The Search for the King's Staff: A Song of Hope is a work of fiction in the epic fantasy, sword and sorcery sub-genres, and was penned by author Sophia Davidson. Our central figure in this daring adventure tale is Cierra, whose memory is plagued by a mission from a spirit who has chosen her to retrieve the King’s Staff and terminate the darkness coming to her world. So when her coming of age arrives and darkness comes with it, Cierra realizes that she must undertake a great and perilous journey to fulfill the destiny of her memories and finally find the artifact with the power to change the future forever.

Author Sophia Davidson has crafted a lavish fantasy adventure with plenty of fresh twists on familiar and popular ideas. Cierra delivers a lot of credence and emotional realism as a young woman burdened with a powerful prophecy, and she is an admirable character in the ways that she rises to the challenge, but also in the fact that she is vulnerable and accepts help when she needs it. The team of supporting cast members is well-drawn and rounded out to give different personalities and skills, and I really enjoyed the emotional work that went into the friendships which are developed rather than focusing everything on torrid romances. A solid, clean read that will suit teen readers all the way up the fantasy fan age range, I’d definitely recommend A Song Of Hope as a highly engaging opening to a very promising new fantasy series.

A Song of Hope is the first book in The Search for the King's Staff series by Sophia Davidson. The story follows our protagonist Cierra as she struggles to find herself while trying to save the world. Cierra knew from a very tender age that the safety of the realms will be upon her shoulders. She is the Keeper of the Key and the only person who can open different portals. Only Cierra is powerful enough to go to the Spirit realm, get the map to the King’s Staff, and journey to find the all-powerful scepter to stop the evil from spreading. There is an evil coming towards the realm of man that will engulf everything with its darkness if Cierra is unable to save them all. Cierra has the magic and the courage to do it, but she needs to harness the magic first. With a powerful enemy dogging her every step, Cierra has to up her game. She has to find the scepter before it is too late. Can she do it?

Cierra may be tiny, but she packs a punch of charisma and might in her small body. Fiercely protective and capable of doing anything she wants. I love the fact that she is not perfect, she has her flaws like any person, but she is aware of those flaws. She tried her best to overcome her mistakes and focus on positivity. Author Sophia Davidson gave Cierra charm and charisma that drew me in. I learned more about Cierra through her actions rather than what other characters were saying about her. The world-building is incredibly unique and complete at the same time. The author gave Asrial enough background to make it feel real while keeping the focus on Cierra and her quest. James’s character was perfect to balance Cierra out; the two were supportive and real, which is what matters. I look forward to the next novel in The Search for the King's Staff series.

The Search for the King's Staff: A Song of Hope by Sophia Davidson is an epic fantasy narrative that follows a compelling female protagonist, Cierra. After the terrible loss of her father at the age of five, Cierra encounters Shomina, the spirit of Azul, the smallest of Asrial’s three moons, who asks her to never silence her song of hope, especially when it is threatened. It is a memory that is seared into her mind. She is the chosen one, the one to find the King’s Staff, the ancient relic that has the power to stop the darkness of the spirit world from invading the world of humans. When she comes of age, Cierra sets out on the mission to find the King’s Staff, accompanied by her cousin, James, a princess, and an assassin. But she must overcome so many challenges to succeed.

Sophia Davidson writes beautifully and the crispness in the language seduced me. From the very beginning, I loved the protagonist, a young girl who has just lost a father and has a strange encounter with a spirit. The author creates an imaginary world that makes a great escape for fans of the genre. The setting is written well, with strong images that also contain symbolism in the writing. The plot is deftly handled, with many points of crisis that heighten the tension. I enjoyed how the characters are developed. Cierra has a gift and a unique responsibility, and her journey across wastelands to find the King’s Staff is filled with adventure and unexpected turns. As she learns to handle the magic key pendant from the spirit, she unearths her hidden strengths as well. The Search for the King's Staff: A Song of Hope is a fantastic story that is balanced, entertaining, and spellbinding.

The darkness from the spirit realm threatens to spill over to the realm of humans and only one person can stop it. Cierra can’t forget the encounter with Shomina shortly after losing her father. She was just five. Shomina is the spirit that appears to those who need comfort. But this was an encounter that made one thing clear: Cierra is chosen to find the King’s Staff, the scepter with the power to bridge Asrial’s people directly to the magic of the moon trio. On the eve of her coming-of-age, the moon trio aligns, and there are terrible omens. Cierra must find the path to the King’s Staff and the journey is fraught with danger and enemies who will stop at nothing to access the power of the scepter, for it allows them to control the world. With James, her cousin, a princess, and an assassin, can she make it through the dangerous and unfriendly landscape?

The Search for the King's Staff: A Song of Hope by Sophia Davidson is an epic fantasy that stands out as a masterpiece. The novel scores successfully on different levels: the prose is beautiful, the characters are compelling, and the plot unpredictable. I was immediately pulled in by the strong writing that features excellent descriptions. Davidson’s economy of word stands out in this novel and I loved how the author captures the emotions of the protagonist, her sense of grief and loneliness after learning about her father’s demise, then the encounter with the Spirit, and her subsequent mission. The premise is so well-written that I believed it. The story is transporting and a work of great entertainment for fans of fantasy.