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Reviewed by Robert Collier III for Readers' Favorite
Cinderveil by Jeff Bartrom starts with Seraphine waking up on a battlefield with no memory of who she is. All she has is the Phoenixfire, a magical relic, burned into her palm. It gives her strong fire magic, but her life is bound to it. At the same time, the realm of Veyruun is crumbling under attacks from Draemorth and his undead army. When Seraphine saves villagers with her magic, they begin to react differently to her. Some call her a monster, but others see her as their hero. Thorne Calder, a paladin ordered to stop or capture her, starts having doubts once he sees the kind of person she is. A dwarf smith named Bramm joins their little group and helps protect them. They travel to the elven Library of Sylvethien to find answers, and that’s where Seraphine learns about the ritual that binds her to the Phoenixfire and how she’s connected to stopping Draemorth. In this battle between good and evil, who will she ultimately become?
Cinderveil by Jeff Bartrom is an epic fantasy about war, magic, and the struggle to define yourself. I was hooked from the first chapter because Seraphine’s confusion and fear are written in a way that made me visualize her journey almost as if I were there. The battles are intense, but they don’t take away from her bravery or the responsibility she carries. You can still see how weighty her choices are. I also liked that Thorne isn’t just some simple hero. He’s loyal to his order, but his conscience keeps pulling at him, and that creates intrigue, especially between his dynamic with Seraphine. Bramm, on the other hand, adds warmth and humor without compromising the storyline's seriousness. The message about choosing hope stayed with me even after the adventure ended. It’s a strong start to a larger journey, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.
