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The Katrosi Revolution #1
Emberhawk
The elementals have decided they're gods, and humans are nothing but fuel for their fire.
A starving trapper.
Merciless drought withers Kira's ranch, leaving her family hungry—and desperate enough to cross the border into the forbidden forest to trap wild game.
But the forest is infested with tree-scorpions and giant cats that wield elemental invisibility, and they're hungry, too. When Kira mistakes one elemental creature for another, she ends up with the last thing she wants in her trap: an enemy soldier.
An invisible spy.
Ryon can't afford to be a prisoner of war. If the Malaano Empire extracts his secrets, the rumors of war will be confirmed—and the tribes stand little chance against the Empire unless they can put aside generations of bad blood for the sake of a Tribal Alliance.
When Ryon's escape leaves Kira injured and her livelihood in flames, Ryon must choose between aiding her… or returning to his chieftess with vital information. But can he survive the trek when an elemental pursues him for his rejected heritage?
A sacrificial princess.
Imperial Princess Vylia is given a powerful ancient stone as her wavesinger trials approach. But is the stone's whispering voice from the water goddess, or a masquerading elemental the creator god imprisoned millennia ago?
When Vylia's diplomatic mission to the tribal lands erupts in fiery revenge, she, Kira, and Ryon must work together to survive—or become pawns in the battle of the gods.
A starving trapper.
Merciless drought withers Kira's ranch, leaving her family hungry—and desperate enough to cross the border into the forbidden forest to trap wild game.
But the forest is infested with tree-scorpions and giant cats that wield elemental invisibility, and they're hungry, too. When Kira mistakes one elemental creature for another, she ends up with the last thing she wants in her trap: an enemy soldier.
An invisible spy.
Ryon can't afford to be a prisoner of war. If the Malaano Empire extracts his secrets, the rumors of war will be confirmed—and the tribes stand little chance against the Empire unless they can put aside generations of bad blood for the sake of a Tribal Alliance.
When Ryon's escape leaves Kira injured and her livelihood in flames, Ryon must choose between aiding her… or returning to his chieftess with vital information. But can he survive the trek when an elemental pursues him for his rejected heritage?
A sacrificial princess.
Imperial Princess Vylia is given a powerful ancient stone as her wavesinger trials approach. But is the stone's whispering voice from the water goddess, or a masquerading elemental the creator god imprisoned millennia ago?
When Vylia's diplomatic mission to the tribal lands erupts in fiery revenge, she, Kira, and Ryon must work together to survive—or become pawns in the battle of the gods.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2020
About the author
Jamie Foley
16 books202 followersAward-winning sci/fi-fantasy author Jamie Foley loves strategy games, gardening, and making lembas bread. She's terrified of red wasps and uses them for lightsaber training. When she's not writing, she's working for Enclave Publishing or the Christian Writers Institute, typesetting, or drawing maps to Cair Paravel. Her husband is her manly astronaut preacher muse. They live between the Texas Hill Country and the family cattle ranch, where their hyperactive spawnling and wolfpack roam.
http://www.jamiefoley.com
http://www.jamiefoley.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
March 10, 2020
Emberhawk's danger grips, the humor lands, and the romance smolders. Jamie Foley examines the beauties and hardships of pluralistic societies, and themes of faith, duty, and cultural expectations are skillfully woven into the narrative. Whether you're looking for an entertaining YA fantasy romp or something a little deeper, Emberhawk delivers.
March 25, 2020
I'm excited to be a part of the EMBERHAWK blog tour with MTMC Tours from March 16th - 25th, 2020!
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Jamie Foley and MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Injury, Starvation, Torture, Prejudice, Death, War
Emberhawk, set in the world of Alani, is steeped in mysterious elemental powers. Full of adventure and religion, enemies, and allies surround main characters Kiralau and Ryon. Kiralau is the middle sibling of two brothers, Lee and Tekkyn. Tekkyn was drafted for the Emperor's army a while ago--a fate that will soon befall her younger brother. Growing up on a farm, Kiralau has resorted to trapping animals, trying to bolster her family’s ever-failing food supply due to the ongoing drought, even though they worship the water goddess. Animals are few and far between, which forces Kira out of her tribe’s lands to hunt near the dangerous forests where giant tree scorpions and saber-toothed cats prowl.
Living in the outskirt Navakovrae Settlements, Kiralau’s family is positioned on the border of the Malaano Empire and the lands of the Tribal Alliance. For years, the two lands have had a perilous relationship. Rumors of war have spread, and are only bolstered when Tekkyn returns home, unexpectedly. Out one evening, Kira accidentally mistakes a soldier of the Tribal Alliance, Ryon, for a Trace Cat and ends up shooting him. Malanno soldiers are notified of his transgression of trespassing on their land, and come to collect him.
As events unfold, Kira notices a massive shift in her brother Tekkyn’s personality, and learns what and who Ryon is. Kira embarks on a long journey of doubt and mistrust, and all must be addressed throughout her upcoming adventure--including her beliefs.
After Ryon is interrogated by the Malaano soldiers, he manages to escape by using his Phoera (one of the four types of elemental powers). He’s tracked down by Kira, who ends up with an injury as well. Already within the Katrosi Forests, the two decide to help one another as their chance to survive it’s terrible creatures is better together. It is there that Kira is introduced to more knowledge of the elemental “gods” when the Phoera elemental, Felix Kael Tae, makes his appearance. The fox-like god of luck informs his vessel Ryon that Zamara, the fierce fire goddess of the Emberhawk is up to something. This foreshadows events to come.
The point-of-view changes between Kiralau, Ryon, and Vylia. Vylia, the princess of the Malanno Empire, travels to the Tribal lands as an emissary, and to retrieve the keystone for the water goddess, Lillian.
Upon her arrival, Vylia realizes a terrible plan orchestrated without her knowledge that puts her at the mercy of her father’s political maneuvering.
Emberhawk is ultimately a story that reflects the constructs of Christianity. The one true god, Aeo, the creator of everything, is worshipped by some, but discarded and forgotten by others. Thought to have been long-dead, such a being surely wouldn’t have an impact on current events, or so Kira believed. The shape-shifting elementals, beings created after angels and before humans, abused their powers and turned the people to worship them instead of the creator.
This enticing read was a joy to travel through. With likable characters, and thoroughly-unique world-building, the realm of Alani is one that I plan to revisit. Emberhawk is a read fit to be traversed leisurely, as the complexity of this world and everything in it will continue to surprise the reader at each turn.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: Kissing only.
Violence: Minimal to Moderate as it includes warfare, injury, and death.
My Rating: ★★★★
My Blog ¦ Bookstagram ¦ Twitter ¦ Pinterest ¦ Facebook
I received an ARC of this book from the author, Jamie Foley and MTMC Tours in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! In no way does this affect my rating or review.
All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.
Content Warning: Injury, Starvation, Torture, Prejudice, Death, War
If the majority of humans worshipped elementals as gods, and this was their true nature, maybe there was no heaven at all.
Emberhawk, set in the world of Alani, is steeped in mysterious elemental powers. Full of adventure and religion, enemies, and allies surround main characters Kiralau and Ryon. Kiralau is the middle sibling of two brothers, Lee and Tekkyn. Tekkyn was drafted for the Emperor's army a while ago--a fate that will soon befall her younger brother. Growing up on a farm, Kiralau has resorted to trapping animals, trying to bolster her family’s ever-failing food supply due to the ongoing drought, even though they worship the water goddess. Animals are few and far between, which forces Kira out of her tribe’s lands to hunt near the dangerous forests where giant tree scorpions and saber-toothed cats prowl.
Living in the outskirt Navakovrae Settlements, Kiralau’s family is positioned on the border of the Malaano Empire and the lands of the Tribal Alliance. For years, the two lands have had a perilous relationship. Rumors of war have spread, and are only bolstered when Tekkyn returns home, unexpectedly. Out one evening, Kira accidentally mistakes a soldier of the Tribal Alliance, Ryon, for a Trace Cat and ends up shooting him. Malanno soldiers are notified of his transgression of trespassing on their land, and come to collect him.
Was it the water goddess that saved me or the creator?
As events unfold, Kira notices a massive shift in her brother Tekkyn’s personality, and learns what and who Ryon is. Kira embarks on a long journey of doubt and mistrust, and all must be addressed throughout her upcoming adventure--including her beliefs.
After Ryon is interrogated by the Malaano soldiers, he manages to escape by using his Phoera (one of the four types of elemental powers). He’s tracked down by Kira, who ends up with an injury as well. Already within the Katrosi Forests, the two decide to help one another as their chance to survive it’s terrible creatures is better together. It is there that Kira is introduced to more knowledge of the elemental “gods” when the Phoera elemental, Felix Kael Tae, makes his appearance. The fox-like god of luck informs his vessel Ryon that Zamara, the fierce fire goddess of the Emberhawk is up to something. This foreshadows events to come.
The point-of-view changes between Kiralau, Ryon, and Vylia. Vylia, the princess of the Malanno Empire, travels to the Tribal lands as an emissary, and to retrieve the keystone for the water goddess, Lillian.
The keystone was a myth, created by the pagans who’d worshiped the long-dead creator. In their alternate version of history, when the elementals rose up against the creator to kill him, instead of succeeding, he’d sealed them all into prisons of stone. The keystone was the key that had sealed them--and the only thing that could release them once more.
Upon her arrival, Vylia realizes a terrible plan orchestrated without her knowledge that puts her at the mercy of her father’s political maneuvering.
”There is only one god.”
Emberhawk is ultimately a story that reflects the constructs of Christianity. The one true god, Aeo, the creator of everything, is worshipped by some, but discarded and forgotten by others. Thought to have been long-dead, such a being surely wouldn’t have an impact on current events, or so Kira believed. The shape-shifting elementals, beings created after angels and before humans, abused their powers and turned the people to worship them instead of the creator.
This enticing read was a joy to travel through. With likable characters, and thoroughly-unique world-building, the realm of Alani is one that I plan to revisit. Emberhawk is a read fit to be traversed leisurely, as the complexity of this world and everything in it will continue to surprise the reader at each turn.
Vulgarity: None.
Sexual content: Kissing only.
Violence: Minimal to Moderate as it includes warfare, injury, and death.
My Rating: ★★★★
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March 9, 2020
This is such a cool book! I love the unique world; it was so vivid. All the character were so real and deep, and I loved all of their interactions with each other. I'll definitely be looking out for the next books in this series. <3
August 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, and its beautiful cover. Its plot was fairly complex, but it never became confusing or convoluted. I felt like the story followed a steady pace throughout, with no segments that dragged. I really liked the characters, and I'm excited to learn more about them in the next book.
Ryon was and is an interesting character I'm hoping to learn more about his heritage and what it means for him in the next book. I loved his relationship with Kira, it felt natural, and progressed at a realistic rate. I really liked how they both took time to confront their feelings. While those two were the characters we learnt most about, I also really enjoyed whenever Felix made an appearance, and I hope we see more of him in the next book.
I really liked the world this is set in. The premise of the tribes, and then the Malaano empire really allows a solid foundation for the next book to build on. It felt unique to me, which can be hard to do in fantasy books. I would definitely recommend this, it was a great book and looks to become a great series!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Ryon was and is an interesting character I'm hoping to learn more about his heritage and what it means for him in the next book. I loved his relationship with Kira, it felt natural, and progressed at a realistic rate. I really liked how they both took time to confront their feelings. While those two were the characters we learnt most about, I also really enjoyed whenever Felix made an appearance, and I hope we see more of him in the next book.
I really liked the world this is set in. The premise of the tribes, and then the Malaano empire really allows a solid foundation for the next book to build on. It felt unique to me, which can be hard to do in fantasy books. I would definitely recommend this, it was a great book and looks to become a great series!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2020
VIDEO REVIEW HERE: https://youtu.be/-wPmsSekfjI
This book. FLAILS!! (And I'm literally doing that while grinning so wide my face hurts. And then breaking out into a fit of giggles. Hehe!)
So yes, MUCH love for this story that has a wonderful heroine who can stand on her own two feet, a hero who is snarky enough to make you smirk but then make you melt at said snark, and a storyworld that is incredible.
Let me sum it up like this…
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS STORY!!!
*happy sigh*
Emberhawk gave me a little bit Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes (Ryon is like a cousin of Zuko guys! Like he must be because FLAILS!) and that was epic. Though, even with a sprinkling of those Avatar vibes, this story is solid and amazing on its own.
I thought the world building was complex, but it was described/explained so simply that it really didn't feel complex at all (but dude, it has to be with those elementalists doing what they doing, ya know?). That was VERY cool and it gave me time just to soak in the world rather than worrying if I’m keeping everything straight.
The characters were awesome and I REALLYYYYYYY need book two. (I literally can’t say anything else about this because I would be headlong into spoiler territory and wouldn’t be able to get back to no spoiler territory.)
Summary?
Go read this book if you like unique fantasy with a blending of Asian and Western (not Western as in America, but Western as in cowboys. Yep, totally awesome just reading that blend.) and need a slow burn romance that might just burn you.
(Okay, not really, but that sounded like a cool way to end this review. In reality, it was something else but I can't say because, again, spoilers.)
Definitely recommend!
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
This book. FLAILS!! (And I'm literally doing that while grinning so wide my face hurts. And then breaking out into a fit of giggles. Hehe!)
So yes, MUCH love for this story that has a wonderful heroine who can stand on her own two feet, a hero who is snarky enough to make you smirk but then make you melt at said snark, and a storyworld that is incredible.
Let me sum it up like this…
THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS STORY!!!
*happy sigh*
Emberhawk gave me a little bit Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes (Ryon is like a cousin of Zuko guys! Like he must be because FLAILS!) and that was epic. Though, even with a sprinkling of those Avatar vibes, this story is solid and amazing on its own.
I thought the world building was complex, but it was described/explained so simply that it really didn't feel complex at all (but dude, it has to be with those elementalists doing what they doing, ya know?). That was VERY cool and it gave me time just to soak in the world rather than worrying if I’m keeping everything straight.
The characters were awesome and I REALLYYYYYYY need book two. (I literally can’t say anything else about this because I would be headlong into spoiler territory and wouldn’t be able to get back to no spoiler territory.)
Summary?
Go read this book if you like unique fantasy with a blending of Asian and Western (not Western as in America, but Western as in cowboys. Yep, totally awesome just reading that blend.) and need a slow burn romance that might just burn you.
(Okay, not really, but that sounded like a cool way to end this review. In reality, it was something else but I can't say because, again, spoilers.)
Definitely recommend!
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own.)*
March 11, 2020
Overall a really fun world built with elemental magic and snarky characters. It was a fun use of elemental powers that I really hadn't seen done before. And it really reminded me of Avatar: TLA in terms of some cultures, powers, and creatures, and I was so here for that!
Ryon was probably my favorite character. But fire/light bender with an attitude and a snarky elemental fox friend. What do you want me to do here? lol! I do wish that we'd gotten to see more of Princess Vylia - I felt like her part of the story was a little anti-climactic?? LIke I wanted more of her and she only popped in sporadically and wasn't super connected to anything. Hopefully she's a bigger part of the next few books because she was pretty cool. Didn't connect to Kira as much as I wanted to, but she was still a well fleshed out character.
There were a few things that personally kept me from enjoying it as much as I wanted to. Mostly the very modern way everyone talked. I found it jarring against the descriptions of the cultures and the setting of the story. Every now and then it would really jerk me out of the flow of the story. This is just a personal preference on my part, and might not have any bearing on another reader's enjoyment. Also, I found the plot a little meandery in places but I did keep turning pages, so it wasn't something big enough to keep me from reading!
But these are very personal things, so don't let this stop you from trying this story! The series has a ton of potential going forward!
I received an ARC from the publisher as part of a giveaway. All opinions are my own.
Ryon was probably my favorite character. But fire/light bender with an attitude and a snarky elemental fox friend. What do you want me to do here? lol! I do wish that we'd gotten to see more of Princess Vylia - I felt like her part of the story was a little anti-climactic?? LIke I wanted more of her and she only popped in sporadically and wasn't super connected to anything. Hopefully she's a bigger part of the next few books because she was pretty cool. Didn't connect to Kira as much as I wanted to, but she was still a well fleshed out character.
There were a few things that personally kept me from enjoying it as much as I wanted to. Mostly the very modern way everyone talked. I found it jarring against the descriptions of the cultures and the setting of the story. Every now and then it would really jerk me out of the flow of the story. This is just a personal preference on my part, and might not have any bearing on another reader's enjoyment. Also, I found the plot a little meandery in places but I did keep turning pages, so it wasn't something big enough to keep me from reading!
But these are very personal things, so don't let this stop you from trying this story! The series has a ton of potential going forward!
I received an ARC from the publisher as part of a giveaway. All opinions are my own.
December 27, 2019
If the cover isn't enough for you to try this book, I'm not sure my review can cure you of that defect. Adoring this book is an understatememt for me. The plot was super compelling (and surprised me more than once). Plus, the characters and world were as stunning as ever ... as in, a m a z i n g. I honestly don't know how one author can master so many elements of story and deliver such a fun book in a genre I don't normally read.
Highly recommend for 15+ for some romance, peril, injuries, and mild violence.
Highly recommend for 15+ for some romance, peril, injuries, and mild violence.
November 17, 2020
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Emberhawk. What a ride!
With its epic fantasy setting and enticing writing, I couldn't help but enjoy myself whilst reading this book. I enjoyed the three perspective story telling and the banter between Ryon and Kira, I thought they were well rounded and strong characters written with good dialogue and interpersonal relations.
With those points being what I enjoyed about the book, there were a few things that I disliked which really dampened my rating score. My issue really came with the plot, some perspectives, details and characterisation. I hope that in the future books, the world–which definitely had potential– would be explored further. Especially with the elemental magic system.
Although I did pick up a majority of the information presented in the glossary at the start of the book, there were some details with the magic that were a bit confusing such as the extent of power on the basis of social status, location etc. It was clear there was a differentiation but no further detail was provided as to what this entailed.
Unfortunately this wasn't my only issue. I found that the plot was extremely loose. Although there was talk of a brewing war (which I know for a fact will end up being at the forefront of the next two books) there really was no reason for Princess Vylia's perspective. I was trying to work out throughout the book where she fit into the plot. Although her role as a mediator was obviously related to this overarching story of war, in this particular novel I found myself questioning her involvement in the telling of Emberhawk as a novel by itself. This comes back to the plot, yet again which, as I said was loose. If you asked me what Emberhawk (not the series but rather this book in particular) was about plot wise, I'll struggle to explain it all too well and the reason behind that is simple. The characters both had reasons for being in town however, there was no reason that I could deduct for them to go on this journey. I was trying to find some reasoning behind it however, I failed in this regard. It was like:
And yes, I do realise that they were trying to find medicine, I think, for Kira's mother but that goal was muddled in somewhere and at times, I completely forgot what the whole point of their quest in the first place actually was.
But plot aside, I did like Ryon. He was my favourite character. I didn't mind Kira... until I did. It was halfway through the book that I found her to be really annoying and at times extremely naive. There was one part in the book where Ryon and Kira had to lie for their own safety and Kira was very slow and questioning Ryon at terrible times. I understand this was obviously because she was in a completely new environment with strange and difficult circumstances but her naivety really annoyed me and at times I found myself even eyerolling at some of her dialogue or actions.
All in all, this seems to be a very promising series but if I was rating this based on a standalone, there were a few things that fell flat when it could've been amazing. That being said, there definitely is room for improvement!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.4 STARS
Emberhawk. What a ride!
With its epic fantasy setting and enticing writing, I couldn't help but enjoy myself whilst reading this book. I enjoyed the three perspective story telling and the banter between Ryon and Kira, I thought they were well rounded and strong characters written with good dialogue and interpersonal relations.
With those points being what I enjoyed about the book, there were a few things that I disliked which really dampened my rating score. My issue really came with the plot, some perspectives, details and characterisation. I hope that in the future books, the world–which definitely had potential– would be explored further. Especially with the elemental magic system.
Although I did pick up a majority of the information presented in the glossary at the start of the book, there were some details with the magic that were a bit confusing such as the extent of power on the basis of social status, location etc. It was clear there was a differentiation but no further detail was provided as to what this entailed.
Unfortunately this wasn't my only issue. I found that the plot was extremely loose. Although there was talk of a brewing war (which I know for a fact will end up being at the forefront of the next two books) there really was no reason for Princess Vylia's perspective. I was trying to work out throughout the book where she fit into the plot. Although her role as a mediator was obviously related to this overarching story of war, in this particular novel I found myself questioning her involvement in the telling of Emberhawk as a novel by itself. This comes back to the plot, yet again which, as I said was loose. If you asked me what Emberhawk (not the series but rather this book in particular) was about plot wise, I'll struggle to explain it all too well and the reason behind that is simple. The characters both had reasons for being in town however, there was no reason that I could deduct for them to go on this journey. I was trying to find some reasoning behind it however, I failed in this regard. It was like:
And yes, I do realise that they were trying to find medicine, I think, for Kira's mother but that goal was muddled in somewhere and at times, I completely forgot what the whole point of their quest in the first place actually was.
But plot aside, I did like Ryon. He was my favourite character. I didn't mind Kira... until I did. It was halfway through the book that I found her to be really annoying and at times extremely naive. There was one part in the book where Ryon and Kira had to lie for their own safety and Kira was very slow and questioning Ryon at terrible times. I understand this was obviously because she was in a completely new environment with strange and difficult circumstances but her naivety really annoyed me and at times I found myself even eyerolling at some of her dialogue or actions.
All in all, this seems to be a very promising series but if I was rating this based on a standalone, there were a few things that fell flat when it could've been amazing. That being said, there definitely is room for improvement!
ACTUAL RATING: 3.4 STARS
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May 11, 20203.5 Stars
EMBERHAWK is a fantasy set in a colorful and dangerous world where not everyone is as they seem and where one girl gets unknowingly caught in the middle of an oncoming war. Recommended to YA fantasy fans.
These characters were each unique. There were two main storylines: Kira and Ryon, and then Vylia, with three points-of-view. Kira is fairly impetuous. She doesn't always think before she acts and it gets her into trouble. She also doesn't necessarily trust anyone and makes her own conclusions and then acts on that information even if she's wrong. I did want her to start to get a little more wisdom as the story goes on and to be a bit more trusting of Ryon earlier since everything is new to her, but not to Ryon, but she doesn't. Ryon was my favorite character from this story. He's a bit of a flirt and is overflowing with charm. He's also skilled, smart and brave, but has a soft heart. I did think that he acts younger than he should have in some places and not as skilled or mature for his background and position. I just wanted a bit more from him. Vylia was a bit more one-dimensional. I know she has a bigger role to play and I'm curious to see what happens in the next book.
The storybook world was really interesting. I liked the different creatures, various peoples and lands that form this world. I did feel like some of the verbiage wasn't quite right for the story, particularly some of the slang, and there were some places that didn't transition well where more editing was needed. I thought the belief system was intriguing with the elementals and the creator. I'm curious to see how that all plays out as I know they're not done. I also felt this wasn't religious enough to be a strong Christian read—at least not more so than many mainstream fantasy novels, so I think any fantasy reader could enjoy this story, Christian and non-Christian alike.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable fantasy. The world and characters kept me turning the pages and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
EMBERHAWK is a fantasy set in a colorful and dangerous world where not everyone is as they seem and where one girl gets unknowingly caught in the middle of an oncoming war. Recommended to YA fantasy fans.
These characters were each unique. There were two main storylines: Kira and Ryon, and then Vylia, with three points-of-view. Kira is fairly impetuous. She doesn't always think before she acts and it gets her into trouble. She also doesn't necessarily trust anyone and makes her own conclusions and then acts on that information even if she's wrong. I did want her to start to get a little more wisdom as the story goes on and to be a bit more trusting of Ryon earlier since everything is new to her, but not to Ryon, but she doesn't. Ryon was my favorite character from this story. He's a bit of a flirt and is overflowing with charm. He's also skilled, smart and brave, but has a soft heart. I did think that he acts younger than he should have in some places and not as skilled or mature for his background and position. I just wanted a bit more from him. Vylia was a bit more one-dimensional. I know she has a bigger role to play and I'm curious to see what happens in the next book.
The storybook world was really interesting. I liked the different creatures, various peoples and lands that form this world. I did feel like some of the verbiage wasn't quite right for the story, particularly some of the slang, and there were some places that didn't transition well where more editing was needed. I thought the belief system was intriguing with the elementals and the creator. I'm curious to see how that all plays out as I know they're not done. I also felt this wasn't religious enough to be a strong Christian read—at least not more so than many mainstream fantasy novels, so I think any fantasy reader could enjoy this story, Christian and non-Christian alike.
In the end, was it what I wished for? Overall, this was an enjoyable fantasy. The world and characters kept me turning the pages and I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Content: Some violence and innuendo, but would consider this clean.
Source: I received a complimentary copy through JustRead Publicity Tours, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2020
Emberhawk is an absolutely delicious book, with swashbuckling adventure, a richly detailed world, and snarky characters I had a total blast reading about! I loved it so much!
I’m a huge fan of Jamie Foley’s Sentinel Trilogy, so I was thrilled to get to dive into the first book in a new series set in the same world! Emberhawk takes place over a thousand years before Sentinel and has a different feel but is an equally fabulous read. Sentinel fans, you’re going to love this book—and if you’re new to Jamie’s works, Emberhawk is the perfect book to start with! IT’S. SO. GOOD.
THE ADVENTURE
I was totally absorbed in this fresh take on a fantasy story, and just wanted to hang out with these characters forever. The plot kept me enthralled, following our main characters, and I love how there’s an exciting story on the surface that at first seems like a straight-up adventure, but also extra depth and schemes hidden beneath the surface that slowly comes to light, masterfully woven in.
There are secrets, spies, shifting alliances . . . tribes and settlers, a tyrannical empire . . . It was SO intriguing to follow the different political schemes threaded through the adventure and find out who’s working for who. All the characters were so multi-faceted. Nothing’s as it seems! There were some really thrilling twists, especially near the end, that had me shrieking. Eep! (Also, aaahhh! I need to find out what happened to a certain character! Where’s book two? *grabby hands*)
Snarky banter and humor, a bit of star-crossed lovers tossed in, a rich and layered world (I love the world-building so much!), and all of that on TOP of a super thrilling, adventurous tale . . . and all tied together with the fabulous writing I’ve come to expect of this author. It doesn’t get better than this! :D
THE CHARACTERS
Our main characters Kira and Ryon make a fabulous pair. I loved them so much! Ryon is awesome and epic, and I love his heart of gold character. He’s just the best! Kira is a bit of a trapper/inventor and a spitfire. Their banter gives me life. XD I adored reading their story and I love them so much!
Not to mention the other fabulous characters! Some of them I feel like it would kiiind of be a spoiler if I mentioned their names? Especially with certain loyalties being up in the air for a lot of the book. XD But there were some EPIC side characters who really grew on me and I’m so excited to read more about them! A certain under-cover guy (you’ll know who it is by the end!) who’s one of my favorites, and a certain antihero assassin-type character who is verrry intriguing and I so hope there is more to his story!
Felix gets his own paragraph because Feliiiiix! XD Snarky fox elemental—what is not to love? He’s in the Sentinel Trilogy a bit and I was delighted to find him in this book as well! The snark, his way of dashing about on side-quests and sassing everyone and being absolutely epic, and turning into other cute or epic animals—aaahh! Just. This fox! He’s sooo much fun!
IN SUMMARY
Elementals, forest adventures, elemental fire and water magic, creepy d’hakka (huge tree-spider-scorpions! :O), different cultures and alliances, true love and friendship and siblings, arrows and fire and disrupted ordinary lives, a princess, an assassin, nefarious plots, lovable characters and snark and romance . . . There is SO much excitement and awesomeness in this book! *hugs Emberhawk forever*
I just adore it and I NEED book two! Fantasy lovers, here’s another book that needs to go on your to-read list ASAP. A complete delight! <3
I received a free ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...
I’m a huge fan of Jamie Foley’s Sentinel Trilogy, so I was thrilled to get to dive into the first book in a new series set in the same world! Emberhawk takes place over a thousand years before Sentinel and has a different feel but is an equally fabulous read. Sentinel fans, you’re going to love this book—and if you’re new to Jamie’s works, Emberhawk is the perfect book to start with! IT’S. SO. GOOD.
THE ADVENTURE
I was totally absorbed in this fresh take on a fantasy story, and just wanted to hang out with these characters forever. The plot kept me enthralled, following our main characters, and I love how there’s an exciting story on the surface that at first seems like a straight-up adventure, but also extra depth and schemes hidden beneath the surface that slowly comes to light, masterfully woven in.
There are secrets, spies, shifting alliances . . . tribes and settlers, a tyrannical empire . . . It was SO intriguing to follow the different political schemes threaded through the adventure and find out who’s working for who. All the characters were so multi-faceted. Nothing’s as it seems! There were some really thrilling twists, especially near the end, that had me shrieking. Eep! (Also, aaahhh! I need to find out what happened to a certain character! Where’s book two? *grabby hands*)
Snarky banter and humor, a bit of star-crossed lovers tossed in, a rich and layered world (I love the world-building so much!), and all of that on TOP of a super thrilling, adventurous tale . . . and all tied together with the fabulous writing I’ve come to expect of this author. It doesn’t get better than this! :D
THE CHARACTERS
Our main characters Kira and Ryon make a fabulous pair. I loved them so much! Ryon is awesome and epic, and I love his heart of gold character. He’s just the best! Kira is a bit of a trapper/inventor and a spitfire. Their banter gives me life. XD I adored reading their story and I love them so much!
Not to mention the other fabulous characters! Some of them I feel like it would kiiind of be a spoiler if I mentioned their names? Especially with certain loyalties being up in the air for a lot of the book. XD But there were some EPIC side characters who really grew on me and I’m so excited to read more about them! A certain under-cover guy (you’ll know who it is by the end!) who’s one of my favorites, and a certain antihero assassin-type character who is verrry intriguing and I so hope there is more to his story!
Felix gets his own paragraph because Feliiiiix! XD Snarky fox elemental—what is not to love? He’s in the Sentinel Trilogy a bit and I was delighted to find him in this book as well! The snark, his way of dashing about on side-quests and sassing everyone and being absolutely epic, and turning into other cute or epic animals—aaahh! Just. This fox! He’s sooo much fun!
IN SUMMARY
Elementals, forest adventures, elemental fire and water magic, creepy d’hakka (huge tree-spider-scorpions! :O), different cultures and alliances, true love and friendship and siblings, arrows and fire and disrupted ordinary lives, a princess, an assassin, nefarious plots, lovable characters and snark and romance . . . There is SO much excitement and awesomeness in this book! *hugs Emberhawk forever*
I just adore it and I NEED book two! Fantasy lovers, here’s another book that needs to go on your to-read list ASAP. A complete delight! <3
I received a free ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Review originally posted here: https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/...
May 11, 2020
That was absolutely amazing!
When I first started this book, I had no idea what to expect- and in a few short chapters these characters absolutely blew me away!
The vivid descriptions, the stunning characters and not to mention the world itself?! I couldn't read fast enough, I was so invested.
Kira and Ryon were both such fun characters to follow, (and I LIVED for their witty interactions)!
I'm so excited to (hopefully) see more romance between them in the rest of the series.
The idea of elemental powers was really interesting to learn about as the story progressed and I also appreciated the different representations given.
I will definitely be coming back to this series in the future and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a high-fantasy romance with amazing world-building and plot!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
~I was gifted an eARC of this book by Just Read Tours and the publisher in return for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
When I first started this book, I had no idea what to expect- and in a few short chapters these characters absolutely blew me away!
The vivid descriptions, the stunning characters and not to mention the world itself?! I couldn't read fast enough, I was so invested.
Kira and Ryon were both such fun characters to follow, (and I LIVED for their witty interactions)!
I'm so excited to (hopefully) see more romance between them in the rest of the series.
The idea of elemental powers was really interesting to learn about as the story progressed and I also appreciated the different representations given.
I will definitely be coming back to this series in the future and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a high-fantasy romance with amazing world-building and plot!
Rating: 4/5 ⭐
~I was gifted an eARC of this book by Just Read Tours and the publisher in return for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.
March 10, 2020
I need book 2 now! This book was so good, oh my word! I really need to read more fantasy books, I love this genre so much and this book was so good and so unique. I was uncertain where Ms. Foley was taking this book in the beginning, but once I got into it, I could not stop reading. The characters were too die for and I loved them so much! Ryon was a cinnamon roll. I loved watching Kira's character development and she was a pretty amazing character herself.
I do not know how Ms. Foley wrote something this amazing, but she did. Her world building was amazing, her plot and story line was unique, her characters were adorable and totally amazing, and her writing style was fantastic! I highly recommend this book!
*FTC: I received an arc of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All thought are my own.*
I do not know how Ms. Foley wrote something this amazing, but she did. Her world building was amazing, her plot and story line was unique, her characters were adorable and totally amazing, and her writing style was fantastic! I highly recommend this book!
*FTC: I received an arc of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All thought are my own.*
February 5, 2023
I LOVED this book! Jamie has such a talent for bringing characters and worlds to life. Each of her characters were so distinctive, and I will follow Ryon and Kira and Brooke to the ends of the earth in this battle. The elemental magic, the tensions between people groups, the constant danger—I cannot wait for book two to arrive so I can dive in right away. This will be a tale that stays long with me!
July 2, 2020
I really, really liked this book. At the beginning I was nervous that it was going to be too cliche, and that I'd get bored, but boy was I wrong! it wasn't the most original thing on the planet, but it was something new, and I shipped the love interests so much. The point of view switching was done artfully, and I ended up quite fond of all the characters (yes, I cried at one certain point).
The characters were genuine and sweet and not too dramatic - a pretty common trait that I am not a fan of. Also! Great ethnic diversity!! This is a big plus for me, especially given the utter lack of diversity in a lot of popular YA novels.
The plot was fast paced enough to keep me interested, if somewhat predictable (at least up until the last quarter of the book. That last part threw me for a loop). Now that I've finished it I really just want to read the next one!! Also, I really wish there was a bigger fandom around this book because I would LOVE to see some art.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)
The characters were genuine and sweet and not too dramatic - a pretty common trait that I am not a fan of. Also! Great ethnic diversity!! This is a big plus for me, especially given the utter lack of diversity in a lot of popular YA novels.
The plot was fast paced enough to keep me interested, if somewhat predictable (at least up until the last quarter of the book. That last part threw me for a loop). Now that I've finished it I really just want to read the next one!! Also, I really wish there was a bigger fandom around this book because I would LOVE to see some art.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)
November 30, 2021
Plot: 9/10
Setting: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Overall: 10/10
Ages 12+ no language. Some violence, but not super graphic. Some intense and scary moments. One or two kisses (not described). Some spiritual battles, and mentions of The elemental "gods" though it is very clearly a Christian book overall. Aeo represents God. Very, very clean.
I literally CANNOT put this masterpiece into words. So I won't. Aeo Leywa Ai Shea!
Setting: 10/10
Characters: 10/10
Overall: 10/10
Ages 12+ no language. Some violence, but not super graphic. Some intense and scary moments. One or two kisses (not described). Some spiritual battles, and mentions of The elemental "gods" though it is very clearly a Christian book overall. Aeo represents God. Very, very clean.
I literally CANNOT put this masterpiece into words. So I won't. Aeo Leywa Ai Shea!
December 27, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
4.5 REALLY ENTERTAINING STARS!!
I actually really, really liked this book. I found the world-building interesting, the characters enjoyable to read about and the romance utterly swoonworthy. I don’t think there was a single aspect of this story that I didn’t love! Also that cover? GORGEOUS.
Emberhawk may not have been especially original, and the plot line may have been quite easy to follow – very few plot twists – but in my opinion, this novel was the perfect mixture of cliché and unique. The creatures and magic were quite unique, and I don’t think I’ve ever read about people that can bend light around themselves to make themselves invisible. The characters were also quite typical, but they were still very relatable and good fun to read about, and I enjoyed their chemistry and the relationships and bonds between the characters.
One thing I really loved were the DIFFERENCES between common clichés and Emberhawk. One scene really stood out to me, and it was that iconic scene in many YA novels, where one character is held hostage, and the other character offers themselves up in the place of the hostage. It’s such a common scene, but I really loved that in Emberhawk we heard the narration of the non-hostage character, and he stood his ground and used trickery – instead of stupid chivalry – to save the hostage, whom he’d only met a couple of days ago.
“Ryon panted through a dry throat. Kira wasn’t worth marrying his cousin for. Nothing was worth that to him. He’d rather die.
But he was an experienced liar.”
That’s my boy! I also loved the little glimmers of humour, sass and sarcasm from Kira and Ryon.
“Wow. One second he tells me to run for my life, and the next he has it “handled.” Kira rolled her eyes and veered away from Ryon. Men.”
Kira is so right. Men are just… ugh.
And, of course, the (possible) Tangled reference! I have to put it in my review, because Tangled it just my favourite Disney movie ever.
“Ryon breathed through the pain and admired the mallet. I ought to get me one of these.”
Wooo! Flynn Rider has been reincarnated – and his name is Ryon! My precious boy also happens to treat Kira like a goddess, as every woman should be treated.
“he was determined to marry her before she could realize that he was just a run-of-the-mill moron.”
Well, they say that acceptance is half the recovery, Ryon dear 😉. But honestly, Ryon was one of the least moron-y YA heroes I’ve read about! So congrats to the author for managing that!
Now, there’s so much else I loved about this book. I loved the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, the adorable family relationship between Kira and her brothers, and – of course – my darling Felix. All in all, this book was simply brilliant!
A really enjoyable YA fantasy romance, and one I’m so glad I decided to read! I can’t wait for book 2. Thank you so much to the author and BookSirens for the free copy!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
4.5 REALLY ENTERTAINING STARS!!
I actually really, really liked this book. I found the world-building interesting, the characters enjoyable to read about and the romance utterly swoonworthy. I don’t think there was a single aspect of this story that I didn’t love! Also that cover? GORGEOUS.
Emberhawk may not have been especially original, and the plot line may have been quite easy to follow – very few plot twists – but in my opinion, this novel was the perfect mixture of cliché and unique. The creatures and magic were quite unique, and I don’t think I’ve ever read about people that can bend light around themselves to make themselves invisible. The characters were also quite typical, but they were still very relatable and good fun to read about, and I enjoyed their chemistry and the relationships and bonds between the characters.
One thing I really loved were the DIFFERENCES between common clichés and Emberhawk. One scene really stood out to me, and it was that iconic scene in many YA novels, where one character is held hostage, and the other character offers themselves up in the place of the hostage. It’s such a common scene, but I really loved that in Emberhawk we heard the narration of the non-hostage character, and he stood his ground and used trickery – instead of stupid chivalry – to save the hostage, whom he’d only met a couple of days ago.
“Ryon panted through a dry throat. Kira wasn’t worth marrying his cousin for. Nothing was worth that to him. He’d rather die.
But he was an experienced liar.”
That’s my boy! I also loved the little glimmers of humour, sass and sarcasm from Kira and Ryon.
“Wow. One second he tells me to run for my life, and the next he has it “handled.” Kira rolled her eyes and veered away from Ryon. Men.”
Kira is so right. Men are just… ugh.
And, of course, the (possible) Tangled reference! I have to put it in my review, because Tangled it just my favourite Disney movie ever.
“Ryon breathed through the pain and admired the mallet. I ought to get me one of these.”
Wooo! Flynn Rider has been reincarnated – and his name is Ryon! My precious boy also happens to treat Kira like a goddess, as every woman should be treated.
“he was determined to marry her before she could realize that he was just a run-of-the-mill moron.”
Well, they say that acceptance is half the recovery, Ryon dear 😉. But honestly, Ryon was one of the least moron-y YA heroes I’ve read about! So congrats to the author for managing that!
Now, there’s so much else I loved about this book. I loved the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, the adorable family relationship between Kira and her brothers, and – of course – my darling Felix. All in all, this book was simply brilliant!
A really enjoyable YA fantasy romance, and one I’m so glad I decided to read! I can’t wait for book 2. Thank you so much to the author and BookSirens for the free copy!
January 1, 2021
“You look like you died and just haven’t realized it yet.”
Ryon turned his smile into a lopsided smolder.
“Well then, I’m one good-lookin ghost.”
Emberhawk was a thrilling adventure into a monster-infested forest with one charming foreigner.
There is a lot happening in this book. It begins in a way that almost seems like normal life for Kira and her family but quickly escalates into a race to uncover sinister plans and save lives.
I really enjoyed the plot and found myself surprised around every corner. I was impressed that I hadn’t guessed everything at the end and was thoroughly shocked by the new revelations. And the characters were all so good! I loved the witty banter between Ryon and Kira, and of course the snark and sarcasm was delightful. Felix’s presence made me laugh, he was the perfect fox! The only character that I never fully understood her presence in the book was Princess Vylia. She only has three or four chapters out of the whole book and her story felt so different than everything else happening. But I have a feeling she’ll play a bigger part in Silverblood so I look forward to getting to know her better there.
Emberhawk is a clean YA Fantasy. There is no cursing and the sexual content is reduced to only a few non-detailed kisses and some mild comments from other characters. There are plenty of fight scenes in which there are a mentions of how people died, but I didn’t find these descriptions to be gory.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Emberhawk and I look forward to reading Silverblood when it releases in March, 2021!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Ryon turned his smile into a lopsided smolder.
“Well then, I’m one good-lookin ghost.”
Emberhawk was a thrilling adventure into a monster-infested forest with one charming foreigner.
There is a lot happening in this book. It begins in a way that almost seems like normal life for Kira and her family but quickly escalates into a race to uncover sinister plans and save lives.
I really enjoyed the plot and found myself surprised around every corner. I was impressed that I hadn’t guessed everything at the end and was thoroughly shocked by the new revelations. And the characters were all so good! I loved the witty banter between Ryon and Kira, and of course the snark and sarcasm was delightful. Felix’s presence made me laugh, he was the perfect fox! The only character that I never fully understood her presence in the book was Princess Vylia. She only has three or four chapters out of the whole book and her story felt so different than everything else happening. But I have a feeling she’ll play a bigger part in Silverblood so I look forward to getting to know her better there.
Emberhawk is a clean YA Fantasy. There is no cursing and the sexual content is reduced to only a few non-detailed kisses and some mild comments from other characters. There are plenty of fight scenes in which there are a mentions of how people died, but I didn’t find these descriptions to be gory.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading Emberhawk and I look forward to reading Silverblood when it releases in March, 2021!
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
January 21, 2021
I enjoyed this book, and I was glad it was on audiobook so that I could move it up my TBR. This is a really cool mix of fantasy plus a western/American southwest feel to it. Not to mention elemental magic and false goddesses and a whole bunch of tribes and kingdoms and territories all about to go to war with each other. It was a little slower than I expected, and it did take me a while to get into it. But, once it ramped up, the ending was an action-packed rush!
March 31, 2021
I won a copy of Emberhawk in a giveaway! From page one, I became entranced with the world Foley created. I loved how human Ryon and Kira felt and enjoyed their back and forth banter. There were a few moments where I was confused, but the author eloquently tied everything up at the end. I loved the elemental powers and definitely hope to read more about them.
June 30, 2022
{The Basics}
This was the first novel I've read from the author, Jamie Foley (though her Sentinel series has been on my wishlist forever!). I thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic adventure in these pages. The story was so original & engaging, the characters lovable & fun, and the world building absolutely amazing! I enjoyed the feel of Asian culture mixed with Native American vibes.
I also ADORE loving sibling relationships and the fun banter that comes with them. Kira and her brothers were so fun to read about. And I loved, loved, LOVED the slow-burn romance that flickered to life between her and Ryon, the surefooted soldier of the Tribal Alliance.
{Violence}
The start of the story opens with the scene of Kira being chased by a massive trace cat. She's clearly running for dear life, but manages to catch it in the trap she had set. Her brother Lee comes to her rescue with his lasso and together they snap its neck. Lee goes to the body and finishes the job with a knife.
A young man is shot in the shoulder with an arrow. Fleeing from the shooter, he runs through the forest, jostling the arrow shaft painfully. In defense, a character grabs at the shaft, twisting it in the wound and causing him to black out. He wakes in a barn; eventually soldiers come to question him. One of the leaders resorts to torture, digging his thumb into the young man's wound.
A man uses a wooden hammer to knock out two soldiers in his escape.
A girl runs through the forest, trips down a hill and twists her ankle rather severely. She bleeds from a cut to her arm as well. Warned that blood draws the predators that stalk the woods...
Something known as the Sacrificial War ten years prior---it's implied there were human sacrifices (including children)...
A city falls under attack; many explosions level homes and businesses. Massive elevators in the city are sabotaged, injuring the masses of people crowding to escape. A man burns his hands badly in an attempt to keep from falling to his death.
An enemy has his neck snapped when he's lassoed and thrown head over heels, leaving him to dangle suspended.
Arrows shot at enemy; man incinerated by blast from a wyvern; young man killed (throat flayed open, blood everywhere).
An elemental attacks a couple people in a forest, torturing them. They writhe in pain. One girl is later burned by a handprint to her neck.
{Spiritual Content}
Aeo is the name of the creator god, known as the one God. The people of different cultures worship & idolize different beings known as amos elementals. Many pray to the water goddess, among others, etc. There's a shrine to a seven-tailed fox.
A character follows the creator God & often prays to Him.
Different cultures have a variety of abilities. There's an element called Phoera that runs silver through the veins of some people and gives them control & manipulative elements over fire & invisibility, among other things.
Others can manipulate water, and are known as wavesingers.
A fox spirit has swirling green eyes with no pupils & can speak just like a human. We find later that he's a trai'yeth---a lesser elemental.
{Language // Alcohol & Drugs}
None, other than slang such as "bleeding stars", "what the tails," etc. "Bleeding" is used every now & then---similarly to the British slang "bloody."
Different plants are used for medicinal purposes: blissroot for pain, aloe vera for burns, and something known as fadeleaf as a sedative. Herbal medicines, teas, and poultices are present. As well as bottle of saké (an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin).
The predators known as d'hakkas are scary "tree-scorpion", spider-like creatures with a scorpion tale & heavily armored body. The tail uses one of two poisons: one rots the blood of their victims, and the other sedates them.
At least one person is obviously drunk in one scene that takes place in a restaurant.
{Romantic Content}
Ryon & Kira fall for each other, eventually. *^ - ^* But it's certainly a slow-burn thing, as she hates his guts for a GOOD portion of the entire story... xD Like any respectable young gentleman, Ryon resists (however difficult) taking his mind places it shouldn't go while in her presence a time or two. At one point, he offers to put the aloe gel on a burn on Kira's neck---this turns into an intimate, sweet scene, where nothing happens other than what was previously said. :]
They kiss a couple times (at least one time without her permission). Kira kisses him on the cheek at least once.
{Conclusion}
This was such an AMAZING, epic fantasy adventure and I SO TOTALLY NEED THE SEQUEL. That's all I can say in conclusion. ;D If you enjoy incredible, clean fantasy with amazing cultural world building, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book.
a hearty FIVE out of FIVE stars
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
This was the first novel I've read from the author, Jamie Foley (though her Sentinel series has been on my wishlist forever!). I thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic adventure in these pages. The story was so original & engaging, the characters lovable & fun, and the world building absolutely amazing! I enjoyed the feel of Asian culture mixed with Native American vibes.
I also ADORE loving sibling relationships and the fun banter that comes with them. Kira and her brothers were so fun to read about. And I loved, loved, LOVED the slow-burn romance that flickered to life between her and Ryon, the surefooted soldier of the Tribal Alliance.
{Violence}
The start of the story opens with the scene of Kira being chased by a massive trace cat. She's clearly running for dear life, but manages to catch it in the trap she had set. Her brother Lee comes to her rescue with his lasso and together they snap its neck. Lee goes to the body and finishes the job with a knife.
A young man is shot in the shoulder with an arrow. Fleeing from the shooter, he runs through the forest, jostling the arrow shaft painfully. In defense, a character grabs at the shaft, twisting it in the wound and causing him to black out. He wakes in a barn; eventually soldiers come to question him. One of the leaders resorts to torture, digging his thumb into the young man's wound.
A man uses a wooden hammer to knock out two soldiers in his escape.
A girl runs through the forest, trips down a hill and twists her ankle rather severely. She bleeds from a cut to her arm as well. Warned that blood draws the predators that stalk the woods...
Something known as the Sacrificial War ten years prior---it's implied there were human sacrifices (including children)...
A city falls under attack; many explosions level homes and businesses. Massive elevators in the city are sabotaged, injuring the masses of people crowding to escape. A man burns his hands badly in an attempt to keep from falling to his death.
An enemy has his neck snapped when he's lassoed and thrown head over heels, leaving him to dangle suspended.
Arrows shot at enemy; man incinerated by blast from a wyvern; young man killed (throat flayed open, blood everywhere).
An elemental attacks a couple people in a forest, torturing them. They writhe in pain. One girl is later burned by a handprint to her neck.
{Spiritual Content}
Aeo is the name of the creator god, known as the one God. The people of different cultures worship & idolize different beings known as amos elementals. Many pray to the water goddess, among others, etc. There's a shrine to a seven-tailed fox.
A character follows the creator God & often prays to Him.
Different cultures have a variety of abilities. There's an element called Phoera that runs silver through the veins of some people and gives them control & manipulative elements over fire & invisibility, among other things.
Others can manipulate water, and are known as wavesingers.
A fox spirit has swirling green eyes with no pupils & can speak just like a human. We find later that he's a trai'yeth---a lesser elemental.
{Language // Alcohol & Drugs}
None, other than slang such as "bleeding stars", "what the tails," etc. "Bleeding" is used every now & then---similarly to the British slang "bloody."
Different plants are used for medicinal purposes: blissroot for pain, aloe vera for burns, and something known as fadeleaf as a sedative. Herbal medicines, teas, and poultices are present. As well as bottle of saké (an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin).
The predators known as d'hakkas are scary "tree-scorpion", spider-like creatures with a scorpion tale & heavily armored body. The tail uses one of two poisons: one rots the blood of their victims, and the other sedates them.
At least one person is obviously drunk in one scene that takes place in a restaurant.
{Romantic Content}
Ryon & Kira fall for each other, eventually. *^ - ^* But it's certainly a slow-burn thing, as she hates his guts for a GOOD portion of the entire story... xD Like any respectable young gentleman, Ryon resists (however difficult) taking his mind places it shouldn't go while in her presence a time or two. At one point, he offers to put the aloe gel on a burn on Kira's neck---this turns into an intimate, sweet scene, where nothing happens other than what was previously said. :]
They kiss a couple times (at least one time without her permission). Kira kisses him on the cheek at least once.
{Conclusion}
This was such an AMAZING, epic fantasy adventure and I SO TOTALLY NEED THE SEQUEL. That's all I can say in conclusion. ;D If you enjoy incredible, clean fantasy with amazing cultural world building, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book.
a hearty FIVE out of FIVE stars
[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.]
October 15, 2020
Full review in its optimum format can be found on my blog, Cierra’s Cynosure, here.
Notice: I received an e-copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
When I was perusing Book Sirens back in August for a new read, I stumbled upon Emberhawk and was instantly intrigued. This book has every single one of my favorite tropes: adventure! Humans and animal connections! Legends! An antagonist that’s really ambiguous!
So naturally, I requested to give it a read. Unfortunately, I have to say that I enjoyed the elements of the book significantly more than the book as a whole, but let’s talk about the good first.
LIKES
Emberhawk is the first book in the Katrosi Revolution series. It is a story rich with culture that we readers get to experience as we follow the journey of our three main characters Kiralu, Ryon, and Princess Vylia. This first book focuses heavily on Kira and Ryon’s journey, whereas Princess Vylia’s importance is hinted at but is most likely being reserved for the next book.
I appreciated the challenge of complexity that this book takes on. The plotline and characters are both multifaceted and sometimes contradictory, as are real life and real people. The story begins and ends with a complicated situation that our characters are tasked to solve. It was enough to keep me questioning what came next.
Learning about the cultures of each tribe was an interesting experience and helped slowly piece together the world. In the end, it was still hard for me to truly picture what the world around our main characters looked like, but the intention of world-building through character experience was definitely present.
The creatures of this book are truly otherworldly and fascinating. Honestly, I think reading the descriptions of the Trace Cats and D’hakka Tree Scorpions and Elemental Gods was the best part of the book for me. In addition, the magic system that this world has is curious: I’m not sure I’ve experienced blood-bound, elemental magic executed in such a way before. The magic aids with both everyday life and is handy to get our characters out of sticky situations.
(What’s more is that not only do the humans and Gods have this magic, but the creatures did too! A giant Trace Cat that can bend light and become invisible while hunting? Scary stuff).
Overall, I appreciated the elements of Emberhawk. If you’re on the hunt for a book with diverse tribal cultures, snarky but sweet main characters, a brewing war, and elemental magic and gods, you might want to check it out.
DISLIKES
Unfortunately, with all of that being said, Emberhawk also fell short for me in many ways.
To begin, I found it extremely hard to keep track of the many Gods, Goddesses, and Elementals of this story, which is a critical piece of the puzzle as the legend of these deities is one of the largest driving forces of the story. We learned bits and pieces about each deity through character interactions, but the problem is that everyone had something new and different to say. Trying to keep track of what God is responsible for what element and according to who was unfortunately just plain confusing.
Because I struggled to understand such a critical driving force of the book, I felt largely disconnected from the entire why of the story. A war is brewing between the Gods? Okay, but why?
Similar to how I felt disconnected from the plot of the book, I also felt disconnected from most of the characters of the book. I struggled to mentally envision them, let alone care for what happens to them. The most I know about Kiralu after completing the entire book is that she has dark olive skin and unruly curly hair. The most I know about Ryon is that he has bright orange eyes and white hair. I couldn’t tell you a thing about Princess Vylia’s appearance.
In all, the major elements that are supposed to immerse you in the world as a reader fell short for me. I couldn’t properly envision the world around our characters nor the characters themselves. I felt disconnected from the point of the major war that is commencing, and I felt confused by the tales of the higher powers that were supposedly causing the war.
…But at least the book had cool magic and creatures, right?
Notice: I received an e-copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
When I was perusing Book Sirens back in August for a new read, I stumbled upon Emberhawk and was instantly intrigued. This book has every single one of my favorite tropes: adventure! Humans and animal connections! Legends! An antagonist that’s really ambiguous!
So naturally, I requested to give it a read. Unfortunately, I have to say that I enjoyed the elements of the book significantly more than the book as a whole, but let’s talk about the good first.
LIKES
Emberhawk is the first book in the Katrosi Revolution series. It is a story rich with culture that we readers get to experience as we follow the journey of our three main characters Kiralu, Ryon, and Princess Vylia. This first book focuses heavily on Kira and Ryon’s journey, whereas Princess Vylia’s importance is hinted at but is most likely being reserved for the next book.
I appreciated the challenge of complexity that this book takes on. The plotline and characters are both multifaceted and sometimes contradictory, as are real life and real people. The story begins and ends with a complicated situation that our characters are tasked to solve. It was enough to keep me questioning what came next.
Learning about the cultures of each tribe was an interesting experience and helped slowly piece together the world. In the end, it was still hard for me to truly picture what the world around our main characters looked like, but the intention of world-building through character experience was definitely present.
The creatures of this book are truly otherworldly and fascinating. Honestly, I think reading the descriptions of the Trace Cats and D’hakka Tree Scorpions and Elemental Gods was the best part of the book for me. In addition, the magic system that this world has is curious: I’m not sure I’ve experienced blood-bound, elemental magic executed in such a way before. The magic aids with both everyday life and is handy to get our characters out of sticky situations.
(What’s more is that not only do the humans and Gods have this magic, but the creatures did too! A giant Trace Cat that can bend light and become invisible while hunting? Scary stuff).
Overall, I appreciated the elements of Emberhawk. If you’re on the hunt for a book with diverse tribal cultures, snarky but sweet main characters, a brewing war, and elemental magic and gods, you might want to check it out.
DISLIKES
Unfortunately, with all of that being said, Emberhawk also fell short for me in many ways.
To begin, I found it extremely hard to keep track of the many Gods, Goddesses, and Elementals of this story, which is a critical piece of the puzzle as the legend of these deities is one of the largest driving forces of the story. We learned bits and pieces about each deity through character interactions, but the problem is that everyone had something new and different to say. Trying to keep track of what God is responsible for what element and according to who was unfortunately just plain confusing.
Because I struggled to understand such a critical driving force of the book, I felt largely disconnected from the entire why of the story. A war is brewing between the Gods? Okay, but why?
Similar to how I felt disconnected from the plot of the book, I also felt disconnected from most of the characters of the book. I struggled to mentally envision them, let alone care for what happens to them. The most I know about Kiralu after completing the entire book is that she has dark olive skin and unruly curly hair. The most I know about Ryon is that he has bright orange eyes and white hair. I couldn’t tell you a thing about Princess Vylia’s appearance.
In all, the major elements that are supposed to immerse you in the world as a reader fell short for me. I couldn’t properly envision the world around our characters nor the characters themselves. I felt disconnected from the point of the major war that is commencing, and I felt confused by the tales of the higher powers that were supposedly causing the war.
…But at least the book had cool magic and creatures, right?
April 14, 2020
The cover of this book was one of the first things that made me want to read this book. The description was pretty interesting. I really liked that the author included maps and a glossary of the ancient terms for this story. I really liked Kira and Ryon and how they bantered throughout the story. I'm curious about their future together. I'm also curious as to the fate of the princess. I found the idea of people controlling elements pretty cool. I'm pretty interested in seeing where this series goes. I'm looking forward to reading the next book to find out!
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
I was given a complimentary copy of this ebook from the author, but was not required to write a review. The thoughts and comments are my own.
March 25, 2020
While I may not be part of the YA set, I certainly enjoyed this story. If you're ready for adventure, it doesn't take long to be swept up into it with this book.
First, I liked the dynamics of Kira and her family. They didn't seem forced, really like a normal family. We meet them all, for the most part, at the beginning of the story. It literally starts off with high energy and goes that way throughout the entire story!
Next we meet Ryon who is actually up to no good. He's caught nabbing a chicken from Kira's family who is barely surviving on what little they have. How he's captured shows us Kira's skill. When Ryon escapes, Kira sees it as her duty to bring him back. Things don't go so well, even with Kira's skills as a trapper.
Lastly we meet the 3rd main character, Vylia, a princess. I wasn't sure how her life would intersect with Ryon or Kira's, but it becomes clear as she makes her way to see the Jade Witch aka the chieftess. Her storyline isn't as big as theirs, but it plays a vital role.
I find the world they live in fascinating. There are freaky things in the trees and trace cats on the ground. While some of it sounds lush where Kira lives they've been dealing with years of drought. The creatures and people they come into contact with pull the storyline together to help the reader understand how the world is tied together and split apart.
While Ryon and Kira don't feel like they can trust each other, it doesn't seem like they can trust anyone they come in contact with either. There's an underlying tension between the different tribes. They all seem to be on edge, waiting to see if peace will prevail or war will break out again. I'll tell you what, some of the bad characters ooze evil. Of course, you can't always know who the bad guy is!
The story culminates with an incredible journey and a battle that leaves everyone touched by pain.
I think teens and young adults will be drawn in by the fantasy world that the author has created. Like me, they'll also be looking forward to the next book!
*I received this book from JustRead Tours to facilitate this review. I was asked for my honest opinion to share with others.
First, I liked the dynamics of Kira and her family. They didn't seem forced, really like a normal family. We meet them all, for the most part, at the beginning of the story. It literally starts off with high energy and goes that way throughout the entire story!
Next we meet Ryon who is actually up to no good. He's caught nabbing a chicken from Kira's family who is barely surviving on what little they have. How he's captured shows us Kira's skill. When Ryon escapes, Kira sees it as her duty to bring him back. Things don't go so well, even with Kira's skills as a trapper.
Lastly we meet the 3rd main character, Vylia, a princess. I wasn't sure how her life would intersect with Ryon or Kira's, but it becomes clear as she makes her way to see the Jade Witch aka the chieftess. Her storyline isn't as big as theirs, but it plays a vital role.
I find the world they live in fascinating. There are freaky things in the trees and trace cats on the ground. While some of it sounds lush where Kira lives they've been dealing with years of drought. The creatures and people they come into contact with pull the storyline together to help the reader understand how the world is tied together and split apart.
While Ryon and Kira don't feel like they can trust each other, it doesn't seem like they can trust anyone they come in contact with either. There's an underlying tension between the different tribes. They all seem to be on edge, waiting to see if peace will prevail or war will break out again. I'll tell you what, some of the bad characters ooze evil. Of course, you can't always know who the bad guy is!
The story culminates with an incredible journey and a battle that leaves everyone touched by pain.
I think teens and young adults will be drawn in by the fantasy world that the author has created. Like me, they'll also be looking forward to the next book!
*I received this book from JustRead Tours to facilitate this review. I was asked for my honest opinion to share with others.
April 22, 2020
I received a free copy of this book for review. I do not have to leave a positive review.
The world was really cool! It was so unique and it was described in a cool way. The world building was very complex. It was a little too complex for my taste, but I also tend to not read very complex fantasy. The characters in this book were great! I loved the way that they interacted with each other. It felt very lifelike.
This cover is absolutely stunning! I think it is one of the best covers that I have seen this year! And her next book, Silverblood has a beautiful cover too!
Overall I enjoyed this book! I gave it 3 out of five stars.
The world was really cool! It was so unique and it was described in a cool way. The world building was very complex. It was a little too complex for my taste, but I also tend to not read very complex fantasy. The characters in this book were great! I loved the way that they interacted with each other. It felt very lifelike.
This cover is absolutely stunning! I think it is one of the best covers that I have seen this year! And her next book, Silverblood has a beautiful cover too!
Overall I enjoyed this book! I gave it 3 out of five stars.
March 26, 2020
The book and the summary seemed really interesting, but upon finishing it ended up being a let-down for me.
The author has a lot of interesting ideas. A lot of them that are unfortunately not very... well formed and or grounded.
- The plot is very confusing. You don't get a good grasp of the layout of how the world and its magic system work with one another. The only way you pick up on it is if the character decides to mention it while they're talking about it and if it is important to the plot.. Which is strange because I spent more than half of the book not understanding a certain power that a person could do but I couldn't learn about it until it was mentioned to one o of the characters? It was weird.
- The tone is equally confusing. You know how books seem to take place in a certain time period and or a certain 'land'? This one seemed like a mishmatch of Japanese/Western/Modern/fantasy. I just couldn't vibe with it. The way the characters spoke to one another was way, way too modern.
- Characters: The characters were probably the best bit about the story, but some of their backstories were confusing and or not well developed and or didn't go anywhere.
- Overall? I'm a visual learner and I like to picture things in my head. If I can't picture the layout or the land in my head, then, we have an issue.
It was an interesting read an it did keep my attention, it just wasn't a book for me and I would not be continuing the series (if it will be?) further.
The author has a lot of interesting ideas. A lot of them that are unfortunately not very... well formed and or grounded.
- The plot is very confusing. You don't get a good grasp of the layout of how the world and its magic system work with one another. The only way you pick up on it is if the character decides to mention it while they're talking about it and if it is important to the plot.. Which is strange because I spent more than half of the book not understanding a certain power that a person could do but I couldn't learn about it until it was mentioned to one o of the characters? It was weird.
- The tone is equally confusing. You know how books seem to take place in a certain time period and or a certain 'land'? This one seemed like a mishmatch of Japanese/Western/Modern/fantasy. I just couldn't vibe with it. The way the characters spoke to one another was way, way too modern.
- Characters: The characters were probably the best bit about the story, but some of their backstories were confusing and or not well developed and or didn't go anywhere.
- Overall? I'm a visual learner and I like to picture things in my head. If I can't picture the layout or the land in my head, then, we have an issue.
It was an interesting read an it did keep my attention, it just wasn't a book for me and I would not be continuing the series (if it will be?) further.
April 9, 2020
Emberhawk immerses readers in a vivid world full of intrigue and wonder from the very beginning—aka, the absolutely beautiful cover. The intricate yet seamlessly woven storyworld inspired grins and gasps of both delight and horror as I eagerly turned each page.
Instead of dumping Ryon’s tangled past into the reader’s lap all at once, the author slowly revealed it bit by bit and I eagerly awaited each new clue that would help me unravel his past. Ryon and Kira’s often volatile relationship, from their very rocky start to the promising bud of happily-ever-after, kept me grinning in delight. Despite the fact they didn’t have much screen time, Kira’s playful and sensible brothers are favorites of mine—especially when all three siblings are teasing each other.
Emberhawk’s story was just as delightful as its cover suggested. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantastical worlds and cultures and I am eagerly anticipating the next book which will hopefully dive even deeper into the different peoples and their diverse cultures.
I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program and also received an ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
This review is also featured on Faithfullybookish.com
Instead of dumping Ryon’s tangled past into the reader’s lap all at once, the author slowly revealed it bit by bit and I eagerly awaited each new clue that would help me unravel his past. Ryon and Kira’s often volatile relationship, from their very rocky start to the promising bud of happily-ever-after, kept me grinning in delight. Despite the fact they didn’t have much screen time, Kira’s playful and sensible brothers are favorites of mine—especially when all three siblings are teasing each other.
Emberhawk’s story was just as delightful as its cover suggested. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fantastical worlds and cultures and I am eagerly anticipating the next book which will hopefully dive even deeper into the different peoples and their diverse cultures.
I borrowed this book through the Kindle Unlimited program and also received an ARC of this book. I was under no obligation to post a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
This review is also featured on Faithfullybookish.com
March 25, 2020
I can't say how much I enjoyed this book except that I didn't put it down until 3 in the morning.
A great adventure into the unknown. Sort of like Frozen 2.
With awesome characters and a fearsome plot I was immediately drawn into this story.
With faith, culture and various other things that are going on in this beautiful and magical world you won't want to say goodbye to these amazing characters.
The way this author writes ya'll is just amazing! I love how she describes the most beautiful sceneries and can make you imagine yourself in the book living among the characters. A fascinating experience for sure! Book 2 please????
I loved Kira. She's one of the most amazing person that I've ever met. She's witty and can hold her own against other people especially Ryon.
Ryon is ok. Not exactly my favorite just because of his snarkiness at times. Also, he's hiding a big secret and if word gets out there could be big trouble.
I really recommend this book because I believe that you'll enjoy the book as much as I did.
My thanks to JustReads Tours for a complimentary copy of this beautiful book. I was NOT required to write a posititive review. All opinions are my own.
A great adventure into the unknown. Sort of like Frozen 2.
With awesome characters and a fearsome plot I was immediately drawn into this story.
With faith, culture and various other things that are going on in this beautiful and magical world you won't want to say goodbye to these amazing characters.
The way this author writes ya'll is just amazing! I love how she describes the most beautiful sceneries and can make you imagine yourself in the book living among the characters. A fascinating experience for sure! Book 2 please????
I loved Kira. She's one of the most amazing person that I've ever met. She's witty and can hold her own against other people especially Ryon.
Ryon is ok. Not exactly my favorite just because of his snarkiness at times. Also, he's hiding a big secret and if word gets out there could be big trouble.
I really recommend this book because I believe that you'll enjoy the book as much as I did.
My thanks to JustReads Tours for a complimentary copy of this beautiful book. I was NOT required to write a posititive review. All opinions are my own.
November 13, 2021
So this was soooooo cool and unique!! I have never read anything by this author before, and I was very pleased with Emberhawk.
The characters were well written, and the POV characters very likable. I particularly thought Lysander had a neat arc (or maybe I just like saying his name, haha). But the storyworld, now...that was really cool! I love how fantasy is reaching out and encompassing other "feels" instead of the "medieval world feel" if you know what I mean (though I do love a good ol' medieval-type fantasy story).
My main thought is that PRINCESS didn't have much in the story. I suppose that'll change in the second book? But I feel like her POV chapters could have been taken out and things wouldn't have changed much.
Overall, I loved the book - devoured it in one day, actually.
Romance - there is romance, but it's handled quite well. Gotta love those "hate to love" relationships.
Magic - there is magic, maybe a tad more than I prefer. What with an elemental fox pulling "power" from certain people. But it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
I'd definitely recommend!! And I can't wait for the next one!!
The characters were well written, and the POV characters very likable. I particularly thought Lysander had a neat arc (or maybe I just like saying his name, haha). But the storyworld, now...that was really cool! I love how fantasy is reaching out and encompassing other "feels" instead of the "medieval world feel" if you know what I mean (though I do love a good ol' medieval-type fantasy story).
My main thought is that PRINCESS didn't have much in the story. I suppose that'll change in the second book? But I feel like her POV chapters could have been taken out and things wouldn't have changed much.
Overall, I loved the book - devoured it in one day, actually.
Romance - there is romance, but it's handled quite well. Gotta love those "hate to love" relationships.
Magic - there is magic, maybe a tad more than I prefer. What with an elemental fox pulling "power" from certain people. But it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.
I'd definitely recommend!! And I can't wait for the next one!!
May 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this fantasy novel. It had all the makings of a great series.
The characters were my favorite part of this story. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves and each other. They are able to work past the old prejudices of their people and see for the first time.
I really liked the worldbuilding. It was a complex world and that was explained throughout the book. There were no 'textbook' history parts. Everything was shown, not explained.
I can't wait for book two, Silver Blood, coming next year. (Don't worry, the cover is just as fantastic as Emberhawk.)
Rating: 5/5
Crude Language: N/A
Romance: Ryon protects Kira from some other men, a kiss
Spiritual: The main characters have different belief systems and talk over them.
Violence: someone gets shot with an arrow, the injuries are mentioned, dressing wounds, being chased by a large animal
*I received a copy of this novel from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
The characters were my favorite part of this story. Along the way, they learn a lot about themselves and each other. They are able to work past the old prejudices of their people and see for the first time.
I really liked the worldbuilding. It was a complex world and that was explained throughout the book. There were no 'textbook' history parts. Everything was shown, not explained.
I can't wait for book two, Silver Blood, coming next year. (Don't worry, the cover is just as fantastic as Emberhawk.)
Rating: 5/5
Crude Language: N/A
Romance: Ryon protects Kira from some other men, a kiss
Spiritual: The main characters have different belief systems and talk over them.
Violence: someone gets shot with an arrow, the injuries are mentioned, dressing wounds, being chased by a large animal
*I received a copy of this novel from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.
March 20, 2020
3/5
Bookstagram
**Thank you to the author and Fayette Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a hard one for me to rate. I even had to sit for a few days and stew on it. I mean there were many parts that I absolutely loved about this book...and there were many parts that I absolutely hated. There was no middle ground for me...no grey area. There was just black and white. Which is very unusual for me. So it makes it difficult to write this review! UGH the problems of a book worm.
This book was definitely action packed with a sort of badass - or wannabe - female character. I loved how the book flowed through the action flawlessly and how it had me at the grip of my seat.
The Loves:
1. The action
This book truly was action packed from the very first page. Which, for me, makes it easy to delve into. I am not one for beating around the bush or taking forever to get to the main point of the book. I like my action at the forefront.
2. The magic system
The magic in this book is unique and original...which for a YA fantasy book is hard to come by now of days. Most magic system in books are based off an already pre-existing magic system in another book. Actually most YA books feel the same in this category. Jamie Foley definitely does an amazing job at creating a unique magic system. I mean who doesn't love the idea of elemental gods!
3. The main character actually has both sets of parents!
I don't know about you, but I am getting so sick of YA Fantasy books killing off one parent, or both at the very beginning of the story. It's literally one of the most annoying tropes out there to me. So this was a huge win for me. Even if the parents only got a full 5 pages (or less) of actually being in the story.
So yup, there you go my positives that I have for this book. These were really big things for me and I was super excited about the both parents thing - I know it's weird to like that but seriously...sick of the whole "my dad died because of this" or "i lost both my parents when I was younger" trope that has plagued the YA Fantasy world for a LONG ass time.
The cons that in the end decided my rating:
1. I hated the characters
Yup, every single one. I mean Ryon was okay but oh my f*cking god Kira was an annoying little b*tch. Literally this girl did nothing but complain the whole time crying "poor me" "poor me". Or even better yet how many times from literally page 5 to page 200 I counted her saying "I'm going to kill you" "look at me weird I am going to kill you" "why aren't you looking at me" "don't touch me". This girl drove me insane and I hated her. The only redeeming quality Kira had was that she didn't have special snow-flake syndrome
As for Ryon...there was really nothing special about him. He was a very weird character. Almost morally grey. He wasn't your typical YA Fantasy male - brooding, sad past, bad guy on the outside. No he just existed, which made me dislike him more.
Vylia's POV was pointless. The girl had three chapter's to herself and they did nothing for the plot. Yes, it was convenient for what was going on. Almost like a loop hole to have her in there to get more background. Other than that she truly was a useless character.
2. The lack of world building
So there is not much, if any, world building in this book. We aren't even given a background story or hints of one at all. All you know is that Empire is hated (who would have thunk), there might be a rebellion (lovely), and that there are islands. I mean there really was not much and I am really disappointed in it because I think this could have so much potential.
3. F*cking Insta-Love
...It literally happened 10 pages into the book...I am not even joking. I wish I was. I don't know what to say besides HELL NO and WHAT WERE YOU THINKING AUTHOR!
4. Too much action
You probably are thinking "Kat you are such a hypocrite, you just said you liked the action." Absolutely I did...but there is also a thing as too much action. From page one until the end it was just action. No wonder the author couldn't put much into the world building. If you took out all the action you would probably be left with 100 pages or less.
For a YA fantasy book - it wasn't bad. However, it did fall into the traps that other YA novels tend to fall into. Not enough plot build, world build is non-existent, character issues, insta-love and so forth. I think this book definitely has potential to grow and become more. So hopefully the next book will build off of this book, but do better when it comes to the YA tropes and pitfalls we all dislike.
Bookstagram
**Thank you to the author and Fayette Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a hard one for me to rate. I even had to sit for a few days and stew on it. I mean there were many parts that I absolutely loved about this book...and there were many parts that I absolutely hated. There was no middle ground for me...no grey area. There was just black and white. Which is very unusual for me. So it makes it difficult to write this review! UGH the problems of a book worm.
This book was definitely action packed with a sort of badass - or wannabe - female character. I loved how the book flowed through the action flawlessly and how it had me at the grip of my seat.
The Loves:
1. The action
This book truly was action packed from the very first page. Which, for me, makes it easy to delve into. I am not one for beating around the bush or taking forever to get to the main point of the book. I like my action at the forefront.
2. The magic system
The magic in this book is unique and original...which for a YA fantasy book is hard to come by now of days. Most magic system in books are based off an already pre-existing magic system in another book. Actually most YA books feel the same in this category. Jamie Foley definitely does an amazing job at creating a unique magic system. I mean who doesn't love the idea of elemental gods!
3. The main character actually has both sets of parents!
I don't know about you, but I am getting so sick of YA Fantasy books killing off one parent, or both at the very beginning of the story. It's literally one of the most annoying tropes out there to me. So this was a huge win for me. Even if the parents only got a full 5 pages (or less) of actually being in the story.
So yup, there you go my positives that I have for this book. These were really big things for me and I was super excited about the both parents thing - I know it's weird to like that but seriously...sick of the whole "my dad died because of this" or "i lost both my parents when I was younger" trope that has plagued the YA Fantasy world for a LONG ass time.
The cons that in the end decided my rating:
1. I hated the characters
Yup, every single one. I mean Ryon was okay but oh my f*cking god Kira was an annoying little b*tch. Literally this girl did nothing but complain the whole time crying "poor me" "poor me". Or even better yet how many times from literally page 5 to page 200 I counted her saying "I'm going to kill you" "look at me weird I am going to kill you" "why aren't you looking at me" "don't touch me". This girl drove me insane and I hated her. The only redeeming quality Kira had was that she didn't have special snow-flake syndrome
As for Ryon...there was really nothing special about him. He was a very weird character. Almost morally grey. He wasn't your typical YA Fantasy male - brooding, sad past, bad guy on the outside. No he just existed, which made me dislike him more.
Vylia's POV was pointless. The girl had three chapter's to herself and they did nothing for the plot. Yes, it was convenient for what was going on. Almost like a loop hole to have her in there to get more background. Other than that she truly was a useless character.
2. The lack of world building
So there is not much, if any, world building in this book. We aren't even given a background story or hints of one at all. All you know is that Empire is hated (who would have thunk), there might be a rebellion (lovely), and that there are islands. I mean there really was not much and I am really disappointed in it because I think this could have so much potential.
3. F*cking Insta-Love
...It literally happened 10 pages into the book...I am not even joking. I wish I was. I don't know what to say besides HELL NO and WHAT WERE YOU THINKING AUTHOR!
4. Too much action
You probably are thinking "Kat you are such a hypocrite, you just said you liked the action." Absolutely I did...but there is also a thing as too much action. From page one until the end it was just action. No wonder the author couldn't put much into the world building. If you took out all the action you would probably be left with 100 pages or less.
For a YA fantasy book - it wasn't bad. However, it did fall into the traps that other YA novels tend to fall into. Not enough plot build, world build is non-existent, character issues, insta-love and so forth. I think this book definitely has potential to grow and become more. So hopefully the next book will build off of this book, but do better when it comes to the YA tropes and pitfalls we all dislike.
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