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j_mcd's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nicolealycia's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Phoenix Flame (Havenfall book 2) by Sara Holland
francantread's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kerasalwaysreading's review
4.0
After the events in the previous book and the stopping of a major evil, things seem to be getting back to normal at Havenfall, finally. This place has always been a place of so much comfort for Maddie. She is still trying to sort her feelings out when it comes to how she feels about Taya and Brekken. But, at least with Brekken, it seems that a MORE might actually be possible, like she has been wanting for so long.
But, there is still more work to be done at the Inn. And in the process of these tasks, she discovers something that flips her whole world upside down. Upon the discovery that someone very dear to her is alive instead of dead as she thought for so long, her plans have taken a tailspin, creating new problems and obstacles she must overcome in order to make everything right again.
Among all of this, Maddie is still trying to sort through her feelings for Brekken and Taya. And while I love both of these characters, I get the unfortunate Gale from The Hunger Games vibe from Brekken and fear that his position as a soldier will always be the most important thing to him.
But, there is still more work to be done at the Inn. And in the process of these tasks, she discovers something that flips her whole world upside down. Upon the discovery that someone very dear to her is alive instead of dead as she thought for so long, her plans have taken a tailspin, creating new problems and obstacles she must overcome in order to make everything right again.
Among all of this, Maddie is still trying to sort through her feelings for Brekken and Taya. And while I love both of these characters, I get the unfortunate Gale from The Hunger Games vibe from Brekken and fear that his position as a soldier will always be the most important thing to him.
franilou89's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
novelshire's review against another edition
2.0
Hmm... I'm not really sure about this one. As with the first book in this duology(?) the idea is great- a hotel hidden in the mountains that guards doorways to other worlds. One of my complaints about the first book was that we remained confined to this world - there were visitors from other worlds and teasing, fleeting descriptions but nothing more. Well, we get to visit one other world, though fairly briefly, and once again, we remain confined. Other characters that have returned from mysterious worlds don't even get a chance to talk about them. It feels like the concept of multiple worlds is just set-dressing.
I think the story suffers from being stuck in Maddie's perspective - easily the least interesting character and someone who continues to seem childish and impulsive whilst somehow convincing other characters that she'll make a good future guardian for this place.
The ideas, the setting, the hints of a more interesting story and good supporting characters was enough for me to still enjoy this book but I just wish it was all given more room to breathe.
A quick YA fantasy, good ideas, lacking in depth.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the review copy.
I think the story suffers from being stuck in Maddie's perspective - easily the least interesting character and someone who continues to seem childish and impulsive whilst somehow convincing other characters that she'll make a good future guardian for this place.
The ideas, the setting, the hints of a more interesting story and good supporting characters was enough for me to still enjoy this book but I just wish it was all given more room to breathe.
A quick YA fantasy, good ideas, lacking in depth.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the review copy.
zarahhs's review
4.0
i loved this!! i really enjoyed getting to visit one of the other worlds and see what that was like. and i loved meeting nate, that chapter at the end from his POV was fantastic and i actually wish we could've gotten more from his perspective, i really enjoyed reading from it and getting to know him. also im not gonna lie, im definitely upset that taya and maddie didn't get together like hello gimme my f/f romance. anyway, i really enjoyed this book!
wanderlust13's review
4.0
The cover was gorgeous and I was extremely excited to read the continuation of the duology. I really loved the storyline from Havenfall and I really hoped for this one to be just as good. It fell shortly from expectations, but it was still an enjoyable read.
The love triangle was so ridiculous and I was very over it. I wish she wouldve just picked one already. It was too much nonsense when this girl is literally trying to save the realms. She has more than enough shit to deal with without adding crazy teenage drama. This is one of the reasons I despise reading YA novels so much.
Family is a very important motivator throughout this novel, and I very much loved seeing all the characters fight for what they wanted, which was mostly their loved ones. That makes for some great writing as loads of us make decisions irrationally when it comes to our family's safety, and that was seen heavily throughout this novel. The writing was good. The plot was there. Just a few needed changes could make this book I wouldve rated five stars.
The love triangle was so ridiculous and I was very over it. I wish she wouldve just picked one already. It was too much nonsense when this girl is literally trying to save the realms. She has more than enough shit to deal with without adding crazy teenage drama. This is one of the reasons I despise reading YA novels so much.
Family is a very important motivator throughout this novel, and I very much loved seeing all the characters fight for what they wanted, which was mostly their loved ones. That makes for some great writing as loads of us make decisions irrationally when it comes to our family's safety, and that was seen heavily throughout this novel. The writing was good. The plot was there. Just a few needed changes could make this book I wouldve rated five stars.
samwest113's review
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
paigemcarter's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland.
I was really happy to be accepted for an ARC of this book as I read Havenfall last year and enjoyed it! I also re-read Havenfall this week in preparation to reading this one!
I've been on a long train journey today and I've sat and read Phoenix Flame cover to cover. It wasn't that long, which was a shame as the first book was also quite short. I would of loved a bit more to read, but on the other hand I did also appreciate the fast pace of the story and maybe it would have been too 'filler' if more was added in between the main plot points.
I enjoyed Phoenix Flame, but I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as Havenfall. That's not to say it wasn't good, because it was an enjoyable and easy read, but I don't think the story really elevated as well as it could have.
I was able to predict almost everything that was going to happen, and the plot twists just made for me rolling my eyes a bit because I desperately wanted to be proven wrong.
I also feel like the characters could of had some more substantial development. Havenfall's timeline is only set over a few days, and the characters all have some growth, whereas Phoenix Flame's timeline spans over the rest of the summer (10/11 weeks?) and I feel like they don't grow like I wanted them to as a reader.
Overall, Phoenix Flame, much like Havenfall, was a simple and easy read. It wasn't bad, but it isn't groundbreaking.
I was really happy to be accepted for an ARC of this book as I read Havenfall last year and enjoyed it! I also re-read Havenfall this week in preparation to reading this one!
I've been on a long train journey today and I've sat and read Phoenix Flame cover to cover. It wasn't that long, which was a shame as the first book was also quite short. I would of loved a bit more to read, but on the other hand I did also appreciate the fast pace of the story and maybe it would have been too 'filler' if more was added in between the main plot points.
I enjoyed Phoenix Flame, but I don't think I enjoyed it quite as much as Havenfall. That's not to say it wasn't good, because it was an enjoyable and easy read, but I don't think the story really elevated as well as it could have.
I was able to predict almost everything that was going to happen, and the plot twists just made for me rolling my eyes a bit because I desperately wanted to be proven wrong.
I also feel like the characters could of had some more substantial development. Havenfall's timeline is only set over a few days, and the characters all have some growth, whereas Phoenix Flame's timeline spans over the rest of the summer (10/11 weeks?) and I feel like they don't grow like I wanted them to as a reader.
Overall, Phoenix Flame, much like Havenfall, was a simple and easy read. It wasn't bad, but it isn't groundbreaking.