BRIMSTONE & BLADES
by Maria Alexander
Ghede Press
YA Fantasy
359 pages
It's 1689.
Sixteen-year-old Julie de Maupin is on the run in France with her boyfriend, a young swordmaster named Sérannes. They perform sword fights and songs in taverns to survive.
But when a diabolical creature kills Sérannes, it also injures Julie in the attack. Her devastating wound plunges her into the dangerous world of French magic. She learns the creature is controlled by a necromantic coven called the Shadow Holders. Defeated during the Affair of the Poisons, they've returned with more powerful allies to crush Louis XIV and terrorize France.
With her found family of magical and moggie misfits, Julie must use her sword, wit, and gender-bending wiles to send the threat back to Hell. Will they be enough?
Magic is illegal, and so is dueling. But that won't stop La Maupin.
An exciting new page-turner from multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Maria Alexander.
Sixteen-year-old Julie de Maupin is on the run in France with her boyfriend, a young swordmaster named Sérannes. They perform sword fights and songs in taverns to survive.
But when a diabolical creature kills Sérannes, it also injures Julie in the attack. Her devastating wound plunges her into the dangerous world of French magic. She learns the creature is controlled by a necromantic coven called the Shadow Holders. Defeated during the Affair of the Poisons, they've returned with more powerful allies to crush Louis XIV and terrorize France.
With her found family of magical and moggie misfits, Julie must use her sword, wit, and gender-bending wiles to send the threat back to Hell. Will they be enough?
Magic is illegal, and so is dueling. But that won't stop La Maupin.
An exciting new page-turner from multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, Maria Alexander.
MY TIDBITS
Action and tension pack every page as swords mix with necromancy and magic while a character to root for pushes all norms to succeed.
There's just enough of historical facts in this read to give it a tiny bit of grounding before shooting off into a rapid fire fantasy. Julie de Maupin is a force to be reckoned with and that at only sixteen. Her past highlights struggles women faced during the time period, while this fantastical tale lets her blossom and bloom. The author begins the entire read with a situation, which lays the groundwork for Julie in so many ways as the first sword dual takes place. Her determination, defiance of rules, desire to protect those she loves, and 'don't mess with me' personality make have her driving the plot the entire way through.
Action fans will appreciate the very quick pacing and web of secrets and danger Julia faces. The sword scenes come to life as does the magic and surroundings. But this never hits long descriptions or thought digestion. The world is rich, and yet, the depth, outside of Julia, doesn't run overly deep. Side characters remain on the surface, and any deeper thought about the time period steps aside for the gripping tale. With everything Julia is up against, this doesn't really bother, either. The evil is obvious, and the plot does take darker turns, at times. But there's also character growth as Julia learns to find her own type of family along the way.
Readers, who want a read that drives forward from beginning to end, will not be disappointed. Those who search soul depth will need to look somewhere else. But this is a delightful read to get lost in and enjoy.
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