The Burning Swift

Joseph Elliott, The Burning Swift (Shadow Skye #3), Walker Books, January 2022, 400 pp., RRP $18.99 (pbk), ISBN 9780645248821

As old enemies unite, only the most powerful will survive…

 News has reached Skye of a vast army approaching from the south, intent on the annihilation of every Scotian. As Jaime risks his life on an ancient and forbidden blood magic, Sigrid returns to the wilds of Ingland in the hope of an alliance. Meanwhile, Agatha is forced on a journey to the very heart of the enemy. With the army marching ever closer, Jaime, Agatha and Sigrid will need all their courage, cunning and sacrifice to survive the final battle and save the future of Scotia.

The Burning Swift is the third and final instalment in Joseph Elliott’s acclaimed “Shadow Skye Trilogy”, following on from The Broken Raven. Elliott has given his readers an immensely satisfying conclusion to an epic series which takes us on an exciting and moving journey of the heart and soul.

As with the previous volumes, the telling of the narrative is split between the central characters – in this case, Jaime, Sigrid, and Agatha. By this stage in the story we are well and truly invested in the struggles of our heroes, particularly since things were looking rather bleak for them all at the conclusion of the previous book. The characters are scattered across the land, each looking for a different means of salvation and meeting danger at every turn.

Elliott’s character creations have truly come to life and grown across the books, reaching a maturity in this final act that they might never have imagined at the beginning of the first. He treats each with care and compassion, giving them real humanity and empathy, allowing his readers to see the world through each character’s eyes. Even though the story is steeped in fantasy, with swords and sorcery, monsters and magic, we can each see a bit of ourselves in the way our protagonists face and ultimately overcome their challenges.

Elliott has proven himself gifted at the art of weaving rich and complex narratives filled with adventure and excitement. The Burning Swift (and indeed the whole trilogy) will suit young readers 11 years and up who love to be swept up in enthralling tales that continue to fire the imagination long after the last page has been turned.

Reviewed by Christian Price

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