A Shadow Bright and Burning : A Shadow Bright and Burning

A Shadow Bright and Burning : A Shadow Bright and Burning
ISBN: 9780143784739
Publication Date: 3 January 2017

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer in ages. The prophesied one. Or am I? Henrietta can burst into flames. Forced to reveal her power to save a friend, she's shocked when, instead of being executed, she's invited to train as one of Her Majesty's royal sorcerers. Thrust into the glamour of Victorian London, Henrietta is declared the girl who will defeat the Ancients, bloodthirsty demons terrorising humanity. Her fellow trainees are handsome young men, eager to test her power and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. But Henrietta Howel is not the chosen one. As she plays a dangerous game of deception, she discovers the sorcerers have their own secrets to protect. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city - and the one she loves? Exhilarating and gripping, Jessica Cluess's spellbinding fantasy introduces a powerful, unforgettable heroine, and a world filled with magic, romance, and betrayal.

Review by Bronwyn Eley

This was my pick for my book club and I stand wholeheartedly by that decision. Firstly, I love that cover! Secondly, I also happen to love the concept. Take Victorian London, add a dash of ancient, bloodthirsty demons, mix in a headstrong female sorcerer, top it off with an entourage of handsome men and you've got A Shadow Bright and Burning.

My favourite thing about this book was definitely its setting - I love a good Victorian Era setting, but it ended up doing way more for me than I expected. I mean, think about the Victorian Era - proper society, women having to be 'ladies', men having to be 'gentlemen' but here was our heroine, Henrietta, astounding me with her seemingly contradictory personality traits. She combined the lessons of her...