#BookTour: This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

Synopsis: Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army.

In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible—she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father—their nation’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 4 Stars
My Review: In a few words this book was very simple in its writing.  The magical system based on runes called the Script was very invented and I loved it.  But the story itself was a simple one.  I did enjoy that this book represented a diverse cast of LGBTQ characters because, we don't really get a lot of that, but we are getting more now a days.   

As a debut it felt like the author was playing it safe. Which in itself isn't a bad thing but I wished that she would have taken chances and I don't know but done more?  My only other issue was that no one dies in this book which just seemed really weird.  I think that Victoria is one to watch and I am excited to see what she come out with next.   

I loved that this one didn't have a romance as the forefront of the story.  So many YA doe this and I was glad that this one did not.  I think that this one would work out for those that are just starting YA from reading Middle Grade stories and for those who like simple easy to read fantasies.  

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Eratia used to be powerful. Giant bronze automatons, built and controlled by Scriptorium runes, protected the archipelago of islands until 200 years ago, when the Great Lapse shut them all down. Karis is an orphan acolyte forced to work for the Scriptorium; the organization charged with restoring the automatons. Karis dreams of escaping the Scriptorium and tracking down her older brother. She gets her chance when a mishap leads her to discover and revive a human-sized automaton, Alix, with a shockingly sophisticated personality. Fleeing under the cover of night, Alix, Karis, and fellow orphan Dane begin a journey to reclaim Eratia's past and save its future before the Scriptorium catches up to them. Victoria creates a world in which questioning history and fighting for the good of all takes center stage. Wording (such as himation, agora, and chiton) places Eratia in a fantasy version of the ancient Mediterranean (circa Hellenistic Greece) tweaked with middle-ages weaponry. The story's foundation and plot move smoothly, and yet the climax and subsequent resolution feels disappointingly rushed. Despite this, it's a refreshing adventure that centers overall human connection rather than specific romantic relationships. The ethnically diverse cast is led by Eratia native Karis and teddy-bear automaton Alix as the book's narrators. Karis is ace and other LGBTQ+ characters are introduced throughout. VERDICT This Full Metal Alchemist meets Ancient Greece story is for readers seeking a unique twist in the fantasy genre.-Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"This Golden Flame examines the perils of power and the magic of friendship for a fun-filled adventure. With a delightful cast of characters and an explosive plot, fantasy fans won't want to miss this one!"—Rosiee Thor, author of Tarnished Are The Stars


"With intricate worldbuilding and a delightful cast of characters, Emily Victoria's This Golden Flame was a page-turning adventure I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved getting lost in Karis and Alix's world as they uncovered the dark secrets of their country's past and found strength and purpose in being true to themselves."—Audrey Coulthurst, author of Of Fire and Stars


“A slow-burn fantasy about found family, friendship, and the struggles of finding oneself, This Golden Flame is perfect for fans of classic YA fantasies and automatons with hearts of gold.”—Linsey Miller, author of the Mask of Shadows duology and Belle Révolte

“Victoria creates a world in which questioning history and fighting for the good of all takes center stage… It’s a refreshing adventure…for readers seeking a unique twist in the fantasy genre.”—School Library Journal

“Victoria creates an engaging narrative with enough fantasy and science fiction elements to satisfy fans of both genres… A colorful fantasy with ancient Greek influences that is a delight to read.”—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Emily Victoria is a Canadian prairie girl who writes young adult science fiction and fantasy. When not wordsmithing, she likes walking her overexcitable dog, drinking far too much tea, and crocheting things she no longer has the space to store.

Did you know that comments are DELICIOUS? Well they are and if you comment on any of these posts you could win some awesome goodies! 

Don't forget to check out our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and out other social media found on the side bar! 

 Disclaimer: "All opinions are 100% honest and my own."  Thanks to Goodreads and Amazon for the book cover, about the book, and author information. Buying via these links allows my site to get a % of the sale at no cost to you. 

FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored. 

Posted in: 4 Stars, InkyardPress, Review, Young Adult