Forged in Fire and Stars by Andrea Robertson - OPTIONAL

Forged in Fire and Stars (Loresmith, #1) by Andrea Robertson, 371 pages.  Philomel Books (Penguin), 2020. $19.  

Content: Language: PG (3 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

15yo Ara is a blacksmith who knows how to forge weapons and use them.  When the lost prince and princess of Saetlund find Ara, she realizes that she is the Loresmith from the legends she has heard since birth.  As the Loresmith, she can forge powerful weapons that protect Saetlund and the prince and princess hope to have Ara’s help as they reclaim their kingdom.  Along their journey they meet Teth a sixteen-year-old thief who has connections to the dark underworld of the kingdom.  Teth and Ara care for each other and work together to help the princess and prince.  

I wanted to love this book, especially because I really enjoyed Andrea Robertson’s Nightshade series, but this book was frustrating.  For most of the book it felt like the characters were just wandering around.  The main point and plot line were not returned to enough and I found myself trying to remember what the character’s goals were.  I liked Teth and Ara but wanted them to have a purpose that was clear.  Great premise, but disappointing execution.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson.