#BookReview: The Last Namsara (Iskari #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli

Synopsis: In the beginning, there was the Namsara: the child of sky and spirit, who carried love and laughter wherever he went. But where there is light, there must be darkness—and so there was also the Iskari. The child of blood and moonlight. The destroyer. The death-bringer.

These are the legends that Asha, daughter of the king of Firgaard, has grown up learning in hushed whispers, drawn to the forbidden figures of the past. But it isn’t until she becomes the fiercest, most feared dragon slayer in the land that she takes on the role of the next Iskari—a lonely destiny that leaves her feeling more like a weapon than a girl.

Asha conquers each dragon and brings its head to the king, but no kill can free her from the shackles that await at home: her betrothal to the cruel commandant, a man who holds the truth about her nature in his palm. When she’s offered the chance to gain her freedom in exchange for the life of the most powerful dragon in Firgaard, she finds that there may be more truth to the ancient stories than she ever could have expected. With the help of a secret friend—a slave boy from her betrothed’s household—Asha must shed the layers of her Iskari bondage and open her heart to love, light, and a truth that has been kept from her.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 4 Stars
My Review: This was an amazing story that I am so glad I have the rest of these. The characters and dragons were so good and I could not put this down.  This is a must read. 

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Asha has grown up as the Iskari, the one known to bring death. She is the dragon slayer for the king, her father. To lure the dragons to her, she tells the forbidden old stories that the dragons can't ignore, although the tales are fatal. When tasked by the king to destroy the First Dragon, she agrees to do it because her reward will be not having to marry Jarek, the cruel leader of her father's army. Her task gets complicated when the Old One, a god, demands that she protect the dragons instead of killing them, and she follows his command. As she struggles to avoid marriage, obey the king, and not anger the Old One, secrets are unearthed that change her whole existence. She must decide who to trust and how to realize her true self. Ciccarelli brings to life a world filled with dragons and folklore. The plot blends perfectly with the use of old tales. This coming-of-age narrative shows the struggles of learning to trust one's own mind and heart. VERDICT Fantasy YA readers will love this story of a girl and her dragons. They will be dying to know what happens on their next adventure.—Jessica Strefling, US Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit Library

Review

“Ciccarelli layers multiple story threads… seamlessly weaving them back as the plot moves along. The third-person narration allows full immersion in the world… The larger political implications of war, rebellion, and the years of rebuilding that must follow are all thoughtfully examined.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“This coming-of-age narrative shows the struggles of learning to trust one’s own mind and heart. Fantasy YA readers will love this story of a girl and her dragons. They will be dying to know what happens on their next adventure.” — School Library Journal

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