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A review by fandomsandfiction
Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Just finished this book and the title is befitting. This book is chaos. And flames.
(especially that ending wtf???)
As a YA romantasy, Chaos & Flame does what it needs to do. It gives us the famous knife-to-throat enemies to i-would-die-for-you lovers. It gives us all the angst and banter and delicious secrets that keep you turning the pages hungrily. It gives us epic battles and devastating betrayals. It gives us the kind of characters you can't help falling in love with. And it gives us a whole new fantasy world to explore!
I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Darling with her daring quick wit and feisty attitude. Talon with his stoic sense of duty and the anxieties of a child who grew up too fast. Elias who may not be one of the main characters but has a gentle innocence and kindness that makes them shine.
And Caspian. Oh, Caspian.
The book is split between Darling and Talon's POVs, but Caspian was the character I found most interesting. His role as the chaotic High Prince Regent - haunted by prophecy, shrouded in mystery, prone to bouts of madness, and reveler of debauchery - makes him exactly the kind of tortured character I can't help falling in love with. :')
I found their story as thrilling and exciting as it promised to be. My only criticisms are that I found the pacing a bit off and I did not love the ending... The last few chapters are a wild tornado of chaos and excitement but then it just- stops. I found the ending a little too abrupt and it made for an unsatisfying conclusion. I also thought it felt too 'story-like'. I'm not entirely sure how to explain this, but it felt like the authors were following a formulaic YA enemies-to-lovers fantasy guideline. While I loved the characters, they just felt... like characters. While I enjoyed the fantasy world, I did not feel the complete immersion or escapism that makes me rate a fantasy 5 stars.
That being said, it was overall a really enjoyable read and I am eager to see how the series progresses.
(especially after that ending!!!)
Fantasy-lovers, I do recommend you give this one a try!
(especially that ending wtf???)
As a YA romantasy, Chaos & Flame does what it needs to do. It gives us the famous knife-to-throat enemies to i-would-die-for-you lovers. It gives us all the angst and banter and delicious secrets that keep you turning the pages hungrily. It gives us epic battles and devastating betrayals. It gives us the kind of characters you can't help falling in love with. And it gives us a whole new fantasy world to explore!
I fell in love with the characters almost immediately. Darling with her daring quick wit and feisty attitude. Talon with his stoic sense of duty and the anxieties of a child who grew up too fast. Elias who may not be one of the main characters but has a gentle innocence and kindness that makes them shine.
And Caspian. Oh, Caspian.
The book is split between Darling and Talon's POVs, but Caspian was the character I found most interesting. His role as the chaotic High Prince Regent - haunted by prophecy, shrouded in mystery, prone to bouts of madness, and reveler of debauchery - makes him exactly the kind of tortured character I can't help falling in love with. :')
I found their story as thrilling and exciting as it promised to be. My only criticisms are that I found the pacing a bit off and I did not love the ending... The last few chapters are a wild tornado of chaos and excitement but then it just- stops. I found the ending a little too abrupt and it made for an unsatisfying conclusion. I also thought it felt too 'story-like'. I'm not entirely sure how to explain this, but it felt like the authors were following a formulaic YA enemies-to-lovers fantasy guideline. While I loved the characters, they just felt... like characters. While I enjoyed the fantasy world, I did not feel the complete immersion or escapism that makes me rate a fantasy 5 stars.
That being said, it was overall a really enjoyable read and I am eager to see how the series progresses.
(especially after that ending!!!)
Fantasy-lovers, I do recommend you give this one a try!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Slavery