Bookish Brews Snapshot
Spark to Shadow by Atima Kim
Fang is the first witch to become matron after a pact of peace, giving her the unique honor of being the first one to select a husband begin a new era of witches. For the first time in centuries, a Miangese witch will take a foreign consort. Luckily, Fang already has someone in mind.
š Dragons š Non-European Royalty š² Plot Twists šŖ Unique Magic
Book Review
Thai, bachelorette style, dragon riding, unforgettable
Spark to Shadow was everything I wanted in a book. It is everything I want in all of my YA and New Adult fantasy books. I am incredibly impressed! I went into this book thinking, āthank goodness I can read an Asian inspired ownvoices ARCā and as I read, there was just more and more that I enjoyed about this book. This book is definitely not short of any fun with a Bachelorette style competition, magic, badass friends, dragons, and a classic love triangle. Not to mention bonus excitement that added so much joy for me as a reader, such as a Thai main character (when do you ever see that?!), sex worker positive society and a matriarchy with fair gender rolls (in Miang).
Spark to Shadow follows a young woman named Fang. She is about to step up to be the head of her clan, but first, she must choose a consort and fulfill a peace contract to bind her country, Miang, with the nearby nation of Anda. Of course, when traveling to another country with different customs, there is bound to be things you donāt expect. Like stumbling upon a male witch who is inexplicably tied to you with a red string.
I was absolutely delighted by this book. There was a point in the middle where it got a little slow, but it definitely redeemed itself. I absolutely loved the bachelorette style competition. And I loved how much of a badass Fang was. She knows what is right, and she doesnāt back down, and everyone respects that about her. I love how she was able to make her own choices, even before she becomes matron of her clan. There were several points in this book where I was expecting more backlash for her choices, as would be expected in most books, and apparently I am conditioned to anticipate it. However, every single time that Fang made a decision that seemed would cause backlash, everyone respected her decision. It wasā¦ wow. Something I didnāt know I so desperately needed in a book.
The entire time I was reading this, I just kept thinking how great it is, especially for an independently published book. Atima Kim I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for getting this published and into my hands. I cried while reading it at least two times (once during just the dedication), just because of the representation you are giving people. Even though I donāt exactly get to see myself in this piece, it feels close. And I know that it is more important for Tae to see a world that looks like him, and Iām so glad that you could give that to him.
Spark to Shadow is a book that I wish I had as I was growing up, but I sure am glad it is a book that exists today that I can enjoy. It has all the fun that I need in a YA or New Adult book, and all the inclusivity and positivity that is often missing from far too many books. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book!!
Book Aesthetic
