At the beginning of January 2021, TBR and Beyond Tours had graciously selected me to be part of their Cast in Firelight tour. We had received ARCs of Dana Swift’s debut novel and all had various responsibilities to feature this stunning book. Sadly, during that time, I had hit a pretty dark moment in my life and the crisis fatigue had populated itself in the form of detachment from everything. I missed my timeframe. I did not want to completely disappoint TBR Tours, so this is my very belated post and photo. I’m happy to report that Cast in Firelight has been growing exponentially! It has been featured in The Librarian Box and seen explosive interest on Bookstagram. You definitely don’t want to miss diving into this book, and here are the few reasons why…
TOP 5 REASONS TO READ CAST IN FIRELIGHT BY DANA SWIFT
We will begin with a synopsis! (Borrowed from Google Books).
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, perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Susan Dennard, and Mary E. Pearson.
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.
✰ REASON 1: GORGEOUS COVER ART
The gloriously beautiful cover art is done by none other than Charlie Bowater! Bowater’s art has graced the likes of Bone Crier’s Moon, Star Daughter, Sorcery of Thorns, An Enchantment of Ravens, Skyward and many many more. If you’re anything like me, you are usually drawn to the cover first and synopsis later.
✰ REASON 2: SLOW BURNING ROMANCE
If you are a fan of enemies to lovers, or enjoy an intense rivalry trope – this book is for you! The main characters (Adraa and Jatin) are initially bound to an arranged marriage that they are not fond of. However, through their trials and tribulations, that slow burn of romance piques between them and creates that amazing tension we all love.
✰ REASON 3: PLOT TWISTS
There are definitely some twists and turns in the story that will keep you guessing until the end. Mixing in case of double mistaken identify, political turmoil and intricate culture and relationships; this is definitely an important deciding factor in reading this epic duology. Lots of ‘whodunnit’ moments!
✰ REASON 4: INTRICATE MAGIC
Dana Swift’s world building, magical intricacies and cultural influence creates a marvelously stunning page-turner. The creative use of magic in her story is unique and has added to the popularity of Cast in Firelight and hundreds of 5 star reviews!
✰ REASON 5: PART OF A DUOLOGY
While the ending of the book might leave you craving for more, know that is is part of a duology and the story will continue! The story is said to deepen and filled with a lot more action! Dana Swift confirmed on The Nerd Daily that the second book will be jampacked with more plot twists than the first.
Cast in Firelight is out NOW, and available at most of your local bookstores. You can find Dana Swift on Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.