ARC Review: Moth and Spark by Anne Leonard

Moth and Spark
Author: Anne Leonard
Publication: Viking Adult (February 20, 2014)

Description: A prince with a quest. A commoner with mysterious powers. And dragons that demand to be freed—at any cost.

Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the Empire, but dragons aren't big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control. Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in the capital that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming to Caithen. Torn between Corin’s quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, the lovers must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and a rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.

My Thoughts: MOTH AND SPARK was amazing high fantasy and a wonderful romance too. Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons who are in the control of his liege lord, the Emperor Hadon. But he also has to save his country, Caithen, from being invaded by the cruel and vicious Tyrekh. This is no time to fall in love, much less fall in love with a woman he would never be able to marry.

Tam Warin is a commoner and the daughter of a well-respected doctor. She is at the court with her brother's wife who is a noble. She is amused at the antics of the court but has no interest in playing the courting games the other young women seem obsessed with. However, strange things begin happening to her when she sees the death of one of the court nobles and recognizes a Tyrekh poison as the cause. That and the visions she had when he died indicate that she might be a Seer.

It takes until page 76 for Corin and Tam to meet. They literally run into each other in the library. But they form a very romantic relationship. Corin is honest about the fact the he will never be able to marry her and Tam weighs that in her consideration to have a romance with him anyway. She is good for him because she doesn't treat him with to much deference and her unique viewpoint helps Corin clarify his own thinking.

The world that the author built was rich with wizards, dragons and an epic war. She also made Tam and Corin into very real people who had strengths and weaknesses and who needed each other to be the best people they could be.

Between rides on dragons, battle scenes and characters having to go into hiding and flee the enemy, the story was filled with action and adventure. The book was fast-paced and filled with wonderful detail. I recommend it to all lovers of fantasy.

Favorite Quote:

Must you do it? Tam had asked. Must was a hard word. He did not believe in destiny or fate. He had the choice. He should do his duty by his country and not go haring off on a fool's quest he would likely fail in for the sake if the dragons. If he did free the dragons, Mycene would fracture and leave Caithen to be even more firmly gripped by Tyrekh. He could not let that happen either. There was nothing to be gained at all by following the path the dragons laid before him.

I got this ARC through the Amazon Vine Program. You can buy your copy here.