A Dream Within A Dream: Amber & Dusk Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

http://fantasticflyingbookclub.blogspot.com/2018/10/tour-schedule-amber-dusk-by-lyra-selen.html

Amber & Dusk
Author: Lyra Selene
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: November 27, 2018
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Synopsis:

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies.

So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.

But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

Amber & Dusk is a stunning YA fantasy debut novel that will leave readers begging for more. There are so many great qualities about this book that really stood out to me. Here are my biggest positives:

Characters: Our main character, Sylvie, is fantastic. She's brave, fierce, determined, smart, and strong on many levels. I loved getting to know her throughout the story. We get to see into Sylvie's mind during the book, so we get to really know her on a deep level by the time the story ends. I found her realistic and easy to identify with right from the beginning. I loved watching her character interact with the others throughout the book as well as seeing her personal growth occur. The secondary characters were all rounded and mostly complex and realistic as well. I liked getting to know each of them and see how their relationship with Sylvie went during the story.

Setting: I loved the world the author created. It was so full of vivid imagery and detailed descriptions that I felt that I could simply shut my eyes and see Sylvie's world in front of me. That's really saying something when you can make that happen for a fantasy place that doesn't resemble anything I'm used to. I loved the attention to detail and the incredible way the author brought Sylvie's world to life.

Writing Style: This book was written in the first person point of view, which is by far my favorite writing style. I think it allows the reader a much deeper connection with the narrator, and that was definitely the case with this book. I loved getting to know Sylvie so intimately - we get to see her memories, hopes and fears, dreams, feelings, and everything in between. I love this bond that can happen between reader and narrator - and it only seems to be able to happen when the author uses the first person POV (for me at least).

There's a ton more wonderful things about this novel worth mentioning, like the awesome plot and the twists and turns that happen. If I didn't know beforehand that this was a debut novel, I never would have guessed it. The writing is incredibly well done and the author's storytelling abilities and raw talent shine through on every page. Very highly recommended for fans of YA fantasy!

Lyra Selene was born under a full moon and has never quite managed to wipe the moonlight out of her eyes. When she isn’t dreaming up fantastical cities and brooding landscapes, Lyra enjoys hiking, rainstorms, autumn, and pretending she’s any good at painting.

She lives in New England with her husband, in an antique farmhouse that’s probably not haunted. AMBER & DUSK is her debut novel.