RATING- 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
AUTHOR- Rosaria Munda
REVIEW-
This book is truly masterful! I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this book. From the moment I read it i had not been able to stop thinking about it because I was so in awe of how brilliantly thought out and intricately plotted this book was.
It had everything I could ever want in a fantasy novel- complex characters, exquisite world building, political intrigue, and most importantly, dragons!
The premise of the book hooked me at once. We get two perspectives- Anne and Lee's, and we also get another one that is a third person perspective which are just small snippets of flashback. Not like huge chunks of chapters of dragging flashbacks that you have to get through just because the author couldn't appropriately depict things in the present time; these are just little tiny pieces of flashbacks sprinkled in. It is so rare that they are well done but Risaria Munda manages it perfectly.
The characters were so complex and deep and their raw emotions just make your throat tighten up with feeling. The character relationships and the high stakes, intense atmosphere kept me turning the pages.
The political situation is so well-crafted! It really focuses on the aftermath of a Revolution, and delves into questions like, "If the new government is doing exactly what the Old Regime did, are we really better than what came before?" The world-building is pretty well-integrated into the story, so you don't feel like you are getting info dumps anywhere. It discusses themes like slavery, oppression, and the horrific consequences of war on the common people.
The author also pays a lot of attention to detail, in many small instances like with the built-in coolants and fire suits that the dragon riders have to wear, which help bring the story to life. Every time you give it a re-read, you'll see that you have only just scratched the surface of the story and new layers are peeled back every time.
The angst in the story is pretty subtle and organic, and even though it's adult fantasy, the angst definitely is there because it's a story about teenager and they go through some very tough things.
Now here are some things that might be a negative for some of you, because I know books are subjective and we all have different tastes. So one of the bigger things might be that if you're expecting an expansive or unique magic system, you won't get that. There really is no magic in the book, except for the maybe the bond between the dragons and their dragon riders, but that's pretty much it. It's not high fantasy, so you also won't see any bizarre magical settings or creatures. It's more like historical fantasy, and if that's not your taste, then I wouldn't recommend this.
But otherwise, if you love dragons, political intrigue and a slow-burning romance, then Fireborne is right up your ally.
Not to mention that it's much awaited sequel, Flamefall comes out at the end of this month (31st March 2021) and I am sitting right at the edge of my seat to grab it the moment it releases!!
Happy Reading and,
Until then,
Bye!!
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