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3.38 AVERAGE
3.38 AVERAGE
It was definitely not a good book but I was still invested in the story enough to finish it.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow starter, but had everything in it that I loved!
I liked this ... didn't love it. Not sure I'll really remember it or go on to the sequels. I listened to the audiobook (I received it free through AudiobookBoom in exchange for an honest review) and I'd picked up the Kindle copy free (in 2015, hadn't gotten around to reading it, but give me the audio and it jumps to the front of the list *Ü*) I didn't have to refer to the text while I listened, but did a quick skim of it afterward. I think the narration helped - it felt more stilted and unnatural as I read the words myself. The free audio was through "Author's Direct" instead of Audible, which wasn't quite as user friendly (especially as I had the Kindle copy, I would have liked the whispersync options).
I have listened to Fiona Hardingham narrate before, LOVED the [b:And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449153532l/27190613._SY75_.jpg|41682914] And I Darken series, both the books and the narration there. Here ... the pronunciation of "Firedrakes" was "FireJAKE" and it drove me crazy! And unfortunately it was in there a LOT, totally distracting. I did like the British accent though. While the book is set in England, I don't know that it's obvious from the start, so if I'd been reading it on my own, I wouldn't have been imagining an English accent at all. I didn't love the voice of the Pegasus Snow (trying to make it a whinny type sound ... it was just a little annoying).
As for the story - I'm NOT a fan of King Arthur type ... was this trying to be in that setting? Avalon and Morgana sound so familiar, but was that just a "similar" thing? I didn't feel like I really got pulled in, caring about the characters. The romance didn't seem to have much behind it.
So - it was fine, but I'm not compelled to continue.
I have listened to Fiona Hardingham narrate before, LOVED the [b:And I Darken|27190613|And I Darken (The Conqueror's Saga, #1)|Kiersten White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1449153532l/27190613._SY75_.jpg|41682914] And I Darken series, both the books and the narration there. Here ... the pronunciation of "Firedrakes" was "FireJAKE" and it drove me crazy! And unfortunately it was in there a LOT, totally distracting. I did like the British accent though. While the book is set in England, I don't know that it's obvious from the start, so if I'd been reading it on my own, I wouldn't have been imagining an English accent at all. I didn't love the voice of the Pegasus Snow (trying to make it a whinny type sound ... it was just a little annoying).
As for the story - I'm NOT a fan of King Arthur type ... was this trying to be in that setting? Avalon and Morgana sound so familiar, but was that just a "similar" thing? I didn't feel like I really got pulled in, caring about the characters. The romance didn't seem to have much behind it.
So - it was fine, but I'm not compelled to continue.
ARC Review Copy, more @ Literary-ly Obsessed
If I’m completely honest, I’m not 100% sure on how I feel about this book. It should have been an instant favourite of mine, it had everything I love in a fantasy; the best of magical creatures being of course The Fae and The Mages, an orphan heroine who is actually a Princess/Queen, an evil villain, a dark hero who helps those less fortunate, mythical creatures like a Pegasus (not crazy on this) and a Manticore (+10 cool points) and they're all found in a magical world far far away…. Yet I’ve reached the age-old question:
‘Can you love a book if you’re not loving the heroine?’
Firstly we have Aurora, our sixteen-year-old heroine, she lives with her Uncle and Auntie who despise her and a cousin who makes her life a living hell. That is until one night she is kidnapped by a Mage and taken to a secret world through a magical tapestry, here she discovers that she is the last living heir of Illiador, much to the disappointment of Queen Morgana who seized the throne after Aurora’s parents were murdered. Seeking help from her Mage Granduncle Gabriel, Aurora find finds out that she is no ordinary human but in fact a rare and powerful Fae-Mage, so she must learn to control her new powers and take back her kingdom.
From the very beginning I just couldn’t warm to Aurora, she infuriated me to no end with her stupid decisions. I completely understand feeling like you have a responsibility to do more and not sit on the sit lines like a child but seriously to walk into a life or death situation against the most powerful sorcerers with no plan at all?! Never mind the fact that she has no control of her magic? There was one point in the book in which Aurora was specifically warned about a certain family who would kill her and yet when said family invited her along to an outing she happily obliges and then has the right to be ticked off when she is betrayed? Things could not have been more clear, I genuinely worry for the people who would support this new princess in her rule.
Rafe was your typical love interest, dark, broody, always turning up to save the day and harboring his own secrets. My hopeless romantic heart instantly fell for the mysterious ‘Black Wolf’, and I really did ship him with Aurora but yet again Aurora’s attitude and continuous self-doubt drove me crazy. Oomerbhoy creates a gorgeous world and provides vivid detail into every kingdom, it’s people, traditions, fashion, food everything it’s like you’re really there.. Thank god for the map, this place is huge!! But ultimately these details become somewhat repetitive because for the life of me I couldn’t understand why every older male has Salt & Pepper hair?
Regardless of my opinion it was so so easy to become completely immersed in this magical world and I will definitely be reading the next installment because I feel this series has so much more potential and room to grow. Also after that silly cliffhanger I dread to think where Aurora will end up, I just hope she grows up a little because this could be a series I truly get behind.
If I’m completely honest, I’m not 100% sure on how I feel about this book. It should have been an instant favourite of mine, it had everything I love in a fantasy; the best of magical creatures being of course The Fae and The Mages, an orphan heroine who is actually a Princess/Queen, an evil villain, a dark hero who helps those less fortunate, mythical creatures like a Pegasus (not crazy on this) and a Manticore (+10 cool points) and they're all found in a magical world far far away…. Yet I’ve reached the age-old question:
‘Can you love a book if you’re not loving the heroine?’
Firstly we have Aurora, our sixteen-year-old heroine, she lives with her Uncle and Auntie who despise her and a cousin who makes her life a living hell. That is until one night she is kidnapped by a Mage and taken to a secret world through a magical tapestry, here she discovers that she is the last living heir of Illiador, much to the disappointment of Queen Morgana who seized the throne after Aurora’s parents were murdered. Seeking help from her Mage Granduncle Gabriel, Aurora find finds out that she is no ordinary human but in fact a rare and powerful Fae-Mage, so she must learn to control her new powers and take back her kingdom.
From the very beginning I just couldn’t warm to Aurora, she infuriated me to no end with her stupid decisions. I completely understand feeling like you have a responsibility to do more and not sit on the sit lines like a child but seriously to walk into a life or death situation against the most powerful sorcerers with no plan at all?! Never mind the fact that she has no control of her magic? There was one point in the book in which Aurora was specifically warned about a certain family who would kill her and yet when said family invited her along to an outing she happily obliges and then has the right to be ticked off when she is betrayed? Things could not have been more clear, I genuinely worry for the people who would support this new princess in her rule.
Rafe was your typical love interest, dark, broody, always turning up to save the day and harboring his own secrets. My hopeless romantic heart instantly fell for the mysterious ‘Black Wolf’, and I really did ship him with Aurora but yet again Aurora’s attitude and continuous self-doubt drove me crazy. Oomerbhoy creates a gorgeous world and provides vivid detail into every kingdom, it’s people, traditions, fashion, food everything it’s like you’re really there.. Thank god for the map, this place is huge!! But ultimately these details become somewhat repetitive because for the life of me I couldn’t understand why every older male has Salt & Pepper hair?
Regardless of my opinion it was so so easy to become completely immersed in this magical world and I will definitely be reading the next installment because I feel this series has so much more potential and room to grow. Also after that silly cliffhanger I dread to think where Aurora will end up, I just hope she grows up a little because this could be a series I truly get behind.
Aurora thinks she's just another normal orphan living with her hateful family and bullied at school until one day she's knidnapped and taken through a magical portal into a fairy tail word and finding out it's even worse than her old life.
She soon discovers she's in Avalonia, a magical land where those who possess magic reign and whose queen is a vile human being that will take down everything that stands between her and her goals and thirst for power.
Aurora soon finds that the key to her past lies deep in Avalonia and she will need the help of the friends she made along the way to find out who she is and to take her place in the world again.
While reading this book you'll notice two things: one is that Avalonia is like if you grabbed all your fairy tale "land" ideas and had smashed them all into only one and the other thing is that you'll never want to put this book down!
The storyline and the characthers in this book are so well developed that you'll really feel transported to Avalonia and you'll fell that you're Aurora and that you're doing the things she's doing and that, my friends, is one of the greatest things an author can do, in my humble opinion.
Everything in this story is well thought and beautifully acomplished! There are details that you'll find in one part of the story that will only be used a little ahead and you're only given a little bit of information at a time so when the main characther wonders what is it that the others are hiding you feel exactly what she feels!
I loved the way that the author used references from Arthurian Legends, fairy legends and even, I think, of real life and putted it all in one concise story, that way you feel a little familiar with the story but even then the story is completely different from what you'll expect.
If you love everything that has to do with Disney or love history, adventure, magic, love honor and friendship you should really read this book since it will satisfy your thirst for good stories.
I'm really anticipating the next book!
http://addictedbookslover.blogspot.pt/2015/07/the-last-of-firedrakes-avalonia.html
She soon discovers she's in Avalonia, a magical land where those who possess magic reign and whose queen is a vile human being that will take down everything that stands between her and her goals and thirst for power.
Aurora soon finds that the key to her past lies deep in Avalonia and she will need the help of the friends she made along the way to find out who she is and to take her place in the world again.
While reading this book you'll notice two things: one is that Avalonia is like if you grabbed all your fairy tale "land" ideas and had smashed them all into only one and the other thing is that you'll never want to put this book down!
The storyline and the characthers in this book are so well developed that you'll really feel transported to Avalonia and you'll fell that you're Aurora and that you're doing the things she's doing and that, my friends, is one of the greatest things an author can do, in my humble opinion.
Everything in this story is well thought and beautifully acomplished! There are details that you'll find in one part of the story that will only be used a little ahead and you're only given a little bit of information at a time so when the main characther wonders what is it that the others are hiding you feel exactly what she feels!
I loved the way that the author used references from Arthurian Legends, fairy legends and even, I think, of real life and putted it all in one concise story, that way you feel a little familiar with the story but even then the story is completely different from what you'll expect.
If you love everything that has to do with Disney or love history, adventure, magic, love honor and friendship you should really read this book since it will satisfy your thirst for good stories.
I'm really anticipating the next book!
http://addictedbookslover.blogspot.pt/2015/07/the-last-of-firedrakes-avalonia.html
This book was so bad it was good. It was so cringey and the main character was so annoying, but that was part of the experience. Making fun of the main character was honestly one of my favorite parts of the book (seriously, you should see my notes and highlights) and it was so easy too. I loved being able to guess every single plot twist. I can’t explain if, but when they came through it was always so funny. I’m def considering getting the next book
Re read update: This was even better the second time. I swear its seriously underrated
*previous review is down below*
This book is out of this world!! It is by far my favorite book that I have ever read! First of all, I don't have words to describe how beautiful the cover is...its the thing that actually caught my eye. Farah Oomerbhoy has a mesmerizing writing style that pulls you into the book. I recommended this book to all of of my friends and they enjoyed it almost as much as I did. I can relate myself in some ways to Aurora and she is not the kind of girl you would come across so often. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book to come out. I gave this book a massive 5/5 stars (it deserved more than 5!) and I recommend it to everyone!! THIS BOOK DESERVES MORE ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!
*previous review is down below*
This book is out of this world!! It is by far my favorite book that I have ever read! First of all, I don't have words to describe how beautiful the cover is...its the thing that actually caught my eye. Farah Oomerbhoy has a mesmerizing writing style that pulls you into the book. I recommended this book to all of of my friends and they enjoyed it almost as much as I did. I can relate myself in some ways to Aurora and she is not the kind of girl you would come across so often. I absolutely cannot wait for the second book to come out. I gave this book a massive 5/5 stars (it deserved more than 5!) and I recommend it to everyone!! THIS BOOK DESERVES MORE ATTENTION PEOPLE!!!
This book was readable, but the main character aggravated me to no end. Aurora was completely TSTL 99% of the time. She COMPLETELY rushes into every situations and makes SO many rash decisions that you wouldn't except even a girl of 16 to make. She has an odd assembly of knowledge too. For instance, how can she NOT know what a mage is, but she does know what a mandrake is. I mean, really?
