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applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
the beginning was irritating but it picked up a bit. our young lady does have her moments of stupidity though.
crimsoncor's review against another edition
3.0
So this series isn't moving in the correct direction. I think my biggest complaint is the giant suit of plot armor that envelopes the main character. She continues to make the most ludicrous decisions and yet never suffers any negative consequences for any of it. Nope, it always just happens to work out amazingly. And of course, with that sort of zero consequence environment, there isn't any character development or growth to speak of. Why bother if the universe is just going to smooth a path for you?
One thing I did like, though, was that the book didn't do the typical book 2 power level up for the character. Usually you get this big bump in ability from the chosen one, but Cat doesn't gain any new abilities. On the other hand, this makes her continued terrible decision making even more suspect. It isn't like she has the fire-power to cash any of the checks her mouth writes.
One thing I did like, though, was that the book didn't do the typical book 2 power level up for the character. Usually you get this big bump in ability from the chosen one, but Cat doesn't gain any new abilities. On the other hand, this makes her continued terrible decision making even more suspect. It isn't like she has the fire-power to cash any of the checks her mouth writes.
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I definitely enjoyed this sequel more than the previous book, though it slowed waaaay down in the middle. There was a lot more action and conspiracy, and a big twist at the three-quarter way mark (far in this big book, I know, but it still grabbed my interest!), all of which added to a fairly fun adventure and an ending that will be quite epic.
There was more depth into the spirit world and we got to look into the Wild Hunt, which was one of my favourite parts of the book. It added some intense weight and shock and drama to the story.
As far as the characters, there was a serious lack of Rory. Cat grew very well and continues to let her feistiness shine. Most of the book revolved around Cat and Vai's relationship. Seriously, there are at least a hundred pages of this book talking about food, and Cat spends way too much time getting literally fed by Vai. Speaking of Vai, I'd hoped for it from the previous book, and thankfully it delivered! He was muuuuch more tolerable and easier to relate to.
Though the writing is beautiful, but the pacing in the middle seemed to stretch on forever, and I didn't think it needed to be as long as it was.
All in all, I'm looking forward to see how this series wraps up! Cat's got one big adventure ahead of her!
There was more depth into the spirit world and we got to look into the Wild Hunt, which was one of my favourite parts of the book. It added some intense weight and shock and drama to the story.
As far as the characters, there was a serious lack of Rory. Cat grew very well and continues to let her feistiness shine. Most of the book revolved around Cat and Vai's relationship. Seriously, there are at least a hundred pages of this book talking about food, and Cat spends way too much time getting literally fed by Vai. Speaking of Vai, I'd hoped for it from the previous book, and thankfully it delivered! He was muuuuch more tolerable and easier to relate to.
Though the writing is beautiful, but the pacing in the middle seemed to stretch on forever, and I didn't think it needed to be as long as it was.
All in all, I'm looking forward to see how this series wraps up! Cat's got one big adventure ahead of her!
nicolemhewitt's review against another edition
4.0
I was happy that this book was much faster-paced than the first, with much less exposition. Can't wait for the third book!
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
4.5
Cold Fire picks up exactly where Cold Magic left off. Kate Elliott even backtracks through the last chapter of Cold Magic as a recap adding a few more details to break up any monotony. Cat and Bee are trying to escape the Mage House and turn to the trolls at Godwick & Clutch Cat had previously met.
What they couldn’t anticipate is the arrival of General Camjiata, the radical who wants to usurp the current ruling Prince of Europa and wants to use Bee and Cat to do so. Upon deciding to leave the General’s company the girls become embroiled in a quest that leads to us discovering Cat’s sire as well as saving Bee from becoming a casualty of the Wild Hunt.
I’ll admit, the political goings on in this series thus far have been a whirlwind. While they have an influence on the world in which the series takes place, and while Cat may navigate the inner workings of impending revolution from time to time, I’ve never found it is by her choice unless someone she cares about is entangled within as well.
I found that Cold Fire focused more on the decision of Cat’s emotions. After a trip through the spirit realm, she comes out the other end on the islands of the Antilles in the Caribbean with a far warmer climate. Since time moves differently in the spirit realm, she ended up being gone for seven months. And because anything can happen in Kate Elliott’s novels, Vai, Cat’s estranged husband, happens to be on the island when she comes ashore.
From the beginning, Cat’s marriage to Andevai has been a driving force. Not knowing what to make of his character exactly, always seeming vain, arrogant, and despising of Cat, my mind was immediately changed in his last scene in Cold Magic when he told Cat:
“When I saw you coming down the stairs that evening, it was as if I were seeing the other half of my soul descending to greet me.”
How can you not want to explore more of their dynamic after that startling out-of-nowhere statement? Elliott must have thought the same because Cold Fire certainly explores Vai much, much more. His motives for being in the Caribbean are unknown; although he claims to everyone he came looking for his missing wife, Cat knows there’s more to his story. Regardless of this, with almost everyone else around her being of unknown association, Cat finally has to make a decision of what she feels for Vai and if those feelings lead to trust as well.
I was really happy that Elliott didn’t prolong the inevitable when it came to their relationship. We finally got to see a different side of Vai. Still being vain and arrogant, we begin to see that he is more than his Mage House affiliation. This was something we saw very briefly in Cold Magic when they visited his village, but it becomes something more when he’s conversing with people who are not kin.
As in Cold Magic, the down times are few and far between for Cat. And what middle book wouldn’t be complete with a little cliffhanger ending to lead us into the third? I’m just glad all books in the series are out.
4.5
Cold Fire picks up exactly where Cold Magic left off. Kate Elliott even backtracks through the last chapter of Cold Magic as a recap adding a few more details to break up any monotony. Cat and Bee are trying to escape the Mage House and turn to the trolls at Godwick & Clutch Cat had previously met.
What they couldn’t anticipate is the arrival of General Camjiata, the radical who wants to usurp the current ruling Prince of Europa and wants to use Bee and Cat to do so. Upon deciding to leave the General’s company the girls become embroiled in a quest that leads to us discovering Cat’s sire as well as saving Bee from becoming a casualty of the Wild Hunt.
I’ll admit, the political goings on in this series thus far have been a whirlwind. While they have an influence on the world in which the series takes place, and while Cat may navigate the inner workings of impending revolution from time to time, I’ve never found it is by her choice unless someone she cares about is entangled within as well.
I found that Cold Fire focused more on the decision of Cat’s emotions. After a trip through the spirit realm, she comes out the other end on the islands of the Antilles in the Caribbean with a far warmer climate. Since time moves differently in the spirit realm, she ended up being gone for seven months. And because anything can happen in Kate Elliott’s novels, Vai, Cat’s estranged husband, happens to be on the island when she comes ashore.
From the beginning, Cat’s marriage to Andevai has been a driving force. Not knowing what to make of his character exactly, always seeming vain, arrogant, and despising of Cat, my mind was immediately changed in his last scene in Cold Magic when he told Cat:
“When I saw you coming down the stairs that evening, it was as if I were seeing the other half of my soul descending to greet me.”
How can you not want to explore more of their dynamic after that startling out-of-nowhere statement? Elliott must have thought the same because Cold Fire certainly explores Vai much, much more. His motives for being in the Caribbean are unknown; although he claims to everyone he came looking for his missing wife, Cat knows there’s more to his story. Regardless of this, with almost everyone else around her being of unknown association, Cat finally has to make a decision of what she feels for Vai and if those feelings lead to trust as well.
I was really happy that Elliott didn’t prolong the inevitable when it came to their relationship. We finally got to see a different side of Vai. Still being vain and arrogant, we begin to see that he is more than his Mage House affiliation. This was something we saw very briefly in Cold Magic when they visited his village, but it becomes something more when he’s conversing with people who are not kin.
As in Cold Magic, the down times are few and far between for Cat. And what middle book wouldn’t be complete with a little cliffhanger ending to lead us into the third? I’m just glad all books in the series are out.
mamap's review against another edition
3.0
i skipped 100 pages and then went back and read them later. not as fun as the first.
Read again: So I must have liked it more that originally.
Read again: So I must have liked it more that originally.
suzemo's review against another edition
3.0
I almost want to give this a four star rating, but I can't quite bring myself to do it.
This book doesn't have the massive info-dumps that bogged down the first one, and I think it is better than the first... but it's writing is still not sitting well with me.
On the other hand, I love that I have two strong female protagonists, and, in fact, they're just as much saving the prince(ss) and being bad-ass as a male protag would in a lot of fantasy. Go gender stuff!
The action is interesting, and the world building is also fantastic. I like the characters, I like the plot... I think it's just the writing... and I'm sure it's probably just me.
One thing that did not sit right with me, that I can actually put my finger on is
I have a feeling that the last book will be just as somewhat-tedious to read, but I do like the characters and I would like to see how the whole thing ends.
This book doesn't have the massive info-dumps that bogged down the first one, and I think it is better than the first... but it's writing is still not sitting well with me.
On the other hand, I love that I have two strong female protagonists, and, in fact, they're just as much saving the prince(ss) and being bad-ass as a male protag would in a lot of fantasy. Go gender stuff!
The action is interesting, and the world building is also fantastic. I like the characters, I like the plot... I think it's just the writing... and I'm sure it's probably just me.
One thing that did not sit right with me, that I can actually put my finger on is
Spoiler
the whole issue with Drake "taking advantage" of Cat. He rapes her. I mean, it's a date rape, but a rape-rape just the same. He gets her drunk, he threatens her life (he convinces her that she will die if he doesn't have sex with her, which is the same thing as holding a knife to her throat, if you ask me). And it's treated with some disgust and anger by people in the book, but then it's brushed off as an "oh well" and there seem to be no lasting effects (other than continuing the rivalry between Drake and Vai)... so it's a plot point, using Cat as a piece of property? It bugged... and it was disappointing.I have a feeling that the last book will be just as somewhat-tedious to read, but I do like the characters and I would like to see how the whole thing ends.
hummeline's review against another edition
3.0
Ahhhhhhh man, I'm conflicted on this book. I think it was DEFINITELY a book and a half, and it felt like it. The first half was OK (lots of re-hashing what had happened before) and LONG and then we went to the Caribbean and it didn't seem to make much SENSE (like why world build so much in the first book if you just LEAVE).
What killed me is there were some neat parts of this - I love everything with the spirit world, I love being bound to only answer questions if you're in service of the night courts, and I still love the idea of cold magic, but I wasn't as in love with this as I was the first book.
What killed me is there were some neat parts of this - I love everything with the spirit world, I love being bound to only answer questions if you're in service of the night courts, and I still love the idea of cold magic, but I wasn't as in love with this as I was the first book.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
2.0
3,5 cos of the ending, but 2 cos of the beginning.
It was not as good as book 1 and it took a while for me to get into the book. I really can't put my finger on it. maybe it was how sudden we were thrown into book 2 from book 1. It felt like I turned a page and then it continued, which can be a good thing but not since it was months since i read it. Perhaps it was the flow of direction, sometimes it seemed to flow to fast, in too many currents and I could not catch the right stream. Which led me to feel confused and unfocused. Whatever it was it went away, but it did come again here and there.
Don't get me wrong, yes it took me a while, but then I started to enjoy the book. But I do feel that it lost something that made book 1 so great. But still good enough for me to want book 3.
The story takes a turn and instead of Europe it takes place in the Caribbean. Where kingdoms rule and these people are not afraid of progress, so here it is more steampunk (not that we see much), but Europe is just ice and magic. Here we have zombies, Cat being lost, we finally learn who her dad is, we meet the general again who wants to conquer Europe, can Cat escape her marriage, does she want to? And Bea learn about the path of dragons. I can't say much, since everything is more or less a spoiler. But yes I was happy about the turn of events, some things made me wonder, and some made me want to kick a certain person.
It was a good book, it held my attention (after the first part), and the world is just fantastic. A true creation in its fullest.
And I must mention that I love Rory! I sure do.
Conclusion:
I would recommend it, because it is for everyone. Whether you like steampunk, fantasy or paranormal, and there is romance to be had too.
It was not as good as book 1 and it took a while for me to get into the book. I really can't put my finger on it. maybe it was how sudden we were thrown into book 2 from book 1. It felt like I turned a page and then it continued, which can be a good thing but not since it was months since i read it. Perhaps it was the flow of direction, sometimes it seemed to flow to fast, in too many currents and I could not catch the right stream. Which led me to feel confused and unfocused. Whatever it was it went away, but it did come again here and there.
Don't get me wrong, yes it took me a while, but then I started to enjoy the book. But I do feel that it lost something that made book 1 so great. But still good enough for me to want book 3.
The story takes a turn and instead of Europe it takes place in the Caribbean. Where kingdoms rule and these people are not afraid of progress, so here it is more steampunk (not that we see much), but Europe is just ice and magic. Here we have zombies, Cat being lost, we finally learn who her dad is, we meet the general again who wants to conquer Europe, can Cat escape her marriage, does she want to? And Bea learn about the path of dragons. I can't say much, since everything is more or less a spoiler. But yes I was happy about the turn of events, some things made me wonder, and some made me want to kick a certain person.
It was a good book, it held my attention (after the first part), and the world is just fantastic. A true creation in its fullest.
And I must mention that I love Rory! I sure do.
Conclusion:
I would recommend it, because it is for everyone. Whether you like steampunk, fantasy or paranormal, and there is romance to be had too.