Diane Subsits Lynch
Jennifer Estep Bright Blaze of Magic is enchanting and full of thrills. Lila Merriweather is back in the third book of the Black Blade Series. Bright Blaze of Magic takes place after book two, Dark Heart of Magic. After discovering Victor Draconi is stocking up on black swords with magic stolen from the monsters; Lila, Devon Sinclair, and Felix Morales attempt the steal the blades and replace them with fakes with the help of Victor’s daughter, Deah. This urban fantasy takes place in the magical town of Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia. It is suitable for young adults. I LOVED this book. Jennifer Estep did a great job incorporating things from the previous books. It was full of excitement and unexpected twists. Her descriptions and imagination are compelling. Lila is a charming heroine. Her parents were murdered by Victor, and she became a thief to survive. Then in book one, she became part of the Sinclair family tasked as Devon’s bodyguard. She has grown a lot in the three books. She has interesting talents. She is strong. She cares about others, and is selfless. I love her compassion for the monsters, especially the Lochness. I like her relationship with Devon. I appreciate that he respects her and knows she can hold her own. The plot was well executed and full of non-stop action. It was mysterious and magical. I told my thirteen-year-old son, and his friends that they need to put this book on their to read list. I’m sure they will love it. I think people that enjoy the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson Series would enjoy these books. They have a lot of the same elements: likeable characters, magic, mystery, good versus evil, visions of the future, and humor among a few. The story had an amazing ending that felt well resolved. Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
andrea heltsley
Awesome!!! I really loved the conclusion to this trilogy. Jennifer Estep has done an excellent job weaving a fantastic plot with a strong heroine and complex characters. I wish there was just a touch more romance in the trilogy, but the storyline was so compelling. The MC was strong, courageous, and a good person. The way the story concluded left me satisfied, even though one could always want more. Five glittery stars for The Bright Blaze of Magic and five glittery stars for the trilogy!