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The Eura Chronicles #1
Rise of the Flame
From international bestselling author, K.N. Lee comes Rise of the Flame, an epic beginning to the Eura Chronicles.
Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace... or war.
Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.
On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.
The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.
Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace... or war.
Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.
On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.
The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 8, 2015
462 people are currently reading
1153 people want to read
About the author
K.N. Lee
132 books906 followersK.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press.
K.N. Lee loves hearing from fans and readers. Connect with her!
www.knlee.com
www.WriteLikeAWizard.com
www.Facebook.com/knycolelee
www.twitter.com/knycole_lee
www.wattpad.com/user/KNycoleLee
She is signed with Captive Quill Press and Patchwork Press.
K.N. Lee loves hearing from fans and readers. Connect with her!
www.knlee.com
www.WriteLikeAWizard.com
www.Facebook.com/knycolelee
www.twitter.com/knycole_lee
www.wattpad.com/user/KNycoleLee
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 11, 2017
WHAT?! You can't just end it like that!!!???!! They were so close to meeting!!!! Damn it!
Rate: 3/3.5 stars.
Rate: 3/3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2019
WARNING:
I wouldnt read the Goodreads summary for this book because I feel like it is kind of spoilery.
RATING: 4.5 Stars
I appreciated the list of different realms, races and their abilities at the beginning because it was difficult to keep track of everything and what each race was able to do. I didnt always understand who certain characters were and what race they were from. There was also a few other things I was confused about but most of it was clarified later on. I even went back to reread different scenes to make sure I hadnt missed anything.
I think the lack of information might have been done to add some mystery to the story and for the most part it worked because it kept me guessing and turning the pages to find out what was going on. I couldnt wait to find out who the other Chosen Ones were. I dont mind when an author leaves room for the imagination because we get less descriptions and more characters and plot, but in this case certain things should have been explained better.
We get a map at the beginning of the book that might have helped but it wasnt clear enough for me to be able to read it. I wanted to know where Avia’Torena was located. However I still thought it was an enchanting and complex world with a lot of unique aspects. The multiple perspective did a great job at depicting a vaste and intricate world. There's so much going on. I applaud the authors talent for being able to put it all together. The world, the plot, the characters were all really compelling.
I loved the concept of this book. Its a little hard to explain but each Ancient (god) is a creator of a race. They eventually had to divide the races up by a Barrier to prevent them from killing each other but now that the Ancients are fighting amongst themselves a war between the different races will decide who will rule the Overworld. Five of the Ancients have a Chosen One born from the race they've created: The Flame, The Storm, The Steel, The Seer and The Inquisitor have all been given special abilities to help lead their race in the upcoming battle.
Ive been on a high fantasy kick lately and this book was just what I needed. It wasnt as fast paced as I wanted but I know high fantasy books are usually slower to get into. It was the perfect book to cuddle up with and get lost in. Its the type of story you get fully immersed in. It takes a while for the plot to start moving but it gives us time to get to know the characters before the story gets intense. I loved most of the characters in this book. They were all well written with great character arcs. I saw most of the characters develop in wonderful ways which really brought the story to life.
The 2 main characters, Lilae and Liam are the Chosen Ones from their race and meant to allie themselves for the upcoming war. Lilae is the Flame and the lost Princess of Eura from the human realm. Liam is the Storm and the Prince of Kyril from the Tryan realm. I really connected with the strong and likeable main characters. I thought their family and friend dynamics were really interesting. Lilaes family isnt the nicest but I loved watching them grow. We dont get to see as much of Liam but I still connected to the characters in his part of the world. Nani the fairy is definitely one of my favorites.
I thought Delia, the Elder sent to protect Lilaw, should have trained her to use her power a lot longer. Compared to Liam, she doesnt have a clue how to use her power, which could have been useful when she was attacked. Delia kept important information from Lilae and Im assuming this was done to build suspense but it was still frustrating. It wasnt necessarily a bad frustrated, more like I was really invested in this story and getting emotional. I also thought the antagonists were well done and added a lot to the story.
I really hope I get accepted for a review copy of the sequel because I want to continue on with this story right away. This gave me a book hangover and I cant stop thinking about it. I would recommend this if your in the mood for a vaste and captivating high fantasy story.
*Received this review copy from Netgalley*
I wouldnt read the Goodreads summary for this book because I feel like it is kind of spoilery.
RATING: 4.5 Stars
I appreciated the list of different realms, races and their abilities at the beginning because it was difficult to keep track of everything and what each race was able to do. I didnt always understand who certain characters were and what race they were from. There was also a few other things I was confused about but most of it was clarified later on. I even went back to reread different scenes to make sure I hadnt missed anything.
I think the lack of information might have been done to add some mystery to the story and for the most part it worked because it kept me guessing and turning the pages to find out what was going on. I couldnt wait to find out who the other Chosen Ones were. I dont mind when an author leaves room for the imagination because we get less descriptions and more characters and plot, but in this case certain things should have been explained better.
We get a map at the beginning of the book that might have helped but it wasnt clear enough for me to be able to read it. I wanted to know where Avia’Torena was located. However I still thought it was an enchanting and complex world with a lot of unique aspects. The multiple perspective did a great job at depicting a vaste and intricate world. There's so much going on. I applaud the authors talent for being able to put it all together. The world, the plot, the characters were all really compelling.
I loved the concept of this book. Its a little hard to explain but each Ancient (god) is a creator of a race. They eventually had to divide the races up by a Barrier to prevent them from killing each other but now that the Ancients are fighting amongst themselves a war between the different races will decide who will rule the Overworld. Five of the Ancients have a Chosen One born from the race they've created: The Flame, The Storm, The Steel, The Seer and The Inquisitor have all been given special abilities to help lead their race in the upcoming battle.
Ive been on a high fantasy kick lately and this book was just what I needed. It wasnt as fast paced as I wanted but I know high fantasy books are usually slower to get into. It was the perfect book to cuddle up with and get lost in. Its the type of story you get fully immersed in. It takes a while for the plot to start moving but it gives us time to get to know the characters before the story gets intense. I loved most of the characters in this book. They were all well written with great character arcs. I saw most of the characters develop in wonderful ways which really brought the story to life.
The 2 main characters, Lilae and Liam are the Chosen Ones from their race and meant to allie themselves for the upcoming war. Lilae is the Flame and the lost Princess of Eura from the human realm. Liam is the Storm and the Prince of Kyril from the Tryan realm. I really connected with the strong and likeable main characters. I thought their family and friend dynamics were really interesting. Lilaes family isnt the nicest but I loved watching them grow. We dont get to see as much of Liam but I still connected to the characters in his part of the world. Nani the fairy is definitely one of my favorites.
I thought Delia, the Elder sent to protect Lilaw, should have trained her to use her power a lot longer. Compared to Liam, she doesnt have a clue how to use her power, which could have been useful when she was attacked. Delia kept important information from Lilae and Im assuming this was done to build suspense but it was still frustrating. It wasnt necessarily a bad frustrated, more like I was really invested in this story and getting emotional. I also thought the antagonists were well done and added a lot to the story.
I really hope I get accepted for a review copy of the sequel because I want to continue on with this story right away. This gave me a book hangover and I cant stop thinking about it. I would recommend this if your in the mood for a vaste and captivating high fantasy story.
*Received this review copy from Netgalley*
January 27, 2015
Lilae is human and she has a great destiny, she’s the only heir to the human god’s throne and she will fight for it. To avoid her enemies, she never lives for a long time in the same village. Because of her hair, the other people don’t like her. She is a really good fighter and she knows how to protect herself and the other.
Liam is the heir of the Tryan’s throne, he’s powerful and he normally will be an ally for Lilae. But before they must see each other and that’s not easy because everything and everyone is against them. He is really kind and he knows how to protect his people.
I won’t talk about the other characters because you must read this book and see by yourself.
It’s the first book of K.N Lee I’m reading and it won’t be the last because she’s a good writer, she knows how to write intense scene, battle scene, torture scene (yes too well). I like the way she describe the characters and their feelings. The story is original and very nice, I love the interaction between Liam, Rowe and Nita. The relation between Lilae and Kavien is interesting and the dreams with Lilae and Liam are so great and we see that their relation will be epic. In my mind they are just the perfect couple and they will save the world BUT I think that K.N Lee is a little sadistic and we will probably have some tears in the next book, even if I hope not.
I had a really good time reading this book and I must tell you to read it even if the end is just so amazing and you absolutely want the next book. You will have to wait until probably december 2015 for the next one.
Liam is the heir of the Tryan’s throne, he’s powerful and he normally will be an ally for Lilae. But before they must see each other and that’s not easy because everything and everyone is against them. He is really kind and he knows how to protect his people.
I won’t talk about the other characters because you must read this book and see by yourself.
It’s the first book of K.N Lee I’m reading and it won’t be the last because she’s a good writer, she knows how to write intense scene, battle scene, torture scene (yes too well). I like the way she describe the characters and their feelings. The story is original and very nice, I love the interaction between Liam, Rowe and Nita. The relation between Lilae and Kavien is interesting and the dreams with Lilae and Liam are so great and we see that their relation will be epic. In my mind they are just the perfect couple and they will save the world BUT I think that K.N Lee is a little sadistic and we will probably have some tears in the next book, even if I hope not.
I had a really good time reading this book and I must tell you to read it even if the end is just so amazing and you absolutely want the next book. You will have to wait until probably december 2015 for the next one.
May 5, 2016
Rise of the Flame is the first installment of an epic fantasy that is a little dark, a little tragic and promises more of that to come. It’s ultimately about a 5 people from various different races that are The Chosen of god like beings that are waring. The Flame, Storm, Cursed One, Steel and Inquisitor ultimately will be the saviors or destroyers of the world of Eura.
Lilae is our mc for most of this good and is the Flame; Liam who is Storm has a pretty big role in this book with the other Chosen having lesser roles so far. Lilae is taken from her home just an hour after she is born and we follow her life with her younger years just getting cameos so it’s not bogging down the forward movement of the plot. Liam’s story starts to get interwoven about half way through the book and starts to give us more details on the past and what is to come. I think this is going to be a more character driven story but the world building was still sufficient.
Oddly its Kavien the Cursed One that I really want to see what happens, I want to see if he can hold back the evil god that speaks directly into his head and takes control of him. Kavien is going to be pivotal because he’s either going to be the ultimate bad or be a savior; If he can overcome what he was chosen to do he could be the one that saves the world.
Rise of the Flame was fairly fast paced and entertaining. While there is quite a bit of violence it’s not overly graphic. There really is not much in the way of romance in this story and zero sexual content and should be entertaining to YA and older.
Lilae is our mc for most of this good and is the Flame; Liam who is Storm has a pretty big role in this book with the other Chosen having lesser roles so far. Lilae is taken from her home just an hour after she is born and we follow her life with her younger years just getting cameos so it’s not bogging down the forward movement of the plot. Liam’s story starts to get interwoven about half way through the book and starts to give us more details on the past and what is to come. I think this is going to be a more character driven story but the world building was still sufficient.
Oddly its Kavien the Cursed One that I really want to see what happens, I want to see if he can hold back the evil god that speaks directly into his head and takes control of him. Kavien is going to be pivotal because he’s either going to be the ultimate bad or be a savior; If he can overcome what he was chosen to do he could be the one that saves the world.
Rise of the Flame was fairly fast paced and entertaining. While there is quite a bit of violence it’s not overly graphic. There really is not much in the way of romance in this story and zero sexual content and should be entertaining to YA and older.
April 13, 2016
Bad dialogue, garbage plot. Painfully stupid main character--and not in a "oh she is only 17/18 and we have to make allowances for her naïveté" kind of way. I can get down with that kind of slow. This was more like a "I can't believe this chick is supposed to be some hero and has the common sense of a three year old" kind of deal. Not to mention she had the personality of a table leg.
I can't remember one character I liked. Maybe the fairy Nani, but even she was one dimensional. Shitty depiction of women in general and pretty rapey. The misogyny was strong with this one and it almost felt like the author was accepting of that? Encouraging it? I don't know what that was about but it was gross and skeevy.
All depictions of dudes were straight up terrible. I don't even want to get into it because I'll retreat to my rage cave. But sufficed to say I hoped they all died. Even Liam who was just too boring for me to root for. And his initial obsession over Lily (I refuse to call her Lilae as all I can hear when I read that is a valley girl going "Lilaaaaaaay!") made no damn sense other than as a plot device.
Started skimming by 30%, couldn't be bothered after 80%. The only thing good about this was the premise. Total wasted opportunity that needs an editor to chop at least half the book out and polish a real story instead of this meandering mess.
I can't remember one character I liked. Maybe the fairy Nani, but even she was one dimensional. Shitty depiction of women in general and pretty rapey. The misogyny was strong with this one and it almost felt like the author was accepting of that? Encouraging it? I don't know what that was about but it was gross and skeevy.
All depictions of dudes were straight up terrible. I don't even want to get into it because I'll retreat to my rage cave. But sufficed to say I hoped they all died. Even Liam who was just too boring for me to root for. And his initial obsession over Lily (I refuse to call her Lilae as all I can hear when I read that is a valley girl going "Lilaaaaaaay!") made no damn sense other than as a plot device.
Started skimming by 30%, couldn't be bothered after 80%. The only thing good about this was the premise. Total wasted opportunity that needs an editor to chop at least half the book out and polish a real story instead of this meandering mess.
January 19, 2015
I can truly say that when I started reading the very first sentence I was already hooked, truly amazing there is so much action and adventure I could not put the book down I had to finish it. You will fall in love with this story I know I did and can not wait for the second book to see what happens next. Truly and epic tale and story, for someone who loves to role-play and loves fantasy this made me whole day. <3
November 15, 2015
Good
This book is great. I just wish she would put out the next book already instead of just giving us teasers of what is to come. On her website is a teaser for night of the storm and at the end of this book. I would love to read more of it than random teasers.
This book is great. I just wish she would put out the next book already instead of just giving us teasers of what is to come. On her website is a teaser for night of the storm and at the end of this book. I would love to read more of it than random teasers.
February 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book it's well written and a bit of a different take on dragons, it is part of a series so there is more to come and I look forward to reading more of this world!😍🤩🥰
June 14, 2017
*I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
The first half of this book dragged a lot for me. The world building wasn't executed very well, with info dumps in the form of teaching characters who already should have known the info or having them repeat aloud things they had previously learned. I found the story to be a little boring at first. Had I not felt obligated to finish it and provide a review, I likely would have abandoned it.
Things improved about halfway through once most of the introductory stuff was out of the way. I started to care about Lilae (17/18) and Liam (25) more. But parts of the dialogue and the story itself still felt kind of stilted, unnatural, forced. And there are things that were never explained, like Rowe's vow--he and Liam referenced it several times, but it was never explained what it was or why he made it.
Whatever love story there is wasn't really developed well in this book. Am I supposed to want Lilae to be with Liam or with Kevin? I know whom I prefer (Liam). Both men claim to care for or love her, and it appears that she reciprocates at least partially . . . somehow. There's not exactly opportunity for any of them to develop those feelings. Sure, they can feel physical attraction, but there's nothing else upon which to found their feelings. No joke. Hopefully any relationship is given a chance to have real development in the next book.
I know I'm supposed to cheer for Kavien (24/25), but I don't really want to. At least not when it comes to Lilae. I hated Sona right from the start, though I recognize that she is a formidable warrior.
I suspected the true natures of two characters that I suspect were supposed to surprise me. I'm not sure how I want things to turn out with one of them, though.
I didn't love the book, but I ended up caring enough that I'd finish the series if I could. Unfortunately, me library doesn't have any of the books, and they're no longer on NetGalley. So I guess it's just too bad.
How it ends:
Note: Some swearing. Violence. Almost rape. Mild sex. A creepy, sadistic Shadow Elf.
The first half of this book dragged a lot for me. The world building wasn't executed very well, with info dumps in the form of teaching characters who already should have known the info or having them repeat aloud things they had previously learned. I found the story to be a little boring at first. Had I not felt obligated to finish it and provide a review, I likely would have abandoned it.
Things improved about halfway through once most of the introductory stuff was out of the way. I started to care about Lilae (17/18) and Liam (25) more. But parts of the dialogue and the story itself still felt kind of stilted, unnatural, forced. And there are things that were never explained, like Rowe's vow--he and Liam referenced it several times, but it was never explained what it was or why he made it.
Whatever love story there is wasn't really developed well in this book. Am I supposed to want Lilae to be with Liam or with Kevin? I know whom I prefer (Liam). Both men claim to care for or love her, and it appears that she reciprocates at least partially . . . somehow. There's not exactly opportunity for any of them to develop those feelings. Sure, they can feel physical attraction, but there's nothing else upon which to found their feelings. No joke. Hopefully any relationship is given a chance to have real development in the next book.
I know I'm supposed to cheer for Kavien (24/25), but I don't really want to. At least not when it comes to Lilae. I hated Sona right from the start, though I recognize that she is a formidable warrior.
I suspected the true natures of two characters that I suspect were supposed to surprise me. I'm not sure how I want things to turn out with one of them, though.
I didn't love the book, but I ended up caring enough that I'd finish the series if I could. Unfortunately, me library doesn't have any of the books, and they're no longer on NetGalley. So I guess it's just too bad.
How it ends:
Note: Some swearing. Violence. Almost rape. Mild sex. A creepy, sadistic Shadow Elf.
October 31, 2015
Ms. Lees epic novel is the first piece of fantasy fiction that I have read in quite some time. I found the book utterly transporting, imaginative, and gripping.
The first in four books, Rise of the Flame introduces us to all the major players in this saga. With six races, four realms - including humans - there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle to keep a hold of when reading the book, much like reading JR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Like all epic novels, where worlds, beings, hierarchy, rebellions and alliances are being formed, there is a lot of data to track. However, if you give yourself over to Ms. Lee's skilled story telling and allow yourself to fall into the journey, all the pieces crystalize into a magical experience. Honestly, I cannot quite understand how she managed to keep track of all the threads, but she did.
In book one of The Eura Chronicles we meet Lilae. Immediately after birth she is taken and hidden from her people and all those who would wish to find this girl - gifted with a power so enormous she can bring all of the realms and races to their knees. The first portion of the book is dedicated to the years she grows up, amongst her surrogate family, and learns how to fight and protect those who will eventually need her. Unlike other books of this genre, she is not surrounded by those who love her or a villain or two. Everyone and anyone can become something or someone else. It is easy to feel compassion and revere for Lilae - for in an ever changing world, she is who she is, and she doesn't bend.
We are also introduced to Liam. Now leading his army against the realms that would annihilate his, he finds Lilae in his dreams, and soon realizes that she plays an important role in his destiny. These dreams however turn out not to be dreams, but another realm where they meet and come to understand the epic battles that lie ahead of them.
Ms. Lee brings us to the end of book one in desperate need of reading book two. The magnitude of the scale and detail of this book cannot be expressed, only utterly appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone who love a truly epic journey. If you loved Lord of the Rings, you will love The Eura Chronicles.
The first in four books, Rise of the Flame introduces us to all the major players in this saga. With six races, four realms - including humans - there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle to keep a hold of when reading the book, much like reading JR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Like all epic novels, where worlds, beings, hierarchy, rebellions and alliances are being formed, there is a lot of data to track. However, if you give yourself over to Ms. Lee's skilled story telling and allow yourself to fall into the journey, all the pieces crystalize into a magical experience. Honestly, I cannot quite understand how she managed to keep track of all the threads, but she did.
In book one of The Eura Chronicles we meet Lilae. Immediately after birth she is taken and hidden from her people and all those who would wish to find this girl - gifted with a power so enormous she can bring all of the realms and races to their knees. The first portion of the book is dedicated to the years she grows up, amongst her surrogate family, and learns how to fight and protect those who will eventually need her. Unlike other books of this genre, she is not surrounded by those who love her or a villain or two. Everyone and anyone can become something or someone else. It is easy to feel compassion and revere for Lilae - for in an ever changing world, she is who she is, and she doesn't bend.
We are also introduced to Liam. Now leading his army against the realms that would annihilate his, he finds Lilae in his dreams, and soon realizes that she plays an important role in his destiny. These dreams however turn out not to be dreams, but another realm where they meet and come to understand the epic battles that lie ahead of them.
Ms. Lee brings us to the end of book one in desperate need of reading book two. The magnitude of the scale and detail of this book cannot be expressed, only utterly appreciated. I would recommend this book to anyone who love a truly epic journey. If you loved Lord of the Rings, you will love The Eura Chronicles.
September 26, 2016
I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book took me a long time to read, about a month but I have been very busy so it has felt a little bit like a marathon. A very enjoyable marathon though.
I like Lilae, she was clever but she's a little naive. It gave her depth and showed her young years, so it worked very well. I liked her relationships, she had some good ones but some bad ones too, which made it more realistic.
Liam was fun and sounded like a really good leader. I can see many girls swooning over him.
The good. The characters were interesting and all very different. The story line was clever and kept me going back for more. I liked the different powers people had and it was interesting to find out who had what. There were lots of twists, most I didn't guess.
The bad. At time it felt a little all over the place, there was too many POV's, there were a few main ones but I didn't really like how they slipped other ones in here and there. Especially when they are only there for one small chapter then go back to being a back ground character. I sometimes found it hard to tell who was the main POV. I would have preferred a little more about each of the races. The names were just thrown out and not explained.
This book is already published yet there was quite a bit of grammatical errors. I don't normally comment on such for reviews books but since it has been out for at least 9 months, I think that is something that should be sorted.
Overall a very enjoyable book, full of lots of wonder and exciting quests.
4 out of 5 stars
This book took me a long time to read, about a month but I have been very busy so it has felt a little bit like a marathon. A very enjoyable marathon though.
I like Lilae, she was clever but she's a little naive. It gave her depth and showed her young years, so it worked very well. I liked her relationships, she had some good ones but some bad ones too, which made it more realistic.
Liam was fun and sounded like a really good leader. I can see many girls swooning over him.
The good. The characters were interesting and all very different. The story line was clever and kept me going back for more. I liked the different powers people had and it was interesting to find out who had what. There were lots of twists, most I didn't guess.
The bad. At time it felt a little all over the place, there was too many POV's, there were a few main ones but I didn't really like how they slipped other ones in here and there. Especially when they are only there for one small chapter then go back to being a back ground character. I sometimes found it hard to tell who was the main POV. I would have preferred a little more about each of the races. The names were just thrown out and not explained.
This book is already published yet there was quite a bit of grammatical errors. I don't normally comment on such for reviews books but since it has been out for at least 9 months, I think that is something that should be sorted.
Overall a very enjoyable book, full of lots of wonder and exciting quests.
4 out of 5 stars
September 30, 2015
3.5/4 stars
A dark and interesting new fantasy that blends elements of Lord of the Rings and the video game Heavenly Sword. Full of unique and intriguing races and powers, this book promises an unforgettable adventure despite some issues. For me, the story started off slow. It was a little hard to get into and took me awhile. But once I got to the second half of the book, it picked up and really captured my attention.
The different characters were enjoyable to read, I only wished there would've been more focus on who they were to get a better feel for them. I feel the same about the world. All we saw was such a small part of this huge world that I wanted more. Maybe in the next book we'll get more of each world and race not to mention all the different powers. There are still so many questions left unanswered and I can't wait for the adventure to continue.
A dark and interesting new fantasy that blends elements of Lord of the Rings and the video game Heavenly Sword. Full of unique and intriguing races and powers, this book promises an unforgettable adventure despite some issues. For me, the story started off slow. It was a little hard to get into and took me awhile. But once I got to the second half of the book, it picked up and really captured my attention.
The different characters were enjoyable to read, I only wished there would've been more focus on who they were to get a better feel for them. I feel the same about the world. All we saw was such a small part of this huge world that I wanted more. Maybe in the next book we'll get more of each world and race not to mention all the different powers. There are still so many questions left unanswered and I can't wait for the adventure to continue.
November 30, 2015
Rise of the Flame is epic in every sense of the word! This book has everything--complex characters, a well-developed fantasy world, romance, action, and plot twists. The author certainly knows how to tell a story. I was hooked from the first page... and I guarantee you'll be too! If you enjoyed Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones, you'll love this book.
February 10, 2015
great read. interesting characters and some despicable villains. looking forward to the next installment.
March 19, 2015
neat
I really enjoyed this book, it was excellent. I liked how all the races were separated and the mythology. I enjoyed how the characters grew and changed.
I really enjoyed this book, it was excellent. I liked how all the races were separated and the mythology. I enjoyed how the characters grew and changed.
February 17, 2015
Omg! This book was fantastic and I'm dying to read the next book in the series!
December 21, 2016
Thanks to NetGalley and Patchwork Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Realms, races and powers, oh my. A human girl, an elf prince and a hunky emperor with a monstrous army behind him. These three have been prophesied about along with four others whose destiny lies in the fight of their lives slinging around the power of the Gods. Will Lilae fall for the cursed emperor or will she hold out for the elf prince?
I love stories with powers and this one is full of them. They are very convoluted and I'm not sure what a lot of them do but its all connected to the races, somehow... *Sits down due to dizziness.* I wanted very badly to love this book. I also love dual POVs stories where we follow a male and female. I love stories with cool creatures and battles to be won and odds to be overcome. There are a lot of good ideas all crammed into this story and while the parts can be great the sum of the parts doesn't add up to a pleasing picture.
There were many writing and storytelling problems riddled through the book. Sometimes a story will get better as the writer gets comfortable with their world building but this was not one of them. The worst thing is how inconsistent the writing is. For example, we start out with this lovely prologue showing Lilae's birth and how she is with the people she's with now. But it was followed with her telling us what's going on rather than showing us the current circumstances. The contrast of great to poor is so stark that it makes the book hard to read. If it were all poor then it would be easier to read because your expectations would start low. The techniques used to tell us information is very poor as well. You know an amateur writer when they info dump in dialogue and nothing much happens while all this talking is going on. And there was this great battle with her step sisters that would have been a much better start. The good stuff there was drowned in really stinky storytelling.
I HATED Lilae. I hung in there a really long time trying to like her. I mean she trains everyday and craves the love of a mother. Even her thoughts would annoy me with their inane shallowness:
This is a badass fighter who beats whole groups of bandits and has been on the run her entire life! No... no one is this dim. This is what I said as I read the book - it sums her up perfectly:
In comparison I loved and adored Liam, even when he is making amateur mistakes for a general of an army (specifically the talisman part...). The world building in his part of the book was less generic and had better developed details. There was a cool battle to start and while the telling is still out of control at least mixed in it was some great action! His people were also most interesting and better used... We gained people that I loved: Jorge and Wilem. Liam is the victim of acting based on knowledge only the author knows... I hate that kind of story, so you know Lilae was really bad for me to still enjoy Liam's POV despite this flaw (not his fault!)
The world building wasn't horrid but it wasn't good either. The fighting was actually the better part of this. This read as obtusely overboard...
...but this was so well done - this was the Lilae I wanted...!
Still the creatures were very cool from basilisks, riestlings, a dragon and mermaids. Well described and useful in the course of the plot...
First it starts with insults to mothers everywhere...
...its not only insulting to them but to any woman who wants to reproduce for whatever reason... If its not okay to bash women for wanting a career, its not okay to bash women who want love and a family.
Finally I am terribly worried about women everywhere if they think the way the emperor treats Lilae is how someone in love ought to treat his woman... even if he is cursed. You don't let another man borrow your woman and put a torture spell on them sorry.
I give the writer props for excellent ideas... the genre melding almost worked too. An ambitious undertaking that did not get executed well enough to work.
BOTTOM LINE: Lilae makes this book torture...
Realms, races and powers, oh my. A human girl, an elf prince and a hunky emperor with a monstrous army behind him. These three have been prophesied about along with four others whose destiny lies in the fight of their lives slinging around the power of the Gods. Will Lilae fall for the cursed emperor or will she hold out for the elf prince?
I love stories with powers and this one is full of them. They are very convoluted and I'm not sure what a lot of them do but its all connected to the races, somehow... *Sits down due to dizziness.* I wanted very badly to love this book. I also love dual POVs stories where we follow a male and female. I love stories with cool creatures and battles to be won and odds to be overcome. There are a lot of good ideas all crammed into this story and while the parts can be great the sum of the parts doesn't add up to a pleasing picture.
There were many writing and storytelling problems riddled through the book. Sometimes a story will get better as the writer gets comfortable with their world building but this was not one of them. The worst thing is how inconsistent the writing is. For example, we start out with this lovely prologue showing Lilae's birth and how she is with the people she's with now. But it was followed with her telling us what's going on rather than showing us the current circumstances. The contrast of great to poor is so stark that it makes the book hard to read. If it were all poor then it would be easier to read because your expectations would start low. The techniques used to tell us information is very poor as well. You know an amateur writer when they info dump in dialogue and nothing much happens while all this talking is going on. And there was this great battle with her step sisters that would have been a much better start. The good stuff there was drowned in really stinky storytelling.
I HATED Lilae. I hung in there a really long time trying to like her. I mean she trains everyday and craves the love of a mother. Even her thoughts would annoy me with their inane shallowness:
"She forced a half-smile. She pictured herself tripping over her own feet and embarrassing herself. She didn’t think she could handle having Anic laugh at her."
This is a badass fighter who beats whole groups of bandits and has been on the run her entire life! No... no one is this dim. This is what I said as I read the book - it sums her up perfectly:
"I really want to like this Lilae but she's so dim!! She's the cause of her misery and I don't have any sympathy - if you're shallower than a dish at least be reliable enough to use your physical prowess you've been training up!! The basilisk ought to have killed the stupid cow..."
In comparison I loved and adored Liam, even when he is making amateur mistakes for a general of an army (specifically the talisman part...). The world building in his part of the book was less generic and had better developed details. There was a cool battle to start and while the telling is still out of control at least mixed in it was some great action! His people were also most interesting and better used... We gained people that I loved: Jorge and Wilem. Liam is the victim of acting based on knowledge only the author knows... I hate that kind of story, so you know Lilae was really bad for me to still enjoy Liam's POV despite this flaw (not his fault!)
The world building wasn't horrid but it wasn't good either. The fighting was actually the better part of this. This read as obtusely overboard...
"Focus activated. Evasion ready. Her Accuracy changed her vision. The power within her begged to be released. Dust encircled her as she entered the battle. Her eyes squinted to keep out the dirt. It was a hot day, and she was ready to stop hiding. Lilae was ready to make a scene."
...but this was so well done - this was the Lilae I wanted...!
"The blood stained her face like never before. It calmed her. It quenched the blood lust that had been building for as long as she could remember. Her ears were hot. Her face was hot. Every part of her body throbbed as she killed."
Still the creatures were very cool from basilisks, riestlings, a dragon and mermaids. Well described and useful in the course of the plot...
First it starts with insults to mothers everywhere...
"You have a future, Lilae. There’s a bigger, more important task for you than just producing babies. You are different.”
...its not only insulting to them but to any woman who wants to reproduce for whatever reason... If its not okay to bash women for wanting a career, its not okay to bash women who want love and a family.
Finally I am terribly worried about women everywhere if they think the way the emperor treats Lilae is how someone in love ought to treat his woman... even if he is cursed. You don't let another man borrow your woman and put a torture spell on them sorry.
I give the writer props for excellent ideas... the genre melding almost worked too. An ambitious undertaking that did not get executed well enough to work.
BOTTOM LINE: Lilae makes this book torture...
July 24, 2019
What an intense fantasy read, so much adventure, betrayals and chaos it was a ferocious read. I’m intrigued with the storyline of gods living in Overworld and having been betrayed by one of their own decided to settle the Great War but knew another was inevitable, so they’ve chosen their champions and the trials and tribulations they are faced with are excruciating. There are several different gods who created races in their own image, Humans, Mithrani, Mermaids, Tryan, Fairy, Silver and Shadow Elves, all with their own unique abilities and each having a champion to represent the gods and their respected race to fight against the fallen Wexcyn. I am curious about how it’s all going to conclude and who all are the chosen champions and the titles they carry along with their enhanced Demi-god power. I am obsessed with all the different character perspectives, it’s very appreciated and makes getting to know and understand the characters and their decisions and reasoning so satisfying.
Lilae is epic, one of the chosen for the Human race known as the Flame and powerful, she’s lived her life on the run not knowing who or what she is running from just knowing it’s horrid and being raised by a fighter father figure and godmother who’ve trained Lilae to fight fiercely and unapologetically. The trials Lilae suffer while captive are appalling and unforgivable but her strong personality to never give in no matter the consequences and everything she has lost is admirable.
Liam is another of the chosen for the Tryan race known as the Storm and just as powerful having the most caring upbringing while being trained for his ultimate destiny. Liam is determined and caring for all those he rules over and the betrayal he suffers is atrocious but his resolve to overcome and reach his destination is commendable.
Emperor Kavien was absolutely despicable but upon reading his version and understanding the horrors he’s endured and realizing how much of a puppet Kavien is has given him leeway and upon his ultimate decision to change his fate leading to his character being redeemed for the pain and cruelty he’d help partake in.
Dragnor is a character I absolutely despise and loathe and cannot wait till his karma tears him apart for the cruelty he has dispersed, an unredeemable character.
The supporting characters were all amazing, they all had voice and were given appropriate spotlight with their backgrounds being revealed in a flowingly smooth fashion within the storyline that was relevant to everything happening.
Lilae is epic, one of the chosen for the Human race known as the Flame and powerful, she’s lived her life on the run not knowing who or what she is running from just knowing it’s horrid and being raised by a fighter father figure and godmother who’ve trained Lilae to fight fiercely and unapologetically. The trials Lilae suffer while captive are appalling and unforgivable but her strong personality to never give in no matter the consequences and everything she has lost is admirable.
Liam is another of the chosen for the Tryan race known as the Storm and just as powerful having the most caring upbringing while being trained for his ultimate destiny. Liam is determined and caring for all those he rules over and the betrayal he suffers is atrocious but his resolve to overcome and reach his destination is commendable.
Emperor Kavien was absolutely despicable but upon reading his version and understanding the horrors he’s endured and realizing how much of a puppet Kavien is has given him leeway and upon his ultimate decision to change his fate leading to his character being redeemed for the pain and cruelty he’d help partake in.
Dragnor is a character I absolutely despise and loathe and cannot wait till his karma tears him apart for the cruelty he has dispersed, an unredeemable character.
The supporting characters were all amazing, they all had voice and were given appropriate spotlight with their backgrounds being revealed in a flowingly smooth fashion within the storyline that was relevant to everything happening.
November 22, 2023
I was looking for a new series to read and found Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles #1) by the international bestselling author K. N. Lee. Here is my review of the first book of the fantasy series!
Synopsis (from the author):
Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace... or war.
Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.
On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.
The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.
What I liked about Rise of the Flame:
I enjoyed most of the elements in the book. Plenty of action, a touch of romance, good characters, and multiple plot twists and turns kept me interested. A myriad collection of fantasy creatures like dragons and fairies, plus a cool world for the characters to roam, added excellent background to the story. Overall, a good book!
What I didn’t like about Rise of the Flame:
My only complaint about the book was there were a number of typos that pulled me out of the story.
Overall impression of Rise of the Flame:
Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles # 1) was fast-paced and full of action, and the plot twists made it fun to read. The characters are engaging (even Kavien), and the world-building is excellent. The only drawback was the number of typos that detracted from the flow of the story. Still, it was an entertaining book. If you like fantasy, try this one!
My rating:
4 Stars
Synopsis (from the author):
Six races. Four realms. One human girl who can bring them together in peace... or war.
Lilae has been hunted since the night of her birth, for she is heir to a god’s throne. But everything that her surrogate family has done to protect her may have been for nothing. After Lilae is stripped of her powers and enslaved by the emperor of the Mithrani, she finds herself desperate to survive in a strange new world.
On the other side of the world, Liam leads his army across the realm to protect the Tryans and the fairies from those who would do them harm. But when their odds of survival become next to impossible, he must set out on a journey to find a dragon, a child, and the blessing of a fallen god to aid him in the inevitable realm war.
The path forward for both Liam and Lilae seems clear, until their dreamscapes collide. But while they draw strength from their connection, Lilae may be falling for the emperor who should be her greatest enemy.
What I liked about Rise of the Flame:
I enjoyed most of the elements in the book. Plenty of action, a touch of romance, good characters, and multiple plot twists and turns kept me interested. A myriad collection of fantasy creatures like dragons and fairies, plus a cool world for the characters to roam, added excellent background to the story. Overall, a good book!
What I didn’t like about Rise of the Flame:
My only complaint about the book was there were a number of typos that pulled me out of the story.
Overall impression of Rise of the Flame:
Rise of the Flame (The Eura Chronicles # 1) was fast-paced and full of action, and the plot twists made it fun to read. The characters are engaging (even Kavien), and the world-building is excellent. The only drawback was the number of typos that detracted from the flow of the story. Still, it was an entertaining book. If you like fantasy, try this one!
My rating:
4 Stars
September 22, 2017
Rise of the Flame is the start of what I can already tell is an incredibly ambitious tale. Sort of Lord of the Rings but with a better view of emotional relationships and the potential for a powerfully epic romance. (That's no insult to LoTR, which I've adored since I was a little girl and have read at least 6 times. Nor does it mean Tolkien can't do emotions - you just look at Frodo to know he can - but c'mon is there even one truly strong female in it? Nope. Largely because it wasn't "a woman's place" to adventure when the tale was written, and romantic elements weren't accepted as belonging in such books. Ok Rant over. Now back to our regular review ...)
Anyway, (ahem,) Rise of the Flame really does have everything. The h and H, Lilae and Liam, are both strong, powerful characters, and KN Lee has provided them with both a great cast of supporting characters and a wonderfully built world for them to adventure in, with all the magical elements (fairies, elves and dragons, oh my!) one could desire. Tie this up with a superb plot (and yes, I'm a sucker for a concept like the Ancients' Chosen) full of adventure, action, twists and turns (and yes, even romance) and the result is something superb.
Highly recommended.
Anyway, (ahem,) Rise of the Flame really does have everything. The h and H, Lilae and Liam, are both strong, powerful characters, and KN Lee has provided them with both a great cast of supporting characters and a wonderfully built world for them to adventure in, with all the magical elements (fairies, elves and dragons, oh my!) one could desire. Tie this up with a superb plot (and yes, I'm a sucker for a concept like the Ancients' Chosen) full of adventure, action, twists and turns (and yes, even romance) and the result is something superb.
Highly recommended.
November 19, 2017
It is so unreal that at 11yrs of age Ms. Lee wrote this, her first book. Which continued to grow an developed. It' seems such a shame that after so many years and several thousands of words the only file of this book was stolen. It must have been detrimental to her yet she preserved and began again. I, for one, am so thankful she did. The love of her characters and their need to have their story told pushed Ms. LEE through. "Rise of the Flame" is a tremendously written book. Her characters are so developed and the layers within their personality is relatable and believable. Each of the four sections of the world is well defined. I could close my eyes and see them clearly. I cried with lilae, I felt her pain and loneliness. I also felt her unknown feelings of love as it developed. Several were born to fulfill an unwanted fate but Flame and Storm had a connection they depended on. They would save the world even with everything against them. I can't wait to begin the next book.
April 17, 2018
Multiple spelling and punctuation errors aside (Kindle version), I enjoyed the idea of the book. The story was intriguing, and very promising. Lee created a beautifully tragic world, and got me invested in its well-being. However, the main characters never did anything for themselves, and were constantly being saved by the other characters. Instead of growing as characters, and overcoming or finding ways to work around their own problems, the characters are saved from any character development they might have had by other characters who always seem to show up at the right times, or who have just the right potion needed to do the impossible. Instead of feeling like teamwork, or any sort of bonding, I just felt like the story was being influenced by these other characters, and the main characters were just along for the ride.
By the time the story abruptly ended I was no longer interested in even reading the next book's synopsis.
By the time the story abruptly ended I was no longer interested in even reading the next book's synopsis.
June 22, 2018
I think this series is my favorite by K. N. Lee so far.
I really liked the setting and the world building in this one.
This novel follow the Flame, one of the six representatives of the 6 races through her journey to the wall between the different realm. It also follows the Storm in his quest to get to the same wall and meet the Flame.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this story and a lot of changes to the characters as they go through hardship.
The pace is rather fast and there are a lot of things that would deserve extra books for the series.
I like the relationship between Liam and Lilae but I also sort of like Kavien too, like kind of feel sorry for him in a way.
My favorite character is Nani, I love her personality.
There was a lot of unpredictable events in this book which was really good.
I really liked the setting and the world building in this one.
This novel follow the Flame, one of the six representatives of the 6 races through her journey to the wall between the different realm. It also follows the Storm in his quest to get to the same wall and meet the Flame.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this story and a lot of changes to the characters as they go through hardship.
The pace is rather fast and there are a lot of things that would deserve extra books for the series.
I like the relationship between Liam and Lilae but I also sort of like Kavien too, like kind of feel sorry for him in a way.
My favorite character is Nani, I love her personality.
There was a lot of unpredictable events in this book which was really good.
September 1, 2017
First, why oh why did I wait so long to read this? I am kicking myself.
Lilae and Liam are the Flame and the Storm and together they may just win the war. Unfortunately they need to find each other first and to do that they must battle their own demons. No one is safe and the stakes couldn't be higher.
I absolutely loved this book. It took a bit since the POV kept changing but in the end I enjoyed being able to understand what the other characters were thinking. It really enhanced the story. I also enjoyed the fact that Lilae wasn't some girl in need of rescue, she was tough and had to go through her own trials/pain.
Cannot wait to start the second book and see where this epic fantasy takes me next.
Lilae and Liam are the Flame and the Storm and together they may just win the war. Unfortunately they need to find each other first and to do that they must battle their own demons. No one is safe and the stakes couldn't be higher.
I absolutely loved this book. It took a bit since the POV kept changing but in the end I enjoyed being able to understand what the other characters were thinking. It really enhanced the story. I also enjoyed the fact that Lilae wasn't some girl in need of rescue, she was tough and had to go through her own trials/pain.
Cannot wait to start the second book and see where this epic fantasy takes me next.
February 7, 2020
The Chosen will save the world. Within moments of her birth Princess Lilae is taken from her parents and brought up Delia. She keeps Lilae hidden but is training her for what is to come. Lilae and sever others have been chosen to save the world. When Lilae turns eighteen it is time for her to seek and meet up with the other chosen. But instead she is captured by the enemy and physically and mentally tortured. Her powers are gone and her capturers are cruel and psychotic. How will she ever get free. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
September 22, 2016
I received a copy of this book in response for an honest review
I came across this book a while ago on Amazon and was instantly intrigued. However, I couldn't bring myself to buy as I had never read K.N. Lee's work before and the blurb didn't grab me enough to make me desperate to buy then and there. That being said, every few weeks I would go back to the listing to re-read the blurb and have another look at the price. Despite not grabbing me enough to make that instantaneous, no holds barred purchase, I was still drawn to the book time and time again. So imagine my delight when I came across it for review - I was thrilled and instantaneously put a bid on it to be a reviewer.
It saddens me to say, after being obsessed for so long, but I am glad I never bought this book. The story itself, and even the characters, are fine but the construction of the book and multitude of character perspectives leave something to be desired. In most books that span many realms, with vast quantities of creatures and characters, most authors decide to stick with a few characters to focus on (should they feel a real need to have multiple perspectives) but K.N. Lee allows any and all characters, that play some type of role, to have a chapter of their own, and generally without a smooth transition between the changing perspectives. With so many conflicting view points its no wonder I got confused about who I was following along with chapter by chapter.
Now lets talk about the characters:
Lilae - I like her, she has fire (pun intended), grit and determination, however I feel that she is so far behind the other Chosen, having only been given brief snippets of who she is and what her role is. She is in the dark about so much, its no wonder that she ends up in the situations she does. I also dislike how naive is, at her age, living the life she has, with the people she has been around - how? How the hell is she the way she is? Its like K.N. Lee wanted a kickass heroine but wanted her to maintain some innocence, so decided that the way to do that was to make her completely ignorant of certain things.
Liam - Hmm I liked him, especially after seeing the dream sequences and seeing the connection but really.... REALLY... he was so blind and so easily controlled by Sona that it was a joke! I thought she was going to killed off trying to save him and he'd be wracked in guilt or something but no, completely left field (which despite what I just said actually wasn't that much of a surprise) we get a another revelation. But this revelation only comes after Liam proves himself to be weak, and not that charming 'he is flawed' weak but that 'you're kidding me, how the f*#k did you not see this coming and you let it happen' weak. The situation that happens between these two characters is actually completely unnecessary and doesn't add anything to the story (no I'm not talking about the boat bit but the bit before *sorry trying to be good and not give spoilers but it is so hard when an author uses a trope that I HATE!!!!*). The situation may cause some problems between characters further down the track but honestly I think it was there just because the author could - no more, no less - and is therefore meaningless other than disgusting readers like myself who can work exactly where relationships are going to go and basically just wants to give up on it all after the authors throws in that BS.
***Note to the author - I am sorry! I just really, really don't like the trope you used***
The other characters - sorry, so many of them and most I couldn't give a toss about! Kidding - some are actually important, some I like and can see value in, others.... not so much. Actually, to be completely fair, I probably wouldn't mind so much if they didn't all have their 'own' chapters to see from their view point. Sorry, don't care.
Now I will be nice before I get mean again and say that I am very aware that most review copies of books, even if the book has already been published, have mistakes because they haven't been meticulously edited yet. However, if this book, in the state that I read it, is the same as the published version - GET AN EDITOR!!! There are only so many mistakes I can take before I seriously start questioning what the heck is going on. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that the ARC version should have at least been author edited, if not professionally. Now the mistakes I am talking about aren't spelling or grammar - yes, there are a few of those but they are within the tolerable range. No, my issue is that there is a large proportion of words within sentences that are wrong... As in you stop, go back, re-read the sentence and try to work out why someone didn't pick up the glaringly obvious mistakes.
Right, I'm going to move away from my pet peeves - I promise, I generally am not this mean but I tried my hardest to avoid spoilers for this one, which meant that I 'expressed' my opinion more brutally that I might of if I had just said 'xyz' situation peeved me off. However, despite all my negativity the reason I didn't put in any spoiler is that I still think this is worth reading. Yes, I think it needs some work done to it, and it certainly could be more polished than it is, but it has the bones of a great story and I know there will be many people who completely disagree with my review and absolutely love it. I still gave this book 3 stars, which, with the errors and irritations, is actually a pretty high mark for me.
I came across this book a while ago on Amazon and was instantly intrigued. However, I couldn't bring myself to buy as I had never read K.N. Lee's work before and the blurb didn't grab me enough to make me desperate to buy then and there. That being said, every few weeks I would go back to the listing to re-read the blurb and have another look at the price. Despite not grabbing me enough to make that instantaneous, no holds barred purchase, I was still drawn to the book time and time again. So imagine my delight when I came across it for review - I was thrilled and instantaneously put a bid on it to be a reviewer.
It saddens me to say, after being obsessed for so long, but I am glad I never bought this book. The story itself, and even the characters, are fine but the construction of the book and multitude of character perspectives leave something to be desired. In most books that span many realms, with vast quantities of creatures and characters, most authors decide to stick with a few characters to focus on (should they feel a real need to have multiple perspectives) but K.N. Lee allows any and all characters, that play some type of role, to have a chapter of their own, and generally without a smooth transition between the changing perspectives. With so many conflicting view points its no wonder I got confused about who I was following along with chapter by chapter.
Now lets talk about the characters:
Lilae - I like her, she has fire (pun intended), grit and determination, however I feel that she is so far behind the other Chosen, having only been given brief snippets of who she is and what her role is. She is in the dark about so much, its no wonder that she ends up in the situations she does. I also dislike how naive is, at her age, living the life she has, with the people she has been around - how? How the hell is she the way she is? Its like K.N. Lee wanted a kickass heroine but wanted her to maintain some innocence, so decided that the way to do that was to make her completely ignorant of certain things.
Liam - Hmm I liked him, especially after seeing the dream sequences and seeing the connection but really.... REALLY... he was so blind and so easily controlled by Sona that it was a joke! I thought she was going to killed off trying to save him and he'd be wracked in guilt or something but no, completely left field (which despite what I just said actually wasn't that much of a surprise) we get a another revelation. But this revelation only comes after Liam proves himself to be weak, and not that charming 'he is flawed' weak but that 'you're kidding me, how the f*#k did you not see this coming and you let it happen' weak. The situation that happens between these two characters is actually completely unnecessary and doesn't add anything to the story (no I'm not talking about the boat bit but the bit before *sorry trying to be good and not give spoilers but it is so hard when an author uses a trope that I HATE!!!!*). The situation may cause some problems between characters further down the track but honestly I think it was there just because the author could - no more, no less - and is therefore meaningless other than disgusting readers like myself who can work exactly where relationships are going to go and basically just wants to give up on it all after the authors throws in that BS.
***Note to the author - I am sorry! I just really, really don't like the trope you used***
The other characters - sorry, so many of them and most I couldn't give a toss about! Kidding - some are actually important, some I like and can see value in, others.... not so much. Actually, to be completely fair, I probably wouldn't mind so much if they didn't all have their 'own' chapters to see from their view point. Sorry, don't care.
Now I will be nice before I get mean again and say that I am very aware that most review copies of books, even if the book has already been published, have mistakes because they haven't been meticulously edited yet. However, if this book, in the state that I read it, is the same as the published version - GET AN EDITOR!!! There are only so many mistakes I can take before I seriously start questioning what the heck is going on. I don't think I'm wrong in saying that the ARC version should have at least been author edited, if not professionally. Now the mistakes I am talking about aren't spelling or grammar - yes, there are a few of those but they are within the tolerable range. No, my issue is that there is a large proportion of words within sentences that are wrong... As in you stop, go back, re-read the sentence and try to work out why someone didn't pick up the glaringly obvious mistakes.
Right, I'm going to move away from my pet peeves - I promise, I generally am not this mean but I tried my hardest to avoid spoilers for this one, which meant that I 'expressed' my opinion more brutally that I might of if I had just said 'xyz' situation peeved me off. However, despite all my negativity the reason I didn't put in any spoiler is that I still think this is worth reading. Yes, I think it needs some work done to it, and it certainly could be more polished than it is, but it has the bones of a great story and I know there will be many people who completely disagree with my review and absolutely love it. I still gave this book 3 stars, which, with the errors and irritations, is actually a pretty high mark for me.
July 21, 2019
I am at 74% and I am calling it quits. The first few chapters were interesting enough but became boring after that. I found that Lilae was to save the world however There’s a battle and she’s taken captured and is told she’s going to be a slave. She goes from a pretty strong female lead to being a helpless female who needs to be saved. She is tortured and suffer to the point that I just don’t like where this is going. Also everything is moving a very slow pace with a lot of dialogue so the series is a no for me.
February 9, 2020
This is the start of a new series based on myth and gods. It is the story of Lilae and the other Chosen Ones in a wild world full of magic, gods and danger. In the first book, we are introduced to Lilae and Liam as the main characters and quickly learn what is going on, maybe, and what is at stake. I liked how the story was introduced and the plot woven in with a bit of adventure and darkness. There are battles both with themselves and enemies as the stage it set for the rest of the series. The world building was good and not too overdrawn. Just a entertaining story as expected from Lee.
March 8, 2019
Wow! This is the first book of "The Eura Chronicles" and what a first book it is! KN Lee has created a world of fairies, elves and dragons. Sound like your kind of book? There are five people from different races that will either save or destroy the world of Eura. The Flame, Storm, The Cursed One, Steel and Inquisitor will all need to play their part. Adventure, action, romance call all be found in this twisted tale of good vs. evil. This should make for an epic series.
December 24, 2019
Wow, simply amazing! This is the first book in the Eura Chronicles and it is an epic start to this series! I was hooked from the first page! This book has everything action, plot twists, romance, a fantastic fantasy world with elves, dragons, and fairies. It is an engrossing story of good vs evil and one you don't want to miss.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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