Lissette E. Manning

#Review: Fiery Edge Of Steel – Jill Archer

Sep15

by LizzieBeth on September 15, 2016 at 5:18 am

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Please Note: I previously reviewed this book back in June 19, 2013. You can find that review here: Fiery Edge Of Steel Previous Review. (It was rated 5 stars on Goodreads.) Since I’ve had the chance to re-read the book, however, I’ve posted up the newest review of the book, which you can find below.

From the moment Noon Onyx set foot in St. Luck’s Academy, her life has never been the same. A waning magic user, she’s done everything possible to make sure she survives. Getting a hold of her magic has been trying, however. Sometimes, things don’t go her way. Nevertheless, she’s determined in becoming something she’s denied herself for so long—a Magester, whether people like it or not.

Picking up where Dark Light Of Day left off, Fiery Edge Of Steel drops the reader smack-dab in the middle of Noon’s next plight. She’s doing her best to survive every step of the way, while learning everything there is to know about waning magic. She’s been able to make a few friends, and has a wonderful boyfriend to pull her through the darkest of moments. In a sense, she has it all, albeit reluctantly. Together, they’re willing to take on their next task, or die trying.

In this book, Jill has expanded upon the world she’s created, giving the reader a further in-depth look on the lore’s surrounding various demons, as well as those of the angels. She shows us quite a few of the conflicting elements that surround both of these factions. We also get to see more of their interactions with humans, or the Hyrkes, as they are known in this world. While things aren’t always copacetic, we get to see each of these races coexist in a way that allows them to move freely amongst themselves.

Mind you, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to demons, angels, and Hyrkes. We see a lot of this in the interactions Noon has with others. Tensions run high most of the time, and people do get hurt, whether it’s by accident, or a consequence of the environment. I love the fact that Noon has grown so much between what’s happened in Dark Light Of Day and now. She still doesn’t have it easy, but she’s making do with the cards she’s been dealt. The fact that she’s not alone to weather disappointments is a plus. Somehow, I think she’ll come out on top. Only time will tell.

Title: Fiery Edge of Steel

Series: Noon Onyx; Book 2

Author: Jill Archer

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Ace

Date of Publication: May 28, 2013

ISBN-10: 0425257169

ISBN-13: 978-0425257166

ASIN: B009NY48SO

Cover Artist: Jason Chan

Book Description:

Lucifer and his army triumphed at Armageddon, leaving humans and demons living in uncertain peace based on sacrifice and strict laws. It is up to those with mixed demon and human blood, the Host, to prevent society from falling into anarchy.

Noon Onyx is the first female Host in memory to wield the destructive waning magic that is used to maintain order among the demons. Her unique abilities, paired with a lack of control and reluctance to kill, have branded her as an outsider from her peers. Only her powerful lover, Ari Carmine, and a roguish and mysterious Angel, Rafe Sinclair, support her unconventional ways.

When Noon is shipped off to a remote outpost to investigate several unusual disappearances, a task which will most likely involve trying and killing the patron demon of that area, it seems Luck is not on her side. But when the outpost settlers claim that an ancient and evil foe has stepped out of legend to commit the crimes, Noon realizes that she could be facing something much worse than she ever imagined…

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Excerpt:

Fiery Edge of Steel

Noon Onyx #2

“You are familiar with Empyr wine, Ms. Onyx?” Rochester asked.

I nodded warily.

Angels were obsessed with apples. They took their love of this fruit very seriously, worshipping it as a symbol of the lost world they once ruled. A common motif in Angel art was the fallen apple that never rotted. Empyr wines were apple wines that were “enhanced” by some of the best Angel sommeliers in Halja. The enhancements were spells. Each batch had its own name, flavor, coloring, and associated spell. They were served upstairs in the Angels’ infamous restaurant on this building’s thirty-third floor.

I’d had Empyr wine exactly two times in my life. Each time it had produced life-altering effects, although in an indirect manner and not of the kind I could have guessed.

Friedrich turned back toward me and offered me the cup. Inside, the liquid was pink and fizzy and flecked with gold. I reached for the cup and there was a brief moment when I wasn’t sure Friedrich would let go. Was the spell tied to his touch? I yanked harder and the wine nearly spilled out of the cup as it broke free from his grasp. Rochester’s signature nudged mine, like a parent pinching an errant child. I glanced back at Ari, who gave me a tight smile.

I tipped the cup to my lips and drank. Immediately, a bitter, chalky taste filled my mouth. I hid my grimace, finished, and handed the cup back to Friedrich.

“This batch is called ‘Fortuna’s Favorites,’” Friedrich said. “Think you’re one of them?”

Time will tell, I thought, but said instead, “Fortes fortuna adiuvat.” Fortune favors the bold. Another of Dorio’s sayings. Maybe Fitz had the right idea.

Friedrich grunted. Ari grinned.

Rochester held off magically pinching me again. Instead, he handed me a white linen napkin.

“A gift from this batch’s sommelier,” he said. “Some words of wisdom regarding this semester’s assignment.”

I choked back a laugh. From tea leaves to wine tannins, where Angels fear not to tread . . . I accepted the napkin and wiped my mouth gently. I’d been generous in this morning’s application of Daredevil Red lip paint. Who knew what my fortune might be if I added too much of that to the mix? But the laugh died in my throat as I looked down at my napkin. Slowly, a stain of words appeared:

When traveling into the unknown, sometimes the biggest danger is the one you bring with you . . .

jillarcher About The Author:

Jill Archer writes dark, genre-bending fantasy from rural Maryland. Her novels include Dark Light of Day, Fiery Edge of Steel, White Heart of Justice, and Pocket Full of Tinder. She loves cats, coffee, books, movies, day tripping, and outdoor adventuring.

Website: http://www.jillarcher.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bAzF7n

Blog: https://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com/blog

Twitter: https://twitter.com/archer_jill

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillarcherauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782149.Jill_Archer

Discussion Questions: http://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com/book-clubs

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