This beautiful YA Fantasy hits shelves Tuesday!! Happy Early Book Birthday to Relic by Bronwyn Eley!
About Relic
Title: Relic
Author: Bronwyn Eley
Publisher: Talem Press
Genre: YA Fantasy
Comparative Titles: Throne of Glass,
Queen of the Tearling, An Ember in the
Ashes, Red Queen, The Hundredth Queen
Synopsis:
In the city of Edriast, there is no deadlier duty than to serve as the Shadow. As the personal servant of the powerful Lord Rennard, the Shadow’s life is all but forfeit. Rennard possesses one of five rare and dangerous Relics – a jewel that protects his bloodline, but slowly poisons everyone else in its proximity. When the current Shadow succumbs to its magic, nineteen-year-old blacksmith Kaylan is summoned to take his place.
It’s an appointment that will kill her. As the time Kaylan has left ebbs away, hope begins to fade… That is, until she discovers a plot to destroy all five bloodlines in possession of the Relics.
A rebel force plans to put an end to Rennard’s rule and Kaylan suddenly finds herself embroiled in a cause that might just be worth fighting for. But no cause is without its costs…
As her life hangs in the balance and rebellion bears down on Edriast, Kaylan must decide
where her loyalties lie – and how she’ll leave her mark on the world. Relic is the absorbing first novel in The Relic Trilogy, a thrillingly dark YA fantasy series.
Find it: Amazon | Goodreads
Review
Another great debut YA Fantasy. This is a unique story about a girl who is chosen to be the new “Shadow”, a role she was not expecting.
When Kaylan comes home one day to find Lord Rennard’s guards there to pick her up. Once she begins her role as the new shadow she realizes that not only is the power of the Relic killing her, she’s literally a servant to the Lord. Not only is she picking up Rennard’s laundry and taking him his meals, she’s expected to always be at his beck and call and dealing with his foul moods doesn’t make it any easier. Kaylan becomes friends with unexpected allies along the way and when she uncovers a plot to rebel against Rennard, she starts to wonder just who she can trust.
I really liked Kaylan. I thought the fact that she was a Blacksmith was really unique and cool because you don’t see that very often. I felt like her character arc developed at a great pace and her struggles emotionally and mentally while being so close to the Relic really added to her internal turmoil. Not only does she have to fight against the power of the Relic, and what it’s doing to her body, but she has to learn who her true enemies are and who she can trust.
This book was filled with all the things I enjoy about YA Fantasy. I can’t wait for more!
About Bronwyn
Bronwyn joined the military right out of high school, where she learnt (among other things) to disassemble and reassemble a rifle blindfolded. After that she spent a lot of her time travelling around the world. Her favourite places (so far) are Scotland, Mongolia, Iceland and Ireland.
Bronwyn finally found her natural habitat when she landed her first job in the publishing industry. While she has always been a writer, it was only when surrounding
herself with books that she realised her life’s dream was to become an author. Relic is her first novel.
Bronwyn lives in Sydney and spends her time eating chocolate, reading and practicing her martial arts.
The Clever Reader 
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