Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames, #2) by Olivia Rose Darling Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Fear the Flames on my blog, now!

Now that House of the Dragon is back up and running every Sunday, I knew I was in need of a dragon-fix sooner rather than later in between episodes, and luckily enough I had this bad boy sitting on my shelf waiting to be opened. I had such a blast reading the first installment, Fear the Flames, and knew that this follow-up would leave me feeling the same way. 

Elowen and Cayden's relationship has so much thought put into it and the development throughout this book built upon their already pretty solid dynamic. They can be snarky with one another while also taking into consideration the other's feelings, whereas many other couples in different series have a major communication problem. Now, that does not mean they are immune to the occasional argument or defiance against a decided plan, but more often than not, they are doing it to protect the other.

Finnian and Elowen's sibling bond is so precious and I honestly spent the majority of the book worried something horrendous was going to happen to Finnian at any given moment. While he seemed to be on the backburner during this book, readers are still able to see his relationship with Elowen and how strongly their relationship is - they are alwasy looking out for one another and willing to go all the way when it comes to taking risks in order to keep the other safe. Elowen's original group and Cayden's original group combination is still endearing to me - neither group holds back from speaking what is on their mind and proposing different solutions.

The side characters in this installment definitely held more ground compared to when they were first introduced. The stakes are higher and new relationships have been formed - we see these characters take on larger roles while Elowen and Cayden still remain at the forefront. I did enjoy how the author would give us glimpses into the lives of these characters, and while we did only seem to scratch the service when it came to a few of them, it was nice to have a little break from the more intense plot and escape for a bit.

While I understand Elowen was kept away from her dragons for so long, it did feel slightly overdone every time she would go on a little internal monologue about them. We as readers totally understand that she has a bond with them and has missed out on so much due to being apart, but it started to feel repetitive and somewhat diminished how invested I was in their survival. That being said, I did enjoy how the dragons have been given their own personalities and qualities - instead of being five of the same dragons, they are distinguishable amongst one another. However, the incorporation of more magical elements in this book definitely made up for what the dragons were lacking, and with an ending like this, I can only sit on the edge of my seat until the third installment is released.

I read this book in two big sittings and one final one hundred page sprint - you can certainly tackle it fairly quickly if you set aside the time for it. I do wish the dragons had larger roles - not as much as the ones in Fourth Wing seem to have - but they could have been incorporated into the story more beyond just the battle scenes. It would have been nice to see more of Elowen's bond with them as these big moments were led up to. This series definitely gives off a vibe of being a blend of A Game of Thrones and Throne of Glass - and maybe just a touch of Fourth Wing only in regards to the dragons. If you are looking into getting into high fantasy but weary of how intense it may be, this is a great series to push you towards the more complex fantasy worlds.

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Fear the Flames (Fear the Flames, #1) by Olivia Rose Darling Review

This is a spoiler-free review!

I have not dived into a high fantasy series in some time and it felt so good finally picking this book up after having it sit on my shelf for a long time. This was so reminiscent of when I first started reading the Throne of Glass series in high school - the female lead, Elowen, reminded me of Celaena - both share a lot of similar personality traits. The author introduces us to Elowen right off the bat and defines her background as a "discarded" princess for being linked to five dragons and the history of how she ended up founding her own kingdom in an effort to eventually take back was what taken from her.

The premise of having an heir that was exiled because she was linked to dragons is certainly new - you would think that a king would be thrilled that his kingdom would someday be ruled by his very powerful daughter - think again! Elowen is straight up locked away the second the link is revealed and she had the worst upbringing imaginable. Her father's lust for power knows no bounds, and this ultimately manifests into her reason to continue fighting. Years later, she is a grown woman seeking to protect the people of her newly created kingdom, and finds herself becoming aligned with Cayden, a dangerous commander. Right off the bat, their banter establishes an excellent and tension-filled relationship - I really enjoyed how witty each of them would be towards one another, and it definitely provided some comedic relief.

Cayden's ruthlessness is unparalleled in this first installment - like any commander we see in a high fantasy novel, he takes what he wants and he is happy to do it by any means necessary. His ability to use this words in threats only adds to his dangerous demeanor and it solidifies him as somehow you would not want to mess with. The combination of Cayden and Elowen's capabilities makes them a pair you do not want to cross. Other the other side of the coin, readers are able to see the sarcastic and secret loverboy side of Cayden as the story progresses. His and Elowen's relationship begins as something that seems forced - they are only working together to complete a common goal - but of course nature takes route and we get to witness the evolution of how they see one another.

Elowen is no meek-minded princess - she is a woman who is willing to lay down her life to get back what is rightfully hers and will do whatever is asked of her to make things happen. She is stubborn and full of life, which makes her a pleasure to read. I love the energy between her and Cayden as they embark on this journey together, especially when the occasion calls for them to be more brutal. Elowen has such great devotion to the people of Aestilian, the kingdom she established, and she embarks on so many dangerous quests in order to ensure they are provided for and remain safe. She truly has her people's best interest at heart, and her devotion is clearly one of her main motivators throughout the story.

Cayden and Elowen's chemistry was juicy, juicy... I absolutely loved everything about them. It was literally addicting reading all of their scenes together and I found myself truly locked into their development. With Cayden being to utterly determined to protect her, it only made me root for them even more. Their more spicier scenes did not take away from the overall tone of the book, and in fact allowed the brutality of some of the fighting to be evened out. I loved the friends and companions in this book - with Cayden and Elowen each having their own established support systems, it made their journey all the more interesting. They both for fighting to ensure the safety of each other and their friends.

The world building could definitely have used some more fine tuning - we are thrown right into the thick of things when the book begins, and I would have loved some more details regarding the magic and the creatures. There were times where it felt as though we would suddenly be introduced to a new, dangerous creature and we as readers were supposed to understand the gravity of the situation without really having the context for it. I did really enjoy how ruthless Cayden and Elowen could be during this book, and the author certainly did not leave things to the imagination when it came to them getting answers from people, by any means necessary. I will definitely be continuing on with this series and look forward to what in in store for them.

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Empire of the Vampire (Empire of the Vampire, #1) by Jay Kristoff ARC Review

This is a spoiler-free review! The version I am reading is an ARC -- any changes made for the final publication are not reflected in this review. Empire of the Vampire is now available to purchase.

I received an advanced copy of Empire of the Vampire so long ago - most likely in 2020 - and have finally gotten around to tackle this beast of a book. To be honest, I have tried to read it twice before, and I always found myself putting it down. I needed to be in the right mood, and after I finally tackled another monster of a book at the end of May, I knew I had to keep the ball rolling and lighten my TBR pile. This book is certainly intimidating and the size of the book had me putting it off for awhile - coming from someone who would finish A Song of Ice and Fire books in a couple of days, that says a lot.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. There was a good momentum going on for a while, and the world-building as it was recounted definitely held my attention - for a while. The concept of this book being told as a story was really intriguing, but I do wish it only took that format for the first half of the book instead of its entirety. While there were moments where we were taken back to present day, it still was short and sparse. Gabriel de León tells the tale as he is imprisoned by vampires, and I will say the banter when we are brought back to present day was a light compared to the constant agony the characters seemed to endure.

The misogyny in the book is actually insane - it felt as though every page turn was giving me a new reason to hate men. Sure, some may say it is for "accuracy" but this is a book about fictional vampires - it was not necessary for it to be so heavily present. It felt exhausting to read, and not complimentary to the quite exquisite writing Kristoff is able to put to the page. After reading A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon only a few weeks before diving into Empire of the Vampire, it was a stark reminder why I am often disappointed by high fantasy written by men - we can never escape the misogyny. After hearing nothing but praises for this book, I was surprised at how much male characters were degrading women.

At the halfway mark I realized this book was losing me at a rapid pace, and if it did not turn itself around in the next one hundred pages, it was going to become a battle to finish this book. I read this book in two sittings, essentially tackling the first half in one continuous read and the second half with just one lunch break before diving back in to cross the finish line. The vampires seemed to love underage girls and there was nothing short of excessive mentioning on how they needed young girls as their little blood bags and sacrifices. It is such a shame because the world truly was intriguing, but I found myself exhausting by the torment specific characters underwent for the sake of either shock value or Kristoff attempting to add more brutalization to the plot.

Timelines were a little all over the place, and with us switching between Gabriel being a teenager to him being thirty-two, I personally felt the transitions were lacking in fluidity and were too harsh to keep the story moving at a smooth pace. You begin to forget about the other timeline entirely until suddenly you are thrown back into it and you sit there confused because you have not revisited it in many chapters. There were times where I nearly fell asleep reading this book, but I was determined to see it through.

The illustrations were stunning - with the copy I was reading there were a few missing since it was an advanced copy, but I can only imagine what the final product looked like and I would not be disappointed. High fantasy is often overwhelming to readers, and with illustrations as details as the ones included in this book, it truly elevated the story being told and immersed the reader. 

At the end of the day, Empire of the Vampire attempts to bring to life a complex story while failing to deliver a character that you want to root for. With how much Gabriel began to annoy me, I was starting to root for the vampires. I would recommend finding a high fantasy series written by a female author if you want to avoid the blatant shock factor brutalization of women or ill-written humor at the sake of vulnerable characters.

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A Day of Fallen Night (The Roots of Chaos, #0) by Samantha Shannon Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of The Priory of the Orange Tree on my blog, here.

Samantha Shannon has done it again - thrown back into the world of The Priory of the Orange Tree, she takes us back to the events leading up to the very rise of the wyrms nearly five centuries before the events of Shannon's first work. A Day of Fallen Night can be read as a prequel standalone, but I highly recommend reading The Priory of the Orange Tree before diving into this installment. I absolutely adored the first work in this interconnected series and have been sitting on this prequel for some time - I decided it was finally the moment to see it through.

Politically complex and emotionally drawing, Shannon is able to bring readers right back into the fold of The Roots of Chaos with four new leading ladies as their tales are told and we are taken on a journey to see just how generations of fearless women would be impacted. Much like its companion, this installment is broken up into parts, marking significant turns in their stories and the eventful merge of their journeys. With chapters designated once again to the North, South, East, and West, readers follow characters as their lives are turned around or they embark on their destinies. Having the background knowledge of what happens nearly five hundred years in the future definitely was an advantage, and I found myself easily sliding back into this world - when I first read The Priory of the Orange Tree, I will admit it was a bit of a struggle to wrap my head around the extensive world-building.

I was never bored with any of the leading characters or their journeys - each was unique and intricate, with supporting characters that truly added to the story without being overbearing or useless. You could see the internal struggles of every character, and when faced with a number of difficult and often life-defining decisions, readers could see it was no easy choice for any character to make. With a number of queens, opposing opinions of wyrms, and mistrust around every corner, Shannon ensures readers will be entertained and on the edge of their seat. Much like Priory, this prequel eases the reader into the story while still maintaining a fast pace right from the first chapter.

Relationships are both establish and slow-building, as characters learn more about themselves and where they come from as the story goes on. I really enjoyed this aspect - while we knew information about certain characters right from the beginning, there were a number of characters that were more of a mystery to readers, and as information slowly became available, we were able to piece together characters' backstories. Watching as the characters moved towards the same destination by the end of the book was fascinating, and with differing opinions on wyrms, we see the characters appreciate them in one chapter and then others determined to end them in the next.

I cannot wait to see what Shannon has in store for readers next, and with a short prequel set two years before the events of The Priory of the Orange Tree being published at the end of 2025, I am sure she will have readers in the palm of her hand. An epic high fantasy filled with political moves, friendships, self-discovery, action, and realizations, The Roots of Chaos series truly is an experience any fantasy reader should embark on.

You can add A Day of Fallen Night on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, #2) by Laini Taylor Review

This is a spoiler-free review! You can read my review of Strange the Dreamer on my blog, here.

The copy I read is the 2018 ARC from BookExpo, so if there were any major changes or edits in the final published copy, I am not aware. Strange the Dreamer ended so strong and with lots of build up for the next book, and I have to say that I was satisfied with Muse of Nightmares.

Taylor's writing, once again, is so beautifully done and truly shows the emotions and depth of her characters to the fullest extent. Sarai and Lazlo have such a unique and intense relationship compared to a lot of fantasy couples, and the way that they grow individually and together reflects on what they personally needed to discover as well as what they needed each other to find.

The action really takes off in this sequel compared to Strange the Dreamer -- with mostly world-building and character introduction accompanied by relationship development, the first book gave us a solid groundwork for Taylor's story. Muse of Nightmares brings a heavy resolution to this world, as Sarai and Lazlo's worlds come to their greatest struggles as they are brought together. No character was safe in the battle between Godspawn and mortals, as we see just how tragic and fatal it was for a number of characters on both sides.

Weep's existence is hanging by a thread as Minya continues to become even more unhinged than she was in the first book, in addition to characters we least expected having their villain moment at the worst possible time. Much like the first book, it does have a slower pace to the story and Taylor devotes a lot of time on proper development, but at times it did feel like the story was moving slower than it should have been, and what felt like days passing in the book was actually only hours.

I really enjoyed how much more we saw of Sparrow, Feral, Ruby, and Ruza in this sequel. They were present in the first book, but they very much fell into their roles of side characters, placed there for the enhancement of other characters and their stories. However, Muse of Nightmares provided them a new environment to thrive in, and their personalities and characterization received a lot more expansion. 

Kora and Nova's involvement in the story was also skyrocketed to near-main character level, and their own stories were very interesting to see play out in the end. I do wish we got to see more of Thyon in this installment -- he was heavily involved in the first book and I felt as though his character and story took to the back-burner in Muse of Nightmares. I would have loved to see more of his dynamic with Lazlo in this book.

There were definitely some points of the story that left me a tad confused and some questions left unanswered, but overall Taylor was able to pull together the story's conclusion in a rewarding end for Weep and for its inhabitants. I was able to do short power-reads to finish this book in only a few sittings, but at times it did feel as though my eyes wanted me to skim the story but I had to force myself to stay on track.

Once again, I recommend this duology to readers looking to enter the fantasy genre with something that is easy to understand while also encompassing the genre's core values and influences. Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy is a must-read as well, and is a great introduction to her writing style and characterization.

You can add Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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Strange the Dreamer (Strange the Dreamer, #1) by Laini Taylor Review

 

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings can be found here.

Lazlo Strange is a twenty-year-old librarian whose dreams show him what others cannot remember, and his passion for magic proves to be useful as he embarks on a journey he never thought that he would join. It is definitely a lot of information to take in at first, but if you have experience reading more high fantasy novels, it is a quick adjustment and you become oriented in the world very quickly.

Sarai, Ruby, Feral, Sparrow, and Minya are remaining survivors of Weep, living in the citadel while being bearers of magical gifts. With each having a unique ability, they can be viewed as a tool or a curse. Sarai, called the Muse of Nightmares, is able to enter into the dreams of others and scream moths into existence for her purpose.

Thyon Nero is such a massive pain throughout the book, especially due to the way that he speaks to and treats Lazlo. As for a number of other characters, I cannot say that this behavior surprised me, but Lazlo continues to be kind and understanding to everyone around him, despite the way they treat him. A decent amount of the characters that Lazlo is traveling with do not speak kindly of the godspawn and the general concept of Weep, which results in Lazlo constantly defending their existence.

The relationship and connection between Lazlo and Sarai is so interesting -- he the dreamer, she the nightmare. A beautiful symmetry between their abilities that draws them to one another. The way that Sarai longs for a nightmare-less sleep and Lazlo longs for dreams filled with Sarai shows how their stories begin to intertwine as they learn more about one another and as Lazlo discovers the mysteries and horrors of what happened in Weep.

The world building is done in a way where Taylor is sure to explain what the terms mean, instead of just throwing in italicized jargon and hoping that they reader will understand what and who she is referring to. I enjoyed the way that we are given multiple perspectives -- not just from Lazlo and Sarai, but from other characters as well, even if it is for only a few pages at a time, it provides a great insight into the story.

Taylor's writing carries such heaviness and expression -- the way she is able to bring life to these characters, making you feel everything that they experience is fantastic. Lazlo and Sarai's inner thoughts alone bring with them such awe and admiration for what they do not yet know about one another, as well as what they discover about themselves. It was captivating and grew as the story progressed, and had me turning the pages as fast as I could while holding onto her words.

I definitely recommend this to those looking to get into high fantasy -- it is not as complex (or long) as The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, but builds a world and group of characters that possess individuality and growth. I will definitely be completing the series, especially after that ending. Be sure to read Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy as well!

You can add Strange the Dreamer and the rest of the series on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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The Priory of the Orange Tree (The Roots of Chaos, #1) by Samantha Shannon Review

 

This is a spoiler-free review! A list of trigger warnings can be found here.

I have to admit, I was extremely intimidated to read this book. I received an ARC in 2018 at Book Expo America and it has been sitting on my shelf ever since, taunting me -- it's huge! But, it was finally time I picked up a high fantasy book, and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. I read The Bone Season a few years ago, and from what I can recall, I enjoyed Shannon's writing, and was excited to dive into a new genre of hers.

Like many readers, going into a book that is notorious for having tons of characters and interconnecting plot lines can lead you to push off reading a book. However, after reading the first four Game of Thrones books, I felt that I was up for the challenge. The author dives right into one of the main plot lines, but does not make it so convoluted that the reader is left spinning in circles trying to understand what is going on. As we switch perspectives between The West and The East in Part I, we follow groups of characters on their own journeys that affect other characters throughout the book.

Part II introduces us to The South, and we see characters begin to travel across lands and encounter each other in passing or through gossip. Unfortunately, Part II is also where many beloved side characters meet their fate and we are left in what seems to be in a constant state of characters dying left and right. The character development of Sabran and the Eastern dragons take precedence in the beginning, and we see the nature of religious differences between lands. I found that the more we discovered about one land, the more we are able to see the sides of this conflict arise, especially when the action finally gets rolling after the world-building was established in Part I.

Parts IV and V are where true conflict arises and revelations are made by the characters, in addition to characters moving to different parts of the world as their discoveries come together. For hundreds of pages, we see characters and their journeys, and at this point in the story they slowly start interacting with one another and searching for similar items and people.

Part VI absolutely blew me away. Everything comes together in a final encounter with nearly all of the characters we have been following throughout their own quests and travels. Seeing the Eastern dragons and the Nameless One together at the very end was cathartic and epic. After reading over 800 pages of world-building and adventures, you could feel the finale drawing in. The complexities of all the characters follow them and are interwoven through pain, suffering, and self-discovery. Relationships are built just as quickly as they fall, and Shannon brings such emotion into characters that were once struggling to open themselves to another.

If I had to critique one thing about The Priory of the Orange Tree, I would say that I wish that the author had explained more of the lore surrounding the creatures that exist in this world. While they were described physically sometimes, it was somewhat hard to imagine what they looked like, and even register that these creatures can speak with humans. The glossary at the back of the book did help with some things, but it was just a tad inconvenient having to flip back to the glossary and search for what they were talking about when it could have just been expanded on in the actual text.

I really enjoyed the defining characteristics of the dragons in this book -- we typically see dragons portrayed in media and literature as winged creatures who spew fire, but Shannon takes a different approach and has dragons forged from air and water, with only some adorned with wings. It differentiates the world we are reading, and it made it all the more interesting when first starting the book.

For fans of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone, this is the book for you. The Priory of the Orange Tree is a great gateway introduction to high fantasy if you are a newcomer to the genre.

You can add The Priory of the Orange Tree and the rest of Samantha Shannon's books on Goodreads now, and follow the author to stay up to date on releases and publications.

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