The Burning Sky by Sherry Thomas

GoodReads Summary: It all began with a ruined elixir and an accidental bolt of lightning…

Iolanthe Seabourne is the greatest elemental mage of her generation—or so she's being told. The one prophesied for years to be the savior of The Realm. It is her duty and destiny to face and defeat the Bane, the greatest mage tyrant the world has ever known. A suicide task for anyone let alone a sixteen-year-old girl with no training, facing a prophecy that foretells a fiery clash to the death.

Prince Titus of Elberon has sworn to protect Iolanthe at all costs but he's also a powerful mage committed to obliterating the Bane to revenge the death of his family—even if he must sacrifice both Iolanthe and himself to achieve his goal.

But Titus makes the terrifying mistake of falling in love with the girl who should have been only a means to an end. Now, with the servants of the Bane closing in, he must choose between his mission and her life.

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Expected publication date: 17/09/13

The Burning Sky is a mesmerising epic fantasy with compelling characters and a heart achingly beautiful romance.

The world building in The Burning Sky is phenomenal. Thomas has weaved together a world of magic, adventure, and intrigue. In an effort to correct a tainted batch of light elixir, Iolanthe Seabourne summons a bolt of lightning and sets in motion a chain of events that will forever change her life. Watching from a great distance, Prince Titus spot the lightening, and recognises immediately that the prophecy for which he has been preparing for his whole life has come true. The mage who has summoned this extraordinary lightning bolt is prophesied to be the greatest elemental mage of her generation, the one that can help him free the realm from the grips of the greatest tyrant the world has ever known. Titus must train Iolanthe, all the while keeping her identity a secret from the world, because if the Bane finds out he will stop at nothing to find her.

Iolanthe is an incredible heroine. In order to keep her identity a secret she joins Titus and masquerades as boy at Eton college, a public school for boys. This is the only way she can train without arousing suspicion. For someone who is thrust into an unexpected situation with no preparation or training she adapts quickly and plays her role as Archer Fairfax well. Although at times she is uncertain, she never complains or whines making her an admirable mc in my books.

The burden of the prophesy weights heavily on Titus as he knows for that for him, it is the beginning of the end. Despite this, though, he is determined to uphold his role as a mentor to Iolanthe and help her take down the Bane. Titus is a brilliant and multi-layered hero. He knows that he can't let anyone get to know the real him so puts on a air of self-importance and condescension. At first he keeps Iolanthe at arms length, because as he repeatedly tells her people like him can't have friends. Only this turns out to be much harder than he anticipated as he hadn't expected to fall for her...

"Sherry Thomas is one of the most acclaimed romance authors working today", and I can certainly see why. The relationship between Iolanthe and Titus is one I found myself easily rooting for. The back and forth banter, the slow burning romance and the eventual build up of trust was perfectly executed.

The Burning Sky is most definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far. The first in a planned trilogy this is a must read for fantasy fans!

He kissed the shell of her ear. “Then let me tell you this: I live for you, and you alone.”
*Quote taken from e-arc. May be subject to change.

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