Review: Candlewax by C. Bailey Sims

Title: Candlewax 

Author:  C Bailey Sims
Publisher: Terabyte Press

Publishing Date: April 3rd 2012

Pages: 384
Genre: YA High Fantasy

Series:  Stand Alone
Source: ARC 

 

An Ancient Prophecy. A Powerful Relic. An Insatiable Evil. When all three converge, the fate of every living thing will be in peril.

All her life Catherine had hoped to see a fairrier cat. No book, no scroll provided to her by her tutors had ever mentioned this legend, much to her frustration, and now-at the worst possible time-she was getting her wish. Only, in her wish the cat wasn't about to kill her.

A 732-year-old fairrier cat the size of a horse has killed his fair share of hunters. Driven to the brink of extinction for the supernatural powers of his coat, is he indeed the last of his kind?

Sheltered, 16-year-old Catherine is about to find out. Unwitting heir to the Ancient Onyxes, she flees an arranged marriage only to stumble upon the cat's secrets, the force of the ancient relic she wears, and the dangerous mission they must undertake.

Hidden under a desert that was once a fertile land, millions of predators are waiting to feast again. Catherine must discover the secret of the Ancient Onyxes and stop the creatures known as trodliks before they consume everything in their path. A whispered prophecy becomes her only guide and a rejected suitor just might be the one warrior she desperately needs.

OK, so recently I seemed to have been on an epic/high fantasy kick. I have enjoyed Urban Fantasy for quite some time now, and until recently did not know epic/high fantasy could be so much fun. Now that I have said that, back to reviewing the book.

I can’t say enough GREAT about this book WOW. This book was so amazing. The writing was magnificent. If flowed so nicely at a great pace and had me falling in love with so many characters.

Catherine lives in a castle and is bound to marry someone she does not love and not to mention she is not ready for marriage. She runs away and of course along the way finds trouble, a talking cat, friendship, love, loyalty, betrayal, and war.

The setting was done with much creativity. I enjoyed being swept into another world. The cultures and atmosphere of each kingdom and country was done simple but detailed. I really felt a part of each individual world. It was easy to get lost in this well thought out place.

The characters were amazing. I want to be best of friends with each one (well not the bad guys) at first I was weary of the main character Catherine. She seemed a little panicky and scattered. At the beginning she has a great plan in her head of escaping her kingdom and her arranged marriage. She gets out of the castle quickly and without any unwanted attention. I was thinking, great job Catherine!, but then she finds trouble first thing. Well that was expected, as in any epic fantasy. The problem was Catherine had no idea what to do next. She had no back up plans. I though great here we go. Another wimpy female protagonist. Well, I was proven wrong. Catherine does it get together, and comes out in the end a true hero.

There are also many other great characters, Pokos the fairrier cat, let me say I so want one. He is sarcastic and soothing, dangerous and sweet, scary and cuddly… all in the same breath…. Oh and he is big enough to ride. Who wouldn’t want one right?

Then there is Cyril. He owns my heart as of right now. He is brave, loyal, handsome, strong, smart, and a gentleman. Not always the brightest when it comes to girls, but yummy all the same. He is the man I would want to find myself on a dangerous journey with. 

The rest of the characters I loved too. All of them. They each had their own part in the story and worked well together. I started to miss them as soon as I turned the last page.

Not just the characters and setting were amazing. The story, what a wonderful story. Every epic fantasy has the prophecy or legend, a journey, a hero, and a kingdom to save. This is well known. They don’t seem to get old to me because they are also story of courage, loyalty, love, passion, friendship, and growing. This story had it all in abundance. There were too many times to count where I had tears rolling down my face and warm fuzzies inside my heart or tears from laughter, or even bitten fingernails from worry. My heart grew 10 times bigger by the end of this book.

I strongly advise this book to any epic fantasy readers and even those who are not. This book will convert you. 

C. Bailey Sims was born in California and as a teenager moved to the Colorado Rockies where she attended a very small high school, learned how to ski race, ride a horse, mountain climb, and target shoot at tin cans. She now lives with her family in the much tamer but equally beautiful hills of Connecticut in a very creative household of artists and musicians.
Of Candlewax she says, “This was a book that I had to write. Spelopokos wouldn’t leave me alone until I finished it.”