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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I received an earc of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review
CW: violence, murder, talk of parental death from cancer, physical altercations, manipulation, mind invasion, threats, passing mention of queerphobia. .
When I went into BLAZEWRATH GAMES, I went in for the dragons (like everybody else, I assume), the magical sports tournament and just all around fun times. Like one does. But what I got out of it what so much more. Don’t get me wrong, all of the above are present in heavy doses, but the book also discusses so many important topics and does so masterfully that I couldn’t help but have an amazing time reading it, cover to cover.
Right off the bat, you’re welcomed with very lively and engaging writing, and personally, the more I read the more that became evident. And not only that but the writing is also very vivid and descriptive (not overly so though) which makes everything happening jump out of the page because of how easy if it to visualize. The way the games are written? Legendary. The attention to detail which simultaneously keeping the sequences fast paced, the way the rules are explained and laid out. SO. GOOD. As such, BLAZEWRATH GAMES reads like movie in the best of ways, and wow, would I give an arm and a leg to see this book be made into a movie.
The plot was simultaneously intricate and easy to follow. There are quite a few subplots and characters that come into play and converge at some point of another. The more you read the more new elements gets introduced that might seem like the stick out at first, but they do eventually fall into place when the right time comes. Now granted, a few parts of the plot here and there felt a bit too convenient to me, but I honestly didn’t pay them much mind because I was having too much fun.
Find my full review on my blog Word Wonders
CW: violence, murder, talk of parental death from cancer, physical altercations, manipulation, mind invasion, threats, passing mention of queerphobia. .
When I went into BLAZEWRATH GAMES, I went in for the dragons (like everybody else, I assume), the magical sports tournament and just all around fun times. Like one does. But what I got out of it what so much more. Don’t get me wrong, all of the above are present in heavy doses, but the book also discusses so many important topics and does so masterfully that I couldn’t help but have an amazing time reading it, cover to cover.
Right off the bat, you’re welcomed with very lively and engaging writing, and personally, the more I read the more that became evident. And not only that but the writing is also very vivid and descriptive (not overly so though) which makes everything happening jump out of the page because of how easy if it to visualize. The way the games are written? Legendary. The attention to detail which simultaneously keeping the sequences fast paced, the way the rules are explained and laid out. SO. GOOD. As such, BLAZEWRATH GAMES reads like movie in the best of ways, and wow, would I give an arm and a leg to see this book be made into a movie.
The plot was simultaneously intricate and easy to follow. There are quite a few subplots and characters that come into play and converge at some point of another. The more you read the more new elements gets introduced that might seem like the stick out at first, but they do eventually fall into place when the right time comes. Now granted, a few parts of the plot here and there felt a bit too convenient to me, but I honestly didn’t pay them much mind because I was having too much fun.
Find my full review on my blog Word Wonders
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Blazewrath Games was a delightful read. It incorporates magic and fantasy into a contemporary world similar to Harry Potter. The twist here is that while the Wizarding World of the Potter-verse remains secret to Muggles, the Regulars (equivalent to Muggles in Ortiz's world) are aware of the existence of magic, and, more importantly, the dragons. Witch and wizard individuals and Regulars coexist in a relatively peaceful world.
Ortiz created a wonderful, beautifully crafted heroine in Lana Torres. She was real enough to me that I would find myself both rooting for her in her most empowered moments and feeling frustrated with her for not standing up to a teammate berating her or her dreadful cousin. She is not the "Chosen One" trope, but rather a strong individual who loves dragons and the Blazewrath Games. She feels pride for her Puerto Rican heritage yet still struggles with her distance from her island and wondering if she has the right to claim that identity. Her inner struggles are beautifully illustrated and add a layer of depth to her character that boosts the narrative. While I enjoyed Lana's character, I do have to admit that I found the other characters on the flat side. Occasional sparks of development were found in Victoria and Andrew, but aside from them, I found Lana's team and other magical characters to be far less interesting and one-dimensional. Even though Lana's mother was also under-developed, I found myself overjoyed with how she and Lana reconnect in the final pages of the novel.
In addition to Lana's strength as a character, something that made this novel so enjoyable was the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. Queer identity is not a struggle for the characters in this novel; these characters are fully accepted and not demonized. As a queer woman myself, I found this to be a wonderful aspect of this novel. Latinx characters make up the primary cast, making this an essential addition to a library wishing to provide their readers with inclusive fantasy novels.
One thing I wish had been incorporated more was a world-building aspect. The chapters all conclude with excerpts from magical texts that are part of Lana's world, but it was a little difficult to keep track of elements of the world. I was desperate for a more solid structure. It did not get in the way of the narrative, but as a fantasy reader, it is something I crave in my books.
Something that frustrated me immensely while reading, though, was the dragons. The book is touted by publishers as a "How to Train Your Dragon" meets "Quidditch." Such a description is what drew me to this novel in the first place. It certainly meets the "Quidditch" mark. However, "How to Train Your Dragon" is not the feeling I experienced, and that is probably what disappointed me most. I was expecting far more connection with dragons than was presented. Yes, dragons are throughout the novel. But when I think "How to Train Your Dragon," I expect a strong connection between the protagonist and dragon, as that is essential for Hiccup and Toothless' story. Dragons do not play a role in Lana's development. She tells us she loves them, and the games, but I wished she would have spent more time with dragons. I did not necessarily desire Lana to be a rider, but if she'd spent more time with the dragons on her team or even included memories of her and her father that involve the love of dragons, I would have been much more satisfied.
Overall, Lana's story is a satisfying page-turner that will delight readers looking for a magical, inclusive novel desiring to read about a heroine representative of the everything we need in this current period of the world: a resilient, strong, Latinx girl fighting against injustice and to represent her country in a noble way. It's absolutely wonderful.
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC*
Ortiz created a wonderful, beautifully crafted heroine in Lana Torres. She was real enough to me that I would find myself both rooting for her in her most empowered moments and feeling frustrated with her for not standing up to a teammate berating her or her dreadful cousin. She is not the "Chosen One" trope, but rather a strong individual who loves dragons and the Blazewrath Games. She feels pride for her Puerto Rican heritage yet still struggles with her distance from her island and wondering if she has the right to claim that identity. Her inner struggles are beautifully illustrated and add a layer of depth to her character that boosts the narrative. While I enjoyed Lana's character, I do have to admit that I found the other characters on the flat side. Occasional sparks of development were found in Victoria and Andrew, but aside from them, I found Lana's team and other magical characters to be far less interesting and one-dimensional. Even though Lana's mother was also under-developed, I found myself overjoyed with how she and Lana reconnect in the final pages of the novel.
In addition to Lana's strength as a character, something that made this novel so enjoyable was the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters. Queer identity is not a struggle for the characters in this novel; these characters are fully accepted and not demonized. As a queer woman myself, I found this to be a wonderful aspect of this novel. Latinx characters make up the primary cast, making this an essential addition to a library wishing to provide their readers with inclusive fantasy novels.
One thing I wish had been incorporated more was a world-building aspect. The chapters all conclude with excerpts from magical texts that are part of Lana's world, but it was a little difficult to keep track of elements of the world. I was desperate for a more solid structure. It did not get in the way of the narrative, but as a fantasy reader, it is something I crave in my books.
Something that frustrated me immensely while reading, though, was the dragons. The book is touted by publishers as a "How to Train Your Dragon" meets "Quidditch." Such a description is what drew me to this novel in the first place. It certainly meets the "Quidditch" mark. However, "How to Train Your Dragon" is not the feeling I experienced, and that is probably what disappointed me most. I was expecting far more connection with dragons than was presented. Yes, dragons are throughout the novel. But when I think "How to Train Your Dragon," I expect a strong connection between the protagonist and dragon, as that is essential for Hiccup and Toothless' story. Dragons do not play a role in Lana's development. She tells us she loves them, and the games, but I wished she would have spent more time with dragons. I did not necessarily desire Lana to be a rider, but if she'd spent more time with the dragons on her team or even included memories of her and her father that involve the love of dragons, I would have been much more satisfied.
Overall, Lana's story is a satisfying page-turner that will delight readers looking for a magical, inclusive novel desiring to read about a heroine representative of the everything we need in this current period of the world: a resilient, strong, Latinx girl fighting against injustice and to represent her country in a noble way. It's absolutely wonderful.
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing the ARC*
loved everything about this. super fast paced and intriguing. finally a book with a Puerto Rican main character.
The Blazewrath Game is just as much fun as it sounds. And the descriptions of the games themselves are a joy to read. It's easy to see why the sport is so popular in this world.
The story was very fast paced. Every time I read the book I didn't want to put it down, which I had to do often since I would read it on my lunch breaks at work. It would be so hard to put it down and go back to work.
While I can see sprinkings of Quiddich and The Hunger Games in this story, it is unique enough to stand out on its own. It also wound some mystery into the story, keeping it engaging and intriguing.
The characters and world building were fantastically written and really helped draw me into the story. Lana stands out as a protagonist because she is both a Regular, that is non-magic user, and not a dragon rider. She is surrounded by magic users and dragon riders and caretakers, yet she is able to make her own place in this world without needing those attributes.
The ending of the story really surprised me, in a good way. I didn't see it coming and it was a shocking but realistic way to end the story. While this is the first book in a duology, this volume wraps up well.
My one critique is that characters' physical appearances were overly described when we met them, especially mentioning the chest and butt size and curvyness of each female character we met. Please no.
Overall the Blazewrath Games is a fun and exciting story and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Thanks to @pagestreetya
for sending me an early copy!
The story was very fast paced. Every time I read the book I didn't want to put it down, which I had to do often since I would read it on my lunch breaks at work. It would be so hard to put it down and go back to work.
While I can see sprinkings of Quiddich and The Hunger Games in this story, it is unique enough to stand out on its own. It also wound some mystery into the story, keeping it engaging and intriguing.
The characters and world building were fantastically written and really helped draw me into the story. Lana stands out as a protagonist because she is both a Regular, that is non-magic user, and not a dragon rider. She is surrounded by magic users and dragon riders and caretakers, yet she is able to make her own place in this world without needing those attributes.
The ending of the story really surprised me, in a good way. I didn't see it coming and it was a shocking but realistic way to end the story. While this is the first book in a duology, this volume wraps up well.
My one critique is that characters' physical appearances were overly described when we met them, especially mentioning the chest and butt size and curvyness of each female character we met. Please no.
Overall the Blazewrath Games is a fun and exciting story and I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Thanks to @pagestreetya
for sending me an early copy!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This book is great!
Dragons, magic wands and magic shops, diverse characters, a love for puerto rico that makes me want to visit, friendship and solving a mystery.
A bit too young adult for me sometimes, but that's a me thing, the book is written for young adults and that's not me. I'm like: 'why is the 17 year old doing this and not the adults?' But that's often my thought process while reading YA.
Dragons, magic wands and magic shops, diverse characters, a love for puerto rico that makes me want to visit, friendship and solving a mystery.
A bit too young adult for me sometimes, but that's a me thing, the book is written for young adults and that's not me. I'm like: 'why is the 17 year old doing this and not the adults?' But that's often my thought process while reading YA.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes