Cascade of Sparks

by Mary Stephenson Su

Born with the ability to see magic, Zaria hides her gifts in an attempt to fit in with her elven community. It’s easier to focus on school and go with the flow. She’s not one to speak up, especially not for the new elf from the Imperial Center who is as infuriating as he is handsome. Jovan is new to the valley, and he's never quite fit in. His ambitions are bigger than life in a small town, and he’ll do what it takes to go after them. Never one to hold back, he calls Zaria out on her refusal to stand up for the truth—and sparks fly. When Jovan finds himself framed for a crime he didn’t commit, only Zaria’s unique gift can save him. They’ll have to work together to clear his name. Will Zaria risk everything to save Jovan, or will she leave him at the mercy of his accusers?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Fae

241 pages, ebook

Published May 14, 2023

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of the book by the author for my honest review!

I wasn’t expecting a lot when I started this book but I was pleasantly surprised. The writing is easygoing and flowy making this an easy and super quick read. The characters are described in a way where you can exactly picture them and just know what they look like. The plot was simple yet executed perfectly. The only downside was that it was a little short. I would’ve wished for more Pages going in depth with their day to day lives as I thought out Main characters were simply that interesting.

Thus makes it a great read for anyone who likes a short fae book with an amazing plotline.

Thanks again to the author for providing me with a copy I cant Wait to see Where the Series is going

[Smasher]

Note to self: companion series says it is LGBTQ inclusive, I don't think this one is, but I'm not interested in that type of story so here's the note to myself to pass on this author.

[KMart Vet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cozy, fun fantasy with a contemporary feel—despite the fantasy setting. The accessible language and modern dialogue make it an easy, enjoyable read. The story is short, the romance is sweet, and the magic system and world-building are engaging.

That said, the writing skews a bit young and doesn’t dive too deep, so don’t expect intricate layers.

But if you’re in the mood for a light, charming fantasy—or looking for a great pick for younger readers—this is a perfect choice.

[Βίκυ Χ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Floor-to-ceiling books and scrolls and maps. It’s like sunshine for my soul.” This is my favorite quote from “Cascade of Sparks” by Mary Stephenson Su. I had high hopes for this Teen and Young Adult Fantasy Romance, but unfortunately, they weren’t fully met.

While the writing is praiseworthy, the book didn’t succeed in keeping me engaged. The storyline and world-building are promising, and the characters are quite intriguing. However, they don’t reach their full potential, making the narrative feel more suited to younger teens.

“Cascade of Sparks” wasn’t as enjoyable for me as I’d expected, which is why I’ve rated it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. However, this is just my personal opinion and should not deter you from reading it, especially if you are a teenager. It’s an intriguing story that may offer a delightful reading experience to young fans of the genre.

I extend my sincere appreciation to the author for granting me access to the eARC.

[Deirdre VanHorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a fantastic read! Normally i would have read this book in one setting! to say it’s a page turner i don’t think it does the author complete justice! This book was fun, dynamic, and an easy read! the characters each had their own stories that combined into one great read! in my opinion this was do to incredible world building! the author weaved an incredible story with an underlying plot that made it oh so good! i loved the mystery, the choices, the romance, and of course that it was centered on elves, often my most loved reads are based on elves! This book was given to me by story origin to read voluntarily, my opinions & thoughts are my own. i feel this is a great book for young adults as well as anyone looking for something to get lost in quite quickly! i intend to buy the next one in the series because i fell in love with these characters quite. quickly and can’t wait to see what the author has intended for her future book.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall and will probably give the rest of the series a read. I think the world created is very cozy and the book is light and easy to read. I like the nature focus of things and there is a very clear good guy and bad guy so you know who to root for. I do think this is well suited for a YA audience. I did find the beginning of the book to be somewhat repetitive (for example, the first two paragraphs repeat the the main character made the same promise), and I think most of the characters could use some fleshing out. I'm not a fan of love angles in general, so I found that part frustrating. Otherwise, I'd definitely recommend this read if you are looking forward to something cute and cozy for a quick afternoon read!

[Wiggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for a young teen. I received an ARC from the author to review.

In the beginning of the book I struggled to get into it due to me being on a big thriller genre binge. However, I kept coming back and I'm glad I did. The Valley Glen Elves series is the perfect cosy, medium stakes, clean fantasy. Zaria is the book lover in all of us who has to learn to be brave, Jovan is the cultured, arrogant love interest we all crave.

I found that I really related to Zaria's feelings of inadequacy and anxiety.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this novel by the author to ARC read.

I absolutely adored this novel! The world building is very thorough and you get an amazing sense of place. Zaria is a strong, intelligent, courageous and beautiful character. The attraction she has to the snobby and privileged Jovan develops throughout the diplomatic trip the Valley Glen elves embark on to represent their interests to the empire. There’s action, political intrigue and romance throughout there journey and I just fell for the two of them. I can’t wait for the next installment! 5/5 stars!

[Richard Goodrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zaria has a rare magical gift, allowing her to see magic and many of its effects. She's afraid of sharing the secret. On a school trip to the Imperial Center, Jovan, a classmate, is accused of a serious crime. She must expose her gift to save him.

This T&YA Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Romance is magnificent. Determining the elf behind the crime results in a short but dangerous adventure. The end is outstanding.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Romantic. Scary. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

[Izzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute fun whimsical light book about a teen elf on a journey to find her inner self. She was a very interesting and realistic character with her thoughts and emotions. The main male character was also just as interesting. Would have liked a little more at the beginning and end. All in all a great book to recommend to a teenager or preteen. It’s clean. The point of the story was about speaking up and gaining confidence.

[M.A. Richter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A magical elfen story with much to enjoy

The richness of the descriptive passages about the environment was almost too much, but it adds nicely to the story. The wide variety of elven races mirrored real life quite well. The main character's overbearing indecisiveness I found irritating, especially as it runs through most of the story, but that's just me. Overall, well written and thoroughly enjoyable.

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun angsty tale about different elvish races and a young council group who travel to the Imperial City to weigh in on a special council meeting. The two main characters Zaria and Jovan are quite engaging and likable. And the world building is very nice. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend reading it

[Kaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great for early teens!

A promising first addition to the Valley Glen series. I like that it is light content that teens can relate too, but has a fun, fantasy twist. The writing style is really accessible, if a little unrefined, but I found myself enjoying it till the end. Would reccomend!

[Margie McPherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cascade of Sparks is the first book in the Valley Glen Elves series. Author Mary Stephenson Su built a fantastical world and quickly draws the reader into the elven community. This is such a fun read that contains fantasy, suspense, romance and more and is appropriate for young teens though adults. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

[Ami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this series is supposed to be for young adults (and I’m very old ;-) I love the world that is beautifully described and the characters. The author has an incredible imagination and the talent to transform it into a fantastic story. I highly recommend the entire Valley Glen Elves series, enjoy!

[literary.faerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story that makes for a fast and light read while still being interesting. The character ages and plot skews young and much of the plot stays surface level. I personally don’t mind since these books act as a palate cleanser between more intense reads.
I was happy to see this series is included with kindle unlimited so I will be continuing on with the story.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, clean, YA read. The characters are very believable and the world building is impressive. I love the descriptions of the treehouses in the Redwood forest the most. The love story is a bit too spot-on trope-y but it's cute overall.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is okay. The writing reads as very young. It's highly accessible for MG and YA audiences, and it reads like it might have been written by someone that age. Lots and lots of telling, with very specific instances of showing that make this read like it's written by a less experienced writer.

[Ami Jacobs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun to read! I thoroughly enjoyed both this book and the bonus content that was available at the end! Appropriate for family reading from early teen on up, the story explores clean relationships and overcoming fears.

[Hanna Belle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first book in a new fantasy book! I really enjoyed this story and the characters, I look forward to the next book.

I received a copy of this book via StoryOrigin and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely for the 11-13 market but not very well put together. Written in the present tense with a host of grammatical (or printing) errors.
A fairly good story though.

[Debbie Blane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five star book by Mary Stephenson Su. Fun to read and easy to imagine in my mind as I was reading it. I am looking forward to her next one! I recommend this book for all elve lovers!

[Amanda]

DNF 47%. It was just, okay. Couldn’t get into it and didn’t really feel anything for any of the characters.

[khubble · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 34%. The writing just isn’t hooking me and I really have more I want to read this month than to keep slogging through.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cascade of Sparks…that’s what Zaria sees when others use magic. She hasn’t told anyone about her special gift. Now she is joining a team to go on an adventure. Another teammate, Jovan, gets on her nerves, all too easily.
While the group is gone, Jovan is accused of a serious crime. Zaria knows he is innocent but would have to reveal her secret gift to clear him. What will she do?