by: Leigh Stratton
Series: Kingdom of Cymmera
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Release Date: November 21, 2023
Publisher: Level Best Books - Level Elevate
Seventeen year old Ryleigh Donnovan is certain her life is cursed. Nothing ever goes smoothly, and her first job interview is no exception. An earthquake rocks the building, sending Ryleigh on a frantic search for her younger sister, a search which lands her in the hospital. Terrified they’ll push her for answers she can’t afford to give, Ryleigh flees with a mysterious stranger.
Jackson Maynard is about to be ordained as a Death Dealer, a warrior for the Kingdom of Cymmera, but first he must pass one more test. When he fails to acquire the human girl the prophet has chosen, he’s forced to stand trial for treason. Banished from his realm, he seeks out the girl from the vision, Ryleigh Donnovan, and together they embark on a journey to save his dying kingdom.
Seventeen-year-old Ryleigh Donnovan has lived a tragic life. She and her younger sister Mia lost their parents about twelve years ago and have since been raised by their paternal grandmother. Unfortunately, their grandmother and only living relative recently passed. Now it’s up to Ryleigh to look out for them. This means she needs to find a full-time job to keep their home, while still trying to finish high school, and not draw the attention of child and family services.
Nineteen-year-old Cymmeran Prince Jackson Maynard is on the cusp of fulfilling his dream of being ordained as a Death Dealer, thus becoming second in line to his father’s throne. He just needs to go to the human realm and retrieve a human girl, per the prophet’s vision. Never mind that in the past all retrievals have been warrior men and never women. Jackson has his target within his sights but fails to get her. Returning to Cymmera, Jackson is charged with treason for failing to follow a direct order. King Maynard takes pity on him and grants Jackson time to prove his case while banishing him back to the human realm, where Jackson seeks out his target to understand what happened.
Hoping to land a full-time job, Ryleigh is in the middle of the interview when an earthquake happens, resulting in her being sent to the hospital. While the staff is asking about her guardian, a stranger helps her and Mia escape. Ryleigh soon realizes the stranger is the same person she thought she saw approach her after the quake in the office building. She reluctantly believes him when he tells her that her and her sister’s lives are in danger. Soon the three find themselves back in Cymmera and nothing will ever be the same again.
Leigh has weaved together a really good story of conspiracy, mystery, and betrayal. The story grabbed me from the start and had me wondering if my thoughts were correct. Jackson and Ryleigh were good characters, who learned to trust and rely on each other. Their attraction was instant, though they didn’t understand the intense feelings they had for each other. Mia was a good character as well, but she seemed younger than her portrayed age of twelve. Realm of Ice and Shadow was a little predictable. But there were still some surprises to be discovered. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, however, there are definitely some loose ends. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
~ Favorite Quote ~
“Everything will work out how it’s meant to work out.”
**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it.**
Rating: 4.5
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Thank you so much for such a wonderful review! I'm so happy you enjoyed Realm of Ice and Shadow!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome. I'm so looking forward to the next book.
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