Sparkles and Lightning

*****FINAL RATING: 4.65 STARS*****CATCHALLProphecy, while it seemed intriguing, wasn't a book originally on top of my TBR even though I had an ARC. I love fantasy and it was definitely in my line of sight. However, then I saw a finished copy at the bookstore. And it was shiny. So ridiculously freaking shiny. And I, apparently, have no self-control when it comes to shiny things. So I bought it. And I went home. And I started it at two in the morning thinking I'd only read a few chapters. The rest is history.THE HEROINEKIRAKira is our badass heroine who doesn't let society's rules dictate what she does. With the support of her father, she becomes a strong female warrior. Though she is feared by most of her countrymen, she is also the one saving them. She definitely is a bit self-doubting, but in her position that's understandable. She's sure what her role in the prophecy is, but she also doubts. Things aren't simple for her, but she does what she thinks best.THE BADUK PLAYERJAEWONJaewon has the makings of a love interest, but I prefer to call him the baduk player, at least for now. From the beginning, baduk is obviously a large part of who Jaewon is. It's in his present and he's talented and he loves it, but it's also the thing that haunts his past. He's a incredibly loyal friend to Kira, even when she isn't quite sure how to deal with it. He protects her and he's there for her through everything. I'm kind of in love with him. Like a lot.THE BROTHERKWANI am mentioning Kwan because I freaking love him. He's Kira's protective older brother, and he is perfect as far as I am concerned. He wants her safe, but at the same time he respects her choices and doesn't try to smother her. I'm not even entirely sure why I love him so darn much but I really do. He may have even been my favorite character, though I loved them all. Now before I start a full-on gushfest I am going to stop writing about him. Although really it's too late. I'm about to go all googly-eyed fangirl.THE PLOTI was surprised firstly by how action-packed this book is. Seriously. Sure, I expected action, but there was more than I bargained for. And you know what? I loved it. There was never a boring moment. Kira was constantly on the run, but she wasn't alone. She was with the prince, protecting him with her life. And Jaewon and Kwan were there, of course. And where there's running, there's chasing. And where there's chasing, there are irresistibly fantastic sequences of battle and drama.I loved the whole dynamic between Kira and her cousin, the young prince. She's fiercely protective of him, like a mama bear, and I loved how unconditionally she loves him and will protect him. No matter who he is, warrior of the prophecy or not. And she doubts. But she doesn't let her doubt stand in the way of what she believes is her duty.Prophecies. Those certainly aren't new to YA, but this one is. There's a group of kingdoms in a historical yet fantastically charged land. Someone is or someones are destined to save them all. But the way this one was done is what makes it truly phenomenal. There are unique magical and fantasy elements that I've never seen quite this way before, and that really helped make this book for me.This book was epic. That's one of the best ways to describe it. I just couldn't put it down. I had to now what happened next. It was like needing to breathe. I became seriously invested in this book in a way that doesn't happen very often, but I couldn't resist. I fell in love with this book and its world and there was nothing I could do to stop it. Not that I wanted to.THE ROMANCEThis book was light on romance, but I'm crossing my fingers for more in the future installments. Because I love love. Kira is engaged at the beginning of this novel to Shin Bo Hyun, who is kind of a creep but strangely also kind of sexy. It's more than a little disturbing, but it's the truth. Though it seems unlikely because of stuff I'm really hoping to see more of him. Kira will do anything to get out of the engagement. And there's some chemistry also between her and Jaewon. I can't wait to see where it goes.THE WRITINGI really don't have any complaints here. The third person tells the story perfectly in a way that first person could not, which I loved. We get Kira's voice and thoughts but there's also a bit of a disconnect that allowed me to get to know the other characters better as well. I loved the dialogue. It's snappy and fun but when it gets real it gets serious. The descriptions, too, were lovely, and the world-building is amazing.THE ENDINGThe ending was…wow. It cemented a fact that I'd guessed was true throughout the novel, but it made it sure and ended up making me want more without a major cliffhanger. Oh, sure, there's more to the story, but sometimes I appreciate it more when an author can make me want more without needing to leave me hanging off the edge of a cliff. It was, in one word, spectacular and perfect. That's two words. Oh well.WRAPUPWell, I absolutely adored Prophecy. Not only was I physically unable to put it down until I read the very last page, I'm dying for the sequel and even the last book already. That's how much I loved this. Warrior? King? Bring it on, and sooner rather than later! I'm eagerly awaiting them both and I want to be signed up for Ellen's fan club. I highly recommend this, especially if you love a good high fantasy.FINE.Find more of my reviews on Sparkles and Lightning!