I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Ink and Ore
by Hayley Whiteley
Series: Kerafin Chronicles #1
Series Rating:
Published by Independently Published on January 23, 2024
Genres: YA Romance Fantasy
Pages: 350
Format: Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Bookhype
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
A mysterious letter. A forbidden magic. A lie that led to war—and two girls who know the truth.
Lifelong friends Brenna Malley and Katiel Salzbruck are looking forward to a summer visit, but their plans are ruined when war breaks out between their rival homelands, Bar Kur and A’slenderia. Then, they find a shocking message hidden on the back of a letter, claiming the war started because of a treasonous plot. Determined to end the war before their loved ones die in battle, Brenna and Katiel leave their small-town lives behind and embark on a quest for the truth.
Following a trail of letters, Brenna and Katiel learn about the involvement of the ore—a legendary magical substance that can transform into anything. To restore peace to the Continent of Kerafin, they must harness the magic, navigate questionable allies, and survive harrowing ordeals. But as love, secrets, and betrayal complicate the journey, the friends must determine where their true loyalties lie—before it’s too late.
Perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone and Divine Rivals, Ink and Ore is the first installment in The Kerafin Chronicles, a character-driven, young adult gaslamp fantasy trilogy.
Ink and Ore by Hayley Whiteley has Brenna and Katiel thinking they can stop the war.
Will Brenna and Katiel stop the war before anyone gets hurt?
Brenna Malley
Brenna Malley is one of the two main characters in this story. She is, I feel, like the comic relief character of this duo. Brenna makes the funniest faces. She also sticks her foot in her mouth by talking in a stress-filled situation. Brenna has the bright idea that they could end the war by getting to the secret letter writer. I have to say that I liked Brenna, and I hope things will improve for her.
Katiel Salzbruck
Katiel Salzbruck is the only child of an older couple. She only leaves her home to sell the wool her family’s sheep produce to Brenna’s hometown. Katiel is prim and proper when needed, which is a nice contrast to Brenna’s forwardness. I like Katiel because she is definitely different from Brenna, but that makes their friendship the most exciting.
The Story
Katiel and Brenna are excited to spend the summer together after the holiday Brenna’s country has every year. Except that same day, a war starts, and Brenna doesn’t know what to do—well, besides trying to think of a way to stop it. Brenna ends up convincing Katiel to leave her home and follow her to discover who the mysterious hidden letter writer is to get them to come back to Bar Kur, Brenna’s home, to get the war to stop. Sadly, not everything is as easy as the girls expect.
Four Stars
My rating for Ink and Ore by Hayley Whiteley is four stars, and I recommend it to anyone who likes to read young adult fantasy romances. Ms. Whiteley hooked me from the beginning, and I liked the story.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ink and Ore by Hayley Whiteley.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
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About Hayley Whiteley
Hello! I’m Hayley, an indie fantasy author currently in the midst of writing and publishing my debut series, The Kerafin Chronicles.
As a lifelong reader, I always dreamed of creating the type of stories that inspired me as a child – whimsical, hopeful tales like The Chronicles of Narnia, Heidi, and Little House on the Prairie. After receiving my Mechanical Engineering degree from Auburn University (War Eagle!), I worked for a few years in the military defense industry before deciding I wasn’t ready to give up on my writing dreams. I then revamped Brenna and Katiel’s story (one of my many, many scrapped projects) and started from scratch on a new draft, which eventually became Ink and Ore!
Outside of reading and writing, I love baking, photography, spending time with my family, and doing nearly any activity outdoors, especially if it involves a beach. Though I’m from Alabama originally, I now live in Florida with my loving husband, Nick, my adorable baby son, Hollis, and my sweet calico cat, Maui.
^ taken from the Author’s website
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2024 Goodreads RC
- 2024 Romance Book Reading Challenge
- 2024 Young Adult Book Reading Challenge
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