Estrel

by Keri A. Kitson, Junya Craigwell (Illustrator)

"I need to find out if I'm as good as Mother believed I could be."Talia Ramona Jeremieu de Shulto of the Merari dome did not believe that her destiny was to sell trinkets for the rest of her life. As a daughter of a well-known merchant mage in the country province of Siente, her future was secure even if a bit dull. Yet, a quirk of fate steps in on her twenty-first birthday which affords her an opportunity to compete against the best mages of her generation in a grueling competition where talent, skill and pure nerve will help her survive. As the dust settles, Talia is shocked as she emerges as the clear winner of the tournament. The future as she knows it has irrevocably changed. Yet more surprises await her, as her mother's secret past is revealed. Talia's journey ultimately leads her into an unknown future where the Demigods of old must be reawakened in order to save her world.

522 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2012

Reviews

[Gabrielle Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Estrel” is a wonderful display of Kitson’s potential as a writer. The opening book of the series introduces readers to the stories of twin sisters Delia and Talia, and their respective journeys through life in the magical world of Estrel. As one reads, it is easy to become emotionally attached to Delia, Talia and others as they navigate instability, hardship, and times of happiness.
Although the first few chapters of the book progress slowly, it becomes action packed as characters begin to struggle with various forces of evil, and family trials of both the past and present. Kitson does an excellent job of bringing the world of Estrel to life with her descriptions; and the book’s clever storytelling did well to leave me at the edge of my seat or feeling the pain that various characters were likely to have experienced. Despite a few shortcomings, the book’s impressive creativity makes it a worthwhile read.