The Fires of Vengeance

Starred review from September 21, 2020
Winter returns with a second action-packed installment to the Burning series (following The Rage of Dragons). Tau Tafari—now Solarin—is not the same person he was at the start of the series after losing loved ones in and out of battle, confronting entitled Nobles who wish to see him fail, dealing with a surprise attack on the capital, and becoming Queen Esi’s Champion. What hasn’t changed? Tau’s palpable rage at the classist system that oppressed his family and his ever-present desire to avenge the deaths of those he cared about. As Queen Esi’s sister, Tsiora, and her army move to reclaim Palm City, Tau and his blood brothers seek advantages against those who write off their caste as Lessers. All the while, Tau navigates an increasingly complicated relationship with the queen. With energizing battle scenes and well-handled romance, Winters capably earns readers’ attention again as he unfurls the politics of a nation in-flux. This forceful second epic will delight fans and newcomers alike—and leave readers holding their breath for the next in the series. Agent: Erin Malone, WME.

Starred review from September 1, 2020
The second book in the Burning trilogy (after A Rage of Dragons, 2019) opens as a council of traitorous Nobles schemes to usurp the throne and shatter a tentative peace initiative. The Commoner Tau, named Champion by Queen, is uncomfortable with his new role that aggravates the remaining Noble's ingrained sense of entitlement and threatens their support of Tsiora's fragile rule. The enemy may have retreated for the moment, but they will soon return, so Tau, his sword brothers, and the Queen must gather an army to defeat the well-armed rebels. In order to reunite the people under one crown and regain the kingdom, Tau must turn others like himself into warriors, which means training his most trusted companions to fight demons in the spirit realm. With ghostly specters already beginning to haunt his waking hours, Tau fears that if he loses too many friends to the forthcoming ordeals, it may tip his mind into madness. Winter's beautifully descriptive, South African-inspired, military fantasy of war, revenge, and loss culminates with an impending battle against tremendous odds and the delivery of an unexpected plea heralding the arrival of an ancient, fearsome foe.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from August 1, 2020

Born in England to South American parents and raised in Africa near the historical territory of his Xhosa ancestors, Winter draws on his background to light up this second book in "The Burning" series, wherein a queen who has lost her throne joins with a young warrior in a battle to regain it. With a 75,000-copy first printing; originally scheduled for July 2020.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.