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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was amazing! I wasn’t 100% sure what I was getting into, but being a fan of Eragon & the Hunger Games, I ate this story up! I hope there’s more!!
<i>"pitched as How to Train Your Dragon meets Quidditch Through the Ages"</i>
<img src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/l41YAbDsTJXKANjmE/giphy.gif"/>
<img src="https://media0.giphy.com/media/l41YAbDsTJXKANjmE/giphy.gif"/>
**Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, which does not influence my review**
Amparo Ortiz’s YA debut, Blazewrath Games, is an utter delight, a captivating fantasy from start to finish. Lana Torres has one dream, to become the Runner for the Puerto Rican team in the Blazewrath World Cup, a game played with dragons and their riders. After a dangerous brush with death in which Lana confronts a follower of the notorious Sire, a man who was once a dragon, Lana misses her chance at tryouts. But when the president of the International Blazewrath Federation takes notice, Lana is given another chance to join the Puerto Rican team. As Lana and her new team train together, news of the Sire conducting raids on dragon sanctuaries begins to circulate. Soon Lana finds herself caught in another game as the Sire threatens violence if the Cup is not canceled; meanwhile, the people Lana is supposed to trust the most are calling for the Cup to go on as planned. Ortiz’s has built such a complex world with Blazewrath Games. I enjoyed every time we as readers got to see another layer and loved how each new fact built on the last. Dragons aren’t the only magical beings, there are also witches and wizards. One of my favorite side characters was Lana’s best friend, Samira, who is a copper-wand witch and what she lacks in magical skill she makes up for in drive. It was really interesting to explore different polarizing views in this world and how they influenced both the heroes and villains of the story. Blazewrath Games is a celebration of camaraderie and belonging, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes.
Amparo Ortiz’s YA debut, Blazewrath Games, is an utter delight, a captivating fantasy from start to finish. Lana Torres has one dream, to become the Runner for the Puerto Rican team in the Blazewrath World Cup, a game played with dragons and their riders. After a dangerous brush with death in which Lana confronts a follower of the notorious Sire, a man who was once a dragon, Lana misses her chance at tryouts. But when the president of the International Blazewrath Federation takes notice, Lana is given another chance to join the Puerto Rican team. As Lana and her new team train together, news of the Sire conducting raids on dragon sanctuaries begins to circulate. Soon Lana finds herself caught in another game as the Sire threatens violence if the Cup is not canceled; meanwhile, the people Lana is supposed to trust the most are calling for the Cup to go on as planned. Ortiz’s has built such a complex world with Blazewrath Games. I enjoyed every time we as readers got to see another layer and loved how each new fact built on the last. Dragons aren’t the only magical beings, there are also witches and wizards. One of my favorite side characters was Lana’s best friend, Samira, who is a copper-wand witch and what she lacks in magical skill she makes up for in drive. It was really interesting to explore different polarizing views in this world and how they influenced both the heroes and villains of the story. Blazewrath Games is a celebration of camaraderie and belonging, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on their toes.
What a fun fantasy book! Give this to fans of Harry Potter and dragon books. Although it reads a little like a fanfiction version of the Potter universe in spots (there are witches and wizards and wands, all nonmagical folk are called "Regulars") it has a lot of totally unique and clever magical things happening to make it stand apart. I would describe Blazewrath as "Quidditch played on dragonback using flames instead of a ball," with the added twist of a Runner on foot trying to score but having to fight "Blockers" for every step they take toward the goal (kind of like how the Seeker looks for the Snitch in Quidditch). The game is actually pretty complicated, but sounds like it would be fantastic to watch! Our heroine, Lana, becomes the Runner for the Puerto Rican team, a lifelong dream despite her mother's fear of dragons due to a childhood incident. She has to work hard to fit in with her teammates, and her participation in the Blazewrath World Cup soon becomes very complicated, involving the "Department of Magical Investigations" hunt for The Sire, a menacing dragon terrorist, and the disappearance of a famous Blazewrath player, Lana's sporting idol. This is a fast read and a lot of fun once you let yourself sink into this world. I'm looking forward to the sequel, which I assume will happen, because there are enough unsolved plotlines to delve into further adventures with Lana and her dragonrider teammates. I also loved the diversity in this book, from the LGBTQ teammates and adults in the story to the ethnic diversity as well. I read an e-galley of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my feedback.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced