The Rarkyn’s Familiar
Nikky Lee
Parliament House Press
Pub. 2022

April 05, 2022

The Rarkyn’s Familiar by Nikky Lee is a gripping fantasy tale about finding help where you least expect it and learning you are not alone.

Set in a world of magic and monsters, Lyss is an orphan living in a small village, and she is planning her revenge on the man who killed her father. One day she and her friends come across a Rarkyn named Skaar. Connected to the forbidden magic of the otherworld, a Rarkyn is one of the most dangerous creatures there is. When Lyss is accidently bonded with him, the two must learn to trust each other.

They travel to the heart of the empire to break the pact before the Rarkyn’s magic infects Lyss and makes her go insane, but it is not an easy journey as they are being followed by a man set on killing the Rarkyn for its magic, as well as being hunted by soldiers from the Empire. Skaar and Lyss soon learn more about each other and find themselves caught up in something bigger than they ever imagined.

The characters are surprisingly relatable for a fantasy book and from the beginning I felt a connection with them and wanted them to succeed. The incredibly detailed and in-depth description of the characters, places, and magic really bring this book to life. The point of view is divided between the characters, making it a very interesting read as you get an outlook on things from each character’s perspective and hear their thoughts.

This book also has a sense of mystery to it as you try to find out what happened to the Rarkyn and discover who Lyss is after. You are also trying to guess why Archer, the villain, wants the Rarykn’s magic.

This book shows two unlikely allies coming together to help each other and stop a bigger threat. The pair learn how to trust and empathise while finding out they’re not the only ones who have been hurt or used. It also shows us that we should not get stuck in the past as there is no changing it.

A varied pace sets the tone of the story, with some bits fast paced and others more relaxed. I couldn’t put this book down, and as the first of the trilogy, I cannot wait to read the other two when they are written.

Any avid fantasy reader would enjoy this, especially those who have enjoyed reading books like Harry Potter, Caravel, and any books by Sarah J. Maas.

I absolutely loved The Rarkyn’s Familiar as it is well written, descriptive, engrossing, and impossible to stop reading. I would recommend this book for people 13+ as it can be a little confusing and does involve violence and blood.

Overall, this is a gripping fantasy tale about overcoming fears and learning to have faith in and empathy for others.

• Thora is 14 years old and lives in Nelson.