Book review by Aarene Storms: For a Muse of Fire

For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig

Jetta is a shadow player: a puppeteer who travels with her parents in a wooden cart, and performs with light and shadow and puppets. Most shadow players make their creations with paper, silk, wooden dowels and fine thread. Jetta's creations are made with one addition: the souls of the dead.

Now Jetta and her parents must perform for a royal audience, with the hope that they will win royal favor and access to a cure for Jetta's malheur. But rebel soldiers get in the way...and one rebel soldier in particular.

Secrets, magic, death, mental illness, blood, more death, and not nearly as much romance as I expected. This dark tale is first in a promised trilogy by the author of The Girl From Everywhere.

Recommended for readers who like their magic dark, ages 14 to adult.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS astorms@kcls.org