East and West. Humans and Spirits. Breccans and Tamerlaines. The Isle of Cadence has always held itself and its residents in a tenuous balance. But now Bane, the spirit of the North Wind, has pushed everyone and everything in his path off-kilter in a bid to claim dominion over all.

In the West, Adaira struggles to adjust to the more brutal, bitter ways of life among the Breccans. Striving to find her place in the clan, she swiftly realizes that it just might be the last role she desires to hold. And while magic blooms effortlessly for the Breccans in the west, the spirits continue to suffer beneath Bane’s harsh power, felt in every gust of wind.

In the East, Jack is adrift without Adaira until he sings to the ember-weak fire spirits, acquiring a dangerous mission he never expected. One that is destined to lead him westward. Likewise, Torin and Sidra are consumed by a new mystery as sickness spreads first amongst the crops, and then to the people of the Tamerlaine clan. While Sidra desperately searches for a cure, Torin dares to strike a bargain with the spirits—a precarious folly anytime, but especially now as the days grow darker.

With the island falling further out of balance, humans and spirits alike will need to join together to face Bane, and Jack’s gift with the harp will be called upon once more. Yet no one can challenge the North Wind without paying a terrible price, and the sacrifice required this time may be more than Jack, Adaira, Torin, and Sidra can bear to pay.

A Fire Endless returns us to the ethereal, intricately rendered world of its prequel, A River Enchanted. It follows our beloved cast of characters deeper into the proverbial woods. Jack and Adaira are lovers torn apart, while Torin and Sidra are united in their hearts and in their cause, investigating a mysterious illness that threatens the entire Tamerlaine clan.

When we are dropped into this story, a powerful spirit named Bane has arrived on the island to wreak havoc and may just force the East and West that historically have kept to themselves to join forces to protect their home. Rebecca Ross has a true gift for creating worlds that feel both lived-in and mystical, perfectly evoking the Welsh notion of hiraeth, homesickness for a place that cannot be reached or has never been. The isle of Cadence is peopled with characters who feel as familiar as friends, so compelling in all their flaws, follies, and triumphs. I was most deeply moved by the thorny, complex familial and romantic bonds that fill this book’s pages.

There is a beautiful grief in leaving behind a world that is so beloved; however, Ross ties up her duology with a splendid, emotional end. This series has earned a place on my shelf of new fantasy classics and I know I will return to Cadence again soon and be richly rewarded for every reread. And I am certain that you, reader, will love A Fire Endless just as much as I do.