill for.

Jeddak is one of those people. A warrior from the Kovak tribe, he’s hunting for the powerful Zavien stone to pay the corrupt king’s ransom. If he doesn’t return home with it by the new moon, his betrothed will be executed.

When Jeddak discovers that a prisoner named Raven has the only map that leads to the artifact, he allies with her as they navigate treacherous lands and battle against ancient magical forces to unravel the map’s secrets. But can Raven trust this stranger who’s helping her? If the map gets into the wrong hands, thousands of people will die. As their feelings for each other grow, their tenuous alliance begins to fray. Until Jeddak is forced to make a decision—betray Raven or forsake his kingdom.

Choose wrong, and he’ll lose everything.

Review: Blazenhell, it’s a new fantasy full of talking bears, feuding tribes, quests, and lost memories. Let’s dive right in. Overall, this is a great new YA fantasy series with so much going for it. What I liked: the first few chapters really throw you into a dark, unforgiving world deep in the mountains. The descriptions are excellent, setting up a feeling of confusion, claustrophobia, and exhaustion. You definitely feel like Raven, having no clue what is going on and clinging to the one character who knows just a tiny bit more than you do, barely holding on for dear life. Great set up for world building, which is really needed in a story full of history, cultures, and previous plot points needing to be explained. What I didn’t like: Jeddak. My guy is such an unreliable narrator and just an annoyingly frustrating teenage…guy. The romance subplot also just isn’t my cup of tea. It very much felt like instalove and I get that they are teenagers with hormones raging so things move rather quickly, but it’s just not for me. Also, YOU ARE ENGAGED. Ugh, anyway. What I loved: the journey was excellent and so incredibly fun. This world is fascinating with magical markets, forests hellbent on killing you, hidden kingdoms, a brewing war, and just so much more. I had such a blast with the pacing of the plot, different places along the journey, and the many twists and turns. Oh and, Kah, our talking bear and only reasonable character in the entire book. Level-headed, logical, focused. We all need a Kah to keep us together. And I didn’t forget the mysterious white-haired, confident warrior who just gets Raven and I am hoping will be a lot more prominant in the next installment. I.AM.INTRIGUED.

If you are looking for a fresh new YA fantasy with a lot to offer to kick off 2024, I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the author, Laurel Black, for reaching out and sending me a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.