Heroes & Harbingers by ARK Horton is a wonderfully fun and creative take on both the urban fantasy and dark academia tropes with satisfying doses of romantic tension and political-style intrigue that leaves the reader looking for more. (And since it’s the first book in a series, we’re in luck!)
The story unfolds at Agnes Lyttle, a high school for magic and gifted students, where Bree (who has no recollection of magical powers in her past) becomes intertwined with Miss Pavlina (a sirin of Russian mythology) and Mr. Finn (a legendary Celtic warrior.) When Bree’s world turns upside down, Pavlina steps up to support her and her sister. When Bree discovers she is the Council of Pantheon’s “Chosen One”, Mr. Finn steps in to mentor her. And when Bree realizes that not everything is as above-board as it seems to be, it’s up to her to set things right.
Through a series of twists and turns, bonds are made, relationships are tested, and true colors come out.
Combining the “Chosen One” archetype with elements of portal fantasy and the found-family trope, Horton weaves a tale that draws you in and gives you a reason to keep reading. Furthermore, the writing style makes it hard to put this one down. I found myself reading this one late into the night on more than one occasion, but it was worth it.
As someone who is a sucker for a good found-family story, I freely admit that the relationships between the characters were maybe my favorite part and I thought that the interplay between them was handled with a skilled touch. Pavlina and Finn have a flirtatious (and at times, heart-wrenching) energy that I loved and the familial bond between Bree and her sister (as well as with Pavlina) was unique and heartwarming.
All in all, I think Heroes & Harbingers is a breath of fresh air in fantasy genre and is a great read for anyone who enjoys mythology, magic, and new-adult fiction.
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
