Splinters of Scarlet is a beautiful book by author Emily Bain Murphy.
For Marit Olsen, magic is all about strategy: It flows freely through her bloodstream, but each use leaves a deadly ice-like buildup in her veins called a blood vessel. Firn. Marit knew how dangerous it was to let Firn build up so much – it killed her sister, after all – and she swore never to use her magic thread.

But when Eve, an orphan whom Marit sees as a sister, is adopted by the wealthy Helene Vestergaard, Marit will do anything to be with Eve. She decides to take a risk with Firn and uses magic to secure a job as a tailor in the Vestergaard family.

Marit has a second, hidden agenda: Her father died while working in the Vestergaards’ jewels – and that may not have been an accident. The more Marit learns the truth about the Vestergaard family, the more she realizes that she and those she loves are in danger. She finds herself in the middle of a dangerous deception that reaches as far as the king of Denmark, where magic might be the only thing that can save her – if it doesn’t kill her first.

In 19th-century Denmark, Merit has a secret. She is an orphan with magical powers, which she is afraid to reveal due to being exploited. Those with magic can only use so much. If they dig too deep, the blood will freeze in their veins and kill them. After witnessing his sister die that way, Merit swore to only use his magic in an emergency.

But when the orphan she cherished as her sister, Eve, was adopted by a wealthy ballet dancer, Merit couldn’t bear to let her go alone. Instead, she uses her magic to impress the woman and is hired at her home. The woman’s husband owns the mine where Merit’s father died, and she struggles with conflicting feelings about the family, even as her past helps her uncover the family’s biggest secret.

I love the tension between possessing this amazing power, but if you use it too much, even to save yourself or someone you love, you could die. That makes this book a page turner. At its core, this book is about love between two sisters, though Merit and a fellow servant, Jakob, share some romantic moments. I love the real feel of Merit and Evie’s relationship, even as they face challenges and misunderstandings.

Emily Bain Murphy creates a believable yet unique world beautifully depicted. You really feel like you’re looking at and smelling the flowers and food as you read. Murphy is very creative in her storytelling and the idea of ​​this book is unique. Mystery and love, ballet and magic… what more could you want?!

• Splinters of Scarlet

• By: Emily Bain Murphy

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