Hello bookdragons!
Raven's Bookish Network proudly presents Heaven's Silhouette by Melissa Lynn Herold, a fantasy series about angels but with a twist! Book released on September 17th, 2019 by Wise Ink Creative Publishing.
About Iyarri Chronicles Series Synopsis:
A forgotten race. A forbidden child.
Two thousand years ago, on the Night of Bloody Feathers, humans used blades, bows, and fire to bring a violent end to their delicate partnership with the winged, mythical Iyarri, and in the same stroke, destroyed the balance of truth and justice that unified their enemy. Splintered, the Iyarri withdrew from the world of men, and with time and magic to hide them, faded into human mythos and religious iconography. But they did not forget, and in deep in cliffside strongholds, the Iyarri amended their laws: contact with humans became forbidden, and having a child with one, the Unspeakable Sin, was punishable by death. Now, one such forbidden child, Aurelia, learns the true circumstances of her birth and must evade a death-sentence handed down a millennia ago. It’s up to her to harness her unique blood and long-unseen powers to not only carve out a place for herself in Iyarri society, but also to mend what was broken so long ago.
About the book:
"When I was little, other children called me a monster. A painting proved them right." A lifetime of cruel taunts and heartbreak has taught Aurelia to hide, to not get too close to anyone. A painter and gallery docent, her only solace is in the art that can’t stare back. When a new piece arrives, depicting an angelic figure who shares the physical features she’s always thought of as monstrous, Aurelia searches for the artist, determined to get the answers her mother has long-refused to provide. But Aurelia isn’t the only one searching; there are others who want the artist—and the truth—silenced. She’s attacked by figures from the painting, fierce warriors with wings and sharpened blades. Shaken and bloody, Aurelia manages to escape with her life but finds herself hunted by the Iyarri, who are anything but angels. As she comes to terms with her connection to them, Aurelia is drawn deeper into the heart of a millennia-old struggle. If she’s not careful, the consequences will tear her body, her heart, and the Iyarri in two.
Day 1
Quote:
"The feelings a piece invokes in each viewer are unique."
Excerpt:
“I told you not to come back for it,” Lucien yelled.
Before Stephan could respond, a humanoid shape streaked from the sky and struck him like some lightless, falling star.
I screamed, but didn’t run, the artist in me staring, awestruck. Wings arched from its back like feathered scythes—Stephan’s own painting had come to attack him.
Day 2
Review:
Starting this book, everything seems normal at first but then it began. This book was really unique and it stirs my curiosity through the pages.
I was amazed by the concept of this book and how it beautifully describes every detail about everything. The world building is extraordinary and i love the way of how the author introduced it in this book 1 of Iyarri Chronicles.
Aurelia herself has pretty much a long journey ahead of her and I can't wait to read more of it on the sequel. The story pace was not fast nor slow but just in the middle which is also good because I did not felt that something was rushed or super slow but it is on the right steady pace for me.
Overall, this book was great and a magical read for me! @lunacelestial_reads
Moodboard by @bhraopkpeyn
Day 3
Review:
I had so much fun reading this book. I love how the author twisted a widely known concept into something unique and interesting.
The Iyarri itself is a beautiful terror. It has wings like an angel but also has feet that aren't normal. They have admiring qualities but the concept just goes to show that someone so beautiful can be so flawed.
As for the world-building, it's pretty satisfying. I love the intricacies and the small details that the author sprinkled while building the world. I admire the language used by the Iyarri which is called Loagæth. It's amazing how all of this was introduced in the story without being "info-dumpy", or at least for me.
The pacing was in a steady flow. It's not too fast but it isn't dragging either. It's genuinely well thought out. Kudos to the author.
One thing I also love about this story is because it doesn't dwell too much on the romance but instead focuses on the family dynamics and the struggle of the main character to fit in with being a human and an Iyarri.
The characters were developed excellently. Of course, some aspects fell short like the way that I wasn't deeply connected to them. On the other hand, it isn't that big of a deal because this book is just the first installment in a series. I think that the author did a great job of building the groundwork of what I expect to be a great series.
All in all, it was a super great read. So excited to read the sequel.
Listen to @cosmothedreamer 's Playlist for Heaven's Silhouette here.
Day 4
Review:
Rating 4/5⭐️
This book gave me big Hush Hush mixed with Shadowhunters vibes but less dark. I love the fact that they used “angels” as a species called Iyarri, it’s a very interesting turn of the concept.
I felt like there was a little bit of insta-love at the beginning but it took a really interesting twist later on. I’m still a shipper so I ended up getting on board.
The family issues in this book were very entertaining and different from what we’re used to seeing when the dad abandons the family, I think it was a nice touch from the author.
Day 5
Author Q&A with Melissa Lynn Herold & @thesunandalltheotherstars
Q: What inspired you to write these series?
A: I've always had a deep fascination with winged begins and Enochian mysticism, so this seemed like a wonderful way to pair them! The idea that there ARE these things that John Dee reached and learned parts of the language of, but they weren't divine beings was too exciting to pass up.
Q: Which part of the story were you excited for the readers to read?
A: Lucien and Lia meeting again for the first time. The tension in that scene is delicious.
Q: Which place inspired the World of Iyarri?
A: No one place, but I would say some D&D (the Iyarri are most like the winged elves, called Avariel), and Victorian mysticism.
Q: What is your favorite scene from the book and why?
A: This one is hard to answer without spoilers, but I'd say the scene where Aurelia is forced to use her riore to save those she loves. She's a character that grows across three books, and this scene, in particular, was a huge step for her.
Q: Which character was really fun writing?
A: I love all my characters because they tend to be very gray with deep personalities. I think more what I can say I enjoy are specific interactions? Like the sibling relationship between Cael and Tiahmani, or Aurelia trying to decide if she can trust Aamon or not, or the way that everything goes to hell when one of two characters readers care about attacks another. That's where the true joy of writing characters shines brightest.
Q: If you were a character of your book, what role would you like to play:
A: Oh goodness this is a hard one. Probably Aurelia, but a very close second is Irel. That I brew up oils and potions at my Etsy store NightBlooming makes me a pretty natural fit for the Iadnah!
About the Author:
Melissa Lynn Herold is artistically-talented, scientifically-minded, and magically-fascinated, something that manifests in both her fiction and nonfiction. Her debut into published fiction is the artistically immersive Heaven’s Silhouette, first book in the Iyarri Chronicles (September 17, 2019).
An herbal alchemist, Melissa owns and runs NightBlooming where she blends up herbs and oils that grow real-life fairytale hair, including ones lifted right off the pages of The Iyarri Chronicles. She has published two nonfiction books, Rehabilitating Damaged Hair Naturally and Coloring Hair Naturally with Henna & Other Herbs.
She lives with her husband in a sweeping river valley with their mutinous cats and garden dotted with honeybees.
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