Nikki’s Review of Flames of Eader
*Note from Nikki
Hi besties! This review of Flames of Eader by the lovely Carina Steinbakk is under my personal blog because Flames of Eader is published by Olympia Publishers! Besties Review Stuff is dedicated to self-published books only. However, I loved Carina and her book so much that I still wanted to do a dedicated review of it, so here it is. Enjoy!
Back Jacket Synopsis:
Do you believe in magic?
Do you have that nagging feeling that there has to be more out there?
Are you still waiting on that letter from Hogwarts, wishing you could enroll at Basgiath, or thinking you might have a godly parent and you should be off to camp-halfblood?
Read on!
We all know that there should be a balance between light and darkness. However, in recent years, the increase in violence, terrorism, wars, and hatred has given more power to the Darkness. Now imagine a barrier that protects us from this Darkness. Eader is that realm that shields the Earth.
However, Eader is gradually becoming weak. In the battle between light and darkness, darkness is slowly gaining the upper hand. Enter Grey O'Shearan, a reclusive nerd living on Earth, who then quite unexpectedly finds himself in the magical realm of Eader.
Why does Grey find his way to Eader? What role does he play in the battle between light and darkness? Will he, a man who tries to stay away from people, be able to trust the ones he meets in Eader? Most importantly, will Grey be able to save Eader, and in the process, Earth?
Nikki’s Review: This book had me smiling from beginning to end with its wit, heart, and enviable magic.
Things I loved:
As a lover of fantasy, I enjoyed that in Flames of Eader it was an adult discovering that they are extraordinary instead of a kid. Grey is in his twenties when he discovers his abilities, and his interaction with other magical beings and the world of Eader is refreshing to explore in the head of an adult. The classic battle of light vs dark is more meaningful in the POV of someone who has some life experience under their belt.
From the first page I was hooked by the witty writing and inner monologue of the POV characters' thoughts. The pop culture references had me laughing every chapter!
I appreciate the way Carina dealt with the bigger themes of the story. I found myself finishing a chapter where the POV character had a revelation and just savoring the writing for a moment before moving forward.
The ending was satisfying but left me wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!
Constructive comments for future works from this author:
My only criticism was that I disagree with the main character, Grey, as he states his preference between DC and Marvel at the end of chapter 36. You will have to read the book to see what side you are on!
Great quote from the book:
“...there is magic in everything we do– we have simply forgotten about it. Magic is everywhere. In a touch. In a feeling. In a discovery. In a dream. Which may seem like capturing lightning in a bottle. But every action stores life, energy, light, or darkness, in every nuance.”
“Movie” Rating: PG-13 or R for coarse language.
Overall Recommendation: If you loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and are interested in an adult navigating the world of newfound magic powers, you will love Flames of Eader. I also recommend this book to people, like me, who are feeling a bit down about the state of the world. You will have a great time reading the book and leave feeling a little more hopeful than when you started.
If you would like to purchase Flames of Eader on amazon, please click this link
Disclaimer: *Our reviews are solely our opinions and not swayed by any outside factors. The reviews are for fun and not meant to be taken as a professional book endorsement, review, or advice.