Sara B. Larson is back with the closing book of the Sisters of Shadow and Light duology, Warriors of Wing and Flame. Filled with swoonworthy romance and dark magic, Warriors of Wing and Flame is sure to be a favourite for YA readers.
After the events of Sisters of Shadow and Light, Zuhra and Inara are left to grieve their losses. But Barloc, now in possession of the powers he stole from Inara, is advancing his murderous goal to rule the realms of humans and Paladins. The sisters must band together with their family, friends, and Paladins from Visempirum to take down Barloc before it’s too late.
Warriors of Wing and Flame is a similar experience to the first book in the duology, Sisters of Shadow and Light. The plot is at times clunky and predictable, but still enthralling. The characters are well-built, but will grate on the nerves of some readers. The atmosphere is great, but the worldbuilding could use some help. But at the end of the day, Warriors of Wing and Flame is a solid end to Sara B. Larson’s duology.
Zuhra and Inara grow quite a bit in Warriors, especially Inara. With the loss of her powers, her mind is finally all hers and she can experience the world in ways that she couldn’t before. The sisters, who grew up secluded in the Paladin citadel with their abusive mother, go through many external dynamic changes, but the core of their sisterly bond always remains strong. One downside is now that Inara is no longer overcome with her powers, her POV voice is hard to distinguish from Zuhra. There are more than a few times when I had to flip to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself whose POV I was in.
The exploration of mental health in Warriors was handled really well and is always something I like to see in YA novels. Both sisters have experienced a very sheltered life and the abandonment of their care from their mother. Once they start to explore the world outside their cloistered life, things like depression and social anxiety become apparent. Larson handles this delicately through the sisters, and while it isn’t a focal point, it was good to see this side of the story.
One thing that really stands out with Warriors, and this duology in general, is the atmosphere. There is a slightly creepy, mystical vibe that weaves through the whole story and I think this atmosphere helped fill in when the world building didn’t feel like it was all together there. The world definitely expands more in Warriors, but it always felt like the development of the world needed just one step further for it to all fit together nicely.
While interesting, the plot itself needed a bit of smoothing out. The first chunk of the book felt fairly slow and the momentum didn’t really pick up until the ending. And through there were bits of sweet or emotional moments in the slower parts, the story really could have used more of a jolt in the beginning to get it going. And though it was slow, there is something that just hooks the reader and keeps them going. There is a bit of predictability in the story, but it never seemed to matter to me or hinder my enjoyment.
Warriors may falter a little more than its predecessor, it is still a solid ending to Larson’s duology and a worthwhile read. There is something to be said for simple stories that take you out of your reality and Larson does that pretty darn well with Warriors of Wing and Flame.
Warriors of Wing and Flame is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
Acclaimed author Sara B. Larson continues her enchanting YA fantasy duology with a timeless fairytale feel in an original voice.
The doorway between the magical Visempirum and the human world has been reopened. Paladin are once more living in the citadel where Zuhra and Inara grew up completely isolated by the magical hedge that trapped them there. Amidst the brewing conflict between the Paladin and humans looms the threat of Barloc, who has stolen Inara’s immense power and continues to elude the Paladin who are desperately searching for him.
In this sequel to Sisters of Shadow and Light, Inara and Zuhra must navigate the treacherous paths of self-discovery, their love for each other, and for the boys who have captured their hearts. Together, they search for the strength within themselves to bridge the divide between the two worlds they inhabit, even as war threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—they lov
