chllybrd's review against another edition
4.0
Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia is a magical place filled with talent, magic, monsters and more importantly, Lila Merriweather.
I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know Lila. She is is loyal, a bit reckless and knows her way around a sword fight. I really liked that we get to know her past pretty quickly, it definitely helped me connect to her.
The whole book had a really good pace. I enjoyed learning about the various monsters in Cloudburst Falls and Lila's familiarity with them helped her out of a life and death situation. The different talents that the characters inherit keep the mob families on top and I loved that Lila possesses some that can put some of her enemies to shame.
If you're not familiar with Jennifer Estep, you should know that she has a thing for food and every single book in every series will make you salivate at the detail she puts into the cuisine. Make sure you have some yummy snacks available because you WILL be hungry.
Jennifer Estep has no problem bringing a brand new world to life in COLD BURN OF MAGIC. The action is plentiful, the characters are interesting and the writing is just as phenomenal as her past books.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed meeting and getting to know Lila. She is is loyal, a bit reckless and knows her way around a sword fight. I really liked that we get to know her past pretty quickly, it definitely helped me connect to her.
The whole book had a really good pace. I enjoyed learning about the various monsters in Cloudburst Falls and Lila's familiarity with them helped her out of a life and death situation. The different talents that the characters inherit keep the mob families on top and I loved that Lila possesses some that can put some of her enemies to shame.
If you're not familiar with Jennifer Estep, you should know that she has a thing for food and every single book in every series will make you salivate at the detail she puts into the cuisine. Make sure you have some yummy snacks available because you WILL be hungry.
Jennifer Estep has no problem bringing a brand new world to life in COLD BURN OF MAGIC. The action is plentiful, the characters are interesting and the writing is just as phenomenal as her past books.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
bewoelkt_aber_heiter's review against another edition
4.0
Jennifer Estep zeigt in diesem Buch erneut ihr Talent, temporeiche und actiongeladene Geschichte über starke Heldinnen zu schreiben. Obwohl die Brutalität und Blutigkeit hier natürlich im Vergleich zur Elemental Assassin-Reihe etwas heruntergefahren wurde, hat Estep sich für ein Jugendbuch doch viel getraut: Kampfszenen werden nicht weichgespült, sondern es wird schonungslos erzählt, wo Blut fliest und wer stirbt. Das wusste ich sehr zu schätzen, da es mir in anderen Jugendbüchern inzwischen sehr auf die Nerven geht, wenn die Charaktere und die ganze Handlung in Watte gepackt werden.
In Bezug auf die Ähnlichkeit zur Elemental Assassin-Reihe muss ich den vielen anderen Rezensenten recht geben: Lila scheint in mehrerlei Hinsicht das jüngere Ebenbild von Gin zu sein und auch die Welten ähneln sich. Auch in Cloudburst Falls gibt es magische Talente; diese differieren aber leicht von den Elementargaben in Gins Welt. Trotzdem unterscheiden sich die jeweiligen Handlungen genug, dass Black Blade spannend und kurzweilig war. Zudem wartet der Roman gegen Ende mit einem Plot Twist auf, der zwar kein absoluter Schocker war, den ich aber so auch nicht vorhergesehen hätte. Genossen habe ich auch die sehr subtile Liebesgeschichte. Statt einer Dreiecksbeziehung oder Insta-Love haben wir hier eine authentische Annäherung, der die Charaktere aber nicht sofort nachgeben, sodass Stoff für die nächsten Bände bleibt - die ich ebenfalls lesen werden, sobald sie auf dem Markt sind.
In Bezug auf die Ähnlichkeit zur Elemental Assassin-Reihe muss ich den vielen anderen Rezensenten recht geben: Lila scheint in mehrerlei Hinsicht das jüngere Ebenbild von Gin zu sein und auch die Welten ähneln sich. Auch in Cloudburst Falls gibt es magische Talente; diese differieren aber leicht von den Elementargaben in Gins Welt. Trotzdem unterscheiden sich die jeweiligen Handlungen genug, dass Black Blade spannend und kurzweilig war. Zudem wartet der Roman gegen Ende mit einem Plot Twist auf, der zwar kein absoluter Schocker war, den ich aber so auch nicht vorhergesehen hätte. Genossen habe ich auch die sehr subtile Liebesgeschichte. Statt einer Dreiecksbeziehung oder Insta-Love haben wir hier eine authentische Annäherung, der die Charaktere aber nicht sofort nachgeben, sodass Stoff für die nächsten Bände bleibt - die ich ebenfalls lesen werden, sobald sie auf dem Markt sind.
aprilk's review against another edition
5.0
I previously read and was a huge fan of Estep's YA - Mythos Academy Series. So I went into this book with high hopes and high expectations... and I must say I was not let down. The lead of the story, young heroine Lila Merriweather, is snarky, kick-butt, and fun. She's not all rough edges though. Lila was orphaned after her mother was murdered and she has a definite sentiment to her that makes her hardshell all the more appealing. Devon of course is my new book crush. He's so good, yet strong. There's no love triangle, he's not a jerk, he is just... amazing! I absolutely loved the attraction between him and Lila. I can't wait to see where their relationship goes from here! The other characters in the book were just as enjoyable and I loved how distinct each of their personalities were regardless of how few scenes they appeared. As if that wasn't enough to make me love it, there's also the amazing world creation in this book. I love the concept of magical families, feuds, and monsters lurking everywhere! There are so many unique and intricate details throughout the story that just amaze me. Something that seems to be a natural talent for Ms. Jennifer Estep. So far every book I have read of hers has been fabulous! She has become one of those authors that when I see her name on a book, I'm going to get it! This was such a quick, fun, action-packed read, and I am really looking forward to getting my hands on the next book.
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review *
* I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review *
pjonsson's review against another edition
4.0
I would classify this book as a young adult category book. Having said that it perhaps a bit less young adult than some of the young adult books that I have read. Jennifer Estep has created a new and enjoyable universe where monsters, magiks and mundanes live together. She brings in elements of mob families a' la maffia families into the mix and throws the young but talented thief Lila into the mix. Jennifer has also created some new and interesting magic powers.
All Lila wants to do is to live her life as a thief alone but, not surprisingly, she is soon thrown into the murky waters of family intrigue and, also not very surprising, things start to heat up and Lila quickly gets her hands full defending herself as well as the man she is, somewhat forcibly, hired to protect.
I liked the world building as well as the characters which are well done in the usual Jennifer Estep way. Lila is a good main character, independent, talented, knows how to fight and has a sharp tongue.
The story itself is good with a few twists in it and the main bud guy, at least in the long run, is a thoroughly dislikable character. Although the story is somewhat young adult it is fairly rich, the plot holds together and it is not as silly as in some young adult book. There are a bit of romance (or should I say romances) but it is not overdone and kept on a reasonable level such that it does not intrude on the main story or becomes a boring filler element.
I liked the book. It is a fun read and I will surely pick up the next book in the series.
All Lila wants to do is to live her life as a thief alone but, not surprisingly, she is soon thrown into the murky waters of family intrigue and, also not very surprising, things start to heat up and Lila quickly gets her hands full defending herself as well as the man she is, somewhat forcibly, hired to protect.
I liked the world building as well as the characters which are well done in the usual Jennifer Estep way. Lila is a good main character, independent, talented, knows how to fight and has a sharp tongue.
The story itself is good with a few twists in it and the main bud guy, at least in the long run, is a thoroughly dislikable character. Although the story is somewhat young adult it is fairly rich, the plot holds together and it is not as silly as in some young adult book. There are a bit of romance (or should I say romances) but it is not overdone and kept on a reasonable level such that it does not intrude on the main story or becomes a boring filler element.
I liked the book. It is a fun read and I will surely pick up the next book in the series.
rina_chf's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
berls's review against another edition
5.0
I should have read this months ago like I had planned. Thank goodness I ended up with book two to review - who knows how long I would have waited to read this gem! Full reviw to follow. 4.5 stars
bookish_babe's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars
An amazing beginning to what promises to be an amazing new YA series. You may not know, but I actually haven't read any of Jennifer Estep's previous novels and I don't read all that much YA but Cold Burn or Magic was seriously exciting to read and I am so glad that I decided to read it. Cold Burn of Magic follows Lila, a seventeen year old orphan with a Talent for sight and transverse magic. To survive, she does odd jobs that typically involves lying, cheating, and stealing so she's no angel. Lila finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation when she saves the son of one of the most powerful Families in Cloudburst Falls and ends up being blackmailed for her efforts. What I absolutely loved about this book was that we didn't get the whiny teenage angst typically found in YA novels and the tidbit of a love story wasn't super sappy and cheesy, it was believable and relatable. I felt like Lila was a real person and the feelings she was experiencing were genuine.
The world-building in Cold Burn of Magic is top notch and beyond creative. I loved all of the monsters woven in to the story and the tributes required to keep the peace. I think Jennifer has created a truly magnificent world that I am excited to learn more about. As the first book in her Black Blade Series, I think the bar has been set very high and am eager to see what comes next and how Lila will grow as a character. We saw a lot of personal growth in this first installment but I know she still has more and I'm looking forward to reading her journey.
An amazing beginning to what promises to be an amazing new YA series. You may not know, but I actually haven't read any of Jennifer Estep's previous novels and I don't read all that much YA but Cold Burn or Magic was seriously exciting to read and I am so glad that I decided to read it. Cold Burn of Magic follows Lila, a seventeen year old orphan with a Talent for sight and transverse magic. To survive, she does odd jobs that typically involves lying, cheating, and stealing so she's no angel. Lila finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation when she saves the son of one of the most powerful Families in Cloudburst Falls and ends up being blackmailed for her efforts. What I absolutely loved about this book was that we didn't get the whiny teenage angst typically found in YA novels and the tidbit of a love story wasn't super sappy and cheesy, it was believable and relatable. I felt like Lila was a real person and the feelings she was experiencing were genuine.
The world-building in Cold Burn of Magic is top notch and beyond creative. I loved all of the monsters woven in to the story and the tributes required to keep the peace. I think Jennifer has created a truly magnificent world that I am excited to learn more about. As the first book in her Black Blade Series, I think the bar has been set very high and am eager to see what comes next and how Lila will grow as a character. We saw a lot of personal growth in this first installment but I know she still has more and I'm looking forward to reading her journey.
raquel494's review
5.0
For more reviews, visit my blog at Bittersweet Reads.
I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Get ready to be drawn into a completely new world! In Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia monsters roam the street, tourists flock to “the most magical town in America”, and a few specific Families are in charge. Lila wants nothing to do with the Families, especially since they’re the reason her mom was killed, so she lies low and does not get involved. Ever. But then a group of teenagers get attacked at her friend’s pawn shop and Lila’s left with two choices: either help out or watch a cute guy get killed.
Lila is my type of girl. She’s tough as nails, she’s spunky as hell and she tells it like it is. Half the time I was cracking up at whatever came out of Lila’s mouth. Who doesn’t love a smartass? I’ve always loved Jennifer Estep’s characters, so I had not doubt I’d like with Lila. And I was right. However, it wasn’t just the MC that I loved. All of the characters in this book are fully dimensional—from Devon to Mo to Oscar. A good book isn’t just made up of a great story; it needs an amazing set of characters and Cold Burn of Magic has a load of them.
That’s not to say the storyline isn’t good. Because it is. Somehow, after saving Devon Sinclair’s life, Lila ends up as his bodyguard—which isn’t exactly a fun job since, you know, someone keeps trying to kill Devon. Still, there’s something about Devon that makes Lila want to help and protect him. And so she does. Since I expect more from Fantasy books, I’m always hesitant when picking one up. But I needn’t be when it came to Estep. The world-building in Cold Burn of Magic was fantastic and I loved how monsters were incorporated into the story! They’re an important piece of the story, but they never overpower the book. The dynamics between the different Families was also tense and dangerous—which made everything that much more intriguing!
There’s still so much to Lila’s world that we haven’t learned seen but I’m excited as to where Estep is going with her new series! Cold Burn of Magic is definitely your cup of tea if you’re into Fantasy, magic and monsters!
I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Get ready to be drawn into a completely new world! In Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia monsters roam the street, tourists flock to “the most magical town in America”, and a few specific Families are in charge. Lila wants nothing to do with the Families, especially since they’re the reason her mom was killed, so she lies low and does not get involved. Ever. But then a group of teenagers get attacked at her friend’s pawn shop and Lila’s left with two choices: either help out or watch a cute guy get killed.
Lila is my type of girl. She’s tough as nails, she’s spunky as hell and she tells it like it is. Half the time I was cracking up at whatever came out of Lila’s mouth. Who doesn’t love a smartass? I’ve always loved Jennifer Estep’s characters, so I had not doubt I’d like with Lila. And I was right. However, it wasn’t just the MC that I loved. All of the characters in this book are fully dimensional—from Devon to Mo to Oscar. A good book isn’t just made up of a great story; it needs an amazing set of characters and Cold Burn of Magic has a load of them.
That’s not to say the storyline isn’t good. Because it is. Somehow, after saving Devon Sinclair’s life, Lila ends up as his bodyguard—which isn’t exactly a fun job since, you know, someone keeps trying to kill Devon. Still, there’s something about Devon that makes Lila want to help and protect him. And so she does. Since I expect more from Fantasy books, I’m always hesitant when picking one up. But I needn’t be when it came to Estep. The world-building in Cold Burn of Magic was fantastic and I loved how monsters were incorporated into the story! They’re an important piece of the story, but they never overpower the book. The dynamics between the different Families was also tense and dangerous—which made everything that much more intriguing!
There’s still so much to Lila’s world that we haven’t learned seen but I’m excited as to where Estep is going with her new series! Cold Burn of Magic is definitely your cup of tea if you’re into Fantasy, magic and monsters!