I love that my normal posting day is Tuesday, which is the day new books come into the world.
(No one knows why this is, not even Judy Blume. I know this because I was in her bookstore on a Tuesday when they were shelving new books and I asked Judy Blume why books always release on Tuesdays and she said that she had no idea. Investigative journalism at its finest.)
I am so excited about Cass’s release of FROM UNSEEN FIRE! I haven’t read a ton of historical fantasy, but good writing knows no genre. Cass’s prose is so vivid and smart, her world so incredibly well developed. It felt inconceivable that it didn’t unfold exactly like that in real life.
Maybe it’s because I grew up reading The Hobbit over and over during my childhood, supplemented by The Dragon Riders of Pern (can I get a white dragon, please?) that I find the idea that once upon the time magic existed in our world completely believable. It feels true, even if it’s not, and Cass’s world building is so detailed that suspension of disbelief was easy.
It was easy to get lost in Aven and I adored the characters, particularly the sisters. There aren’t many books that I’m aware of that show sisters as loving and supportive as well as teasing and fun—it was refreshing. And I could go on and on about strong female characters that aren’t tropes. This isn’t a tale of empowerment where women in weak or subservient roles learn to accept their power, but rather a book that shows women as strong leaders from the very beginning. They still grow in their strength, but they never simper. Still, this is not a one-dimensional portrayal of women, either. We hear Latona’s negative self-talk, and watch her struggle to believe in herself, and that makes her even more relatable.
Best yet, this is only the first book in a three-book series! And it is available as a hardcover, Kindle, or Audible. Get your copy now, or hop over to Instagram to enter the Deb Ball Giveaway! Cass is giving away packages to TWO winners: a signed hardcover + an element-themed tarot reading to the first, and an Audible code + tarot reading to the second.
While you’re waiting for a winner to be chosen, check out this awesome quiz DAW made in celebration of the release of FROM UNSEEN FIRE: 10 Questions to Reveal Your Chosen Type of Magic. I love online quizzes, especially when I need a quick distraction, so of course I took this as soon as I saw it.
I got light, which I love! If I got to choose a magic, I think light would be it. I even had a dog named Apollo back in my 20s.
So pick up a copy of FROM UNSEEN FIRE, and let me know your thoughts on the world of Aven. I quite enjoyed this epic tale of magic, political intrigue, and romance, and I’m betting you will, too.
