SPFBO 10 Elimination Round: Arina

We continue with the SPFBO 10 Elimination Round! In case of any confusion: this is not an official SPFBO thing. We here at QBA decided to section Phase 1 into Elimination Round (once known as The Reaping), Semi-Finalist Reveal, and Semi-Final Stage.

What does this mean? Each of us will cut 2 of our titles in the Elimination Round. We’ll add our mini-reviews, explaining our reasons. Once that’s done, we’ll start revealing our semi-finalists (fair warning: not all of us might pick one) and saying goodbye to the remaining titles. Pretty much the same way we did for SPFBO 9. In the second half of Phase 1 (also known as Semi-Final Round), the team will review each of the semi-finalists.

I’d like to thank each and every author who submitted their book to SPFBO this year. I know how hard it must be, but sadly, we can’t forward all of you to the finals. That said, it’s time to say goodbye to two of the books in Tru’s batch. As a reminder, you can check out our SPFBO 10 page to see how we allocated our books and follow our progress.

Previous Elimination Round posts: Tru, Timy, Liis

Note from Arina

These are exciting times, being back in SPFBO with this great team! After a year’s pause, with 2022 being my first judging year, I finally felt ready to come back, as I found myself with more time to read.

I want to thank every author who has braved these rough waters, particularly those in our batch who trusted us with your work. I know it’s nerve-wracking and perhaps a bit terrifying, so I hope you know we’re both rattled with hair-pulling enthusiasm!

I sought to read every book in my batch (there were 5 for each of us) to its completion, but alas that was not always the conclusion.

I treat every book in this competition like every book I read outside of it: if, for some structural, defining reason, I start to realize I am forcing myself through it, I stop reading. When that happens, I try my best to communicate my reasons clearly, and I hope that by imparting my experience, others can be compelled to pursue their own.

SPFBO’s greatest strength is that your story has found its way to readers, whether it is one of the cuts or winners. I hope my reviews help with that.

Secrets of the Sorcerers by Joan Marie Verba

A vengeful plan. An impossible impasse. When confronted by the magnitude of past deeds, will she be caught in a spellbound standstill?

High Sorcerer Marlys has earned the respect of her colleagues. Twelve years after freezing her ruthless predecessor in time to protect her region, the powerful leader has worked hard to bring about peace and tranquility. But while presiding over a beautiful double wedding, a rival enchantress traps Marlys’s friends with an identical spell in malicious payback.

Denying the intruder’s demand to free Marlys’s predecessor after more than a decade bespelled, Marlys and her companion sorcerers frantically search for a way to crack their adversary’s magic. And with each side refusing to compromise and driven by distrust, they face a mountainous task—to find the legendary Library of Sorcery, which they hope contains the knowledge to restore their friends.

With their opponent also on the passage to the Library, can Marlys and her companions reach their destination first to end the magical deadlock?

Secrets of the Sorcerers is the refreshing first book in a quest fantasy series. If you like strong characters, gentle humor, and action-filled adventure, then you’ll love Joan Marie Verba’s enthralling story.

Read: 30%

Joan Marie Verba’s Secrets of the Sorcerers: A Quest Fantasy was my curtain-raiser for SPFBO 10. At roughly 200 pages, it is a short novel that presents an intriguing premise of high-stakes magic and a quest for justice within an abusive and broken magical institution.

I gobbled up the first chapters, as we are introduced to a young Marlys, who struggles to come into her powers but, once they are awakened, unleashes swift judgment onto her academic peers and superiors by freezing them with a powerful time spell. 

Marlys is something of a prodigy, yet she grows into her talents through effort and struggle, which is a pleasant detour from the usual Mary/Gary Sue main character in these coming-of-age stories.

Twelve years later, Marlys is now a High Sorcerer, a respected leader who has sought to rebuild the magical educational system through kindness and patience. But this tranquillity is shattered when Marlys’ past infringes on her idyllic future. A sorceress comes seeking revenge for wrongs suffered, trapping Marlys’ students in the same time spell she froze others in years ago.

Together with a handful of students who have managed to escape the spell, she must now embark on a quest to the legendary Library of Sorcery to find a way to free them, all while racing against her opponent.

This sets the stage for a promising story which is sadly quickly marred by its execution. As we progress through events, the mechanical writing style detracts significantly from the reading experience; the lack of descriptive weight and emotional resonance dims even the most climactic moments.

The narrative is laid out straightforwardly, almost list-like, with events happening so fast that it becomes hard to grasp any emotional depth or character development. It feels more like a recitation of events than an engaging tale, and I couldn’t connect to the story or any of the characters.

The magic system also baffled me a little. Some spells, first described as incredibly powerful (like the time spell Marlys casts at the beginning), are subsequently employed by other characters in a way that makes them seem almost mundane and easily accessible. This undermines the sense of awe and wonder that I was first made to believe should accompany such feats of magic. 

I also struggled with plot progression, as it is often driven by vague explanations and deus ex machina resolutions. 

Although the opening chapters were promising, Secrets of the Sorcerers ultimately failed to engage me until the end. I ended up setting it aside when I realized the story’s depth and internal consistency were losing me. While the concept has potential, the execution just didn’t pull me in.

Heir of Amber and Fire by Rachanee Lumayno

They’re only huge, scary, fire breathing creatures. Seriously, is that any reason to be afraid of a dragon?

When my father the king announced my upcoming political wedding, it uncovered family secrets I never knew existed and forced me to go on the run. Now I, Princess Jennica of Calia, am not only trying to escape my arranged marriage, but am hoping to figure out the truth of my heritage.

Because my dear father may not be what he seems.

To learn the mysteries of my past, I’ll have to team up with a group of ragtag mercenaries. Including a handsome dragon Seeker whose surliness can’t stop me from being drawn to him despite myself.

They’re taking me to the dragon who once kidnapped my mother, and who hopefully has the answers I seek.

Because I’m running out of time to save my kingdom.

And in order to save my kingdom, I might have to betray my new friends.

Journey to the Gifted Lands, a fantasy world of seven kingdoms, each known for their own unique power or ability. Heir of Amber and Fire is the first book in the Kingdom Legacy series set in this magical world.

Read: 30%

Rachanee Lumayo’s Heir of Amber and Fire is a young adult fantasy novel that follows Princess Jennica of Calia, who uncovers shocking family secrets after fleeing an arranged political marriage.

In her quest to unravel the mysteries of her past and save her kingdom from impending doom, Jennica sets out to find a dragon Seeker, who will help her venture to the lair of a dragon who holds ties to her mother. This journey forces the princess to confront difficult choices, discover the truth about her heritage, and face the outside world from which she has been so secluded.

Heir of Amber and Fire is a coming-of-age story that seems to be targeted at a much younger audience than expected, potentially even enjoyable for middle-grade readers. This discrepancy in target demographic is one of the reasons why the book failed to sway me, as its plot developments appear too simplistic and convenient.

Although Jennica’s potential growth from pampered princess to lone traveller and independent woman was interesting, the storyline is peppered with unbelievable coincidences that strained my credibility. Convenient encounters lead to convenient information and plot points that feel poorly justified, resulting in a muddled narrative lacking plausibility.

I like to see characters struggle a bit because, well, people struggle and life is a bitch. And yes, characters are ultimately words on a page, and they don’t have to be real, but real stays with you.

Jennica quickly shows herself to be an effortless magic user who succeeds at new spells on her first try. Although there’s a reason for this natural talent of hers, the trope often results in tepid character development or fails to establish that real bond between character and reader.

I found it a bit hard to believe that a princess could flee a castle and remain unnoticed for so long (especially after it is stated that the king has his own spies in the castle, as he distrusts his wife). There is also the setting of an underlying plotline, where characters denote that there has been a string of murders in town. Yet no one objects to sending off the princess, entirely on her own, on a far-off, clearly potentially dangerous quest.

Moments like these felt contrived rather than organic and so, while the book might appeal to younger readers who enjoy straightforward and convenient narratives, I missed more depth, complexity, and nuance.

Heir of Amber and Fire is a fun introductory fantasy for younger readers, but I could not find the intricate, complex storytelling I seek in a finalist.

To keep up with our process and the competition, please check out our SPFBO 10 page!

If you’d like to know more about the QBA team, then meet us in our introduction post!