Heart of Tyr

Heart of the Citadel #2

by Susan Faw

In a world where magic is forbidden, twenty children are given twin crystal heart pendants. Heirs of magic, the necklaces are not just a pretty baubles but indicative of forbidden magical blood. Heart bearer Elissa scoffed at her brother's belief in dragons. That is until one abducted her on her eleventh birthday. Flown to the isle of Jintessa in its claws, Elissa discovers that not only are dragons real, but also the shapeshifters of legend.

Elissa, first of the dragonmerger triads to return to Gaia, is off to a perilous start when she collides with a magical barrier that nearly kills her. The emperor has set up traps, with the hope that the crystal heart bearers and their dragon/djinn companions will die in the attempt. Tasked with destroying this same barrier, Elissa must solve the clues provided as a parting gift, and bring down the barrier or all hope of challenging the emperor will be lost.

Only three things stand in their way. The ying to their yang - their male crystal heart counterpart; the non-magical population who believe that magic is evil, and the emperor himself, who's overwhelming desire is to bring all magic under his control. In the fight for ultimate control of all magic, there can only be one emperor- and he has an agenda of his own.

Genres: Fantasy

222 pages, Paperback

Published January 24, 2024

About the author

A lover of unusual worlds, Susan is a masked crusader for the fantastical world. Championing mythical rights, she quells uprisings and battles infidels who would slay the lifeblood of her pen. It’s all in a night’s work, for this whirlwind writer. Welcome to the quest.

Dante Rossetti Grand Prize awarded for Best Young Adult Fiction of 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, for Seer of Souls.

First in Category, Dante Rossetti, Best Young Adult Mythology, 2016, Chanticleer Reviews, for Seer of Souls.

First in Category, Dante Rossetti , 2017 Chanticleer Reviews, for Soul Sanctuary

Find out how it all began! You can download the prequel novella to the series for free!

Visit susanfaw.com to download your copy, or copy and paste this link: http://susanfaw.com/

Reviews

[Jasmyn]

Elissa of Tyr is the first heart-bearer to have her own book, and I really really liked being able to just follow one of them for a little bit and see the adventure through their eyes.

Traveling with her dragon and her djinn - the conversations between these three were so great - they infiltrate the Emperor's magical shields on the land. This was a very quick read, but it still had a good dose of adventure, and I was able to meet some characters that I'm pretty sure will have some major actions to play in series as we move forward.

The magic of the land and the emperor's control over it were also detailed a little more, and his plans and schemes are starting to be revealed to the reader. There are some very interesting ideas here, but I can't say much more without giving some big things away.

This is definitely a series of books that need to be read in order! I hope it continues to show as the adventures of each heart-bearer as they make their way back into the world to fight the emperor and his evil plan. I am thoroughly enjoying this unique land and the creatures within it.

[Seraphia Bunny]

The time has come to return to Tyr. The Emperor is on the move. War is coming and he must be stopped. The barrier must fall and it is time to cut a path to the Citadel. Elissa never believed in dragons, always disbelieving and shaking her head at her brother’s belief in them. Then one day, Elissa is taken by a dragon to the island of Jintessa to begin the change that is the path of her life as a crystal heart bearer. Her brother, Ellas, is taken by the Emperor and enslaved to become one of his own. Elissa does not know this, but soon she will be the object of his hunt when she returns to begin the task she has been given. The danger is real as the Emperor has taken it upon himself to aid in the hunt for the witches and their dragons. Elissa, Marion, Wizard Ramos and others paths will collide in this story as the battle to free magic begins in earnest.
Heart of Tyr by Susan Faw is book two in The Heart of the Citadel series. In this book we are reunited with characters we were introduced to Heart of Destiny. We will see Emperor Madrid taking strides to acquire what it is he seeks the most – the control of all magic and the death or subjugation of those who control it. He is determined to succeed at any cost. Ellas makes an appearance as he hunts his sister down. He has become a powerful wizard, but he blindly follows the Emperor. We are also introduced to a variety of other characters as well. There are some who support the witches quietly, helping to funnel the gems and other items to various outposts. The balance of magic is shifting, and in this process creatures that were once kept in check are now beginning to roam free.
Heart of Tyr is engaging from start to finish. Each of the characters play their roles so well. Elissa is the main focus of the story, but we get to see other characters as well each with their own path to take. Elissa, with the help of her dragon and Djinn, is on the path that will take her straight to the Citadel itself. Her journey is full of danger from the very beginning when she crosses paths with the boundary that if she had pushed through, would have absorbed and killed her. The story touches back on familiar parts from book one as well which I like. Elissa, and other characters, do annoy me from time to time, but it just makes the characters more real and believable.
The story leaves you with questions and with some answers as well. I wouldn’t say that this book ends on a major cliffhanger, but it does end on a cliffhanger. The author ends the story with a teaser for the next story which only makes me more eager to read the next book in the series. I will say that there are a couple of moments in this story that literally had my jaw drop in shock and surprise. So, I think that this will be an enjoyable story for many who enjoyed the first book in this series.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. This story is a real page turner with quite a few surprises, twists and shocking moments. This is a good fantasy novel that will engage from start to finish. Full of unique characters and elements that make this story an enjoyable read.

[Lana]

Heart of Tyr is book 2 in the Heart of the citadel series and Tyr is a land held in thrall by emperor Madrid who is in fact a Djinn but who has married a human and has formed a triad with his own albino dragon Opaleye. He wants to possess all magic so he uses divide and conquer tactics by telling the wizards that the witches had betrayed them and vice versa, so that since the great purge, during which so many magic wielders had died, they do not trust one another anymore. Ellisa and her brother Ellas are a set of bearers of the crystal hearts, they are separated when they arrive at the school of magic and whilst Ellas is set on bringing down the emperor and restoring magic to the land, Ellas is a wizard working for the emperor and vowing to kill all witches on sight. Aymee has had all her family burnt right in front of her very eyes and whilst escaping is turned into a fire elemental whilst Emily is a witch of uncertain powers and all are bent on destroying Madrid. Elissa is travelling towards Tyr to save her Djinn Druzy, and her dragon Mysty from the dungeons they have been placed in. She faces Ghosted Netherhounds and more to try to free them and continue the quest they set out to do, to bring down the barrier which had been erected all around Tyr to keep magic out and the Emperor in power! A great magical novel, with fantastic kick-ass heroines, dragons and djinn, of good against evil and a greed for power! Look forward to reading the next book the Heart of Shadra, may the witches survive and magic be returned to Tyr and Gaia.

[Lokdyer]

This is an amazing story. I couldn’t put it down except when absolutely necessary. It held my interest from beginning to end. I was hoping Emperor Madrid would get what’s coming to him at the end, but that isn’t to be yet. He is truly an evil man. Using wizards and his army to find and destroy anyone using magic or connected to magic in any way, he pretends he just wants magic gone from his kingdom. In actuality, his goal is to control all the magic and he will use any means to achieve that goal. There are so many wonderful characters in this story of magic, witches, wizards and dragons. Of course, there are always some bad among the good. The main character is Elissa, who is bonded to Dragonmerger Druzy (a shape shifter) and his dragon Mysty, but there are a lot of others I loved meeting, i.e. Marion, Aymee, Emily, Ramos. The end of the story was a huge surprise to me. I certainly had no idea who Madrid’s “private prisoner” was. The sneak preview of the next book was very interesting, but I had already decided I want to read the next book in this series. I want to find out what happens to my favorite characters, as well as the ones I don’t like, and then meet new ones. I received an advance reader copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Mr Pink Ink]

The next ten books each follow one of the girls from each province, as introduced in Heart Of Destiny. They can be read in any order.

This book follows Elissa, a daughter of the province of Tyr, alongside her 2 companions - a Dragon, Mysty, and a Djinn, Druzy - as she embarks on her perilous mission: Free Tyr; destroy the Boundary!

After (only) a full year of training she, and she alone, can bring down the barrier cutting of the provinces from each other, while facing the most evil Emperor Madrid and her own flesh and blood wizard brother.

The characters are inept, including her two otherworldly companions who are both older and longer-lived than her, getting themselves caught and tortured every time, only escaping by divine intervention or pure luck. There is, unfortunately, zero character growth but I do adore Wizard Ramos, even though, he too, has his inept moments.

This book also needed at least one last edit before being published; I can understand a couple of mistakes, of course, but there were many...

[Thomas]

Elissa is a Heart bearer. She Left Tyr to be trained as a witch leaving her brother behind. Time moved differently for her at her new school. She had only aged a year while her brother would have aged around twenty.

Elissa is one of the few witches to remain alive the purging of all magic from the lands. With the exception of those used by the emperor to hunt others with magical ability, and to keep his rule in place.

In order for magic to flow freely through the lands again, there will have to be a war. Casualties will be expected. Both sides have dragons at their use. So, even though the fight will be one sided, it will not be a given that the emperor will win.

It is up to Alissa and her triad to bring down one of the magical barriers separating the lands.

This is a great story, well told, very entertaining, and a bit convoluted. I am looking forward to reading more from this world of Susan Faw's imagination.

[Tera Comer]

This is the second book in the Heart of Citadel series and is just as fantastic as the first. You can see that the characters are definitely growing in their powers and more than willing to work to get the magic back to the lands. In this book we get to watch Elissa and her triad try to bring down one of the magical barriers that separate the lands. With plenty of action and suspense this book kept me on my toes, and I can not wait to see what the future holds for the rest of the series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Eternal Book High (Dariana Glez Morales)]

Heart of Tyr was better than Heart of Destiny... Though I can't say that I loved it. Maybe it's just not my type of book. It's not what I usually read I mean. I always like some romance in my books & these didn't have that. But who knows? If you like the description then you'll surely like Heart of Tyr. Again, it's just not what I usually read so maybe that's why I didn't like it that much. Hope this review was useful to whoever is reading it...

[The Mysterious Reader]

If you read the publisher’s blurb for Susan Faw’s Heart of Tyr (the second book in her The Heart of the Citadel series), you’ll get both a good sense of the plot and of just how wonderfully complex is the tale that she has woven. Yet somehow it all works perfectly. Elissa, Druzy and the other characters in this story are perfectly crafted and the story, with all its glorious twists, turns and adventure, is quite simply superb.

Highly recommended.

[Roger]

My second read from author Susan Faw. I got the first book back in April of this year & just got around to reading it and couldn't wait to read this one so I went out & bought it upon completion of the first book. Another thoroughly entertaining well-written read that has all the makings of an epic with likable, well-developed characters that make you want to read more by this author! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Alan T]

Elyssa, Mysty & Druzy

Elyssa, a witch is linked with the Dragon Musty and the Djnn Druzy. They are looking for a way to destroy the barriers between the provinces established by the emperor Madrid in his attempt to control all the magic.

Charectorization and plotting are excellent.

[Ola Adamska]

The story Has so Many interesting places its happening. Characters are really imagineable nad full-blooded. Few Times I felt a Little los t, but quickly i came to understand what is going on.
I will leep track for book 3.

[Phthon]

That was a rollercoaster of a book! Awesome! The characters definitely are growing in their power and I believe the days of the emperor are numbered. Serves the bugger right. I seriously recommend this book!

[Linda7600]

Another great story

This set of books is very well written. There is just enough detail to make what’s going on without information that isn’t necessary. The characters are intriguing and keep the story interesting.

[Kety]

The second installation in a fantastic series!
A story, where magic, surprises and exciting characters are well mixed together.
You will transport in a magical world... for thrilling adventures.

[Crystal]

This was a good read, but having not read the first book I was a bit lost. I will have to go read the first book then re-read this one for a better review.

[Jeffrey A. Dewey]

Better than the first

Better than the first with now action as dragons, witches, wizards & djinns continue to fight for the survival of the lands.

[Dawn Milligan]

This was a good book full of great characters and an amazing story I look forward to more!! Amazing job!

[Tayra Sanders]

This book hooked me from the beginning. I just couldn’t put it down. I fell for these characters and goodness, what a story just a perfect.

[LooseBoots]

What a marvelous story this was. Much magic with such passion and emotion throughout guaranteed to keep your attention without fail. Full of witches, wizards and dragons . It was easy to bond with the characters although , personally, when the story kept switching to each characters perspective, was a little disconcerting. However, I appreciate that this needs to be done so that you have a more complete picture in your head as to where the story is leading.
You were able to see the characters awareness of their powers and skills grow. Twist and turns in the plot were exquisite.
Brilliant writing engineered to make you wanting more.
Hope the next one is not too far away.

[Joanne H]

Wizards, dragons, witches and dinn, oh, what a life everyone lives. A very powerful wizard trying to take away the witches power. This book tells us about the lives of witches trying to stop the wizard at the heart of Citadel. The trials that they stand up to and the possible separation from their dinn and dragon. Good strong characters, good continuing story! Good book!