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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
See full review at http://justanotherbookishblog.blogspot.nl
I received a copy from the publishers at Netgalley. This does not influence my opinions in any way. (Thanks Wise Ink Creative Publishing!)
The Last of the Firedrakes is about Aurora, a girl who hates her adoptive family, who doesn’t feel like she fits in, and who feels invisible in everyday life. Then, one day, her adoptive uncle announces that they will spend a weekend in his boss’s castle. Through her castle searches, Aurora gets kidnapped through a portal to another world - a world of Fae and mages, of magic and royalty. It turns out that she is the one who will inherit the kingdom of Illiador, and has a special type of magic of her own. But, before she can do anything about the complicated political conflicts in the land, she must master her magic and learn about this new world, Avalonia.
Although this took me a while to read (mostly due to being incredibly busy with school and co.), I really enjoyed this book! I always love books that center around fairy tales and magic! This book had many elements of classic fairytales blended together to make a new, beautiful story.
One aspect I really loved, and that I talk about a lot, is the characters. They were so well written!
Aurora is a strong protagonist. (Definitely a Gryffindor, I couldn’t help but think that during the book!) She is brave and has absolutely amazing powers. She always fights for what’s right and best. She is presented as bookish from time to time, but it doesn’t take over every few chapters, which I appreciated! She’s also super determined.
Rafe, or the Black Wolf, is absolutely amazing! He’s the super mysterious good guy that everyone loves (except for the royalty in the novel... hmm...) He is super charming and is willing to help at all costs. And, what’s more, I TOTALLY ship him and Aurora! What I’d be interested in, though is reading a few chapters or paragraphs from his point of view. I think that could bring another dimension to the book/series that could be beneficial to the development of both the characters and the world.
Kalen is also awesome. He’s the good friend everyone needs. He’s so sweet and attentive :) For Aurora, he’s almost like a big brother, which I think is exactly what she needs.
The antagonist, Damien (a true Slytherin, if I may say) is pure nasty. He might look good, but that’s all the goodness he has. However, I’m kind of hoping that in the end he might have a change of heart? I dunno, I just can totally see that happening!
The world is absolutely amazing and huge! Reading this, you travel through markets, forests, the sky, castles, schools, villages, towns, and more! I would love to see pictoral representations of the places, it’s gotta be amazing! *-*
I can really see this book turn into a movie/mini series! I would watch it, anyway :)
My main problem with the book is the obvious good/bad line. I think that the distinction between the two could have been blurred a bit, with some more shady characters. Maybe that’s coming up in book two? Can’t wait to find out!
Also, I think Aurora took the whole situation a bit too well, with just a little shock. I would have been a lot more surprised, I think!
I received a copy from the publishers at Netgalley. This does not influence my opinions in any way. (Thanks Wise Ink Creative Publishing!)
The Last of the Firedrakes is about Aurora, a girl who hates her adoptive family, who doesn’t feel like she fits in, and who feels invisible in everyday life. Then, one day, her adoptive uncle announces that they will spend a weekend in his boss’s castle. Through her castle searches, Aurora gets kidnapped through a portal to another world - a world of Fae and mages, of magic and royalty. It turns out that she is the one who will inherit the kingdom of Illiador, and has a special type of magic of her own. But, before she can do anything about the complicated political conflicts in the land, she must master her magic and learn about this new world, Avalonia.
Although this took me a while to read (mostly due to being incredibly busy with school and co.), I really enjoyed this book! I always love books that center around fairy tales and magic! This book had many elements of classic fairytales blended together to make a new, beautiful story.
One aspect I really loved, and that I talk about a lot, is the characters. They were so well written!
Aurora is a strong protagonist. (Definitely a Gryffindor, I couldn’t help but think that during the book!) She is brave and has absolutely amazing powers. She always fights for what’s right and best. She is presented as bookish from time to time, but it doesn’t take over every few chapters, which I appreciated! She’s also super determined.
Rafe, or the Black Wolf, is absolutely amazing! He’s the super mysterious good guy that everyone loves (except for the royalty in the novel... hmm...) He is super charming and is willing to help at all costs. And, what’s more, I TOTALLY ship him and Aurora! What I’d be interested in, though is reading a few chapters or paragraphs from his point of view. I think that could bring another dimension to the book/series that could be beneficial to the development of both the characters and the world.
Kalen is also awesome. He’s the good friend everyone needs. He’s so sweet and attentive :) For Aurora, he’s almost like a big brother, which I think is exactly what she needs.
The antagonist, Damien (a true Slytherin, if I may say) is pure nasty. He might look good, but that’s all the goodness he has. However, I’m kind of hoping that in the end he might have a change of heart? I dunno, I just can totally see that happening!
The world is absolutely amazing and huge! Reading this, you travel through markets, forests, the sky, castles, schools, villages, towns, and more! I would love to see pictoral representations of the places, it’s gotta be amazing! *-*
I can really see this book turn into a movie/mini series! I would watch it, anyway :)
My main problem with the book is the obvious good/bad line. I think that the distinction between the two could have been blurred a bit, with some more shady characters. Maybe that’s coming up in book two? Can’t wait to find out!
Also, I think Aurora took the whole situation a bit too well, with just a little shock. I would have been a lot more surprised, I think!
I wanted to enjoy this book and for the most part the story was fairly good, but too much of the tension depended on the main character defiantly doing the wrong thing and then angsting over whether or not she did the wrong thing. At the beginning of the book this was kind of understandable and forgivable with Aurora having been torn from her world and having to deal with a complete new one she doesn't understand, but by the end of the book this just made her unsympathetic as repeatedly she runs headlong into trouble regardless of the consequences to herself and others, all the while justifying it in her head.
Too many points of the story were run into the ground with constant repetition in the narrative, with the same details repeating over and over again, as if we might have forgotten along the way...again.
That having been said, I really enjoyed the magic system and the descriptions of the world, though way too many times Aurora was sharing details about her surroundings she really should not have known.
This author has some serious potential, but she also needs a serious developmental editor to help her achieve it.
Too many points of the story were run into the ground with constant repetition in the narrative, with the same details repeating over and over again, as if we might have forgotten along the way...again.
That having been said, I really enjoyed the magic system and the descriptions of the world, though way too many times Aurora was sharing details about her surroundings she really should not have known.
This author has some serious potential, but she also needs a serious developmental editor to help her achieve it.
(Stopped in chapter 3)
I just can’t get over the fact that this is basically a copy-paste of Harry Potter but with a girl instead of a boy.
I just can’t get over the fact that this is basically a copy-paste of Harry Potter but with a girl instead of a boy.
Disclaimer: I may be a bit biased because I've been impressed at how the author has been interacting with readers on Goodreads. She seems genuinely nice and comes across as a positive person, which is really cool.
I enjoyed the main character and all the supporting characters in this book. The world-building was good, and the character development was believable. It didn't drag in the middle like a few other fantasy book that I've read recently. I can't wait to see how the story develops in future books.
Nevertheless, I want to keep my review honest. So, to be completely truthful, I admit that I had a difficult time getting into the writing style of the author. Even after finishing the book, I am not able to explain what it was exactly that didn't feel quite right to me, so I have to assume that it was just my own personal preferences and tastes trying to distract me from a really great book. Other than that, the only thing that I would have liked to have seen was more of a build-up in our world before switching the fantasy world. I wasn't convinced that our hero needed to have been raised in the modern world, because it didn't have much of an impact on her. But, again, just my own personal preferences popping up again.
I enjoyed the main character and all the supporting characters in this book. The world-building was good, and the character development was believable. It didn't drag in the middle like a few other fantasy book that I've read recently. I can't wait to see how the story develops in future books.
DNF 10%.
I have just discovered that one of my book pet peeves is having to read about the main character crying about her situation more than three times in the span of two chapters and agonizing constantly about her unfair life every. single. time.
I have just discovered that one of my book pet peeves is having to read about the main character crying about her situation more than three times in the span of two chapters and agonizing constantly about her unfair life every. single. time.
I wasn't a complete fan of the narrator of this book, but the story was really good, I really enjoyed it!
Good concept. There was a lot of fluff about food and clothing that could have been edited out and more world building information that could have been added.
Just felt like it was dragging on, my kids weren’t enjoying it
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would: this was so much more than what I expected.
I liked characters and this time even the romance was good. Not first, but I ended up shipping them. This was one big adventure and had several good twists.
I liked characters and this time even the romance was good. Not first, but I ended up shipping them. This was one big adventure and had several good twists.
I find that I did like this story. However, I did find a few things dumb about it.
1. Aurora should listen to her new friends. She wasn't raised in this new land. She doesn't know who is who in this world.
2. Aurora is kind of like a lovesick puppy dog. Love at the first meeting with someone she doesn't know much about.
3. She finds out Rafe's true identity and is immediately heartbroken and sad. He was promised to mary Leticia as kids. She hardly had Rafe to begin with.
4. She keeps repeating that she will take control of her destiny and stop being afraid. But switches back to being all sad and pining for Rafe.
Other than all that I did like this book. I will continue to read the next in this series.
1. Aurora should listen to her new friends. She wasn't raised in this new land. She doesn't know who is who in this world.
2. Aurora is kind of like a lovesick puppy dog. Love at the first meeting with someone she doesn't know much about.
3. She finds out Rafe's true identity and is immediately heartbroken and sad. He was promised to mary Leticia as kids. She hardly had Rafe to begin with.
4. She keeps repeating that she will take control of her destiny and stop being afraid. But switches back to being all sad and pining for Rafe.
Other than all that I did like this book. I will continue to read the next in this series.