Fate of Flames

Sarah Raughley

Nov 2016 · The Effigies Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

Four girls with the power to control the elements must come together to save the world from a terrible evil in this “series opener [that] has it all” (Kirkus Reviews).

Years ago, everything changed.

Phantoms, massive beasts of nightmare, began terrorizing the world. At the same time, four girls—the Effigies—appeared, each with a unique power to control a classical element. Since then, they have protected the world from the Phantoms. At the death of one Effigy, another is chosen, pulled from her normal life into the never-ending battle.

When Maia unexpectedly becomes the next Fire Effigy, she resists her new calling. A quiet girl with few friends and almost no family, she was much happier to admire the Effigies from afar. Never did she imagine having to master her ability to control fire, to protect innocent citizens from the Phantoms, or to try bringing together the other three Effigies.

But with the arrival of the mysterious Saul—a man who seems to be able to control the Phantoms using the same cosmic power previously only granted to four girls at a time—Maia and the other Effigies must learn to work together in a world where their celebrity status is more important than their heroism.

But the secrets Saul has, and the power he possesses, might be more than even they can handle…

Ratings and reviews

“We fight and we die. That’s why we’re alive. That’s why we breathe. That’s why we exist. That’s just how it is.” All Maia Finley ever wanted was to be someone – to be an Effigy. Who are the Effigies? Oh, only the four most important girls in the world with powers that gives them power over the elements. One Fire Effigy, One Wind Effigy, One Water Effigy and one Earth. Only four of them can exist at a time, and when one dies, another girl will take her place. They are soldiers of the Sect – an international organisation established for the sole purpose of keeping the world safe from Phantoms – creatures of silky darkness and horrifying nightmares with the power to level cities in the blink of an eye. And so, the last thing that orphan and nobody Maia Finley ever thought would happen, happened to her. After the death of the last Fire Effigy, she’s the new Chosen One. But everything she knows about the Effigies she idolises, the institution they form an integral part of, and the assumed laws of the Phantoms are under attack, and what can a newbie that can’t even conjure her power do to save the world? ”This is reality. And if you can’t accept that, then get off the battlefield.” Fate of Flames is not your average superhero book. It highlights four very different girls – one idealistic, one fatalistic, one scared and the last strong yet destructive – that have their own personas, and just can’t get along. In better words, Sarah Raughley portrays her Effigies as HUMAN SUPERHEROINES, flaws and all, and I LOVED IT. I loved the complexity of the plot, the complexity of being an Effigy, the fact the social media had a part to play (and fangirls) and MOST OF ALL, it made me want more. I just wish the answers we got were a little more substantial rather than just more questions, and that there was more POWER being used in the book over interrogations and photo shoots. All in all, I will definitely be reading the sequel. 4 stars.

i really liked this book, its surprising how few people have written reviews on it.

About the author

Sarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to sci-fi fantasy TV to Japanese role-playing games and other geeky things, all of which have largely inspired her writing. Sarah has been nominated for the Aurora Award for Best YA Novel and works in the community doing writing workshops for youths and adults. On top of being a YA writer, Sarah has a PhD in English, which makes her a doctor, so it turns out she didn’t have to go to medical school after all. As an academic, Sarah has taught undergraduate courses and acted as a postdoctoral fellow. Her research concerns representations of race and gender in popular media culture, youth culture, and postcolonialism. She has written and edited articles in political, cultural, and academic publications. She continues to use her voice for good. You can find her online at SarahRaughley.com.