Belvedor and the Four Corners

Belvedor Saga, #1

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
575 Pages
Reviewed on 01/07/2018
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Author Biography

Ashleigh Bello is the author of the captivating Belvedor Saga. She graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in International Studies, and she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. The inspiration for the Belvedor Saga arose from her extensive world travels. And her passion for adventure continues to help her write future works in the series. She is a self-published author, a recipient of a 2017 Indie B.R.A.G Medallion Award, and an author member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. Her website is www.ashleighbello.com.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Arya Fomonyuy for Readers' Favorite

Belvedor and the Four Corners is the first book in the Belvedor Saga by Ashleigh Bello, a compelling entry in the young adult general fantasy category and a great coming of age story. Set against the backdrop of an unfriendly city ruled by a tyrant, a world where children earn their right to citizenship when they turn eighteen—and they must actually earn it through fierce battle or fall to the pit—readers are introduced to Arianna Belvedor, a seventeen-year-old who is looking forward to the final test to earn her place in society. She is a brave warrior with spectacular skills with the sword, but are the Free Falls Festivals what she really yearns for, or is there more? Follow her journey as she sets out to unearth dreaded secrets about the king and how she changes everything. Can she still bow to someone who stole a crown?

Ashleigh Bello is a great writer and the reader will be enticed by her ability to paint vivid scenes and to penetrate the emotional depth of her characters. The hook is powerful enough to draw readers into the story and to make them want to follow it till the end. We are introduced to the protagonist right off the bat and in a context where members of her society are not free. The sound of the brass bell already symbolizes oppression for everyone who lives in her world, because it’s a call to adhere to the rigorous routine of their day-to-day lifestyle. Belvedor and the Four Corners is written in beautiful prose and readers will enjoy the plot-driven and intelligently crafted dialogues. This story offers great entertainment and I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Arianna is a character that readers will love to follow.

Maureen Dangarembizi

Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga, #1) by Ashleigh Bello is a fantasy novel which begins in The Four Corners of the once magical land of Olleb-Yelfra. The Four Corners is a prison for those who are slaves, with only one way in and one way out. Arianna Belvedor is number 22 in the Warrior district and is set to win her freedom on Free Fall day when she turns 18. But all her well-laid plans go awry when she takes up an ill-advised challenge. Death doesn’t take her, but it strips away everything she ever believed. The world that she thought she knew is a lie and the freedom she’s worked for is false. With the help of her friends, Arianna must escape The Four Corners and restore the Golden Age.

I absolutely loved Ashleigh Bello’s blending of fantasy, a Hunger Games like scenario and adventure. This is a well-written book that is literally 'unputdownable.' There was so much action and unexpected twists in this story that I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time. There is nothing predictable about the sequence of events that leads Arianna to her friends and their dangerous trip to freedom. Ashleigh Bello knows how to set up a mystery. It was so much fun discovering things that had been laid out for future revelation from the beginning. The world of Olleb-Yelfra is a well-developed and fascinating place, at least the little I’ve seen so far. I can’t wait to read the next two books in this series. One of the things I loved about Belvedor and the Four Corners is the inner strength of those who were viewed as weak slaves. It made the main character's victory so much sweeter in the end. An awesome book by a truly talented writer. Great work!

Kristen Van Kampen (Teen Reviewer)

Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga #1) by Ashleigh Bello is a stunning, young adult novel about a teenage girl named Arianna Belvedor. Arianna is a trained fighter from the warrior’s district ready to fight her way to freedom, but her life is suddenly turned upside down when two unexpected things happen. She meets a girl named Lessa Thur from the healer’s district, in the caverns she thought only she knew about. Then later, she’s bested by her opponent in a battle and saved by magic, a topic that’s forbidden within the Four Corners and one she was taught didn't exist. What will happen to her next?

I really enjoyed reading Belvedor and the Four Corners (Belvedor Saga #1) by Ashleigh Bello. It was a very exciting read and will keep the reader in suspense. The book is very well written and descriptive. The charismatic and brave characters are extremely likable, and readers will delight in the magic of the story. The book is a real page turner, and I was hooked by the first page. The story is extremely suspenseful and will keep the reader captivated and wanting to know more. It was absolutely a joy to read and has many surprising scenes that made me gasp out loud and will command the reader’s attention. Author Ashleigh Bello creates an exciting dystopian world that readers will love. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the YA genre.