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Book Information
Title: Cast in Firelight
Author: Dana Swift
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Genre: High Fantasy | Romance | Magic
Publication Date: January 19th 2021
ISBN: 9780593124215
Pages: 448
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In truth, I have no idea what kind of student or wizard I would be without Adraa. I was one of the best because I couldn’t let a girl a year younger than I was and hundreds of miles away win. And maybe I pushed her too. Maybe we would be great together—pushing each other to be better in magic and life.
Jatin
Cast in Firelight Synopsis
Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.
Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.
Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.
Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross…and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.
Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery’s fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it’s complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.
The first book in an epic, heart-pounding fantasy duology about two royal heirs betrothed to be married, but whose loyalties are torn, and a ruthless enemy who threatens their world.
Cast in Firelight Review
First off, this book in compared to a lot of books in the #OwnVoices Category. This is NOT an #OwnVoices book. Dana has made it clear in an Author’s note in the novel that while she herself is white, her children will be mixed and she has written this novel with the inspiration and understanding of her husband’s culture and heritage.
Cast in Firelight is the first book in the Wickery duology. The story is told from alternating first-person perspectives. I particularly love the chapter titles and think a lot more books should have chapter headings that can provide added sass and humour in the storyline. The main characters are Adraa and Jatin. The story opens to Adraa’s POV when she was 8 years old and just meeting Jatin as their parents have arranged for them to b married when they come of age. Jatin, a year older, is not interested in marriage and neither is Adraa. the children are introduced and told to spend the day together before Jatin heads to school for 10 years. Adraa is feisty and when Jatin says something he shouldn’t. Well…. it ends with Adraa punching him in the face, although Adraa is adamant that it was more a slap than a punch. After this, Jatin sends “love letters” to Adraa, while he is at school, each one holding a secret message, as that is all their relationship is: who can one up the other with their magic?
Adraa is a one-armed Touch, which is seen as a negative thing in others minds. Those who have no Touch are lower class citizens because they are not blessed by the Gods. Despite being a one-armed Touch, Adraa has a knack for fire magic. Adraa has created firelight to provide for her kingdom and that of Jatin’s. The firelight that last two months eradicating the need for candles for all the citizens and being the amazing princess she is she has make it so cheap any class of citizen can purchase it. When Adraa finds out her firelight is being upcharged and stolen, whole new issues arise. Adraa becomes on her secret identity and tries to find out who is taking her firelight and why.
Jatin having switched places with his guard, Kalyan, for safety as they parade through Adraa’s kingdom to make an appearance and make their way home to theirs. This is when Adraa gets mixed up chasing a firelight thief and she finds herself face to face with Jatin for the first time since childhood. Neither recognize the other and this is when the secret identities are established. Adraa as Jaya and Jatin as Kalyan. When Jaya and Kalyan end up teaming up to figure out what’s happening with the firelight, the lies grow and neither is willing to give up their identity to the other for their own reasons. Now the kingdoms are searching for the Red Woman and the Night, wanted for their vigilante ways. How far with Adraa and Jatin take these identities before being put into a compromising position with each other?
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About Dana Swift
Dana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. While in college, Dana competed as a saber fencer and learned a thing or two about fighting, parrying and how it feels to fall in love with your sparring partner. She currently lives with said husband in Miami, Florida.
Wickery Series
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