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Loresmith #1
Forged in Fire and Stars
Games of Thrones meets An Ember in the Ashes in this action-packed fantasy from the internationally bestselling author of the Nightshade series.
Ara has always known about the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of every generation to protect the kingdom. It was her fate to inherit the title–though she never truly believed it would come to pass since the monarchy’s downfall years before.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne–and take her place as the Loresmith–her whole world turns upside down. Their journey will take Ara on a dangerous adventure to discover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even to face the gods themselves. And with a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, Ara must use all her skills to figure out just who she can trust, and forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.
From internationally bestselling author Andrea Cremer comes a gorgeously written new fantasy series perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse or Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series.
Ara has always known about the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of every generation to protect the kingdom. It was her fate to inherit the title–though she never truly believed it would come to pass since the monarchy’s downfall years before.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne–and take her place as the Loresmith–her whole world turns upside down. Their journey will take Ara on a dangerous adventure to discover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even to face the gods themselves. And with a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, Ara must use all her skills to figure out just who she can trust, and forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.
From internationally bestselling author Andrea Cremer comes a gorgeously written new fantasy series perfect for readers of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse or Sabaa Tahir’s An Ember in the Ashes series.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2020
140 people are currently reading
10081 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Robertson
4 books195 followersAndrea Roberston (formerly Andrea Cremer) is the internationally bestselling author of the Nightshade series and of Invisibility, which she co-wrote with David Levithan. She is also the author of the Inventor's Secret trilogy. Originally from Minnesota, she now lives in California.
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November 23, 2023
the goodreads one-star means 'did not like it' and i did not like it
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December 5, 2019ngl... anything that likens itself to an ember and the ashes AND six of crows has some big shoes to fill.
May 26, 2020
Actual Rating: 3.5 stars
If you like classic epic fantasy and are looking for a YA take, this one is worth checking out! It has great world-building and cool mythology, but the pacing drags in parts, some plot twists are pretty predictable, and the characters were fine, but could have used more nuance. Forged in Fire and Stars has been compared to An Ember in the Ashes and Game of Thrones. And....I'm not sure those are great comparisons, other than the epic scope and political elements to be found here.
The Loresmith is tasked by the gods with protecting the people and creating magical weapons, but must never lift a weapon themself except in defense. When an evil empire overruns the kingdom, the Loresmith sacrifices himself to save his secret daughter and heir. Many years later, fate finds Ara and she begins a journey to reclaim her heritage and defeat the evil empire. The premise is a great one and for me, the best part of this book was the mythology and world-building. Every time we learned more about the mythology of the world or had appearances from the gods I was riveted. That part read like classic high fantasy and was well developed.
The characters were fine, but a little bland. Our heroine can do no wrong and I didn't see strong arcs of character development. I appreciated the diversity here though. We get racial and cultural diversity in our little gang that get together along the way, and there is also the possibility of a sapphic relationship developing between the side characters. One character is from a people group that is clearly a stand-in for the Romany, including the way that people have created racist names for them and oppress them.
There are plot twists that I definitely saw coming a long way off, and the pacing of was a bit slower than usual for a YA fantasy. Which I probably wouldn't have minded if the book was longer and did more character development. That said, I think many readers will still quite enjoy this. It feels like a throwback in some ways and I mostly enjoyed my time with it. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
CW include racism, murder, killing of children, blood magic, depictions of gore, loss of a loved one and more.
If you like classic epic fantasy and are looking for a YA take, this one is worth checking out! It has great world-building and cool mythology, but the pacing drags in parts, some plot twists are pretty predictable, and the characters were fine, but could have used more nuance. Forged in Fire and Stars has been compared to An Ember in the Ashes and Game of Thrones. And....I'm not sure those are great comparisons, other than the epic scope and political elements to be found here.
The Loresmith is tasked by the gods with protecting the people and creating magical weapons, but must never lift a weapon themself except in defense. When an evil empire overruns the kingdom, the Loresmith sacrifices himself to save his secret daughter and heir. Many years later, fate finds Ara and she begins a journey to reclaim her heritage and defeat the evil empire. The premise is a great one and for me, the best part of this book was the mythology and world-building. Every time we learned more about the mythology of the world or had appearances from the gods I was riveted. That part read like classic high fantasy and was well developed.
The characters were fine, but a little bland. Our heroine can do no wrong and I didn't see strong arcs of character development. I appreciated the diversity here though. We get racial and cultural diversity in our little gang that get together along the way, and there is also the possibility of a sapphic relationship developing between the side characters. One character is from a people group that is clearly a stand-in for the Romany, including the way that people have created racist names for them and oppress them.
There are plot twists that I definitely saw coming a long way off, and the pacing of was a bit slower than usual for a YA fantasy. Which I probably wouldn't have minded if the book was longer and did more character development. That said, I think many readers will still quite enjoy this. It feels like a throwback in some ways and I mostly enjoyed my time with it. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
CW include racism, murder, killing of children, blood magic, depictions of gore, loss of a loved one and more.
June 12, 2020
An uplifting fantasy adventure about destiny, fate, and the Gods that weave it.
"Ara has always known about the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of every generation to protect the kingdom. It was her fate to inherit the title–though she never truly believed it would come to pass since the monarchy’s downfall years before.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne–and take her place as the Loresmith–her whole world turns upside down."
This fantasy was a lot of fun! I loved the traveling aspect of the story, and how we got to discover each new part of this magical land with every chapter. The mythology and lore of this world was so enticing, as well. I loved meeting the Gods, and only wanted to know more about them.
I mean...If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a good first line. That quote gripped me! I loved how we dove right into the action. Oftentimes with other stories, it can be tedious waiting for the inciting incident, but this one starts off with a bang. Also, I really liked Teth. His witty banter was fantastic comic relief, especially in regards to Nimhea, who takes herself entirely too seriously...Lol.
Overall, I enjoyed this. If you're looking for an adventuring YA fantasy with complex mythology, this is the book for you!
Forged in Fire and Stars is out now! To buy your copy, click here: http://www.penguinteen.com/book/31338...
To check out my Forged in Fire and Stars Bookstagram post, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLUESCA2-L/
A big thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an advanced copy!
"Ara has always known about the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of every generation to protect the kingdom. It was her fate to inherit the title–though she never truly believed it would come to pass since the monarchy’s downfall years before.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne–and take her place as the Loresmith–her whole world turns upside down."
This fantasy was a lot of fun! I loved the traveling aspect of the story, and how we got to discover each new part of this magical land with every chapter. The mythology and lore of this world was so enticing, as well. I loved meeting the Gods, and only wanted to know more about them.
By the time Ara's fate came for her she'd stopped believing in it.
I mean...If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a good first line. That quote gripped me! I loved how we dove right into the action. Oftentimes with other stories, it can be tedious waiting for the inciting incident, but this one starts off with a bang. Also, I really liked Teth. His witty banter was fantastic comic relief, especially in regards to Nimhea, who takes herself entirely too seriously...Lol.
Overall, I enjoyed this. If you're looking for an adventuring YA fantasy with complex mythology, this is the book for you!
Forged in Fire and Stars is out now! To buy your copy, click here: http://www.penguinteen.com/book/31338...
To check out my Forged in Fire and Stars Bookstagram post, click here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLUESCA2-L/
A big thank you to Penguin Teen for sending me an advanced copy!
May 2, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
3.5/5 STARS
Similar Books:
An Ember in the Ashes
Silver in the Bone
Synopsis:
Ara is destined to be the Loresmith, the creator of weapons for her kingdom. Hidden away, she discovers who she is meant to be and unites with the princess & prince on an epic journey.
This is book one in a YA fantasy trilogy. I liked the premise of a magical blacksmith who is a woman. This series has potential I think but this first book was a little slow. It was a lot of traveling and not much action. I will see where book two goes.
3.5/5 STARS
Similar Books:
An Ember in the Ashes
Silver in the Bone
Synopsis:
Ara is destined to be the Loresmith, the creator of weapons for her kingdom. Hidden away, she discovers who she is meant to be and unites with the princess & prince on an epic journey.
This is book one in a YA fantasy trilogy. I liked the premise of a magical blacksmith who is a woman. This series has potential I think but this first book was a little slow. It was a lot of traveling and not much action. I will see where book two goes.
May 28, 2020
Want to see more bookish things from me? Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfer...
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Ara is the daughter of the last Loresmith. Her father was supposed to teach her the ways of the Loresmith, but unfortunately, he passed away before he was able to do so. When a princess and a scholar arrive at her village, she joins them on a journey to take back the Kingdom. Along the way, she meets a thief and his fox, and together they all set out to discover the ways of the Loresmith.
I don't know why this is advertised as action-packed, because absolutely nothing happened this entire book. This book is SLOW. The concept was intriguing, but I was just bored throughout most of this. Ara is an interesting character, but I didn't really care what happened to her or the twins. The only character I was truly invested in was Teth and his fox companion.
It was very obvious that this was setting up for a series, which was a bit annoying.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*
Ara is the daughter of the last Loresmith. Her father was supposed to teach her the ways of the Loresmith, but unfortunately, he passed away before he was able to do so. When a princess and a scholar arrive at her village, she joins them on a journey to take back the Kingdom. Along the way, she meets a thief and his fox, and together they all set out to discover the ways of the Loresmith.
I don't know why this is advertised as action-packed, because absolutely nothing happened this entire book. This book is SLOW. The concept was intriguing, but I was just bored throughout most of this. Ara is an interesting character, but I didn't really care what happened to her or the twins. The only character I was truly invested in was Teth and his fox companion.
It was very obvious that this was setting up for a series, which was a bit annoying.
May 31, 2020
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the e-arc.
At first glance, the story and the cover alone would suck in any old reader. But unfortunately, the story did not live up to my expectations.
Firstly, Ara appears to us as someone important, but we haven't gotten to know her enough to care. We're thrown into her life as she gets kidnapped and the catalyst is thrown into our face by page five. Personally, I find this jarring. There was no time to get to know Ara and the more I read, the less info about who she was as a person became foggier and foggier. I love getting thrown into the action, don't get me wrong, but usually, there's a beat where we sit down and get to know the protagonist who is supposed to be the most important character in the story. There was next to no character arc for Ara.
Things happened very slowly after that first point and the story weaved together at a snail's pace. There is a lot of setup with no result, which makes me think it'll mostly get explained in book two, but by that time, you've lost me. I probably won't continue the series.
This was a story of very slow pacing, cool ideas, but poor execution. The comparison titles like Game of Thrones and Ember in the Ashes could not have been further from the truth. I'm sad that I did not like this book, but alas.
At first glance, the story and the cover alone would suck in any old reader. But unfortunately, the story did not live up to my expectations.
Firstly, Ara appears to us as someone important, but we haven't gotten to know her enough to care. We're thrown into her life as she gets kidnapped and the catalyst is thrown into our face by page five. Personally, I find this jarring. There was no time to get to know Ara and the more I read, the less info about who she was as a person became foggier and foggier. I love getting thrown into the action, don't get me wrong, but usually, there's a beat where we sit down and get to know the protagonist who is supposed to be the most important character in the story. There was next to no character arc for Ara.
Things happened very slowly after that first point and the story weaved together at a snail's pace. There is a lot of setup with no result, which makes me think it'll mostly get explained in book two, but by that time, you've lost me. I probably won't continue the series.
This was a story of very slow pacing, cool ideas, but poor execution. The comparison titles like Game of Thrones and Ember in the Ashes could not have been further from the truth. I'm sad that I did not like this book, but alas.
Want to read
November 12, 2019I'm gonna make a scrapbook photo album of all the stunning covers for 2020 releases and praise the artistic beauty of these gorgeous masterpieces til my dying day
May 29, 2020
I had seen this cover floating around and I was immediately drawn to it. I put it on hold at the library and waited for it to come in. I almost returned a couple of days after getting it because it wasn’t on my tbr and I had other things to read but I still felt drawn to it so I dived in! I’m glad I gave this shot because there were so many aspects of this book that I enjoyed.
I am always drawn to a story that has it’s own lore/gods system. I find them fascinating and if the author actually adds in stories about those gods, perfection! This had the perfect mix of both and I couldn’t help but enjoy learning more about this ravaged kingdom and the gods that disappeared.
Another really cool aspect (which also has to do with lore) was the loresmith. The book starts off with a strong prologue that really grips you into the story. There are many moving parts in the plot that involved the loresmith aka Ara (our main character!) and it was just so unique!
Ara has a lot to grasp when it comes to her destiny and she definitely struggles to understand it and what it means for her life. She can be optimistic at times and other times she questions herself about it. I think we can all be that way at times, even if we aren’t out here trying to save a kingdom, heh.
The good thing about her journey is that she isn’t alone. Nimhea and Eamon are there with her every step of the way trying to reclaim the throne they lost. I enjoyed getting to know every member of their party especially Teth who comes into their party later and is seriously so hilarious! I loved all his parts.
There are a few chapters that split to a different point-of-view coming from the princes of the bad guys. I thought this was interesting and even though it wasn’t a lot, you still got to see parts from their side.
I can understand why some may not like this book as much as me because there are parts that felt a bit slow. This usually bothers me but since it was towards the middle and a bit at the end, I was already invested in the plot and characters so I didn’t mind. Relationships are formed somewhat hastily but it’s another thing that I could overlook for the most part. The relationship didn’t play a huge role in the plot or anything and nothing really happened until the end so not insta-love.
The ending ended with a cliffhanger (obviously) and it sets it up for another book. I’m not sure when that will come out but I definitely need it sooner than later!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the world this author created. There are so many unique aspects and I just loved them all.
I am always drawn to a story that has it’s own lore/gods system. I find them fascinating and if the author actually adds in stories about those gods, perfection! This had the perfect mix of both and I couldn’t help but enjoy learning more about this ravaged kingdom and the gods that disappeared.
Another really cool aspect (which also has to do with lore) was the loresmith. The book starts off with a strong prologue that really grips you into the story. There are many moving parts in the plot that involved the loresmith aka Ara (our main character!) and it was just so unique!
Ara has a lot to grasp when it comes to her destiny and she definitely struggles to understand it and what it means for her life. She can be optimistic at times and other times she questions herself about it. I think we can all be that way at times, even if we aren’t out here trying to save a kingdom, heh.
The good thing about her journey is that she isn’t alone. Nimhea and Eamon are there with her every step of the way trying to reclaim the throne they lost. I enjoyed getting to know every member of their party especially Teth who comes into their party later and is seriously so hilarious! I loved all his parts.
There are a few chapters that split to a different point-of-view coming from the princes of the bad guys. I thought this was interesting and even though it wasn’t a lot, you still got to see parts from their side.
I can understand why some may not like this book as much as me because there are parts that felt a bit slow. This usually bothers me but since it was towards the middle and a bit at the end, I was already invested in the plot and characters so I didn’t mind. Relationships are formed somewhat hastily but it’s another thing that I could overlook for the most part. The relationship didn’t play a huge role in the plot or anything and nothing really happened until the end so not insta-love.
The ending ended with a cliffhanger (obviously) and it sets it up for another book. I’m not sure when that will come out but I definitely need it sooner than later!
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the world this author created. There are so many unique aspects and I just loved them all.
April 24, 2023
The book was definitely different than I expected. There was a large amount of travelling, but the characters actually didn’t make that completely boring! While we got to see them interacting with one another, there was no real character development for any of the characters which was disappointing, especially for the main character. The surprise ending was indeed not a surprise and anyone could have guessed it from the first bit of the book. Something I did like was some of the story line giving us information about the current rulers, I found that to be a good addition. Hopefully the second book will be better.
May 13, 2020
Thanks to PenguinTeen for sending me a free digital early copy in exchange for an honest review.
Um... Well, what I thought would be amazingly awesome (especially with a comp title like An Ember in the Ashes) fell completely flat and absolutely did not work for me. I had it in my mind I would DNF this book early on, but I felt like I wasn't giving it enough of a chance. Man, do I regret that decision. When I receive early copies from publishers, I feel a bit obligated to give push through the book in order to give it a proper review. In this case, I should have just stopped but every time I picked the book up, I was getting further and further along and eventually found myself at the end... With a great amount of reluctance and very little skimming.
Don't get me wrong though. The premise sounds absolutely wonderful and love the idea. But executive was so poor. I liked the world-building, the legends, myths, and stories of the gods. But I absolutely couldn't care less about any of the characters. Ara really had nothing going for her outside of being the Loresmith, while Nimhea and Eamon seemed utterly underdeveloped. You just throw these characters together, yet I felt like no true friendship or bond was formed between them, outside of Nimhea and Eamon as brother and sister. And even at times, that appeared strained. I felt like I was d r a g g i n g, sloshing through this hot mess just to get to the end and say that I read it. Not to mention that the characters are traveling 99% of the time in this book and it was boring. This book starts right in the action but the thing is, I didn't want all the action up front. Maybe that's where my lack of connection to the characters started. I feel like I didn't know them enough to care about them or their journey. The developing romance between the main character, Ara, and a character she meets on her journey... Again, I couldn't care less. So dull.
It was very much a chore to pick up this book. I forced myself not to skim it, in case I didn't miss something important. Wrong on me. I should have just went directly to the end. And the utter betrayal from one of the characters? Excuse me, where in the WORLD did that even come into play and why? It makes absolutely no sense.
We do get a few chapters where that don't follow Ara but I struggled to see how they fit into the story besides it being from the eyes of the enemy. I didn't feel like there was a connection between those chapters and what was happening with Ara. I'm sure my dislike of the book is causing me to miss any sort of thread to connect these stories but with everything being a struggle in this book, I don't really care.
Incredible cover. Lovely comp titles. But an absolute miss with me. It makes me wonder if I should go back and read this author's previous works.
Um... Well, what I thought would be amazingly awesome (especially with a comp title like An Ember in the Ashes) fell completely flat and absolutely did not work for me. I had it in my mind I would DNF this book early on, but I felt like I wasn't giving it enough of a chance. Man, do I regret that decision. When I receive early copies from publishers, I feel a bit obligated to give push through the book in order to give it a proper review. In this case, I should have just stopped but every time I picked the book up, I was getting further and further along and eventually found myself at the end... With a great amount of reluctance and very little skimming.
Don't get me wrong though. The premise sounds absolutely wonderful and love the idea. But executive was so poor. I liked the world-building, the legends, myths, and stories of the gods. But I absolutely couldn't care less about any of the characters. Ara really had nothing going for her outside of being the Loresmith, while Nimhea and Eamon seemed utterly underdeveloped. You just throw these characters together, yet I felt like no true friendship or bond was formed between them, outside of Nimhea and Eamon as brother and sister. And even at times, that appeared strained. I felt like I was d r a g g i n g, sloshing through this hot mess just to get to the end and say that I read it. Not to mention that the characters are traveling 99% of the time in this book and it was boring. This book starts right in the action but the thing is, I didn't want all the action up front. Maybe that's where my lack of connection to the characters started. I feel like I didn't know them enough to care about them or their journey. The developing romance between the main character, Ara, and a character she meets on her journey... Again, I couldn't care less. So dull.
It was very much a chore to pick up this book. I forced myself not to skim it, in case I didn't miss something important. Wrong on me. I should have just went directly to the end. And the utter betrayal from one of the characters? Excuse me, where in the WORLD did that even come into play and why? It makes absolutely no sense.
We do get a few chapters where that don't follow Ara but I struggled to see how they fit into the story besides it being from the eyes of the enemy. I didn't feel like there was a connection between those chapters and what was happening with Ara. I'm sure my dislike of the book is causing me to miss any sort of thread to connect these stories but with everything being a struggle in this book, I don't really care.
Incredible cover. Lovely comp titles. But an absolute miss with me. It makes me wonder if I should go back and read this author's previous works.
January 9, 2020
I like the story and the concept. The characters were good and I loved Fox. But the pace was slow and as I got more than halfway through, it became very obvious that this was a set up for a series. That always kind of bums me out. I would rather have a nice, complete story than a lot of laying of the groundwork. Hopefully the next one will further the story a little more.
July 15, 2020
3.5 stars!
Thank you to PenguinTeen and Netgalley for the review copy!
Ara is the daughter of the Loresmith, the legendary blacksmith blessed by the gods to protect the kingdom. It's Ara's fate to inherit the title, but her father died before he was able to teach her the skills. Now she's living a quiet life in her small village. But everything changes when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara away to help on their mission to reclaim the throne. Along the way, they meet a thief and his fox, and they all set out to help Ara take her place as Loresmith and reclaim the kingdom.
The premise of this book is so good. It really intrigued me and made me want to read it. And I think the beginning of the story was so interesting and compelling. But it kinda slows down and drags a bit towards the middle and end. I think we could have used more action and interest. The writing is really unique and I love the style. But plot and characters fell a little flat. It felt a bit predictable and the characters can be somewhat bland. I did appreciate the diversity we got with our little gang. I wish we got a more developed character arc for our MC, but maybe that will come in the next book. I do want to continue the series, but I hope things speed up in book two! I think this can happen sometimes with first books in a series because so much needs to be set up with the world and the characters; I think the potential for a great series is there though.
I think it's definitely still worth the read, and still held my interest enough to want to finish it and want to continue the series. If you're intrigued by the premise, and keep in mind that there will be more books, I would recommend it. It's got lots of good epic fantasy components and feels like a fresher take on the whole knights/bards/blacksmith type of book and characters. The mythology and lore of the world is really cool, and I liked that aspect a lot. Overall, this book shines the most in world building and premise, and I hope character development and more action take the front seat in book two!
Thank you to PenguinTeen and Netgalley for the review copy!
Ara is the daughter of the Loresmith, the legendary blacksmith blessed by the gods to protect the kingdom. It's Ara's fate to inherit the title, but her father died before he was able to teach her the skills. Now she's living a quiet life in her small village. But everything changes when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara away to help on their mission to reclaim the throne. Along the way, they meet a thief and his fox, and they all set out to help Ara take her place as Loresmith and reclaim the kingdom.
The premise of this book is so good. It really intrigued me and made me want to read it. And I think the beginning of the story was so interesting and compelling. But it kinda slows down and drags a bit towards the middle and end. I think we could have used more action and interest. The writing is really unique and I love the style. But plot and characters fell a little flat. It felt a bit predictable and the characters can be somewhat bland. I did appreciate the diversity we got with our little gang. I wish we got a more developed character arc for our MC, but maybe that will come in the next book. I do want to continue the series, but I hope things speed up in book two! I think this can happen sometimes with first books in a series because so much needs to be set up with the world and the characters; I think the potential for a great series is there though.
I think it's definitely still worth the read, and still held my interest enough to want to finish it and want to continue the series. If you're intrigued by the premise, and keep in mind that there will be more books, I would recommend it. It's got lots of good epic fantasy components and feels like a fresher take on the whole knights/bards/blacksmith type of book and characters. The mythology and lore of the world is really cool, and I liked that aspect a lot. Overall, this book shines the most in world building and premise, and I hope character development and more action take the front seat in book two!
November 27, 2020
Forged in Fire and Stars was an intriguing series starter that I think many readers will enjoy. I thought that Robertson did a decent job setting up the world and introducing an interesting cast of characters. However, I never quite felt the chemistry between the main characters, which made it difficult to connect with the story. The plot itself was relatively simple and straight-forward. It very much followed a traveling quest structure. I just kept wanting the story to reach a little bit further, to develop the characters more or throw in some unexpected twists.
Overall, I thought that Forged in Fire and Stars had promise. It was a quick read but the book just didn’t quite stand out for me.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Overall, I thought that Forged in Fire and Stars had promise. It was a quick read but the book just didn’t quite stand out for me.
*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
January 21, 2021
Under-rated YA fantasy. I think this may have been the book I needed in this genre. Lately, some of the books I've read have disappointed me. This one had a sweet romance with innocent longing. An exciting journey with a satisfying challenge near the end. There was an ending to this story but a lead up to more instead of no ending at all (I'm looking at you Black Sun). A satisfying read and a series I plan to continue with (unlike All the Stars and Teeth).
dnf
August 5, 2021I tried really hard to get into this, but sadly I just couldn't. I even tried twice - once as an eARC and then again on audio when the book was released. (The narrator is fabulous, though, by the way!!) I can't pinpoint exactly what my issue was. It just feels generic, I guess? Two attempts and I was just bored. It's not a bad book by any means, it just wasn't grabbing my attention. There was nothing compelling about the story or the characters and I had no desire to keep going. Time to move on!
May 15, 2020
3.5/5
Skewed a little young, but still a super fun and interesting start to a new series. I particularly enjoy the fact that the MC is a blacksmith—heck yes, strong ladies!
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
Skewed a little young, but still a super fun and interesting start to a new series. I particularly enjoy the fact that the MC is a blacksmith—heck yes, strong ladies!
Check out my full review at Forever Young Adult.
November 18, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this. I picked it up for the blacksmith element, but I really enjoyed all the characters and the worldbuilding. I didn't really care for the plot, but I'm excited for the sequel and am hopeful that plot will be more to my liking.
January 24, 2024
They kiss on page 350
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 16, 2020Graded By: Mandy C.
Cover Story: Knives (and Axes and Bows) Out
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Fantas(y)tic
Bonus Factors: Quests, Blacksmithing
Factors: Chosen One, Series Starter
Anti-Bonus Factor: Betrayal
Relationship Status: Along for the Journey
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Knives (and Axes and Bows) Out
BFF Charm: Heck Yes
Swoonworthy Scale: 6
Talky Talk: Fantas(y)tic
Bonus Factors: Quests, Blacksmithing
Factors: Chosen One, Series Starter
Anti-Bonus Factor: Betrayal
Relationship Status: Along for the Journey
Read the full book report here.
March 15, 2021
This was fine, I'm not sure if I'll continue with the series, but I do have a lot of questions about where it's going, so. Maybe.
October 17, 2023
371 pages later and I still can't tell you what a "Loresmith" is
September 5, 2023
A super fun fantasy. Not particularly my favorite but I enjoyed the characters, story and the world building.
June 4, 2020
DNF 25% lost interest
May 27, 2020
UUGGGHHH. Where do I begin? I bought this on a whim because of the cover so this is actually my own fault but I really didn't think I could dislike it this much.
There is no reason an imprint of Penguin Books shouldn't have had a proof reader. If this did, in fact, have a proof reader, that person should never proofread again. I can handle typos. Every book has some. Some. This book had typos on nearly every. single. page. That is not an exaggeration. Missing punctuation, missing words, doubled words, words in the wrong order, spelling errors, words used incorrectly. It was so irritating and it pulled me out of the story every time.
The actual story was only meh for me. The main character, Ara, who is supposed to be this legendary Loresmith, was the most boring character ever, holy crap. And because I didn't care about her at all, I didn't care about her romance with another character that I could actually stand - Teth.
This is very much a travel story and a setup for a series. The pacing was sort of all over the place with the end feeling overly rushed after such a slow beginning.
If I hadn't impulsively bought the hardcover and then had my book club choose it as a bonus book for the month of May, I would not have been able to finish this. Am I going to read the sequel? Maybe, because I hate myself. And while the story was truly a solid meh, I want to know what happens to Teth and Princess Nimhea. Also, I don't like not finishing a series.
I appreciated the map in this and the okay world-building.
There is no reason an imprint of Penguin Books shouldn't have had a proof reader. If this did, in fact, have a proof reader, that person should never proofread again. I can handle typos. Every book has some. Some. This book had typos on nearly every. single. page. That is not an exaggeration. Missing punctuation, missing words, doubled words, words in the wrong order, spelling errors, words used incorrectly. It was so irritating and it pulled me out of the story every time.
The actual story was only meh for me. The main character, Ara, who is supposed to be this legendary Loresmith, was the most boring character ever, holy crap. And because I didn't care about her at all, I didn't care about her romance with another character that I could actually stand - Teth.
This is very much a travel story and a setup for a series. The pacing was sort of all over the place with the end feeling overly rushed after such a slow beginning.
If I hadn't impulsively bought the hardcover and then had my book club choose it as a bonus book for the month of May, I would not have been able to finish this. Am I going to read the sequel? Maybe, because I hate myself. And while the story was truly a solid meh, I want to know what happens to Teth and Princess Nimhea. Also, I don't like not finishing a series.
I appreciated the map in this and the okay world-building.
June 22, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I would have hoped. It was well written and intriguing, but the pace was a bit slow for a ya fantasy. I liked the characters, but I felt I didn’t get to know them very well throughout the book. Overall, I’d say this was a good book, but not great. I don’t know that I feel the need to continue the series even though I do wonder what happens next.
I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I would have hoped. It was well written and intriguing, but the pace was a bit slow for a ya fantasy. I liked the characters, but I felt I didn’t get to know them very well throughout the book. Overall, I’d say this was a good book, but not great. I don’t know that I feel the need to continue the series even though I do wonder what happens next.
May 11, 2020
The bestselling author of the Nightshade series is back. Forged in Fire and Stars, her first book in a new fantasy series, is about a young woman, Ara, who is fated to become a legendary blacksmith. As the next Loresmith, she would have the gods-given power to forge magical weapons to save her conquered kingdom of Saetlund from an evil regime; but the people (and even the gods) have lost faith in the Loresmith. To prove she’s worthy of her destiny, Ara joins forces with the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon, who escaped when Saetlund's king was overthrown fifteen years ago, as well as with a mysterious (and handsome) thief. Their thrilling and dangerous quest to retake the throne and reclaim a lost legendary power to save their world from dark forces will appeal to fans of Sabaa Tahir and Leigh Bardugo, among other popular YA fantasy authors. (Indie Next)
July 7, 2022
Book: Forged in Fire and Stars
Author: Andrea Roberston
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I was due for another miss and I got it. I think that this author just isn’t for me. This is the second book I’ve picked up by her and I’ve not had a good time with either one. I suppose this is why there are so many different books and authors out there.
For off, this book is compared to Game of Thrones and An Ember in the Ashes, which I can sort of see. We open with an intense action sequence that sets the book up. I will admit that this opening scene was well done and made me think that this was going to be a four or five-star read. We have that hook and are given just enough information to bring us into the world. In the battle sequence, the characters all fight into how this book was marketed. Then, we have a time jump and we are following not a new set of characters, but they are different from the start of the book. it was jarring and I was lost. However, I kept going. After all, it does take some time to get into fantasy.
We are following Ara. She is familiar with the Loresmith, who is a blacksmith who has been picked by the gods to protect the people and make magical objects. Right away, we get a sense that she is important. However, we don’t know all that much about her. Within a few pages of meeting her, she is kidnapped and we are supposed to care. Now, other books that I love do this very same thing. It’s to build up the tension and it normally works. An Ember in the Ashes does this and does it very well. We don’t know our characters, but something bad is happening to them. However, I found that it didn’t work here. Yes, I like the action. I felt that we were never given the chance to truly get to know Ara. We know she’s important, but we don’t know her as a person. By not giving us a chance to get to know her, it makes it very difficult to form any kind of connection with her. I never understand why we were supposed to care about what is happening to her.
The world-building and magic systems are solid. We have the gods who call on people to make these weapons and protect the people. However, they must never engage in fighting. An evil empire invaded this world and the old Loresmith gave up his life with the hopes of saving everyone. It didn’t work. Now, this evil empire is in control and those with any connection to the old empire are on the run or/and in hiding. Ara is one of those people and she doesn’t know it. Now, she must go on this quest to reclaim her past and stop the empire. She is joined by the old king’s twin children. We get a deep dive into the world and the mythology behind it. To me, this was well done. Had the entire book been done this way, it would have gotten a much higher rating.
However, the plot made us lose whatever ground we make up in the world-building and magic system. It was super predictable. All of the twists and turns went right to where I thought they would. Now, I do enjoy my predictable books, but this one was too much. I wanted something unexpected to happen. The plot is slower-paced too, which is fine in the first book of fantasy. You do have to take time to develop that world and let us see it. You are also supposed to use this time to develop characters, but that didn’t happen.
Overall, I think the bones of an amazing read are here. However, it just wasn’t for me.
Author: Andrea Roberston
Rating: 1 Out of 5 Stars
I was due for another miss and I got it. I think that this author just isn’t for me. This is the second book I’ve picked up by her and I’ve not had a good time with either one. I suppose this is why there are so many different books and authors out there.
For off, this book is compared to Game of Thrones and An Ember in the Ashes, which I can sort of see. We open with an intense action sequence that sets the book up. I will admit that this opening scene was well done and made me think that this was going to be a four or five-star read. We have that hook and are given just enough information to bring us into the world. In the battle sequence, the characters all fight into how this book was marketed. Then, we have a time jump and we are following not a new set of characters, but they are different from the start of the book. it was jarring and I was lost. However, I kept going. After all, it does take some time to get into fantasy.
We are following Ara. She is familiar with the Loresmith, who is a blacksmith who has been picked by the gods to protect the people and make magical objects. Right away, we get a sense that she is important. However, we don’t know all that much about her. Within a few pages of meeting her, she is kidnapped and we are supposed to care. Now, other books that I love do this very same thing. It’s to build up the tension and it normally works. An Ember in the Ashes does this and does it very well. We don’t know our characters, but something bad is happening to them. However, I found that it didn’t work here. Yes, I like the action. I felt that we were never given the chance to truly get to know Ara. We know she’s important, but we don’t know her as a person. By not giving us a chance to get to know her, it makes it very difficult to form any kind of connection with her. I never understand why we were supposed to care about what is happening to her.
The world-building and magic systems are solid. We have the gods who call on people to make these weapons and protect the people. However, they must never engage in fighting. An evil empire invaded this world and the old Loresmith gave up his life with the hopes of saving everyone. It didn’t work. Now, this evil empire is in control and those with any connection to the old empire are on the run or/and in hiding. Ara is one of those people and she doesn’t know it. Now, she must go on this quest to reclaim her past and stop the empire. She is joined by the old king’s twin children. We get a deep dive into the world and the mythology behind it. To me, this was well done. Had the entire book been done this way, it would have gotten a much higher rating.
However, the plot made us lose whatever ground we make up in the world-building and magic system. It was super predictable. All of the twists and turns went right to where I thought they would. Now, I do enjoy my predictable books, but this one was too much. I wanted something unexpected to happen. The plot is slower-paced too, which is fine in the first book of fantasy. You do have to take time to develop that world and let us see it. You are also supposed to use this time to develop characters, but that didn’t happen.
Overall, I think the bones of an amazing read are here. However, it just wasn’t for me.
June 16, 2020
**Disclaimer: I was given a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.**
Title Forged in Fire and Stars
Author Andrea Robertson
Release Date May 5, 2020
Description from Amazon
Ara has always known the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of Saetlund, forging legendary weapons to arm warriors and protect the kingdom. She’s been told it’s her fate to inherit the title and become the next Loresmith. But since the monarchy’s downfall in a vicious conquest years before, Ara has never truly believed she would be able to take up her duty.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne and return Ara to her place as the Loresmith–Ara’s whole world turns upside down.
Suddenly, Ara must leave her small mountain village and embark on a dangerous adventure where she will uncover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even face the gods themselves. With a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, and dark forces following their every move, Ara must use all her skills to forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.
Initial Thoughts
I was super excited when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this book early. It has been on my TBR for a while now and the premise sounded really interesting.
Some Things I Liked
Lore and mythology. This book felt like it was inspired by Norse mythology and I loved the way lore and gods were woven into the history of the world.
Unexpected turns. I’ve read a ton of YA books and I sometimes find that the plots can be a bit formulaic or predictable. I can honestly say this book kept me guessing. Not in a bad way, mind you. I felt like the plot twists were well executed and there were subtle hints to them earlier on.
That ending. Wow. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The age of the main character was my one issue with this book. Ara was 15 which just felt a little young for the responsibility and expectations the adult characters had for her. I know this is YA but typically YA is characterized with adults who are not present or totally evil. Ara had her grandmother and I found it odd that she was so quick to let her leave for her quest with basically some random kids she met. It’s a small critique, but I’d have preferred if Ara was a smidge older. It would have made the story feel more realistic.
Series Value
I would definitely keep reading this series. I have many unanswered questions and I’m eager to know more about these characters.
Furthermore, I think that this series has high re-read value. There are so many details in this book and I’d definitely want them fresh in my mind as I read the next installment.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. It has really good bones for the start of a series and I’d gladly keep reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa – if you liked the concept of “found family” in Forged in Fire and Stars, check out this finished series by Julie Kagawa.
Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynn E. Maetani – again, if you liked the idea of a “found family” or where the main character has to gather warriors to fight with her, try this standalone based on Japanese mythology.
Title Forged in Fire and Stars
Author Andrea Robertson
Release Date May 5, 2020
Description from Amazon
Ara has always known the legend of the Loresmith: the blacksmith who served alongside the kings and queens of Saetlund, forging legendary weapons to arm warriors and protect the kingdom. She’s been told it’s her fate to inherit the title and become the next Loresmith. But since the monarchy’s downfall in a vicious conquest years before, Ara has never truly believed she would be able to take up her duty.
But when the lost Princess Nimhea and Prince Eamon steal Ara from her quiet life with a mission to retake the throne and return Ara to her place as the Loresmith–Ara’s whole world turns upside down.
Suddenly, Ara must leave her small mountain village and embark on a dangerous adventure where she will uncover new truths about her family’s legacy, and even face the gods themselves. With a mysterious thief as an unexpected companion, and dark forces following their every move, Ara must use all her skills to forge the right path forward–for herself, her kingdom, and her heart.
Initial Thoughts
I was super excited when Penguin Teen offered me the chance to review this book early. It has been on my TBR for a while now and the premise sounded really interesting.
Some Things I Liked
Lore and mythology. This book felt like it was inspired by Norse mythology and I loved the way lore and gods were woven into the history of the world.
Unexpected turns. I’ve read a ton of YA books and I sometimes find that the plots can be a bit formulaic or predictable. I can honestly say this book kept me guessing. Not in a bad way, mind you. I felt like the plot twists were well executed and there were subtle hints to them earlier on.
That ending. Wow. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
The age of the main character was my one issue with this book. Ara was 15 which just felt a little young for the responsibility and expectations the adult characters had for her. I know this is YA but typically YA is characterized with adults who are not present or totally evil. Ara had her grandmother and I found it odd that she was so quick to let her leave for her quest with basically some random kids she met. It’s a small critique, but I’d have preferred if Ara was a smidge older. It would have made the story feel more realistic.
Series Value
I would definitely keep reading this series. I have many unanswered questions and I’m eager to know more about these characters.
Furthermore, I think that this series has high re-read value. There are so many details in this book and I’d definitely want them fresh in my mind as I read the next installment.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. It has really good bones for the start of a series and I’d gladly keep reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendations for Further Reading
Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa – if you liked the concept of “found family” in Forged in Fire and Stars, check out this finished series by Julie Kagawa.
Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda and Valynn E. Maetani – again, if you liked the idea of a “found family” or where the main character has to gather warriors to fight with her, try this standalone based on Japanese mythology.
July 9, 2021
“𝗔𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁. 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀.”—Andrea Robertson
This story grew on me, page by page. Filled with quests, an awesome book map, gods, lore, and a fight to regain a kingdom, it had a Viking-esk feel that captured my attention. There were a few timeless tropes like lost heirs, earned birthright, coming of age, betrayal, and found family that I really enjoyed. The characters were each unique and I especially loved Teth and Fox. While this book was a little slow, repetitive, and bloated in the beginning for world building purposes, it was a pleasant light-hearted read. And the second half moved faster.
First and foremost, this was a coming of age. Heirs to a kingdom unite with a legendary figure from lore who must also come into her own birthright. Together they go on a quest across the kingdom, hiding from enemies and facing tests. There wasn’t a whole lot of “newness” here. But it was still fun. However, I was a little disappointed. Here’s why:
Marketed as Game of Thrones meets An Ember in the Ashes, I expected a bit more. The action wasn’t as high-stakes as I was led to believe. Even for a YA. This might have been a marketing mistake. If I had gone in blind, it would’ve been fine. The story was written for a much younger YA audience (15-year-olds vs an older later teens). But it was sweet and didn’t fill me with anxiety like some edge-of-your-seat books tend to do. And I’m definitely looking forward to the next book coming out in a few weeks! I’ve come to really like the characters.
“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗮𝗻. 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.”—Andrea Robertson
I do want to highlight a couple of things I especially enjoyed. Firstly, the idea of the Loresmith and Loreknights. I’ve never seen a book with a female blacksmith who has the power to forge legendary weapons. In this sense, it defied gender roles and I appreciate that. Secondly, there was also a hint of queer representation. I liked that too. And finally, I appreciated that Ara’s abilities were tied to a few key personality traits, and that her power was limited to one important rule: she was never allowed to lift her hand against someone unless in defense. This would insure that she would never misuse her power.
Overall, this is a lovely read for adults who enjoy YA fantasy and are looking for something low-key and enjoyable. That makes it the perfect read for the end of a stressful day. And it will absolutely appeal to the general YA audience it was intended for.
𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝟰/𝟱⭐️
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