Description
Time is a prison. She is the key. Packed with danger, temptation and desire - a perfect read for fans of The Red Queen. In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.
Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family. There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married.
But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever... and possibly the future of time itself.
Review
In Sempara, time is literally a commodity to be bought and sold – and the rich Gerling family have plenty of it. Not so for Jules and her Dad who are desperately poor.
In Sempara, you can buy, hire and therefore pay your bills by having your blood drained and bound to iron coins. Ever since the time of the Alchemist and the Sorcerer, this is how Sempara works. To avoid this, Jules decides to get a job at Everless to help pay their rent so her Dad does not have to draw blood. What she finds is intrigue, danger and one tangled web of secrets. Can she help unravel it before time runs out?
This is a wonderful fantasy story where intrigue and mythology wander into every page. This is not a book for the faint hearted, as some of the characters have a very cruel streak. But you will fall in love with Jules and her amazing strength of character in trying circumstances.
Best suited to Year 9 and above students that love fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewed by Michelle
