Secrets of the Sorcery War (Ruarnon Trilogy Book 2) by Elise Carlson – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Secrets of the Sorcery War by Elise Carlson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Secrets of the Sorcery War is the second book in the Ruarnon Trilogy. It’s definitely a series to read in order, so if you haven’t already I’d recommend starting with Manipulator’s War which is another great book.

This is an epic fantasy series with teenage characters, suitable for YA readers and beyond. It’s set in a vibrant and diverse fantasy world with some characters who have come from our world. In Secrets of the Sorcery War there are plenty of new settings to discover alongside Ruarnon and their friends!

I was initially drawn to this series by the nonbinary main character. It’s so great coming across well-written nonbinary characters in genres I enjoy like fantasy! And more broadly it’s a great tool for teaching people how to use they/them pronouns.

As Ruarnon develops as a leader, their understanding and skills at diplomacy grow. This is fun to read, as they keep being thrown into Situations and having to figure out how to respond. They’re also aware of their own limitations and shortcomings and open to asking for help or information that they need.

This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend it to fans of fantasy worlds such as Narnia and Tortall looking for a great modern series to get stuck into!

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