Realm of Ruins
Realm of Ruins
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Holiday House
Just the Series: The Nissera Chronicles Vol. 2   

Series and Publisher: The Nissera Chronicles   

Annotation: Valory, an unlikely heroine and descendant of Bristal, must battle the effects of a dangerous, time-bending resurrection spell wreaking havoc on Nissera.
Genre: [Fantasy fiction]
 
Reviews: 3
Catalog Number: #171432
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Publisher: Holiday House
Copyright Date: 2018
Edition Date: 2018 Release Date: 12/04/18
Pages: 451 pages
ISBN: 0-8234-3986-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-8234-3986-7
Dewey: Fic
LCCN: 2017028572
Dimensions: 22 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Valory, a descendant of Bristal, one of the first immortal elicromancers, finds herself in a similar predicament to the one her ancestor faced 100 years ago. Given power she can't really control, guarded by the magical Conclave's Neutralizer bodyguard, and with only her weird extended family as her companions, Valory must fight to survive a world she never expected to fit into. Things get worse when her uncontrollable power mixes with an ancient resurrection spell to turn her cousin into a great beast, and more mysterious magic surfaces across the world. Valory must traipse between the realms of light and darkness, politics and magic, and neither she nor her world will ever be the same. This second book in the world of Nissera (Kingdom of Ash and Briars, 2016) reads like a classic fairy tale. While it does take a few chapters to really get going, West's return to the swirling, fantastical world filled with magic and terror is a welcome addition to collections.

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Valory, a Calgoran royal family member, seemingly has no elicromancer abilities until a tragic accident on her seventeenth birthday unlocks them. She becomes entangled in the fight against a dangerous resurrected eliocromancer to save herself, her friends, and the realm. Fans of Kingdom of Ash and Briars--about Valory's elicromancer ancestor Bristal a century earlier--should enjoy following Valory's journey and her discovery of magic.

Kirkus Reviews

Generations after Kingdom of Ash and Briars (2016), a new elicromancer threat jeopardizes Nissera.Unlike most of the Calgoran royals and despite attending the elicromancer academy (founded after Bristal's time, when people once again braved the Water to gain power), Valory shows no signs of magical talent. A tragedy results in Valory touching the Water without the approval of the bureaucratic governing body, the Conclave, and the subsequent ripples shake the foundations of her society—and leave her looking very guilty. Meanwhile, a secretive, mask-wearing sect called the Summoners are on the move with the goal of resurrecting the Lord of Elicromancers, a terror long forgotten by the time of the Elicrin War. Although returning evil overlords and the young hero destined to oppose are by no means rare in fantasy, West keeps things fresh through both the thematic justifications (the consequences of forgetting history, especially upholding traditions without understanding why) and complex characterization for good and evil characters alike in the tangled plots, cat-and-mouse games, deceptions, and betrayals. Tangential storylines reference "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid," and, while the climax resolves the central crisis, signs point to future fairy-tale-inspired friction. While Valory and most characters are white, a couple of characters from faraway Erdem are described as having russet skin and are possibly coded Asian Indian.Impressive intrigues and cleverly exploited character flaws make for an exciting read. (map, family tree) (Fantasy. 12-adult)

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)
Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)
Kirkus Reviews
Reading Level: 5.0
Interest Level: 7-12
Lexile: 880L

Valory’s power is differentit’s dangerous, unruly, and destructive. Can she channel it to save the realm from chaos . . . or will her magic master her?

A century after her legendary ancestors overcame a bloodthirsty tyrant, seventeen-year-old Valory Braiosa attends a training academy for elicromancers, immortal beings with magical gifts. But Valory’s immense power isn't like that of her peers— it seems impossible to tame, and she faces imprisonment by the Nisseran authorities.

But when a forbidden resurrection spell awakens a long-dormant evil, Valory may be the only one who can vanquish this terrifying villain. Together with a band of allies—including an old friend; a haughty princess; and a mysterious, handsome stranger—Valory must learn to harness her power and fight back.  Dark magic, romance, and an ancient evil make Realm of Ruins a harrowing page-turner. 

“A brilliantly paced adventure full of betrayals and romance and magic. I could have stayed and played in this treacherous world for a long time.” – Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Legendary

Weaving together her imaginative world of magic with snippets from Beauty and the Beast and other classic stories, Hannah West’s gritty adventure is a thrilling, immersive companion to her acclaimed debut. Read this first and then discover the rest of Nissera or start with Kingdom of Ash and Briars—either way, you’ll love the journey.

Richly packaged hardcover edition includes an illustrated family tree, detailed map of Nissera, and embossed jacket with shimmering metallic effects.


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