Review - This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

 

 

 Title: This Golden Flame

Author: Emily Victoria

Pages: 417

 Publisher: 2nd February 2021

Release Date: Hodder & Stoughton

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Flee across the sun-and-shadow islands of Eratia, where runes have the power to unleash monsters…

Seven years ago, Karis was forced to become an acolyte for the Scriptorium, the rune scholars who rule Eratia. For centuries, these Scriptmasters have sought the key to reanimating the country’s fearsome automaton army, and anyone they deem unable to help them achieve their goal is sent away…including Karis’s brother, Matthias.

Then Karis discovers a unique human-sized automaton and unintentionally wakes him up. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was created. Or why his father—Eratia’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Upon learning Matthias is being held by the Scriptorium’s sinister leader, Alix and Karis set out to rescue him and uncover the truth about Alix’s past. But when Karis is faced with an unthinkable choice, betraying everyone she cares about may be her only desperate chance to save their world.

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My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

Eratia is ruled by the Scriptorium, a group of scholars who are obsessed with bringing the once unstoppable automaton army back to life.

Karis is a reluctant acolyte of the Scriptorium who tore Karis and her brother apart.

Then Karis comes across a human-sized automaton one day and reanimates him.

Together with the automaton who is called Alix, Karis sets off to find her brother and help Alix to remember his past.

How far is Karis willing to go to save the people she loves?

Fantasy is my favourite genre, so I was excited to read this novel. However, I ended up being a bit disappointed.

Karis and Alix were both likeable and relatable protagonists, but I don't feel that I really connected with either of them. None of the other characters particularly stood out to me, but I did like the diversity.

The setting was interesting and gave me Roman/Greece vibes. I liked the concept of the automatons and the runes that brought them to life and controlled them.

The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but after a while I did find myself losing interest. However, I did keep on reading, wanting to find out what happened at the end. Nothing that happened really shocked me and I wasn't gripped. I also didn't feel very invested in what happened.

The writing style was easy to follow.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, and as a YA fantasy it doesn't stand out for me.

Overall, this was an okay, mixed read.