The first book in the Akrad’s Legacy series, Akrad’s Children follows siblings Dinnis, who always believed his father would return to save him, and Ista, who embraced the teachings of the cruel sorcerer who held them prisoner. Caught up in their story is Mannok, the siblings’ half-brother, crown prince of Tamra and heir to the throne of Akrad’s enemies.
While I’m not generally a fan of stories about young adults struggling to find their place in the world, this tale is so beautifully written and the characters so adeptly portrayed that I found myself really enjoying their story. I would even go as far as to say that Akrad’s Children is a classic in the making.
Jeanette O’Hagan’s writing is a pleasure to read, and she excels at both world building and creating life-like characters. In Nardva she has crafted a unique and exquisitely detailed world bursting with political intrigue, warring factions, magic, and incredibly believable human emotion. Few authors master this juxtaposition of intriguing plot, good pacing, life-like characterization, and flawless world building.
And while that in itself is more than enough reason to add this book to your to-read list, the descriptions are also worth mentioning:
Soon it would be evening. Argenti, almost full circle, rose above the jagged mountain peaks in the east. Alumi, the bigger of the two moons, was a mere crescent in the western sky blushed with pink and gold. Further down, the molten orb of the sun sank toward the distant horizon.
A great Sword & Sorcery tale for young and adult readers alike, Akrad’s Children can be found on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend picking up a copy. I’ll definitely be looking forward to the next installment in the series!
