SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
Both Niko and Aurora are orphans raised by their guardians in a land called Sunnebeam. But both of their lives change forever when they lose their homes and discover both are involved with an ancient prophecy, involving the empress of Sunnebeam and strangers from another world.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Aurora is a young gypsy who has strange abilities that she would rather keep secret. She makes vague references to a mother who had a tragic end and a lost brother.
Niko has spent his whole life away from society, alone in a castle with his adopted father. He is eager to prove himself as a warrior.
Walker is the only character from our world. Not much is known about his past, other than that his parents' are divorced. Nothing seems too unique about him and it's not clear as to why he was summoned by one of the stones.
Lord Amber is a rather cryptic man and unfortunately, he isn't in the story much. But he is an important person, as it's revealed that he could be a possible regent for a future ruler.
Castor La Croix is the main villian, making an appearance in the beginning. He is a cousin of the empress.
THE LORDS OF TIME
It turns out an old nursery rhyme that everyone knows is actually an ancient prophecy that speaks of heroes that come from world. These nine people can be summoned with nine stone charms. The ryhme also speaks of a chooser and a protector. The Chooser has silver eyes and a silver sword (the one that Niko chose from the weapon's room). And the Protector will have the Sign of the Dragon's eye (a mark on Aurora).
LORD AMBER-SPOILERS
When Niko sneaks into a secret room, he finds a room full of weapons. It shocks him, because in all of his training, he has never been allowed to use real weapons. Lord Amber shows up, and instead of lecturing him and punishing him, he makes him choose a weapon.
They fight and Niko loses, which isn't surprising. What is surprising, is that Lord Amber reveals that he has trained all of a group of soldiers called the Dragons as well as their leader, Janus. And another man he refuses to name but who he implies fought Janus and it didn't end well.
LORD AMBER AND NIKO
Lord Amber is barely in the story. I understood it was necessary to move the story forward but it also caused me to become detached from the relationship between him and Niko. At least he was in the story, as Titi (Aurora's adopted mother) is not.
We mostly get told about Lord Amber, and not even that much. The most insight we gain into his character is when Niko sneaks into a weapons room and his master reveals his secret history. Perhaps this sudden harsh attitude (he say's he could easily kill Niko) is a hint at what is to come so Lord Amber is taking the kid gloves off. But either way, the reader learns a great revelation about a character they don't even know. So they don't get to be shocked.
Perhaps it would have been wiser to slow the pace of the story and show months and years going by in a matter of pages. At least then we could get some idea of how Lord Amber and Niko formed a relationship. Maybe get some idea how adequate or inadequate he was as a father figure.
THE DRAGONS
The Dragons are a group of fighters that have been disbanded since their leader, Janus died. From Aurora, we learn that they were banished before she was born, but they showed back up again when she was four. So they really haven't been gone that long. And she suspects that they are why the country of Kasmania violated their treaty and crossed the border to Sunnebeam.
INCOMPETENT NIKO & AMAZING AURORA
When Aurora first meets Niko in the forest, he's rude. He says that the castle is no place for a girl but she points out that she saw Dragons on the bridge. But they decided to leave for a moment so Aurora could later be useful when they came back five seconds later. She notes that Niko is a bad climber and catches up, missing a few times until she gets him.
To be fair we are given a reason, because she climbs trees in her camp and those are even harder to climb. I guess her skirts don't get in the way.
She pulls Niko down with all her might (even though she already had a grasp and he had to notice) so he falls into the marsh. There is conveniently another sound nearby so the dragon's rush off and don't hear Niko splash. Niko isn't grateful and instead annoyed, saying he could have handled it himself.
Then Niko's hawk shows up, named Topaz, and Niko warns her not to touch him because he is a bird of prey. But Topaz loves Aurora and even starts cooing. Does Aurora have a history with birds? Or any animals? Not as far as we know.
This entire scene was contrived to introduce two characters and make it so Niko would see her value but it makes him look stupid and arrogant.
Why do we have to tear down Niko just to show that Aurora has value? Aurora may be doubting herself, but I highly doubt that Niko really believes he can do it all alone. We just don't see inside his mind. Last we checked, he was shocked and terrified.
When Aurora is later revealed to be the Protector, you might use that to justify everything. But again, we don't need to tear down Niko, in order to show Aurora's usefulness.
I wouldn't call Aurora a Mary Sue yet but she is definitely in that territory. And her feeling bad that Niko doesn't like being protected by a girl, doubting herself and crying later, doesn't negate that. .
AURORA'S GIFTS-VAGUE SPOILERS
Aurora has many abilities. In the start of the story, she moves an item with her mind. Not long after, a secretive woman shows up and Aurora suddenly has a vision upon making skin contact with her. And when she does the cards for Castor Le Croix, she is about to make up words to tell him when she suddenly blurts out a prediction without meaning to.
When Niko breaks down and refuses to leave the bodies of friends, she takes her fear and pushes it into him so he can see it. It's kind of unclear. But then she sees his memories, where the deceased woman and man helped raise him.
On another note, Niko is finally useful after this. He uses his knowledge of a secret passageway that he used earlier to help him and Aurora escape. Now back to Aurora.
After this, she uses the “power of the spices” to summon fire from the smoke so her and Niko can escape the Dragons. Then she uses her knowledge of the forest and the constellations to guide Niko.
She saves Niko from the Dragon, Jah, by jumping on him.
WHO DIED?-SPOILERS
When Niko returns to Castle of the Seven towers he finds the dead bodies of Ruah and Mal, an older man and woman who helped raise him and take care of the castle. Niko is then seen holding a blue robe with a crest on it.
Later on, Aurora says she is sorry about what happened to Lord Amber. It was only then that I realized he had indeed, died.
In the only scene that Lord Amber was in, there a sentence revealing the color of his robe and his crest. Which I completely forgot. It wouldn't have taken much effort for him to say his master's name, as he did of the two servants.
It felt like a mistake to write what would be a very important and personal scene for Niko...and then write it from a disconnected third party, like Aurora.
Later, Walker meets an old man with torn up, blue robes. So Lord Amber never died. And there was no body for Niko to mourn over. But why didn't the authors point that out? Why didn't Niko search frantically for the body? Wouldn't he want to know where it was?
ENTER, WALKER
The modern day character, Walker, is introduced in the prologue. But isn't shown again until about halfway through the story.
I have to admit, I actually forgot about him. He ends up in the training camp of the novices who wish to be Dragons (he comes out of a secret passage there). He tries to explain he isn't supposed to be their but the instructor refuses to believe him, seeming to have a beef with him.
It didn't really make sense to me. If the Dragons are so elite, wouldn't they have a list of names of who had enlisted? Or are they so hard up for novices that they won't let anyone leave who wanders in? Or are they supposed to be a secret, so they can't let him leave? That would make sense, but it's never revealed.
AURORA AND NIKO SEPARATED
When Aurora and Niko find a sailboat, they fall asleep. When Niko wakes up first, he drags the boat to shore. He is still resentful of having a girl as a protector. He wanders off for a few minutes, and then gets kidnapped.
He ends up with the Novices. Apparently some recruits for the Dragons are kidnapped. Maybe since they are no longer supposed to exist? It would explain why the guy in charge is so awful to Walker and doesn't care if he says it's all a mistake.
But it does beg the question, why didn't Walker take someone aside (who could talk) and ask if they wanted to be here or why they were? One could have easily explained he was kidnapped. And then the confusion would be eradicated. And later on, all of the pages are excited to become dragons. If some were kidnapped, wouldn't there be less enthusiasm?
NIKO & WALKER
For the first time in the series, Niko is useful. He remembers advice that Lord Amber gave him. It's kind of vague, more about philosophy than fighting but it helps him get the red stone back from a bully. He uses more philosophy to find a secret passage. It isn't believable but at least Niko has a purpose.
CALLIOPE-SPOILERS
When Aurora is feeling bad that she lost Niko, a strange being shows up, that seems to be a spirit. She calls herself one of the sisters of Kuxan-Sunn. Turns out she lives between worlds and can see the future. She explains that the New Lord of Time has been summoned.
She tries to explain the “eternal present” which is the past and present combined, as to why Aurora is more powerful than even her (kinda Mary Sue-ish). She says to beware others like her (but not why) before she disappears. Also to remember her dreams. So Aurora thinks back to her recent dream of the empress and her baby.
THE BLACK ASHA
A huge horse is captured from the desert and brought into Black Rock (the training camp). Another novice explains the story about the five black Ashas, mares who followed the Lords of Time into battle.
I didn't mind the idea of another part of the myth nor a rescuer for Walker. What bothered me was that there was no set up. I wish I had learned of this myth earlier. Maybe from Aurora and Niko, so Walker could be confused about the horse and their relationship but the reader would know. Instead of instantly knowing she was his rescuer, when she is calm with him.
SECRET WARRIOR?
After Walker manages to mount the mare, he gets taken to a room where he is interrogated. Apparently, because he can ride a crazy horse, which is a secret skill, he must have other secret skills. Secret fighting skills. So his superiors proceed to beat it out of it.
The General just kind of looks stupid. What would have happened if they had chopped off his head? So much for secret skills.
After almost killing him, they punish him by making him serve dinner and warn him they will be keeping an eye on him.
CLARITY
I find there are a few spots of the story that lack clarity. I already mentioned the one about Lord Amber's cloak, but there not being an actual body but that doesn't get pointed out. I honestly just assumed it was lazy writing.
When it is revealed that he is alive, it's not because the man introduces himself to Walker, but because he has a slashed up blue cloak.
I understand not wanting to spell out everything to your reader but I never felt it was making me think. It just made me confused. Because I missed the one sentence that would have clarified it for me. Even if I hadn't missed it, why couldn't Lord Amber tell his name to someone as important as a summoned Lord of Time?
SENSE OF DIRECTION
For the most part, Aurora and Niko are just trying to get away from the Dragon that is hunting them. They have no set plans. Aurora follows the stars to take them to a river. They find a boat. Niko goes missing and Aurora meets a spirit who says to remember her dreams. Which means the Empress. She never points out where she must go.
It just shows her arrive in the city, which is where the Empress lives in her palace. She hopes she isn't too late. There isn't any planning, by the way. We just cut off and end up with her in some sort of waiting room in the palace, hiding. You would think we would see her sneaking in, or telling some lie, but we don't.
COINCIDENCES-SPOILERS
After Aurora is still hiding in the palace, Castor Le Croix and the Empress happen to walk in. She figures out this Empress is a fake and one of the Sister of the Kuxan-sunn (because of her eyes). But Le Croix doesn't know this. So Now Aurora knows a secret, because she snuck into the right room. Because the story calls for it.
But lots of things seem to merely happen because the story calls for it.
Walker overhears exactly why he was brought to this world, that he is a Lord of Time. Because of this, he later knows that the Asha is here for him, after the others explain the myth.
Walker and Niko learn that the wrong name has been put in the box that chooses a regent. Not through any investigation on their part, but because they overhear a conversation.
Aurora walks into a huge city for the first time and just happens to run across the man who murdered her mother. Who just happens to be apart of a gang that keeps on eye on the port. Which happens to be the way she entered the city with a boat. Which happened to have a royal sail on it. I can believe almost all of this, except when she runs into her mother's killer. That was too much.
And the Emperor happens to die the moment that Le Croix threatens Aurora with execution, so all hell breaks loose and she sneaks out through the crowd. And then she happens to end up in the chambers where it's announced who the new regent is. She gets the imporant plot information (not like she couldn't have learned it later as it would have been announced) then runs. I understand she has to be in the palace in order for her to get caught but she could just have easily overheard this news being spread.
CLIMAX-SPOILERS
Walker faces a temptation to give his stone away, with a promise he will be sent home. After overcoming it, he awakens Niko and prevents him from dying. Aurora gets arrested and taken to Black Rock.
CONCLUSION
The story wasn't exactly original but I have no problem with that.
When it comes to the characters, both Aurora and Niko have distinct personalities and start off as quite likable. Unfortunately Aurora dominates the first half of the story, while Niko trails along, mostly helpless and without any redeeming qualities.
As for relationships, Aurora and Niko spend the most time together. Their tension is mostly brought on by Niko not wanting her help. He never gets over his pride to appreciate her.
The relationships that should be important, such as Niko and Lord Amber, and Aurora and Titi are in short supply. We get one scene with Lord Amber, and are only told about Titi.
Plot wise, the story relies upon lots of coincidences. Every important plot point is overheard by the main characters who are always hidng in shadowy halls nearby.
And lastly, sometimes there is a lack of clarity which I honestly took to be lazy writing, rather then clever or cutting through unnecessary scenes (which I think it was sometimes intended).
It's not a terrible story, but it's not good either.
I give “Circle of three” two stars.
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