I chose this book as a read-aloud to my little sisters on a whim after winning it for a giveaway. I wasn't sure what to expect at first as I usually didn't enjoy reading YA and especially not YA fantasy (until now, apparently!!!!!). But this book was absolutely amazing! I'm in my late teens, and I enjoyed it just as much as 9-year-old sister did, which shows this series' accessibility! The characters were all so real and convincing, and the plot will grab you and not let go. I totally could've read the entire book in one sitting; it literally took me all my self control to savor it over a one-week period.

I could really relate to the main character, Ivy, as she struggled with her limitations, battled for freedom, and learned to set aside her past beliefs about how things were and are supposed to be so that she could grow and find the truth. And don't even get me started about "Richard"! I literally can't have enough of him; he charmed me so quickly! We ordered the second book of the trilogy (Nomad) and preordered the third (Torch) right away and I'm obviously not going to go into them here, but let me just say that they're even better than the first (which is saying a lot)!!!

Anderson's writing is so charming and magical, I loved every bit of it! I've really drifted away from reading for the last year or two, barely reading a book a year, believe it or not, but Swift has truly drawn me back into reading again and I am oh so grateful. If you are on the edge of a decision about reading this one, I'm telling you, it's more than worth it! ( )

There were only a couple of times a year when the piskeys ventures out of the Delve and into the world above, only a couple of times of year when it was made safe for piskeys to leave their underground home. With all the spells and wards in place no one expected danger to find them, but when Ivy's mother disappears there can be only one explanation, the spriggans have caught her.

Five years later and the impossible happens, the spriggans have returned. But as only Ivy alone has seen the creature no one believes her, that is until piskeys start disappearing from the Delve and the creature is caught. But what this spriggan has to say will have Ivy question all that she knows and lead her to betray her kind in search of the truth.

With nothing left to lose Ivy takes the word of a stranger, worse still, the word of a spriggan, over her own piskeys as one choice leads into another and eventually she finds that the truth is not as simple as she believed. With no one to trust and danger closing in around her and those she cares for, time is running out for Ivy and her fellow piskeys.

Swift introduces a new series of magical beings troubled by the past, trapped by their environment and unable to move on from their current situation. Alongside this clan of piskeys and knockers are some familiar faeries from the previous Faery Rebels series, and with this new tale comes some new and exciting adventures. As an added bonus this book includes the free short story Renegade. ( )

What I think you should know:
Swift is a Christian Fantasy by R.J. Anderson. IIt is the first book in the Flight and Flame Trilogy. The book follows a wingless piskey, which is a cornish fairy.

What you might need to know:
The book contains Piskey, Spriggan and Faery. It has magic, including magic that is not always used for good.

What I think about this book:
I had never heard of a Piskey and did not know what to expect, however the book was fascinating. Ivy is a wingless girl in a society where wings are treasured. I enjoyed learning about Anderson’s interpretation of Piskeys, Spriggans and faery. The story was spellbinding and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next with Ivy. I enjoyed getting to see her and her strength in spite of being different than her family and friends. The story had a lot of dark twists that I did not see coming. A bad guy who quoted Shakespeare and spoke in riddles, the disappearance of loved ones. I am very interested to see what happens in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

R.J. Anderson has written a compelling, twisty novel with “Swift”, the first in The Flight and Flame trilogy. Although marketed for young adults, I think that it is just as suitable for adults; I enjoyed it! Furthermore, I am thrilled that it did not contain a romantic thread, as do almost all young adult books, and I felt the same way when I did fit into the target age group, so it’s nice to know that there are books coming out for those who can do without a lot of romance. Instead, this story focuses on adventure and fantasy, providing enough thrill and distress to keep readers glued to the page, but without inducing horror. There is a strong psychological element that takes root quietly at first but grows more steadily as the novel progresses.

Pondering the folkloric identity of the creatures mentioned in “Swift” and the tense relations between them is a reflection of the rampant issues of race relations in today’s society, where blind hate and a thirst for vengeance overtake common sense and compassion. This misguided sense of justice leads inevitably to betrayal, as well as to some startling revelations about several characters’ identities. It reminds me of what has happened throughout history, and how someone can be judged for their assumed identity when they may actually belong to another group entirely.

As for the characters themselves, I have to admit that I did not feel a deep connection with any of them. Each seems to be motivated by self-centered goals without taking into consideration how their actions will affect anyone else. This does add to the suspense, however, as I could not guess what the next scene would bring, which is always a boon. While I did not come across anything overtly Christian in this novel aside from one instance of a character offering a short, desperate prayer, it is a clean read. I am eager to find out what happens next in books two and three and intend to read both when they have been released.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

What an exciting adventure awaits readers in this story. I loved reading about Ivy and what a piskey was. Losing her mom had been hard for Ivy. Not knowing what really happened to her has caused Ivy to wonder if perhaps she was kidnapped. I don’t think I would have trusted Richard at all when I first met him. The promises he makes to Ivy sounded good but did he have an agenda that would endanger Ivy?
The author gives us a place where strange creatures abound and a theme of good vs evil. I like when Ivy tries to pass off as human in order to go look for her mother. Her friend Molly seemed eager to help her and I couldn’t wait to see what lay ahead for them. There is so much detail in the book that I felt like I had slipped into the book and was right beside Ivy. The story delivers a fantasy story that will captivate readers and keep them entertained throughout the book. There is a bit of blood in the story that may trigger some, so be cautious when reading it to younger children. I didn’t find the story scary but it does deal with magic and power.
The story has a theme of trusting that puts several characters in danger. I was surprised at some of the twists in the story and it kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. I can’t wait to read the next in this series to find out if my questions have been answered.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )