Of Fire and Ash (Fairy Queens, #3)

by Amber Argyle

[inlibrisveritas]

Of Fire and Ash is a novella in the Fairy Queens series, coming between Winter Queen and Summer Queen. It follows a young Nelay, before the events of the second book, and focuses on her journey into becoming a Priestess. Nelay is the daughter of a sheep farmers in a land where droughts are claiming their ability to make a living. One of my favorite things about Amber’s books are the images she paints for the scenery. I loved being able to visualize the dry land with it’s prickly scrub brush, and dangerous animals. Nelay is only 9 years old in this novella and I’m already in awe of how strong she is. She carries a sling and a spear, and can use both. She is capable of hunting for herself and traversing the land alone. It really sets a precedent for what she will be like in Summer Queen, and I can’t wait to see how she’s grown up. The story surrounding her family was sort of heartbreaking, and at other times increasingly frustrating. It does seem unlikely that they will make an appearance in the next book, but I’m very curious to see how they are faring and what they think of Nelay in her new role.