Firefly Island

Firefly Island consists of five separate kingdoms. Every century, a Firechild, holder of magic, is born to each kingdom. The most dominant kingdom is Stonemark, ruled by King Sinther, who is a Firechild. The king has made himself almost invulnerable to attack, living underground and drawing on his magical ability as the Firechild of Stonemark to turn himself to stone. His only vulnerability is to the Esiren Firechild, who has the ability to link minds and share her physical senses with any living being. If she hurts herself, King Sinther will feel pain, and if she dies while they are linked, the king will also die. The king sends his son, Lale, out to hunt for and kill the Esiren Firechild before she can find him and link minds.

Aeolia is the Esiren Firechild, though she does not know anything about it. Abandoned as a small child in Stonemark, then adopted, she was long ago sold into slavery to the ogres, who live in the Beastlands. Before she left, her adopted brother, Joren, promised her he would come to rescue her as soon as he came of age. He only required that she never use her magic. Aeolia keeps her promise until the day her life is threatened. She blindly uses her magic to save herself, thereby alerting Lale, who has been hunting her, as to her location. The chase is on, with Aeolia running for her life, seeking sanctuary along the way with different kingdoms, always finding that, in the end, she must save herself.

FIREFLY ISLAND combines the adventures of a group of characters; Aeolia; Taya, Forestfolk Firechild and a warrior; Roen, Heland Firechild and a painter; and Talen, who becomes Aeolia’s husband. They struggle to free their lands from King Sinther and the armies of Stonemark. Lale, son of King Sinther, and Joran, known as The Butcher, are central characters as well. Mr. Arenson does a spectacular job writing battle scenes, but the romance and character development, as well as the little details that let readers understand a character, are a little weaker. Aeolia seemed a little whiney after a while. FIREFLY ISLAND tells a tale of the contrast between personal happiness and security, and honor and duty.

Lisa Baca