In exactly two weeks, FIREREND by Emma Kennedy publishes on Thursday, June 5th and kicks off their new standalone books series, The Tales of Averna. This novella was the perfect story for readers to dip their toes into a new world. It’s imaginative and holds familiar fantasy elements. If I had to compare the feeling of this story to anything, it would be video games such as Skyrim (specifically the Thieves Guild), Avowed, and Assassin’s Creed. High stakes, a little bit of danger, some good world building, and characters to invest in, I was happy with my read.
Keep reading for a spoiler-free review!
The book summary is as follows:
One last job, one last chance.
Allara will do anything for her sick sister, but in a city like Oberon, gold is hard to come by and even harder to earn without selling your soul. With no marketable skills and high costs to keep up, Allara’s conscience might be the price she pays.
Nymm fled her past to survive, leaving everything behind, but when her guild falls on tough times, she’ll have to rebuild their reputation or risk losing the only family she has left. The odds are stacked against her, but she’ll do anything to keep them together.
Auren has been living for himself for so long, he’s forgotten what it means to have a purpose. With the chance of unimaginable wealth-and a shot at redemption-he jumps at the opportunity. But is this job enough to make up for his mistakes, or will it drag him deeper into the shadows?
When forces align to offer a job with more gold than most would see in their entire lives, no one is in a position to turn it down. But as the job starts to unravel, they’re reminded all gold comes at a price-and the question is, can they survive the cost?
Very quickly I was satisfied with this novella because of the Glossary and Pronunciation Guide in the front. It helped establish crucial world building that would’ve been too informative for a shorter story. It made me anticipate the story even more too, as it revealed small details about characters and their environment. I’ll always appreciate name pronunciations as well, especially as I referred back to it when I met those characters in the story. It made it easier to correct myself when I hesitated over a name.
I was immediately awed by the beautiful cover and interior artwork by Charles Utting, too. The map detailing was great with the little notes and was helpful in navigating the novella. The contrasting illustrations for Part One and Part Two gave me a little thrill. All of the art, though done by Utting, was perfectly commissioned from Kennedy. It helped elevate the vibe of the story.
The intrigue and mystery was good throughout. It kept me wanting more without knowing too much too soon. The sensational amount of gold only heightened mine (and most characters’) suspicions, which increased tension. Even if I always knew something would go bad with the job, I didn’t expect the level of intensity that was the finale. It’s been a while since I’ve read a heist book, so I ate this up.
I’ll admit it did feel like I was missing kernels of information, including backstories and world building, when reading. A few sections were confusing and a couple things felt left unsaid. I was disappointed to not get the scenes of Allara and Taran training with the Fools. It would’ve provided great character and relationship development. I think Kennedy could polish up on showing and not info-dumping and on including more scenes that develop characters in ways that move the plot slower. For me, this novella read more like important scenes/parts and less like a seamless story line.
Despite that, for a novella, it does well with making me feel for the characters. The scene between Nymm and Shae made my chest ache, while Auren’s scene with his sister was heartfelt and sweet. A huge component of FIREREND were the personal relationships of the characters. That’s where they garnered much of their motivation. Relationships are one of my favorite aspects to dissect in a story, so I was happy with how much Kennedy gave readers.
It’s worth noting too that she included casual LGBTQ+ representation as well. Though there’s no romance, a past relationship is hinted at between two women and multiple characters use they/them pronouns. With the series continuing, I expect to see even more representation!
Emma Kennedy is also excellent at imagery and figurative language. She makes it fitting and natural to the story, genuinely painting a picture of the surroundings. At times, I could feel myself enveloped in the world. It was particularly poignant at the end scenes with the twist (that I won’t spoil, but phew those depictions). The very end message after the final page was haunting in a way that makes me wish for more. It’s a great example of how enticing Kennedy’s writing can be.
As a starting story for The Tales of Averna, FIREREND does its job. Kennedy clearly has a love for her characters and story, emphasized by the art she commissions of them. With the ending being a true surprise, I’m excited to see what’s next from them.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
FIREREND publishes on June 5th and is available for pre-order on Amazon. As usual, Kennedy is also offering a paperback bundle on their website, including a signed copy, two bookmarks, and characters cards.
Emma Kennedy can be found on Instagram, TikTok, or her personal website.
Thank you Emma Kennedy for providing a PR package and physical ARC ahead of the official release in exchange for an honest review.
