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rc_hall's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This has SUCH an interesting world and magic system + premise! It started off strong as well,, the court intrigue paralleled with the gruesome violence of the firebird. I love that we got right into the action, like *bam* *bam* *bam* the plot seemed to move even quicker than I had anticipated but THEN it dragged almost tediously in the middle and even some of the ending of the book was difficult to get through.
I wanted more information about the saints, they are the most intriguing part of this world to me, and I understand that the author couldnt possibly add everything in the first book, HOWEVER -
there was SO much unnecessary repetition. Showing AND telling, over and over. A thing would happen, and then we'd get almost a whole page of a character thinking about that thing and how it made her feel and it would usually be the same conundrum or turmoil ! Like, yes, I get it!! Stop repeating it !!
And then there was the overuse of the word storm, usually to describe a certain character's eyes. It became sO annoying, I started to wonder how no one picked up on this during the process of editing the novel?? Like??
The writing was truly so beautiful in so many places, gorgeous descriptions of places and things... so how could this exist in the same book? It just disappoints me.
Another slightly disappointing thing was the romance. I was so ready to ship these characters, but their chemistry felt so forced and I just think this author's strong suit isn't in writing romance, and they should've left it out. I really WANTED to feel something, but I just didn't.
There was a twist at the end I wasn't expecting though! I think this sequel could potentially be really interesting still.
I wanted more information about the saints, they are the most intriguing part of this world to me, and I understand that the author couldnt possibly add everything in the first book, HOWEVER -
there was SO much unnecessary repetition. Showing AND telling, over and over. A thing would happen, and then we'd get almost a whole page of a character thinking about that thing and how it made her feel and it would usually be the same conundrum or turmoil ! Like, yes, I get it!! Stop repeating it !!
And then there was the overuse of the word storm, usually to describe a certain character's eyes. It became sO annoying, I started to wonder how no one picked up on this during the process of editing the novel?? Like??
The writing was truly so beautiful in so many places, gorgeous descriptions of places and things... so how could this exist in the same book? It just disappoints me.
Another slightly disappointing thing was the romance. I was so ready to ship these characters, but their chemistry felt so forced and I just think this author's strong suit isn't in writing romance, and they should've left it out. I really WANTED to feel something, but I just didn't.
There was a twist at the end I wasn't expecting though! I think this sequel could potentially be really interesting still.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐ CW: Violence, torture, death, fire
These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy is book one in the These Feathered Flames duology. This is a retelling of the Russian folktale The Firebird, and is set in a secondary magical world.
We follow twins Izaveta and Asya, who have two very different tasks set before them: Isaveta is to be the queen after their mother and has to learn court intrigue and subtlety; and Asya is chosen to be the next Firebird, a creature that exists to keep the balance of magic in the world. Each of the sisters feels alone in their task that has been thrust upon them, but they have each dealt with it in different ways. Iza has become more cold and detached in order to be more like her ruthless mother, and Asya is reluctant to ease into her full power and be the monster everyone thinks she is.
The magic system in this was interesting. Anytime someone uses magic, they owe a price to the land to restore balance, and if they don't pay the price, then the Firebird comes to take it from you with fire. The price could be anything from a finger to an arm to death. We get a bit of a slow burn sapphic romance with Asya, but it isn't the main point of the story. The main theme to me was about the lengths people will go to for power especially when religious fervor is involved.
This seemed like a book I would really like, but it just didn't have that...something. I just felt like not enough happened or the characters weren't quite fully realized for the amount of pages I read. Plus the beginning was very slow. I wanted to see more from both sisters, but their bond just didn't ring through for me. I don't think this is one I care to follow up on.
These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy is book one in the These Feathered Flames duology. This is a retelling of the Russian folktale The Firebird, and is set in a secondary magical world.
We follow twins Izaveta and Asya, who have two very different tasks set before them: Isaveta is to be the queen after their mother and has to learn court intrigue and subtlety; and Asya is chosen to be the next Firebird, a creature that exists to keep the balance of magic in the world. Each of the sisters feels alone in their task that has been thrust upon them, but they have each dealt with it in different ways. Iza has become more cold and detached in order to be more like her ruthless mother, and Asya is reluctant to ease into her full power and be the monster everyone thinks she is.
The magic system in this was interesting. Anytime someone uses magic, they owe a price to the land to restore balance, and if they don't pay the price, then the Firebird comes to take it from you with fire. The price could be anything from a finger to an arm to death. We get a bit of a slow burn sapphic romance with Asya, but it isn't the main point of the story. The main theme to me was about the lengths people will go to for power especially when religious fervor is involved.
This seemed like a book I would really like, but it just didn't have that...something. I just felt like not enough happened or the characters weren't quite fully realized for the amount of pages I read. Plus the beginning was very slow. I wanted to see more from both sisters, but their bond just didn't ring through for me. I don't think this is one I care to follow up on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence
mothie_girlie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence and Blood
clovelatte's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
sophieissapphhic's review against another edition
4.0
“The Queen is dead, and someone must pay.”
If you’re looking for a reason to read this book, know this: they ride bears.
Content Warnings: violence, fantasy violence, murder, deception, torture, parental death, emotional abuse, physical abuse, animal death
Overall: 4 / 5
Characters: 4 / 5
Setting: 4 / 5
Plot: 4.5 / 5
Writing: 3.5 / 5
Romance: 3.5 / 5
Things this book has:
- sapphic bodyguard trope
- twin sisters
- betrayal
- court intrigue
- russian folklore
- a snarky soft boy scholar
These Feathered Flames is a delicious mix of Russian folklore, court intrigue, slowburn romance, betrayal, and sisterhood. I was surprised (in a good way) & I can’t wait to get my hands on book two!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Kidnapping
sapphicread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Started off slow, but once it picks up, flew through the entire book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
astralbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death of parent
melaniereadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.75
Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an arc of this book!
When they were younger, twins Asya and Izaveta were inseparable. But their paths were torn apart when they were 10, and Asya was destined to be the next Firebird, Izaveta the next queen. While Asya has been schooled in magic and what it costs, Iza is schooled in the politics of the court. They come back together when their mother is killed, and Asya must find out who did it before magic tears their queendom apart--all while Iza has to scheme to be allowed to claim the throne that is rightfully hers!
I was immediately gripped by the story and mythology behind this book. The writing had me on the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next. The entire time I was reading, I was really routing for Asya and Izaveta (mostly Asya though) and wanting them to reconcile as sisters and work together! I also loved the rest of the cast of characters and how different they all were. I definitely was routing for Yuliana! And Nikov was such a cinnamon roll!
I loved how everything came together at the end of the book. It felt natural and how it should have been! My only complaint is that I didn't think there was enough chemistry between the love interests. Hopefully I will get to see more in the sequel!
Pub Date: April 20, 2021
When they were younger, twins Asya and Izaveta were inseparable. But their paths were torn apart when they were 10, and Asya was destined to be the next Firebird, Izaveta the next queen. While Asya has been schooled in magic and what it costs, Iza is schooled in the politics of the court. They come back together when their mother is killed, and Asya must find out who did it before magic tears their queendom apart--all while Iza has to scheme to be allowed to claim the throne that is rightfully hers!
I was immediately gripped by the story and mythology behind this book. The writing had me on the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next. The entire time I was reading, I was really routing for Asya and Izaveta (mostly Asya though) and wanting them to reconcile as sisters and work together! I also loved the rest of the cast of characters and how different they all were. I definitely was routing for Yuliana! And Nikov was such a cinnamon roll!
I loved how everything came together at the end of the book. It felt natural and how it should have been! My only complaint is that I didn't think there was enough chemistry between the love interests. Hopefully I will get to see more in the sequel!
Pub Date: April 20, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse