Genre: Fantasy Age Range: YA Star Rating: 5 stars Series: Yes - first book
Synopsis:
Aurelia Isendare is a princess of a small kingdom in the North, raised in privilege but shielded from politics as her brother prepares to step up to the throne. Halfway around the world, Athan Dakar, the youngest son of a ruthless general, is a fighter pilot longing for a life away from the front lines. When Athan’s mother is shot and killed, his father is convinced it’s the work of his old rival, the Queen of Etania—Aurelia’s mother. Determined to avenge his wife’s murder, he devises a plot to overthrow the Queen, a plot which sends Athan undercover to Etania to gain intel from her children.
Athan’s mission becomes complicated when he finds himself falling for the girl he’s been tasked with spying upon. Aurelia feels the same attraction, all the while desperately seeking to stop the war threatening to break between the Southern territory and the old Northern kingdoms that control it—a war in which Athan’s father is determined to play a role. As diplomatic ties manage to just barely hold, the two teens struggle to remain loyal to their families and each other as they learn that war is not as black and white as they’ve been raised to believe.
Synopsis taken from Goodreads. Add to your shelves here.
Review:
I loved this book and wish I’d picked it up earlier. There are so many layers to the story that it’s impossible to know who you can trust, and who’s on who’s side. Trying to unravel the plans keep me reading later and later.
It’s so well written, the words evocative of petrol and secrets wrapped in a start glamour. The world is inspired by World War One, with aeroplanes focused on as the primary weapon of war (because of Athan). The atmosphere of industrialism and imperialism that dominated our world bleeds into this world too. It suits the story so well and makes the story feel so unique. I haven’t read that setting before, but I’d love to see more. It’s more modern than steampunk, feeling so sophisticated and grimy at the same time.
The dogfights in the sky were amazing, invigorating and vertigo inducing, plus the many many ways you could die were terrifying. I loved the tension, the scenes quick but so engaging.
Reflecting on the book, I can see that Aurelia and Athan reacted more than they initiated, but I didn’t notice that as I read. There was so much going on and they did initiate most of the major incidents – plus Athan is a bit reckless when it comes to protecting his friend…
The romance is cute, not taking over the story. It felt more like a deep friendship with potential, and that two naive-in-love children obsess over and make it a little more. They’re a great couple, and their opposed countries and backgrounds means that it’s all the more satisfying as they work towards a the middle ground on some issues. Plenty still to spark conflict, particularly their loyalties that are being drawn more and more into conflict.
I can’t wait for the series to continue next year with STORM FROM THE EAST.
Read my reviews of other books by Joanna Hathaway:
Glass Alliance (this series):
Sifa Elizabeth Reads 
Ooh, I think this has now bumped up my TBR. It definitely now sounds as if it was a good find at YALC.
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It was a really good find! Thanks for finding it and telling me about it
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