Publisher:
Tor
Release
Date: 27th
February 2014
Edition:
UK paperback,
purchased
A
Blackhart’s Calling:
to
banish evil and hold back the night.
Kit
is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s living with her unorthodox cousins and
sharing their strange lives. Especially since their home-schooling includes
spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons.
But
it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life
on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her
family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new
friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies.
As
things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to
spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods
themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love.
Full disclosure on this one:
Liz is my friend and I’ve championed her from the start, but I’ve tried very
hard not to let that get in the way of a fair review. I just genuinely loved
it.
Nearly every type of mythical
creature that pops to mind when you think of urban fantasy, and some that won’t,
play a role in Banished: fae,
redcaps, goblins, trolls, chimera. All present and correct. And you can really
see how much research Liz put into learning everything she could about them so
she could manipulate them to her story without losing their essence. I still
really want to rescue a fae prince, by the way. It just always ends in
spine-tingling kisses and dangerous adventures and I’m completely up for that.
The extracts from archived
records about each of the creatures and elements of the mythology of Banished were included at the beginning
of chapters – I really love it when authors do that. I also think it’s a really
great way of introducing them to readers who are perhaps new to the genre or
mythology itself. They also provided a nice contrast to some of the mythical
beings we actually got to know. I love Thorn. It’s so unusual to have a fae
prince as a love interest and him not be cold, hard and slightly murderous; the
slightly bashful and rather human Thorn was refreshing. Can I have one?
I can’t write a review of Banished without mentioning Kit. She’s
completely badass. It’s been a while since I’ve come across a character who
runs headfirst into a fight so recklessly! Her need to protect her loved ones
and combat evil is brilliant, but I most loved that she still wasn’t completely
comfortable with her new world. Unlike lots of other urban fantasies, we join
Kit after the big reveal of her involvement in a secret world; late enough that
she’s gained her footing a little, but not too late to miss her discomfort with
her abilities.
Banished
is a
compulsive, accomplished and brilliantly imagined debut. The lady will go far. Well
done, Liz.
Sophie
This is the next book I pick after my current book.
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