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Daughters of Fire & Sea #1
Daughters of Fire and Sea
The first in a new fantasy series, Daughters of Fire & Sea is a story of sisters, magical adventure, betrayal, war, and dragons…
Abandoned by their mother, Elaina, at fifteen, twin sisters Lyric and Runa Graymorn are accustomed to living on their own. They’d always known there were secrets in their past, but when Elaina’s unexpected return threatens their lives, the sisters must flee from the only home they’ve ever known.
Embarking on an incredible journey deep into the Veil of the Underworld and out along the Tainted Shore, Lyric and Runa are shocked to learn myths are more real than they imagined and there is magic in their blood; magic they can use.
How will they respond to their new role as pawns at the heart of an age-old war? Will their bond survive their dangerous journey?
The survival of their entire world rests on their actions. *THE FIRST BOOK IN THE DAUGHTERS OF FIRE & SEA TRILOGY*
Abandoned by their mother, Elaina, at fifteen, twin sisters Lyric and Runa Graymorn are accustomed to living on their own. They’d always known there were secrets in their past, but when Elaina’s unexpected return threatens their lives, the sisters must flee from the only home they’ve ever known.
Embarking on an incredible journey deep into the Veil of the Underworld and out along the Tainted Shore, Lyric and Runa are shocked to learn myths are more real than they imagined and there is magic in their blood; magic they can use.
How will they respond to their new role as pawns at the heart of an age-old war? Will their bond survive their dangerous journey?
The survival of their entire world rests on their actions. *THE FIRST BOOK IN THE DAUGHTERS OF FIRE & SEA TRILOGY*
Paperback
First published September 27, 2019
About the author
Holly Karlsson
13 books366 followersHolly Karlsson writes fantasy adventures that blend the lush description of a sprawling epic with high-stakes adventure. You’ll find strong friendships (she loves the sunshine/grumpy dynamic), diverse worlds, magical creatures, fascinating magic, and a healthy splash of danger. Holly is the author of the Daughters of Fire & Sea epic trilogy, and Kingdom of Essence.
She enjoys connecting to her readers and regularly releases flash fiction stories on her website www.byhollykarlsson.com. Other places to follow her are Instagram, Facebook, and Bookbub.
She enjoys connecting to her readers and regularly releases flash fiction stories on her website www.byhollykarlsson.com. Other places to follow her are Instagram, Facebook, and Bookbub.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
July 17, 2020
I don't remember quite what I expected when I picked this up, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what I got - which isn't a bad thing.
This isn't just a story about two sisters going on an adventure. Rather, it's about the relationship between the two sisters, and the strains that being thrown into an adventure puts on it, and I really enjoyed that. Obviously, the adventure is there too - and everything else that comes along with it - and it's not to be forgotten, but it's the sisters that matter.
What didn't work for me?
After the first chapter, it took a while for the story to get going.
There were a few times, in situations that felt really tense and exciting, where the characters spent way too much time talking about what they were going to do instead of getting on with it. It's in the nature of the charaters, but it stressed me out because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
What worked for me?
The sisters and their relation to each other. They're twins, but they're still very different personalities. At the same time, they're both struggling with the same set of problems, with and without the knowledge of the other. It fascinating.
The world. This feels like a world steeped in magic and wonder, even if not all of it is visible all of the time. The parts we're shown through a lot of the story may be bleak and imposing, but the feel of the setting as a whole is very colorful.
Naming a character Lyric has to be some kind of stroke of genius. It makes me happy just to read her name. :)
The first chapter. This hooked me hard. Two sisters living alone in a cabin, except one of them happens to be dead, which is really annoying, because it means all the villagers are afraid of both of them (okay, that's overly simplified, but it was enough of a setup to pull me so deep into the story that the only way out was through).
Did I enjoy it?
Yes, yes I did. This is well worth checking out. :)
This isn't just a story about two sisters going on an adventure. Rather, it's about the relationship between the two sisters, and the strains that being thrown into an adventure puts on it, and I really enjoyed that. Obviously, the adventure is there too - and everything else that comes along with it - and it's not to be forgotten, but it's the sisters that matter.
What didn't work for me?
After the first chapter, it took a while for the story to get going.
There were a few times, in situations that felt really tense and exciting, where the characters spent way too much time talking about what they were going to do instead of getting on with it. It's in the nature of the charaters, but it stressed me out because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
What worked for me?
The sisters and their relation to each other. They're twins, but they're still very different personalities. At the same time, they're both struggling with the same set of problems, with and without the knowledge of the other. It fascinating.
The world. This feels like a world steeped in magic and wonder, even if not all of it is visible all of the time. The parts we're shown through a lot of the story may be bleak and imposing, but the feel of the setting as a whole is very colorful.
Naming a character Lyric has to be some kind of stroke of genius. It makes me happy just to read her name. :)
The first chapter. This hooked me hard. Two sisters living alone in a cabin, except one of them happens to be dead, which is really annoying, because it means all the villagers are afraid of both of them (okay, that's overly simplified, but it was enough of a setup to pull me so deep into the story that the only way out was through).
Did I enjoy it?
Yes, yes I did. This is well worth checking out. :)
August 31, 2019
I was able to read an advanced copy of this book. It was a great fantasy read and kept me engaged through the whole thing. The characters were relatable and you felt connected to their quests. Give this book a try, you won't be disappointed!
June 27, 2020
Solid story, awesome characters, badass sisterhood, amazing magic, and great world building!
January 30, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, you won’t find a single page dull. The writing is addictive and makes you want to read it all as fast as possible.
I’m a sucker for books about sisters and here we have twins who are opposites, as it says in the title, sea and fire.
This book has mysteries, quests, dragons, magic, family..all the ingredients that create an exciting read.
There is insta love which I was worried about but it in this case it suits the story under the circumstances, and I loved both characters so that was a bonus!
The characters develop as you read on and so many exciting events happen throughout the story to keep you hooked, I can’t wait to read the second book!
A huge thank you to the author for being so generous in gifting this to me.
I’m a sucker for books about sisters and here we have twins who are opposites, as it says in the title, sea and fire.
This book has mysteries, quests, dragons, magic, family..all the ingredients that create an exciting read.
There is insta love which I was worried about but it in this case it suits the story under the circumstances, and I loved both characters so that was a bonus!
The characters develop as you read on and so many exciting events happen throughout the story to keep you hooked, I can’t wait to read the second book!
A huge thank you to the author for being so generous in gifting this to me.
September 28, 2020
My synopsis: 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒚𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓’𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄, 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆, 𝑹𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒚𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝒍𝒅 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅.
MY RATING: 3.5/5 ⭐️
This is a creative story is full of magic and adventure. I enjoyed Holly’s writing style and vivid prose, allowing me to picture each scene clearly as if I was there. Daughters of Fire and Sea presents a unique magic system that left me intrigued. The world building was also impressive; it was incredibly deep. There were some other fun ideas that resonated with me, like the sister bond, the ancestors appearing to help them through their magic, and the war taking place in the background. That being said, the plot felt a bit rocky. The goal for the characters changed, without an overarching goal from the outset. This left me confused as to what the final purpose would be. But once that became obvious, the story ran more smoothly.
Runa and Lyric have a great dynamic. I loved that as sisters, they were both very different characters. They both had obvious character flaws. Runa tends to be more cynical, whereas Lyric wants to help everyone. There even comes a point where their sister bond is heavily tested. This creates a level of tension that helped the book feel realistic.
The girls both possess unique magic. The appearance of their ancestors was very creative. I’ve seen a lot of different was to learn magic, but having your ancestor appear to communicate and teach through a mental bond was something I haven’t seen before. It was really cool! Though, I would have appreciated a little more struggling to master their abilities, because they seemed to catch on pretty quickly. But overall, the execution of how they tapped into their powers made sense. I also like that their powers are different from one another, and complement each other.
There’s a sweet relationship between Lyric and Kell. I liked the two of them together. Kell became an excellent anchor for Lyric. It also felt realistic that Runa suffered from a little jealousy towards them. However, I did feel that their relationship escalated a little too fast. Kell could have shown up a few days earlier to get to know Lyric better, so that their mother’s sudden appearance wouldn’t have been so coincidental. And that would have also allowed some deeper development between the two of them. They started holding hands a day or two after meeting and that just didn’t feel realistic to me for a girl who has lived a sheltered life away from boys.
Finally, as mentioned above, the only thing that took away from the story (for me) was the plot. This was ultimately what dictated my star rating. It felt slow in some areas and rushed in other areas that could hav been slowed down. There were a few events that happened that didn’t really seem necessary for the overall purpose. For example, the first goal of the story was to reunite Runa with her body. This first adventure sets the plot in motion but didn’t feel necessary to the final goal. IMO, it could have been cut out. I understand that it was a way to explain the veil, a really cool land “in between”, but it just didn’t feel necessary for the “final stand” of the plot. Or maybe I missed its need. Hard to say. All I know is it really threw me off, because I thought this was the goal of the story, that I would be reading about an ongoing struggle, and at the end, the girls would succeed in finding Runa’s body and everyone would live happily ever after. Buuuuuut they found Runa’s body at the 20% mark, so I was left scratching my head, wondering what the NEW goal of the story was after that. I didn’t discover the overall purpose of the story—saving the world from the Tainted Shore—until after the 50% mark. This made it harder to anchor myself in the story.
Overall, this was a really cute read. I consider it a “comfort” read vs a “high-stakes” read. It’s the kind of book you can curl up with after a stressful day to simply relax and decompress. If you like high-fantasy, deep world building, intriguing magic, family bonds, and dragons, you’ll like this one. I will be picking up the second book soon.
MY RATING: 3.5/5 ⭐️
This is a creative story is full of magic and adventure. I enjoyed Holly’s writing style and vivid prose, allowing me to picture each scene clearly as if I was there. Daughters of Fire and Sea presents a unique magic system that left me intrigued. The world building was also impressive; it was incredibly deep. There were some other fun ideas that resonated with me, like the sister bond, the ancestors appearing to help them through their magic, and the war taking place in the background. That being said, the plot felt a bit rocky. The goal for the characters changed, without an overarching goal from the outset. This left me confused as to what the final purpose would be. But once that became obvious, the story ran more smoothly.
Runa and Lyric have a great dynamic. I loved that as sisters, they were both very different characters. They both had obvious character flaws. Runa tends to be more cynical, whereas Lyric wants to help everyone. There even comes a point where their sister bond is heavily tested. This creates a level of tension that helped the book feel realistic.
The girls both possess unique magic. The appearance of their ancestors was very creative. I’ve seen a lot of different was to learn magic, but having your ancestor appear to communicate and teach through a mental bond was something I haven’t seen before. It was really cool! Though, I would have appreciated a little more struggling to master their abilities, because they seemed to catch on pretty quickly. But overall, the execution of how they tapped into their powers made sense. I also like that their powers are different from one another, and complement each other.
There’s a sweet relationship between Lyric and Kell. I liked the two of them together. Kell became an excellent anchor for Lyric. It also felt realistic that Runa suffered from a little jealousy towards them. However, I did feel that their relationship escalated a little too fast. Kell could have shown up a few days earlier to get to know Lyric better, so that their mother’s sudden appearance wouldn’t have been so coincidental. And that would have also allowed some deeper development between the two of them. They started holding hands a day or two after meeting and that just didn’t feel realistic to me for a girl who has lived a sheltered life away from boys.
Finally, as mentioned above, the only thing that took away from the story (for me) was the plot. This was ultimately what dictated my star rating. It felt slow in some areas and rushed in other areas that could hav been slowed down. There were a few events that happened that didn’t really seem necessary for the overall purpose. For example, the first goal of the story was to reunite Runa with her body. This first adventure sets the plot in motion but didn’t feel necessary to the final goal. IMO, it could have been cut out. I understand that it was a way to explain the veil, a really cool land “in between”, but it just didn’t feel necessary for the “final stand” of the plot. Or maybe I missed its need. Hard to say. All I know is it really threw me off, because I thought this was the goal of the story, that I would be reading about an ongoing struggle, and at the end, the girls would succeed in finding Runa’s body and everyone would live happily ever after. Buuuuuut they found Runa’s body at the 20% mark, so I was left scratching my head, wondering what the NEW goal of the story was after that. I didn’t discover the overall purpose of the story—saving the world from the Tainted Shore—until after the 50% mark. This made it harder to anchor myself in the story.
Overall, this was a really cute read. I consider it a “comfort” read vs a “high-stakes” read. It’s the kind of book you can curl up with after a stressful day to simply relax and decompress. If you like high-fantasy, deep world building, intriguing magic, family bonds, and dragons, you’ll like this one. I will be picking up the second book soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2020
It took me long enough to finish this book but I loved it so much.
When I finished the book I was initially going to give it 4 stars, but then I thought back on it and I realized that I have no negative comments to give it. I simply liked the book from beginning to end.
The story was enjoyable, the character development was amazingly done, the writing was immaculate, the characters were very much different from each other yet fit with each other very well, especially the sisters. I did feel like they needed a bit more communication with each other throughout the book, but that was probably prevented because of their differences.
The world building was very interesting, and I could perfectly visualize some of the places.
The backstory to every character in the book was mysterious and I just wanted to know more about them all- especially Kell.
Magic, that has consequences- now that was an interesting start. Especially if they involve runes (I did picture them as whorls of ink that reminded me a lot of Feyre’s tattoos from ACOTAR)
The chemistry between Kell and Lyric was so cute, and of course Runa’s and Elaina’s protectiveness of her was even better because it shows that they care.
My favorite moment out of all the book’ happenings were definitely the unleashing of dragons. I was deeply immersed on that part that I could picture the situation from start to finish and still want more.
What I am going to say to finish this review is- If I didn’t already own the second book, I would cry. Hopefully the second book doesn’t finish of on a cliffhanger.
When I finished the book I was initially going to give it 4 stars, but then I thought back on it and I realized that I have no negative comments to give it. I simply liked the book from beginning to end.
The story was enjoyable, the character development was amazingly done, the writing was immaculate, the characters were very much different from each other yet fit with each other very well, especially the sisters. I did feel like they needed a bit more communication with each other throughout the book, but that was probably prevented because of their differences.
The world building was very interesting, and I could perfectly visualize some of the places.
The backstory to every character in the book was mysterious and I just wanted to know more about them all- especially Kell.
Magic, that has consequences- now that was an interesting start. Especially if they involve runes (I did picture them as whorls of ink that reminded me a lot of Feyre’s tattoos from ACOTAR)
The chemistry between Kell and Lyric was so cute, and of course Runa’s and Elaina’s protectiveness of her was even better because it shows that they care.
My favorite moment out of all the book’ happenings were definitely the unleashing of dragons. I was deeply immersed on that part that I could picture the situation from start to finish and still want more.
What I am going to say to finish this review is- If I didn’t already own the second book, I would cry. Hopefully the second book doesn’t finish of on a cliffhanger.
August 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this one. First, it's about sisters, which I am a total sucker for. Their relationship is complicated, especially as events unfold in the book, but really fun to read. I think the standout for me here was definitely the world building. I loved seeing all the different places and people and customs. It felt very immersive. The magic was interesting, the landscape and environments were super cool. Lots of little mysteries that draw you in. Highly recommend this one!
January 16, 2021
Runa & Lyric are twins. Abandoned by their mother, they reside in a fairly clandestine town where everyone fears them since they believe them to be witches. It doesn't help that Runa has lost her body. Out of the blue, their mother turns up & off they go on a mighty adventure, on a mission to find Runa's body & stop the war which has been stretching on for generations.
Daughters of Fire & Sea is an engaging Fantasy read with exceptionally intriguing world building. The author has packed up a very poignant and captivating tale. The cover of the book is gorgeous & justifies the theme of the book down to the T.
The story is cleverly paced & intricately woven. The author has created an alternate world full of mages, magic, healers & Dragons. Whilst reading the book, it was as if I was trasfered to the world of Runa & Lyric. The writing style of the author is highly engaging. Despite the fact that the book takes a little time to build, it never loses its thrill.
The plot is unique and had me engrossed and invested within a couple of chapters. I particularly loved the switch in POVs after every chapter. It allowed me to obtain a better insight into the minds of ALL the characters rather than just the protagonists.
The characters were flawlessly penned & they seemed real. The fact that they developed throughout the course of the novel, was the frosting on the cake for me.
I would hands down recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good Fantasy read & something akin to The Shannara Chronicles.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘."
Daughters of Fire & Sea is an engaging Fantasy read with exceptionally intriguing world building. The author has packed up a very poignant and captivating tale. The cover of the book is gorgeous & justifies the theme of the book down to the T.
The story is cleverly paced & intricately woven. The author has created an alternate world full of mages, magic, healers & Dragons. Whilst reading the book, it was as if I was trasfered to the world of Runa & Lyric. The writing style of the author is highly engaging. Despite the fact that the book takes a little time to build, it never loses its thrill.
The plot is unique and had me engrossed and invested within a couple of chapters. I particularly loved the switch in POVs after every chapter. It allowed me to obtain a better insight into the minds of ALL the characters rather than just the protagonists.
The characters were flawlessly penned & they seemed real. The fact that they developed throughout the course of the novel, was the frosting on the cake for me.
I would hands down recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good Fantasy read & something akin to The Shannara Chronicles.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘."
May 12, 2021
The book is filled with magic, quests, dragons, mysteries, adventures and all these make an amazing story. The world building is wonderful. I found myself in this book, flying over "The World of Erith" and forgot to come back. During my read I fell in love with all the characters and their names. Lyric and Runa, even though they were twins, they had very different personalities and of course different magic powers that fulfilled each other. I got more attached by Runa's character. I love this book and can’t wait to read the second book in the trilogy "The Dragon Flute". Thanks to the author for providing me a copy of this wonderful book in exchange for a honest review. This trilogy should definitely be turned into a series and no one can bring it better than Netflix 😄.
July 9, 2022
You are quickly pulled into this world with the twin sisters and a mystery. Slowly we learn more about the world and the girls are dragged into an adventure when someone they didn’t expect comes for them. There is magic, danger, intrigue and ancient myths that include missing gods and dragons. The sisters are quickly embroiled in the conspiracies and enmity surrounding a decades old war. The twin sisters are brilliant characters and very different which leads to some sibling rivalries! There is a bit of romance which seemed to happen rather fast but isn’t too unbelievable, though occasionally it felt a bit in your face. Although we learn a lot in this book, there are still many unanswered questions, some of which will be answered in book 2 I’m sure. Thoroughly enjoyable read.
January 14, 2021
A fantastic opening to this series! I absolutely love Lyric, she’s so inquisitive and good natured. Runa is all fire and quick temper but they bounce off each other well.
The secondary characters are likeable, especially Kell who I really feel for at times.
The story is told from 4 POV. It’s easy to follow and each character has their stamp firmly printed on their individual chapters.
It’s dark and full of mystery. I love the detail of the landscapes and cultures. Really looking forward to seeing how it all progresses in book 2!
The secondary characters are likeable, especially Kell who I really feel for at times.
The story is told from 4 POV. It’s easy to follow and each character has their stamp firmly printed on their individual chapters.
It’s dark and full of mystery. I love the detail of the landscapes and cultures. Really looking forward to seeing how it all progresses in book 2!
Want to Read
January 26, 2021The kindles for this series are on Amazon 0,00 now. If you want to get them.
March 13, 2021
I enjoyed this book. Good characters, great world building. It definitely does leave you hanging at the end. Probably will go on to read the second book.
June 23, 2020
Kindle Unlimited brought me this read and for the last three days, I've been caught up in Rune and Lyric's world. My first book by Holly Karlsson and I do think I'll be picking up the next one. This book had a great many things going for it. Dragons, well-thought out world and an interesting villain, My favorite part though, was the writing itself. Holly has a deft, distinctive style that made things stick out and be vivid-such as describing fear as a "spider" which did in fact make me shiver and not just because I hate spiders. Karlsson had numerous moments like that where details that I might have forgotten stood out because she described them in a way that made them stick out in the best way.
I also enjoyed two of the narrators, Lyric and Runa. Though they were twins, they did in fact feel like different people and had their own way of looking at the world. Same with their mother (who also narrated) and Kell (the love interest). i admit I could taken or left the last two but they didn't detract from the story either and at times, I did truly enjoy their chapters. I just didn't get that feeling as often as I did regarding the Twins.
However, I will say her plotting needs work. She used too many coincidences within the story such as:
-Random stranger shows up who has knowledge of their mother; three pages later, the long-lost mom shows up too.
-Mom just happens to know how to find Runa's lost body; they don't spend any time searching for a way to do it.
-Lyric and Runa both do well at magic within their first try or not long after.
-They just happened to find someone to take them in on the Tainted Shore and get needed food and supplies.
-The twins just happened to be saved by their long-lost uncle after being captured by enemies.
-They are brought to a new location and find the long-lost father.
The story would've had far better stakes if they'd actually had to spend time searching for these significant people, skills or items rather than having it just fall into their laps. This made for dull reading at times because it all just came together far too easily.
I'll be looking out for the next book!
I also enjoyed two of the narrators, Lyric and Runa. Though they were twins, they did in fact feel like different people and had their own way of looking at the world. Same with their mother (who also narrated) and Kell (the love interest). i admit I could taken or left the last two but they didn't detract from the story either and at times, I did truly enjoy their chapters. I just didn't get that feeling as often as I did regarding the Twins.
However, I will say her plotting needs work. She used too many coincidences within the story such as:
-Random stranger shows up who has knowledge of their mother; three pages later, the long-lost mom shows up too.
-Mom just happens to know how to find Runa's lost body; they don't spend any time searching for a way to do it.
-Lyric and Runa both do well at magic within their first try or not long after.
-They just happened to find someone to take them in on the Tainted Shore and get needed food and supplies.
-The twins just happened to be saved by their long-lost uncle after being captured by enemies.
-They are brought to a new location and find the long-lost father.
The story would've had far better stakes if they'd actually had to spend time searching for these significant people, skills or items rather than having it just fall into their laps. This made for dull reading at times because it all just came together far too easily.
I'll be looking out for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2020
Actual Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Twin sisters Lyric and Runa are living on their own after their mother abandoned them years ago. Isolated, their village believes them to be witches, and are scared. To make matters even worse, Runa's body is missing. But, at just the right moment, their mother returns and they embark on a journey to find Runa's body and learn about their family's secrets. Including the magic they wield. And a war that they happen to be thrown into. Will they be able to survive, or will their family break apart under the strain?
The worldbuilding of this novel is amazing. There is magic, dragons, and Karlsson interweaves it all with a beautiful writing style, full of vivid descriptions and accurate metaphors. I read this 416 page book in about 3 days because I was so entranced by the world. I wanted to know more! It starts off relatively slow, keeping us readers needing to continue to the next page, and the next, and the next, to find the answers we so desperately need.
I also enjoyed the relationship between the twins. Their POV chapters were always the most engaging and I enjoyed getting to know them better. The other characters and their relationships and POV chapters were not quite up to par with Lyric and Runa, but I still liked them as well. There were always conflicts occurring, and each character reacted differently, with thoughts and emotions specific to them.
The biggest issue that I have with this novel was that things just seemed to happen to the twins. Everything seemed to be coincidence, with none of the characters truly in control. It made the story a bit too easy and unrealistic for me to truly suspend my disbelief.
However, the world and characters more than make up for the somewhat awkward plot. The book ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving me despairing for the next book in the series! I have soooo many questions that I need answered, and I'm hoping the next book will be able to satiate me!
See this and other reviews at https://thebookdragondotblog.wordpres...
Twin sisters Lyric and Runa are living on their own after their mother abandoned them years ago. Isolated, their village believes them to be witches, and are scared. To make matters even worse, Runa's body is missing. But, at just the right moment, their mother returns and they embark on a journey to find Runa's body and learn about their family's secrets. Including the magic they wield. And a war that they happen to be thrown into. Will they be able to survive, or will their family break apart under the strain?
The worldbuilding of this novel is amazing. There is magic, dragons, and Karlsson interweaves it all with a beautiful writing style, full of vivid descriptions and accurate metaphors. I read this 416 page book in about 3 days because I was so entranced by the world. I wanted to know more! It starts off relatively slow, keeping us readers needing to continue to the next page, and the next, and the next, to find the answers we so desperately need.
I also enjoyed the relationship between the twins. Their POV chapters were always the most engaging and I enjoyed getting to know them better. The other characters and their relationships and POV chapters were not quite up to par with Lyric and Runa, but I still liked them as well. There were always conflicts occurring, and each character reacted differently, with thoughts and emotions specific to them.
The biggest issue that I have with this novel was that things just seemed to happen to the twins. Everything seemed to be coincidence, with none of the characters truly in control. It made the story a bit too easy and unrealistic for me to truly suspend my disbelief.
However, the world and characters more than make up for the somewhat awkward plot. The book ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving me despairing for the next book in the series! I have soooo many questions that I need answered, and I'm hoping the next book will be able to satiate me!
See this and other reviews at https://thebookdragondotblog.wordpres...
June 26, 2020
Lovely family-centric fantasy with a strong fairy tale vibe.
I enjoyed Holly’s story of familial bonds in the face of adversity. The stars of the tale, sisters Runa and Lyric clicked with me, and each had a strong, distinct voice. I found the writing style pleasing and accessible.
After being abandoned by their mother four years earlier at 15, the sister’s story begins with the worries they face. Runa is missing her body, and their community fears them as witches. But those concerns are quickly overshadowed by the return of their mother, Elaina.
The sisters then embark on a journey that reveals their family’s secrets and their magical nature. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, let’s say it involves water, fire, and dragons.
While overall, I dug the story, I found it hard to connect with Elaina. Maybe because I immediately judged her for abandoning her kids. Near the end of the book, she succeeded in tugging on my heartstrings, but I didn’t enjoy her chapters as much as the girls’.
The world-building struck me as imaginative and well thought out—the Trinity, the sacred tree, the magic-enhanced messenger birds—I loved it all...but the magic system and dragons really shined.
The end of Daughters of Fire and Sea sets up the sequel well, leaving me satisfied with book 1 while leaving enough unmitigated tension to keep me interested in book 2.
Good read.
I enjoyed Holly’s story of familial bonds in the face of adversity. The stars of the tale, sisters Runa and Lyric clicked with me, and each had a strong, distinct voice. I found the writing style pleasing and accessible.
After being abandoned by their mother four years earlier at 15, the sister’s story begins with the worries they face. Runa is missing her body, and their community fears them as witches. But those concerns are quickly overshadowed by the return of their mother, Elaina.
The sisters then embark on a journey that reveals their family’s secrets and their magical nature. For the sake of avoiding spoilers, let’s say it involves water, fire, and dragons.
While overall, I dug the story, I found it hard to connect with Elaina. Maybe because I immediately judged her for abandoning her kids. Near the end of the book, she succeeded in tugging on my heartstrings, but I didn’t enjoy her chapters as much as the girls’.
The world-building struck me as imaginative and well thought out—the Trinity, the sacred tree, the magic-enhanced messenger birds—I loved it all...but the magic system and dragons really shined.
The end of Daughters of Fire and Sea sets up the sequel well, leaving me satisfied with book 1 while leaving enough unmitigated tension to keep me interested in book 2.
Good read.
July 23, 2021
Elaina was tough, unpretentious, brave and she always knew what she was doing. She was not like any other princess waiting for her prince charming. When that day she saw the daughter of Valen with her father along with her son, she was stunned beyond measures. Because they cannot have a son, Elaina has read it in books. Yet everything was in front of her.
Why Daughter of Valen was in their palace?
Why she was leaving her son there?
What's her deal with her father?
🦋Lyric and Runa were nearly convinced that their mother is dead. Elaina left them when they were 15. It's been 4 years and no word from her. They both don't know about the disastrous past of their mother.
What truth she is hiding?
When she will return?
Who is their father?
🦋I loved this book from beginning to climax. It was such a long read but worthy.
The author has written characters with so much life that I could feel them and their emotions while reading. Romance between Kell and Lyric is touchy and desirable.
🦋Runa and Lyric's relation was just like mine with my sister. They were totally unlike each other yet they always bonded. I like Runa more as she was more like me, she couldn't believe anyone easily.
🦋It was fascinating, heart throbbing, riveting , addictive story along with it's a mysterious world, dragon ruins, magical spells and powers, mystic creatures....Like everything was super cool.
🦋If you are into fantasy genre you must not let go of this book and I am dying to read it's second part 😭😍
Why Daughter of Valen was in their palace?
Why she was leaving her son there?
What's her deal with her father?
🦋Lyric and Runa were nearly convinced that their mother is dead. Elaina left them when they were 15. It's been 4 years and no word from her. They both don't know about the disastrous past of their mother.
What truth she is hiding?
When she will return?
Who is their father?
🦋I loved this book from beginning to climax. It was such a long read but worthy.
The author has written characters with so much life that I could feel them and their emotions while reading. Romance between Kell and Lyric is touchy and desirable.
🦋Runa and Lyric's relation was just like mine with my sister. They were totally unlike each other yet they always bonded. I like Runa more as she was more like me, she couldn't believe anyone easily.
🦋It was fascinating, heart throbbing, riveting , addictive story along with it's a mysterious world, dragon ruins, magical spells and powers, mystic creatures....Like everything was super cool.
🦋If you are into fantasy genre you must not let go of this book and I am dying to read it's second part 😭😍
July 11, 2021
𝘙𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 ~ 5 🌟
I am a sucker for fantasy books because they never disappoint me. The moment I picked this book and saw the mesmerizing cover, I knew I was a goner.
Unique character with high fantasy ☑️
Action + adventure + Romance ☑️
Dragons and magic ☑️
Deep world building ☑️
Captivating story that kept me engaged till the end. There was lot of travelling in the book. World building was mind blowing. Both the sisters, Lyric and Runa, had beautiful bond even though they're complete opposite of eachother. One is softie while other is touch-me-and-I-will-kill-you type. If you've siblings then you can easily relate to Runa's jealousy when Kell came into the picture. He swept Lyric off her feet in one look.
However, I did find myself wanting to read more about Lyric and Kell's relationship. So I am hoping to get my hands on second book in the trilogy and get lost in world of Erith and #keric (sounds cute, right? no? I like it, so I will keep it *hair flip*)
I am a sucker for fantasy books because they never disappoint me. The moment I picked this book and saw the mesmerizing cover, I knew I was a goner.
Unique character with high fantasy ☑️
Action + adventure + Romance ☑️
Dragons and magic ☑️
Deep world building ☑️
Captivating story that kept me engaged till the end. There was lot of travelling in the book. World building was mind blowing. Both the sisters, Lyric and Runa, had beautiful bond even though they're complete opposite of eachother. One is softie while other is touch-me-and-I-will-kill-you type. If you've siblings then you can easily relate to Runa's jealousy when Kell came into the picture. He swept Lyric off her feet in one look.
However, I did find myself wanting to read more about Lyric and Kell's relationship. So I am hoping to get my hands on second book in the trilogy and get lost in world of Erith and #keric (sounds cute, right? no? I like it, so I will keep it *hair flip*)
June 20, 2021
3.5 rounded to 4
Really enjoyed this fantasy book! It had badass female leads, a little bit of romance, sisters, magic, adventure and dragons. I got sucked into this book very quickly and I was eager to see how the story panned out. I felt like it fell a little flat just before the halfway mark, but towards the end it picked up again. The world building was good and there were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It was left on a cliffhanger, so I’d buy book two of this series as I’d like to see what happens as their magic develops.
Really enjoyed this fantasy book! It had badass female leads, a little bit of romance, sisters, magic, adventure and dragons. I got sucked into this book very quickly and I was eager to see how the story panned out. I felt like it fell a little flat just before the halfway mark, but towards the end it picked up again. The world building was good and there were some twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. It was left on a cliffhanger, so I’d buy book two of this series as I’d like to see what happens as their magic develops.
April 9, 2021
I loved this book so much!!
As a person that doesn't go for fantasy often this was a really good way to get into it. Normally I find a lot of fantasy really predictable and with this you could not predict what was going to happen, which I loved as it made me want to read on.
This book follows Lyric and Runa and their journey, they were abandoned aged 15 and when there mother returns suddenly their life changes forever.
As a person that doesn't go for fantasy often this was a really good way to get into it. Normally I find a lot of fantasy really predictable and with this you could not predict what was going to happen, which I loved as it made me want to read on.
This book follows Lyric and Runa and their journey, they were abandoned aged 15 and when there mother returns suddenly their life changes forever.
April 10, 2021
I didn't end up enjoying this and i thought long and hard before giving it the rating i did.
Firstly, i loved the idea and to start with, i really did love the characters, but when it didn't go in the direction i thought, i started losing interest.
The bigger issue was that i got confused and didn't even know what i was reading from the middle onwards. When you don't connect with the characters, it's a losing game i think.
Firstly, i loved the idea and to start with, i really did love the characters, but when it didn't go in the direction i thought, i started losing interest.
The bigger issue was that i got confused and didn't even know what i was reading from the middle onwards. When you don't connect with the characters, it's a losing game i think.
December 25, 2021
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱.
𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁,n𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.🕊🤍
♡
🚨CALLING ALL THE FANTASY LOVERS🚨
Daughters of Fire&Sea is the first book in the series, and I absolutely loved it!! It gave me a reason to continue reading the second book as well!!
This is a story of sisters, war, dragons, etc!
I loved all the characters especially Lyric and Runa, even though they were twins they had different personalities and different magic powers as well.
I Love the author's imagination, she took me to another world, I got lost in the pages and I didn’t want to come back into reality.
Can't wait for the sequel, I want to know what happens next!!
Also, this is a must-read!
March 13, 2020
Excited for sequel
I love how shes testing the bond of sisterhood & family loyalty. I’m also glad love interest included as well. Excited to read more about the dragons & their ancestors.
I love how shes testing the bond of sisterhood & family loyalty. I’m also glad love interest included as well. Excited to read more about the dragons & their ancestors.
March 3, 2020
This was a ride! For an epic fantasy book, this was jam packed with Action, adventure, magic, romance, inter dimensional travel & best of all dragons. What more could you ask for?! There was so much going on in the story between world building, the history of war the war & the taint, the magic system, magical creatures, the gods & dragons as well as the relationships between the characters. Karlsson does a good job at laying the foundations of all of these, however I did find myself wanting to know more about everything mentioned & was left with more questions than answers. This sometimes led to some confusion but not enough to deter me from enjoying the overall story :) because there is a lot of travel taking place in the story I wish there was a map or glossary included in the book to visually see where the characters are traveling & the locations they talk about in the story. The story is so vibrant, big and extremely detailed, I think this would make an amazing graphic novel or comic 😍 I’m excited to see what happens to Runa, Lyric & all of the other characters in the next book
December 24, 2021
This is one of my favorite books. Once I started I couldn’t put it down!! Because of the way you follow the story from different characters’ perspectives you get to know all the characters better which is something I really like about this book.
June 13, 2021
This review was originally published on Myth and Magic Book Club
Myth: 3.5/5
I really like the premise of twin sisters headed off on their quest. In the first book, I would say that the classic problem with them is that they are very much in the dark about everything going on in the world. I think Runa said “How could she and her sister make intelligent decisions about the war, about their lives, when they barely understood their place in the world.” Though this setup is fairly common in YA fantasy books, it seemed a little more pronounced here. This is also the first book in a trilogy so I anticipate Lyric and Runa will come much more into their own decision making over the course of the story.
There was good world building, while on the surface it seems like an ongoing war for power, there are a lot of threads left dangling at the end of the first book that point toward larger motives or bigger problems. And of course, dragons. Who doesn’t love it when dragons show up?
Magic: 3.5/5
While each sister ends up with a questionable magical guide, there is no one reliably teaching them about magic. Lyric and Runa come from powerful bloodlines, but really don’t know anything about how to harness that magic, so there is a bit of trial and error in this book as they get the feel for magic.
Overall: 3.5/5
An intriguing start to an epic fantasy story filled with sister’s love, powerful dragons, and a dash of romance.
Myth: 3.5/5
I really like the premise of twin sisters headed off on their quest. In the first book, I would say that the classic problem with them is that they are very much in the dark about everything going on in the world. I think Runa said “How could she and her sister make intelligent decisions about the war, about their lives, when they barely understood their place in the world.” Though this setup is fairly common in YA fantasy books, it seemed a little more pronounced here. This is also the first book in a trilogy so I anticipate Lyric and Runa will come much more into their own decision making over the course of the story.
There was good world building, while on the surface it seems like an ongoing war for power, there are a lot of threads left dangling at the end of the first book that point toward larger motives or bigger problems. And of course, dragons. Who doesn’t love it when dragons show up?
Magic: 3.5/5
While each sister ends up with a questionable magical guide, there is no one reliably teaching them about magic. Lyric and Runa come from powerful bloodlines, but really don’t know anything about how to harness that magic, so there is a bit of trial and error in this book as they get the feel for magic.
Overall: 3.5/5
An intriguing start to an epic fantasy story filled with sister’s love, powerful dragons, and a dash of romance.
December 17, 2019
See this and other book reviews at https://www.thebookdragondotblog.word...
Twin sisters Lyric and Runa are living on their own after their mother abandoned them years ago. Isolated, their village believes them to be witches, and are scared. To make matters even worse, Runa’s body is missing. But, at just the right moment, their mother returns and they embark on a journey to find Runa’s body and learn about their family’s secrets. Including the magic they wield. And a war that they happen to be thrown into. Will they be able to survive, or will their family break apart under the strain?
The worldbuilding of this novel is amazing. There is magic, dragons, and Karlsson interweaves it all with a beautiful writing style, full of vivid descriptions and accurate metaphors. I read this 416 page book in about 3 days because I was so entranced by the world. I wanted to know more! It starts off relatively slow, keeping us readers needing to continue to the next page, and the next, and the next, to find the answers we so desperately need.
I also enjoyed the relationship between the twins. Their POV chapters were always the most engaging and I enjoyed getting to know them better. The other characters and their relationships and POV chapters were not quite up to par with Lyric and Runa, but I still liked them as well. There were always conflicts occurring, and each character reacted differently, with thoughts and emotions specific to them.
The biggest issue that I have with this novel was that things just seemed to happen to the twins. Everything seemed to be coincidence, with none of the characters truly in control. It made the story a bit too easy and unrealistic for me to truly suspend my disbelief.
However, the world and characters more than make up for the somewhat awkward plot. The book ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving me despairing for the next book in the series! I have soooo many questions that I need answered, and I’m hoping the next book will be able to satiate me!
Twin sisters Lyric and Runa are living on their own after their mother abandoned them years ago. Isolated, their village believes them to be witches, and are scared. To make matters even worse, Runa’s body is missing. But, at just the right moment, their mother returns and they embark on a journey to find Runa’s body and learn about their family’s secrets. Including the magic they wield. And a war that they happen to be thrown into. Will they be able to survive, or will their family break apart under the strain?
The worldbuilding of this novel is amazing. There is magic, dragons, and Karlsson interweaves it all with a beautiful writing style, full of vivid descriptions and accurate metaphors. I read this 416 page book in about 3 days because I was so entranced by the world. I wanted to know more! It starts off relatively slow, keeping us readers needing to continue to the next page, and the next, and the next, to find the answers we so desperately need.
I also enjoyed the relationship between the twins. Their POV chapters were always the most engaging and I enjoyed getting to know them better. The other characters and their relationships and POV chapters were not quite up to par with Lyric and Runa, but I still liked them as well. There were always conflicts occurring, and each character reacted differently, with thoughts and emotions specific to them.
The biggest issue that I have with this novel was that things just seemed to happen to the twins. Everything seemed to be coincidence, with none of the characters truly in control. It made the story a bit too easy and unrealistic for me to truly suspend my disbelief.
However, the world and characters more than make up for the somewhat awkward plot. The book ends on a major cliffhanger, leaving me despairing for the next book in the series! I have soooo many questions that I need answered, and I’m hoping the next book will be able to satiate me!
December 24, 2019
I really enjoyed this book! It's a new fantasy world where dragons are woven into the mythology and magic can be cast. The story follows two sisters who discover who they really are and what they might be capable of doing. I look forward to reading book 2 when it's released in 2020.
February 3, 2021
This is the story about twin sisters, Lyric and Runa, whose mother abandoned them and suddenly returns after years to tell them that their life was a lie. They have powers and their grandfather is a king. This is their adventure as they go to stop a war.
I loved the connection between the sisters. Their relationship reminds me of my sisters. I love Runa but I think most of you will like Lyric since she is the kind, sweet one. But I prefer the one with the attitude. That is the type of character I like. I did not feel attached to any of the other characters though.
The world building was amazing. That is one important factor in fantasy books and the author did it perfectly. The idea of the Taint was a good one.
The story was a bit plain without any huge twists. But there was a twist in the end and that kept me intrigued. I want to know Kell’s story and the secret behind the Taint. There is a lot more left to the story and I’m going to read the next book soon to know what happens.
I loved the connection between the sisters. Their relationship reminds me of my sisters. I love Runa but I think most of you will like Lyric since she is the kind, sweet one. But I prefer the one with the attitude. That is the type of character I like. I did not feel attached to any of the other characters though.
The world building was amazing. That is one important factor in fantasy books and the author did it perfectly. The idea of the Taint was a good one.
The story was a bit plain without any huge twists. But there was a twist in the end and that kept me intrigued. I want to know Kell’s story and the secret behind the Taint. There is a lot more left to the story and I’m going to read the next book soon to know what happens.
October 23, 2019
This book is set in a well-constructed world that’s easy to get lost in. I really enjoyed the characters, especially since various chapters are told from different characters’ POV. This book was entertaining and unpredictable. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the second book in the series.
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