Blood and fury by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland are both New York Times bestselling authors of multiple Star Wars stories and YA SFF books. They have effectively combined their talents to write the duology Chaos and Flame and Blood and Fury. Chaos and Flame (2023) is the first book in this "ferocious" YA fantasy duology. Blood and Fury, the sequel, is a challenge to read as a stand-alone novel but once the reader sorts the complexities of the fantastic world and creatures that Gratton and Ireland have built, the effort is worthwhile. 

The novel begins with a preface which introduces the villain of the story, Aurora, second scion of House Cockatrice. In the introduction, Aurora is eleven-years-old, living in the Dragon Castle and unloved. She is drawn to a room under the castle, where she discovers an old journal belonging to "the blood" which will give her the strength to leash and crush Chaos and have power instead of love. The story then leaps ahead thirty years where the results of this unleashing of blood magic has caused catastrophe in the Kingdom of Pyrlanum. The first section of the book is entitled "Blood" and the second is "Fury". The chapters throughout the entire book alternate between the point of view of Talon Goldhoard, first scion of Dragon House, to that of Darling Seabreak, as the two move from being enemies to allies. Darling is transformed into the legendary Phoenix and her destiny is to unite the fractured Houses of the land. Talon has the task of ending the war which his family began. They have to learn to recover from the betrayal that lies between them in order to unite to save the kingdom. The violence, the dark blood forces, are deep within his own House Dragon. 

A glossary of mythical creatures, ancient military hardware etc. would be useful at the back of these books to aid the reader who is unversed in the medieval and ancient worlds. However what is complex and obscure for the uninitiated is fuel and fire for fantasy lovers. For fans of the Science fiction/fantasy (SFF), Blood and Fury may be relatively easy but for those unfamiliar, the story is initially difficult to follow because of the complexities of the concepts, terms, society and culture of the mythical kingdom of Pyrlanum that Gratton and Ireland have built. Once the code is untangled there is great satisfaction in the logic of the structure within the political and military structure of the kingdom and the Houses. The colourful and complicated system of governing scions, with their regents, empyreals and armies will be disbanded as a future that looks more like a democracy with elected leaders is brought in. 

Despite the military interest (albeit a very mythical and mystical form of military) and the bloody violence of the clashes between good and evil, there is a tenderness and gentleness in most of the major characters. There is romance, loyalty and betrayal and lovely relationships between war princes and their "war drakes" which are reminiscent of the relationship between cavalry and their steeds. The strangeness of the whole landscape and pageant of castles, soldiers and mythical creatures would make a visually stunning screen adaptation or a challenge and delight for the artist. 

Chaos and Flame is indeed a challenging and engaging ride into a "ferocious" fantasy and ancient magical world resplendent with wonderful transforming mythical creatures and strong and engaging characters. The duology is recommended as a powerful SFF read - dramatic visually and action-wise.

Themes: Mythical beasts, Ancient fantasy kingdoms, Love, Betrayal, Political intrigue, Magic.

Wendy Jeffrey