Rise of the Flame

My Review: 5 Stars

Ms. Lees epic novel is the first piece of fantasy fiction that I have read in quite some time. I found the book utterly transporting, imaginative, and gripping.

The first in four books, Rise of the Flame introduces us to all the major players in this saga. With six races, four realms - including humans  - there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle to keep a hold of when reading the book, much like reading JR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Like all epic novels, where worlds, beings, hierarchy, rebellions and alliances are being formed, there is a lot of data to track. However, if you give yourself over to Ms. Lee's skilled story telling and allow yourself to fall into the journey, all the pieces crystalize into a magical experience. Honestly, I cannot quite understand how she managed to keep track of all the threads, but she did.

In book one of The Eura Chronicles we meet Lilae. Immediately after birth she is taken and hidden from her people and all those who would wish to find this girl - gifted with a power so enormous she can bring all of the realms and races to their knees. The first portion of the book is dedicated to the years she grows up, amongst her surrogate family, and learns how to fight and protect those who will eventually need her. Unlike other books of this genre, she is not surrounded by those who love her or a villain or two. Everyone and anyone can become something or someone else. It is easy to feel compassion and revere for Lilae - for in an ever changing world, she is who she is, and she doesn't bend.

We are also introduced to Liam. Now leading his army against the realms that would annihilate his, he finds Lilae in his dreams, and soon realizes that she plays an important role in his destiny. These dreams however turn out not to be dreams, but another realm where they meet and come to understand the epic battles that lie ahead of them.
Ms. Lee brings us to the end of book one in desperate need of reading book two. The magnitude of the scale and detail of this book cannot be expressed, only utterly appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone who love a truly epic journey. If you loved Lord of the Rings, you will love The Eura Chronicles.