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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Standing ovation, cheers, and fireworks, this series is so much fun! We have two books that have kept me up way past my bedtime because I couldn’t put down the book. Moments that made me squee because of the central romance were frequent. Ultimately I cannot recommend this enough to other readers. If there were countless more books in the series, I would obviously read them all for more Adraa and Jatin content.
This book was a wild ride of the fallout of the first book. The truth isn’t enough to save Adraa when magic is afoot, and the claustrophobic silence of her situation is hard to bear witness to, but the people she meets and secrets she uncovers are essential to understanding and tying up the mystery of Bloodlurst and who is behind the Vencrin, both of which I did not see coming.
I loved the additional romance between Prisha and Hiren, but Adraa and Jatin remain couple goals. All their moments together and sass remain top tier.
The book wrapped up well, with so much character growth, but I cannot help but want more with the war starting, Moolek gone, new magics to explore, and the challenges between dating Ranis and Rajas. Crossing my fingers that another book is going to happen, and in the meantime I’m this series’s biggest hype woman.
This book was a wild ride of the fallout of the first book. The truth isn’t enough to save Adraa when magic is afoot, and the claustrophobic silence of her situation is hard to bear witness to, but the people she meets and secrets she uncovers are essential to understanding and tying up the mystery of Bloodlurst and who is behind the Vencrin, both of which I did not see coming.
I loved the additional romance between Prisha and Hiren, but Adraa and Jatin remain couple goals. All their moments together and sass remain top tier.
The book wrapped up well, with so much character growth, but I cannot help but want more with the war starting, Moolek gone, new magics to explore, and the challenges between dating Ranis and Rajas. Crossing my fingers that another book is going to happen, and in the meantime I’m this series’s biggest hype woman.
I received a free copy from Delacorte Press in exchange for an honest review.
When readers last left Adraa and Jatin, Mount Gandhak had erupted and neighboring ruler Maharaja Moolek proved to be a threat to the welfare of Naupure and Belwar. As if these challenges weren’t tough enough, Adraa failed her test, proving that she is unable to manifest all nine types of magic, and has been deemed the villain behind the eruption of the volcano.
Bound by Firelight took a darker and more violent turn, but given that Adraa was investigating the source of the drug Bloodlurst and Vencrin violence, it made sense that she would discover some devastating secrets. In addition to the change in tone, there was much to praise. The magic system is cemented and I understood how it worked. The gods of each color were still difficult to remember, though there were several, such as Erif, Dloc, Htrea, and Laeh, who were easier to pinpoint given repeated mentions. The confusing aspect of this novel was the making of Bloodlurst. As a reader, I believe I understand the idea behind the making of the drug, but there could have been additional clarity on this aspect.
The secondary characters also receive more page time and this benefits this installment. While the first novel rightly focused on Adraa and Jatin’s relationship, the interests and motivations of many of those surrounding them receive more attention in this installment, specifically Riya, Prisha, Kalyan, and Hiren. Fiza, a royal of Agsa and fellow student of Jatin’s from the academy, is also added to the mix. As a character, Fiza is fascinatingly complex and I would follow her into a spin-off if she had one. What pleased me the most about the addition of Fiza was that Dana Swift did not turn her into the third point of a love triangle.
In terms of the baddies, Moolek features more heavily, but as a reader, I still felt he was a bit of a cardboard cutout villain. His motivations were somewhat unclear. Power, I guess? What interested me more was the plot twist of a secondary bad guy. While I did guess the eventual reveal, this provided multiple points of attack to the core group of characters and it caused them to pivot on several occasions. The takedown of the villains was, however, well orchestrated and had me quickly turning pages to determine the outcome of my favorite characters. Make no mistake. When things get darker, the stakes are raised and not everyone makes it through this installment.
My favorite part of the novel was the evolution of Adraa and Jatin’s relationship and the continued character development of each of them individually. It’s important to note that during much of the novel these characters are apart, which provides ample time for character growth. Swift does not waste this opportunity and Jatin grows into a leader while Adraa leans into her smarts and continues to be scrappy and resourceful. Most impressive was that Adraa learns to check some of her impulsivity and think before acting. When the two eventually come back together they have learned a great deal about themselves. This was evident when Jatin found ways to elevate Adraa and even cede the spotlight to her on multiple occasions. I found this to be a great depiction of how modern relationships can honor both individuals without getting hung up on what might traditionally be considered masculine and feminine roles.
Any criticism I have floats around two contentious plot points. Magic can be complicated to use in a fantasy novel. Early in the novel, Adraa’s voice is forcefully ripped away from her through magic, which felt like a violation of her body. Adraa must deal with this trauma and find a way to cope, eventually learning to communicate by a form of sign language. However, the resolution to this plot point also involved magic and the restoration of her voice. In many ways, I felt this cheapened some of Adraa’s growth because she had learned a great deal about herself through this experience. Part of this feeling stemmed from the fact that Adraa was a whole person despite her added disability, but the ableist assumption that she could not be complete without removing or negating this disability seemed like the wrong direction to take for the novel and the character. So to summarize, the way this situation is dealt with is challenging because of the forced voice removal and the magical healing of the disability since both seem like a violation of the character.
However, Bound by Firelight was a fun, quick read with real stakes for the characters in this world. Additionally, while this seemed to be the completion of the series, I would return for a third novel that shows Adraa and Jatin ruling their kingdoms, managing their relationship, ensuring Moolek gets his comeuppance, and finding themselves thrown into new adventures.
When readers last left Adraa and Jatin, Mount Gandhak had erupted and neighboring ruler Maharaja Moolek proved to be a threat to the welfare of Naupure and Belwar. As if these challenges weren’t tough enough, Adraa failed her test, proving that she is unable to manifest all nine types of magic, and has been deemed the villain behind the eruption of the volcano.
Bound by Firelight took a darker and more violent turn, but given that Adraa was investigating the source of the drug Bloodlurst and Vencrin violence, it made sense that she would discover some devastating secrets. In addition to the change in tone, there was much to praise. The magic system is cemented and I understood how it worked. The gods of each color were still difficult to remember, though there were several, such as Erif, Dloc, Htrea, and Laeh, who were easier to pinpoint given repeated mentions. The confusing aspect of this novel was the making of Bloodlurst. As a reader, I believe I understand the idea behind the making of the drug, but there could have been additional clarity on this aspect.
The secondary characters also receive more page time and this benefits this installment. While the first novel rightly focused on Adraa and Jatin’s relationship, the interests and motivations of many of those surrounding them receive more attention in this installment, specifically Riya, Prisha, Kalyan, and Hiren. Fiza, a royal of Agsa and fellow student of Jatin’s from the academy, is also added to the mix. As a character, Fiza is fascinatingly complex and I would follow her into a spin-off if she had one. What pleased me the most about the addition of Fiza was that Dana Swift did not turn her into the third point of a love triangle.
In terms of the baddies, Moolek features more heavily, but as a reader, I still felt he was a bit of a cardboard cutout villain. His motivations were somewhat unclear. Power, I guess? What interested me more was the plot twist of a secondary bad guy. While I did guess the eventual reveal, this provided multiple points of attack to the core group of characters and it caused them to pivot on several occasions. The takedown of the villains was, however, well orchestrated and had me quickly turning pages to determine the outcome of my favorite characters. Make no mistake. When things get darker, the stakes are raised and not everyone makes it through this installment.
My favorite part of the novel was the evolution of Adraa and Jatin’s relationship and the continued character development of each of them individually. It’s important to note that during much of the novel these characters are apart, which provides ample time for character growth. Swift does not waste this opportunity and Jatin grows into a leader while Adraa leans into her smarts and continues to be scrappy and resourceful. Most impressive was that Adraa learns to check some of her impulsivity and think before acting. When the two eventually come back together they have learned a great deal about themselves. This was evident when Jatin found ways to elevate Adraa and even cede the spotlight to her on multiple occasions. I found this to be a great depiction of how modern relationships can honor both individuals without getting hung up on what might traditionally be considered masculine and feminine roles.
Any criticism I have floats around two contentious plot points. Magic can be complicated to use in a fantasy novel. Early in the novel, Adraa’s voice is forcefully ripped away from her through magic, which felt like a violation of her body. Adraa must deal with this trauma and find a way to cope, eventually learning to communicate by a form of sign language. However, the resolution to this plot point also involved magic and the restoration of her voice. In many ways, I felt this cheapened some of Adraa’s growth because she had learned a great deal about herself through this experience. Part of this feeling stemmed from the fact that Adraa was a whole person despite her added disability, but the ableist assumption that she could not be complete without removing or negating this disability seemed like the wrong direction to take for the novel and the character. So to summarize, the way this situation is dealt with is challenging because of the forced voice removal and the magical healing of the disability since both seem like a violation of the character.
However, Bound by Firelight was a fun, quick read with real stakes for the characters in this world. Additionally, while this seemed to be the completion of the series, I would return for a third novel that shows Adraa and Jatin ruling their kingdoms, managing their relationship, ensuring Moolek gets his comeuppance, and finding themselves thrown into new adventures.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-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
⭐⭐⭐.5
(not and OwnVoices novel)
there was something about this book that was just so... good. maybe it was the slightly now seasoned author so her writing improved, i dunno.
the story was much more engaging in this sequel and to be honest, the fact that adraa and jatin were separated for 300ish pages didn't bother me. because on both sides, the story was going and it was deepening and it just flowed so effortlessly. i would've finished this sooner if my sleep schedule and work hadn't gotten in the way haha.
i really loved seeing adraa and jatin grow separate and together in this book and it was really fun seeing how their stories ended at the end of this book. i really liked how dana swift closed the story, but let other storylines kind of open to give the reader something to ponder about after finishing.
overall, a very well done sequel and a very well done duology finale.
(not and OwnVoices novel)
there was something about this book that was just so... good. maybe it was the slightly now seasoned author so her writing improved, i dunno.
the story was much more engaging in this sequel and to be honest, the fact that adraa and jatin were separated for 300ish pages didn't bother me. because on both sides, the story was going and it was deepening and it just flowed so effortlessly. i would've finished this sooner if my sleep schedule and work hadn't gotten in the way haha.
i really loved seeing adraa and jatin grow separate and together in this book and it was really fun seeing how their stories ended at the end of this book. i really liked how dana swift closed the story, but let other storylines kind of open to give the reader something to ponder about after finishing.
overall, a very well done sequel and a very well done duology finale.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars.
Look, I liked the first one but I wasn't thrilled about it...but when I saw the ARC I knew I needed to request it just because I love Adraa and Jatin's banter (also, the chapter titles are once again gold in this).
Plot wise? I liked this a lot more than the first one. There is intense character development for Adraa and Jatin, and most of it is due to the fact they spend a large majority of the book away from each other. Adraa's storyline is heartbreaking but powerful, and I can see it resonating for others who go through intense trauma.
I think in trying to tie up storylines, there were still a lot that I was just ?!?! about, and I definitely feel like there was enough left unresolved that indicates more books in the series...but I'm not sure how it'll work with how it left Adraa and Jatin (don't worry, it's a happy ending).
The magic is still one of my favorites I've read in a fantasy...besides how it's named since it's literally the elements backwards (which pains me).
Look, I liked the first one but I wasn't thrilled about it...but when I saw the ARC I knew I needed to request it just because I love Adraa and Jatin's banter (also, the chapter titles are once again gold in this).
Plot wise? I liked this a lot more than the first one. There is intense character development for Adraa and Jatin, and most of it is due to the fact they spend a large majority of the book away from each other. Adraa's storyline is heartbreaking but powerful, and I can see it resonating for others who go through intense trauma.
I think in trying to tie up storylines, there were still a lot that I was just ?!?! about, and I definitely feel like there was enough left unresolved that indicates more books in the series...but I'm not sure how it'll work with how it left Adraa and Jatin (don't worry, it's a happy ending).
The magic is still one of my favorites I've read in a fantasy...besides how it's named since it's literally the elements backwards (which pains me).
3.5 stars
As always I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved Cast in Firelight, so when I got approved to read Bound By Firelight I immediately dropped everything I was reading and dove right in. I adore Adraa and Jatin! Their relationship is so sweet and I ate up all the tender moments they had in this. And since they’re separated for nearly half the story this left plenty of room for their characters to grow.
The plot…Unfortunately the plot in this sequel didn’t do much for me nor did I feel very invested in the side characters. I feel like they could’ve been fleshed out a lot better, only to make their stories have more of an emotional impact. For me, it didn’t make my feels of steel feel much. :/
Overall I still really enjoyed the story! The magic system remains an A+ in visuals. And I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Adraa and Jatin.
As always I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved Cast in Firelight, so when I got approved to read Bound By Firelight I immediately dropped everything I was reading and dove right in. I adore Adraa and Jatin! Their relationship is so sweet and I ate up all the tender moments they had in this. And since they’re separated for nearly half the story this left plenty of room for their characters to grow.
The plot…Unfortunately the plot in this sequel didn’t do much for me nor did I feel very invested in the side characters. I feel like they could’ve been fleshed out a lot better, only to make their stories have more of an emotional impact. For me, it didn’t make my feels of steel feel much. :/
Overall I still really enjoyed the story! The magic system remains an A+ in visuals. And I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Adraa and Jatin.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Torture, Xenophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Colonisation, Classism
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-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
"it's hard to watch your heroes fall"
"To save others, sometimes we have to save ourselves first. I’m no hero—maybe I never was."
"But it doesn’t go away entirely. Jatin talks of time and how grief never really disappears, just changes, becomes manageable."
“You did not make me stronger. This trauma didn’t make me stronger. I was already strong.”
"To save others, sometimes we have to save ourselves first. I’m no hero—maybe I never was."
"But it doesn’t go away entirely. Jatin talks of time and how grief never really disappears, just changes, becomes manageable."
“You did not make me stronger. This trauma didn’t make me stronger. I was already strong.”