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A review by mikasana
Of Flame and Fury by Mikayla Bridge
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
4.5
Disclaimer: I received a full ARC in exchange for an honest review. Not a sample, a full ARC.
Before I start my review, I just want to say ignore every other big-name book comparison made for this book. Wipe it clean. Now, with a fresh slate... picture a dystopian world where magical beasts of various descriptions and natures thrive. Have you ever thought of riding a flaming phoenix the size of a horse and then thought we could race these phoenixes competitively Formula 1 style? Me neither... until now!
Of Flame and Fury is very different from the majority of popular fantasy and romantasy already out. Our main character, Kelyn, is as stubborn as any girl trying to keep her family's legacy afloat. This is her story to tell.
The beginning throws you in, front row, to the mayhem that is phoenix racing and you are quickly spun up into the world and its dangers. From then on its a mix of character dynamics, conspiracy, and intense blink-and-you-miss-it racing action.
I did find the pacing after this flurry of activity and around 20% in a bit too slow for my liking, but it quickly starts picking up again. I also wasn't sold on the antagonist especially towards the end as they felt they had a bit too black of a moral compass and not enough of a grey area for my liking, but that's my personal preference. To me, the ending felt a little weak and not as strong as the beginning in terms of plot decisions. I also was a little confused by the ending and wasn't entirely clear if there was going to be more to follow (I am assuming there will be with a sequel).
Despite all that, I found the story easy to empathize with including its characters. There was a good amount of depth with our main characters and I liked how they seemed to balance each other out as a group. I also found the romance to be very natural, believable rivals-to-lovers with slow-burn. And if you love good back-and-forth snarky banter, you will love this! Keep in mind, this is a YA romance, they are both 17 and are forced to grow up way too fast in an unforgiving and dangerous world. Of that world, you will be introduced to pieces and fragments of its lands and dangers that will have you salivating for more. The plot itself was both complex and refreshing, with multiple twists that will keep you on your toes.
Overall, WHAT A DEBUT! This was a super fun and interesting read and I am very hopeful for a sequel! I definitely would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something a little outside the norm. I definitely plan on purchasing my own copy when it is released.
Before I start my review, I just want to say ignore every other big-name book comparison made for this book. Wipe it clean. Now, with a fresh slate... picture a dystopian world where magical beasts of various descriptions and natures thrive. Have you ever thought of riding a flaming phoenix the size of a horse and then thought we could race these phoenixes competitively Formula 1 style? Me neither... until now!
Of Flame and Fury is very different from the majority of popular fantasy and romantasy already out. Our main character, Kelyn, is as stubborn as any girl trying to keep her family's legacy afloat. This is her story to tell.
The beginning throws you in, front row, to the mayhem that is phoenix racing and you are quickly spun up into the world and its dangers. From then on its a mix of character dynamics, conspiracy, and intense blink-and-you-miss-it racing action.
I did find the pacing after this flurry of activity and around 20% in a bit too slow for my liking, but it quickly starts picking up again. I also wasn't sold on the antagonist especially towards the end as they felt they had a bit too black of a moral compass and not enough of a grey area for my liking, but that's my personal preference. To me, the ending felt a little weak and not as strong as the beginning in terms of plot decisions. I also was a little confused by the ending and wasn't entirely clear if there was going to be more to follow (I am assuming there will be with a sequel).
Despite all that, I found the story easy to empathize with including its characters. There was a good amount of depth with our main characters and I liked how they seemed to balance each other out as a group. I also found the romance to be very natural, believable rivals-to-lovers with slow-burn. And if you love good back-and-forth snarky banter, you will love this! Keep in mind, this is a YA romance, they are both 17 and are forced to grow up way too fast in an unforgiving and dangerous world. Of that world, you will be introduced to pieces and fragments of its lands and dangers that will have you salivating for more. The plot itself was both complex and refreshing, with multiple twists that will keep you on your toes.
Overall, WHAT A DEBUT! This was a super fun and interesting read and I am very hopeful for a sequel! I definitely would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something a little outside the norm. I definitely plan on purchasing my own copy when it is released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Animal cruelty, Blood