conniving_cat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
secre's review against another edition
4.0
Throne of Fire is just as readable as the first entry to this series, but it also suffers from many of the same pitfalls. Largely, Maybrie's relationship with Kai still really doesn't add up for me and the historical world building is still lacking. In terms of the characterisations and the current day world building, this would be a five star read, but the holes throughout let it down.
Maybrie is now safely ensconced on Kai's right arm and he has even pulled strings to allow her to compete in an interkingdom fight in Los Angeles. But Maybrie is still holding the facts of her previous involvement close to her chest, but with her secret on the verge of getting out, she's left with little choice to tell Kai. On top of this, the instability and friction between caster and fae is only getting larger. With many casters being set in the mindset that the fae are beneath them, they are rebelling against the possibility of a a fae Queen. Yet the fae themselves are coming to the realisation that the casters need them more than the fae need the casters. It's a bubbling melting pot ready to explode.
The first half of the book is fairly slow and largely revolves around Maybrie's dilemma as to whether she tells Kai about her history with the revolution. There are some interesting moments where she prepares for the interkingdom fight and I felt that was plotted exceptionally well, but the actual narrative doesn't really pick up pace until the second half. That isn't necessarily a bad thing as it does allow for further (current day) world-building and character building.
I'll admit, I still struggle with Maybrie falling in love with Kai. He's depicted as this good and kind character yes, but he is still the face of everything she has hated from the moment she was captured and enslaved. I also still don't have any clue as to how this world was brought about. The landscape freezing could be a result of climate change and instability, but it's never explained. The existing hierarchy and division of labour between shifter, vampire, fae and caster is beautifully described... but I have no idea how it came to be.
However, I actually really enjoyed reading this and so whilst there are huge niggles playing at the back of my mind, the way it's written and the depiction of the current political tensions really drew me events. There was far more tension here, perhaps because Kai and Brie's relationship is already solidified to a point, which allowed more time to be spent on the action and the drama.
Maybrie is now safely ensconced on Kai's right arm and he has even pulled strings to allow her to compete in an interkingdom fight in Los Angeles. But Maybrie is still holding the facts of her previous involvement close to her chest, but with her secret on the verge of getting out, she's left with little choice to tell Kai. On top of this, the instability and friction between caster and fae is only getting larger. With many casters being set in the mindset that the fae are beneath them, they are rebelling against the possibility of a a fae Queen. Yet the fae themselves are coming to the realisation that the casters need them more than the fae need the casters. It's a bubbling melting pot ready to explode.
The first half of the book is fairly slow and largely revolves around Maybrie's dilemma as to whether she tells Kai about her history with the revolution. There are some interesting moments where she prepares for the interkingdom fight and I felt that was plotted exceptionally well, but the actual narrative doesn't really pick up pace until the second half. That isn't necessarily a bad thing as it does allow for further (current day) world-building and character building.
I'll admit, I still struggle with Maybrie falling in love with Kai. He's depicted as this good and kind character yes, but he is still the face of everything she has hated from the moment she was captured and enslaved. I also still don't have any clue as to how this world was brought about. The landscape freezing could be a result of climate change and instability, but it's never explained. The existing hierarchy and division of labour between shifter, vampire, fae and caster is beautifully described... but I have no idea how it came to be.
However, I actually really enjoyed reading this and so whilst there are huge niggles playing at the back of my mind, the way it's written and the depiction of the current political tensions really drew me events. There was far more tension here, perhaps because Kai and Brie's relationship is already solidified to a point, which allowed more time to be spent on the action and the drama.
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