The Memory of Fire

the-memory-of-fire

"Gripping" --Publishers Weekly (starred)

Thanks to the magic of Elanna Valtai and the Paladisan noble Jahan Korakides, the lands once controlled by the empire of Paladis have won their independence. But as Elanna exhausts her powers restoring the ravaged land, news that the emperor is readying an invasion spurs Jahan on a desperate mission to establish peace.

Going back to Paladis proves to be anything but peaceful. As magic is a crime in the empire, punishable by death, Jahan must hide his abilities. Nonetheless, the grand inquisitor’s hunters suspect him of sorcery, and mysterious, urgent messages from the witch who secretly trained Jahan only increase his danger of being exposed. Worst of all, the crown prince has turned his back on Jahan, robbing him of the royal protection he once enjoyed.

As word of Jahan’s return spreads, long-sheathed knives, sharp and deadly, are drawn again. And when Elanna, stripped of her magic, is brought to the capital in chains, Jahan must face down the traumas of his past to defeat the shadowy enemies threatening his true love’s life, and the future of the revolution itself.

Read an excerpt from the prologue on Hypable!

Praise

"Bates does an excellent job of delving into Jahan’s past and showing his growth as a character as he finally faces the demons that fractured his family. She slowly reveals the story in a way that keeps the reader guessing, and the allies turn out to be just as unexpected as the enemies. The relatable characters and riveting adventure make this fantasy world very accessible for all, even those who don’t tend to gravitate towards the genre." --Booklist

"Strong worldbuilding and intriguing characters continue to highlight the action-driven plot of this compelling sequel to Bates's acclaimed debut, The Waking Land, taking readers further into a beautiful reality of the awakening of magic and minds." --Library Journal

"Gripping in its own right, this second volume of the trilogy that began with The Waking Land races along... will leave readers hungry for the conclusion." --Publishers Weekly (starred)