Title: The Jewel of Kamara
Author: Birdie Blake
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4 stars
Purchase: Amazon
Review copy provided by Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review.
A TYRANNICAL KINGDOM. AN OPPRESSED PEOPLE. AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST.
Tempani of Amarill, a young noblewoman of mixed race, dreams of a Kamara united in race and class. Thrust from the convent into court life, Tempani struggles to find her place in a city she no longer recognizes.
Starved commoners fight the crown, women have no rights, and her mother’s people hide in the south to avoid persecution.
Banned from using her powers, Tempani feels helpless. But her magic is always there. A gentle hum under her skin, threatening to explode the more she sees people suffering.
She wants change, but is she willing to spill the blood of innocents to get it?
The Jewel of Kamara is an intriguing book focusing on Tempani of Amarill, a young noblewoman of mixed race. She’s an engaging protagonist, especially since women have so little rights in this kingdom, and her mixed race doesn’t make things any easier for her. Her position makes her rather unique, and gives her an interesting perspective.
While I enjoyed most of the characters, Tempani was definitely my favorite. She’s a rare protagonist, the kind who holds the balance between strengths and weaknesses, and even though everything is set in a fantasy world, she comes across as quite realistic, and her struggles are believable.
The world building was superb, and the plot was entertaining from start to end. Some of the topics touched upon, like oppression, and Tempani struggling to adapt to court life after practically being raised in a convent, were great additions to the story and made it all that much easier to relate with, and more enjoyable.
A well-written YA fantasy novel with original elements and an intriguing heroine.
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