Heart of Flames eARC Review

GoodReads:

Veronyka, Tristan, and Sev must stop the advancing empire from destroying the Phoenix Riders in this fiery sequel to Crown of Feathers, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake calls “absolutely unforgettable!”

You are a daughter of queens.

The world is balanced on the edge of a knife, and war is almost certain between the empire and the Phoenix Riders.

Like Nefyra before you, your life will be a trial by fire.

Veronyka finally got her wish to join the Riders, but while she’s supposed to be in training, all she really wants to do is fly out to defend the villages of Pyra from the advancing empire. Tristan has been promoted to Master Rider, but he has very different ideas about the best way to protect their people than his father, the commander. Sev has been sent to spy on the empire, but maintaining his cover may force him to fight on the wrong side of the war. And Veronyka’s sister, Val, is determined to regain the empire she lost—even if it means inciting the war herself.

Such is your inheritance. A name. A legacy. An empire in ruin.

As tensions reach a boiling point, the characters all find themselves drawn together into a fight that will shape the course of the empire—and determine the future of the Phoenix Riders. Each must decide how far they’re willing to go—and what they’re willing to lose in the process.

I pray you are able to pass through the flames.

Book Details
Title: Heart of Flames (Book 2 of Crown of Feathers trilogy)
By: Nicki Pau Preto
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 11, 2020

My Review

Before we start, this is book TWO in the Crown of Feathers trilogy, and if you want to learn more about this trilogy, here’s my review for the first book.

Now, onto the review.

I’m not gonna lie, for about an hour I’ve sat here wondering what the hell to even write because this book was so magnificent I don’t think my review could do it justice.

This book picks up from the first, we have seen the consequences of book one, or at least had an inkling on some things and now we follow up fully on what this now means for our characters.

Veronyka, Tristan, and Sev completely capture my heart all over again, and we even have some new character chapters. [I’ll not say what though, because, spoilers, sweetheart]

Newsflash, you know how I was like ‘omg all the characters are all so fleshed-out’ in Crown of Feathers? Well guess what, they continue to be so in Heart of Flames, I am so excited by getting to know some of the side characters more and exploring the workings of our main characters as well.

I adored the interactions between Tristan and Veronyka, I feel they just have such a natural progression and their phoenixes are even more developed. Pau Preto is a gem in giving us such growth in a novel.

Of course though as far as ships go, I still have my OTP for this and again, not going to say anything because of spoilers but AHHH I was so happy on the development on that relationship!!!

I think I may have slightly enjoyed Heart of Flames more than Crown of Feathers, but like one cm more in comparison, they’re both great novels with different focuses.

There’s more Val in this one which I loved, not as much as others who will go unnamed, you know who you are, but, still love Val and I was sooooo happy that we still have Sparrow in the crew. She’s admittedly my favorite character.

I will say we do get more of Elliott as well but will refrain on adding more until you’ve had a chance to read it guys!

Nicki Pau Preto’s world-building continues to be one of my favorite things in existence in the world of books. She astounds without overwhelming the reader, we get to expand out further into her world and see new lands while getting to know previously introduced ones better.

Veronyka, Elliott, and Sev possibly undergo the most character development and it’s brilliant. Especially where Veronyka is concerned, because she’s still coming out of her shell. This makes sense considering all she’s endured as being under Val’s thumb. She’s growing as a person, she’s growing as phoenix rider, and as a friend, and it’s just beautiful to see.

With Sev we see him coming into his own as well, we know he means well, but as Trix once told him you do what you’re good at, and the reader sees Sev embracing his personality traits that some may not always approve of, while also struggling with this desire to be different/do something else.

Val is Val.

That is all I will say about her lol, but, I loved seeing her and holy cow the ending, THE ENDING  IS MAGNIFICENT.

Pros:
– Well developed characters
– Amazing and expansive world building
– A perfect person that you love to hate
– Characters that are not always what they seem
– Great character growth as well, seriously, it’s impressive
– Phoenixes
– More Worldbuilding
– Development of Pheronia
– The past really influencing the future
– Phoenix Riders
– Magic

Cons:
– It’s so hard to not want to scream ‘NO’ while reading
– This will cause you to stay up super late
– You will ship ships so hard you didn’t even know it was possible and it will change your life.
– You may not like how much worldbuilding there is, so I’ll say beware now, but, it’s glorious if you like worldbuilding, I promise.
– This is not a relaxing read, please look to points 1 & 3 again.
– WHAT WAIT IS THIS FOR BOOK 3?!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion!

To sum it up: IT WAS EGG-CELLENT. READ IT.

Content Warning: There is death and violence.< Will update this a bit more upon a skim through it!