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An Amulet of Stars and Fire
An annual family trip to Scotland becomes a catalyst that shatters everything Lorali thought she knew and set her life plan ablaze.
Magick ran through her veins, and she was born to lead...
not that anyone bothered to tell her that.
The power within her should be enough to deter any threat, if only she knew how to use it. Her family hid the truth in hopes of keeping her and her brother safe, knowing some would do anything to control them - instead they may have made them sitting targets.
How much longer can they be kept a secret, and can they learn to wield the power they were born with before the truth is revealed?
Magick ran through her veins, and she was born to lead...
not that anyone bothered to tell her that.
The power within her should be enough to deter any threat, if only she knew how to use it. Her family hid the truth in hopes of keeping her and her brother safe, knowing some would do anything to control them - instead they may have made them sitting targets.
How much longer can they be kept a secret, and can they learn to wield the power they were born with before the truth is revealed?
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2022
14 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
J.L. Casten
7 books25 followersAuthor also writes under Jessica Coffey
JL was an Army brat, who then married a soldier, only to become one herself. She has lived a nomadic existence and attended 7 schools before she was 10. She loves the rich and nuanced world she was exposed to traveling and living around the globe. She is now a disabled Army Veteran who loves to write stories and release them for the world to escape into. She is a married mother of 4 and lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
JL was an Army brat, who then married a soldier, only to become one herself. She has lived a nomadic existence and attended 7 schools before she was 10. She loves the rich and nuanced world she was exposed to traveling and living around the globe. She is now a disabled Army Veteran who loves to write stories and release them for the world to escape into. She is a married mother of 4 and lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 12, 2022
I love, love, LOVE this book.
Lorelei is an eighteen-year-old girl, on the cusp of adulthood, who has outgrown her family's tradition of going home to Scotland for Christmas break. For whatever reason, her parents just won't let up and refuse to let her carve her own path. She finds herself once again in Scotland for her winter break only... nothing is as it seems.
I devoured this book. It took me a night to read. It was hard to put down. I really liked the dynamics between Lor and her family. This is a great fantasy book with so many elements I'm sure readers would love. It has an interesting magic system the author does an amazing job showing the reader. J.L. does an amazing job pulling you into the story, with beautiful writing you can read seamlessly until you look up and realize you're on the last page.
Definitely pick this one up!
Lorelei is an eighteen-year-old girl, on the cusp of adulthood, who has outgrown her family's tradition of going home to Scotland for Christmas break. For whatever reason, her parents just won't let up and refuse to let her carve her own path. She finds herself once again in Scotland for her winter break only... nothing is as it seems.
I devoured this book. It took me a night to read. It was hard to put down. I really liked the dynamics between Lor and her family. This is a great fantasy book with so many elements I'm sure readers would love. It has an interesting magic system the author does an amazing job showing the reader. J.L. does an amazing job pulling you into the story, with beautiful writing you can read seamlessly until you look up and realize you're on the last page.
Definitely pick this one up!
April 27, 2022
The beginning was a little slow, but there were some great characters to get to know and some solid world building. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
April 28, 2022
I received an arc of this book and this is my honest opinion on this book.
Reading this book at first was a bit dull since the first few chapters are more focused on story building but once you get past them, does the story pick up and catch your interest.
Our main protagonist Lorali thought that she knew what her family history was but once her and her family go to their family’s homeland of Scotland does everything she knows changes drastically as family secrets are revealed and how what is revealed greatly impacts her future.
JL Casten has written a great book that has time travel, magic and much more and I cannot wait to read the next book to see how this story continues especially after she ended this book in a cliffhanger.
Reading this book at first was a bit dull since the first few chapters are more focused on story building but once you get past them, does the story pick up and catch your interest.
Our main protagonist Lorali thought that she knew what her family history was but once her and her family go to their family’s homeland of Scotland does everything she knows changes drastically as family secrets are revealed and how what is revealed greatly impacts her future.
JL Casten has written a great book that has time travel, magic and much more and I cannot wait to read the next book to see how this story continues especially after she ended this book in a cliffhanger.
April 29, 2022
An Amulet of Stars and Fire is an interesting fantasy fiction about a young adult woman finding out her family's secret and learning how to cope, while being thrown into danger.
Loreli loves her family but has grown to hate her annual family trip to Scotland. She graduated and wanted to go off on her own with a friend instead of sitting in a mansion in Scotland, with nothing to do, and a grandfather who doesn't even speak to her.
But this year is different. Secrets about their family come out while they travel to the mansion. Things feel off. Aunt Viv and her parents are bickering and Lor needs to find out what they're hiding. Unfortunately, danger is coming and forces Lor's parents and family to expose the secret they've kept from her all of her life... they're Guardians and they have Magick.
With this knowledge comes tests, unexpected events and guests, and relationships that are new and sensitive. Lor finds out her strength is unparalleled and has no control, learning a new power awakens every day, endangering her relationships one power at a time. She meets Wesley, a new Guardian from a different time, and his twin, Malakai, and has to figure out what she wants versus the feelings of those around her.
While this book starts off slow with a lot of descriptive memories and world building, it ramps up and you dive in to an 18 year old, grown, independent, woman's life. There is a huge cliffhanger that made me want to throw my kindle but I didn't and will have to impatiently wait for the next one in the series.
I was given an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review. The author did not purchase my review or persuade me in any way. These thoughts and words are my own.
Loreli loves her family but has grown to hate her annual family trip to Scotland. She graduated and wanted to go off on her own with a friend instead of sitting in a mansion in Scotland, with nothing to do, and a grandfather who doesn't even speak to her.
But this year is different. Secrets about their family come out while they travel to the mansion. Things feel off. Aunt Viv and her parents are bickering and Lor needs to find out what they're hiding. Unfortunately, danger is coming and forces Lor's parents and family to expose the secret they've kept from her all of her life... they're Guardians and they have Magick.
With this knowledge comes tests, unexpected events and guests, and relationships that are new and sensitive. Lor finds out her strength is unparalleled and has no control, learning a new power awakens every day, endangering her relationships one power at a time. She meets Wesley, a new Guardian from a different time, and his twin, Malakai, and has to figure out what she wants versus the feelings of those around her.
While this book starts off slow with a lot of descriptive memories and world building, it ramps up and you dive in to an 18 year old, grown, independent, woman's life. There is a huge cliffhanger that made me want to throw my kindle but I didn't and will have to impatiently wait for the next one in the series.
I was given an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review. The author did not purchase my review or persuade me in any way. These thoughts and words are my own.
May 13, 2022
This book was honestly a little hard to get into at first. The first few chapters are essentially setting up the story and giving you background on the story line and explaining several things. so it’s not super exciting and is kind of dull to start off. Once I got past the first few chapters I honestly loved the book and didn’t want to put it down.
I definitely would recommend it if this is the genre you like to read.
I definitely would recommend it if this is the genre you like to read.
June 19, 2022
This book is good, there are some parts that are confusing as far as description continuity and plot concepts aren’t explained as well as I would have liked to keep me invested in the story, but I’ll likely read the next book though I’m not in a rush.
SPOILER
This book deals heavily in time travel but I don’t think it was very well though out.
SPOILER
This book deals heavily in time travel but I don’t think it was very well though out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2022
This was an amazing read. I just went right through this book.
When I hit the back, I was a little disappointed. The author ended this in a big way and I am so impatient, but I loved the world building, magic system, and who doesn’t love some time travel? I am excited to see how Lor grows, I have a feeling she will be forced to through this series.
Can’t wait for book two!
When I hit the back, I was a little disappointed. The author ended this in a big way and I am so impatient, but I loved the world building, magic system, and who doesn’t love some time travel? I am excited to see how Lor grows, I have a feeling she will be forced to through this series.
Can’t wait for book two!
April 30, 2022
Awesome book
New author with amazing writing !
Good read for all ages.
Can't wait for the next one.
Great job JL Casten
New author with amazing writing !
Good read for all ages.
Can't wait for the next one.
Great job JL Casten
September 9, 2022
Hmmm
Not entirely sure on this one I normally love this genre of book but unfortunately struggled with this one not sure why though.
Not entirely sure on this one I normally love this genre of book but unfortunately struggled with this one not sure why though.
December 15, 2022
I love this book so much!
July 28, 2023
I had already bought this book almost a year ago and I am not one to let a book go to waste on my shelf. Last week I picked it up and read through it. The world building felt well thought out and gave me a taste of the richness that I am certain is to deepen as the series continues. I did think the first few chapters dragged but it picked up not all that far in. I enjoyed many aspects of the characters interactions with one another. It made it easier to connect to the deeper plot. That being said, I think anyone who loves a good fantasy story should feel right at home reading An Amulet of Stars and Fire. (May this author thrive as she weaves her world of dust and dreams.) Thanks for the story.
April 8, 2022
This book got its hooks in me pretty early so even when I was frustrated getting into it I couldn't just walk away. World building, magic system, characterization, all that take time and it's all really done well-- there are a lot of characters & they have distinct voices. An alternate tagline for this book could be "We lied but that's all we can say for now, we'll discuss it all tomorrow". Bless her heart, the main character Loreli is combative AF. There isn't a character in her world she doesn't argue with and that was frustrating after awhile. Her voice is spot on for a 19 year old girl.
The author really worked hard to lay the groundwork and I truly think it'll pay off. The book ended right as I was getting truly invested & it's a doozy of a cliffhanger!! I'm 100% on board for the sequel.
The author really worked hard to lay the groundwork and I truly think it'll pay off. The book ended right as I was getting truly invested & it's a doozy of a cliffhanger!! I'm 100% on board for the sequel.
April 30, 2022
I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review
18 year old Lorali is looking forward to her future, going to college and living with her best friend. She is not looking forward to her annual trip to Scotland to visit her father’s family. What she is really not expecting is to discover that her parents have been keeping a secret, her family has magic. Now Lorali’s future has changed, she has to learn to channel and control her power to help her family and friends face the threat that caused her parents to hide the magic from her in the first place.
It took me a little while to get into the story, but once Lorali gets to Scotland and discovers her magic, the pace really takes off. I really enjoyed the story, the characters were fully developed and the world building was interesting.
I will definitely read the next book
18 year old Lorali is looking forward to her future, going to college and living with her best friend. She is not looking forward to her annual trip to Scotland to visit her father’s family. What she is really not expecting is to discover that her parents have been keeping a secret, her family has magic. Now Lorali’s future has changed, she has to learn to channel and control her power to help her family and friends face the threat that caused her parents to hide the magic from her in the first place.
It took me a little while to get into the story, but once Lorali gets to Scotland and discovers her magic, the pace really takes off. I really enjoyed the story, the characters were fully developed and the world building was interesting.
I will definitely read the next book
April 26, 2022
I have just completed my arc read of “an amulet of stars and fire” and it was a really great read. It was fast paced, exciting and there were some very loveable characters. The plot of this book was constant moving and unraveling to show the real truths of this family. A majority of this book is based in Scotland and maybe that’s why I loved it so much! (Being from Scotland) I would definitely read this book If you are looking for a fantasy with lots of twists and turns
April 11, 2022
This story has magic, time travel, family secrets, secret society's and witch's.
This story gripped me from about 4 chapters in and is a nice, quick Read. I loved all aspects of this book and 100% can't wait to read book 2 when it is released.
This story gripped me from about 4 chapters in and is a nice, quick Read. I loved all aspects of this book and 100% can't wait to read book 2 when it is released.
April 26, 2022
The book got me hook I couldn’t put it down. The magic in it and the characters the story line. I recommend this book. Trust me you will not put it down . I can’t wait for the next chapter of book two I give 5/5
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews