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The Gailean Quartet #1
Prelude of Fire
A desperate mission. Sinister sorcery. Can she find the seven prism shards to stop the world from being destroyed?
Ashlai, a young Fyre mage who can harness powers of flame from the sun, yearns to know about her kin. Her adoptive elven father refuses to let her travel abroad with her brother, and she despairs of ever knowing who she really is. But when the new king’s vicious spell attacks her forest home, she flees toward that unknown past—and an uncertain destiny—guided only by the strange melody in her head and a piece of broken prism.
Determined to save the land from the enchanted drought burning everything in its path, Ashlai searches for six other magical fragments to overthrow the ruthless king. With the help of a shape-shifting thief, two squabbling bards, and a snarky water elf, she races toward a perilous confrontation…and a life-changing truth.
Can Ashlai fight fire with fire to defeat the devastating spell before it consumes the entire land? And can she survive the secrets she discovers without losing her new friends, her family, and even herself?
Prelude of Fire is the thrilling first book in The Gailean Quartet YA epic fantasy series. Featuring a diverse cast, high-stakes quests, and music melded with magic, you’ll love Schulze’s emotional journey.
Read Prelude of Fire to ignite destiny today!
*Prelude of Fire was previously published by Words Matter Publishing. This is the official new edition, coming October 2024, that features over seven chapters of new content.*
Ashlai, a young Fyre mage who can harness powers of flame from the sun, yearns to know about her kin. Her adoptive elven father refuses to let her travel abroad with her brother, and she despairs of ever knowing who she really is. But when the new king’s vicious spell attacks her forest home, she flees toward that unknown past—and an uncertain destiny—guided only by the strange melody in her head and a piece of broken prism.
Determined to save the land from the enchanted drought burning everything in its path, Ashlai searches for six other magical fragments to overthrow the ruthless king. With the help of a shape-shifting thief, two squabbling bards, and a snarky water elf, she races toward a perilous confrontation…and a life-changing truth.
Can Ashlai fight fire with fire to defeat the devastating spell before it consumes the entire land? And can she survive the secrets she discovers without losing her new friends, her family, and even herself?
Prelude of Fire is the thrilling first book in The Gailean Quartet YA epic fantasy series. Featuring a diverse cast, high-stakes quests, and music melded with magic, you’ll love Schulze’s emotional journey.
Read Prelude of Fire to ignite destiny today!
*Prelude of Fire was previously published by Words Matter Publishing. This is the official new edition, coming October 2024, that features over seven chapters of new content.*
464 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 25, 2024
36 people are currently reading
523 people want to read
About the author
Christine E. Schulze
65 books407 followersHullo there, dear reader! Christine E. Schulze here, author of YA fantasy, as well as a few kids’ books about special needs. I’ve been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical romances and adventures since I was too young to even write of such stories. My collection of YA and children's fantasy books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.
One of my main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create grand fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from diverse backgrounds. My current focus is to include racially diverse characters, as well as those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by my day job working with adults who have autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
I draw much of my inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in my life. Some of my exciting ventures include the publication of my award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet, my first series with Words Matter Publishing. My books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
I love connecting with new raeders! Come find me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or at my author website: http://authorchristineschulze.com
On that note, God bless, happy reading, and may you be truly inspired! I’ll see you in my next book.
- Christine E. Schulze
One of my main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create grand fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from diverse backgrounds. My current focus is to include racially diverse characters, as well as those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by my day job working with adults who have autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois.
I draw much of my inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in my life. Some of my exciting ventures include the publication of my award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Gailean Quartet, my first series with Words Matter Publishing. My books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.
I love connecting with new raeders! Come find me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, or at my author website: http://authorchristineschulze.com
On that note, God bless, happy reading, and may you be truly inspired! I’ll see you in my next book.
- Christine E. Schulze
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 551 reviews
July 1, 2024
“𝙊𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚𝙨, 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤’𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙣𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧.”
Prelude to Fire is a whimsical journey where we follow Ashlai, a young teen with fire magic. Her world as she knows it is turned upset down when the rulers of her kingdom are usurped and the new ruler intends to cause a plight across the land to bring his people to their knees. When Ashlai’s village is attacked, she discovers a magical shard that can save their world, so long as it is united with 6 other matching shards. Ashlai journeys across the land in search of the shards, discovering things about herself and creating a found family of her own in hopes of saving her people.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I think the author did a fantastic job at making everything age appropriate. The characters acted their age, which was something that I really appreciated. There was a hint of romance at the end, but again it was handled really well for the ages of the characters in the book.
The world building and magic system within this book is a bit complex, but absolutely fantastic. It was so easy to be able immerse yourself in the world. It made me want to visit some of these places
Overall, I think that this book would be enjoyed by many but I just was not the target audience. The writing was solid but the journey was a bit long for me, but I think I just prefer faster paced books.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
⚔️ Found family
⚔️ Epic journey
⚔️ Secrets
——————————————
Thank you to the author Christine E. Schulze for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
Prelude to Fire is a whimsical journey where we follow Ashlai, a young teen with fire magic. Her world as she knows it is turned upset down when the rulers of her kingdom are usurped and the new ruler intends to cause a plight across the land to bring his people to their knees. When Ashlai’s village is attacked, she discovers a magical shard that can save their world, so long as it is united with 6 other matching shards. Ashlai journeys across the land in search of the shards, discovering things about herself and creating a found family of her own in hopes of saving her people.
𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:
I think the author did a fantastic job at making everything age appropriate. The characters acted their age, which was something that I really appreciated. There was a hint of romance at the end, but again it was handled really well for the ages of the characters in the book.
The world building and magic system within this book is a bit complex, but absolutely fantastic. It was so easy to be able immerse yourself in the world. It made me want to visit some of these places
Overall, I think that this book would be enjoyed by many but I just was not the target audience. The writing was solid but the journey was a bit long for me, but I think I just prefer faster paced books.
𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
⚔️ Found family
⚔️ Epic journey
⚔️ Secrets
——————————————
Thank you to the author Christine E. Schulze for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🫶🏻
October 15, 2024
4.5/5
I really enjoyed this one! If you love The Princess Bride and Lord Of The Rings definitely check this out. Awesome world building, fantastic character development. I appreciate the cleanness of this book and the originality. My favorites are the mythical creatures, the magic system and the 3 main characters. So much attention to detail and I love her writting style. Totally looking forward to the next book.
I really enjoyed this one! If you love The Princess Bride and Lord Of The Rings definitely check this out. Awesome world building, fantastic character development. I appreciate the cleanness of this book and the originality. My favorites are the mythical creatures, the magic system and the 3 main characters. So much attention to detail and I love her writting style. Totally looking forward to the next book.
May 12, 2024
SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW - Firstly, thank you so much to the author for asking me to review her book!
This was such a fun read - that’s not to say there weren’t hard-hitting moments and the challenges facing the characters were sometimes unexpected and heartbreaking. If you love Harry Potter and LOTR and watch shows like The Dragon Prince - you will not be disappointed with this book!
I loved Ashlai, our FMC, she’s strong, determined and a badass when she needs to be! As this is a YA novel, most of the characters here are quite young, and Christine does a great job of making sure they read their ages. The character growth is wholesome to watch as they navigate their adventure and you can see how each character grows in their own way. It’s a fun group, with such distinct personalities and magics and each contributes wonderfully to the story.
The magic system here is unique and beautiful, there are so many different types of magic and wonderful world-building which really immerses you in the book. I think my favourite was Mandolin’s lightning magic - very cool! Would be my choice!
My only gripe with this was that the book was incredibly long, especially for a younger audience. I can also see why it was though, and because of the length readers can really immerse themselves in this world. I would also have liked to see more of Ragnar’s story, I’m a sucker for a good villain origin story!
This is a quest and an adventure if I have ever seen one - I adore this in fantasy where we get to explore multiple settings and travel with characters. I also love to see a diverse range of characters, unlikely allies who help each other learn about themselves. Overall this was a 4-star read for me, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!
Also, I need to say it again, I LOVE VERDE.
This was such a fun read - that’s not to say there weren’t hard-hitting moments and the challenges facing the characters were sometimes unexpected and heartbreaking. If you love Harry Potter and LOTR and watch shows like The Dragon Prince - you will not be disappointed with this book!
I loved Ashlai, our FMC, she’s strong, determined and a badass when she needs to be! As this is a YA novel, most of the characters here are quite young, and Christine does a great job of making sure they read their ages. The character growth is wholesome to watch as they navigate their adventure and you can see how each character grows in their own way. It’s a fun group, with such distinct personalities and magics and each contributes wonderfully to the story.
The magic system here is unique and beautiful, there are so many different types of magic and wonderful world-building which really immerses you in the book. I think my favourite was Mandolin’s lightning magic - very cool! Would be my choice!
My only gripe with this was that the book was incredibly long, especially for a younger audience. I can also see why it was though, and because of the length readers can really immerse themselves in this world. I would also have liked to see more of Ragnar’s story, I’m a sucker for a good villain origin story!
This is a quest and an adventure if I have ever seen one - I adore this in fantasy where we get to explore multiple settings and travel with characters. I also love to see a diverse range of characters, unlikely allies who help each other learn about themselves. Overall this was a 4-star read for me, and I look forward to seeing what happens next!
Also, I need to say it again, I LOVE VERDE.
July 18, 2024
Epic YA Fantasy with:
💎 found family
💎 epic quest
💎 great world building
💎diverse characters
Such an intricate world for a YA Fantasy! I loved the characters uniqueness and the writing.
There’s a character whose skin tone is green, a blind but very capable man, a giant bat who can make its riders invisible and special boots to walk on water!
Aryl is a very funny and blunt character and I laughed at his banter with Mandolin! 😂
Ashlai is mature and very intelligent for her age despite being angry and having a fit from time to time. I loved Chamblain, our blind character who does not let his disability stop him from being a great magician and having a lot of useful skills.
I truly was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this book, the great world building and loved the friendship they found along the way! It kinda reminded me of LOTR and Eragon in some ways.
Thanks to the author for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.25 ⭐️
💎 found family
💎 epic quest
💎 great world building
💎diverse characters
Such an intricate world for a YA Fantasy! I loved the characters uniqueness and the writing.
There’s a character whose skin tone is green, a blind but very capable man, a giant bat who can make its riders invisible and special boots to walk on water!
Aryl is a very funny and blunt character and I laughed at his banter with Mandolin! 😂
Ashlai is mature and very intelligent for her age despite being angry and having a fit from time to time. I loved Chamblain, our blind character who does not let his disability stop him from being a great magician and having a lot of useful skills.
I truly was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this book, the great world building and loved the friendship they found along the way! It kinda reminded me of LOTR and Eragon in some ways.
Thanks to the author for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.25 ⭐️
July 15, 2024
Prelude Of Fire by Christine E. Schulze
I was contacted by the author to review this book and here is my honest opinion.
I did rate this book 3* although I did end up dnf-ING. I found that it was a little too young for my taste.
There are some great features to this novel, particularly the magic system through the harnessing of elements.
Although this is classed as a YA and I have read quite a few YA books, I'd say that this for the lower end of that scale, perhaps 12-15 year olds.
The only other gripe I have is with the chapter lengths, for a YA novel, the chapter lengths are very long, which would be more tailored for an older audience, not the target demographic.
I'd love to see Christine write some adult novels!
I was contacted by the author to review this book and here is my honest opinion.
I did rate this book 3* although I did end up dnf-ING. I found that it was a little too young for my taste.
There are some great features to this novel, particularly the magic system through the harnessing of elements.
Although this is classed as a YA and I have read quite a few YA books, I'd say that this for the lower end of that scale, perhaps 12-15 year olds.
The only other gripe I have is with the chapter lengths, for a YA novel, the chapter lengths are very long, which would be more tailored for an older audience, not the target demographic.
I'd love to see Christine write some adult novels!
March 25, 2024
just wanted to say wow what a book simply amazing and well written cant wait to see how the story goes in book two and just wanted to thank the amazing person who wrote this book to allow me to read this book before it has come out i loved the characters the story line and how it ends i would reccomad this book to everyone as i couldnt put it down roll on book two and everyone should get their copy once the book is out and show youre support to ger i dont want to give anyrhing away i loved ashlai i thought she was great
June 22, 2024
An incredibly beautiful YA fantasy story in where a girl goes on a dangerous quest to fight evil and save the world of a tyrant!!
This book got me addicted so fast and so hard!! it gave me some lotr travel vibes and had so much action and twists and turns in the story i just couldn’t put it down!
Not to mention the amount of emotions this story got out of me
It contains
🧡found family
🖤epic storytelling
🧡a dangerous quest
🖤secrets
🧡hight fantasy worldbuilding
Absolutely a recommend for anyone who likes epic YA fantasy stories with a quest and lots dangers.
This book got me addicted so fast and so hard!! it gave me some lotr travel vibes and had so much action and twists and turns in the story i just couldn’t put it down!
Not to mention the amount of emotions this story got out of me
It contains
🧡found family
🖤epic storytelling
🧡a dangerous quest
🖤secrets
🧡hight fantasy worldbuilding
Absolutely a recommend for anyone who likes epic YA fantasy stories with a quest and lots dangers.
Read
November 17, 2024This book was one of my more enjoyable ARC reads! It was complex, with an original plot line and distinguished characters. Give it a try, if you like high fantasy!
There were some gaps in the writing that couldn’t be ignored—descriptors left out in some places where they would have been favored, or added unnecessarily in others—that subtracted from my opinion of it. There were also some character inconsistencies that got on my nerves, but overall, I liked most of them.
Happy reading!
There were some gaps in the writing that couldn’t be ignored—descriptors left out in some places where they would have been favored, or added unnecessarily in others—that subtracted from my opinion of it. There were also some character inconsistencies that got on my nerves, but overall, I liked most of them.
Happy reading!
July 29, 2024
Spoiler free ARC review!
Prelude of Fire is the story of a teen girl, Ashlai, a Fyre mage who goes on an epic quest to save the world from Ragnar, the evil ruler who has stolen the throne. Ashlai meets many new friends and allies along the way, and the group encounters hardship, shocking discoveries, and hard-fought battles.
What I loved:
•The magic system!
•The characters and their development throughout the book.
•Incredible world building.
•Devastating losses and plot twists galore!
I absolutely LOVED the general writing in this book. Schulze is a genuinely great writer. The world building, the characters, the plot and its twists, and the magic system were so well thought out and vivid. I loved all the different and unique kinds of magic! For instance, Ashlai can recharge her fire magic from the sun, while another character needed water to recharge her lightning powers. Schulze has a way of describing the world that puts you right in the middle of it and I really enjoyed that. And the characters were age appropriate, diverse, and lovable.
What I disliked:
•Religious themes
•The length of the book
One thing that I personally didn’t love was the reoccurring religious theme throughout the book. As someone who isn’t religious and has a touch of trauma surrounding that, it was a little much. However, I can recognize that it is an important theme to the characters and that my feelings about it are personal to me! I would say that if religion is a serious trigger for you, I would approach this story with caution because it really is a central theme.
Also, this book is just really long. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, but there were definitely times I looked down and thought, “Omg I’m only 30% through this and so much has happened already, I can’t believe there is 70% more to go!” There were also times that scenes felt drawn out and unnecessary. I have spoken to the author who shared that she has since cut 20k words, so I feel a lot better about this point! Long books aren’t bad - they’re just long, but it’s something to take into consideration as a reader before jumping in!
Overall, I rated this a 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4! It probably would have been a 4 if it wasn’t a true YA book, but that’s only because I am 25 years old and typically enjoy more dark/adult themes. I fully believe that 12 year old me would have gone crazy over this!! I highly recommend getting this book for any pre-teen reader you love (or any adult who loves an epic quest and doesn’t mind a youthful take on it!) 🥰
(Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!!)
Prelude of Fire is the story of a teen girl, Ashlai, a Fyre mage who goes on an epic quest to save the world from Ragnar, the evil ruler who has stolen the throne. Ashlai meets many new friends and allies along the way, and the group encounters hardship, shocking discoveries, and hard-fought battles.
What I loved:
•The magic system!
•The characters and their development throughout the book.
•Incredible world building.
•Devastating losses and plot twists galore!
I absolutely LOVED the general writing in this book. Schulze is a genuinely great writer. The world building, the characters, the plot and its twists, and the magic system were so well thought out and vivid. I loved all the different and unique kinds of magic! For instance, Ashlai can recharge her fire magic from the sun, while another character needed water to recharge her lightning powers. Schulze has a way of describing the world that puts you right in the middle of it and I really enjoyed that. And the characters were age appropriate, diverse, and lovable.
What I disliked:
•Religious themes
•The length of the book
One thing that I personally didn’t love was the reoccurring religious theme throughout the book. As someone who isn’t religious and has a touch of trauma surrounding that, it was a little much. However, I can recognize that it is an important theme to the characters and that my feelings about it are personal to me! I would say that if religion is a serious trigger for you, I would approach this story with caution because it really is a central theme.
Also, this book is just really long. I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing, but there were definitely times I looked down and thought, “Omg I’m only 30% through this and so much has happened already, I can’t believe there is 70% more to go!” There were also times that scenes felt drawn out and unnecessary. I have spoken to the author who shared that she has since cut 20k words, so I feel a lot better about this point! Long books aren’t bad - they’re just long, but it’s something to take into consideration as a reader before jumping in!
Overall, I rated this a 3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4! It probably would have been a 4 if it wasn’t a true YA book, but that’s only because I am 25 years old and typically enjoy more dark/adult themes. I fully believe that 12 year old me would have gone crazy over this!! I highly recommend getting this book for any pre-teen reader you love (or any adult who loves an epic quest and doesn’t mind a youthful take on it!) 🥰
(Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!!)
June 29, 2024
Prelude of Fire is a YA Fantasy read, where Ashlai is a strong Fyre female lead who discovers more about herself throughout the book. If you like elemental magic, Harry Potter/LOTR vibes, and found family, then this is for you. Thank you again for the ARC!
November 28, 2024
Prelude of Fire is a YA fantasy that starts with Ashlai, a young girl with fire magic, living a happy life with her adoptive father and brother. But when her town is destroyed by fire, she embarks on a quest to save the world, guided by a mysterious melody and a magical crystal. Along the way, she meets a group of companions, each with unique powers, as they battle a ruthless villain and uncover powerful secrets throughout the world.
The world-building is rich, and the magic system is fun and creative, especially with elemental powers and a musical twist. The characters are likeable, with great depth, and the theme of found family runs throughout. It’s a long read, but the pacing is decent making it enjoyable.
The world-building is rich, and the magic system is fun and creative, especially with elemental powers and a musical twist. The characters are likeable, with great depth, and the theme of found family runs throughout. It’s a long read, but the pacing is decent making it enjoyable.
October 14, 2024
ARC REVIEW
First off I want to say thank you so much to the author for reaching out to me and giving me an arc early reader copy! I really appreciate it and feel so honored to have been chosen!
This is a YA fantasy book that is heavily quest driven. Set in a world where a terrible drought is causing havoc, the main character sets out on a quest to find missing shards of a broken prism to restore peace to the world.
Along the way she finds a found family in friends, and learns so much about her true family and herself that she would’ve never learned.
Overall I enjoyed this book, the story was fun, and the magic system was unique. Religious topics were pretty heavy (as a Christian this didn’t bother me but probably wouldn’t be for everyone)
My one criticism with this book was that pacing was pretty slow and with a page count of 462 (almost 650 on my kindle) it was dragged out a bit and is definitely a YA book. But otherwise I enjoyed it and would recommend especially to a little younger of an audience than myself!
First off I want to say thank you so much to the author for reaching out to me and giving me an arc early reader copy! I really appreciate it and feel so honored to have been chosen!
This is a YA fantasy book that is heavily quest driven. Set in a world where a terrible drought is causing havoc, the main character sets out on a quest to find missing shards of a broken prism to restore peace to the world.
Along the way she finds a found family in friends, and learns so much about her true family and herself that she would’ve never learned.
Overall I enjoyed this book, the story was fun, and the magic system was unique. Religious topics were pretty heavy (as a Christian this didn’t bother me but probably wouldn’t be for everyone)
My one criticism with this book was that pacing was pretty slow and with a page count of 462 (almost 650 on my kindle) it was dragged out a bit and is definitely a YA book. But otherwise I enjoyed it and would recommend especially to a little younger of an audience than myself!
May 6, 2024
ARC Review (4.5/5 ⭐️)
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Loved the overall vibe of the book! It gave me a feeling of both Harry Potter & LOTR (two of my fav series!).
Overall take:
- This novel had an interesting use of magic, and I loved how different it was from other books I’ve read in recent months.
- The characters were witty, fun, & gave the vibe of found family for the main character, Ashlai.
- The FMC Ashlai is amazing! She is strong and not afraid of the challenges faced in the quest to face the world.
- The overall writing is excellent. The author did an excellent job with world building & character development.
- My half point deduction is for chapter length. I found them to be a bit long.
The ending of this book was an excellent segway into book 2 and I look forward to reading it upon release!
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Loved the overall vibe of the book! It gave me a feeling of both Harry Potter & LOTR (two of my fav series!).
Overall take:
- This novel had an interesting use of magic, and I loved how different it was from other books I’ve read in recent months.
- The characters were witty, fun, & gave the vibe of found family for the main character, Ashlai.
- The FMC Ashlai is amazing! She is strong and not afraid of the challenges faced in the quest to face the world.
- The overall writing is excellent. The author did an excellent job with world building & character development.
- My half point deduction is for chapter length. I found them to be a bit long.
The ending of this book was an excellent segway into book 2 and I look forward to reading it upon release!
July 12, 2024
thank you to author for sending me an eARC of this book!!
I would a thousand percent recommend this book to younger audience. There was no spice and lots of world building, maybe a little too much at times. This book read a lot younger than what I normally do, but probably something I would’ve enjoyed when I was younger.
The chapters are pretty long, so I wasn’t a fan of it. It makes the story drag on a little bit and harder to finish for me. The book is pretty lengthy anyways, but I think it keeps your attention enough to keep reading.
Overall great book!
I would a thousand percent recommend this book to younger audience. There was no spice and lots of world building, maybe a little too much at times. This book read a lot younger than what I normally do, but probably something I would’ve enjoyed when I was younger.
The chapters are pretty long, so I wasn’t a fan of it. It makes the story drag on a little bit and harder to finish for me. The book is pretty lengthy anyways, but I think it keeps your attention enough to keep reading.
Overall great book!
June 10, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to Christine Schulze for sending me this e-reader ARC of Prelude of Fire in exchange for an honest review.
Prelude of Fire is definitely a YA, high fantasy book. I adore fantasy and world building and this book had both. Schulze creates this interesting, magical world in Prelude of Fire that is easy enough to understand for younger readers and super enjoyable for older ones. The world building was absolutely my favorite part. Schulze takes the reader to so many different settings through the book, whether that be a magical forest with healing waters and boots that allow the characters to walk on top of the water, an icy tundra with glowing crystals, or a pyramid in the middle of the water. The possibilities are truly endless and that is a beautiful thing.
In the same vein, the characters were all so different from what we're used to reading. We have the typical elemental mages but also characters like Verde, a giant bat-like creature, and Aryl, a green skinned shifter who can transform into a tree. There is little-to-no romance or anything of a romantic nature and I was grateful for that since the characters are so young. I appreciated that Schulze was able to write a compelling story without that and focused more on found family.
While I loved the world building and would have loved to see more, the dialogue between the characters for me was a bit rough. That is not saying that it wasn't compelling or well-written, but everything seemed so...polite. Even when the characters wanted to bite each other's heads off, they still made sure to say "please" and "thank you," which was almost disorienting and disrupted the flow of an emotionally charged scene. I think that a lot of the dialogue and extra details could be taken out to create a smoother and more attention grabbing story. The world itself was a bit confusing, as well, without reading the additional notes in the back of the book. It was a little jarring to see the fantastical elements interspersed with areas that we know in our own world like "China" and "Europe." That being said, it might be a case of "I need to read her other books to understand the world building more."
Plot-wise there were a few moments when I gasped internally because something crazy happened. There are definitely some great twists and turns that I didn't expect!
I also want to reiterate that this book is absolutely YA. I think the target age was a bit young for my personal tastes but there are absolutely younger readers out there who would love reading this story. I think back to some of the books that were popular when I was in middle school and I think this would fit right in with those.
I definitely recommend this book if you like fantasy, want something without romance and with great world building, or are a younger reader looking to get into fantasy.
Side note: I would LOVE to see a pronunciation guide to the people and places in this book because I swear I pronounced everyone's names wrong in my head. 😂
Thank you to Christine Schulze for sending me this e-reader ARC of Prelude of Fire in exchange for an honest review.
Prelude of Fire is definitely a YA, high fantasy book. I adore fantasy and world building and this book had both. Schulze creates this interesting, magical world in Prelude of Fire that is easy enough to understand for younger readers and super enjoyable for older ones. The world building was absolutely my favorite part. Schulze takes the reader to so many different settings through the book, whether that be a magical forest with healing waters and boots that allow the characters to walk on top of the water, an icy tundra with glowing crystals, or a pyramid in the middle of the water. The possibilities are truly endless and that is a beautiful thing.
In the same vein, the characters were all so different from what we're used to reading. We have the typical elemental mages but also characters like Verde, a giant bat-like creature, and Aryl, a green skinned shifter who can transform into a tree. There is little-to-no romance or anything of a romantic nature and I was grateful for that since the characters are so young. I appreciated that Schulze was able to write a compelling story without that and focused more on found family.
While I loved the world building and would have loved to see more, the dialogue between the characters for me was a bit rough. That is not saying that it wasn't compelling or well-written, but everything seemed so...polite. Even when the characters wanted to bite each other's heads off, they still made sure to say "please" and "thank you," which was almost disorienting and disrupted the flow of an emotionally charged scene. I think that a lot of the dialogue and extra details could be taken out to create a smoother and more attention grabbing story. The world itself was a bit confusing, as well, without reading the additional notes in the back of the book. It was a little jarring to see the fantastical elements interspersed with areas that we know in our own world like "China" and "Europe." That being said, it might be a case of "I need to read her other books to understand the world building more."
Plot-wise there were a few moments when I gasped internally because something crazy happened. There are definitely some great twists and turns that I didn't expect!
I also want to reiterate that this book is absolutely YA. I think the target age was a bit young for my personal tastes but there are absolutely younger readers out there who would love reading this story. I think back to some of the books that were popular when I was in middle school and I think this would fit right in with those.
I definitely recommend this book if you like fantasy, want something without romance and with great world building, or are a younger reader looking to get into fantasy.
Side note: I would LOVE to see a pronunciation guide to the people and places in this book because I swear I pronounced everyone's names wrong in my head. 😂
October 3, 2024
A big thank you to the author for the ARC to review! This review, of course, is my own and hasn't been influenced in any way.
Prelude of Fire follows Ashlai, a young, adopted Fyre, as she discovers her place in a world she feels left out of. When the Sere (think a vicious, fiery drought) attacks her home, she must set out to save the world using a shard, a song in her head, and visions of a captured Fyre princess.
Along the way, she meets such a wide array of different characters, each with their own very unique traits, personalities, affinities and abilities. From a boy who can turn into a tree, to a princess who can run on water, to a blind bard, and many more who I don't have the character count to properly discuss here.
The author markets this as a proper YA book, and I completely agree. There's no smut, there's no gore, no strong violence, and you know what? I think it was a great read /because/ of that. Compared to fantasy stories I've read recently, which had me grinding my teeth and clenching fists, this story was just... Nice. It made for a very light read that still managed to tug on the ol' heart strings and play with my emotions.
I think that's the jist of it - this was a nice book. The characters (and there are a lot of them through this journey) are all so diverse and unique and each one as memorable as the last. A lot of whom are children, and there's no "oh they had to grow up fast" here. They remain children throughout! They bicker, they fall out, they moap around, they have tantrums. This can get frustrating at times, but when you remember that children /are/ frustrating, and they're just being children, it all makes sense!
A particular scene that really emphasises the nicety is a moment where all the characters are gathered around and stargazing and I just felt so warm reading all these characters sharing a wonderful moment together like that. The characters and their relationships are so well written that they all felt so alive and I'm here for it.
Not to go all in on the cosiness I felt, the action was also brilliant. It packed a punch while still maintaining that YA element. Helped massively by a really creative and imaginative array of weapons and tools used by the characters; you have a healing gazebo that can be shrunken to a bracelet charm, powders that can be created to mimic magic of other races, FIRE SWORDS(!!!) - so many moments that made me awestruck, made me feel like a kid again saying "Wow that's so cool!!!".
Overall, a delightful and an emotional read, and would certainly recommend it if you're a fan of the found family trope, you like creative weapons, a wide range of characters and fleshed out characterisations.
Prelude of Fire follows Ashlai, a young, adopted Fyre, as she discovers her place in a world she feels left out of. When the Sere (think a vicious, fiery drought) attacks her home, she must set out to save the world using a shard, a song in her head, and visions of a captured Fyre princess.
Along the way, she meets such a wide array of different characters, each with their own very unique traits, personalities, affinities and abilities. From a boy who can turn into a tree, to a princess who can run on water, to a blind bard, and many more who I don't have the character count to properly discuss here.
The author markets this as a proper YA book, and I completely agree. There's no smut, there's no gore, no strong violence, and you know what? I think it was a great read /because/ of that. Compared to fantasy stories I've read recently, which had me grinding my teeth and clenching fists, this story was just... Nice. It made for a very light read that still managed to tug on the ol' heart strings and play with my emotions.
I think that's the jist of it - this was a nice book. The characters (and there are a lot of them through this journey) are all so diverse and unique and each one as memorable as the last. A lot of whom are children, and there's no "oh they had to grow up fast" here. They remain children throughout! They bicker, they fall out, they moap around, they have tantrums. This can get frustrating at times, but when you remember that children /are/ frustrating, and they're just being children, it all makes sense!
A particular scene that really emphasises the nicety is a moment where all the characters are gathered around and stargazing and I just felt so warm reading all these characters sharing a wonderful moment together like that. The characters and their relationships are so well written that they all felt so alive and I'm here for it.
Not to go all in on the cosiness I felt, the action was also brilliant. It packed a punch while still maintaining that YA element. Helped massively by a really creative and imaginative array of weapons and tools used by the characters; you have a healing gazebo that can be shrunken to a bracelet charm, powders that can be created to mimic magic of other races, FIRE SWORDS(!!!) - so many moments that made me awestruck, made me feel like a kid again saying "Wow that's so cool!!!".
Overall, a delightful and an emotional read, and would certainly recommend it if you're a fan of the found family trope, you like creative weapons, a wide range of characters and fleshed out characterisations.
November 3, 2024
Wow! Just wow! What an epic adventure. I absolutely loved the storyline, the concept is original and fresh, the characters were written in such a great way that they all felt like real people. Even they way the places they visited were described I genuinely felt jealous that I wasn't there. They all just sounding so incredible.
This book was so very hard to put down, with the battles, friendships, deaths, twists and turns - this book has everything!
I do have to say I was so invested with the story and its characters that I cried so hard for some of the characters deaths, reunions and truths!
This is one of the best stories I have read in a while. Thank you so much for writing this epic tale! I wouldn't be surprised if this author and book will be one of the greats like the lofr!
This book was so very hard to put down, with the battles, friendships, deaths, twists and turns - this book has everything!
I do have to say I was so invested with the story and its characters that I cried so hard for some of the characters deaths, reunions and truths!
This is one of the best stories I have read in a while. Thank you so much for writing this epic tale! I wouldn't be surprised if this author and book will be one of the greats like the lofr!
November 27, 2024
First of all.. thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader!
I was absolutely captivated by Prelude of Fire, the first book in The Gailean Quartet. From the moment I met Ashlai, a determined Fyre mage on a mission to save her world, I was hooked. Ashlai’s desire to discover her origins while fighting an enchanted drought felt so personal and relatable—who hasn’t wanted to find where they truly belong?
The quest-driven plot pulled me in right away. Ashlai’s journey across a beautifully crafted world felt like stepping into a rich tapestry of magic and mystery. The world-building was immersive, and I could vividly imagine the enchanted forests, ancient ruins, and dangerous realms she ventured through. I especially loved how Schulze weaved in diverse magical creatures and cultures that felt fresh yet familiar.
What stood out the most to me was the dynamic cast of characters. Each member of Ashlai’s makeshift team brought something unique to the table, from the witty bards to the stoic water elf. Their banter and growing camaraderie kept me invested in their mission. But as much as I loved the characters, I did find the plot a little repetitive toward the middle—each shard quest followed a similar pattern, which sometimes slowed the pacing for me.
One of my favorite aspects was the balance between action and introspection. Ashlai’s inner struggles, her longing for family, and her bravery in the face of impossible odds gave the story emotional depth. It reminded me a lot of The Legend of Zelda—a mix of adventure, mystery, and heart.
That being said, this book leans toward younger YA readers, with a straightforward writing style and a focus on adventure over complex themes. It’s perfect for fans of epic quests and good-versus-evil tales, but if you’re looking for a darker or more mature read, it might feel a bit light.
Overall, Prelude of Fire is a solid start to what promises to be an exciting series. If you love magical quests, rich world-building, and an underdog hero fighting for her world, you’ll want to pick this one up. I’m already looking forward to seeing where Ashlai’s journey takes her next!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
December 17, 2024
This was such a great book! It was fast-paced and was a great story about family and friends. The details in this book were amazing, I could picture everything. I loved the adventure that the characters go on and loved the main cast of characters. This is more of a young adult book which is a new genre for me, but I really enjoyed it! I can't wait to read the next one!
October 30, 2024
✨ARC Review✨
Prelude of Fire follows Ashlai, a young Fyre mage who can turn the power of the sun into fire.
She yearns to travel and learn more about where she comes from, who her family is and how her power can be used for good.
When the King enacts a terrible curse that begins to plague every land, Ashlai and a brilliant group of friends / sidekicks she meets along the way set out to stop him.
Some of them find beautiful crystal Prism shards and a warning from a Princess, but what are they and how can they help stop the King?
I honestly really enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a straight up YA fantasy, and I ate it up - 11 -15 year old me would’ve LOVED this.
It’s a high fantasy adventure, has a lovely found family vibe, zero spice or swearing and is a great YA vibe.
There are a few big plot twists and moments and I can safely say I didn’t see some of them coming, my mind was actually blown.
The world and descriptions are so rich and varied, we travel through forests, desert-like lands, ice caves and waterbound cities.
The magic and lore was accessible and easy to understand, the characters are all so interesting and honestly I think I liked them all.
Like all fantasy books, there’s an element of faith / overarching religion in a God aka Amiel. Whilst this is a common trope in most fantasy books, the inclusion of faith and conversations about faith (modelled very similar to Christianity,) were a little heavyhanded for me.
However for readers who are more inclined to religion and faith this might be a refreshing change!
If you’re looking for a fun YA book and want to support an indie author, I’d definitely recommend checking this out.
Release date - 25 Oct 2024 - available for preorder now 🔥🧝🏼♀️
Prelude of Fire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Prelude of Fire follows Ashlai, a young Fyre mage who can turn the power of the sun into fire.
She yearns to travel and learn more about where she comes from, who her family is and how her power can be used for good.
When the King enacts a terrible curse that begins to plague every land, Ashlai and a brilliant group of friends / sidekicks she meets along the way set out to stop him.
Some of them find beautiful crystal Prism shards and a warning from a Princess, but what are they and how can they help stop the King?
I honestly really enjoyed this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a straight up YA fantasy, and I ate it up - 11 -15 year old me would’ve LOVED this.
It’s a high fantasy adventure, has a lovely found family vibe, zero spice or swearing and is a great YA vibe.
There are a few big plot twists and moments and I can safely say I didn’t see some of them coming, my mind was actually blown.
The world and descriptions are so rich and varied, we travel through forests, desert-like lands, ice caves and waterbound cities.
The magic and lore was accessible and easy to understand, the characters are all so interesting and honestly I think I liked them all.
Like all fantasy books, there’s an element of faith / overarching religion in a God aka Amiel. Whilst this is a common trope in most fantasy books, the inclusion of faith and conversations about faith (modelled very similar to Christianity,) were a little heavyhanded for me.
However for readers who are more inclined to religion and faith this might be a refreshing change!
If you’re looking for a fun YA book and want to support an indie author, I’d definitely recommend checking this out.
Release date - 25 Oct 2024 - available for preorder now 🔥🧝🏼♀️
Prelude of Fire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 30, 2024
✨ARC REVIEW✨
☆☆☆ | 🌶️
My favorite part of this book was definitely the elemental and musical magic! I loved how detailed and well thought out each magic system was! Schulze does an incredible job creating an immersive reading experience by flawlessly describing the effects of each type of magic, what fuels it, and how it looks or feels.
I also really loved the world this story takes place in. It very much gave me 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 meets 𝙕𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙖: 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙 vibes.
Something else I appreciated was that there is a ton of diversity in this book, including disability representation. There is a main character that is blind, and it was truly beautiful how the author wrote about him as an asset and not a hindrance. Instead of just glossing over his experiences throughout the quest, Schulze consistently lets the reader know how his companions are supporting him throughout the journey, whether it’s by having a character describe the scene to him or by guiding him up a mountain using a rope.
Now onto some of the things that I didn’t enjoy about this book…
This book was LONG, especially for a YA book! I can’t even say that it was slow because it was action packed from the beginning. There was just a TON of world building and buildup to the main quest, which felt repetitive at times. Even though I know all of it was necessary to truly tell the story, it still felt like a chore to make it through the first half of the book.
Additionally, religion plays a huge role throughout this book. As a not-super-religious person, I felt overwhelmed with how heavily religious this writing was. It felt preachy at times, which made me uncomfortable. Even though it was intended to just be a “fake” religion created for this fantasy series, it was very clearly just Christianity under a different name. This is definitely just a personal preference, but I still felt the need to share because this definitely caught me off guard.
Overall, I enjoyed this book (especially when I got closer to the end/big climax), but I just don’t think I was the intended audience, and that’s okay! I think a lot of people will love this book/series because the story really is quite good, but I’m content with where this book left off, so I don’t think I will continue this series.
☆☆☆ | 🌶️
My favorite part of this book was definitely the elemental and musical magic! I loved how detailed and well thought out each magic system was! Schulze does an incredible job creating an immersive reading experience by flawlessly describing the effects of each type of magic, what fuels it, and how it looks or feels.
I also really loved the world this story takes place in. It very much gave me 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 meets 𝙕𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙖: 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙞𝙡𝙙 vibes.
Something else I appreciated was that there is a ton of diversity in this book, including disability representation. There is a main character that is blind, and it was truly beautiful how the author wrote about him as an asset and not a hindrance. Instead of just glossing over his experiences throughout the quest, Schulze consistently lets the reader know how his companions are supporting him throughout the journey, whether it’s by having a character describe the scene to him or by guiding him up a mountain using a rope.
Now onto some of the things that I didn’t enjoy about this book…
This book was LONG, especially for a YA book! I can’t even say that it was slow because it was action packed from the beginning. There was just a TON of world building and buildup to the main quest, which felt repetitive at times. Even though I know all of it was necessary to truly tell the story, it still felt like a chore to make it through the first half of the book.
Additionally, religion plays a huge role throughout this book. As a not-super-religious person, I felt overwhelmed with how heavily religious this writing was. It felt preachy at times, which made me uncomfortable. Even though it was intended to just be a “fake” religion created for this fantasy series, it was very clearly just Christianity under a different name. This is definitely just a personal preference, but I still felt the need to share because this definitely caught me off guard.
Overall, I enjoyed this book (especially when I got closer to the end/big climax), but I just don’t think I was the intended audience, and that’s okay! I think a lot of people will love this book/series because the story really is quite good, but I’m content with where this book left off, so I don’t think I will continue this series.
September 3, 2025
✨Prelude of Fire✨
It’s been a while since I’ve read young YA, but I was NOT disappointed! Prelude of Fire is the first of a high fantasy quartet and, if you like epic quests, found family, deep world building, and intricate magic systems then THIS 👏 IS 👏 FOR YOU. 👏
I’ll head this off first with: the writing is fantastic, descriptive, and immersive. This is not beginner writing. It was beautifully done. We follow 15 year old Ashlai, as her world is literally being burned down, and her reluctantly found family as they seek the seven shards to create a prism that hopefully will heal their land and destroy the evil man causing the death drought. Christene’s characters are each uniquely individual and deeply fleshed out. There’s so much character growth, healing, vulnerability, and hope. Even the villain stirs your heartstrings.
The world is immense and wildly intricate. There are so many plot twists and it’s unsafe to trust anyone. Secrets are harbored and revealed. Hearts are healed and broken. This was a journey like The Hobbit but make it YA and with delightful banter. Side note- Chamblin is my favorite. Hands down.
Tropes you may find in Prelude of Fire are unique magic systems, diverse races, sweet young crushes, plot twists, forced proximity, chosen family, open ending, friendship, strong family bonds, no language, no spice, and -MY FAVORITE- disability rep.
Thank you, Christine, for gifting me this high fantasy arc. It was a delight!
It’s been a while since I’ve read young YA, but I was NOT disappointed! Prelude of Fire is the first of a high fantasy quartet and, if you like epic quests, found family, deep world building, and intricate magic systems then THIS 👏 IS 👏 FOR YOU. 👏
I’ll head this off first with: the writing is fantastic, descriptive, and immersive. This is not beginner writing. It was beautifully done. We follow 15 year old Ashlai, as her world is literally being burned down, and her reluctantly found family as they seek the seven shards to create a prism that hopefully will heal their land and destroy the evil man causing the death drought. Christene’s characters are each uniquely individual and deeply fleshed out. There’s so much character growth, healing, vulnerability, and hope. Even the villain stirs your heartstrings.
The world is immense and wildly intricate. There are so many plot twists and it’s unsafe to trust anyone. Secrets are harbored and revealed. Hearts are healed and broken. This was a journey like The Hobbit but make it YA and with delightful banter. Side note- Chamblin is my favorite. Hands down.
Tropes you may find in Prelude of Fire are unique magic systems, diverse races, sweet young crushes, plot twists, forced proximity, chosen family, open ending, friendship, strong family bonds, no language, no spice, and -MY FAVORITE- disability rep.
Thank you, Christine, for gifting me this high fantasy arc. It was a delight!
October 7, 2024
Thank you to this author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! 🩷
Prelude of Fire is a YA fantasy novel. It’s got found family, adventure, & betrayal. This gave me lot of InuYasha & Zelda vibes with the way the adventure was. Inuyasha with the shards, especially! Also, a little bit of Avatar the last Airbender vibes, as well.
The characters all acted very age appropriate, which was very difficult for me at times. Considering I’m 29 years old, handling the thoughts & actions of 15 year old was a little hard sometimes. But props to the author for making it pretty age appropriate on how they act.
The story & world building was definitely fun, but a bit complex. There was a lot of action, but it did start feeling a bit repetitive. For a YA book, the chapters were very long.
Overall this is a 3/5 ⭐️ read for me! I do enjoy YA fantasy sometimes, but I don’t think this novel was meant for me. But it was fun! Thanks for taking me on this fun adventure!
Prelude of Fire is a YA fantasy novel. It’s got found family, adventure, & betrayal. This gave me lot of InuYasha & Zelda vibes with the way the adventure was. Inuyasha with the shards, especially! Also, a little bit of Avatar the last Airbender vibes, as well.
The characters all acted very age appropriate, which was very difficult for me at times. Considering I’m 29 years old, handling the thoughts & actions of 15 year old was a little hard sometimes. But props to the author for making it pretty age appropriate on how they act.
The story & world building was definitely fun, but a bit complex. There was a lot of action, but it did start feeling a bit repetitive. For a YA book, the chapters were very long.
Overall this is a 3/5 ⭐️ read for me! I do enjoy YA fantasy sometimes, but I don’t think this novel was meant for me. But it was fun! Thanks for taking me on this fun adventure!
August 2, 2024
💙 ARC Review ♥️
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice:
🚫
I went into reading this blind, only knowing the basics that it was fantasy and that’s all a girl needs 🫠… Well I was unaware of the twist and turn of events that transpired within the first few chapters 😂
This story starts off with our FMC Ashlai living happily with her adoptive father and her blood brother. ❤️🔥 Growing up, she’s been yearning to know more about her birth parents and how she came to have Fyre magic 🔥 unlike her brother. This is where the adventure begins in saving the world and finding new friends along her path! 🥹
When I say you have no idea, what’s gonna happen next, I 100% mean that in every way. 🫣 The storyline builds rather slowly, however I feel like it was perfectly written to portray the events in every way!
this original piece is a story that anyone can read and feel connected in some sort of way. Thank you, Christine Schulze for allowing me to adventure with you and Ashlai and her friends! ❤️🔥✨
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice:
🚫
I went into reading this blind, only knowing the basics that it was fantasy and that’s all a girl needs 🫠… Well I was unaware of the twist and turn of events that transpired within the first few chapters 😂
This story starts off with our FMC Ashlai living happily with her adoptive father and her blood brother. ❤️🔥 Growing up, she’s been yearning to know more about her birth parents and how she came to have Fyre magic 🔥 unlike her brother. This is where the adventure begins in saving the world and finding new friends along her path! 🥹
When I say you have no idea, what’s gonna happen next, I 100% mean that in every way. 🫣 The storyline builds rather slowly, however I feel like it was perfectly written to portray the events in every way!
this original piece is a story that anyone can read and feel connected in some sort of way. Thank you, Christine Schulze for allowing me to adventure with you and Ashlai and her friends! ❤️🔥✨
January 28, 2025
"Forged from purity,
The seven's healing light
Unveils the path's obscurity,
The broken to unite."
I'm grateful to Christine Schulze for sending me an ARC of this book—my very first ARC!
Prelude of Fire squarely fits into the YA fantasy genre, and despite it being a while since I last delved into YA literature, I found myself thoroughly immersed. The world-building is rich, filled with magic, and populated by compelling characters. One of my favorite tropes, the found family dynamic, is beautifully executed here.
Ashlai, the protagonist, captured my heart with her strength and determination. The character development across the board is skillfully handled, making the journey they undertake truly captivating.
I've noticed comparisons to iconic series like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in other reviews, and I wholeheartedly agree. Prelude of Fire shares that same enchanting quality that makes these classics timeless.
November 14, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Thanks to Christine E. Schulze and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book!
“Remember, though, that Amiel does have a place for you in this world, even if it may be difficult for you to see it. He appointed this task to you. He appointed this task to each of us. He will give us strength and see us through to the end until we fulfill our part. And it seems He has given you good friends to help see you through as well.”
About the book: An enchanted drought threatens to burn down the land while an evil king takes over the throne, and young Fyre mage Ashlai is determined to gather the seven prism shards needed to save the world.
My review: PRELUDE OF FIRE is such a solid fantasy read! I loved the elemental magic system and how there were also diverse types of magic within the system. Our FMC Ashlai is a Fyre mage adopted by eleves, and she's the firesword-wielding hero we all need right now. She sets out on an epic journey to put together a prism by finding seven shards, and the friendships and found family that develop along the way are akin to Tolkein's Lord of the Rings series and Calaena & Nehemiah's friendship in Throne of Glass. I loved that there was a diverse cast of characters, and also a cute bat sprite and terrifying panthers with wings. The single-god religious system with Amiel was very well done throughout, the twists were fantastic, and there was so much good action. Highly recommend snagging this one on KU!
Thanks to Christine E. Schulze and Booked with the Emilys for the gifted copy of this book!
“Remember, though, that Amiel does have a place for you in this world, even if it may be difficult for you to see it. He appointed this task to you. He appointed this task to each of us. He will give us strength and see us through to the end until we fulfill our part. And it seems He has given you good friends to help see you through as well.”
About the book: An enchanted drought threatens to burn down the land while an evil king takes over the throne, and young Fyre mage Ashlai is determined to gather the seven prism shards needed to save the world.
My review: PRELUDE OF FIRE is such a solid fantasy read! I loved the elemental magic system and how there were also diverse types of magic within the system. Our FMC Ashlai is a Fyre mage adopted by eleves, and she's the firesword-wielding hero we all need right now. She sets out on an epic journey to put together a prism by finding seven shards, and the friendships and found family that develop along the way are akin to Tolkein's Lord of the Rings series and Calaena & Nehemiah's friendship in Throne of Glass. I loved that there was a diverse cast of characters, and also a cute bat sprite and terrifying panthers with wings. The single-god religious system with Amiel was very well done throughout, the twists were fantastic, and there was so much good action. Highly recommend snagging this one on KU!
June 22, 2024
spoiler-free arc review 📖✨🌷
first off, a thousand thanks to the author for sending me an arc of this book. second, WOW!
this book is the perfect mix of lord of the rings, legend of zelda and the "tales of" games. the characters, the world-building and the overall adventure is so fun and well-written.
the fmc, ashlai, is amazing. she's strong and intelligent, but not obnoxiously so because she still has her struggles and flaws. but i do have to say, the witty shape-shifting thief, aryl, was my favorite character! many of the characters are quite young, which is often a pet-peeve of mine in fantasy, but it suits the story well and they actually act their ages.
my favorite trope ever is found family, and this book does it SO WELL. i loved every single character, they all brought something different to the table. i also love stories where we meet characters along the way, and they join the "main" group, it's such a fun way to have a diverse lot of personalities while not feeling overwhelmed by too many names and information at once.
there is also an interesting magic system in this book, with several types of magic. both this and the world-building is explained well and isn't too confusing.
i do have to emphasize this is definitely YA fantasy. there's very little romance, no spice, there's high stakes but without the gruseomeness (there are some deaths but not as descriptive and gory as lots of fantasy can be), and it just FEELS tailored to a younger audience.
however, that's not to say it doesn't punch you in the gut sometimes. i didn't get further than chapter 3 before i cried 😅
this is between a 4 and 4.5 stars for me, i can't fully decide, but overall a very good book and i'm definitely looking forward to book 2 already 💫
first off, a thousand thanks to the author for sending me an arc of this book. second, WOW!
this book is the perfect mix of lord of the rings, legend of zelda and the "tales of" games. the characters, the world-building and the overall adventure is so fun and well-written.
the fmc, ashlai, is amazing. she's strong and intelligent, but not obnoxiously so because she still has her struggles and flaws. but i do have to say, the witty shape-shifting thief, aryl, was my favorite character! many of the characters are quite young, which is often a pet-peeve of mine in fantasy, but it suits the story well and they actually act their ages.
my favorite trope ever is found family, and this book does it SO WELL. i loved every single character, they all brought something different to the table. i also love stories where we meet characters along the way, and they join the "main" group, it's such a fun way to have a diverse lot of personalities while not feeling overwhelmed by too many names and information at once.
there is also an interesting magic system in this book, with several types of magic. both this and the world-building is explained well and isn't too confusing.
i do have to emphasize this is definitely YA fantasy. there's very little romance, no spice, there's high stakes but without the gruseomeness (there are some deaths but not as descriptive and gory as lots of fantasy can be), and it just FEELS tailored to a younger audience.
however, that's not to say it doesn't punch you in the gut sometimes. i didn't get further than chapter 3 before i cried 😅
this is between a 4 and 4.5 stars for me, i can't fully decide, but overall a very good book and i'm definitely looking forward to book 2 already 💫
June 26, 2024
I had the honor to read the ARC Edition of Prelude of Fire By Christine E. Schulze. If you have any young readers or even if you enjoy Harry Potter/LOTR/Quest books you will definitely love this one. The writing really gets you into the story and paints a picture to where you feel like you are actually there. The FMC is a very strong and determined young woman and watching everyone grow as they go on this dangerous adventure to fight evil is absolutely amazing. I don't want to give too many spoilers but there are so many different types of magic throughout that are absolutely fascinating definitely something that any of you Harry Potter fans would absolutely love. With all the different twist and turns you won't want to put this book down once you start I know I couldn't.If you read on your phone it seems a bit long but it's only because of how it is formatted in book form it is only about 400ish pages so it's just a little bit over the normal novel length but definitely worth it because you really get to meet all of the characters. I usually don't read adventure/quest/fantasy books but after this one I am hooked and I am so ready for book 2. I believe release date is October of 2024 so if you love fantasy books with a little magic and an amazing quest definitely go check out Prelude of Fire when it releases. I give this book a 5/5 and will definitely be reading more of her books in the future. Amazing writer, story teller and all together a super talented person. Cannot wait to see what else you write in the future! Thank you so much for allowing me to get a sneak peek! ❤️
June 23, 2024
Thank you @Christine Schulz for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of Prelude of Fire!
I really enjoyed this young adult fantasy book which is a lovely story with a strong female main character, found family and unique magic!
The world building happened within the story which meant there was a good pace and I could get into the story quickly. The magic element, which tended to relate to the different geographical areas, was really interesting and the way it was written really brought it all to life.
I liked all of the characters, but I definitely have a soft spot for Aryl. The banter that he brings definitely made me smile on more than one occasion!
The chapters are quite long which sometimes made it a little more difficult as I would need to stop mid-chapter. But that is more of a comfort/personal preference thing. I also hit a little slump in the middle of the book but it may have been due to competing priorities (adult life) but the mountain scene soon got me back in (and broke me a little, IYKYK) and I couldn't put it down from that point on.
It definitely hits the young adult mark and gives me Deltora Quest/Emily Rodda vibes. Can definitely recommend and I look forward to reading the next instalment of the quartet!
Prelude of Fire will be released 25th October 2024!
I really enjoyed this young adult fantasy book which is a lovely story with a strong female main character, found family and unique magic!
The world building happened within the story which meant there was a good pace and I could get into the story quickly. The magic element, which tended to relate to the different geographical areas, was really interesting and the way it was written really brought it all to life.
I liked all of the characters, but I definitely have a soft spot for Aryl. The banter that he brings definitely made me smile on more than one occasion!
The chapters are quite long which sometimes made it a little more difficult as I would need to stop mid-chapter. But that is more of a comfort/personal preference thing. I also hit a little slump in the middle of the book but it may have been due to competing priorities (adult life) but the mountain scene soon got me back in (and broke me a little, IYKYK) and I couldn't put it down from that point on.
It definitely hits the young adult mark and gives me Deltora Quest/Emily Rodda vibes. Can definitely recommend and I look forward to reading the next instalment of the quartet!
Prelude of Fire will be released 25th October 2024!
July 15, 2024
ARC Review
I want to start by saying a huge thank you to the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first epic fantasy of this size before and I was very excited going into this ARC.
The adventure aspect of the story was so exciting and I loved how the entire story was wrapped up. I also absolutely loved all of the characters and how they were written. All of their personalities were amazing! I felt sad “leaving them” when the story was over.
The aspects I did not enjoy were that I felt this book could have been much shorter. There were many aspects that felt they were dragged out too long and took up so many unnecessary pages, but then the action at the end was very rushed.
Overall, if you are a fantasy reader I would definitely check this book out it was really good!
I want to start by saying a huge thank you to the author for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first epic fantasy of this size before and I was very excited going into this ARC.
The adventure aspect of the story was so exciting and I loved how the entire story was wrapped up. I also absolutely loved all of the characters and how they were written. All of their personalities were amazing! I felt sad “leaving them” when the story was over.
The aspects I did not enjoy were that I felt this book could have been much shorter. There were many aspects that felt they were dragged out too long and took up so many unnecessary pages, but then the action at the end was very rushed.
Overall, if you are a fantasy reader I would definitely check this book out it was really good!
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