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A review by ionab46
The Fiery Crown by Jeffe Kennedy
3.0
Rating: 2.75 stars
This book wasn’t bad, which is why I don’t have the heart to give it 2 stars. The first book, the Orchid Throne, was on the precipice between 3 stars and 4 stars: almost a great book. The Fiery Crown, on the other hand, is on the precipice of 2 stars and 3 stars: almost a bad book.
I think my biggest issue with this book is definitely just how SLOW it was. I wish I was exaggerating when I tell you that the first action scene doesn’t start until you’re 71% through the novel. Before that first action scene, I kid you not, it’s just the same characters talking. For hundreds of pages you just dredge through conversation, after conversation, after conversation.
And usually, I’m not someone who minds a slow read, as long as there are character arcs. The biggest issue I have with this book, is that all the characters (save Sondra) remain exactly the same. You get a little more insight on what their past is, but it’s all things we already know as a reader. We already know that Con was a slave and went through horrible things in the mines, telling us more details about it doesn’t count as character arcs. We already know Lia is only half a human, telling us more about her supernatural characteristics doesn’t count as character arcs. Emotionally, and personality wise, these characters remain utterly stagnant throughout the novel. It was exhausting and just plain boring to read about these characters, I didn’t feel invested in them in any way shape or form.
My dislike for Con just grew larger than ever. He truly, in all stereotypical manners, believes that he is right and he knows the way above anybody else. Everybody who is much smarter than he’ll ever be (Ambrose, Lia, Kara) tell him that something is bad idea, and he continues through with it anyway. To the point that I don’t even feel bad for his losses, because he brought them all on himself. This man truly thinks he can outsmart EVERYONE, and becomes the biggest pain in the ass in this novel. I really don’t even understand why anybody follows him??? He’s not charismatic or funny or smart or strategic, I don’t even understand how he’s made it this far in battle?? He literally just plunged into everything headfirst, with virtually no strategy or backup plan. Everyone warns him of a backup plan, commanders and wizards with prophecies, and women who have visions of the future, try to warn him... but nOoOoOoooo Conrí doesn’t need any of them, he will just woefully ignore all their warnings and then expect us to feel bad for him when he beats himself up about having lost everything.
Sondra & Lia much like the first book, are the only bright lights in this novel that kept this from being a 2-star bad book. Sondra actually had development as a character, both emotionally and intellectually. And Lia was funny and witty and smart, everything that Conrí lacked as a leader. I also liked Ambrose, and I felt like they (they, as in Conrí) didn’t trust him enough. If I were in this novel, at this point I would wholeheartedly listen and trust Ambrose, who’s proven himself to be their best ally in this war. And yet, the idiot Conrí walks all over the man, defying him at every turn.
All in all, I will read the 3rd book. I’m curious to see how these characters will overthrow the ruler, and I love Sondra enough that I want to know her outcome. This book seriously just barely made the mark though.
This book wasn’t bad, which is why I don’t have the heart to give it 2 stars. The first book, the Orchid Throne, was on the precipice between 3 stars and 4 stars: almost a great book. The Fiery Crown, on the other hand, is on the precipice of 2 stars and 3 stars: almost a bad book.
I think my biggest issue with this book is definitely just how SLOW it was. I wish I was exaggerating when I tell you that the first action scene doesn’t start until you’re 71% through the novel. Before that first action scene, I kid you not, it’s just the same characters talking. For hundreds of pages you just dredge through conversation, after conversation, after conversation.
And usually, I’m not someone who minds a slow read, as long as there are character arcs. The biggest issue I have with this book, is that all the characters (save Sondra) remain exactly the same. You get a little more insight on what their past is, but it’s all things we already know as a reader. We already know that Con was a slave and went through horrible things in the mines, telling us more details about it doesn’t count as character arcs. We already know Lia is only half a human, telling us more about her supernatural characteristics doesn’t count as character arcs. Emotionally, and personality wise, these characters remain utterly stagnant throughout the novel. It was exhausting and just plain boring to read about these characters, I didn’t feel invested in them in any way shape or form.
My dislike for Con just grew larger than ever. He truly, in all stereotypical manners, believes that he is right and he knows the way above anybody else. Everybody who is much smarter than he’ll ever be (Ambrose, Lia, Kara) tell him that something is bad idea, and he continues through with it anyway. To the point that I don’t even feel bad for his losses, because he brought them all on himself. This man truly thinks he can outsmart EVERYONE, and becomes the biggest pain in the ass in this novel. I really don’t even understand why anybody follows him??? He’s not charismatic or funny or smart or strategic, I don’t even understand how he’s made it this far in battle?? He literally just plunged into everything headfirst, with virtually no strategy or backup plan. Everyone warns him of a backup plan, commanders and wizards with prophecies, and women who have visions of the future, try to warn him... but nOoOoOoooo Conrí doesn’t need any of them, he will just woefully ignore all their warnings and then expect us to feel bad for him when he beats himself up about having lost everything.
Sondra & Lia much like the first book, are the only bright lights in this novel that kept this from being a 2-star bad book. Sondra actually had development as a character, both emotionally and intellectually. And Lia was funny and witty and smart, everything that Conrí lacked as a leader. I also liked Ambrose, and I felt like they (they, as in Conrí) didn’t trust him enough. If I were in this novel, at this point I would wholeheartedly listen and trust Ambrose, who’s proven himself to be their best ally in this war. And yet, the idiot Conrí walks all over the man, defying him at every turn.
All in all, I will read the 3rd book. I’m curious to see how these characters will overthrow the ruler, and I love Sondra enough that I want to know her outcome. This book seriously just barely made the mark though.