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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
modernmatilda's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
5.0
*SCREAMS FOREVERRRRRRR*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Homophobia, Violence, Police brutality, and Death of parent
ridesthesun's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Damnnnnnnn that ending tho ππππ
Ok these beans are the MOST endearing. I admit I skimmed a lot of the action stuff, but the character work in this book is so so good. Love these beans so muchπ₯Ίπ₯Ίπ₯Ί
Ok these beans are the MOST endearing. I admit I skimmed a lot of the action stuff, but the character work in this book is so so good. Love these beans so muchπ₯Ίπ₯Ίπ₯Ί
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Gun violence
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
sunsetcity's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Racism, and Violence
melaniereadsbooks's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for an arc of this book.
After the events of The Extraordinaries, Nick is all about Team Pyro-Storm and making sure he is the best boyfriend he can be. But other complications get in the way--and no, I'm not just talking about his dad's "helpful" sex advice.
I'm disappointed to say I didn't enjoy this sequel nearly as much as the first book. There were a lot of things about this book that Klune got right, and I appreciate the direction he was trying to go in regards to policing and accountability. I really enjoyed the plot, and I still really enjoy Nicky as a main character.
Where I think this book went wrong for me was all of the characters other than Nick. In the first book, Nick's random thoughts and humor are super funny, and they are well-balanced because all the other characters are very normal and believable. Unfortunately, in Flash Fire I feel like there was an homogenization of characters and they all started to feel really similar. Characters who are supposed to be adult and grounded said things I don't think they ever would have said in the first book, and instead of feeling like a well-rounded cast, everyone started to feel like they were Nick. It actually kind of felt like the entire plot was Nicky's fanfiction instead of just certain parts...and not in a good way.
There was also a lot about the plot that I thought was a little too predictable, and there were places where it really dragged. I feel like this could have been much improved if it had cut out about a fourth of the book, honestly.
This is still a very fun story and I will definitely keep reading the series. And of course, I love the queer squad!
Pub Date: July 13, 2021
After the events of The Extraordinaries, Nick is all about Team Pyro-Storm and making sure he is the best boyfriend he can be. But other complications get in the way--and no, I'm not just talking about his dad's "helpful" sex advice.
I'm disappointed to say I didn't enjoy this sequel nearly as much as the first book. There were a lot of things about this book that Klune got right, and I appreciate the direction he was trying to go in regards to policing and accountability. I really enjoyed the plot, and I still really enjoy Nicky as a main character.
Where I think this book went wrong for me was all of the characters other than Nick. In the first book, Nick's random thoughts and humor are super funny, and they are well-balanced because all the other characters are very normal and believable. Unfortunately, in Flash Fire I feel like there was an homogenization of characters and they all started to feel really similar. Characters who are supposed to be adult and grounded said things I don't think they ever would have said in the first book, and instead of feeling like a well-rounded cast, everyone started to feel like they were Nick. It actually kind of felt like the entire plot was Nicky's fanfiction instead of just certain parts...and not in a good way.
There was also a lot about the plot that I thought was a little too predictable, and there were places where it really dragged. I feel like this could have been much improved if it had cut out about a fourth of the book, honestly.
This is still a very fun story and I will definitely keep reading the series. And of course, I love the queer squad!
Pub Date: July 13, 2021
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Police brutality, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Sexual content
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