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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Crimson Spire by Shawn F Parker is the first in the ambitious epic magic and fantasy series, The Crimson Spire Saga. Prince Gerard Caltheos trains in secret under the direction of his father, Genthar, who believes unlocking the Flame will give them power in Tamaria. They are not natives of this land but come from Averose, a kingdom with a tense past. While Gerard struggles to master the unfamiliar magic, Tamaria hosts a tournament where fighters wield elemental abilities. Cobain Scott of Greyhill advances far but loses in the final round. Despite the defeat, he is assigned to guard the royal family of King Norwin Zakarian. He soon becomes close to Princess Emillira, whose father’s illness leaves her brother, Dane, poised to rule. As Dane calls for aggression toward Averose, rumors emerge of the long-forgotten and dangerous power called Dark. “He uttered with his last breath, ‘Evil will return.’”
The Crimson Spire is one of those rare entries into a new series that gives readers a unique and impressive multi-character collaboration in a genre that usually feels like a rehash of the same recycled storylines. Shawn F Parker leans into a magic system that demands real pain and effort, and he adeptly avoids typical fantasy shortcuts. The settings are amazing and become almost characters in themselves, thick with dread and symbolism, like the fortress Mercy’s Tip that Parker brings to life with dark, weighty language and that pulls us into its tense, oppressive environment. With so many moving pieces, in the hands of a lesser storyteller, a reader could get lost, but not with Parker. Gerard’s strategic moves against the Kembers are countered by the desperate hope of Cobain and Dane. Dennel is my absolute favorite character, and when a breach of the Winter Kingdoms is inevitable, he moves instantly. It's a critical moment against the Wind Thauma and cements him as the character who has the greatest arc. Overall, this is an excellent start to the series, and I am now wholly committed to it.
