Gods of the Flame Sea by Jean Johnson – a Review

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Description:
The Fae Rii and their descendants encounter another universe-hopping race, the Efrijt. But where the Fair Traders are after just that, fair trade with other worlds, the Efrijt are after whatever they can get, and the two sides must fight to establish a peace between their clashing interests, or the native humans may end up crushed between them.

Review:

Gods of the Flame Sea is the 3^rd book in Jean Johnson’s Flame Sea fantasy series. Here is a brief refresher of this series: a group of Fae’s known as Fae Rii, arrived  many many years ago and helped create the lands for them and humans who joined them to be habitual.   Over the years the land now called Flame Sea has advanced into a wonderful community for all, including many Fae/Human inter species children.  In the last book we learned more about another species, Efrijt, who live in another land, mining for Mercury, which they need to survive.  Both Flame Sea and the Efrijts keep their distance, but have formed laws to keep a hostile peace.

 Ban, one of the original Fae Rii, spends time with the young mixed race (Fae/Human) children to train them to fight.  Udrin is one of the students, and even Ban has noticed some changes in him, especially his arrogance.  We spent a few chapters in the beginning watching Udrin, who is mixed race between Fae and Efrijt, eat Mercury and steal anima (magic) from others, as well as create little strange creatures.  In a short time, Udrin’s powers grow, as does his insanity. 

What follows is an interesting and exciting storyline, where the Fae and humans begin to see Udrin’s instability, and how dangerous he has become.  Once he hurts one of the female Fae’s, almost to the death, they know they have to do something to stop him. Jintaya , who is the leader,  and many of the Fae team, do everything they can to try to stop Udrin, who continues to become more powerful than even they are.  Rather than tell too much more, it would be spoilers, but the race is on to find a way to stop Udrin, including getting help from the Efrit’s. 

Jean Johnson has written a very nice story that continues the flow of this world building.  I will say that the first few chapters were very slow, when we watched the making of Udrin.  But a third of the way in everything became very exciting, and interesting to see what they will do to try and stop him.   I was under the impression this was a trilogy, but I felt this was sort of left open for a return to the Flame Sea. If you enjoy Sci-Fi fantasy, I am sure you will enjoy this series.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher