The Alliance of Isian

The Isian Series

Young Adult - Fantasy - General
282 Pages
Reviewed on 08/09/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Serena Clarke is from sunny Southern Utah. She has loved writing since she was young and has taken several writing classes. She loves fantasy with a hint of romance and wishes to contribute to the genre.

Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and is a member of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team. She is passionate about learning, reading, art, and design. She enjoys designing her book covers as much as writing her books.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Alliance of Isian is book 2 of Serena Clarke’s young adult epic fantasy series, The Isian Series. Gabrielle is an Isian Princess who is betrothed to a prince of the Tandori, Alec. They first met when she was 13 years old. After being presented to the Tandori royal family, Gabrielle was asked to dance by Prince Alec who was very tall and fair, and different from the Isian people Gabrielle was accustomed to meeting. She suffered through an awkward dance with him and then was relieved when he did not ask her for a second dance. When she returns to Tandori as a young woman, Gabrielle and Alec are married before the eyes of both royal families. She understands that this union is crucial to the survival of both kingdoms, but Gabrielle is still not reconciled to being married and longs to return to her own people. As a royal, she understands her obligations and her duty, but it is very hard indeed.

While The Alliance of Isian is the second book in Serena Clarke’s young adult fantasy series, the author introduces enough of the preceding volume to make this one an enjoyable reading experience. The Isian and Tandori cultures are quite different and in some surprising ways. While the Tandori Royals are more liberal in their approach to the well-being of their people, the Isian women play a larger role in Isian society. These differences serve to make the arranged marriage of Gabrielle and Alec a challenging one. I enjoyed watching the sparks fly as the two try to adapt and find a middle ground. Clarke is quite adept at introducing her characters and making them come alive as real people. Her writing is fluid and accomplished, and I soon became absorbed in the story. The Alliance of Isian is an entertaining and fast-paced epic fantasy filled with intrigue, mythological beings and feats of derring-do. It’s great fun to read and is highly recommended.

Linda Weaver Clarke

The Alliance of Isian is one of the best fantasies I’ve ever read. This book was enchanting and very difficult to put down. Gabrielle is a strong character and I could feel the emotions she was experiencing. I could feel her frustration in being forced to marry someone she did not know, and whose background was totally so different from her own. Alec is likewise a strong character and has his definite opinions, but he is also very sensitive to Gabrielle’s feelings of inadequacy in marrying a stranger. As time passes, I could see the respect they gradually develop for each another and how they learn to understand one another’s differences. They learn to accept one another’s faults and failings. I noticed the change in both characters, a change for the better, as Gabrielle and Alec fall in love. I found myself wishing the story would never end.