From the author of Heir to Insanity: Jasper’s only friend, Ethan, is dying. Jasper is a gremlin with enough power to level a city, but the magical energy he placed within Ethan to keep him alive is fading. Ethan’s only hope lies in the very artifact that nearly killed him in the first place: the Everflame. The two join forces with Linna, a young pirate woman coming into her own powers, and Avril, the personification of fate itself. Unfortunately, they aren’t the only ones seeking the artifact. Hunted by their old friend Yon and his army of monsters, they set out to claim the Everflame.
Heir to Insanity is a lighthearted novel speckled with comedy while retaining the serious undertone of a race against time.
Heir to Insanity is an imaginative fantasy novel that has a modern feel even though it includes magic and mythical creatures. (I think this is because the dialogue feels contemporary and the tone of the story is playful.) The four companions—Jasper, Ethan, Linna, and Avril—are an unlikely bunch, but when they are united with a common purpose, they make a fascinating team. Jasper is the most irreverent of the group, always ready with a smart remark. Ethan is more serious, which one would expect from someone in a predicament such as his: his apparent strength is temporary, and his time is running out. Linna’s curiosity allows her to explore her new abilities, and throughout the story, I was excited to see what she would become. Avril is more reserved. She seemed more practical than the others, which gave a nice balance to the group. Their adversaries—the Vodrun led by Yon—were truly frightening! (Look at the book cover and be afraid.) Scariest of all, though, was Jasper’s incredible destructive capacity. I didn’t know how powerful he was at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed, I realized he was a force to be reckoned with!
The idea of some of the creatures in Heir to Insanity being “Visions” with special powers added so much to the narrative! At first, I assumed the concept was merely a unique way to include magic in the story, but as I continued reading, I discovered it was essential for the plot. It kept me guessing throughout the book, and I hope it will be explored even more in the sequel.
Heir to Insanity is a deeper story than it initially seems to be. It addresses friendships gone awry, and the plot is quite complex. It is a story about loyalty, difficult decisions, and revenge. Although the story is definitely multilayered enough for a sequel, I appreciated that the major plot point (whether or not Ethan survived) was resolved at the end. You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out what happens! My only complaint about this book was that the dialogue was so informal that it sometimes pulled me out of the fantasy world and into the modern world. This was funny at times, which may have been the intention, but I think I would have been more easily absorbed by the story if the dialogue had been more congruent with the story’s atmosphere. This is just my personal preference, though! The characters are strong and the plot is intriguing. It will be interesting to see how the story evolves in the sequel.
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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Help Me is the prequel to the Silvertree Series, now available on Amazon!
