Descend is the first book in L.R. Friedman’s The Blaze Legacy series. With a gorgeous cover, this book is going to immediately pique your attention.
Descend begins with the main character, Kyleigh, at the young age of 5 years old. Life is good. She’s happy and she has her family. She dreams of magic, fairytales, knights, dragons, and all things mythical. She thought that life couldn’t be or get better. Until everything changed...when her mother left...and never returned.
Now, fast forward 15 years, and now it’s Kyleigh’s turn. She’s finally accomplishing something that she has been dreaming of for years. She’s following in the footsteps of her parents. She’s excited, and looking forward to what the days and years ahead hold for her. What she’s not prepared for? Is the drama and terror that is waiting for her – hidden just out of sight.
While the blurb made this book sound super promising and interesting, the beginning of this story feels slower than one would typically want. We say this, but at the same time, patience is called for when it comes to reading this book. The author is setting the stage for what’s to come, and while many of us readers love diving off into the deep end and then making our way to the surface, it’s important. It’s important to have that foundation to build on and then move forward.
This story will alternate between Aislin, who lives in a magical world, and Kyleigh, who lives in the regular world that we all know and are familiar with. Since Aislin lives in the magical realm her part of the story will be more engaging and intriguing. Obviously it will be because she has a unique magic and she finds herself in more than one sticky situation. Kyleigh, for a time, is dealing with wanting to find out more about her mother, and maybe even what happened to her. She’s not expecting the shocking situations that are about to hit her out of nowhere.
Of course, there is no way to prepare for being magicked into another world and learning that you have powers. But wait! There’s more! LOL! Once you get past a certain point in this book prepare for it to really ramp up. As the characters’ worlds merge things really start to get interesting. Kyleigh is going to have more than one shocking revelation in this story.
One thing that keeps this story shrouded in mystery is the story concerning what devastated the magical realm. You’ll get hints and teases here and there, but – hoping for a full blown explanation? A flashback to the devastation that destroyed so many lives and changed everything for these people? Well, you’re going to find yourself disappointed. Yes, you’ll get small glimpses from some of the characters as to what they experienced, but you’re not going to get a lot of detail behind it. The desire for answers is going to push you strongly when it comes to this story. Unfortunately, we’re still going to be waiting for them on that particular front.
Descend is a slow-burn fantasy romance novel. There are some sparks in the beginning, but you’ll find yourself questioning if there really were sparks or if it was just your imagination. LOL! I mean, when a guy seems interested in then practically beats feet out the door after meeting you...you’ll question things, too. LOL! But what fun would a slow-burn novel be without the slow-burn?
The deeper the story goes the more engaged you’ll find yourself, especially in the characters themselves. Some you’ll be throwing serious side-eye and others you’ll be openly cheering for. Then there will be a couple that you’ll be hoping that something truly nasty happens to them. You’ll know them when you read them. LOL!
When you get to the end of this novel, prepare for a serious eyebrow raise. The author keeps a couple of especially big secrets and surprises to the very end. You. Will. Not. See. Them. Coming. Okay, maybe you’ll GUESS at one, but the other one? Nope! These surprises will definitely have you looking forward to book two that’s for sure!
While Descend has a more character-driven first half of this novel, the second half makes up for it when the foundation has been set. Once the foundation is set, and ready, things take off and become truly engaging. If the pacing of the story had remained the same as in the first half this book wouldn’t have made it above 4 stars, but with the ramping up of the second half, this book earns 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to the author, L.R. Friedman, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!
My review for book two in partnership with R&R Book Tours will be soon to follow! So be sure to come back tomorrow for that review and book tour!
Descend (The Blaze Legacy #1)
Genre: NA Dark Romantasy with Dark Academia elements
Publication Date: August 23rd, 2023
A
hidden portal isn’t something most students bargain for when they
enroll at Halston University.
When a mysterious black
envelope arrives during freshman orientation—one inviting Kyleigh
Roberts to the school’s prestigious secret society—she
immediately feels an unexplainable pull to pledge.
What
Kyleigh doesn’t realize is that getting closer to the answers she’s
been searching for will force her further from everything she’s
ever known.
She plummets into a dark realm full of magic
and twisted creatures that once only lived in her bedtime fairy
tales. Grappling with explosive powers that begin to emerge, Kyleigh
stumbles into a stranger—a woman with glowing eyes who claims she
can help.
Since Aislin discovered her gift, she’s been
nothing more than a weapon—one wielded by criminals. The idea of
freedom has always been just that, an idea. A luxury for those who
don’t possess her talent for delivering a swift and merciful death.
But for the first time, she’s given a shot at the freedom she’s
craved for years.
The catch? She must use her gifts one
final time to carry out a mission fueled by revenge against the man
least deserving of her mercy.
When Kyleigh and Aislin’s
stories become entangled, the two women from worlds apart must find a
way to join forces against a vengeful king or risk remaining pawns in
a deadly game played by those in power.
The Blaze
Legacy is a NA/Adult Dark Portal Romantasy series containing content
best suited for readers over the age of 18.
About the Author
Author L.R. Friedman loves curling up with a cup of coffee while diving into her fantasy and paranormal romance worlds. A Virginia native, she currently lives in Texas with her husband and three children.
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