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The Kindling Trilogy #2
Ignite
Cut off from her allies, she must defeat the Blood wizards or die trying.
When a horrific assault on their hideout leaves the Hunters shattered, Ashe has only one choice: find her people and expose the secret sect of the Blood once and for all. There’s only one problem.
She has to convince her people the Blood exist first.
It will be no easy task. Scorn for the Hunters runs deep, and the wizards are fighting a war all their own. Ashe must race against time to stop a conflict that is spiraling dangerously out of control.
But when betrayal destroys all she trusted, Ashe’s mission becomes even more desperate.
Because the Blood aren’t the only ones who want her dead anymore.
The Kindling Trilogy - Series Complete!
#1 – Kindling
#2 – Ignite
#3 – Wildfire
Previously published as Taliesin Ascendant (The Children and the Blood #2)
When a horrific assault on their hideout leaves the Hunters shattered, Ashe has only one choice: find her people and expose the secret sect of the Blood once and for all. There’s only one problem.
She has to convince her people the Blood exist first.
It will be no easy task. Scorn for the Hunters runs deep, and the wizards are fighting a war all their own. Ashe must race against time to stop a conflict that is spiraling dangerously out of control.
But when betrayal destroys all she trusted, Ashe’s mission becomes even more desperate.
Because the Blood aren’t the only ones who want her dead anymore.
The Kindling Trilogy - Series Complete!
#1 – Kindling
#2 – Ignite
#3 – Wildfire
Previously published as Taliesin Ascendant (The Children and the Blood #2)
- GenresFantasy
Paperback
First published July 27, 2013
17 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Skye Malone
27 books174 followersSkye Malone writes action-packed fantasy and paranormal romance. A fan of magical books since childhood, they adore stories that pit ordinary characters against extraordinary odds and reveal the strength within. Abandoned buildings are their passion, along with old castles and deep, dark parts of the forest where anything is possible. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in English literature, Skye lives in the Midwest with a retired racing greyhound and a three-legged mutt.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 1, 2013
Unfortunately, I haven't listened to my own advice of writing a review as soon as I finished reading a novel. Pro procrastinator, for the win. BUT! But! It's not entirely my fault, because I've been busy busy busy with the new school year and all, trying not to fall behind on my ever-growing pile of schoolwork. However, I can't blame my laziness completely on my homework, because a major portion of it is just my inability to think up a good review. For the most part, I just stare blankly at my screen, wondering what the hell I'm going to write next. To all my fellow book bloggers out there, have you ever experienced a similar problem?
Anyways, now that I've spent a whole paragraph rambling as I always do, let's get onto the story, shall we? Prior to reading the sequel, I enjoyed, but admittedly did not fall in love with, The Children and the Blood. Magic has always intrigued me endlessly, which is one of the main reasons why I agreed to review these novels and what originally dragged me into the storyline to begin with. After all the books I've feverishly read, which is quite a bit, I still have never encountered a story focused specifically on Merlin mythology, until now. Of course, you have your traditional wizard and witch novels where the protagonist is distantly related to the Merlin bloodline in some fashion, but those novels never go in depth into the actual tales and myths. They toss out the name as a passing comment and never develop it any farther then that. That's one of the aspects that stood out to me so much in Megan's works. And if you were still disappointed by the lack of history and world-building in The Children and The Blood, then you will definitely enjoy Taliesin Ascendant a whole lot more.
This story was still told in multiple POVs, but Ashe's voice quickly became the most prominent. It's become abundantly clear, that although this story has it's important supporting roles, it is still very much focused on her and her struggle to discover who she really is. Ashe both inexplicably annoyed me, yet earned my respect. I'm really having some mixed feelings about her. At times, I wondered how she could be so selfish and inconsiderate, yet at others, I could see the potential and markings of a truly extraordinary leader. There's a bit more character growth, but she still has a looong way to go before she comes anywhere near the exceptional queen she's meant to be. Countless moments, I wanted to tell her to build up a better argument in her goal of convincing the counsel that the Blood exist, other then saying, "I know what I saw," repetitively. You already know the counsel is horrifically prejudice and have a outdated method of thinking, so please use your common sense and find a better way of showing them. However, out of all the feelings I felt for her, pity would probably be the most frequent one. It seems like every time something starts to go her way, something horrible happens just to spite her. Luck, is definitely not on her side.
The officer, Harris. Gah. I got so angry with him every time the POV was switched to him, because of the huge web of lies he's tangled up in. And every stinking day, it just keeps on getting worse! Obviously, it's not his fault for running in the wrong circles, but it still infuriates me every time he badmouthes Ashe in some way. I have literally lost count of all the times I had to set down the book, bury my head in my pillow, and yell "NOOOOOOOO! DON'T BELIEVE THEM, I BEG OF YOU." Of course, since he is a fictional character, he didn't have the ability to hear my desperate, fervent pleas.
*SPOILER ALERT* When Ash had captured him, I really really really wished that she cleared the air between them. (Wanted it so badly that I had to use not one, but three reallys to express my point.) In fact, I was 100% sure that it was going to happen and that everything would be rainbows and unicorns, but IT DIDN'T! I was pretty much set on giving up on life right then and there. The agony. *SPOILER END*
The writing style was wonderful, and if I daresay, improved compared to The Children and the Blood. The passages flowed imperceptibly smoother, and I never had to pause awkwardly at the end of a sentence. Fluid, continuous sentences are something I very much admire about this author in particular, because it's so rare to find that trait in a writer, even less in a self-published one. However, I was disappointed that she still resorted to using the same phrases over and over again. By the time I finished this book, I had the suspicion that there was something very wrong with the eyebrows of every character in this book. Because literally, every page, at least someone "furrowed their eyebrows in confusion." I have no problem with an author peppering a similar phrase throughout the novel, but when it's used too often, it gets really aggravating.
The action was pretty well done, and I found myself pacing back and forth from excitement more than once. The fighting scenes were engaging, and I could actually picture everything that was enfolding within my own mind. Some plot twists were seen a mile away, while others....took me completely by surprise.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly and loved learning more about the interesting world these wizards reside in. Although I probably won't be rereading this novel in the nearby future, I will most certainly pick up a copy of the last installment in this series!
*Huge thank you to the author for sending me a review copy in exchange for a honest and thoughtful review.
Cover- 2.5/5
The fire is relevant to the story, but it's a bit bland.
Heroine - 3.5/5
Has a lot of potential
but still needs work.
Romance- None
Surprisingly no romance, but it isn't needed. This story is great on its own.
Action- 4/5
Writing- 4/5
Smooth, Fluid.
Overall- 3.5/5
Anyways, now that I've spent a whole paragraph rambling as I always do, let's get onto the story, shall we? Prior to reading the sequel, I enjoyed, but admittedly did not fall in love with, The Children and the Blood. Magic has always intrigued me endlessly, which is one of the main reasons why I agreed to review these novels and what originally dragged me into the storyline to begin with. After all the books I've feverishly read, which is quite a bit, I still have never encountered a story focused specifically on Merlin mythology, until now. Of course, you have your traditional wizard and witch novels where the protagonist is distantly related to the Merlin bloodline in some fashion, but those novels never go in depth into the actual tales and myths. They toss out the name as a passing comment and never develop it any farther then that. That's one of the aspects that stood out to me so much in Megan's works. And if you were still disappointed by the lack of history and world-building in The Children and The Blood, then you will definitely enjoy Taliesin Ascendant a whole lot more.
This story was still told in multiple POVs, but Ashe's voice quickly became the most prominent. It's become abundantly clear, that although this story has it's important supporting roles, it is still very much focused on her and her struggle to discover who she really is. Ashe both inexplicably annoyed me, yet earned my respect. I'm really having some mixed feelings about her. At times, I wondered how she could be so selfish and inconsiderate, yet at others, I could see the potential and markings of a truly extraordinary leader. There's a bit more character growth, but she still has a looong way to go before she comes anywhere near the exceptional queen she's meant to be. Countless moments, I wanted to tell her to build up a better argument in her goal of convincing the counsel that the Blood exist, other then saying, "I know what I saw," repetitively. You already know the counsel is horrifically prejudice and have a outdated method of thinking, so please use your common sense and find a better way of showing them. However, out of all the feelings I felt for her, pity would probably be the most frequent one. It seems like every time something starts to go her way, something horrible happens just to spite her. Luck, is definitely not on her side.
The officer, Harris. Gah. I got so angry with him every time the POV was switched to him, because of the huge web of lies he's tangled up in. And every stinking day, it just keeps on getting worse! Obviously, it's not his fault for running in the wrong circles, but it still infuriates me every time he badmouthes Ashe in some way. I have literally lost count of all the times I had to set down the book, bury my head in my pillow, and yell "NOOOOOOOO! DON'T BELIEVE THEM, I BEG OF YOU." Of course, since he is a fictional character, he didn't have the ability to hear my desperate, fervent pleas.
*SPOILER ALERT* When Ash had captured him, I really really really wished that she cleared the air between them. (Wanted it so badly that I had to use not one, but three reallys to express my point.) In fact, I was 100% sure that it was going to happen and that everything would be rainbows and unicorns, but IT DIDN'T! I was pretty much set on giving up on life right then and there. The agony. *SPOILER END*
The writing style was wonderful, and if I daresay, improved compared to The Children and the Blood. The passages flowed imperceptibly smoother, and I never had to pause awkwardly at the end of a sentence. Fluid, continuous sentences are something I very much admire about this author in particular, because it's so rare to find that trait in a writer, even less in a self-published one. However, I was disappointed that she still resorted to using the same phrases over and over again. By the time I finished this book, I had the suspicion that there was something very wrong with the eyebrows of every character in this book. Because literally, every page, at least someone "furrowed their eyebrows in confusion." I have no problem with an author peppering a similar phrase throughout the novel, but when it's used too often, it gets really aggravating.
The action was pretty well done, and I found myself pacing back and forth from excitement more than once. The fighting scenes were engaging, and I could actually picture everything that was enfolding within my own mind. Some plot twists were seen a mile away, while others....took me completely by surprise.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read. I enjoyed it quite thoroughly and loved learning more about the interesting world these wizards reside in. Although I probably won't be rereading this novel in the nearby future, I will most certainly pick up a copy of the last installment in this series!
*Huge thank you to the author for sending me a review copy in exchange for a honest and thoughtful review.
Cover- 2.5/5
The fire is relevant to the story, but it's a bit bland.
Heroine - 3.5/5
Has a lot of potential
but still needs work.
Romance- None
Surprisingly no romance, but it isn't needed. This story is great on its own.
Action- 4/5
Writing- 4/5
Smooth, Fluid.
Overall- 3.5/5
August 29, 2013
Original Review posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
Disclaimer: The author provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The review is not influenced in any way.
Well, I can definitely say I'm a big fan of Megan Joel Peterson's editing skills because I can go focus on the book more rather than complaining about edits (definitely a bonus).
Anyhoo, Taliesin Ascendant is Book Two in the series, The Children and the Blood, with the previous title being the exact same as the series name, so I suppose I don't need to say it twice without sounding like a robot.
But then again, no one actually knows that I sound like a robot when writing or if I'm being serious or whatever tone I intended to write in.
So here are a few things you should know about Taliesin Ascendant, aside from the very obvious:
~ Starts off straight from where The Children and the Blood ended. In other words, we get a few answers from the lovely little cliffhanger that we all love/hate at the same time (I don't about you guys, but I'm just both). I would highly recommend you don't decide to jump into book two without reading book one first, though I'm pretty sure no one does that anymore these days...
Although... I still have no clue what Bartlow did. I might have a slight idea now, but maybe I'm just a naïve little duckling, it's right in front of my face and it hasn't clicked yet. It probably won't until later in the far future. Of course, that might just result in a facepalm if it's that obvious.
~ A lot of new characters, though a few old ones do return. I do miss some of the old ones though... but they're pretty much in “space.” (Yes, there's a hidden meaning in the word). And most of the ones that do return are more mature than when we last saw them, particularly the main characters (Ashe, Lily, Cole, Harris – I think that's all of them but there might be more).
~ More action packed than its predecessor (sweeeeet).
~ I loved the ending before the epilogue this time... though the epilogue doesn't have one this time. It's a nice feeling of Taliesin Ascendant ending on a satisfactory ending where the reader doesn't just scream in frustration because you have to wait for the next book to come out. Not that I would scream. I would only scream if a nasty, icky, yucky, repulsive spider (or bug) decides to come crawling... *shudders* Ew.
Yeah, I think I'm going to stop talking now.
Note: Formatting is lost due to copy and paste.
Disclaimer: The author provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The review is not influenced in any way.
Well, I can definitely say I'm a big fan of Megan Joel Peterson's editing skills because I can go focus on the book more rather than complaining about edits (definitely a bonus).
Anyhoo, Taliesin Ascendant is Book Two in the series, The Children and the Blood, with the previous title being the exact same as the series name, so I suppose I don't need to say it twice without sounding like a robot.
But then again, no one actually knows that I sound like a robot when writing or if I'm being serious or whatever tone I intended to write in.
So here are a few things you should know about Taliesin Ascendant, aside from the very obvious:
~ Starts off straight from where The Children and the Blood ended. In other words, we get a few answers from the lovely little cliffhanger that we all love/hate at the same time (I don't about you guys, but I'm just both). I would highly recommend you don't decide to jump into book two without reading book one first, though I'm pretty sure no one does that anymore these days...
Although... I still have no clue what Bartlow did. I might have a slight idea now, but maybe I'm just a naïve little duckling, it's right in front of my face and it hasn't clicked yet. It probably won't until later in the far future. Of course, that might just result in a facepalm if it's that obvious.
~ A lot of new characters, though a few old ones do return. I do miss some of the old ones though... but they're pretty much in “space.” (Yes, there's a hidden meaning in the word). And most of the ones that do return are more mature than when we last saw them, particularly the main characters (Ashe, Lily, Cole, Harris – I think that's all of them but there might be more).
~ More action packed than its predecessor (sweeeeet).
~ I loved the ending before the epilogue this time... though the epilogue doesn't have one this time. It's a nice feeling of Taliesin Ascendant ending on a satisfactory ending where the reader doesn't just scream in frustration because you have to wait for the next book to come out. Not that I would scream. I would only scream if a nasty, icky, yucky, repulsive spider (or bug) decides to come crawling... *shudders* Ew.
Yeah, I think I'm going to stop talking now.
November 5, 2013
Read other book reviews at Book Junkie Joint.
A thrilling follow-up to an action-packed Book 1! Relationships and alliances are stirred and Queen Ashe stands with a brave heart in the midst of a three-way war!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to write a review as soon as finished reading this book. Too many things came up one after another that I just couldn't find the time to write one, but no worries, I'm determined to express the joy that I felt while reading this book.
Taliesin Ascendant follows-up straight after The Children and the Blood (Book 1). We see more of the ruling structure of the Merlins and how they rule their kind, as well as of the Taliesins. More background information about the Merlins, the Taliesins and the Bloods are explained. I appreciate that not everything was revealed at once. I actually like that the history is explained little by little. It keeps things intriguing and keeps me guessing. Ha!
I'd have to say that there is no shortage of cruelty and greed in this book. I was especially saddened by how the crippled were treated when Ashe had been doing her best to help them. It's a little depressing, to be honest, but I understand that hopeless situations bring out the real character of a person. In the middle of all of the chaos and despair are Ashe, Lily and Cole, simply trying to survive while trying to make sense of everything that's happening to them. Of course Queen Ashe needs to experience several trials first before she becomes the awesome Queen that she's destined to be!
While this book was told from different perspectives, I really appreciate that it focused more on Ashe. After reading the first book in the series, I've been very vocal about looking forward to seeing how awesome she is going to be once she gets a grasp of her powers. And I was right! ASHE ROCKS!! I love her as a character! She was very different from the mediocre farm-girl from Book 1!
I also love Lily and how she's holding up despite her tender age. I was really happy when she and Ashe finally reunited! And what an awesome alliance they have together with Cole. Well, I understand that Cole is being mostly useless for being a cripple but I'm still hoping that a twist of fate could also give him powers so that he, Ashe and Lily could kick ass! *ahemmm... Dear Author, if you are listening... This is but a humble request.*
I highly recommend this book for fans of young-adult, action-adventure stories and those who wish to see a different kind of wizards that the one we're all used to! =)
A thrilling follow-up to an action-packed Book 1! Relationships and alliances are stirred and Queen Ashe stands with a brave heart in the midst of a three-way war!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to write a review as soon as finished reading this book. Too many things came up one after another that I just couldn't find the time to write one, but no worries, I'm determined to express the joy that I felt while reading this book.
Taliesin Ascendant follows-up straight after The Children and the Blood (Book 1). We see more of the ruling structure of the Merlins and how they rule their kind, as well as of the Taliesins. More background information about the Merlins, the Taliesins and the Bloods are explained. I appreciate that not everything was revealed at once. I actually like that the history is explained little by little. It keeps things intriguing and keeps me guessing. Ha!
I'd have to say that there is no shortage of cruelty and greed in this book. I was especially saddened by how the crippled were treated when Ashe had been doing her best to help them. It's a little depressing, to be honest, but I understand that hopeless situations bring out the real character of a person. In the middle of all of the chaos and despair are Ashe, Lily and Cole, simply trying to survive while trying to make sense of everything that's happening to them. Of course Queen Ashe needs to experience several trials first before she becomes the awesome Queen that she's destined to be!
While this book was told from different perspectives, I really appreciate that it focused more on Ashe. After reading the first book in the series, I've been very vocal about looking forward to seeing how awesome she is going to be once she gets a grasp of her powers. And I was right! ASHE ROCKS!! I love her as a character! She was very different from the mediocre farm-girl from Book 1!
I also love Lily and how she's holding up despite her tender age. I was really happy when she and Ashe finally reunited! And what an awesome alliance they have together with Cole. Well, I understand that Cole is being mostly useless for being a cripple but I'm still hoping that a twist of fate could also give him powers so that he, Ashe and Lily could kick ass! *ahemmm... Dear Author, if you are listening... This is but a humble request.*
I highly recommend this book for fans of young-adult, action-adventure stories and those who wish to see a different kind of wizards that the one we're all used to! =)
December 21, 2013
I was offered a copy of Taliesin Ascendant by Megan Joel Peterson in exchange for an honest review and as I was such a fan of Children of the Blood I was pleased to be able to say yes.
The pace of this book is just as frantic, as Ashe struggle with Merlin conflict, and Cole and Lily are still on the run from the Taliesin wizards.
The Ashe the reader meets in this sequel is hardened following her experiences battling and losing Carter and she is intent on hunting down the Blood who are trying to gain control in the wizard war. I admire her strength in Taliesin Ascendant, as well as her leadership skills and compassion.
Cole is still taking care of Lily, under the guise of his sister, helping her to control her magic and trying to keep her safe from the Talisein. Their situation is precarious, as the full extent of Lily's power is still unknown and whilst for a time Megan Joel Peterson lulls the reader into a sense of security with their surroundings, unfortunately this is only temporary and as Cole and Lily encounter further danger, unforeseen details about Cole are revealed.
Taliesin Ascendant is a mature young adult novel, with strong fantasy elements; it has a complicated plot, but not so much that Megan Joel Peterson alienates her reader; we are still able to become involved in the lives of the characters and the progression of the story.
I enjoyed the fact that there are details which are completely unexpected, making me wonder which direction the next installment of Children of the Blood will take! I cannot wait!
The pace of this book is just as frantic, as Ashe struggle with Merlin conflict, and Cole and Lily are still on the run from the Taliesin wizards.
The Ashe the reader meets in this sequel is hardened following her experiences battling and losing Carter and she is intent on hunting down the Blood who are trying to gain control in the wizard war. I admire her strength in Taliesin Ascendant, as well as her leadership skills and compassion.
Cole is still taking care of Lily, under the guise of his sister, helping her to control her magic and trying to keep her safe from the Talisein. Their situation is precarious, as the full extent of Lily's power is still unknown and whilst for a time Megan Joel Peterson lulls the reader into a sense of security with their surroundings, unfortunately this is only temporary and as Cole and Lily encounter further danger, unforeseen details about Cole are revealed.
Taliesin Ascendant is a mature young adult novel, with strong fantasy elements; it has a complicated plot, but not so much that Megan Joel Peterson alienates her reader; we are still able to become involved in the lives of the characters and the progression of the story.
I enjoyed the fact that there are details which are completely unexpected, making me wonder which direction the next installment of Children of the Blood will take! I cannot wait!
June 12, 2014
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, just as good as the first one. This series deserves far more attention. Full review to come soon.
June 4, 2017
Find more of my reviews at my blog Books and Stars.
***I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way***
Following on the heels of the last book, Ashe is frantically trying to find the secretive Merlin wizards in order to warn them about the Blood, a dangerous group of wizards seeking to wreck havoc. But it's not that easy: the Blood have long since been known as mere myths, and the Merlin wizards are preoccupied, engaged in an ever-lasting battle with the Taliesin wizards. But time is running out, with both the Blood and the Taliesin spiralling out of control, and Ashe needs to find a solution fast.
What stood out the most to me in this book was Ashe's sheer determination. She met roadblock after roadblock, encountering those who would led her astray in name of actually helping her, and those who full-on wanted her gone. But she persisted time and time again, and I'm glad to see that it paid off in the end for when it really mattered. Though there was less emphasis on her powers in this novel, there still were some wicked demonstrates of her fire abilities.
One character that we learn quite a bit about is Cole and his background. Though he wasn't as present in the novel as I would have liked, we still got a fair bit of him and his less-than-ideal situation. However, it was really Lily who captured my attention in those scenes with Cole; after what's revealed, I'm definitely interested in what the extent of her abilities are!
I would have liked to see more reoccurring characters from the first book. Though the new cast of characters are likeable, it was a bit hard trying to keep them all straight, continuing to wonder if the old cast would make a reappearance. It would have been nice to have seen some of the Hunters go through some more character development.
Though Ashe's battle to convince the Merlin wizards of the existence of the Blood properly expressed her frustration, I found her way out to have been a bit to easy. I questioned some of the characters' seemingly blind devotion to her, as she hadn't quite proved herself worthy to gain such strong followers yet. Following her because of who her father was can only get you so far, after all.
All in all, this book was still excellently written, with a few twists I did not see coming at all. I did find that it lacked the same luster as the first book did, with some of the characters either not present or not developing as I wanted them to have. Regardless, it still it worth the read, and I'm definitely interested in seeing what truly becomes of the Blood once Ashley's through with them!
***I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in any way***
Following on the heels of the last book, Ashe is frantically trying to find the secretive Merlin wizards in order to warn them about the Blood, a dangerous group of wizards seeking to wreck havoc. But it's not that easy: the Blood have long since been known as mere myths, and the Merlin wizards are preoccupied, engaged in an ever-lasting battle with the Taliesin wizards. But time is running out, with both the Blood and the Taliesin spiralling out of control, and Ashe needs to find a solution fast.
What stood out the most to me in this book was Ashe's sheer determination. She met roadblock after roadblock, encountering those who would led her astray in name of actually helping her, and those who full-on wanted her gone. But she persisted time and time again, and I'm glad to see that it paid off in the end for when it really mattered. Though there was less emphasis on her powers in this novel, there still were some wicked demonstrates of her fire abilities.
One character that we learn quite a bit about is Cole and his background. Though he wasn't as present in the novel as I would have liked, we still got a fair bit of him and his less-than-ideal situation. However, it was really Lily who captured my attention in those scenes with Cole; after what's revealed, I'm definitely interested in what the extent of her abilities are!
I would have liked to see more reoccurring characters from the first book. Though the new cast of characters are likeable, it was a bit hard trying to keep them all straight, continuing to wonder if the old cast would make a reappearance. It would have been nice to have seen some of the Hunters go through some more character development.
Though Ashe's battle to convince the Merlin wizards of the existence of the Blood properly expressed her frustration, I found her way out to have been a bit to easy. I questioned some of the characters' seemingly blind devotion to her, as she hadn't quite proved herself worthy to gain such strong followers yet. Following her because of who her father was can only get you so far, after all.
All in all, this book was still excellently written, with a few twists I did not see coming at all. I did find that it lacked the same luster as the first book did, with some of the characters either not present or not developing as I wanted them to have. Regardless, it still it worth the read, and I'm definitely interested in seeing what truly becomes of the Blood once Ashley's through with them!
November 4, 2020
I enjoyed this series it kept me guessing and that's hard to do!
September 23, 2013
Taliesin Ascendant is a thrilling follow up to The Children and the Blood. It's one of those books you want to race through because you have to know what happens next, but you can't race through because the words are so lovely, you don't want to miss anything.
Taliesin Ascendant picks up where The Children and the Blood left off. Ashe continues her quest to find the Merlins in order to fulfill her promise to Carter - telling the Merlins that the Blood do exist. However, finding the Merlins puts Ashe on a path she'd never expected.
Cole and Lily try to keep moving in order to evade the Taliesins and the Bloods. Unfortunately, they happen upon a fringe family of Merlins. They are held against their will and while there, they have revelation upon revelation about each of their families and the history of the war between the Merlins and the Taliesins.
The war between the Merlins and the Taliesins is escalating. But as these two groups fight for dominance and power, they have no idea there is another threat to them both - and it's stronger than they can imagine. Ashe, Cole and Lily all have integral roles in this war, and they aren't sure whom to trust. Seriously, I didn't know who to trust and as Ashe did, I misjudged a few people.
Taliesin Ascendant is equally as pulse-pounding as The Children and the Blood. I felt there was fantastic character development combined with the spine-tingling suspense and action. Oh, all the intrigue! Megan Joel Peterson did a phenomenal job of keeping me in the dark about the direction of the plot. The new players introduced and the further questions which arose really created a pulse-pounding story that I was completely immersed in.
This is such a brilliant story! There's action, tension, suspense, magic, intrigue, betrayal, mystery - and no romance. ;) (I know you're shocked but none so far) Megan Joel Peterson weaves all these elements together for a fascinating, adrenaline pumping story. I'm thrilled my wait for the next installment isn't long. For although some questions were answered, many more arose. And I am anxious to know what happens next!
**I received an ecopy of this book, from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Taliesin Ascendant picks up where The Children and the Blood left off. Ashe continues her quest to find the Merlins in order to fulfill her promise to Carter - telling the Merlins that the Blood do exist. However, finding the Merlins puts Ashe on a path she'd never expected.
Cole and Lily try to keep moving in order to evade the Taliesins and the Bloods. Unfortunately, they happen upon a fringe family of Merlins. They are held against their will and while there, they have revelation upon revelation about each of their families and the history of the war between the Merlins and the Taliesins.
The war between the Merlins and the Taliesins is escalating. But as these two groups fight for dominance and power, they have no idea there is another threat to them both - and it's stronger than they can imagine. Ashe, Cole and Lily all have integral roles in this war, and they aren't sure whom to trust. Seriously, I didn't know who to trust and as Ashe did, I misjudged a few people.
Taliesin Ascendant is equally as pulse-pounding as The Children and the Blood. I felt there was fantastic character development combined with the spine-tingling suspense and action. Oh, all the intrigue! Megan Joel Peterson did a phenomenal job of keeping me in the dark about the direction of the plot. The new players introduced and the further questions which arose really created a pulse-pounding story that I was completely immersed in.
This is such a brilliant story! There's action, tension, suspense, magic, intrigue, betrayal, mystery - and no romance. ;) (I know you're shocked but none so far) Megan Joel Peterson weaves all these elements together for a fascinating, adrenaline pumping story. I'm thrilled my wait for the next installment isn't long. For although some questions were answered, many more arose. And I am anxious to know what happens next!
**I received an ecopy of this book, from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
May 7, 2015
I received Taliesin Ascendant by Megan Joel Peterson from the author and this is my honest review.
Taliesin Ascendant is the second book in the Children and the Blood trilogy by Megan Joel Peterson. In this sequel we follow Ashe on her mission to expose the Blood to the rest of the world, as well as Cole and Lily on their mission to just survive. In the first book sisters Ashe and Lily were separated and both think the other is dead so you can imagine my hope for them to reunite in this book.
80% of the book was dedicated to Ashe and her being put to work by her “people” since she is basically the queen, and about 20% was dedicated to following Cole and Lily. Thats the first thing that I did not like because I really think there should have been equal parts for both Ashe and Cole & Lily.
The action parts in the book I loved because they kept me turning pages, but the in between parts like when they had Ashe reading all those papers really bored me to tears so that was a downside. I found that I like the Cole & Lily parts a lot more than I liked Ashe’s parts and that was probably because they were shorter and to the point. Ashe’s parts seemed to just drag on.
Another thing that I don’t really like about this series is that there is absolutely no romance between anybody. The closest thing to any romance was the one married couple but other than that there was squat. I almost wish that Lily was older so that her and Cole could have struck something up. Hopefully in the third and final book things will be better maybe Ashe and Cole will get together I think that would be pretty cute.
Overall this book was probably my least favorite in the trilogy so far. But I am not going to give up on it because I did enjoy the first book and I’m not going to just stop reading because one book in the trilogy was a bust. I do plan on reading book three because I do have it. But I am not going to dive into it right away because if I do I might not like it since it took me so long to read the second book I need a little break before I dive in again.
Taliesin Ascendant is the second book in the Children and the Blood trilogy by Megan Joel Peterson. In this sequel we follow Ashe on her mission to expose the Blood to the rest of the world, as well as Cole and Lily on their mission to just survive. In the first book sisters Ashe and Lily were separated and both think the other is dead so you can imagine my hope for them to reunite in this book.
80% of the book was dedicated to Ashe and her being put to work by her “people” since she is basically the queen, and about 20% was dedicated to following Cole and Lily. Thats the first thing that I did not like because I really think there should have been equal parts for both Ashe and Cole & Lily.
The action parts in the book I loved because they kept me turning pages, but the in between parts like when they had Ashe reading all those papers really bored me to tears so that was a downside. I found that I like the Cole & Lily parts a lot more than I liked Ashe’s parts and that was probably because they were shorter and to the point. Ashe’s parts seemed to just drag on.
Another thing that I don’t really like about this series is that there is absolutely no romance between anybody. The closest thing to any romance was the one married couple but other than that there was squat. I almost wish that Lily was older so that her and Cole could have struck something up. Hopefully in the third and final book things will be better maybe Ashe and Cole will get together I think that would be pretty cute.
Overall this book was probably my least favorite in the trilogy so far. But I am not going to give up on it because I did enjoy the first book and I’m not going to just stop reading because one book in the trilogy was a bust. I do plan on reading book three because I do have it. But I am not going to dive into it right away because if I do I might not like it since it took me so long to read the second book I need a little break before I dive in again.
September 7, 2013
Taliesin Ascendant Is the second book in The Children and The Blood YA trilogy. This book picks right up where the first book left off. The Children are still on the run and are hunting for answers as well as just trying to stay one step ahead of their enemies.
This book sees more introduction of new characters and gives us more insight into the politics behind what happened with the kids and where they fit into the whole scheme of things. I really don't want to give too much away because I really love this series. The first book is an absolute gem and this book is a great follow up. It answers a lot of questions that were left hanging and gives the reader more insight into this unique world that Megan Joel Peterson has created. It's very much a modern day Escape From Witch Mountain with a heavy fantasy and urban fantasy element.
What I love most about the series is that the author doesn't let the reader in on everything right up front. As the characters learn about themselves, you as the reader learn. Things unfold but you still know there's more to the story that you don't know. It's very unique writing and an absolute high speed, action packed adventure that you're traveling on with the main characters.
Definitely worth the read!!!
This book sees more introduction of new characters and gives us more insight into the politics behind what happened with the kids and where they fit into the whole scheme of things. I really don't want to give too much away because I really love this series. The first book is an absolute gem and this book is a great follow up. It answers a lot of questions that were left hanging and gives the reader more insight into this unique world that Megan Joel Peterson has created. It's very much a modern day Escape From Witch Mountain with a heavy fantasy and urban fantasy element.
What I love most about the series is that the author doesn't let the reader in on everything right up front. As the characters learn about themselves, you as the reader learn. Things unfold but you still know there's more to the story that you don't know. It's very unique writing and an absolute high speed, action packed adventure that you're traveling on with the main characters.
Definitely worth the read!!!
January 22, 2016
I felt really....well, not part of this book, as I didn't with e first. I thought I'd try to keep going. What I said for the first still stands for this one though. It really just didn't hold my attention, not to mention I felt bored with the book and characters.
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