Book 0: Maiden of Candlelight & Lotuses

This book is listed as a prequel, but don’t be fooled. You NEED to read this book first to understand the setup for the empire-wide struggle of good vs. evil. The story follows Liena, a farm girl who develops magical powers much later than most. She is sent to the brutal world of the Academy where she finds it difficult to make friends, assimilate knowledge, and survive combat drills. The awkward Fang Zedong helps her against the bullies, and the charming Crown Prince takes an enigmatic interest in her . . . .

I’m not a Harry Potter fan, but I loved the way this Academy novel was done. Anastasis Blythe does an amazing job immersing the reader in the lore of the world while keeping a fast plot with memorable characters.

Book 1: Guardian of Talons & Snares

Aranya, a recent graduate of the Academy and a partial shapeshifter, needs the salary from her new position as a warden to take care of her grandfather Yeye. But unfortunately, the appointment has also been awarded to the evanescer (teleporter) Shi Kai. As the two battle it out to demonstrate who is most worthy for the job, they become enmeshed in a series of kidnappings as magic-wielders across the empire are spirited away by unseen forces. Can Aranya and Kai stop arguing long enough to uncover the source of the threat?

Aranya wasn’t my favorite character at first, but I came to like her by the end of the book. She was ridiculously bubbly, overly optimistic, and annoyingly clumsy at almost every aspect of her job. Shi Kai, on the other hand, was competent, hilarious, and mysterious. I loved the way he nicknamed her “Partial” as she could only shapeshift her hands and not her whole body. But their story doesn’t end here . . .

Book 2: Warrior of Blade & Dusk

Aranya and Kai continue their quest. Secrets are revealed about Kai’s past explaining why he wanted to the lowly and obscure warden’s job in the first place (no spoilers, but trust me, the revelations are fun to read!). Their journey leads them all the way to the edge of the empire and a fortress where the magic-wielders are imprisoned by an archvillain who wields a magic darker than anyone has ever seen.

I enjoyed Aranya and Kai’s banter, along with the moanings and groanings of the third member of their party, Delan–the wise old warrior wondering why he’s stuck with these crazy lovestruck kids who won’t stop fighting like cats and dogs.

Book 3: Princess of Shadows & Starlight

This book was the most imaginative of the series! Princess Meiling is known as the “cursed princess” because unlike the rest of her family, she has no magic. But the secret of her true magic is something her parents have been hiding from the world so that she will not be taken advantage of and enslaved to do the bidding of dark forces. When the palace is infiltrated and Meiling almost falls prey to a kidnapping attempt, her father the Emperor sends her away secretly to the other side of the empire. He commandeers two recent Academy graduates, Fen and Shang, to escort her, trusting that their small party will escape the notice of whatever evil power wants Meiling for its own.

Helpless due to her sheltered palace life, Meiling is distraught to see the disgust that the female shapeshifter Fen has for her. Shang, an ice-wielder, conceals his disdain better, but she can tell that her bodyguards both hate her for pulling them away from their prestigious appointments for this secret mission that will bring them no honor. Meiling works hard to gain their respect, learning to build a fire, mount a horse, and help with her own secret magic.

I loved the way that Meiling and Shang’s relationship developed over the course of this book. I also loved how Meiling did not have to develop into a macho heroine in order to have value. The story ends on a very intense cliffhanger . . .

Book 4: Captive of Twilight & Treachery

The story begins with Meiling trapped in the fortress at the edge of the Empire, the same fortress where the other magic-wielders have been imprisoned. Shang risks everything to find his way back to her, but meanwhile, the archvillain begins to break her will so that he can use her magic as he wishes.

Most books (like Aranya’s story earlier in the series) show the heroine or hero resisting torture to stand up for what is right . . . this book is interesting in that the heroine is extremely susceptible to external pressure because of her empathy for others. It is displayed as both a weakness and a strength and adds a complexity to the story.

As the second book of the “Meiling trilogy” inside of this series, I will admit that the plot of this one dragged a little bit (torture, escape attempt, torture, escape attempt, torture . . . you get the picture), but that didn’t stop me from reading on for the grand finale in the next installment . . .

Book 5: Daughter of Darkness & Dreams

Shang and Meiling are back at the palace, but Shang is standing trial for his life at something strikingly similar to a court-martial, and Meiling can’t shake the feeling that something is following her and slithering up her spine. As Shang and Meiling find the courage to speak their feelings for each other out loud, the forces of evil are growing inside the capital city. Meiling discovers that there are more ways than one that her magic can be used to destroy her family and everything she holds dear. Shang discovers that his one hope is to flee from execution, but is a life of exile worth living is Meiling will not go with him?

I love the cover for this one. One of my favorite side characters is the Emperor (“Pa”) with his devoted care for his daughter. The showdown between Meiling and Fang Zedong at the end of the book (predicted by Liena long, long ago in the prequel novel) can truly be classified as “epic.” Shang is simply marvellous throughout (both as a warrior and a man in love), but it is the weakest character who finally summons the courage to conquer the darkest evil because of her love for those around her.