My first book review of the year was also the first book I finished this year. Remnants of a Scarlet Flame, by Cindy L. Sell is an epic fantasy adventure.
The book follows several characters with connections to the Sorcerer’s Guild in the author’s world. The Guild is hunting Syljians. One of our main characters is Alar, a Syljian spy who has infiltrated the Guild. Another is Daeya, a Sorceress with startling powers who features in a Syljian prophecy. A third, Ravlok, is a monk hungry for information about magic who’s thrown in prison by the Guild. Also imprisoned by the Guild is a Syljian healer and a resistance leader. The story follows the devastating consequences of Alar’s attempt to get his friends out of prison and the Guild’s belief that Daeya is involved.
I was really impressed by this fantasy novel. The world building is tremendous. At some points it is a little confusing, but the author has a helpful guide on her website. I do appreciate that she didn’t info dump this background material, but made it available in case I couldn’t follow everything from context, which I could for the most part.
The characters are solid and complex. There was very little romance in the book, which I found refreshing. The little that there is occurs between side characters.
The stakes are high and characters face real and devastating consequences to the events that happen. The early second act of the book is gritty. I read one review that said that the author has a D&D background. I couldn’t verify that is true, but I would believe it based on the detail of the battle that is described. It is intense and I sometimes questioned how the characters could get through that section of the book when parts of it seem hopeless. The plotting was well done to accomplish this.
I originally picked this up because I thought it might possibly be a comp for my own novel – in other words – one of those books where I might say, “if you enjoy Remnants of a Scarlet Flame” you will enjoy “The Appearance of Power.” There are some similarities, so it is a comp in a number of ways. Especially since both are fantasy adventure and not romantasy, and because both feature some adolescent characters. Daeya in ROASF is 16. Krislov in AOP is 17. Both are Indie novels that are award winning.
Other similarities: ROASF has a Sorcerer’s Guild. AOP has a Mages Guild. Both ROASF and AOP have “chosen one” tropes with some fun and interesting twists. I can’t say more about that without spoilers. Neither lean in to romance – it is solidly in the B or C plot. Both books feature a manipulative and nasty sorcerer. In ROASF, he doesn’t get a lot of screen time, but has a big impact. In AOP, he’s dead, but has a big impact.
Differences? ROASF has swordplay, while AOP doesn’t have much at all. ROASF has Syljian magic users who are despised and feared. AOP does too, but it’s quite different in how this is done. It’s not an entire race of people in AOP – more that magic users are feared by many non-magic users.
I thoroughly enjoyed Remnants of a Scarlet Flame and give it five stars. It is the first in a series, and I am looking forward to picking up book 2 when I get a chance.
Who is this book for? You’ll likely enjoy this if you love supporting Indie authors, if you’re a fan of fantasy adventure, if you like multi-POV casts, if you enjoy some swordplay with your magic, especially with a D&D flavor to it, if you like to read about those fighting oppression and ostracism, and if you like solid world building with interesting magic systems.
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Thanks for reading!
