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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
In the novel Symphony of Crowns by Christine E Schulze, Gailea, a powerful sorceress, relinquishes her throne and disguises herself as an instructor at a magical school to protect her children from an unkind ex-lover. King Samil, a cruel usurper, wields banned magic and his gifted protégé Mikanah to control minds, aiming to create an unbeatable army to rule the Lozolian Realm. His plan needs the spirit of a pure music mage to create an ultimate weapon. Gailea learns of this plot from a girl who escaped Samil's prisons, leading her to join an elite group of music Guardians to confront the looming evil. Amid betrayals and complex alliances, she remains steadfast, determined to ensure a safe realm for her children, even if it means defying kings and allies.
At this stage of The Gailean Quartet series by Christine E Schulze, readers who have been along for the ride will know that the world-building is exceptional. Symphony of Crowns carries on in the tradition of its predecessors with visually descriptive settings and near cinematic landscapes. One scene, in particular, made the hair on my arms stand up. Castle Alaula is shrouded in storm clouds amidst grim executions ordered by King Samil, and as rain falls, ashes come alive to form a body that awakens with memories and a desperate will to survive. Seriously...this is what we are treated with! As for Gailea, one of her climactic moments is a confrontation where the weight of her strength and determination to protect the vulnerable crumbles all resistance. Schulze is a supremely talented writer and I am just going to sit here and hold my breath until she gives us the fourth and final book in the series. Very highly recommended.
