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koistyfishy's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book is Popcorn. Very specific movie popcorn that induces that vague haze you are in when watching a movie. No matter what happens you just keep reading eating whilst escaping the boring mundane of life... In the end you are left slightly satisfied but still often hungry.
Please note this is Book 2 in a series that cannot be read as a standalone. As a result there might be spoilers for Book 1 - so if you do not want to see those, I might advise not reading the rest of the review - especially since a lot of my following comments will almost be a superimposed juxtaposition to highlight what was WRONG in the first book and how it was done RIGHT in this book.
This book jumps right into the action where Air Awakens left off - Vhalla has been sentenced to a life of a soldier. She is thrust directly into a world of war as she has to come to terms with being the property of the crown, her complicated feelings over a broody "always angry" crown prince, and her extreme self-worth issues. That's it! That's the whole book! The book is a journey narrative story, so if you don't like those you will not like this. There is also very little plot. It does add a few things into the mix and you are given a few action scenes but nothing plot-wise to write home about...That is the first main difference between Air Awakens and Fire Falling. Book 1 was very "jump-plot" focused which wasn't always clear to understand and quite frankly was confusing at times. This one doesn't have much plot, so whilst it might seem that "lacking" plot is a bad thing, it allowed the story to move in an easy-to-understand progression...
The second main difference is we don't learn too much about who our characters are in Air Awakens - there is some character development but not much. I now believe Air Awakens is mostly setting the stage for this and future books because of what ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT we get in Fire Falling. I have realised a book can completely forgo a plot if there is good character development and OH MY GOSH does this book deliver on this! It's also not just Vhalla who we see grow, but we see more into her friends, as well as gain insight into what makes Aldrik the way he is, and are shown his personal backstory.
Vhalla is a complicated character who spends most of this book suffering from PTSD and depression. She has just killed people for the first time in her life, has been tortured and sent to war (and possibly her death sentence), and is plagued by horrid nightmares and night terrors. Her suffering and emotional journey of how she comes to terms with the events of the first book and evolves completely overshadows the aspects that annoyed me in the book. The more and more I think about it, the more this journey is ALL I can think about. It's just stuck with me and rooted in place...
The book is still a Romance Fantasy, so it still has a major focus on the Romance part of the plot and less on the Fantasy - there is more angst, longing, and glances when they think the other is not watching, so VERY TYPICAL slow burn; but the pace of the build-up to payoff was worth it! I think it was done really well. I was still annoyed at aspects of the Romance that Vhalla for the longest time couldn't see the Prince has feelings for her and the slight miscommunication on who Elecia is, but overall the Romance was enjoyable.
I am not sure what it was with the writing, or if Elise Kova fired her previous editor and a new one cleaned up this...because Book 1 feels like juvenile fan fiction written by a 12-year-old, vs this one; where the prose flows almost beautifully and comfortably across the page. The stop-start of sentences in book 1 DROVE ME MAD but now it seems almost completely eradicated. Overall this book feels highly more mature (whilst still being a "Young Adult"). It might have been due to the topics and emotional journey that this is more real and raw but I still cannot comprehend how Book 1's style compared to this feels like two separate authors wrote it!
Quite frankly I really enjoyed this and I can't get it out of my head.
I do recommend if you dropped the series due to Air Awakens being awful perhaps at least try this book and see if Fire Falling is better for you as it's basically COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - the same characters just happen to appear. I am a sucker for not being able to DNF a book or series and I am glad I did not stop after book 1, because if this is the true reflection of Elise Kova's writing then she got me hooked! Let's just hope the rest of the books don't cause me to break the line.
Please note this is Book 2 in a series that cannot be read as a standalone. As a result there might be spoilers for Book 1 - so if you do not want to see those, I might advise not reading the rest of the review - especially since a lot of my following comments will almost be a superimposed juxtaposition to highlight what was WRONG in the first book and how it was done RIGHT in this book.
This book jumps right into the action where Air Awakens left off - Vhalla has been sentenced to a life of a soldier. She is thrust directly into a world of war as she has to come to terms with being the property of the crown, her complicated feelings over a broody "always angry" crown prince, and her extreme self-worth issues. That's it! That's the whole book! The book is a journey narrative story, so if you don't like those you will not like this. There is also very little plot. It does add a few things into the mix and you are given a few action scenes but nothing plot-wise to write home about...That is the first main difference between Air Awakens and Fire Falling. Book 1 was very "jump-plot" focused which wasn't always clear to understand and quite frankly was confusing at times. This one doesn't have much plot, so whilst it might seem that "lacking" plot is a bad thing, it allowed the story to move in an easy-to-understand progression...
The second main difference is we don't learn too much about who our characters are in Air Awakens - there is some character development but not much. I now believe Air Awakens is mostly setting the stage for this and future books because of what ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT we get in Fire Falling. I have realised a book can completely forgo a plot if there is good character development and OH MY GOSH does this book deliver on this! It's also not just Vhalla who we see grow, but we see more into her friends, as well as gain insight into what makes Aldrik the way he is, and are shown his personal backstory.
Vhalla is a complicated character who spends most of this book suffering from PTSD and depression. She has just killed people for the first time in her life, has been tortured and sent to war (and possibly her death sentence), and is plagued by horrid nightmares and night terrors. Her suffering and emotional journey of how she comes to terms with the events of the first book and evolves completely overshadows the aspects that annoyed me in the book. The more and more I think about it, the more this journey is ALL I can think about. It's just stuck with me and rooted in place...
The book is still a Romance Fantasy, so it still has a major focus on the Romance part of the plot and less on the Fantasy - there is more angst, longing, and glances when they think the other is not watching, so VERY TYPICAL slow burn; but the pace of the build-up to payoff was worth it! I think it was done really well. I was still annoyed at aspects of the Romance that Vhalla for the longest time couldn't see the Prince has feelings for her and the slight miscommunication on who Elecia is, but overall the Romance was enjoyable.
I am not sure what it was with the writing, or if Elise Kova fired her previous editor and a new one cleaned up this...because Book 1 feels like juvenile fan fiction written by a 12-year-old, vs this one; where the prose flows almost beautifully and comfortably across the page. The stop-start of sentences in book 1 DROVE ME MAD but now it seems almost completely eradicated. Overall this book feels highly more mature (whilst still being a "Young Adult"). It might have been due to the topics and emotional journey that this is more real and raw but I still cannot comprehend how Book 1's style compared to this feels like two separate authors wrote it!
Quite frankly I really enjoyed this and I can't get it out of my head.
I do recommend if you dropped the series due to Air Awakens being awful perhaps at least try this book and see if Fire Falling is better for you as it's basically COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - the same characters just happen to appear. I am a sucker for not being able to DNF a book or series and I am glad I did not stop after book 1, because if this is the true reflection of Elise Kova's writing then she got me hooked! Let's just hope the rest of the books don't cause me to break the line.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, War, Violence, Physical abuse, and Death
Minor: Self harm
psydneigh's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really did not like the he loves me / he loves me not back and forth in this one. I felt like the whole book just kept taking one step forward and two steps back constantly. One second Vhalla was strong and could do anything, the next she was broken, and vice versa. It was a bit too much whiplash for me.
I absolutely love Daniel, and I hope we get to see him happy by the end of this series.
Overall I enjoyed and will be continuing.
I absolutely love Daniel, and I hope we get to see him happy by the end of this series.
Overall I enjoyed and will be continuing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, War, and Grief
nadiana's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
I liked this book...
... up until the second half when they killed off Larel.
I didn't really understand how much the death of a character on an off-brand epic fantasy could tick me off, but God, I absolutely HATED how Larel went. I understand that "people die when they are killed" and that you can't really ask for a dramatic and fulfilling death scene because it's "unrealistic", but gosh darn, that character deserved much MUCH better.
As soon as she died, things seemed to have gone really emo for the story and characters, not because of Larel's death (well not mainly at least), but because the story just wanted to pretend (and key-word here is "pretend) to be all sad and depressing all of a sudden. Don't get me wrong, I like me some angst in my guilty-pleasure reads especially when it involves the main character having to hide all by herself, but I wish it could've been handled a bit better and not felt so abrupt and out-of-nowhere.
And again, it all stems down to pacing. Vhalla got a cool scene half-way through the novel involving her powers that really could've benefitted from a greater build-up in the story. The death of Larel could've been handled better, the romance should've included more scenes etc etc.
Also, Vhalla was just sooooo annoying in this book. Her jealousy was toxic but honestly, Aldrik's was just equally so. And their feelings of anger and frustration was often uncalled for and plain out bad. Aldrik kept bashing out on Vhalla for the slightest things while Vhalla just started hating on other women in Aldrik's vicinity.
THEN WE GOT THE BEST PART: Vhalla and Aldrik are bonded. B O N D E D. Why? WHY!? My God, just say your mates already, and while you're at it, grow a pair of wings and fuck each other mid-air. This was just such an unnecessary plot point that could've easily been switched out for something else or just plain out deleted...
Daniel was a sweetheart. I even found myself shipping Vhalla and Daniel together because they seemed so sweet together. Just some country bumpkins saving the world. Gosh, I really hope Daniel's character doesn't get absolutely shredded in the future... (This is foreshadowing by the way as I have finished the whole main series by the time I'm writing this review)
Ending off with a good cliff-hanger, the second book in the 'Air Awakens' series left me off on a sour, but hopeful note. As the story went downhill it still promised a bright and developed future to come... I hope...
... up until the second half when they
I didn't really understand how much the death of a character on an off-brand epic fantasy could tick me off, but God, I absolutely HATED how Larel went. I understand that "people die when they are killed" and that you can't really ask for a dramatic and fulfilling death scene because it's "unrealistic", but gosh darn, that character deserved much MUCH better.
As soon as she died, things seemed to have gone really emo for the story and characters, not because of Larel's death (well not mainly at least), but because the story just wanted to pretend (and key-word here is "pretend) to be all sad and depressing all of a sudden.
And again, it all stems down to pacing. Vhalla got a cool scene half-way through the novel involving her powers that really could've benefitted from a greater build-up in the story.
Also, Vhalla was just sooooo annoying in this book. Her jealousy was toxic but honestly, Aldrik's was just equally so. And their feelings of anger and frustration was often uncalled for and plain out bad. Aldrik kept bashing out on Vhalla for the slightest things while Vhalla just started hating on other women in Aldrik's vicinity.
THEN WE GOT THE BEST PART:
Daniel was a sweetheart. I even found myself
Ending off with a good cliff-hanger, the second book in the 'Air Awakens' series left me off on a sour, but hopeful note. As the story went downhill it still promised a bright and developed future to come... I hope...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Murder, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Genocide
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