Banished (Blackheart Legacy) by Liz de Jager





Summary: Sworn to protect, honour and slay. Because chaos won’t banish itself…

Kit is proud to be a Blackhart, now she’s encountered her unorthodox cousins and their strange lives. And her home-schooling now includes spells, fighting enemy fae and using ancient weapons. But it’s not until she rescues a rather handsome fae prince, fighting for his life on the edge of Blackhart Manor, that her training really kicks in. With her family away on various missions, Kit must protect Prince Thorn, rely on new friends and use her own unfamiliar magic to stay ahead of Thorn’s enemies. As things go from bad to apocalyptic, fae battle fae in a war that threatens to spill into the human world. Then Kit pits herself against the Elder Gods themselves – it’s that or lose everyone she’s learnt to love.


Publisher: Tor: a Pan Macmillan imprint.
Release Date: Out now! (UK)

So, on a quiet Friday evening, i found myself book-less and decided,  lets trail through Kindle's vast array of books, looking for a fairy/Urban romance. The result; Banished by Liz de Jager.

Kit has only recently found out about her families Legacy, after the untimely death of her Grandmother she moves to Blackhart Manor and is trained how to fight monsters. Along with her fledgling magical powers, she is the only Blackhart in generations to show magical ability. On the return of her first solo-mission her cousins are whisked away to another mission and her Uncle away training others, this leaves her at the manor. Alone. 

With an inkling that everything just isn't quite right, she grabs her swords and ventures past the Manor shields and rescues a Sidhe Fae Prince. Thorn. Thorn is the seventh son and while prophesied to hold immense power, he just isn't that all powerful. During this rescue it is revealed that the "Otherworld" is having a civil war that is reaching into the "Frontier" (Earth as we know it). Thus she and Thorn go on an adventure to try calm this unrest, even if it means stopping the Elder gods.

de Jager quickly builds up plot and although with occasional dumpings of scene building, creates a fun and imaginative story, that if given a chance will keep you hooked. She creates a fun, relatable and realistic character in Kit, who knows her powers have gone crazy and is straightforward enough to say this and not keep whining on about it. She is a fighter and a firm believer in promises. She has created a character that is just learning about her world, and successfully maintains this naivety  throughout the novel, not just getting it like so many others.

Thorn is a Fae Prince who escaped the castle when it was under attack. having made it to the "Frontier" only to be ambushed. de Jager creates him as this Noble yet, troubled teenage fae. He too has relatable issues, with a past full of issues from being prophesied about. He feels a strong familiar bond with his brothers and constantly worries of their safety even as he is running. He is also the love interest in this novel, and de Jager doesn't (Thankfully) turn on the sugar dusting. it is a nice building romance that neither Kit nor Thorn is immediately aware of.

de Jager also integrates an amazing amount of mythical beasts and ideas into this book, building the world for the next two books, and trying to explain most, but not all. Although i believe it a shame that she reveals who the traitor is early on, she manages to add an unexpected twist right at the end which will have you looking up Book 2's release date.

So overall this is a fun and interesting that book, that although is a challenge to keep reading at points, is a great debut novel and first book in the series. A Solid 4 stars!

Talia

No comments