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The Last Draegion Saga #1
Remnants of a Scarlet Flame
The classic fantasy tales of Raymond Feist and Robert Jordan meet modern themes from RF Kuang and NK Jemisin in this debut epic.
For two centuries, Syljians have been hunted by the Sorcerers’ Guild. Desperate to procure life-sustaining resources for his people, Syljian Alar Fellman uses his psionic powers to infiltrate the Guild’s ranks as a student of magic.
The Guild’s star prodigy, Daeya McVen, cherishes her friendship with the new student. But Daeya’s secrets far surpass Alar’s inability to penetrate her mind. As she languishes beneath her mentor’s demands, her talent breeds contempt among the elder sorcerers, who crave nothing more than to see her fall.
When a leader of the Syljian resistance is captured, Alar risks his alias to rescue him. But the leader’s prophetic visions allude to a greater threat—one that inextricably ties the fate of Alar’s people to Daeya.
With war looming, and the remnants of an ancient magic returned to the world, one wrong move could spell disaster for an entire race.
Set in a world where dragons are believed extinct, sorcerers rule nations, and gods walk among mortals, Remnants of a Scarlet Flame is the first installment in the new epic saga, The Last Draegion.
For two centuries, Syljians have been hunted by the Sorcerers’ Guild. Desperate to procure life-sustaining resources for his people, Syljian Alar Fellman uses his psionic powers to infiltrate the Guild’s ranks as a student of magic.
The Guild’s star prodigy, Daeya McVen, cherishes her friendship with the new student. But Daeya’s secrets far surpass Alar’s inability to penetrate her mind. As she languishes beneath her mentor’s demands, her talent breeds contempt among the elder sorcerers, who crave nothing more than to see her fall.
When a leader of the Syljian resistance is captured, Alar risks his alias to rescue him. But the leader’s prophetic visions allude to a greater threat—one that inextricably ties the fate of Alar’s people to Daeya.
With war looming, and the remnants of an ancient magic returned to the world, one wrong move could spell disaster for an entire race.
Set in a world where dragons are believed extinct, sorcerers rule nations, and gods walk among mortals, Remnants of a Scarlet Flame is the first installment in the new epic saga, The Last Draegion.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2024
40 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Cindy L Sell
4 books57 followersCindy L. Sell supposedly lives in the Midwestern United States with a home full of furry critters, including her two boys and doting husband, but she really spends most of her time on Dessos battling sorcerers or negotiating trade deals with pirates.
She graduated from Washburn University with a BA in creative writing, but didn't bother to do anything with it until COVID when she ran out of excuses. When she's not writing, she enjoys bowling, crochet, and riding her '82 Sportster.
She graduated from Washburn University with a BA in creative writing, but didn't bother to do anything with it until COVID when she ran out of excuses. When she's not writing, she enjoys bowling, crochet, and riding her '82 Sportster.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
August 13, 2024
Maybe I’ll actually pay attention to the table of contents next time.
No, cause- this isn’t an insult. More me laughing at my own expense. I wasn’t aware there were sections for the different pantheons in their mythologies and religion, translations, and character pronunciations. Only found it just as I finished reading. Though that’s more me. I was entirely excited about reading the book that I just dove into it. But there was a highly detailed map in the beginning of the book!
Remnants of a Scarlet Flame has an entirely unique magic system. They dealt with the concepts of their powers using terms I recognize playing D&D with my friends. And turns out, Cindy plays too! You have sorcerers, aethermancers, psionics, and those who are blessed by the gods. Even their sorcery school has a different promotion system in terms of identifiers.
The world-building oh my god. Everything was so intricate and alive. It felt like Cindy was simply telling us a story from old legends, instead of having made her story herself. If you told me this was a story based on an already established world from the worlds beyond, I would believe you.
Multiple POVs. We follow multiple characters through this journey, all leading in their path. Each of them has very different, but informative stories. If you’re the type that wants to get invested in a character before getting to know their perspective, then sadly, this isn’t it. We meet these characters as if they’re our sole main protagonist in the book (a positive personally). But they’re not overpowering each other, none more interesting than the other. Each one has a story to tell, and we’re all enriched for it.
Speaking of those main characters. I usually go though a review having separate sections for the main protagonist (+ their love interest, if there exists). Cindy tells us the story of multiple engaging characters that it’d feel an insult not talking about the others. So I’ll try talking about all of them, however briefly.
Daeya. The resident trouble maker. She’s practically untouchable despite all her (bothersome and sometimes destructive) pranks and practical jokes on most of the administrative body of the Sorcerer’s School. Though there are dreadfully heartbreaking reasons for this. She has always yearned for freedom, for a friend. My heart bled for her and all she’s been through.
Alar. We meet him first. He’s a psionic, working under an alias as a spy to infiltrate the Sorcerer’s School. He’s very, what I can say, strict on himself. He has a role to play, and he tries to keep that way. He’s loyal to his friends and community, and he always makes sure to find ways to help them and their cause.
Ravlok. A monk living his best life. He’s curious, and has a thirst for knowledge. He’s a bundle of mysteries and he’s easily likeable. He’s also very adaptable to his surroundings, which a lot of people need as a necessary life skill. Just my favorite character thus far to be honest.
Orowen. Healer. She’s one of the nicer and less prejudiced of her group and easily welcomed a stranger with the same circumstances they had. I love reading what she goes through. It’s so heartbreaking and realistic.
Magnus. He deserves the world. He goes through the most gruesome happenings. He’s trying his best but he’s on a warpath. Cindy, please save him.
Gregory. Councilor. I have many choice words for you but none of them any good.
Plot. Dealing with multiple POVs in a book in a world filled with a massively interesting magic and government system has to be hard, but Cindy does it well! There’s so many things happening but you know how in D&D all these things could happen (especially in combat) but virtually no time has passed? All the events of this book happen, at the very least, in the span of 2 days. But you won’t feel it! All these different perspectives of simultaneously happening events in different parts of the area helps make the plot progress. Written in a way that doesn’t overwhelm nor sudden.
Romance. As of yet, there’s only one established romance among our main characters, and that happens near the end of the book (with some sweet and intimate fade-to-black spice). There may be something between Daeya and Alar, but risks are yet too high for anything to maybe form. A book doesn’t need romance to be good, and so this isn’t needed if it doesn’t call for it.
To the author, Cindy L. Sell! Once again, thank you so much for this opportunity! Your book is nothing less than amazing. All of your main characters were written in ways that they all could hold a spin-off on their own, but you wrote them in a way that doesn’t overpower each other. I can’t wait for the next book!
No, cause- this isn’t an insult. More me laughing at my own expense. I wasn’t aware there were sections for the different pantheons in their mythologies and religion, translations, and character pronunciations. Only found it just as I finished reading. Though that’s more me. I was entirely excited about reading the book that I just dove into it. But there was a highly detailed map in the beginning of the book!
Remnants of a Scarlet Flame has an entirely unique magic system. They dealt with the concepts of their powers using terms I recognize playing D&D with my friends. And turns out, Cindy plays too! You have sorcerers, aethermancers, psionics, and those who are blessed by the gods. Even their sorcery school has a different promotion system in terms of identifiers.
The world-building oh my god. Everything was so intricate and alive. It felt like Cindy was simply telling us a story from old legends, instead of having made her story herself. If you told me this was a story based on an already established world from the worlds beyond, I would believe you.
Multiple POVs. We follow multiple characters through this journey, all leading in their path. Each of them has very different, but informative stories. If you’re the type that wants to get invested in a character before getting to know their perspective, then sadly, this isn’t it. We meet these characters as if they’re our sole main protagonist in the book (a positive personally). But they’re not overpowering each other, none more interesting than the other. Each one has a story to tell, and we’re all enriched for it.
Speaking of those main characters. I usually go though a review having separate sections for the main protagonist (+ their love interest, if there exists). Cindy tells us the story of multiple engaging characters that it’d feel an insult not talking about the others. So I’ll try talking about all of them, however briefly.
Daeya. The resident trouble maker. She’s practically untouchable despite all her (bothersome and sometimes destructive) pranks and practical jokes on most of the administrative body of the Sorcerer’s School. Though there are dreadfully heartbreaking reasons for this. She has always yearned for freedom, for a friend. My heart bled for her and all she’s been through.
Alar. We meet him first. He’s a psionic, working under an alias as a spy to infiltrate the Sorcerer’s School. He’s very, what I can say, strict on himself. He has a role to play, and he tries to keep that way. He’s loyal to his friends and community, and he always makes sure to find ways to help them and their cause.
Ravlok. A monk living his best life. He’s curious, and has a thirst for knowledge. He’s a bundle of mysteries and he’s easily likeable. He’s also very adaptable to his surroundings, which a lot of people need as a necessary life skill. Just my favorite character thus far to be honest.
Orowen. Healer. She’s one of the nicer and less prejudiced of her group and easily welcomed a stranger with the same circumstances they had. I love reading what she goes through. It’s so heartbreaking and realistic.
Magnus. He deserves the world. He goes through the most gruesome happenings. He’s trying his best but he’s on a warpath. Cindy, please save him.
Gregory. Councilor. I have many choice words for you but none of them any good.
Plot. Dealing with multiple POVs in a book in a world filled with a massively interesting magic and government system has to be hard, but Cindy does it well! There’s so many things happening but you know how in D&D all these things could happen (especially in combat) but virtually no time has passed? All the events of this book happen, at the very least, in the span of 2 days. But you won’t feel it! All these different perspectives of simultaneously happening events in different parts of the area helps make the plot progress. Written in a way that doesn’t overwhelm nor sudden.
Romance. As of yet, there’s only one established romance among our main characters, and that happens near the end of the book (with some sweet and intimate fade-to-black spice). There may be something between Daeya and Alar, but risks are yet too high for anything to maybe form. A book doesn’t need romance to be good, and so this isn’t needed if it doesn’t call for it.
To the author, Cindy L. Sell! Once again, thank you so much for this opportunity! Your book is nothing less than amazing. All of your main characters were written in ways that they all could hold a spin-off on their own, but you wrote them in a way that doesn’t overpower each other. I can’t wait for the next book!
August 27, 2024
4 Stars!
Fantastic debut!! This book honestly shocked me. I went into this not expecting it to be as good as it was! The world & magic are so unique and nothing like Ive read before. It took me a little bit to get sorted between all the different POVs and the characters/language, but once I caught on I was HOOKED. I loved the different POVs once I got used to it. They all served their own purpose and had their own agendas/secrets. I enjoyed being able to get a peak into what everyone was thinking. There is a guide in the back of the book with translations, pronunciations, etc that I wish was towards the beginning because I honestly had no clue it was there until after (so definitely keep this in mind).
There is little romance in the book. It popped up more towards the end and we get one scene that was so perfect/special, but I hope the second book has more romance in it because I can see some relationships already forming!
Definitely read this book if you are into dark epic fantasy, dragons, elemental magic, multi POVs, spies, good vs evil, & flawed heroes.
Thank you to Cindy L Sell for the ARC. My review is 100% voluntary. Cannot wait for the next book!!!
Fantastic debut!! This book honestly shocked me. I went into this not expecting it to be as good as it was! The world & magic are so unique and nothing like Ive read before. It took me a little bit to get sorted between all the different POVs and the characters/language, but once I caught on I was HOOKED. I loved the different POVs once I got used to it. They all served their own purpose and had their own agendas/secrets. I enjoyed being able to get a peak into what everyone was thinking. There is a guide in the back of the book with translations, pronunciations, etc that I wish was towards the beginning because I honestly had no clue it was there until after (so definitely keep this in mind).
There is little romance in the book. It popped up more towards the end and we get one scene that was so perfect/special, but I hope the second book has more romance in it because I can see some relationships already forming!
Definitely read this book if you are into dark epic fantasy, dragons, elemental magic, multi POVs, spies, good vs evil, & flawed heroes.
Thank you to Cindy L Sell for the ARC. My review is 100% voluntary. Cannot wait for the next book!!!
August 21, 2024
"Remnants of a Scarlet Flame" sets the stage for a thrilling epic series. Sell’s use of sensory descriptions made for an immersive read, transporting me right into the heart of the conflict. Every scene came alive, as if I was watching it play out in front of me.
Ravlok and Alar quickly rose to the top as my favorite characters, each captivating me in their own right. Alar's complex relationship with Daeya adds layers of intrigue. Their dynamic feels fresh and intense, especially as they navigate their conflicting loyalties. Ravlok, on the other hand, is a force all his own—steadfast, loyal, and endlessly fascinating.
This debut delivers on all fronts, offering a rich world with diverse characters. If you're a fan of epic fantasy with depth and detail, this one’s a must-read.
Ravlok and Alar quickly rose to the top as my favorite characters, each captivating me in their own right. Alar's complex relationship with Daeya adds layers of intrigue. Their dynamic feels fresh and intense, especially as they navigate their conflicting loyalties. Ravlok, on the other hand, is a force all his own—steadfast, loyal, and endlessly fascinating.
This debut delivers on all fronts, offering a rich world with diverse characters. If you're a fan of epic fantasy with depth and detail, this one’s a must-read.
August 24, 2024
What an exceptional fantasy read! As the story unfolds, told with multiple POVs, each character has their voice and moves the plot forward. Some I instantly fell in love with, and others grew on me. I especially enjoyed Daeya as a character. Her creative ways of achieving her goals kept me on my toes, guessing what would happen next. Remnants of a Scarlet Flame has all the fantasy elements you could want: epic world-building, elves, mages, good vs evil, political plots, well-written battle scenes, and dynamic characters. It even has a touch of romance, which I am all here for as the tension builds. This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon. And the end! What a cliffhanger, and I absolutely will be diving into book two when it comes out. This author is on my list of writers to watch!
August 12, 2024
Great story. Loved this book. Great storyline and characters. Can't wait for book two.
This book was received from the author through Voracious Readers Only, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book was received from the author through Voracious Readers Only, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It kept me captivated and thinking about it when I had to put it down and return to real life.
Cindy L Sell has a writing style that reminded me a lot of reading/ listening to the name of the wind and I absolutely loved that.
She has a very clever way to tell the reader more about the world and charecters without info dumping too much for me to be able to follow.
Normally I struggle with multi POV book but this was so good I managed to get back that with little issues.
The action scenes are very well described and made me feel like I was right there with them.
All else I can say (without spoilers!) is I just want to read the next book right now!
Cindy L Sell has a writing style that reminded me a lot of reading/ listening to the name of the wind and I absolutely loved that.
She has a very clever way to tell the reader more about the world and charecters without info dumping too much for me to be able to follow.
Normally I struggle with multi POV book but this was so good I managed to get back that with little issues.
The action scenes are very well described and made me feel like I was right there with them.
All else I can say (without spoilers!) is I just want to read the next book right now!
August 22, 2024
Get your pen and notebook. This one is a doozy! Such a great and epic story, but definitely need a tree to keep track of all of the characters. The author did a great job with each character and all of the twists and turns kept me on my toes! Excellent first book and can’t wait to see what is next.
September 3, 2024
5 stars for this amazing debut! I loved the different points of view to help dive into the minds of all of the different characters. The world building was so good! One of my favorite parts was Daeya’s drunken friendships forged on the ship. (Hopefully that doesn’t reveal too much for anyone!) The ending took me on a ride and I am so excited to read the sequel in the future. 🎉
August 1, 2025
"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” Remnants of a Secret Flame – The Last Draegion Saga, Book 1
The worldbuilding is rich, the characters unforgettable. From Daeya, the resident troublemaker, to Alar the powerful psionic; Ravlok, the disciplined monk; Orowen, the quiet but capable healer; Magnus, who’s on a warpath after everything he’s been through; and Gregory, the ever-calculating councilor—everyone has their own secrets, agendas, and layers that make this story crackle with tension.
It’s a gripping tale full of action, mystery, and hidden motives. While romance isn’t front and center in this installment, the groundwork is clearly being laid—and I can feel something brewing for book two.
I’m hooked and can’t wait to dive into Embers Rising next.💛
The worldbuilding is rich, the characters unforgettable. From Daeya, the resident troublemaker, to Alar the powerful psionic; Ravlok, the disciplined monk; Orowen, the quiet but capable healer; Magnus, who’s on a warpath after everything he’s been through; and Gregory, the ever-calculating councilor—everyone has their own secrets, agendas, and layers that make this story crackle with tension.
It’s a gripping tale full of action, mystery, and hidden motives. While romance isn’t front and center in this installment, the groundwork is clearly being laid—and I can feel something brewing for book two.
I’m hooked and can’t wait to dive into Embers Rising next.💛
September 2, 2024
Can’t wait for the second book!
August 19, 2024
It's not the usual story I read but I loved it. It's starts with a slow build-up and you get a lot of information throughout the book. I know I already have hate-feelings about certain "Councelors and Mages". And I love Daeya with her rebellious way of life. And now I know DRAGONS are in it.... 😍😍😍
I love it and I can't wait to read more of this!
I love it and I can't wait to read more of this!
August 20, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really enjoyed the world building of Remnants of a Scarlet Flame!
It took me a few chapters to get the characters straighten out, but it’s a me thing and not an issue with the writing.
I enjoyed the development of Deana and appreciated that she’s multidimensional, most secondary characters also had more to them then just being there as background.
Overall I am quite excited for the next book!
I really enjoyed the world building of Remnants of a Scarlet Flame!
It took me a few chapters to get the characters straighten out, but it’s a me thing and not an issue with the writing.
I enjoyed the development of Deana and appreciated that she’s multidimensional, most secondary characters also had more to them then just being there as background.
Overall I am quite excited for the next book!
August 26, 2024
This book! As soon as I got used to all the different povs this story just sucked me in and never let me go. The worldbuilding, the characters, the story, the secrets, THE WORLDBUILDING... It's spectacular!
Everyone has their own agenda and secrets and in this world it makes for an action packed story!
There's very little romance in this book (yet?) but I'm hoping it will show up a little more in book two. Either way, this book was a great surprise and now I'm going to have to pray to the gods that the next one will arrive soon!
Everyone has their own agenda and secrets and in this world it makes for an action packed story!
There's very little romance in this book (yet?) but I'm hoping it will show up a little more in book two. Either way, this book was a great surprise and now I'm going to have to pray to the gods that the next one will arrive soon!
August 11, 2024
Fantasy as a genre is a difficult beast to tame. There are myriad factors that go into the crafting. The worldbuilding, characters, and overall plot should be weaved together in delicate and deliberate ways to create something great.
Cindy L. Sell has done just that with Remnants of a Scarlet Flame, the first novel in a new series that promises to rival the greats.
The world is exceedingly detailed, and with every line, I felt pulled into the magic of it. Pieces of lore are mixed into the prose with a subtlety that makes the world feel alive. The distinct cultures and races are handled with an expert hand, and Sell doesn't fall into the trap of allowing individual characters to be defined by them. The plot moved at a pace that kept me turning the pages but didn't rush ahead.
All of the characters are fleshed out and fully realised with distinct voices that make their point-of-view chapters stand apart from each other. The attention to detail is superb and gives the novel an authenticity that's is almost unmatched.
The story is epic in scale and endlessly compelling. There wasn't a moment where things felt dull or contrived, and I was heavily invested in every one of the characters. I am excited to see where this series goes and eagerly look forward to the next book in The Last Draegion Saga.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Cindy L. Sell has done just that with Remnants of a Scarlet Flame, the first novel in a new series that promises to rival the greats.
The world is exceedingly detailed, and with every line, I felt pulled into the magic of it. Pieces of lore are mixed into the prose with a subtlety that makes the world feel alive. The distinct cultures and races are handled with an expert hand, and Sell doesn't fall into the trap of allowing individual characters to be defined by them. The plot moved at a pace that kept me turning the pages but didn't rush ahead.
All of the characters are fleshed out and fully realised with distinct voices that make their point-of-view chapters stand apart from each other. The attention to detail is superb and gives the novel an authenticity that's is almost unmatched.
The story is epic in scale and endlessly compelling. There wasn't a moment where things felt dull or contrived, and I was heavily invested in every one of the characters. I am excited to see where this series goes and eagerly look forward to the next book in The Last Draegion Saga.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 20, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to 5)
Wow… this was actually a fantastic read! It has been a while since I found a new epic fantasy series to be excited about. I will try my best to sum up my thoughts without giving too much away… Being the first book in the series, ROASF focuses on reluctant heroes, betrayal vs. loyalty, internal conflicts, and of course magic. It was a confusing start for me at first- I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters to better understand the layout and what was going on. I do wish there were a bit more descriptions provided for some of the characters so I could picture them mentally better. The guides in the back of the book were 100% necessary for me to understand the world being built (I like to fully immerse myself and I am a very visual person), so I do hope in future books there are more in-depth explanations of the hierarchy and the different types of beings. But tbh, the book was good enough to make me want to re-read it, so I definitely don’t mind re-reading to get a better understanding. I feel like this is one of those books you can re-read multiple times and find something new each time.
I genuinely love the multi POV’s. All of the characters felt well-developed, but I do feel like some characters lacked descriptions, so I struggled to picture them visually. I would have loved more build-up in the characters' relationships/more about their past and how they got to where they are in the book now (maybe plans for a future novella?). There are some twists and turns that really took me by surprise, as well as some sad parts I wasn’t prepared for. The battle/fight scenes are so good! They are done so well with the bouncing between POVs that it had my heart racing. Though the book itself felt like it moved fast, at the conclusion it is clear there is SO MUCH left to happen and learn. I can’t wait to see where it goes (I already have so many theories starting to form).
All in all- this was a fantastic read, and one I will re-read again and again and likely never get bored of it. I had not personally read the works it was similar to in its description, but as a big fan of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, and Game of Thrones- if you like those books, I think you will definitely like this one!!
I received this book as an ARC, but my review is 100% voluntary.
Wow… this was actually a fantastic read! It has been a while since I found a new epic fantasy series to be excited about. I will try my best to sum up my thoughts without giving too much away… Being the first book in the series, ROASF focuses on reluctant heroes, betrayal vs. loyalty, internal conflicts, and of course magic. It was a confusing start for me at first- I had to go back and re-read the first few chapters to better understand the layout and what was going on. I do wish there were a bit more descriptions provided for some of the characters so I could picture them mentally better. The guides in the back of the book were 100% necessary for me to understand the world being built (I like to fully immerse myself and I am a very visual person), so I do hope in future books there are more in-depth explanations of the hierarchy and the different types of beings. But tbh, the book was good enough to make me want to re-read it, so I definitely don’t mind re-reading to get a better understanding. I feel like this is one of those books you can re-read multiple times and find something new each time.
I genuinely love the multi POV’s. All of the characters felt well-developed, but I do feel like some characters lacked descriptions, so I struggled to picture them visually. I would have loved more build-up in the characters' relationships/more about their past and how they got to where they are in the book now (maybe plans for a future novella?). There are some twists and turns that really took me by surprise, as well as some sad parts I wasn’t prepared for. The battle/fight scenes are so good! They are done so well with the bouncing between POVs that it had my heart racing. Though the book itself felt like it moved fast, at the conclusion it is clear there is SO MUCH left to happen and learn. I can’t wait to see where it goes (I already have so many theories starting to form).
All in all- this was a fantastic read, and one I will re-read again and again and likely never get bored of it. I had not personally read the works it was similar to in its description, but as a big fan of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, and Game of Thrones- if you like those books, I think you will definitely like this one!!
I received this book as an ARC, but my review is 100% voluntary.
August 12, 2024
What an exceptional fantasy read! It is multi POV, and for some books, it can be confusing but not this one. Each character had their own voice and moved the plot forward. Some I instantly fell in love with and others grew on me. This book has all the fantasy elements you could want; epic world building, elves, mages, good vs evil, political plots, well written battle scenes and dynamic characters. It even has a touch of romance, which I am all here for as the tension builds throughout. This book made me laugh, cry, and swoon. And the end! What a cliffhanger and absolutely will be diving into book two when it comes out. This author is on my list of writers to watch!
August 30, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next. The structure and style are very cohesive. There's a perfect balance in the amount of detail given. The story seems very well thought out thus far, and I wasn't left wondering about holes or missing information. I received an advanced copy of the book for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 13, 2024
I'm really bad with names, and at first the multiple POV was hard for me to get into. Once I figured it out though, I was hooked and I am SO GLAD I stuck with it! I honestly loved this book so much and I CANNOT WAIT (AH!!!!!) for the next one!
July 29, 2024
4.5 🌟 And if you consider this book had to battle my reading slump, and the fact that I don't read much epic fantasy... This was no small feat!
What stood out to me was the quality of the writing. I found myself reading slowly, to take all the beautiful imagery in. This book is self published, but if it would have been on a shelf with mainstream fantasy books, I wouldn't have noticed any difference. Congratulations to the writer, it is impressive!
Speaking of mainstream fantasy, the book reminded me of The Lies of Locke Lamora (which I read this year, and loved!), both for the suspenseful story and the impressive world building. I find it special when the author takes the time and care to figure out the tiniest details in their worlds (like different names to the days of the week). And it's all woven seamlessly into the narration, I never got the feeling that it stopped for a "lecture" on the world's history or customs.
Perhaps I would have needed one on the magic system 😅 I can't understand the difference between the types of magic, and who can and cannot wield them. Hopefully it will be clarified in the following books!
The story is compelling and I loved the narration with switching POVs. I never felt I was less interested in one character than the others, I wanted to hear from them all!
The story is still ongoing by the end of the book, though I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger. With a tiny pet peeve of mine in it (spoiler, I won't say what that is) 😅 I am curious to see how it develops in the next books.
Warmly recommended, it's like reading a fantasy classic!!
What stood out to me was the quality of the writing. I found myself reading slowly, to take all the beautiful imagery in. This book is self published, but if it would have been on a shelf with mainstream fantasy books, I wouldn't have noticed any difference. Congratulations to the writer, it is impressive!
Speaking of mainstream fantasy, the book reminded me of The Lies of Locke Lamora (which I read this year, and loved!), both for the suspenseful story and the impressive world building. I find it special when the author takes the time and care to figure out the tiniest details in their worlds (like different names to the days of the week). And it's all woven seamlessly into the narration, I never got the feeling that it stopped for a "lecture" on the world's history or customs.
Perhaps I would have needed one on the magic system 😅 I can't understand the difference between the types of magic, and who can and cannot wield them. Hopefully it will be clarified in the following books!
The story is compelling and I loved the narration with switching POVs. I never felt I was less interested in one character than the others, I wanted to hear from them all!
The story is still ongoing by the end of the book, though I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger. With a tiny pet peeve of mine in it (spoiler, I won't say what that is) 😅 I am curious to see how it develops in the next books.
Warmly recommended, it's like reading a fantasy classic!!
August 10, 2024
I have enjoyed reading this book. Its well written and has just about everything i enjoy reading in books. The book deserves a 5🌟 over all as it's well researched. Lith'ruh caezo is my new catchphrase. When I'm asked what it means, I will sincerely recommend they read your book.
I will say, Daeya is very confusing, I couldn't keep up with her. I can't wait to read the next book.
- Remnants of a Scarlet Flame
I will say, Daeya is very confusing, I couldn't keep up with her. I can't wait to read the next book.
- Remnants of a Scarlet Flame
July 30, 2024
The Last Draegion Saga takes place in the world of Dessos, where dragons are believed extinct, sorcerers rule nations, and gods walk among mortals. Remnants of a Scarlet Flame is epic, unpredictable, and exhilarating with action galore and characters worth rooting for. I enjoyed the five POV’s though it did take me about the first 10-15% to fully understand who was who BUT once I did, there was no putting the book down.
A phenomenally well-written, engrossing high fantasy full of spies, an impressive jail break, magic battle scenes, flawed MCs, elemental magic and a sorcery school. This is a slow series build toward romance and dragons (the hints in book 1 have me yearning for more!). This is everything a first book of a series should be in my opinion! I eagerly await book 2!
My favorite character so far is Daeya! She is the sorcerers' school’s star student, but she has a wild streak (pranking her instructors/causing general mayhem among her peers).
“𝘋𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘢, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥.” 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. “𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵?”
Ravlok and Alar are close seconds. Ravlok is a former thief turned monk. Alar is a spy sent to infiltrate the Sorcerers' school to collect supplies and information.
Rating: 4.75/5
A phenomenally well-written, engrossing high fantasy full of spies, an impressive jail break, magic battle scenes, flawed MCs, elemental magic and a sorcery school. This is a slow series build toward romance and dragons (the hints in book 1 have me yearning for more!). This is everything a first book of a series should be in my opinion! I eagerly await book 2!
My favorite character so far is Daeya! She is the sorcerers' school’s star student, but she has a wild streak (pranking her instructors/causing general mayhem among her peers).
“𝘋𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘢, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥.” 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥. “𝘐𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘪𝘵?”
Ravlok and Alar are close seconds. Ravlok is a former thief turned monk. Alar is a spy sent to infiltrate the Sorcerers' school to collect supplies and information.
Rating: 4.75/5
July 6, 2024
"Remnants of a Scarlet Flame" is the first in series of a high fantasy adventure by Cindy L. Sell, and what a ride it was! Sell's style and world-building has traditional influences and a solid voice, an interesting hard magic system, and a fair amount of intrigue leading into the second book. The latter half has a bit more mystery and foreshadowing than the first half, with a plot direction that surprised me toward the end. It took a little bit for the threads to come together, with many questions hanging toward the beginning not answered until somewhat later.
The book delves intensely into a series of events that cover a relatively short amount of time, making it a somewhat slower-paced story despite the numerous action scenes. This is ultimately a good thing for this story, because you spend more time getting to know the individual characters of a fairly large cast. The viewpoint is omniscient, allowing you to see what's going on across that broad swath of characters, but you also don't get quite as deep into each one's head. The main character, Daeya, is very likeable with a mischievous sense of humor that aligns very well with her lack of full maturity and role as child savant when it comes to magic. Her understanding of the world, of the temple in which she studies, and of their enemies is a great character arc that readers will enjoy. Although her world clearly has dark influences, her naivete and youthful trust hold those influences at bay from entering her heart, even when she is being manipulated. I look forward to Daeya's growth as she reclaims her agency and her future, which is tied to the well-being of others more than she could have ever guessed.
I appreciated the various details of the magic system. Sell has developed numerous limitations to control otherwise extreme power as magic users can dip into the Aether, including a tangible limit on supplies needed, potential for burnout, and a philosophical division amongst different magic users. If you like hard magic, you'll appreciate the work Sell put into this part of her story.
4.5/5 Stars rounded up :)
The book delves intensely into a series of events that cover a relatively short amount of time, making it a somewhat slower-paced story despite the numerous action scenes. This is ultimately a good thing for this story, because you spend more time getting to know the individual characters of a fairly large cast. The viewpoint is omniscient, allowing you to see what's going on across that broad swath of characters, but you also don't get quite as deep into each one's head. The main character, Daeya, is very likeable with a mischievous sense of humor that aligns very well with her lack of full maturity and role as child savant when it comes to magic. Her understanding of the world, of the temple in which she studies, and of their enemies is a great character arc that readers will enjoy. Although her world clearly has dark influences, her naivete and youthful trust hold those influences at bay from entering her heart, even when she is being manipulated. I look forward to Daeya's growth as she reclaims her agency and her future, which is tied to the well-being of others more than she could have ever guessed.
I appreciated the various details of the magic system. Sell has developed numerous limitations to control otherwise extreme power as magic users can dip into the Aether, including a tangible limit on supplies needed, potential for burnout, and a philosophical division amongst different magic users. If you like hard magic, you'll appreciate the work Sell put into this part of her story.
4.5/5 Stars rounded up :)
August 21, 2024
Superb book! I can't wait for the second one already!
July 31, 2024
ARC read action from the beginning I loved this book
July 17, 2024
POV: multiple people, check the chapter header
Story: 5/5
Characters: 9/5
Spice: 🌶️/5 (The spice is very low and it’s such a beautiful moment)
*Extra Thoughts*
First and foremost, thank you so much to Cindy for giving me an ARC! I am SO honored!
Make sure you read the pronunciations and translations before starting the book. It will be a lot easier for you in the long run!
This is the first book in a series that I can not wait to read more of. It’s definitely a “learn the world and characters” story. I was a bit confused in the beginning but I promise, you will get answers!
I’m obsessed with Alar. Daeya is such a badass and Ravlok?! I LOVED HIS CHARACTER EVOLUTION! Orowen and Kendi?! Cannot handle the beauty of that.
The characters are written SO well, I was absolutely immersed in this story. I felt so deeply when something bad happened and actually cheered out loud (I got a few stares) when something good happened. If you like fantasy, grab this book!
Story: 5/5
Characters: 9/5
Spice: 🌶️/5 (The spice is very low and it’s such a beautiful moment)
*Extra Thoughts*
First and foremost, thank you so much to Cindy for giving me an ARC! I am SO honored!
Make sure you read the pronunciations and translations before starting the book. It will be a lot easier for you in the long run!
This is the first book in a series that I can not wait to read more of. It’s definitely a “learn the world and characters” story. I was a bit confused in the beginning but I promise, you will get answers!
I’m obsessed with Alar. Daeya is such a badass and Ravlok?! I LOVED HIS CHARACTER EVOLUTION! Orowen and Kendi?! Cannot handle the beauty of that.
The characters are written SO well, I was absolutely immersed in this story. I felt so deeply when something bad happened and actually cheered out loud (I got a few stares) when something good happened. If you like fantasy, grab this book!
July 15, 2024
Captivating.
Sell takes you on a journey with a young mage who must determine who trust in this fast paced adventure. What can a monk, a psionic, a mage, a spy, a healer, and an even a…dragon, do to save the Syljian’s? Each character is woven with expertise. The worlds are fabricated to make you feel like you are really there. Each chapter reading from different vantage points to the point that you forget you’re even reading. I absolutely fell in love with Sell’s story-telling after only the preface. To sum it up simply, this epic fantasy put was unputdownable, filled with magic, battles, a little bit of a love story, hidden identity. You’ll have to read it to understand - thank me after.
Sell takes you on a journey with a young mage who must determine who trust in this fast paced adventure. What can a monk, a psionic, a mage, a spy, a healer, and an even a…dragon, do to save the Syljian’s? Each character is woven with expertise. The worlds are fabricated to make you feel like you are really there. Each chapter reading from different vantage points to the point that you forget you’re even reading. I absolutely fell in love with Sell’s story-telling after only the preface. To sum it up simply, this epic fantasy put was unputdownable, filled with magic, battles, a little bit of a love story, hidden identity. You’ll have to read it to understand - thank me after.
June 24, 2024
This book starts with action on page one and does not let up until the cliff hanger on the last page!
I absolutely can't wait until the next in this series! The characters are fun and likeable, the magic system is unique. The main FMC is strong and weak at the same time. She's suffered under years of abuse and manipulation of the head mage and while she detests him she feels like she needs his affirmation. The support characters are amazing - I already have my favourites and notes on how I hope things turn out.
I was excited to get this ARC and loved every bit of it. Had I not had six sick kids (one right after the other) I'd have finished this is a day - it is a binge worthy book!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely can't wait until the next in this series! The characters are fun and likeable, the magic system is unique. The main FMC is strong and weak at the same time. She's suffered under years of abuse and manipulation of the head mage and while she detests him she feels like she needs his affirmation. The support characters are amazing - I already have my favourites and notes on how I hope things turn out.
I was excited to get this ARC and loved every bit of it. Had I not had six sick kids (one right after the other) I'd have finished this is a day - it is a binge worthy book!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 30, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I struggled a bit in the first quarter of the book, I felt just as lost as some of the main characters (it might just be a me problem)! But later in the book, things are explained more, and you are able to start putting things together. Once I got over the initial hurdle and really into the book, I couldn't put in down! I am invested in Daeya, Orowen, and the others' journey, especially after the epilogue! Daeya, Ravlok, and Orowen have some great character development throughout the book. Definitely recommend picking this book up enough!
July 6, 2024
An absolutely fantastic and emotionally satisfying story. I couldn’t put it down and can’t wait to see what happens next.
The characters were all well-developed and believable and one of them is one of my new all-time favorite characters (although I have to admit, it took me a bit to decide between Ravlok and Magnus).
The world-building is superb and I felt transported into the story.
I can’t wait for the next book!
The characters were all well-developed and believable and one of them is one of my new all-time favorite characters (although I have to admit, it took me a bit to decide between Ravlok and Magnus).
The world-building is superb and I felt transported into the story.
I can’t wait for the next book!
September 3, 2024
Incredible classic style fantasy
Fantasy at its best. The world and characters of Remnants of a Scarlet Flame are captivating and complex. This is a binge worthy read that will take your imagination on an incredible ride.
Fantasy at its best. The world and characters of Remnants of a Scarlet Flame are captivating and complex. This is a binge worthy read that will take your imagination on an incredible ride.
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