Carve Our Names in Fire

Radiant Shadows, Book 1

By: Nicole Thorner

Narrated by: Jenn Brady

No turning back. No forgiveness. No mercy.

Tessa Pryce is in a race against time in the first gripping installment of a thrilling new trilogy by author Nicole Thorner.

Five years ago, Tessa's life was forever altered when she was branded by the Umbraxis: relentless curse draining her life with each passing day. The shadow of the disease hangs over her, a constant reminder that her time is running out. But when she and her brother Tristan are captured by a mysterious organization, she’s thrust into a secret world of Veldan warriors…the last line of defense against the encroaching darkness and the deadly Wraithkin stalking them.

She will fight for her brother, the only family she has left. She will stand against the darkness that threatens to consume her world. And she will protect the fragile bonds she forges, even as they risk tearing her apart.

With everything she loves hanging by a thread, Tessa’s determination will be pushed to its limits. But she’s not just a girl marked by death… she’s a force to be reckoned with.

In this heart-pounding series, prepare to be swept into a world where darkness looms and the light burns brightest in those who refuse to surrender.

For fans of Divergent and The Mortal Instruments, Nicole Thorner’s Carve Our Names in Fire, book one of a stunning fantasy trilogy filled with hope, heartbreak, and the unstoppable power of love.

©2024 Nicole Thorner (P)2025 Nicole Thorner

Excellent narration and captivating story

What a fun ride; one that more readers need to jump on.

What happens when you combine simple world building (this is something I’m loving right now; don’t hit me with 400 pages of descriptive world building that I forget about by the time I finally get to the plot), well-developed teenage characters, a tyrannical government agency, a rebellion, and some romance? An excellent first installment to a dystopian series. There are soldiers forced into submission, monsters attacking humans, orphaned siblings in hiding, secret powers, a bitch of a power hungry commander, human experiments, realistic emotions, and a sweet romance that make this story captivating.

I’m not usually a YA or a dystopian reader, but I’ve read a lot of dark lately and needed something more light but still exciting. This absolutely fit the bill. I combined listening and reading and loved the narration.

I’m excited to read books 2 and 3 and love how each is from a different POV. I find this to be a unique take.