This month sees the release of the final instalment in Jill Criswell’s Frozen Sun Saga and Souls of Fire and Steel marks the end of yet another amazing YA fantasy series. I’ve read each of these books and I can say with certainty that I am sad to see it end but also excited to see what’s next from Criswell. She is an amazing writer with incredible vision that brought to a life a ruthless, Icelandic inspired tale that will have fantasy readers craving more.
Although I loved this series, I do think that Souls of Fire and Steel missed the mark only slightly in comparison to its predecessors, which is solely based on the readability as it approached the climax when everything was coming together. There were many moving parts and with the complicated lore and addition of a side quest, although it made sense, it still felt rushed and pieced in. The romance was a little lacking from our two leading characters, but the story’s direction made it impossible for Criswell to add anymore than she already did. If this story ran slightly longer to allow for a more slow, even pace near the end, I think it would have increased the flow and readability and have the reader understand all scenes as they unfolded.
Be warned, just like in most fantasy novels, some characters die and Criswell does not pull her punches. She makes the death of a character quick but meaningful and she does not spare anyone from the axe that would compromise the strength in her story. If it makes sense to kill a beloved character off, she does it and she makes it hurt for both the reader and character themselves. I love this quality to her writing, but I also hate it because you never see some of these deaths coming and they were devastating to read when they hit. But this is a respect I have for her as a reader because when authors make us feel for the characters, you know that they did their job right. Her writing is brilliant and cunning.
It was great to see the inclusion of more flashbacks showing Draki’s other side, as Reyker’s brother, Aldrik. It captured a vulnerability to this villain that could have the potential of a redemption arc. It also mixed up the writing style a bit by including dedicated chapters for his character which only increased Criswell’s dynamic storytelling.
This book opened with a banger as Lira is now thrust into Draki’s grip and she cannot escape it. She is his ultimate weapon. Similar to Lia and the Komizar in The Remnant Chronicles, she is forced to go against her beliefs and her friends. She is tasked to kill the very man she loves and to add even more stakes, this is the villain’s brother. Like I mean, come on, the drama there was palpable.
“How could beauty be so disturbing? His golden-green eyes were sharp, calculating. Silken silver hair fell over his broad shoulders. Draki was clad in a sleeveless fur vest that he’d left unbuttoned, revealing taut muscles and inked skin. The pier and everything around it wore a wispy gown of white, but the cold never affected Draki.”
And look at this, the way Criswell even describes Draki could have people choosing the bad boy villain over the loyal, soldier, Reyker. She made him irresistible, kind of like the Darkling in Shadow and Bone.
You can see her fighting him immediately which I loved but then you start to respect her even more after you read this, “My body was covered in scars. Behind both ears, where Draki had carved his dragon stars, though I couldn’t see them. I could, however, see the matching marks he’d carved on my calf. My hip. My wrist, where Reyker’s skoldar once was. And another, between my breasts, over my heart—as if the mark might sink through my skin into the pulsing muscle and persuade it to pound faster at the sight of him, to beat for no one but Draki.”
My jaw was on the floor when I read this description . First of all, he’s abusive and controlling and he’s put so many wounds and markings on her just to keep her under his influence, but that’s not even the zinger. Although very disturbing and graphic, Criswell included a scene where they become more than slave and master. It gets hot and heavy. She introduced a teaser of Lira and Draki romance and I didn’t know what I was reading. But if you like bad boys going with the main character, then this might be a book for you. I still can’t believe this happened. It’s surreal.
“Garreth’s fist slammed against the table. ‘Speak ill of my sister again and I will hang your from a rope as I did your brethren!” I loved the side characters in these books. Here we have Garreth, Lira’s brother, and I loved this line. He has very strong family values, love for the main character, and he has the balls to call out anyone for speaking against her. He’s protective and I love it.
Then we have Solvei and Sursha, two badass female warriors who become leaders in their own right based off of merit and skill. They are everything you want in a fantasy series that’s hellbent against women having power and leadership, they simply don’t care and they take what they deserve and I loved their scenes so much!
And then of course we have Brokk, I could never forget about him. He cares so much for both Reyker and Lira and he is hilarious to a fault. This sweet moment of bonding was an amazing scene between the main character and him that showcased his humour while still keeping the moment serious.
“This was the most cursed place in Iseneld, where covens had performed rituals and sacrifices inside a circle of god-touched stones. It was where many volvur died when Draki came to capture them, running straight into the blades of the Dragonmen, taking their own lives to keep their powerful spells out of the Dragon’s grasp. The Magiska Massacre many called it, whispering how the spirits of the volvur remained where they had fallen. Witches’ blood had soaked the soil and turned it fallow.”
This was my most anticipated part of the whole novel. Seeing the Haunted Isles come to life in this final book was everything. It was scary and it gave the story this rough and dark atmospheric immersion that only helped raise the stakes for the final battle, of both mind and soul.
And last but not least, a little bit of character development for our boy, Reyker. This little scene between them was great because it showed Reyker being able to receive forgiveness for his past, horrible actions. Showing he’s earned it for what he’s done since. It felt like his character was coming full circle and I loved that for his character.
All in all, the characters were still incredibly fleshed out, the plot was there, the villain was still ruthless (especially with his treatment of the main character, Lira—both physically and mentally), and overall this was a typical, well-written fantasy read. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves Mary E. Pearson’s The Remnant Chronicles and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series since they both deal with similar themes, like magic, prophecies and lore. Definitely pick up this series if you’re looking for a new fantasy series because this one will not disappoint and they’re all out now, so go ahead and binge them!
Souls of Fire and Steel is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.
Will you be picking up Souls of Fire and Steel? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
To save her lover’s life, Lira of Stone swore allegiance to a demigod known as the Dragon. She’s transformed into his weapon—the Dragon’s deathbringer, using her gifts to conquer nations and unleash demons. Yet there’s a part of Lira not even the Dragon can stifle, and the soul-reader must find a way to free herself before he declares war against the gods.
After the warrior Reyker Lagorsson attempted to overthrow the Dragon, Reyker’s soul was fractured. Now, he’s a shadow of his former self, and his battle-madness grows stronger by the day. Reyker will stop at nothing to kill the Dragon and his mysterious death-bringer before his curse consumes him.
In the final installment of the Frozen Sun Saga, Lira and Reyker face off as enemies, confront their worst nightmares, and make their last stand against the Dragon. But can a god be killed? And if so, at what cost?
