Runaway

Wings of Fire: Winglets #4

by Tui T. Sutherland

Tui T. Sutherland, author of the bestselling Wings of Fire series, soars further into the world of Pyrrhia's dragons than ever before. In these brand-new short stories, fans will meet old friends and new ones, uncover shocking secrets, and learn more about the terrible challenges that will test all dragonkind...

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Middle Grade, Fiction, Childrens, Short Stories, Young Adult

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2016

About the author

Okay, I know what you’re thinking. Tui? What kind of name is that? Is it short for something?

Nope. Among the many great things to come out of New Zealand (the Lord of the Rings movies, cats that paint, my mom) is a bird called the tui—not as well known as the kiwi, but a heck of a lot noisier!

I was born July 31 (same birthday as Harry Potter!) in Caracas, Venezuela, and lived in Asuncion, Paraguay; Miami, Florida; and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, before moving to New Jersey in high school, where I started doing theatre—mostly backstage work, because (a) it was fun, and (b) you got to hang out in the dark with cute boys. (Er, I mean . . . because it was artistically fulfilling, yes.)

I graduated from Williams College in ’98 and I currently live in Boston with my husband, my perfect new baby, and my adorable yoodle Sunshine (what’s a yoodle? A puppy that’s three-quarters poodle and one-quarter Yorkshire terrier, of course!).

Much to my parents’ relief, I abandoned my theatrical aspirations after college for the far more stable and lucrative career of fiction writing.

My first two official books were beginning readers, part of Grosset & Dunlap’s “First Friends” series for kids learning to read. MEET MO AND ELLA is tough to find now, but FUN WITH MO AND ELLA should still be out there somewhere.

My first novel for teenagers was THIS MUST BE LOVE, which retells Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream in a modern-day high school, from the POV of the two heroines, Hermia and Helena.

And now I'm writing in a new project called SEEKERS! It's a children's book series that I'm writing with Erin Hunter. Check out my blog to find out more!

Reviews

[Loang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 9 out of 10

I didn't think such a short book could make me feel so many emotions!

Runaway is a Wings of Fire Winglet set just after the prologue of Darkstalker, and around two thousand years before the first arc's events. It tells the story between Foeslayer and Arctic, how they fell in love despite it being forbidden and eventually running away together (as the title suggests).

I'm a big fan of Darkstalker as a novel. It was absolutely perfect to my eyes, and one of my favorite reads this year. Because of this, my expectations for this book were definitely high (as it focuses on characters not so well seen during that Legend). Somehow, this managed to not only meet them but also overcome them!

The characters were what completely made this book wonderful. Innocent, romantic Foeslayer; bad-tempered, cold Arctic; clever Prudence; ambitious Snowfox and cunning Snowflake; all these characters were incredibly layered for a fifty-page long story. A lot of them had questionable morals (especially Fox, Arctic and Prudence) but that didn't stop me from falling in love with them all.

In my review of Assassin, I complained about the narrative being plain in comparison to Prisoners. However, I can see the author learned from her mistakes, and this Winglet features three different POVs, those being Foeslayer, Arctic and Snowflake. All their perspectives helped the story keep its charm and excitement during the whole time! I swear, there's not even one page of this book I didn't enjoy.

I was quite surprised by Snowflake playing a major role in the story, as I thought it was gonna be only about Foeslayer and Arctic's relationship. How wrong I was! Don't get me wrong, though, because Snowflake's sideplot was actually one of my favorite things in this novel! Her romance with Fox was absolutely heartbreaking and wlw representation I enjoyed a lot!

The themes were also established with great skill! I see this story as a metaphor about the foolishness of youth and the consequences that might follow to rushed decisions. Despite the narrative portrays Arctic and Foeslayer's relationship as wonderful, we as the readers already know how it'll end, and the book does a great job at showing the little cracks on their romance. The ending, with Foeslayer vowing to be happy forever with Arctic, has an ironic tragedy to it that it could make me read the whole thing again.

In general, Runaway is the perfect Winglet and, in my opinion, one of the best Wings of Fire books to date. It was full of twists (despite being a prequel), romance, betrayal and tragedy. I would recommend to read it after Darkstalker to make the experience of that book even better!

[Deacon Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment you go Petrificus Totalus when you realize where this story is going.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man, what an ending line.
Also, very Romeo and Juliet-esque. Is this supposed to be an allegory for being young and rushing into things too fast? P.S. 3.75 stars

[Shira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some spoilers for general series.
Oh huh, cause my kindle app is connected to my mothers Amazon which is why it didn't update ny goodreads. I feel horrible giving this 4 stars, cause WOF, but I feel like being honest, and honestly, I've read better winglets.
#Snowflake X Snowfox
When Foeslayer is all like what's the worst that could happen if I secretely meet with this cute Icewing prince.
-_-
Everything Foeslayer, Everything.
Then again, the books would be a lot less boring if the whole Darkstalker thing never happened. And I'm not just talking about the second series. Everything is basically propelled by (I apologize if I'm wrong, my knowledge is a tad fuzzy) Foeslayer X Artic = Darkstalker (animus + animus father) = bad stuff = Nightwings move to bad new land+ no more powers = war and fake prophecy + plan to capture Rainwings as well as recurring evil Darkstalker under mountain.
Yea nothing's gonna happen Foeslayer.
Nothing at all.
But it was a good ship. TILL ARTIC GOES CARAZAYYYYYYYYYY (Darkstalker's book is awesome.)
Anyways it's annoying I guess to read books set so far back in the past cause you know all chaos and hellheim will break loose and you can't stop it.

[hafna ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

foeslayer x arctic was cute and all BUT SNOWFLAKE X FOX IS JUST AHHH

[Whispering · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole romance between Foeslayer and Arctic is just so tragic. I'm happy to see their relationship before Arctic went crazy. It showed that he really did like her and she was like that key to his freedom. It came with a cost though. His soul.
Everytime I think of Foeslayer and Arctic's family, I just feel so sad for them. The whole thing is so tragic and sad that i can't help tearing up when I think about it
I honestly think that Arctic didn't really love FoeSlayer as much as we want to believe. I feel like they would've made good friends and this just happened because he was desperate to escape his sad life but it only made things worse
Poor Foeslayer. Poor Arctic. I wish there was a future where you guys were happy.

[Simone Mathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

After this I'm so excited to read legends Darkstalker

[Abigail Cave · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!!!!!!!

I always thought that Arctic and Foeslayer were ADORABLE together, and this only prolongs that feeling!!! This book was by far, one of my favorites!! (Aside from Darkstalker Legends)
I was SOOOO happy when I read the prologue to Darkstalker Legends, seeing how they fell in love, but then it jumps to when Darkstalker is born, and Arctic is a complete JERK, and I despise him for the rest of the book.
But now we have the full story. And, if I'm not mistaken, a reason for the Icewing invasion in the sea (either just because of the war, or because of Fox's vengeance.)
But it still doesn't change the fact that Arctic was absolutely terrible to Foeslayer later on ( and Darkstalker, for NO REASON), and I happen to have very mixed feelings over his death.
Although I know TECHNICALLY, him being terrible isn't all his fault. He used his magic too much, and his soul paid the price for it.

AMAZING work, Tui!! Winglets truly was an incredible series! I hope to see more soon!!! Keep up the good work!!!

[Zelgin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great insight on Arctic's character, and his and Foeslayer's relationship. Very believable as the younger version of them, adds some more depth to their story. Snowflake and Snowfox's storyline could have been more fleshed out though.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very quick read about how Darkstalker's parents got together. While the story is short, it feels complete.

[Niffty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

-Arctic and Foeslayer’s relationship gets a bit flushed out
-i really like Snowflake

[Charles Hawes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Sutherland does quick, PG, love at first sight romance SO WELL. I am constantly blown away by how much the characters in the books have genuine connections described in ways that feel relatable and real. That being said, I thought Deserter pulled at the heartstrings, but Runaway hits you like an avalanche.

[Tory]

This was a tough read, but gave the backstory I was hoping for to understand the dynamics of Foeslayer and Arctic in Darkstalker. I love being able to talk through the characters' terrible decisions and the consequences of those decisions with my kids - they are already so much wiser about these things that I was when I was young!

[rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad, but would’ve made more sense to have this before the actual Darkstalker book. Dramatic irony, though, w knowing how this all turns out. Romeo and Juliet wannabes.

[Kat Kunz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely my least favorite winglet. My favorite parts were when we had Snowflake’s perspective.

[lily ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)
Found this a bit over-the-top and corny at times, and Foeslayer's mother's motivation didn't make much sense to me. I feel like this could've been better, although there were some good and sometimes beautiful parts (I LOVED the relationship between Snowfox and Snowflake). Overall not the best on its own, but for a short story that's a companion to a longer, complete novel that explores topics the short story touched on in more depth, I'm fine with that.

[river · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arctic is a prince. A snobby, forgetful prince of the Iceings.
Foeslayer is the daughter of a Nightwing diplomat.
Together, they'll start a war. They also will parent the legendary Darkstalker.
But first, they're teenagers in love who would love to defy their parents.
*That always* ends well.

[Ella Lowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 stars because this book is so sappy and I mean LOVE AT FIRAT SITE, right. I personally think Arctic and Foeslayer are perfect for each other but they create Darkstalker and I mean he nearly destroys the world.But also Snowflake and Snowfox are so cute together.

[Alysha DeShaé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... I'm guessing these might be Darkstalker's parents? I hope so, anyway! Arctic and Foeslayer were fascinating!

[mykittyquest17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This was beautiful but so so sad

[OUTCAST · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was definitely the best of the winglets so far!
Uhhhh scheming lesbian dragons idk
Love some ArcticSlayer angst <3333

[Kurami Rocket · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, to think how Artic and Foeslayer end up. All of it for what?

These dragons were so young and naive. As an aromantic asexual I never understood why people kiss and want to have sex and have a romantic relationship with people they just met and don't even know. How can you fall in love with someone you just met and again don't know???

This is basically what happens with Artic and Foeslayer. They meet someone that is different from all the other dragons they have known up to this point; someone they feel understands them and sees them in a way that no one else does, someone who has grown up under similar circumstances with suffocating mothers and the pressures and obligations of their duties to the tribe. Both of them willing to throw away everything and runaway together. Less than two weeks of knowing each other. Urrrrggghh.

Everything horribly goes wrong when Artic and Foeslayer escapes, initiating the Icewing and Nightwing war, nevermind the fact that Artic and Foeslayer dared be together in the Night Kingdom. They were played for fools right into the hands of what Foeslayer's mother wanted and almost to what Snowflake and the other dragon, Artic's mother's niece wanted. They were both moved as pawns - Icewings vying for the throne and a Nightwing who sought to have animus magic be brought into the Nightwing tribe.

And already so quickly as Artic and Foeslayer managed to escape the Ice Kingdom, it appears that because of the deaths that occurred due to their escape through Artic's claws and use of animus magic, he already resents and hates Foeslayer for it. He was already hesitant with the sudden idea of going to live to the Night Kingdom, thinking Nightwings have weird and strange customs like sleeping during the day and being awake at night. Just urrgh. That is some racist xenophobia right there.

Just knowing how much Artic ends up hating Foeslayer and how unhappy he is in the Night Kingdom, how much he will end up hating his own son, Darkstalker and even scoffing at the fact that his dragonets look more like Nightwings even if his daughter does look more like a hybrid.

It's just sad and pitiful really. To end up forced together because of their rash and impulsive decision, thinking they fell in love with a dragon each had just met. Artic and Foeslayer's meeting and being forced together in essentially an unhappy marriage that results in a long lasting and grudge held long war with the birth of a powerful animus dragon is again tragic and pitiful.

What a story. Once more sad knowing everything that one fateful meeting secretly pushed by ambitious dragons causes.

[Jenevieve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review first published on My Blog.

Another short story in the Wings of Fire series. This one tells the story of how Darkstalker's parents met. Prince Arctic of the Icewings was not enjoying being a prince or an animus. He couldn't stand the dragon that had been chosen as his fiance or his mother telling him what the big thing he will make for the tribe with his animus powers will be. He wants to make his own choices and he is fuming about this when he runs into one of the Nightwing representatives, Foeslayer. All of a sudden, here is a dragon who doesn't care that he is a Prince or how he is supposed to behave or the ranking boards or anything else he has been told is all that should matter. How can he not fall in love?

A basic star-crossed lovers story although in this case, we know the lovers end up together with children in the future but it does provide some interesting history for Darkstalker.

[Jesslyn Corbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I found out this was one of the stories in the winglets it as so excited. I was finally going to find out why Arctic hated DarkStalker so much, from what seemed like birth, however I didn’t really, not that I could tell. I was still left clueless at the end, unless we were to insinuate that he had heard Prudence say that she wanted this all along so the NightWings could get animus dragonets. But even so if that were the case why would be stay, he obviously loved FoeSlayer and WhiteOut, I feel as if I’ve learned nothing on his reasoning for not loving DarkStalker.

Regardless of all that this still got 3 stars. Although I didn’t read what I was hoping for I still loved it. I got to see more of FoeSlayer which I was hoping for, even if it meant having to read about Arctic as well. There story was amazing and I only hope to know what happened that we are not aware of.

[Lemon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cool to see the story of Arctic + Foeslayer, but it wasn’t as good as I would have hoped. Basically you got the whole story at the end of book 7, and details didn’t really matter. However, you could see why Arctic may have been a little angry at things, and at how calm Foeslayer was. It’s a good backstory.

Not the best Winglet, but worth checking out if you’ve ever found yourself wondering about Foeslayer and Arctic and Darkstalker (though he doesn’t show up in this Winglet).

[Fletcher Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give it 10 stars if I could!

The book fills in a hole that was left in The Legend of Darkstalker about what happened to Prince Arctic and Foeslayer, which I am grateful for. I wondered what happened after they met and what led to the events on Darkstalker, and it was explained in vivid color. Kudos!

[Isel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This. Well. It was just bad decisions on both of their parts plus bad outer influence. Everyone made bad decisions. It read like a bad teenage romance. You see the train wreck and you hope they'll manage to get through it but they don't.
Still liked it. I mean. Not gonna lie. I like Darkstalker so I want him to be born but it probably would have been a good idea if he wasn't v.v

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great!

I absolutely love Ms. Sutherland 's books, and have read the entire Wings of Fire series. This was a great addition to the series, because it explained some things that readers did not know by reading the other Wings of Fire books.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Foeslayer and Arctic are adorable! I love that this book focused on their story. The Snowflake and Snowfox side plot felt a little out of place to me though, and distracted a lot from the main theme - love

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Icewings a lot. They are my favorite tribe in Wings of Fire because I like snow. It is fun to learn how prince Arctic and Foeslayer met and all the gifts prince Arctic gave to Foeslayer. It was nice how you hear all sides of the story.