THE FAVOSITY REVIEW HERALD
Review For Cities of Light YA Series
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CITIES OF LIGHT by ALSEN LEE
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The Cities of Light series is more than a collection of stories—it’s a living, breathing world woven from art, magic, and the wonder of imagination. Every corner of this realm brims with detail, from the alchemy of pigments to the shimmer of gemstones, from the laughter of open-air markets to the silence of snowbound peaks.
At its heart lies Color Magic: a mystical art where hues and light carry power over the soul. Shades are not just beautiful—they are living forces, shaped through pottery, glassmaking, prisms, and even the forging of metals and talismans. Within these stories, gray primer becomes as significant as radiant pigment, while apothecaries blend herbs, and artisans capture light within crystal and glass.
The landscapes are as varied as the magic itself. The reader may wander through bustling city spires and scholarly academies, stroll through wildflower woodlands, or cross vast grasslands and salt scrub villages. Beyond lie the dune deserts with their hidden ruins, the icy mountain passes leading to the Frozen City, and strange places whispered about in legend: the Veiled Caverns, the Endless Rooms, and even the Sky Realm.
Equally diverse are the characters who bring this world to life. Here you will meet sages and healers, artisans and alchemists, guardians and warriors. Some are cloaked in shadow, others radiant with light—yet all are bound by friendship, family, and loyalty. Goat herders and beekeepers work the foothills, while nomads, trekkers, and caravan leaders brave the deserts. And among them walk unforgettable figures: the Ice Mage of the Glaciers, the Mountain Sage, the Cloud Sovereign, and the daring Color-Bearer. Even the animals, from patient mules to a mischievous boba-cat, find their place in the tale.
And what would a fantasy world be without its creatures and artifacts? Smoke dragons rise from hidden lairs, woodland fae dance among the trees, gemstone golems guard forgotten halls, and ice giants stalk the glaciers. Legends speak of crystal swords, prizm-glass, enchanted lanterns, and engines of ember—artifacts of immense power that shape the fate of heroes.
Yet beyond all the magic and marvels, the Cities of Light stories are about something deeper: the courage of friendship, the strength of family, and the enduring fire of love. These are the threads that bind the colors together, turning pigments into light—and stories into memory.
-- D.D.
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