YA Review – Desperation – Young Adult Fantasy

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Quest of Fire: Desperation by Brett Armstrong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Quest of Fire: Desperation
Series: Quest of Fire #4
Author: Brett Armstrong
Publisher: Expanse Books
Release Date: September 13, 2022
Genre: Christian, Epic Fantasy

Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will not cost you more but may pay me an affiliate fee. Check out my links at the end of this posts of things that I think may interest you. Thanks for using my links which help support this blog.

Guarding his nation’s last hope, a teen must escape enemy lands.

While Anargen, Caeserus, and Bertinand are held captive in Stormridge, the war to restore Ecthelowall’s Commonwealth has been waged for months. Their friend Terrillian is on its frontline and hopes are high.

For Barons Fenwrest and Sornfold the fight is too close to their children, whose union represents the only viable challenge to the Monarchists claim to Ecthelowall’s ancient throne. Enter Thomas Fenwrest, an orphan and page to Sir Hurstwell, who is captain of Baron Fenwrest’s guard. The pair must escort the teens to Castle Yerst expecting boredom to be their only danger. Everything quickly spirals out of control when the Monarchists somehow deliver a devastating blow to the Restoration army and Thomas and Sir Hurstwell face the increasingly difficult task of keeping their charges alive. Ancient sorcery and bitter grudges combine to ensnare them. As desperation sets in for the Restoration and Thomas, to where will they turn for hope?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound

My Review

Armstrong, Brett. Desperation. Morrilton, AR: Expanse Books, 2022.  Quest of Fire #4

Desperation is the fourth book/novella in Brett Armstrong’s Quest of Fire fantasy series. They are frame tales – set in two different time periods yet related to each other. I really appreciate the way Armstrong draws readers to the High King. Every one so far has had characters who are knights in the service of the High King – working to bring light to the dark world in which they live. 

The story did not seem to be a direct continuation of the previous books but there is continuity in the storyline. Characters and names from previous books appearing as well as new characters being introduced.

Thomas, the disgraced nephew of a Baron, is responsible for the safe passage of his cousin and the two daughters of another Baron. He fights off evil forces to keep them safe, in the process he becomes a knight of the High King. Armstrong included some surprises in the plot that I didn’t see coming – that is always enjoyable. 

About the only criticism I have is that the summary of the previous books was found in the back and since I was reading an eBook I didn’t know they were there until I finished. I would have liked the summaries at the start in order to refresh my memory of what had happened previously. 

Desperation and the other books in the Quest of Fire series would be appropriate additions to a k-12 Christian school library. Fantasy lovers in middle school and up will enjoy the books. 

I received a complimentary copy of Desperation. This is my honest review.

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – BRETT ARMSTRONG

Brett Armstrong, author of the prize-winning novel, Destitutio Quod Remissio, started writing stories at age nine, penning a tale of revenge and ambition set in the last days of the Aztec Empire. Twenty years later, he still tells stories enriched by his Christian faith and a master’s degree in creative writing. His goal with every work is to be like a brush in the Master artist’s hand and his hope is the finished composition always reflects the design God had in mind. He writes to engage, immerse, and entertain with deep, thoughtful stories. Continually busy at work with one or more new novels to come, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and playing with his beautiful wife and son. Brett’s book The Gathering Dark is a 2020 Selah Awards Finalist in the Speculative Fiction category.

Connect with Brett by visiting brettarmstrong.net to follow him on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

---

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a copy of Quest of Fire: Desperation, a digital map of the western Lowlands, a digital copy of a limited-release short story about a character in Desperation, and Quest of Fire‘s theme music.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight November 8, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 15, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE
https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js

---

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!