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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
like a 2.5 in the sense that it was kinda boring at parts and there are def some underdeveloped parts of the world. def promising as a writer and im def gonna read the next book bc i would like to follow the author’s progression!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
went into this political fantasy with high hopes and closed the book a bit disappointed. I struggled to find myself caring for most characters except for Samson.
Set in a world that I would describe as Aladdin meets Star Wars, Elena must work herself to become worthy of the Eternal Fire. The story fell flat for me around the half way mark, and I didn’t find myself caring again until the epilogue. The romance felt like it came out of nowhere and escalated really fast.
Despite all of this, I didn’t find it to be a bad experience. I think there is potential here, and I will certainly pick up book 2 once it releases.
Set in a world that I would describe as Aladdin meets Star Wars, Elena must work herself to become worthy of the Eternal Fire. The story fell flat for me around the half way mark, and I didn’t find myself caring again until the epilogue. The romance felt like it came out of nowhere and escalated really fast.
Despite all of this, I didn’t find it to be a bad experience. I think there is potential here, and I will certainly pick up book 2 once it releases.
I really tried to get through this book but man it just wasn’t for me
It’s fine if other people like it- I just didn’t
It’s fine if other people like it- I just didn’t
I’ve just finished The Phoenix King only moments ago and I just loved it! I pre-ordered The Burning Queen half way through - if only fall 2025 wasn’t so far away. This story was wonderful and I hope some of my theories prove true in book two
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Perhaps 3.5 stars, but I'm on the edge.
I picked this book up a few times and attempted to read it, and couldn't find myself becoming committed. However, I blamed it on a personal reading slump, and tried once more. I reaped nice rewards for this extra chance. Indeed reminding me of the deep connection the people have in Dune to the sands, The Boy With Fire offers its own deep lore involving worshiping of the sun and dunes in harsh, merciless environments.
I loved this world-building. I felt the fortitude a people of the desert would develop. I felt the rage Elena carries from a traumatic past and upbringing. I felt Yessen being pulled every direction. I felt Leo been torn apart be the decisions he made in the name of family and kingdom. Similar to Poppy Wars, another book this one is compared to, the severity of the Phoenix and the hunger it emits is very powerful. Playing with religion, specifically when its existence is so tangible, always interests me.
About 3/4ths of the way through the book, there was a turning point for me. The pace picked up, which at first made sense, but near the end of the book I did not follow the speed. Specifically (SPOILER) when the main character and love interest got together, I felt it unwarranted and rushed. Elena's oscillating between good and evil made sense, but the way it progressed did not. Were the mines truly that important? Did she not understand the risk? Why did Yassen throw all this training out the window just when Elena bats her eyes? This inconsistency is what drops the rating in my opinion.
While these questions irked me, the twists closer to the very end kept the story fresh, and as I closed the book I was very satisfied with the story. Can't wait to see how the war develops.
I picked this book up a few times and attempted to read it, and couldn't find myself becoming committed. However, I blamed it on a personal reading slump, and tried once more. I reaped nice rewards for this extra chance. Indeed reminding me of the deep connection the people have in Dune to the sands, The Boy With Fire offers its own deep lore involving worshiping of the sun and dunes in harsh, merciless environments.
I loved this world-building. I felt the fortitude a people of the desert would develop. I felt the rage Elena carries from a traumatic past and upbringing. I felt Yessen being pulled every direction. I felt Leo been torn apart be the decisions he made in the name of family and kingdom. Similar to Poppy Wars, another book this one is compared to, the severity of the Phoenix and the hunger it emits is very powerful. Playing with religion, specifically when its existence is so tangible, always interests me.
About 3/4ths of the way through the book, there was a turning point for me. The pace picked up, which at first made sense, but near the end of the book I did not follow the speed. Specifically (SPOILER) when the main character and love interest got together, I felt it unwarranted and rushed. Elena's oscillating between good and evil made sense, but the way it progressed did not. Were the mines truly that important? Did she not understand the risk? Why did Yassen throw all this training out the window just when Elena bats her eyes? This inconsistency is what drops the rating in my opinion.
While these questions irked me, the twists closer to the very end kept the story fresh, and as I closed the book I was very satisfied with the story. Can't wait to see how the war develops.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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:
No
A new favorite story for me and I cannot wait until the next books are out!!
A strong ready-to-rule heir (Elena), her closest protector/auntie/friend, her ruthless father, two friends who grew up together in trauma (one got out, the other didn't), desert landscape, mountains, cities, sci-fi elements, fire magic, ancient powers, etc.
I loved that Elena didn't need to be trained by the love interest as it happens with so many other books in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. She is skilled and confident and speaks up for herself. I'd like to see much more like this character, this author, and this book. The book also focused on the plot instead of just on the romance. I would say this is a fantasy-first, with a romantic subplot. For me, I enjoyed all of the relationships in this book that the main character had and appreciated that the author spent time to build all of these in the story.
It's easy to become connected to the characters. The writing is elegant and smart. It's extraordinarily well-balanced. It's nicely edited. The pacing is just right, although I did feel like there were two endings in this book and it could have stopped at the first one. But this was okay with me because I didn't really want it to end.
Highly recommend and I'm surprised by the rating on Storygraph for this book, I'd like to see it much higher!
A strong ready-to-rule heir (Elena), her closest protector/auntie/friend, her ruthless father, two friends who grew up together in trauma (one got out, the other didn't), desert landscape, mountains, cities, sci-fi elements, fire magic, ancient powers, etc.
I loved that Elena didn't need to be trained by the love interest as it happens with so many other books in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. She is skilled and confident and speaks up for herself. I'd like to see much more like this character, this author, and this book. The book also focused on the plot instead of just on the romance. I would say this is a fantasy-first, with a romantic subplot. For me, I enjoyed all of the relationships in this book that the main character had and appreciated that the author spent time to build all of these in the story.
It's easy to become connected to the characters. The writing is elegant and smart. It's extraordinarily well-balanced. It's nicely edited. The pacing is just right, although I did feel like there were two endings in this book and it could have stopped at the first one. But this was okay with me because I didn't really want it to end.
Highly recommend and I'm surprised by the rating on Storygraph for this book, I'd like to see it much higher!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF @75%
I was very excited for this book and it started out very good, but as I continued I found the story to be dragging. The pacing seemed to fluctuate in a weird way. Leo’s POV could have been more sparse, I really did not care for his part other than the parts where he was actually committing crimes or doing something because those actual gave substance. I wasn’t totally sold on Yassen and Elena’s romance but I liked them both that it went with it. I don’t think making the setting also futuristic with hovercars and hovertrains was the best combination. I kept imagining it was pre-automobile times because of the magic, priesthood, and monarchy. Yassen and Elena were strong characters and both their struggles is what kept me halfway invested in the story. TBH this did not keep my focus so I was confused throughout.
I was very excited for this book and it started out very good, but as I continued I found the story to be dragging. The pacing seemed to fluctuate in a weird way. Leo’s POV could have been more sparse, I really did not care for his part other than the parts where he was actually committing crimes or doing something because those actual gave substance. I wasn’t totally sold on Yassen and Elena’s romance but I liked them both that it went with it. I don’t think making the setting also futuristic with hovercars and hovertrains was the best combination. I kept imagining it was pre-automobile times because of the magic, priesthood, and monarchy. Yassen and Elena were strong characters and both their struggles is what kept me halfway invested in the story. TBH this did not keep my focus so I was confused throughout.
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No