A review by bookedbymadeline
Phoenix Flame by Sara Holland

adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I read the first book of the duology, Havenfall, earlier in the year. Phoenix Flame was a quick and easy read but so disappointing for the end of the series 🙈

Maddie made the dumbest decisions and was more passive compared to Havenfall which I hated-what happened to our strong, capable MC?! Also Brekken completely changed like allllll the character development from book one is just gone.

The ending was rushed and honestly I felt like so many things were rushed or unresolved. The amount of holes left by the end YOU COULD HAVE DONE SO MUCH WITH CERTAIN NEW IDEAS INTRODUCED (I’m trying so hard not to spoil in this review so I’m sorry if my rants don’t make sense). The plot twists were underwhelming and solved way too easily- it was like whiplash with a twist happening and then being resolved by the next two pages.

I think if it was longer or had been developed into a trilogy instead of duology it would’ve been more fleshed out, and therefore better.
Honestly the only positives are that it’s a quick read and it sort of resolved some of the cliffhangers of Havenfall. In the words of Taylor swift, “I wish you’d left me wondering” 

Rating:  2.5