What initially grabbed my interest in Ceara Nobles's Sparks and Shadow is that it takes in Seattle, a city I have visited many times and home to Allison Lee, the protagonist in Dragons Walk Among Us.
You can read my thoughts on this novel below.
Sparks and Shadow is a modern, action-packed YA portal fantasy featuring Fae mythology, magic, and slow-burn romance. This is the first book in the Rising Elements series.
Blurb
Seattle is full of monsters, and I’m the only one who can see them.
I’ve spent the last 17 years (AKA my whole life) pretending I can’t see the monsters who disguise themselves as humans. I may not have a place to live and my best friend may be moments away from getting in too deep with the city’s most dangerous drug lord, but I’m rolling with the status quo.
That is, until I save my arch enemy’s stupid life and find myself in a warehouse full of monsters.
Next thing I know, I’m in Monster Land (AKA not Seattle) and up to my ears in monsters, magic, and inevitable mayhem. If I want to get home, I have to join a band of revolutionaries and stay alive long enough to get back through the portal before war breaks out.
This’ll be a cinch.
My thoughts
This is a fast-paced story with a spunky female lead in Everly. In a world full of monsters, she needs some spunk.
Her problem is she's the only one you can see the monsters––everyone else only sees the monsters as ordinary humans. And did I mention that's not her only problem? She's also living on the edge of homelessness. Luckily, she's resourceful, earning money if not a living as a bicycle courier. But, things get even more complicated when she gets caught up in a delivery for the monsters. Soon, she's on a seemingly one-way trip to fairyland.
Overall, this is an enjoyable book. It's a quick read, and Everly is a likable protagonist. I didn't find myself agreeing with every move Everly makes, but all her decisions are 100% in character.
Readers hungry for a spritely urban fantasy full of monsters and magic with a strong female protagonist will find much to savor in Sparks and Shadow.
About the Author
Ceara Nobles is a Utah-based author of romantic suspense and fantasy novels. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2016 with a B.A. in Computer Animation, then realized she hated it. Now she spends her days juggling her side hustle as a line editor and her true love of authorship. When she’s not busy writing, you can find her chasing her toddler, road tripping with her hubby, or hiding in bed with a chai and a good book.