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gemstonejasper's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was so excited to get back to the world of Nickie and Seth. They are so sweet and precious and must be protected at all costs. I love the underlying theme this series seems to have of comparing and contrasting Nick's ADHD with the powers of the Extraordinaries. In this book, I think it was even more prominent. Showing Nick's ADHD struggles side by side with Seth's Extraordinary struggles, as well as the strengths of both was very nice. I said this in my review of the first book and I'll say it again. I have ADHD and Nick is one of the best representations of ADHD, at least in the way I experience it, that I've read. So much of his struggles I can relate to, not just with his ADHD, but in many ways.
I loved how this book also tackled a lot of different themes very well. There are multiple times throughout the book where Nick's dad or another adult comments on how the main characters are still children. This is understandable considering that they are still minors. But it also works in the idea that adults aren't always right. Nick's dad, especially, is a flawed character. Nick is faced with this reality. How can this sweet, loving father whom he loves more than anything be the same person who did these other horrible things? I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the next one.
I also just want to give some credit to Michael Lesley, the man who read the audiobooks for this series. He is a master narrator. I can't imagine the story being read any other way and I truly believe that he adds something to the story that isn't there in the plain text. I don't have the words to describe how well he does in these books.
I literally had to stop the audiobook in the first chapter because oh my goodness. I burst out laughing when Nick's porn was connected to the Bluetooth of his dad's car. I had to take several minutes to recover before I could continue.
There is one content warning that isn't listed:
There is no suicide attempt, but at one point a character does jump off the roof of a building for a different reason. Do with that as you will.
I loved how this book also tackled a lot of different themes very well. There are multiple times throughout the book where Nick's dad or another adult comments on how the main characters are still children. This is understandable considering that they are still minors. But it also works in the idea that adults aren't always right. Nick's dad, especially, is a flawed character. Nick is faced with this reality. How can this sweet, loving father whom he loves more than anything be the same person who did these other horrible things? I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the next one.
I also just want to give some credit to Michael Lesley, the man who read the audiobooks for this series. He is a master narrator. I can't imagine the story being read any other way and I truly believe that he adds something to the story that isn't there in the plain text. I don't have the words to describe how well he does in these books.
There is one content warning that isn't listed:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Police brutality, Violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Confinement, and Child abuse
fkshg8465's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
This one was significantly better than the first book in the series. It was funnier, and it was entertaining, written partly like X-Men and partly as an overt allegory for today’s fight between the red and blue states. And it has a great cliffhanger! Really excited to read the third.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Abandonment, Biphobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
sealbrecht's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
foreverinastory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.0
Reading a book like this when you also have ADHD is like snorting caffeine and running several miles but still having energy at the end of that.
Flash Fire is the sequel to The Extraordinaries and picks up right after the end. Nicky is back with his friends and trying to figure out how to navigate daily life. It doesn't help that people seem to be turning against Pyrostorm. Nicky just wants to be with his boyfriend and enjoy being a superhero sidekick when new information comes to light about Nicky's ADHD medication.
One of the big criticisms of book 1 that I've seen around was how pro-cop it was. I think Klune did listen to the what people have said and took steps to try and fix those mistakes. Nicky's father has to face a lot of accountability from Gibby's parents and Nick. His actions were questionable and he has to make up for his mistakes. I liked that we saw growth from Aaron and from how Nicky saw him. Nick is pretty naive and oblivious at times, so it was really good to see that his dad is a person who also makes mistakes and has to make up for them.
This book was pretty hilarious. There's something about how ridiculous Nicky is and the rest of his friends that makes for some of the funniest scenes ever. Also the way his dad is constantly trying to embarrass him is the best. The secondhand embarrassment is real folks.
While we find out in book 1 that Nicky is also an extraordinary, we get to see him try to figure out his telekinesis in this book. We also see his friends rally around him and Seth. Seth is so precious. I really love this soft boi and his arc about how being a superhero is really exhausting was so good. Like I am tired for this boy.
Two new side characters are introduced in this book as well. Miss Conduct and TK. Both of them are extraordinaries. Miss Conduct is probably my favorite Extraordinary to exist. Not only is her name the best pun/double entendre ever. I loved her so much. Yes she is a drag queen.
Overall, I had a ton of fun with this sequel and the stakes were definitely raised for me.
Rep: white gay male MC with anxiety and ADHD, white bisexual male love interest, white sapphic female side character, Black lesbian female side character, Black drag queen side character.
CWs: Ableism, blood, death, injury/injury detail, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks, discussions of sexual content (no on page sex scenes but lots of talk about it and there are many details--very sex positive and safe sex educative), violence. Moderate: Death of parent, gun violence, discussions of police brutality and racism (on page), fire. Minor: cissexism.
Flash Fire is the sequel to The Extraordinaries and picks up right after the end. Nicky is back with his friends and trying to figure out how to navigate daily life. It doesn't help that people seem to be turning against Pyrostorm. Nicky just wants to be with his boyfriend and enjoy being a superhero sidekick when new information comes to light about Nicky's ADHD medication.
One of the big criticisms of book 1 that I've seen around was how pro-cop it was. I think Klune did listen to the what people have said and took steps to try and fix those mistakes. Nicky's father has to face a lot of accountability from Gibby's parents and Nick. His actions were questionable and he has to make up for his mistakes. I liked that we saw growth from Aaron and from how Nicky saw him. Nick is pretty naive and oblivious at times, so it was really good to see that his dad is a person who also makes mistakes and has to make up for them.
This book was pretty hilarious. There's something about how ridiculous Nicky is and the rest of his friends that makes for some of the funniest scenes ever. Also the way his dad is constantly trying to embarrass him is the best. The secondhand embarrassment is real folks.
While we find out in book 1 that Nicky is also an extraordinary, we get to see him try to figure out his telekinesis in this book. We also see his friends rally around him and Seth. Seth is so precious. I really love this soft boi and his arc about how being a superhero is really exhausting was so good. Like I am tired for this boy.
Two new side characters are introduced in this book as well. Miss Conduct and TK. Both of them are extraordinaries. Miss Conduct is probably my favorite Extraordinary to exist. Not only is her name the best pun/double entendre ever. I loved her so much. Yes she is a drag queen.
Overall, I had a ton of fun with this sequel and the stakes were definitely raised for me.
Rep: white gay male MC with anxiety and ADHD, white bisexual male love interest, white sapphic female side character, Black lesbian female side character, Black drag queen side character.
CWs: Ableism, blood, death, injury/injury detail, mental illness (anxiety), panic attacks, discussions of sexual content (no on page sex scenes but lots of talk about it and there are many details--very sex positive and safe sex educative), violence. Moderate: Death of parent, gun violence, discussions of police brutality and racism (on page), fire. Minor: cissexism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Sexual content, Blood, Death, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality, Racism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Gun violence
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