The Burning Swift

November 15, 2021
The peoples of Scotia and the Skye clans must come together. After the events of The Broken Raven (2021), Sigrid brings a dire warning to the Skye clans: Ingland's villainous King Edmund is coming for them, and he's teamed up with Konge Gr�mr to get revenge on our heroes. To counter their dark weapons, the various factions (such as Jaime and Agatha's Clann-a-Tuath, Clann-na-Bruthaich, B� Riders like Cray, the Raasay islanders, and even more unexpected former enemies) must join forces. Forming and maintaining a common front requires personal risks and connections from the young protagonists, especially when various cultures clash. While the bringing together of unlikely alliances to stave off a powerful enemy is just the kind of climactic conclusion readers expect from final entries in fantasy series, the personal storylines of the three characters keep things fresh. When Agatha is abducted, she goes on a journey of discovery--learning the full extent of what she's capable of and making peace with mysteries from her past. Jaime grapples with his insecurities as he pushes Cray away out of internalized fear of his culture's views on homosexuality and leans heavily into blood magic, becoming overly dependent on his sword; eventually he must set aside the messages from his community and come to his own conclusions. Meanwhile, bold Sigrid's heroism continually pays off, earning her an exciting new direction. A trilogy closer that gives all the characters chances to grow and shine. (note about languages) (Fantasy. 12-18)

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February 1, 2022

Gr 6 Up-In a mythic Scotland full of magic systems integrated into different cultures and countries, this final installment of the "Shadow Skye" trilogy brings politics front and center as our heroes form connections with allies and enemies alike to stave off the villainous king of Ingland. Agatha, Jaime, and Sigrid all have one final chance to grow into themselves: Agatha is kidnapped and forced onto an individual quest of self discovery, Jaime must grapple with internalized homophobia and his reliance on blood magic, while Sigrid is given a chance to shine with the daring heroics expected of a fantasy climax. VERDICT Despite the breadth and depth of the politics and worldbuilding, at its heart this series is a coming-of-age story designed to richly reward its readers.

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