Sadie thought life couldn’t change any more than it did in The Tethered World, when she found out about her family’s ties with a secret world and ended up leading her siblings to that same world in order to rescue their parents.
She was wrong. In the first few pages of The Flaming Sword, she learns about more secrets and more threats that shift life into a gear she didn’t know existed. She has no choice but to return underground with her family to meet old friends, face new enemies, and confront deeper, darker secrets that endanger not just her family but also the entire Tethered World.
Heather L.L. FitzGerald has outdone herself. While the first book provided a wonderful adventure of its own, The Flaming Sword eclipses its precursor with its augmented cast, expanded plotline, and shocking revelations. Expectations set in The Tethered World are turned on their head. Characters introduced in the first book develop into heroic allies or menacing enemies. From chapter to chapter, the adventure continues with twists and turns that kept me riveted.
One of my favorite elements of this book was the addition of Brady’s point of view. It took me a few chapters to get used to reading in third person (when the rest of the book is in first person), but I soon came to love it. I loved watching from a closer perspective as Brady struggles to find his identity without his twin brother, strives to fulfill his role as protector, and learns what it means to be the man he became in book one. (It’s worth noting that FitzGerald writes the voice of a teenage boy exceptionally well.)
I also enjoyed the new antagonists starring in The Flaming Sword. While the Gargoyles genuinely disgusted and scared me, they also earned my respect as adept, complex creatures with a fascinating history. I’m proud to admire them as some of my favorite antagonists of all literature.
Finally, as both a reader and a Christian, I appreciated the themes of The Flaming Sword. Throughout the book, FitzGerald provides a strong message of hope. No matter where the characters are, whether they’re alone or with friends—or with enemies—there is always hope, be it expressed as encouragement from one character to another, a silent prayer to God, or a general acknowledgment of the Creator’s plans. Moreover, I found myself personally encouraged by the more specific theme that the Creator has a purpose for every one of us. This concept permeates the life of every character in The Flaming Sword, from Brock as future High King to Joanie as humble palace servant. Readers of all ages will be encouraged by this book’s powerful message.
Overall, another five stars for The Flaming Sword as a masterpiece of Christian fantasy. Five stars to an author who expertly blends the real with the imagined while keeping both realistic. Five stars for a story that has strong character development, positive themes, and an intriguing plotline. With a fantasy style strongly reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s (and a narrator whose wit reminds me of Percy Jackson), The Flaming Sword promises a wholesome, action-packed, and humorous adventure for everyone. I’m privileged to have read it and eagerly await book three.
