The Torch Keepers // Book Review

Howdy, y'all!

I'm so sorry I didn't get around to posting yesterday, I came down with an agonizing migraine and spent most of the day in bed. Then I graduated from the 8th grade that evening! I can't believe I'm headed to high school *shakes head* 

Today is going to be a book review of The Torch Keepers by Hosanna Emily. I had expectations for this book, which I probably shouldn't have. And I hadn't really understood exactly what it had been about, and by the end of it, I knew the entire thing was kind of a parable. 

"The King's blue flame quivers as a new fire arises, and Kadira must hold fast to his torch. It's destiny; she's a Torch Keeper. 

A fiery revolution sweeps across the kingdom of Erkeos, and each person must choose a side. Kadira, a girl set apart to serve the King, finds her city engulfed in the Liberation's emerald flames. Her blue eyes mark her as the enemy, and she flees from death. It stalks her anyway. When she meets Rekem, the Liberation warrior sent to kill her, she rebels against the King's ways. Two armies collide; indecision isn't an option. As hearts and lives hang in the balance, Kadira and Rekem could ring destruction or liberation to the entire kingdom."

The Torch Keepers is published by S.C. Treehouse in 2019. It is written by Hosanna Emily, and is 287 pages long story-wise, 294 pages in total. The genre is kind of fiction, fantasy, Christian, and only a little bit of romance. I rate it around 3.5 stars, maybe a little more, I'm not sure *laughs*

First off, I feel like I should start out with the negative stuff so I can end this post off with positive stuff! I wasn't very pleased with the ending of this novel; it wasn't satisfying. There were many things I wondered after it ended. Where did Kadira go after the story ended? What happened to Rekem; why isn't he followed up with? I know pretty much where Rekem goes with his life, but what happened to him? He was a very crucial part of the story, and I kind of felt like he was tossed aside at the end, which shouldn't have happened since his POV is in the book. 

Honestly, that's all I have to say about what I don't like about this book, other than it was heartbreaking at the end. I enjoyed it, but sadly it didn't find its way onto my favorite shelf because the fighting and wars and death was too sad for me (i'm super sensitive to people dying).  

On a more happier side, Hosanna Emily is an incredible author! Some of my favorite scenes in The Torch Keepers was when Kadira was staring at the stars. The way Hosanna Emily portrayed the dancing waltz of these stars was magnificent. It gripped me and spun me away and made me feel light inside, as if I was really watching this scene. In most of the author's scenes in this book are able to be seen and lived through. Even her battle scenes are well written! 

Her story is also very brilliant. I would recommend this book for that. The Torch Keepers has a very, very good message at the end and it has a very captivating story in all. I might not have liked the ending, but I finished this book in good time because it was captivating. Hosanna Emily did a wonderful job of involving Kadira's past in memories, it being one of the biggest thing the MC struggles with. Kadira was able to battle with her past without it feeling overpowering. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book until the end. There were parts that made me want to cry, and parts I enjoyed immensely. Hosanna Emily knows how to spin an image in a beautiful way. And I really like how she put a Fantasy genre book into a parable and a storytelling of how much God loves us and accepts us no matter what. 

~Izzy~