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A review by readswithcat
A Light in the Flame by Jennifer L. Armentrout
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Well, I want to first say the star rating doesn’t reflect my true feelings. This book wasn’t for me, but that doesn’t mean I have to rate it super low. It just wasn’t my favorite and that’s ok.
To start, I have to admit really enjoyed Shadow in the Ember. It held a lot of parallels to the FBAA story and started to kind of fill in some gaps but ultimately when paired with this sequel, I’m further convinced that both series are being stretched and milked for all they’re worth for the sole purpose of publishing as many books as possible instead of telling a good story.
By the end of this book we finally have a plot that moved forward. I hesitate to say plot twist because it’s not - it’s literally obvious from the beginning where this was leading, there is just a lot of fluff in between. It could have been 200 pages max. This prequel series probably could have been 2 books I’m guessing. Most of this one could have been scrapped in my opinion. It was just the same circular conversations and repetitive inner monologue the whole time. Situations that just felt unnecessary and pointless…by the end, I was bored and exhausted by the redundancies.
I get that Sera is working through some intense things, but she seemed to lose the confidence and spark she had in book one and it felt more like I was in Poppy’s head again rather than this new separate character. I understand there’s a reason they are similar in some ways but as the reader I really don’t need to be beat over the head with it. She felt smarter and more astute in book one and in this one it just didn’t make sense that it took her so long to gain clarity in certain situations. In addition to this, this book’s banter and comic relief also felt tired and recycled. And it’s an on going issue I have with the author in general, but the modern phrases (“I noped right out of there” for example) feel so out of place and just don’t make sense. It’s so frustrating, but honestly not unexpected this far into the series. The number of times I rolled my eyes listening to this book is unprecedented.
The god/primal hierarchy and power system of this world becomes even more convoluted and borderline nonsensical in this sequel. Again this is just an opinion, but I think it could benefit from being a bit more simple. The checks and balances of power feel forced and contradictory not clever nor are they clear. It’s like there’s a new reason why one thing can’t happen because of course, this other random thing we just discovered (!) suddenly cancels it out. If I need a flow chart of a power system to understand what means what, I’m just no longer interested. And again, that’s just my preference for a book like this.
The prophesy also reads like word soup. It feels like catchy book titles were chosen and then shoehorned into the overly wordy prophesy that really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense or serve any other purpose than to, again, prolong the story and sell more more books.
I think that’s where my overall issue is with this book and where the two series in this universe are headed - everything feels forced or like it’s trying too hard to be something profound. It left me exhausted and disappointed.
I can’t fault an author for wanting to write more whether it’s to make money or because you don’t want to say goodbye to a world you’ve built - nothing inherently wrong with any of that. but stretching a series out for the sole purpose of prolonging the experience, only highlights that there’s a lack of substance. And this, to me, is a disservice to the readers and honestly the characters as well.
Positives!!! Because yes I do have them!
I love the drakens. Mainly the younglings. They’re so precious and pure and I love how every character cares for and protects them. The fate of Jadis is really what’s keeping me reading both of these series. I have grown attached to her and Reaver.
Overall, all the spicy scenes were wonderful and the most well written parts of the book. We love Daddy Nyktos.
I really love the way landscapes are described. The use of color and shapes that are familiar yet different….I think it’s the most unique aspect of this world and kinda wish some more effort had been put into those descriptions to truly paint the picture.
Overall, I want to give this at best 2 stars. I’m settling on 3 because I will continue to be invested in it no matter how I feel and I don’t think it deserves a lower rating simply because I didn’t like it. There are so many people who love it and it hits differently for them and I think that is wonderful! The author spent time on this and deserves to be recognized for the effort despite my feelings.
To start, I have to admit really enjoyed Shadow in the Ember. It held a lot of parallels to the FBAA story and started to kind of fill in some gaps but ultimately when paired with this sequel, I’m further convinced that both series are being stretched and milked for all they’re worth for the sole purpose of publishing as many books as possible instead of telling a good story.
By the end of this book we finally have a plot that moved forward. I hesitate to say plot twist because it’s not - it’s literally obvious from the beginning where this was leading, there is just a lot of fluff in between. It could have been 200 pages max. This prequel series probably could have been 2 books I’m guessing. Most of this one could have been scrapped in my opinion. It was just the same circular conversations and repetitive inner monologue the whole time. Situations that just felt unnecessary and pointless…by the end, I was bored and exhausted by the redundancies.
I get that Sera is working through some intense things, but she seemed to lose the confidence and spark she had in book one and it felt more like I was in Poppy’s head again rather than this new separate character. I understand there’s a reason they are similar in some ways but as the reader I really don’t need to be beat over the head with it. She felt smarter and more astute in book one and in this one it just didn’t make sense that it took her so long to gain clarity in certain situations. In addition to this, this book’s banter and comic relief also felt tired and recycled. And it’s an on going issue I have with the author in general, but the modern phrases (“I noped right out of there” for example) feel so out of place and just don’t make sense. It’s so frustrating, but honestly not unexpected this far into the series. The number of times I rolled my eyes listening to this book is unprecedented.
The god/primal hierarchy and power system of this world becomes even more convoluted and borderline nonsensical in this sequel. Again this is just an opinion, but I think it could benefit from being a bit more simple. The checks and balances of power feel forced and contradictory not clever nor are they clear. It’s like there’s a new reason why one thing can’t happen because of course, this other random thing we just discovered (!) suddenly cancels it out. If I need a flow chart of a power system to understand what means what, I’m just no longer interested. And again, that’s just my preference for a book like this.
The prophesy also reads like word soup. It feels like catchy book titles were chosen and then shoehorned into the overly wordy prophesy that really doesn’t make a whole lot of sense or serve any other purpose than to, again, prolong the story and sell more more books.
I think that’s where my overall issue is with this book and where the two series in this universe are headed - everything feels forced or like it’s trying too hard to be something profound. It left me exhausted and disappointed.
I can’t fault an author for wanting to write more whether it’s to make money or because you don’t want to say goodbye to a world you’ve built - nothing inherently wrong with any of that. but stretching a series out for the sole purpose of prolonging the experience, only highlights that there’s a lack of substance. And this, to me, is a disservice to the readers and honestly the characters as well.
Positives!!! Because yes I do have them!
I love the drakens. Mainly the younglings. They’re so precious and pure and I love how every character cares for and protects them. The fate of Jadis is really what’s keeping me reading both of these series. I have grown attached to her and Reaver.
Overall, all the spicy scenes were wonderful and the most well written parts of the book. We love Daddy Nyktos.
I really love the way landscapes are described. The use of color and shapes that are familiar yet different….I think it’s the most unique aspect of this world and kinda wish some more effort had been put into those descriptions to truly paint the picture.
Overall, I want to give this at best 2 stars. I’m settling on 3 because I will continue to be invested in it no matter how I feel and I don’t think it deserves a lower rating simply because I didn’t like it. There are so many people who love it and it hits differently for them and I think that is wonderful! The author spent time on this and deserves to be recognized for the effort despite my feelings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Violence and Blood