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Heirs of Tenebris #1
Fire & Flight
There are those that tell stories about the legends of the Shadow Forest, of magical waters that grant your deepest desires, and of times long ago when ancient sorcerers wielded unnatural power.
After the death of her family and the appearance of strange physical changes she cannot explain, seventeen-year-old Nyla begins to wonder if she might be cursed with magic herself. Without a home and longing for the family she's lost, Nyla retreats into herself.
But when her new plan for answers brings her to a crossroads with a fellow traveler named Xander-whose own painful past is also a mystery-Nyla must decide if she can trust a stranger. But even if she can learn to trust, could her very connection to Xander place them both in peril?
With an ominous force gaining power in Nyla's homeland, she must choose how far she is willing to go to find answers when not only her fate-but possibly all of Tenebris-depends on it.
Fire & Flight is Brianna R. Shaffery's debut novel and the first novel in the epic young adult Fantasy trilogy Heirs of Tenebris.
After the death of her family and the appearance of strange physical changes she cannot explain, seventeen-year-old Nyla begins to wonder if she might be cursed with magic herself. Without a home and longing for the family she's lost, Nyla retreats into herself.
But when her new plan for answers brings her to a crossroads with a fellow traveler named Xander-whose own painful past is also a mystery-Nyla must decide if she can trust a stranger. But even if she can learn to trust, could her very connection to Xander place them both in peril?
With an ominous force gaining power in Nyla's homeland, she must choose how far she is willing to go to find answers when not only her fate-but possibly all of Tenebris-depends on it.
Fire & Flight is Brianna R. Shaffery's debut novel and the first novel in the epic young adult Fantasy trilogy Heirs of Tenebris.
- GenresFantasy
422 pages, Paperback
Published June 3, 2022
22 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Brianna R. Shaffery
4 books12 followersBrianna R. Shaffery is a speculative fiction author known for her award-winning young adult fantasy trilogy, the Heirs of Tenebris. Always looking toward her next project, Brianna has also written several novellas that can be read on her website, BRSwrites.com.
Aside from her love of literature, Brianna can often be found listening to music while engaged in some kind of craft or whipping up one of her favorite desserts.
Follow along on her journey by following Brianna on social media or by signing up for her newsletter at BRSwrites.com/newsletter, which includes exclusive insights, writing updates, and bonus content from her books.
Aside from her love of literature, Brianna can often be found listening to music while engaged in some kind of craft or whipping up one of her favorite desserts.
Follow along on her journey by following Brianna on social media or by signing up for her newsletter at BRSwrites.com/newsletter, which includes exclusive insights, writing updates, and bonus content from her books.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 6, 2023
'Fire & Flight' is a masterpiece of fantasy adventure that's bound to become a timeless favorite. The magic and mystery that infuse the story keep you eagerly turning the pages, allowing you to feel like a silent witness to Nyla and Xander's extraordinary journey.
If you're a fan of richly crafted fantasy narratives, this is a must-read that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this remarkable series."
This book introduces readers to an imaginative realm that sparks curiosity and leaves you yearning for more.
"Embark on a mesmerizing journey into a world of legends and magic.' The story follows seventeen-year-old Nyla, a young woman grappling with personal tragedy and unexplainable changes that hint at a hidden magic within her.
Nyla's heart-rending loss and inner struggles draw readers into her world, where she seeks solace from her newfound reality. But destiny takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Xander, a fellow traveler whose own past is shrouded in enigma. As Nyla and Xander's fates become intertwined, their journey becomes a test of trust and courage.
The exploration of trust, connection, and the allure of hidden powers adds layers of depth to the story, making it a compelling read for young adult fantasy enthusiasts.
What sets this novel apart is its ability to maintain an engaging pace without sacrificing depth.
The well-constructed story arc is another highlight, delivering a purposeful narrative that grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go. Author's storytelling prowess shines through, resulting in a tightly woven tale.
If you're a fan of richly crafted fantasy narratives, this is a must-read that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this remarkable series."
This book introduces readers to an imaginative realm that sparks curiosity and leaves you yearning for more.
"Embark on a mesmerizing journey into a world of legends and magic.' The story follows seventeen-year-old Nyla, a young woman grappling with personal tragedy and unexplainable changes that hint at a hidden magic within her.
Nyla's heart-rending loss and inner struggles draw readers into her world, where she seeks solace from her newfound reality. But destiny takes an unexpected turn when she crosses paths with Xander, a fellow traveler whose own past is shrouded in enigma. As Nyla and Xander's fates become intertwined, their journey becomes a test of trust and courage.
The exploration of trust, connection, and the allure of hidden powers adds layers of depth to the story, making it a compelling read for young adult fantasy enthusiasts.
What sets this novel apart is its ability to maintain an engaging pace without sacrificing depth.
The well-constructed story arc is another highlight, delivering a purposeful narrative that grips you from the very first page and doesn't let go. Author's storytelling prowess shines through, resulting in a tightly woven tale.
June 24, 2023
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you
A young girl left without a home and family and a fear of strangers. Does she possess magic and why is she drawn back to her homeland after fleeing all that transpired.
Exciting. A wonderful story of sorcery and magic with a cast of characters that have you turning pages to follow what happens next.
A young girl left without a home and family and a fear of strangers. Does she possess magic and why is she drawn back to her homeland after fleeing all that transpired.
Exciting. A wonderful story of sorcery and magic with a cast of characters that have you turning pages to follow what happens next.
June 30, 2023
A well developed coming of age story with found friends, intrigue, magic and great world building.
August 25, 2022
absolutely. loved. fire & flight is an amazingly written book with absolutely beautiful imagery and descriptions. tenebris is an interesting world that draws you in immediately, with in depth characters and creative creatures. I loved Nyla and Xander's stories and personalities and i can't wait to read the rest of their journey!
January 6, 2024
First read of 2024!
Summary:
After the death of her family and the appearance of strange physical changes she cannot explain, seventeen-year-old Nyla begins to wonder if she might be cursed with magic herself. Without a home and longing for the family she’s lost, Nyla retreats into herself. But when her new plan for answers brings her to a crossroads with a fellow traveler named Xander—whose own painful past is also a mystery—Nyla must decide if she can trust a stranger.
Title: Fire & Flight
Author: Brianna R. Shaffery
@brs_writes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
No spice
Tropes:
Adventure
Magic/Fantasy World
Reluctant Partners
Quest
Triggers:
Loss of parents
Childhood trauma/PTSD
Whitney’s Thoughts:
This book was such a good read! It has a slower pace and a really calming effect while still having a lot of action and adventure. There is a lot more introspection and inner dialogue than actual conversation between characters, so be aware of that. The amount of creativity Brianna put into this world-building is so impressive!
Summary:
After the death of her family and the appearance of strange physical changes she cannot explain, seventeen-year-old Nyla begins to wonder if she might be cursed with magic herself. Without a home and longing for the family she’s lost, Nyla retreats into herself. But when her new plan for answers brings her to a crossroads with a fellow traveler named Xander—whose own painful past is also a mystery—Nyla must decide if she can trust a stranger.
Title: Fire & Flight
Author: Brianna R. Shaffery
@brs_writes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
No spice
Tropes:
Adventure
Magic/Fantasy World
Reluctant Partners
Quest
Triggers:
Loss of parents
Childhood trauma/PTSD
Whitney’s Thoughts:
This book was such a good read! It has a slower pace and a really calming effect while still having a lot of action and adventure. There is a lot more introspection and inner dialogue than actual conversation between characters, so be aware of that. The amount of creativity Brianna put into this world-building is so impressive!
November 13, 2024
Plot: Fire and Flight at first seemed to follow the steps of a typical hero’s journey, with a chosen one and an ominous villain spying on our heros, and a quest for the mystical Fortune Falls, which Nyla hopes will grant her clarity in the grief following her family’s death. But I was surprised when Nyla and Xander found the Falls relatively early in the book. They continue traveling together as the Fall’s vision gives her new insights into her past and future, and the story takes on new stakes as the pair needs to discover the truth about who cursed their world and how to fix it. The shifting priorities keep the story interesting, and I can tell there’s room for them to grow in the next two books in this trilogy, as the protagonists have only just begun to explore the true gravity of their situation.
Characters: Nyla starts the book depressed and reserved, with no social skills and refusing to take care of herself. Nyla’s relationship with her own magic is tumultuous. At first she doesn’t realize she even has magic (although the anime hair and lilac eyes should be a giveaway), and once it starts manifesting, she has no training with it so she’s afraid of what she can do. Her past keeps coming back to haunt her, and she doesn’t know how to deal with the things that she’s seeing.
Xander is also lost, and running from his past, but he’s directionless and fixes his hopes on Nyla. They meet by chance – they hide in the same hollow during a thunderstorm, he happens to have a map, and they’re traveling in the same direction – towards the falls – so they stick together. Over the course of the story, she slowly opens up to Xander as she has to rely on his help, and he finds purpose in helping her. At the same time, it takes them a long time to actually develop any kind of chemistry with each other because both of them have trust issues. Once they actually start talking to each other, their relationship is quite wholesome and I enjoyed their dynamic.
The villains are ominous and creepy, campy and fun. They’re involved from a distance throughout most of the book, but become more hands-on once the protagonists reach their final destination. There’s also a mentor/animal companion kind of character who’s a lot of fun. However, usually mentors arrive at the beginning of the quest, so I though it was somewhat surprising that she arrives very late in the book. I’m excited to see more of the dynamics between these side characters develop in later books as well.
World-building: The magic system in this book is very soft and serves the narrative. When the mentor character explains it briefly in chapter 21, it’s explained as an elemental system where magic cannot be created or destroyed and there is fire, water, earth, air, and energy magic. But we also see astral projection, dream manipulation, time mirrors, and other magic items in the story, so it’s unclear what magic is actually capable of. Nyla barely gets any training, and most of her magic use is intuitive. That being said, the dream sequence fight scenes are badass so I can’t complain.
The politics of the kingdom, it’s sub-regions, and the different factions that led to the wars and curses is clearly well developed, but the exposition is somewhat clunky and repetitive. It took me a couple skims to truly understand what was going on. But it’s a cool world and an interesting conflict the characters find themselves in! I’m curious to see how Nyla and Xander approach their fates in the rest of the series.
Pacing: This book starts slow. Much of it is spent traveling from one location to another, and Xander makes sure to have them rest every night, sometimes several times a day, and goes hunting for food. While important to teach Nyla how to accept help and take care of herself, these breaks drag the pace to a screeching halt, and I often struggled to pick up the book again when the characters felt no urgency to keep moving. It picks up once they reach the Falls though, and gets a lot tighter closer to the finale!
Characters: Nyla starts the book depressed and reserved, with no social skills and refusing to take care of herself. Nyla’s relationship with her own magic is tumultuous. At first she doesn’t realize she even has magic (although the anime hair and lilac eyes should be a giveaway), and once it starts manifesting, she has no training with it so she’s afraid of what she can do. Her past keeps coming back to haunt her, and she doesn’t know how to deal with the things that she’s seeing.
Xander is also lost, and running from his past, but he’s directionless and fixes his hopes on Nyla. They meet by chance – they hide in the same hollow during a thunderstorm, he happens to have a map, and they’re traveling in the same direction – towards the falls – so they stick together. Over the course of the story, she slowly opens up to Xander as she has to rely on his help, and he finds purpose in helping her. At the same time, it takes them a long time to actually develop any kind of chemistry with each other because both of them have trust issues. Once they actually start talking to each other, their relationship is quite wholesome and I enjoyed their dynamic.
The villains are ominous and creepy, campy and fun. They’re involved from a distance throughout most of the book, but become more hands-on once the protagonists reach their final destination. There’s also a mentor/animal companion kind of character who’s a lot of fun. However, usually mentors arrive at the beginning of the quest, so I though it was somewhat surprising that she arrives very late in the book. I’m excited to see more of the dynamics between these side characters develop in later books as well.
World-building: The magic system in this book is very soft and serves the narrative. When the mentor character explains it briefly in chapter 21, it’s explained as an elemental system where magic cannot be created or destroyed and there is fire, water, earth, air, and energy magic. But we also see astral projection, dream manipulation, time mirrors, and other magic items in the story, so it’s unclear what magic is actually capable of. Nyla barely gets any training, and most of her magic use is intuitive. That being said, the dream sequence fight scenes are badass so I can’t complain.
The politics of the kingdom, it’s sub-regions, and the different factions that led to the wars and curses is clearly well developed, but the exposition is somewhat clunky and repetitive. It took me a couple skims to truly understand what was going on. But it’s a cool world and an interesting conflict the characters find themselves in! I’m curious to see how Nyla and Xander approach their fates in the rest of the series.
Pacing: This book starts slow. Much of it is spent traveling from one location to another, and Xander makes sure to have them rest every night, sometimes several times a day, and goes hunting for food. While important to teach Nyla how to accept help and take care of herself, these breaks drag the pace to a screeching halt, and I often struggled to pick up the book again when the characters felt no urgency to keep moving. It picks up once they reach the Falls though, and gets a lot tighter closer to the finale!
December 14, 2024
Copied from Storygraph review: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews...
adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Okay, so I was feeling like I was being dramatic when reading this kept making me wish to live in the past/ a world without capitalism and rushing around etc etc
Then on page 253, Xander says a line, and I was right! That's the whole point, seems like!
So, on to the review:
Okay, so first the vibes because this is my review and I can structure it how I want lol
So, off the bat, the vibes are wholesome, calm, soft.
It's slow-paced, and has very little dialogue in the first half of the book.
But it works with the theme that we're told the book is, i.e. The synopsis
See, the synopsis specifically calls it a book about support system and healing after hurt.
And the book really does follow that theme of helping you heal.
We start 2 years after Nyla faces a traumatic life changing event (her whole family is dead now).
Now, when you're writing characters who have gone through something you can write it a few ways:
Immediate reaction. The grief, denial, anger etc
Moving on, they're over it. They'll never be the same now and it's part of their tragic backstory, but they've learnt and grown
In the process of recovery
Or, you can write that they're stuck in the process and aren't moving forward.
Now, all of these are fine and would be great representation for different people.
This book is #3 and #4. They're both grieving and stuck, and only when they meet each other and help each other do they start their road to recovery (and it's apparent! Nyla and Xander get some of their spunk back and mess with each other and it's a really lovely friendship 💖)
Criticisms
The blurb makes it seem the book is about their journey to Fortune Falls. But they find and exit Fortune Falls in a few pages in the middle of the book. It's obvious the plot is about what they learnt at the Falls, but it's still jarring when they reach and leave and then I'm left with figuring out the plot with the characters.
Though, the plot is very spoiler-y so I do appreciate them trying to keep it super hidden on the blurb.
Who this book is for:
It's for people healing or wanting to slow down. There's very little dialogue for the first half and then the characters are getting to know each other and what they want to do and where they're headed.
It's slow-paced, even when the plot starts, because these two are hurt and grieving and so it makes sense they don't chase after the plot.
If you're someone who's hurting, grieving, or healing (like I was when I started this book), then it'll make you cry. Yes, it made me cry thinking about it, and my friend called it an "anchor" because I desperately needed some healing and the wholesome and soft and calm vibes were exactly what seemed like I needed at the time. So much that I didn't want the book to end, which was me being desperate lol. (I was in a really bad place).
But, I got a bit better, and I continued reading, and I hope it makes you feel better.
(I read half the 2nd book, and it's not as slow paced and is very plot-y, so enjoy the calmness of this one while you're recovering, then, get back into plot with the 2nd one lol, if that's what recovered you looks like :))
adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Okay, so I was feeling like I was being dramatic when reading this kept making me wish to live in the past/ a world without capitalism and rushing around etc etc
Then on page 253, Xander says a line, and I was right! That's the whole point, seems like!
So, on to the review:
Okay, so first the vibes because this is my review and I can structure it how I want lol
So, off the bat, the vibes are wholesome, calm, soft.
It's slow-paced, and has very little dialogue in the first half of the book.
But it works with the theme that we're told the book is, i.e. The synopsis
See, the synopsis specifically calls it a book about support system and healing after hurt.
And the book really does follow that theme of helping you heal.
We start 2 years after Nyla faces a traumatic life changing event (her whole family is dead now).
Now, when you're writing characters who have gone through something you can write it a few ways:
Immediate reaction. The grief, denial, anger etc
Moving on, they're over it. They'll never be the same now and it's part of their tragic backstory, but they've learnt and grown
In the process of recovery
Or, you can write that they're stuck in the process and aren't moving forward.
Now, all of these are fine and would be great representation for different people.
This book is #3 and #4. They're both grieving and stuck, and only when they meet each other and help each other do they start their road to recovery (and it's apparent! Nyla and Xander get some of their spunk back and mess with each other and it's a really lovely friendship 💖)
Criticisms
The blurb makes it seem the book is about their journey to Fortune Falls. But they find and exit Fortune Falls in a few pages in the middle of the book. It's obvious the plot is about what they learnt at the Falls, but it's still jarring when they reach and leave and then I'm left with figuring out the plot with the characters.
Though, the plot is very spoiler-y so I do appreciate them trying to keep it super hidden on the blurb.
Who this book is for:
It's for people healing or wanting to slow down. There's very little dialogue for the first half and then the characters are getting to know each other and what they want to do and where they're headed.
It's slow-paced, even when the plot starts, because these two are hurt and grieving and so it makes sense they don't chase after the plot.
If you're someone who's hurting, grieving, or healing (like I was when I started this book), then it'll make you cry. Yes, it made me cry thinking about it, and my friend called it an "anchor" because I desperately needed some healing and the wholesome and soft and calm vibes were exactly what seemed like I needed at the time. So much that I didn't want the book to end, which was me being desperate lol. (I was in a really bad place).
But, I got a bit better, and I continued reading, and I hope it makes you feel better.
(I read half the 2nd book, and it's not as slow paced and is very plot-y, so enjoy the calmness of this one while you're recovering, then, get back into plot with the 2nd one lol, if that's what recovered you looks like :))
September 19, 2025
I loved the main characters! Nyla and Xander are such fantastic people to go on this adventure with. I found Nyla to be so relatable and Xander hilarious. I loved seeing them interact, and diving into the psyche of each as they grapple with their pasts and navigate the perilous present. Also, the worldbuilding is incredibly impressive. The customs, seasons, and creatures of Tenebris are so well-developed down to the most precise detail. My favorite places were the Shadow Forest and Fortune Falls, locations which were shaped by magic. And I loved the role of magic in this world, much of which is still being revealed!
The dialogue is spot-on and the craft of language is stellar. There was so much mystery and suspense throughout the story, punctuated by intense action scenes!
With Fire and Flight, this story is just beginning. There are so many secrets still unrevealed and Tenebris’ magical history to discover. I can’t wait to see how these will unfold in the next installment!
The dialogue is spot-on and the craft of language is stellar. There was so much mystery and suspense throughout the story, punctuated by intense action scenes!
With Fire and Flight, this story is just beginning. There are so many secrets still unrevealed and Tenebris’ magical history to discover. I can’t wait to see how these will unfold in the next installment!
February 23, 2025
Review of Fire & Flight by Brianna R. Shaffery
This is the 1st book in the TENEBRIS trilogy and my introduction via Indie visible events to author Brianna Shaffery's storytelling.
Some of the highlights for me:
Two youngsters Nyla & Xander connecting with each other on a deep level & coming to terms with great personal tragedy & loss.
Discovery of the main protagonist's Nyla's developing powers.
A magical cat! Loved this.
Powerful enemies.
It's a book full of emotion, heart and magic. I really enjoyed it and can recommend to young adult fantasy readers. And there is more to come as this is a series!
This is the 1st book in the TENEBRIS trilogy and my introduction via Indie visible events to author Brianna Shaffery's storytelling.
Some of the highlights for me:
Two youngsters Nyla & Xander connecting with each other on a deep level & coming to terms with great personal tragedy & loss.
Discovery of the main protagonist's Nyla's developing powers.
A magical cat! Loved this.
Powerful enemies.
It's a book full of emotion, heart and magic. I really enjoyed it and can recommend to young adult fantasy readers. And there is more to come as this is a series!
November 7, 2025
4.5 stars. Excellent high fantasy! I loved the descriptions of the lush, mysterious shadow forest. The characters were relatable and endearing, even (and maybe especially) when Nyla and Xander got on each other's nerves. Their banter was refreshing and funny. My favourite character, however, was the pumpkie (a magical catlike race) called Shamira. Her feline demeanor and deadpan comments were the perfect addition to the group.
I'm looking forward to the next book where the action seems like it will intensify (half a star removed for this rating because the book started out a little slow. But the ending was satisfying and made me curious to find out what's next).
I'm looking forward to the next book where the action seems like it will intensify (half a star removed for this rating because the book started out a little slow. But the ending was satisfying and made me curious to find out what's next).
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews