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4.31 AVERAGE
4.31 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
UM EXCUSE ME, WHAT?! This book did NOTTT miss and I loved every second. The emotional torture and whiplash?! I’d like to order 27 more pls (is that toxic? idc).
The will they/won’t they with Wren and Torj was scrumptious. Some people get annoyed by that, but I LIVEEEE for the yearning! Give me stolen glances! Give me “I hate you but I love you” ALL. DAY. LONG! I loveee a dual POV bc there’s nothing better than reading about a man down bad for his woman. Oh, and the fake married so they can go undercover at a party trope? FEED IT TO ME!!
The found family aspect continued, something Helen does so remarkably well, and it’s always so lovely to see the Thezmarr crew back together. Kipp was Kipping and we got some great cameos from Thea, Wilder, Cal, Farissa, Audra, and most importantly, Pancake. It feels like you’re seeing your best friends again after some time apart and I relished in it.
ALSO THAT ENDING?!?! I WAS AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, LIKE WHAT?!?! I will be recovering for the foreseeable future. Overall: an excellent continuation in The Ashes of Thezmarr series and I canNOT wait for the final book!
The will they/won’t they with Wren and Torj was scrumptious. Some people get annoyed by that, but I LIVEEEE for the yearning! Give me stolen glances! Give me “I hate you but I love you” ALL. DAY. LONG! I loveee a dual POV bc there’s nothing better than reading about a man down bad for his woman. Oh, and the fake married so they can go undercover at a party trope? FEED IT TO ME!!
The found family aspect continued, something Helen does so remarkably well, and it’s always so lovely to see the Thezmarr crew back together. Kipp was Kipping and we got some great cameos from Thea, Wilder, Cal, Farissa, Audra, and most importantly, Pancake. It feels like you’re seeing your best friends again after some time apart and I relished in it.
ALSO THAT ENDING?!?! I WAS AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT, LIKE WHAT?!?! I will be recovering for the foreseeable future. Overall: an excellent continuation in The Ashes of Thezmarr series and I canNOT wait for the final book!
challenging
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
That was an emotional roller coaster! Holy cow!
Helen does such an amazing job of catching you back up on what’s been going on previously without a massive info dump.
I was really nervous during this book when it came to certain characters. One I had reservations with in the first book and the other I ended up liking by the end of Iron & Embers. When certain things played out during Thorns & Fire, I was questioning everything I thought I knew to be true.
That ending though. Helen! My therapist will be in contact 😅
Helen does such an amazing job of catching you back up on what’s been going on previously without a massive info dump.
I was really nervous during this book when it came to certain characters. One I had reservations with in the first book and the other I ended up liking by the end of Iron & Embers. When certain things played out during Thorns & Fire, I was questioning everything I thought I knew to be true.
That ending though. Helen! My therapist will be in contact 😅
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The sequel to Iron & Embers picks up where we left off at the end of book 1, bringing our MCs back together and exploring their bond.
Thorns & Fire is a slower installment compared to its predecessor as the relationship between Wren and Torj takes precedence over plot.
I have very conflicting feelings about this book. I did enjoy it overall and was happy to get back to the world and the characters, but this is a clear case of middle book syndrome for me. The slower, uneven pace combined with little plot advancement brought the rating down for me.
I do think the author has nailed the tension element between the love interests. Every single interaction between Wren and Torj was so electric I felt like I was intruding on them. While they do behave like idiots in love you want to lock in a room until they figure their stuff out, and while the miscommunication did feel a bit drawn out, the tension between them keeps the reader on the edge of their seat despite a few repeat beats from book 1.
The third act of this book is where things start to get really interesting and is the only moment of true plot advancement. By contrast, the story leading up to that point suffers from a pacing that struggles to keep the reader fully engaged, in my opinion.
The cast of secondary characters continues to provide moments of much needed levity in an otherwise dark world.
Overall, a sequel that lacks the gripping quality of the first book but has kept me invested enough to be curious about the conclusion of the story.
Thorns & Fire is a slower installment compared to its predecessor as the relationship between Wren and Torj takes precedence over plot.
I have very conflicting feelings about this book. I did enjoy it overall and was happy to get back to the world and the characters, but this is a clear case of middle book syndrome for me. The slower, uneven pace combined with little plot advancement brought the rating down for me.
I do think the author has nailed the tension element between the love interests. Every single interaction between Wren and Torj was so electric I felt like I was intruding on them. While they do behave like idiots in love you want to lock in a room until they figure their stuff out, and while the miscommunication did feel a bit drawn out, the tension between them keeps the reader on the edge of their seat despite a few repeat beats from book 1.
The third act of this book is where things start to get really interesting and is the only moment of true plot advancement. By contrast, the story leading up to that point suffers from a pacing that struggles to keep the reader fully engaged, in my opinion.
The cast of secondary characters continues to provide moments of much needed levity in an otherwise dark world.
Overall, a sequel that lacks the gripping quality of the first book but has kept me invested enough to be curious about the conclusion of the story.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Did the ending surprise me? No. Did I still love this? Vehemently yes!
We got a lot of side characters in this and I loved that (Kipp is a fan favorite, but certainly hoping for more Cal as well). I especially loved that we got more Thea, not only because Wren needed her, but just like in LoT, when the sisters are together it makes the story richer.
Torj and Wren are such a passionate duo 🤭 Both in their love and their loathing. Torj being a simp is no change, but the bath prep 🥰🥰 I think had us all falling for him.
This book felt like there was less fantasy elements in it than the previous book and LoT series. It focused more on the romance elements, just in a fantasy world. I hope the next book has more balance with that as I love Helen’s writing and how she makes the Midrealms come alive.
We got a lot of side characters in this and I loved that (Kipp is a fan favorite, but certainly hoping for more Cal as well). I especially loved that we got more Thea, not only because Wren needed her, but just like in LoT, when the sisters are together it makes the story richer.
Torj and Wren are such a passionate duo 🤭 Both in their love and their loathing. Torj being a simp is no change, but the bath prep 🥰🥰 I think had us all falling for him.
This book felt like there was less fantasy elements in it than the previous book and LoT series. It focused more on the romance elements, just in a fantasy world. I hope the next book has more balance with that as I love Helen’s writing and how she makes the Midrealms come alive.
