by Chawna Schroeder
publisher’s synopsis
Glimpse the past, illuminate the future.
Yosarai Patican dreams of becoming an illuminator in a country that values art above all else. A lofty goal that finally seems within reach when she earns a position at the prestigious Academy of the Seven Arts. Although Yosarai loathes to leave behind her quiet country life, she travels to the capital, determined to live up to her mother’s fame as one of Indel’s greatest artists.
Prince Xander never planned to become king. Indeed, he never wanted to become king. But when his father dies suddenly, he is thrust into the middle of coronation preparations—and assassination attempts. With everyone around him in increasing danger, Xander decides to hide in neighboring Indel until the time for him to be crowned king arrives.
Posing as an inventor struggling with aesthetics, Xander enlists Yosarai’s aid as part of his cover, but soon he suspects she knows more than she should. But when danger threatens and secrets are exposed, entering a competition reputed as cutthroat may be the only way for them to protect everything they hold dear.
Secrets identities, puzzles, art, and truth collide in Chawna Schroeder’s latest novel.
The worldbuilding was nice, with both some familiar and fresh elements. There were a few storyworld terms that I struggled to figure out the meaning of in context, but I got them eventually. There is a glossary in the back of the book, but I wasn’t really able to use it since I was reading on my Kindle.
The various trials of the Quest were fun once they got underway. Schroeder did a great job of balancing the characters’ roles in the Quest and making sure all of them were important to the team. I also loved the uniqueness of Yosi’s character voice with how she saw voices as fonts, almost like of form of synesthesia.
As with her other novels, Schroeder weaves spiritual themes and truths all throughout the story. She ties them naturally to the characters, so they don’t feel preachy. I honestly really appreciated how much she wove faith throughout the narrative.
The ending will leave readers ready to find out what happens next for Xander and Yosi, but thankfully without a too-painful cliffhanger.
This is also a side note, but the chapters are very long in Illuminary, so prepare yourself to have to stop midchapter, or set aside a larger chunk of reading time. 🙂
Cautions: light romance; brief non-graphic violence
(I received an eARC from Enclave Publishing and was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.)
Hailey Huntington 
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