In the industrial city of Dresberg, survival is achieved through any means. For Sandis Gwenwig that means obeying her master, Kazen’s, orders even if this means committing being condemned by society for the blasphemy of being a vessel. As a vessel, Sandis can channel and transform into the fiery spirit of Ireth -a numia from another astral plane - and do Kazen’s bidding. While the transformations are daunting and painful, Kazen provides food and shelter from the corrupt city so Sandis continues her role as Kazen’s favorite vessel.
However, after a piercing scream awakens her one night, Sandis witnesses the full extent of Kazen’s cruelty and horrifying human experiments. Fearing for her existence, Sandis escapes Kazen’s domain and into the city where she never seems to be beyond the shadow’s grasp.
Rone moves with the rhythms of Dresberg. In order to provide for his mother and himself, Rone takes on jobs dealing with acquisitions. While some may call him a thief, Rone sees his trade as a transference of possessions. That is, until his mother is blamed for his latest acquisition and is sent to the corrupt Gerech Prison where the individuals with the highest financial means control the system.
When Sandis and Rone’s paths cross, they must find a way to stay a step ahead of Kazen and his hired men lest the shadows consume them.
In Smoke & Summons, author Charlie N. Holmberg established the groundwork for the Numia trilogy where you can see hints of what fate has in store for Sandis and Rone. I found this world quite interesting due to the integration of industrialism and ability for supernatural summoning. Sandis and Rone are characters that make an immediate impression on readers. Rone has an easy swagger that disguises his fear of being captured while Sandis’s strength is reined in due to the scars of her past.
Smoke & Summons While majority of the book comprised of chase scenes, I enjoyed the internal dialogue of the characters and how Sandis and Rone began to bond over their experiences. There was a high atmosphere of suspense and readers are distinctly aware of everything that is at stake for the characters. This first installment in the Numia trilogy comprised of excellent world building and set the grounds for Sandis and Rone’s character development.brims with potential and there are many directions in which the story can develop. As the series continues, I am looking forward to learning more about the history of the numia and seeing Sandis take command of her own destiny.
**As a bonus I have a special Instagram post planned for Smoke & Summons scheduled for this evening!
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Smoke & Summons (Numina Trilogy #1) by Charlie N. Holmberg Publisher: 47North Release Date: February 1st 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Fantasy
Synopsis:
A captivating world of monsters and magic from the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician Series.
As a human vessel for an ancient spirit, Sandis lives no ordinary life. At the command of her master, she can be transformed against her will into his weapon—a raging monster summoned to do his bidding. Unlike other vessels, Sandis can host extremely powerful spirits, but hosting such creatures can be fatal. To stay alive, she must run. And in a city fueled by smoke and corruption, she finds a surprising ally.
A cunning thief for hire, Rone owns a rare device that grants him immortality for one minute every day—a unique advantage that will come in handy in Sandis’s fight for freedom. But Sandis’s master knows how powerful she is. He’s determined to get her back, and he has the manpower to find her, wherever she runs.
Now, to outwit her pursuers, Sandis must put all her trust in Rone and his immortal device. For her master has summoned more than mere men to hunt her down…
Book Links
About the Author
Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie N. Holmberg was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. Her fantasy Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Her stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance, and her novel The Fifth Doll won the 2018 Whitney for Speculative Fiction. She is a board member for Deep Magic Ezine and currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at:
Favorite Quotes:
~"Families are permanent."
~"Fire, the sweltering air whispered. Need."
~"She let herself absorb the moment until she brimmed with it. Carved the memory in her mind so she could lean on it if...when...things got bad again."
~"That was the best way to start a burglary. Strolling."
Dream Cast
Zazie Beetz as Sandis Gwenwig
Timothée Chalamet as Rone
Tom Hiddleston as Kazen
GIVEAWAY
Prize: Win a finished copy of Smoke and Summons by Charlie N. Holmberg (US Only)
Start Date: 10th February 2019
End Date: 5th March 2019
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