Beldan’s Fire by Midori Snyder
Beldan’s Fire is the final showdown between the new Queens’ Quarter and the Fire Queen Zorah, and the plot races along to its conclusion. Midori Snyder doesn’t pull any punches as she wraps up the story, and it does not end the way you probably think it will.
She balances beautiful, lyrical writing with gritty characters from the urban underbelly. The characters continue to develop, and are still flawed human beings doing what they have to do, which I think is what makes them interesting, and possibly even truly heroic.
The showdown with Queen Zorah is an epic magical battle for the future of Oran, and is written on a grand scale. This final book is probably the most magical of the three in The Oran Trilogy as the queens start to come into their power and learn how to use it, though magic pervades the whole series.
Beldan’s Fire is well enough written to stand on its own, but I recommend that you read the whole trilogy to truly enjoy the story.
The Oran Trilogy isn’t well known, but will be enjoyed by anyone who likes good character-driven fantasy.
The Oran Trilogy — (1989-1993) Young adult. Publisher: This fantasy novel of magic, murder and intrigue, describes the land of Oran, ruled by the autocratic Fire Queen, who 200 hundred years ago destroyed her rival queens of Earth, Air and Water. However, now there are rumours of an insurrection.
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