Grunst, Karen, Sacred Fire. NP: Hunter House Fiction, 2022.
The Sacred Fire Saga book 1

Guide to categories: YA Review – review of books for teens

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Summary

A dream of belonging. A land seething with malice. Can this budding peacemaker stand strong in the face of darkness?

Sarah longs to make a new life for herself in the coveted holy city. When a mysterious widow offers her a job there, she’s certain it’s an answer to her prayers. But Sarah finds the city smoldering with ancient hatreds…some directed at her.

Jacob is proud of his priestly heritage. Though he steadfastly holds to his learned traditions, the young man yearns to escape an arranged marriage and take control of his destiny. And he believes his moment has come when he rescues a servant girl who wields a sacred language long forgotten.

After thwarting a murderous riot, Sarah is plagued by alarming visions of a demon terrorizing the city. And Jacob vows to protect his new friend, even as their leaders pay no heed to their dire warnings.

Can this determined teen and her defender banish a ruthless foe and prevent an unholy catastrophe?

Sacred Fire is the whirlwind first book in The Sacred Fire Saga YA fantasy series. If you like courageous characters, powerful destinies, and slow-burn romance, then you’ll love Karen Grunst’s sweeping epic.

Purchase Sacred Fire on Amazon.

My Review

Karen Grunst is a new-to-me author and I am so happy to have been introduced to her. Sacred Fire is very well-written and readers are drawn into the story from the first page. Hints of the Scriptures can be found throughout the story. 

Sarah and Jonah are orphans. They have been raised in orphanages for as long as they can remember. A time comes when Sarah is offered a job in the holy city and she has to leave her brother behind. Jonah is a young man full of anger, Sarah wonders if he will ever be at peace.

Grunst has included a number of surprises in the plot – which I never saw coming. I love it when authors are able to surprise their readers. 

The book contains many aspects of fantasy – mythical creatures, imagined land, romance, fight for good over evil, and more. I can’t wait to read more books in this series. 

Sacred Fire would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a K-12 Chrisitan school library. It is appropriate for older middle school and up. 

I received a complimentary copy of Sacred Fire. This is my honest review. 

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