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4.19 AVERAGE
4.19 AVERAGE
adventurous
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
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
hopeful
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:
No
Synopsis:
- Escaping the Hives, Sundew led her 'friends' towards her home in the Poison Jungle
(the deadliest area of Pantala) to hide. But when they arrived, her companions got worse treatment than she initially anticipated. Stressed with her current situation, expectations, and responsibilities, she seeks escape with her beloved, Willow. With the events and secrets unfolding, Sundew had to cooperate with a broken tribe, and look for answers that lead to greater forces more powerful than her ability, Leafspeak.
Strengths:
1. The LGBTQ Wings of Fire book.
2. Cutest Bumblebee.
3. Active main protagonist.
4. Back to the enjoyable aspects of the main characters.
5. Good Forbidden Romance trope.
6. The Leafspeak conversations were comedic.
Flaws:
1. The SilkWings had nothing to do 95% of the book.
2. Plot was too slow to start.
3. A bit confusing and rushed 3rd act.
4. Sundew's mindset was irritating at first (especially before she and Willow reunited.)
Remarks and Rating:
- Honestly, at this point I still can't buy the romance between Blue and Cricket. Thankfully Sundew and Willow was the focus on this book, and theirs was a lot better.
- Sundew was more engaging than Blue or Cricket, and I love the portrayal of her insecurities...but I detest her selfishness when she abandoned them like it's not her problem (even how brief it was.) These trio were never convincing enough. It's also the same situation with most of the characters on this 3rd arc. Only Sarab and Bumblebee were close to being my favorites.
- I like that for the most part, the main threat of the plot was the dangers of nature itself. Even Bumblebee got some actions.
- This book was the game changer of the 3rd act, just like every 3rd entry of the previous two. Kinda formulaic, honestly. I mean... there's nothing wrong with it, but successive uses stales fast.
- I knew before that this was better than book 11 & 12, but I guess my expectations were too high. It didn't really amazed me by much compared to The Hidden Kingdom or Talons of Power. It's good, but not breathtaking.
- It's funny how Tui T. Sutherland even acknowledged how uses Swordtail since the book before.
- The Forbidden Romance trope on this novel with LGBTQ lead was surprisingly handled well. It wasn't demoralizing/insulting since the tension against Sundew and Willow's romance was not rooted on social homophobia, but was by the main flawed philosophy of their broken tribe that split them initially. Their love felt natural, in a way.
- With everything considered, I'll rate Wings of Fire: The Poison Jungle a 7/10.
WINGS OF FIRE BOOKS RANKED:
1. The Dangerous Gift (9/10)
2. Moon Rising (8/10)
3. Talons of Power (8/10)
4. Winter Turning (7/10)
5. The Hidden Kingdom (7/10)
6. The Poison Jungle (7/10)
7. The Lost Continent (7/10)
8. The Dark Secret (6/10)
9. The Brightest Night (6/10)
10. The Dragonet Prophecy (6/10)
11. The Lost Heir (5/10)
12. The Flames of Hope (4/10)
13. Darkness of Dragons (4/10)
14. Escaping Peril (4/10)
15. The Hive Queen (4/10)
JUSTIFICATION:
- This book could be better, but it's not bad honestly. There were already LGBTQ representations in previous Wings of Fire entries, but this was the only time when the point-of-view character is one. Sundew's relationship with Willow bloomed cuteness. And she was much more engaging as a protagonist than those from other Pantalan leads because she had this inner conflict that blends perfectly with her outward actions. Her character seems derivative of Winter's, but what sets her apart from him was instead of doing 'great' things to impress her parents, she's doing them for her desired freedom (despite knowing her fate in her tribe was predestined.)
This book also dived into the current situation of the LeafWings, and expanded on the history of Pantala. It was the turning point in arc 3, being a massive set up for its sequels. It had major pacing problems at the first, and Blue and Swordtail functionally didn't exist until the climax. The plot was alright but nothing special. It's a good book, overall.
🥰 BUMBLEBEE!!!
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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
Guys, I found it. A love story worse than Twilight.
The book started okay, but about a third of the way through, it turns out the main character, a girl dragon, has a girlfriend who is her one true love. I have some beliefs that mean I don't think that sort of relationship should be promoted, so this bothered me, especially since so much of the book was about it.
Now, not only does she have a girlfriend, but in a flashback, we find out it was love at first sight when Sundew was TWO YEARS OLD. I know dragons age faster than humans, but two is still way too young for love at first sight, and it seems like the other dragon was older too. Not only that, this dragon sparkled like a Twilight vampire. (I'm not joking. She's sparkly in the flashback.)
The author goes to great extents to normalize gay dragons, to the point no one seems that upset about it, other than a couple glares. Sundew was supposed to marry another dragon because she and he share certain powers. The fact that Sundew is lesbian should cause some issue because, logically, that means she wouldn't be passing on her genetics, which is apparently a big enough deal that she'd have been put in a forced marriage to produce little dragons that talk to plants. This fact that everyone's plan for breeding dragons is ruined isn't mentioned, even though it should have caused a huge blow up.
The writing is also somewhat annoying. The romance is a huge focus of the storyline, and the romantic interest, Willow, has no real personality, other than being the opposite of the main character. Normally, Tui's characters are interesting, but Willow's pretty flat. It's obvious that, so far, her only role in the storyline is "Sundew's girlfriend." While Cricket is an interesting character and is often doing things, Willow would have no real role without Sundew.
And then the third thing. These dragons keep walking through this dragon eating poison jungle. I don't remember anyone mentioning why they can't simply climb a tall tree, then fly over the jungle. Did dragon wings somehow stop working along with dragon magic?
Overall, I don't see why pre-teens should have books that are full of romance, no matter what gender the characters are. Kids don't read books about dragons because they want dragons touching claws and tails and wings. Romance shouldn't be a big focus of stories geared toward this age group, especially stories that are supposed to be about adventure and dragons.
I miss the original series. That had a lot more action and fun in it, and the romance wasn't nearly as much of a focus. It seems to be going downhill badly.
The book started okay, but about a third of the way through, it turns out the main character, a girl dragon, has a girlfriend who is her one true love. I have some beliefs that mean I don't think that sort of relationship should be promoted, so this bothered me, especially since so much of the book was about it.
Now, not only does she have a girlfriend, but in a flashback, we find out it was love at first sight when Sundew was TWO YEARS OLD. I know dragons age faster than humans, but two is still way too young for love at first sight, and it seems like the other dragon was older too. Not only that, this dragon sparkled like a Twilight vampire. (I'm not joking. She's sparkly in the flashback.)
The author goes to great extents to normalize gay dragons, to the point no one seems that upset about it, other than a couple glares. Sundew was supposed to marry another dragon because she and he share certain powers. The fact that Sundew is lesbian should cause some issue because, logically, that means she wouldn't be passing on her genetics, which is apparently a big enough deal that she'd have been put in a forced marriage to produce little dragons that talk to plants. This fact that everyone's plan for breeding dragons is ruined isn't mentioned, even though it should have caused a huge blow up.
The writing is also somewhat annoying. The romance is a huge focus of the storyline, and the romantic interest, Willow, has no real personality, other than being the opposite of the main character. Normally, Tui's characters are interesting, but Willow's pretty flat. It's obvious that, so far, her only role in the storyline is "Sundew's girlfriend." While Cricket is an interesting character and is often doing things, Willow would have no real role without Sundew.
And then the third thing. These dragons keep walking through this dragon eating poison jungle. I don't remember anyone mentioning why they can't simply climb a tall tree, then fly over the jungle. Did dragon wings somehow stop working along with dragon magic?
Overall, I don't see why pre-teens should have books that are full of romance, no matter what gender the characters are. Kids don't read books about dragons because they want dragons touching claws and tails and wings. Romance shouldn't be a big focus of stories geared toward this age group, especially stories that are supposed to be about adventure and dragons.
I miss the original series. That had a lot more action and fun in it, and the romance wasn't nearly as much of a focus. It seems to be going downhill badly.
Most predictable third act plot twist I’ve seen in years (but by god is it addictive)