What do you think?
Rate this book
Going Down in Flames #4
Fanning the Flames
Bryn McKenna has it all, including her smoking-hot knight turned live-in boyfriend, Valmont. Even though she's a hybrid dragon, she's finally fitting into the new shape-shifting dragon world that's become her own. But her grandparents want to ruin everything by making Bryn's nightmare of an arranged marriage to Jaxon Westgate a reality. It doesn't help that Jaxon's father is on a witch hunt for Rebel sympathizers and Bryn finds herself in his line of fire.
If she doesn't say, " I do," she'll lose everything. Good-bye flying. Good-bye best friends. Good-bye magic. But if she bends to her grandparents' will and agrees to marry Jaxon, she'll lose the love of her life--her knight.
If she doesn't say, " I do," she'll lose everything. Good-bye flying. Good-bye best friends. Good-bye magic. But if she bends to her grandparents' will and agrees to marry Jaxon, she'll lose the love of her life--her knight.
340 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2017
About the author
Chris Cannon
17 books845 followersChris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Mysteries of Mystic Hills series, Going Down In Flames series, the Crossroads Chronicles, the Boyfriend Chronicles, and the Dating Dilemma series. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts.
She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sipping caffeine and writing paranormal adventures. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.
She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sipping caffeine and writing paranormal adventures. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
June 10, 2018
"Only those who have given their all may enter. Those who have taken everything must give to see"
At this point, it's safe to say I'm a fan of this series. I just can't get enough. Fanning the flames has mystery, magic, battles and some cool tricks. This book had me on the edge of my chair. I've read these books in the wrong order which I would definitely not recommend because I now will need to read the last book again. In Trial by Fire, we discovered a secret. Knights and their Dragons can open magic doors. The students at the school are paired up to help uncover some secrets. Only certain colours of dragons can open certain doors so knights are stepping up to help. They aren't the only ones looking for treasure and as usual, the school is at the centre of a dragon feud.
Bryn and Valmont have a special bond. It goes further than just dragon and knight. Usually, the two species don't date but these two are more than close. Like every relationship, they have their problems. Unfortunately for them, theirs is bigger than most. Dragons are matched to each other to ensure good breeding. Her potential match is Jaxon.
Jaxon is old money and his family is powerful. Luckily his mother is nice, unlike his father. Jaxon only has eyes for his voided match, Rhianna. This is working to Bryn's advantage in a way. She likes Rhianna and doesn't have romantic feelings for Jaxon. The 4 (Valmont, Bryn, Jaxon and Rhianna) are working out a way for their situation to work.
This instalment is full of surprises and will leave you wanting more. Great read. 5 stars out of 5.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
At this point, it's safe to say I'm a fan of this series. I just can't get enough. Fanning the flames has mystery, magic, battles and some cool tricks. This book had me on the edge of my chair. I've read these books in the wrong order which I would definitely not recommend because I now will need to read the last book again. In Trial by Fire, we discovered a secret. Knights and their Dragons can open magic doors. The students at the school are paired up to help uncover some secrets. Only certain colours of dragons can open certain doors so knights are stepping up to help. They aren't the only ones looking for treasure and as usual, the school is at the centre of a dragon feud.
Bryn and Valmont have a special bond. It goes further than just dragon and knight. Usually, the two species don't date but these two are more than close. Like every relationship, they have their problems. Unfortunately for them, theirs is bigger than most. Dragons are matched to each other to ensure good breeding. Her potential match is Jaxon.
Jaxon is old money and his family is powerful. Luckily his mother is nice, unlike his father. Jaxon only has eyes for his voided match, Rhianna. This is working to Bryn's advantage in a way. She likes Rhianna and doesn't have romantic feelings for Jaxon. The 4 (Valmont, Bryn, Jaxon and Rhianna) are working out a way for their situation to work.
This instalment is full of surprises and will leave you wanting more. Great read. 5 stars out of 5.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2017
Fanning the Flames picks up right where Trial By Fire left off. It wasn’t until this book that I realized that we are on the fourth book of the series and a school year hasn’t even past yet. I don’t know why I didn’t realize that before but it seems like this series is going to span the first year of Bryn’s life as a dragon, and boy does a crazy first year she have. I mean, she’s been poisoned, attacked, kidnapped, betrothed, fallen in love, broken up, fallen in love again, only to have that become a rocky relationship. This poor girl has gone through so much in such a short span of time.
I had issues with the last book and that was mainly because the story seemed to consist of Bryn and Valmont (her knight and boyfriend) going back and forth on whether a relationship between them would work. I just didn’t feel like a lot was accomplished in it. So I was glad to see that we get some mystery and action back with this installment. You see, there are vaults/rooms under the library at school that only a certain colored dragon and their knight can open. No one knows what’s inside until they are opened. However, it seems that the rebels are after whatever are in those rooms. So, it’s kind of a race against the clock to try to get into the rooms to see what they can figure out and hopefully stop a war with the rebels from happening. Of course, because Bryn is the only dragon with a knight, she and Valmont sort of set the stage and help find other dragons who would be interested in taking on a knight to try to open up one of the rooms. The majority of the story line consists of the mystery behind the rooms and figuring out what it all means.
Now, I’m all for romance. I am a romance junkie. I love me some romance. However, this whole Bryn and Volmont thing is driving me up a wall. Very rarely to I wish for a unhappily-ever-after, it’s happened before but it is rare. So, the fact that I was just sitting there hoping they would go their separate ways was a bit shocking. Ever since the last book I sort of lost respect for Volmont and their relationship as a whole. It’s not that I want to see Bryn with Jaxon, I just couldn’t stand hers and Valmont’s relationship angst. So, this entire book I was just biding my time hoping they would call it quits and I’d be done with it all. Which is shocking because I love romance!
…Just not theirs.
Like I said before, the majority of the book is just a lot of mystery and room hunting. Not a whole heck of a lot of action. However, the book does finally pick up steam about three quarters of the way through. I had a moment where I got teary-eyed (which really shocked me given what I was crying over), there were some gnarly fight scenes with limbs and wings flying, there was some big secrets revealed, and the story takes a turn into uncharted territory. I will admit that the author was starting to lose me there for a moment because I wanted excitement and dragony scenes, not so much teenage angst, but she was able to reel me back in with the last quarter of the book. It’s not that the story was bad, I just wasn’t in the mood for a slow-building read. I wanted action-packed dragon awesomeness. So when the pacing took on a much slower pace than I was expecting I found myself getting a little bored. However, I’m kind of in it to win it at this point. With everything that happened in the last quarter of the book, I need to know how it all goes down for Bryn.
I had issues with the last book and that was mainly because the story seemed to consist of Bryn and Valmont (her knight and boyfriend) going back and forth on whether a relationship between them would work. I just didn’t feel like a lot was accomplished in it. So I was glad to see that we get some mystery and action back with this installment. You see, there are vaults/rooms under the library at school that only a certain colored dragon and their knight can open. No one knows what’s inside until they are opened. However, it seems that the rebels are after whatever are in those rooms. So, it’s kind of a race against the clock to try to get into the rooms to see what they can figure out and hopefully stop a war with the rebels from happening. Of course, because Bryn is the only dragon with a knight, she and Valmont sort of set the stage and help find other dragons who would be interested in taking on a knight to try to open up one of the rooms. The majority of the story line consists of the mystery behind the rooms and figuring out what it all means.
Now, I’m all for romance. I am a romance junkie. I love me some romance. However, this whole Bryn and Volmont thing is driving me up a wall. Very rarely to I wish for a unhappily-ever-after, it’s happened before but it is rare. So, the fact that I was just sitting there hoping they would go their separate ways was a bit shocking. Ever since the last book I sort of lost respect for Volmont and their relationship as a whole. It’s not that I want to see Bryn with Jaxon, I just couldn’t stand hers and Valmont’s relationship angst. So, this entire book I was just biding my time hoping they would call it quits and I’d be done with it all. Which is shocking because I love romance!
…Just not theirs.
Like I said before, the majority of the book is just a lot of mystery and room hunting. Not a whole heck of a lot of action. However, the book does finally pick up steam about three quarters of the way through. I had a moment where I got teary-eyed (which really shocked me given what I was crying over), there were some gnarly fight scenes with limbs and wings flying, there was some big secrets revealed, and the story takes a turn into uncharted territory. I will admit that the author was starting to lose me there for a moment because I wanted excitement and dragony scenes, not so much teenage angst, but she was able to reel me back in with the last quarter of the book. It’s not that the story was bad, I just wasn’t in the mood for a slow-building read. I wanted action-packed dragon awesomeness. So when the pacing took on a much slower pace than I was expecting I found myself getting a little bored. However, I’m kind of in it to win it at this point. With everything that happened in the last quarter of the book, I need to know how it all goes down for Bryn.
March 3, 2017
Thanks to Entangled Teen for providing an ARC in exchange for am honest review, This doesn't influence my opinion on it in any way.
As a huge fan of the Going Down in Flames series, I have to commend Fanning The Flames for being another fantastic book in this series. There is no lull in either the pace or quality of the series, it's as sharp and as interesting as ever. Bryn has come a long way from who she was in book one and it showed in her character, decision and behaviours. The witty Bryn once again captured my heart and made me enraptured in another wonderful piece of her journey. Fanning The Flames started with action and from there it was a fun filled ride.
Bryn and Jaxon were instructed to form a group made up of student dragons and volunteer knights to try to find the secrets of the hidden rooms in the library. This paved the way for some really interesting and fun storyline I really loved especially when they find various wonderful magical artifacts and also lead to some fantastic discoveries that made me see their whole world in a new light.
Valmont is ever the precious sexy drool worthy boyfriend, His chemistry with Bryn is top notch and their interactions are great. I love the fact that they're more rational and calm in handling complicated situations though they still have that spark that made me fall in love with them. There is a lot of drama, mystery and action in it. Discovering the motives behind the actions of the rebels was definitely one of the high point of the book but the various relationships between the main characters is enough for it to be a great read.
My best quote is:
She could imagine explaining her marriage to someone. “Did you marry for love?”“Oh, no. I married for spite.” God, her life was bizarre.”
There are twists and turns I could predict and some I couldn't such as the surprise return of some important characters. It is filled with action, romance, comedy, drama, mystery, teen angst and shape shifting fun.
Before the ending, I could sense the heartbreak coming and I was right. All the events leading to the ending was grim and necessary but still sad. The ending itself while heart wrenching still leaves me excited for the next chapter in Bryn's story. This is one series I am so in love with and I recommend this to Young Adult Fantasy fans and anyone looking for a great read. Chris Cannon has amazed me once more with her superb authors, She's one author whose books I will always put on my buy list.
P.S: I have a feeling Bryn and Jaxon are going to end up together! I find the idea more entertaining than I should.
P.P.S: Bryn still loves much food and I'm glad she hasn't lost that part of herself.
As a huge fan of the Going Down in Flames series, I have to commend Fanning The Flames for being another fantastic book in this series. There is no lull in either the pace or quality of the series, it's as sharp and as interesting as ever. Bryn has come a long way from who she was in book one and it showed in her character, decision and behaviours. The witty Bryn once again captured my heart and made me enraptured in another wonderful piece of her journey. Fanning The Flames started with action and from there it was a fun filled ride.
Bryn and Jaxon were instructed to form a group made up of student dragons and volunteer knights to try to find the secrets of the hidden rooms in the library. This paved the way for some really interesting and fun storyline I really loved especially when they find various wonderful magical artifacts and also lead to some fantastic discoveries that made me see their whole world in a new light.
Valmont is ever the precious sexy drool worthy boyfriend, His chemistry with Bryn is top notch and their interactions are great. I love the fact that they're more rational and calm in handling complicated situations though they still have that spark that made me fall in love with them. There is a lot of drama, mystery and action in it. Discovering the motives behind the actions of the rebels was definitely one of the high point of the book but the various relationships between the main characters is enough for it to be a great read.
My best quote is:
She could imagine explaining her marriage to someone. “Did you marry for love?”“Oh, no. I married for spite.” God, her life was bizarre.”
There are twists and turns I could predict and some I couldn't such as the surprise return of some important characters. It is filled with action, romance, comedy, drama, mystery, teen angst and shape shifting fun.
Before the ending, I could sense the heartbreak coming and I was right. All the events leading to the ending was grim and necessary but still sad. The ending itself while heart wrenching still leaves me excited for the next chapter in Bryn's story. This is one series I am so in love with and I recommend this to Young Adult Fantasy fans and anyone looking for a great read. Chris Cannon has amazed me once more with her superb authors, She's one author whose books I will always put on my buy list.
P.S: I have a feeling Bryn and Jaxon are going to end up together! I find the idea more entertaining than I should.
P.P.S: Bryn still loves much food and I'm glad she hasn't lost that part of herself.
March 9, 2017
Chris Cannon’s FANNING THE FLAMES, is an amazing addition as the fourth book to the Going Down in Flames series. The story takes place following book three, TRIAL BY FIRE. Red/blue-hybrid dragon shifter, Bryn McKenna, is finally feeling like she is starting to fit in. Things are going well with her knight/boyfriend, Valmont Fonzoli. However, she is waiting to find out if her arranged marriage to, Jaxon Westgate, will be approved. Meanwhile, the Directorate is on the hunt for Rebel sympathizers. Bryn and Jaxon are assigned as student liaisons, thus involved in the controversy. This Contemporary paranormal fantasy is suitable for young adults.
The characters continue to grow and become more dynamic. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. She is starting to think of herself as a dragon, instead of a human. She is smart and good at figuring out plots/conspiracies. Valmont has some understandable issues he faces in this story. His life has completely changed since he became Bryn’s knight and he misses his family. Jaxon is still very much a blue dragon, but we see glimpses of open mindedness that makes him more appealing.
The plot was exceptional. Chris Cannon did a great job recapping the previous books. There were many unexpected twists and compelling conflicts. The story was full of mystery and drama. My heart both broke and rejoiced for some of the things that happened in this story. The ending was thrilling and mixed with emotion. I cannot wait for book five to read where Chris Cannon takes the next story. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
The characters continue to grow and become more dynamic. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. She is starting to think of herself as a dragon, instead of a human. She is smart and good at figuring out plots/conspiracies. Valmont has some understandable issues he faces in this story. His life has completely changed since he became Bryn’s knight and he misses his family. Jaxon is still very much a blue dragon, but we see glimpses of open mindedness that makes him more appealing.
The plot was exceptional. Chris Cannon did a great job recapping the previous books. There were many unexpected twists and compelling conflicts. The story was full of mystery and drama. My heart both broke and rejoiced for some of the things that happened in this story. The ending was thrilling and mixed with emotion. I cannot wait for book five to read where Chris Cannon takes the next story. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
March 9, 2017
Fanning The Flames (Going Down in Flames, #4) by Chris Cannon Chris Cannon’s FANNING THE FLAMES, is an amazing addition as the fourth book to the Going Down in Flames series. The story takes place following book three, TRIAL BY FIRE. Red/blue-hybrid dragon shifter, Bryn McKenna, is finally feeling like she is starting to fit in. Things are going well with her knight/boyfriend, Valmont Fonzoli. However, she is waiting to find out if her arranged marriage to, Jaxon Westgate, will be approved. Meanwhile, the Directorate is on the hunt for Rebel sympathizers. Bryn and Jaxon are assigned as student liaisons, thus involved in the controversy. This Contemporary paranormal fantasy is suitable for young adults.
The characters continue to grow and become more dynamic. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. She is starting to think of herself as a dragon, instead of a human. She is smart and good at figuring out plots/conspiracies. Valmont has some understandable issues he faces in this story. His life has completely changed since he became Bryn’s knight and he misses his family. Jaxon is still very much a blue dragon, but we see glimpses of open mindedness that makes him more appealing.
The plot was exceptional. Chris Cannon did a great job recapping the previous books. There were many unexpected twists and compelling conflicts. The story was full of mystery and drama. My heart both broke and rejoiced for some of the things that happened in this story. The ending was thrilling and mixed with emotion. I cannot wait for book five to read where Chris Cannon takes the next story. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
The characters continue to grow and become more dynamic. Bryn has come a long way since the first book. She is starting to think of herself as a dragon, instead of a human. She is smart and good at figuring out plots/conspiracies. Valmont has some understandable issues he faces in this story. His life has completely changed since he became Bryn’s knight and he misses his family. Jaxon is still very much a blue dragon, but we see glimpses of open mindedness that makes him more appealing.
The plot was exceptional. Chris Cannon did a great job recapping the previous books. There were many unexpected twists and compelling conflicts. The story was full of mystery and drama. My heart both broke and rejoiced for some of the things that happened in this story. The ending was thrilling and mixed with emotion. I cannot wait for book five to read where Chris Cannon takes the next story. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
September 17, 2017
**5 stars**
Chris, oh my sweet beloved Chris. WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THIS TO ME? I neeeeed the next book and you tell me it will come out NEXT YEAR?!?!? How am I supposed to survive that long? Is it even possible???
Anyway-the real review.
Fanning the Flames picks up right where Trial By Fire left off but it hasn't even been a full school year since the first book which makes me feel for Bryn since she's gone through so much in such a short timespan. Now even though this entire series is about more that just romance, that's the part that I had a love-hate relationship with.
Now, I’m all for romance. I am a romance addict, junkie, and whatever else you want to call me. However, the whole Bryn and Valmont thing is going to drive insane. It's pretty rare for me to wish that the main character would break up with her bf and get with someone else, but that's what I wanted all of this series. Ever since the last book-and maybe even the second one if I'm being real here-I wanted to see Bryn with Jaxon. I mean seriously. Jaxon is the Ron to her Hermione. The Edward to her Bella. The Noah to her Allie. The very PG Christian Grey to her Anastasia!!!
I absolutely adore the GDIF series, and I will definitely be looking forward to the next book!
Chris, oh my sweet beloved Chris. WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THIS TO ME? I neeeeed the next book and you tell me it will come out NEXT YEAR?!?!? How am I supposed to survive that long? Is it even possible???
Anyway-the real review.
Fanning the Flames picks up right where Trial By Fire left off but it hasn't even been a full school year since the first book which makes me feel for Bryn since she's gone through so much in such a short timespan. Now even though this entire series is about more that just romance, that's the part that I had a love-hate relationship with.
Now, I’m all for romance. I am a romance addict, junkie, and whatever else you want to call me. However, the whole Bryn and Valmont thing is going to drive insane. It's pretty rare for me to wish that the main character would break up with her bf and get with someone else, but that's what I wanted all of this series. Ever since the last book-and maybe even the second one if I'm being real here-I wanted to see Bryn with Jaxon. I mean seriously. Jaxon is the Ron to her Hermione. The Edward to her Bella. The Noah to her Allie. The very PG Christian Grey to her Anastasia!!!
I absolutely adore the GDIF series, and I will definitely be looking forward to the next book!
March 18, 2017
I love this series but somehow this book wasn't as good as the rest. Maybe because it didn't bring anything new to the story (of the series, not the book itself). Or because I hate that
I like Jaxon but if Bryn ends up with him for real I'm gonna throw the book out of the window. This'd go against everything she worked for and play right into the Directorate's hands, even if she manages to loosen Jaxon up a bit. Just nope. I really hope this is not where the series is going.
I like Jaxon but if Bryn ends up with him for real I'm gonna throw the book out of the window. This'd go against everything she worked for and play right into the Directorate's hands, even if she manages to loosen Jaxon up a bit. Just nope. I really hope this is not where the series is going.
March 5, 2017
When I saw that Chris Cannon had a new Dragon book out, I was so excited as I couldn't wait to get back into the adventures, trials, and tribulations that Bryn and her group of friends go through. For those who have read the previous books, you will remember how Bryn and her Knight Valmont found the hidden tunnels and retrieved items made for them. In the start of this book, the Directorate are asking for volunteers of Dragons and humans to be their knights to see what else is hidden. This proves to be dangerous as it seems that some of the Directorate mainly Ferrin are blaming hybrids and throwbacks for the disruptiveness in their dragon kingdom. In Fanning the Flames, we read as Bryn is becoming more accepted by her grandparents and the other dragons. The thing though is that Bryn will have to make some serious decisions in Fanning in the Flames which will leave readers feeling emotions of happiness but also sadness. One of the parts of this book needs tissues for the readers as I was like nooooo and I could feel my eyes filling up with tears as I read that particular chapter near the end. It was like I know it has to be done, but does it have to hurt as much. I have to admit, after reading this book if you have been following the series you do see Bryn grow throughout the book and make some tough choices. I was glad for the cliffhanger ending of Book #4 and now hoping for Book #5 and that it will feature more of the surprise that Onyx gave her.
February 11, 2018
"Have you considered asking them to name a room after you? You seem to spend a lot of time here."
I'M JUST, AAARHH
I want the next book
My baby boy Jaxon has been hilarious as usual
"If my father disowns me, I could always marry Bryn for her money."
Bryn has been injured for the 20000th time
Valmont has been a pissy bitch for the 303344 time
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING NEW
Shit happened! Bryn realized she has a shit taste in guys!
We dealt with some big revelations.. dunno how I feel about them, yet.
Really don't know who the bad guys are.
Can we please finally learn who is trying to kill this chick 5 times in every book?
Valmont, Valmont, Valmont
You turned out to be the piece of shit I suspected you would turn out to be! Yay! Wishing you a craptastic life
Why? Why are guys so crappy. But like Ivy said:
"Maybe things didn't work out you're meant to be with someone else"
Yes! With JAXON!
The author put all the new stuff at the last 30 pages, which was so not cool!
I was in real tears by the end. Jeez.
March 1, 2017
“Fanning the Flames” is the continuation of a series about people who shift into dragons. Dragons live by a strong division along the lines of colors, which dictates who they will marry and what kind of jobs they will hold. Bryn is a rare (and often despised) hybrid who has been accepted into the ruling Blue clan. Tensions due to segregation and lack of prospects for certain colors have led to a dragon rebellion, and the rebels have been attacking at the school.
Bryn and her knight, Valmont, are recruited along with some other students to help discover why the school is such a target and what is hiding beneath the surface. They find pathways and relics long since forgotten, including the Tyrant’s crown- a weapon that will prevent a dragon from shifting and which digs into their head. The rebels are becoming more bold and everyone is needed to stop them before they kill more people.
At the same time, drama is building around Bryn and Jaxon, whose families lead the Blue clan and thus all dragons. Their relatives have submitted applications to have them married and it looks like that may go through. Jaxon was formerly engaged to (and is still currently in love with) Rhianna, but their contract was broken when she was injured. Bryn is still madly in love with her knight, Valmont, but neither is sure they could weather the storm of her forced marriage to Jaxon.
This is a well-written story, and it flows quickly and smoothly, easily capturing and keeping your attention throughout. There is some violence and character death (which is to be expected with a rebellion/battles) as well as some torture. All the teenagers are forced to mature quickly. I did not realize this was part of a series when I picked it up, but I found that I was able to follow the story easily even without having read the previous books (but now I do want to read them because it was such a great read)! The end has some closure but is left open for the next book, which I will be anxiously waiting to read!
Overall, this was a strong book, from what I assume is a strong series, and I really enjoyed it! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Bryn and her knight, Valmont, are recruited along with some other students to help discover why the school is such a target and what is hiding beneath the surface. They find pathways and relics long since forgotten, including the Tyrant’s crown- a weapon that will prevent a dragon from shifting and which digs into their head. The rebels are becoming more bold and everyone is needed to stop them before they kill more people.
At the same time, drama is building around Bryn and Jaxon, whose families lead the Blue clan and thus all dragons. Their relatives have submitted applications to have them married and it looks like that may go through. Jaxon was formerly engaged to (and is still currently in love with) Rhianna, but their contract was broken when she was injured. Bryn is still madly in love with her knight, Valmont, but neither is sure they could weather the storm of her forced marriage to Jaxon.
This is a well-written story, and it flows quickly and smoothly, easily capturing and keeping your attention throughout. There is some violence and character death (which is to be expected with a rebellion/battles) as well as some torture. All the teenagers are forced to mature quickly. I did not realize this was part of a series when I picked it up, but I found that I was able to follow the story easily even without having read the previous books (but now I do want to read them because it was such a great read)! The end has some closure but is left open for the next book, which I will be anxiously waiting to read!
Overall, this was a strong book, from what I assume is a strong series, and I really enjoyed it! Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.
April 5, 2017
Boring boring, it started to get interesting at the end.
February 10, 2018
This had better not be the last book! If it is it's a pretty sucky ending! :(
I can't believe Valmont broke up with Bryn!
Also Bryn has to marry Jaxon???!!!
Rhianna died! :O
She also killed a man! O.O
I guess Bryn's dream will come true. I wonder what Jaxon will look like with a man bun? -.-
There really better be another book or I'll have to rate this whole series as a 1 or 2 star! -.-
I can't believe Valmont broke up with Bryn!
Also Bryn has to marry Jaxon???!!!
Rhianna died! :O
She also killed a man! O.O
I guess Bryn's dream will come true. I wonder what Jaxon will look like with a man bun? -.-
There really better be another book or I'll have to rate this whole series as a 1 or 2 star! -.-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2017
Here’s the thing, I never want to say a story is too happy or too romantic or anything like that, but when there’s not a balance between the romance and the major plotline, it feels tired and slows down the pacing. While I love Valmont and Bryn, Bryn’s head was always on wondering about Valmont, about their relationship, getting jealous, etc., that the major tunnel mysteries were rushed and cut off and occasionally felt like filler because the romance played such a huge role in this book. You almost forget that there are politics, terrorists, and attacks happening. There were three heart-stopping scenes that should have had a killer impact on the reader, and while the final scene did tug at my heartstrings, it was nowhere near the emotional carnage that should have played out and I think it’s because focus was pretty much soley on Bryn and Valmont and the other characters were neglected and fleeting.
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
Read more here:
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
February 25, 2017
Well this book was a bit of a contradiction 3.75
How to put this... I'd say roughly 80% of this book moved along at a fairly sedate pace, which wasn't a bad thing, just different to previous instalments, but I definitely won't be describing it as action packed.
Things started to pick up in the last quarter but to me it felt like the focus of the book was more geared towards relationships, there were some happy discoveries . Then there were some sad but not totally unexpected progressions, well at least not from my standpoint, although I gotta confess I did cry, and then to top it all off something unexpected happened which will have lasting effects on one character in particular.
Although the events of this book definitely helped to drive the overall story line towards the conclusion I'm hoping for, it didn't leave me with the happy feels previous offerings did, again not necessarily a bad thing, but it was more like reaching the end of the first part of a conclusion, like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1, you understand why it was played out this way but you're left hungry for more.
But hey, maybe that's the point?!
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing.
How to put this... I'd say roughly 80% of this book moved along at a fairly sedate pace, which wasn't a bad thing, just different to previous instalments, but I definitely won't be describing it as action packed.
Things started to pick up in the last quarter but to me it felt like the focus of the book was more geared towards relationships, there were some happy discoveries . Then there were some sad but not totally unexpected progressions, well at least not from my standpoint, although I gotta confess I did cry, and then to top it all off something unexpected happened which will have lasting effects on one character in particular.
Although the events of this book definitely helped to drive the overall story line towards the conclusion I'm hoping for, it didn't leave me with the happy feels previous offerings did, again not necessarily a bad thing, but it was more like reaching the end of the first part of a conclusion, like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1, you understand why it was played out this way but you're left hungry for more.
But hey, maybe that's the point?!
ARC provided by Entangled Publishing.
November 2, 2017
The fourth book in the Going Down in Flames series, Fanning the Flames continues the political drama from the previous novels. Bryn is a dragon. She is a hybrid dragon that is the grandchild of one of the most politically powerful and rich dragons in their entire society. With rebel uprisings comping left and right, she must fight for the lives of her friends, as well of herself. She doesn't have to do this alone though since she has her handsome knight to work alongside her... or riding her back. That and with the politics of the dragons worked being hostile, she has a lot to handle.
I was not a fan of Fanning the Flames. This series has really been going down hill with constant relationship drama and little real back bone in the main character when it comes to her life. For multiple books she has bent over backwards to do what her grandparents tell her, even when it actively makes her miserable and ruins her chances of a happy future. Its ridiculous and agitating to read. I just want to slap some sense into Bryn. I think I'm done with this series. I don't want to read through more of her petty drama and weak backbone. Overall, I give Going Down in Flames the rating of THREE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
Want more of me? Go to: http://thenotsopubliclibrary.blogspot.ca
March 10, 2017
Bryn McKenna is a hybrid dragon that has a dragon knight named Valmont. She lives in a world where arranged marriages are done to keep blood lines pure. Too bad she's in love with her knight and not her intended, Jaxon Westgate, but that's okay because Jaxon is in love with someone else too.
Bryn and Valmont are the first dragon and knight pair in decades and when it is discovered that their blood can open secret rooms within the castle library, rooms that hold magic relics left over from centuries past, the dragon council decides to force the issue by bonding together other knights and dragons so that more rooms can be found.
But all is not well in Bryn's world. There are dragon rebels that want to take down the council. Shifters that believe that dragons should be able to mix colors and breeds. Bryn and her knight find themselves looking for magic relics to stop their attacks.
One of these attacks forces the issue of marriage up front and center, and Bryn must decided to stay true to her knight or succumb to the pressures of the council.
My Thoughts-
First off, I did not read the first three books in the series so I am looking at this from a newbie perspective. The author did a great job of weaving in previous issues, so I never felt at a loss. I totally loved it even though I didn't read what had come before.
This book has it all: love, hidden rooms with magical weapons, puzzles to solve, people to hate and secrets kept deep. The hidden rooms drew me in first. I couldn't wait for them to find each new room and discover what ancient secrets it held. Each uncovered room introduced something new for the different colored dragon breeds, so you know there are even more rooms to discover!
The love life involved is a whirlwind and torture ride. Readers follow along joyfully with Bryn and Valmont. The two are so in love- what could go wrong? Yeah, boom! I just have to say that at the end of the book I actually wanted to scream at Bryn and knock her upside the head.You'll have to read it to see how she sets her future up.
There is a Hitleresque theme running through the book, purity of the species. As you read, Bryn will see things from both sides of the fence, and her decisions will influence the dragon world around her. Here comes the hate. Yep, older Westgate, Jaxon's dad, is evil. His character is well written and he turned my stomach. Thus the set up into the next book, which I can't wait to read, is cast.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars! If I could, I'd go back and read it from book 1 though, just to get an even bigger picture of things.
Bryn and Valmont are the first dragon and knight pair in decades and when it is discovered that their blood can open secret rooms within the castle library, rooms that hold magic relics left over from centuries past, the dragon council decides to force the issue by bonding together other knights and dragons so that more rooms can be found.
But all is not well in Bryn's world. There are dragon rebels that want to take down the council. Shifters that believe that dragons should be able to mix colors and breeds. Bryn and her knight find themselves looking for magic relics to stop their attacks.
One of these attacks forces the issue of marriage up front and center, and Bryn must decided to stay true to her knight or succumb to the pressures of the council.
My Thoughts-
First off, I did not read the first three books in the series so I am looking at this from a newbie perspective. The author did a great job of weaving in previous issues, so I never felt at a loss. I totally loved it even though I didn't read what had come before.
This book has it all: love, hidden rooms with magical weapons, puzzles to solve, people to hate and secrets kept deep. The hidden rooms drew me in first. I couldn't wait for them to find each new room and discover what ancient secrets it held. Each uncovered room introduced something new for the different colored dragon breeds, so you know there are even more rooms to discover!
The love life involved is a whirlwind and torture ride. Readers follow along joyfully with Bryn and Valmont. The two are so in love- what could go wrong? Yeah, boom! I just have to say that at the end of the book I actually wanted to scream at Bryn and knock her upside the head.You'll have to read it to see how she sets her future up.
There is a Hitleresque theme running through the book, purity of the species. As you read, Bryn will see things from both sides of the fence, and her decisions will influence the dragon world around her. Here comes the hate. Yep, older Westgate, Jaxon's dad, is evil. His character is well written and he turned my stomach. Thus the set up into the next book, which I can't wait to read, is cast.
I highly recommend this book. 5 stars! If I could, I'd go back and read it from book 1 though, just to get an even bigger picture of things.
September 22, 2017
Kind of REALLLLLYYYYY mad at how Valmont was portrayed for like 95% of this book, he was snarky and rude, and he kept on saying 'I have no valid argument to that statement' or something like that waaaaaay too much. My baby's gonna be hated now )':
March 6, 2017
I looove dragons. I think they are my favorite supernatural creatures. Or shape shifters? Well, whatever they are, they are the best. I think my dragon OCD started with this series and the way Chris Cannon presented an ordinary world filled with different kind of dragons and knights to protect them. Since the first book I am hooked and the wait between the books is torture. “Fanning the Flames” starts directly where book 3 ended and it took me not five minutes to get back to Bryn’s world. And as the story progresses I’m flying with the dragons, lay in the medical room with Bryn hoping to survive and curse my enemy - Ferrin. How can you not hate him. Even if Bryn’s mom left him, it’s no excuse for is behavior. Kick his ass for me someone, please. What about Onyx though? Friend or foe? Not sure yet. He definitely is more than I thought he would be. Didn’t like him in the beginning and now I’m more than a little suspicious of him and his intensions. And what about Bryn’s parents? Not to say too much, but how can that be and why did they do this to her? Surely they could have done something different. Not to forget Valmont: He is a jerk. I’m sorry, but everything he says is just crap. He knew what was coming and they both decided that it didn’t matter. But in the end he acts just like any other guy, nothing knight-like at all. I still hold on to my hope that in the end there will be Bryn and Jaxon getting married out of love. I have no idea how it could work out, but that’s the privilege of being a reader. I highly recommend the entire “Going Down in Flames” series. It’s something nobody should miss out on.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley and Entangled Publishing!
September 6, 2017
I just finished reading this. And is that all? The pace is slow and dragging forever. But in the end, when the actions are starting to spark, it ends. Just like that. I can see why some reviews said there are a lot of fillers and so many characters have been left out. They helped her in certain plots but just gone in this book. It is not making any sense. The good things are she seems closer with her grandfather and she broke up with her knight. I did not like him at all since I've fallen in love with Jaxon in book 2.
Please tell me there are continuation of this series because it will maddening to let it end just like this.
Please tell me there are continuation of this series because it will maddening to let it end just like this.
April 15, 2017
Really not happy with the direction this is going in. Bryn has been assimilated into the dragon culture and is no longer the fiery kick-ass character I loved so much in the early books. Instead she is all about conforming with the archaic, prejudiced and tyrannical Directorate and dragon society. She no longer passionately advocates for change but does whatever she is told with only the occasional sarcastic though or comment. The Bryn I loved so much would NEVER have agreed to the marriage contract with Jaxson. And it looks to be heading in the direct of them being a couple now that
May 16, 2017
It was really slow throughout the entire book until the last couple chapters. I can't wait to see what happens next. I didn't really like her knight, because he was beyond annoying. Now, I can't wait to see what will happen with Bryn and Jaxon 😲😧.
May 14, 2017
LOVED ITTT!! Although I hated the end soooo much. How valmont said he still loved her but she still hung up... How Rhianna is gone...😭. Now I'm all for team bryxon!!
May 31, 2019
https://celebrityreaders.com/2019/05/...
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — OK, the WEIRDEST thing has happened. I thought I had only read the first 3 books in this series and had the last 2 to finally finish it. But as I was rereading the first 3, and particularly Trial by Fire, I was so confused because I was like “wait, didn’t *this* and *this* and *this* happen?” And then I started this book, and it was like deja vu. I’ve READ this book. But there is no review, and Goodreads doesn’t say I read it, so I have NO IDEA what’s going on. I NEVER read books without updating Goodreads. I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone, and it’s seriously bothering me.
That aside, I really enjoyed this one. I felt like the plot had better pacing, with action and mystery sprinkled in to keep me desperate to read more and more. It helped that while there was still some back and forth with Bryn and Valmont’s relationship, it wasn’t the major plot line. And we got some moments of happiness with them. I will admit that I still didn’t feel secure in their relationship, and I’m a bit sad about that. If you’re a traditional romance lover, I think this series is going to be frustrating for you (as it was for me…I enjoy investing in a couple). It’s making me gunshy of any future developments, and it has prevented me from being fully invested in Bryn & Valmont.
BUT! All the other stuff happening in the world has been fun and intriguing! Love all the weird stuff they’re finding in the vaults, and the new things they’re learning about dragon society…information that had been lost, or that wasn’t well known. And there were so many other developments besides all that! I loved the side plot about the “walking wounded”, and the things Garret gets up to in this one.
I also love all the relationships that continue to develop and grow for Bryn, particularly with her grandparents. I loved seeing them both loosen up and really show their love and concern for Bryn. But at the same time, my heart hurt for how Bryn continues to feel she must be someone else in order to fit in…I feel like she’s capitulating often, and as a result losing a bit of her spunk. I get it, but I’m saddened by it.
I do love that Bryn seems to temper everyone she meets. She bridges gaps between people, and opens their eyes to alternative ways of thought. She loosens everyone up and encourages them to be themselves. It’s one of her greatest strengths.
I also love that there is such a great cast of secondary characters in this story, from her friends Ivy & Clint, Garret, and Rhianna…to the few adults she interacts with a lot: Mr. Stanton, Ms. Enid, & Medic Williams. And then there’s Jaxon. I kind of love the weird way their relationship is evolving. I appreciate that it’s slow and steady, and that she’s opening his eyes and he seems to be growing, but that he still maintains that base of elitism and snobbery…basically he’s still a dick, just a dick that she can respect and who respects her.
The ending made me cry multiple times. In a weird way I vaguely knew what was going to happen, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the full force of emotions. And I will admit I’m concerned with where the story is going…I think I might have even finished the final book already, because I have some guesses that seem like more than guesses, but they worry me. Time to buckle down and face all those truths I may not want to!
I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4 stars — OK, the WEIRDEST thing has happened. I thought I had only read the first 3 books in this series and had the last 2 to finally finish it. But as I was rereading the first 3, and particularly Trial by Fire, I was so confused because I was like “wait, didn’t *this* and *this* and *this* happen?” And then I started this book, and it was like deja vu. I’ve READ this book. But there is no review, and Goodreads doesn’t say I read it, so I have NO IDEA what’s going on. I NEVER read books without updating Goodreads. I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone, and it’s seriously bothering me.
That aside, I really enjoyed this one. I felt like the plot had better pacing, with action and mystery sprinkled in to keep me desperate to read more and more. It helped that while there was still some back and forth with Bryn and Valmont’s relationship, it wasn’t the major plot line. And we got some moments of happiness with them. I will admit that I still didn’t feel secure in their relationship, and I’m a bit sad about that. If you’re a traditional romance lover, I think this series is going to be frustrating for you (as it was for me…I enjoy investing in a couple). It’s making me gunshy of any future developments, and it has prevented me from being fully invested in Bryn & Valmont.
BUT! All the other stuff happening in the world has been fun and intriguing! Love all the weird stuff they’re finding in the vaults, and the new things they’re learning about dragon society…information that had been lost, or that wasn’t well known. And there were so many other developments besides all that! I loved the side plot about the “walking wounded”, and the things Garret gets up to in this one.
I also love all the relationships that continue to develop and grow for Bryn, particularly with her grandparents. I loved seeing them both loosen up and really show their love and concern for Bryn. But at the same time, my heart hurt for how Bryn continues to feel she must be someone else in order to fit in…I feel like she’s capitulating often, and as a result losing a bit of her spunk. I get it, but I’m saddened by it.
I do love that Bryn seems to temper everyone she meets. She bridges gaps between people, and opens their eyes to alternative ways of thought. She loosens everyone up and encourages them to be themselves. It’s one of her greatest strengths.
I also love that there is such a great cast of secondary characters in this story, from her friends Ivy & Clint, Garret, and Rhianna…to the few adults she interacts with a lot: Mr. Stanton, Ms. Enid, & Medic Williams. And then there’s Jaxon. I kind of love the weird way their relationship is evolving. I appreciate that it’s slow and steady, and that she’s opening his eyes and he seems to be growing, but that he still maintains that base of elitism and snobbery…basically he’s still a dick, just a dick that she can respect and who respects her.
The ending made me cry multiple times. In a weird way I vaguely knew what was going to happen, but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the full force of emotions. And I will admit I’m concerned with where the story is going…I think I might have even finished the final book already, because I have some guesses that seem like more than guesses, but they worry me. Time to buckle down and face all those truths I may not want to!
March 19, 2017
Overall love the book and series. this is more action packed than the last and we get to see more of Jaxon and who he really is. We also get more of selfish Bryn. She seriously doesn’t take in account Valmont’s feelings. She thinks of her own life and future. Doesn’t think hey valmont may not like being the other guy. Valmont may miss his family. No none of this comes into her thoughts so when he is confronted with reality and is in pain and needs to step back she goes off the rails and extremes. She turns more cold towards him to protect her feelings but doesn’t see his point of view or feelings. That is the one issue I have with Bryn.
Other than that I really loved the book. I love how true and brave Valmont is. How honest and real but also loyal he is. He gives new perspective to things. I love the growth of Jaxon, Clint and Ivy. I love how we get some resolution but also we see sacrifice. I love the growth of characters and how they become more dynamic. The grandma is awesome-she did help put everything in perspective when it came to Valmont and the knight bond. She was understanding but also unyielding when it came to the marriage contract and why. With Keegan we get to see an understanding about the approval of marriage in clans. He is a great guy but that doesn’t mean others would be and as we see with the rebels sometimes crossbreeding dragons gives us some that are not stable.
I love seeing the peace that was garnered with some of ones who were cross breeds or married to someone outside the clan. This was precipitated by Jaxon more than anyone else and for me this shows his growth and empathy. He understands more than people think and he also knows how to be what everyone needs. I hated to see him in pain at the end but he fought with valor and showed that he was one to trust.
The story was action packed and gave us answers to so many questions. We learn more about knights of old and the bond between dragon and knights. We learn more about different type of crossbreeds. We learn about how some crossbreeds are only after peace. We see love and loyalty tested. Get more depth in characters and storyline come about. We see how people really feel about Valmont and you do feel for him. He loves Bryn but is also just a knight. He is set aside because he isn’t a dragon. Bryn is slowly evolving and growing into dragon society and ways. She is forgetting more of her human upbringing and starting to see things as those around her do. She forgets that Valmont gives up alot for her and does it without complaint. And that is the part that I don’t like. bryn is a good character she is just so focused on herself and her dragon world she forgets about others and how they are feeling or doing. Valmont is the biggest one caught up in this hurricane that is bryn. He is to me collateral damage. Poor guy. Other than this part of Bryn she is great. She grows into being more responsible and does begin to see views of the consul and why things are they way they are. She begins to realize her situation in the dragon world and comes to accept herself and this world more freely. She takes responsibility more but also becomes who she is supposed to be in dragon society. She learns that sometimes she must put aside her wants and do what is best for others. In the case of Jaxon and the marriage contract she does realize that it protects her and keeps her from becoming a societal outcast. She sees that Jaxon is more than he comes off as and is a good guy. We see resolution to issues and futures begin.
A wonderful ending to a great adventurous story that comes full circle. I hope we get some little novellas telling us how others are doing. I would love to see what happens with Keegan, Clint and Ivy, Valmont and even Bryn and Jaxon.
Other than that I really loved the book. I love how true and brave Valmont is. How honest and real but also loyal he is. He gives new perspective to things. I love the growth of Jaxon, Clint and Ivy. I love how we get some resolution but also we see sacrifice. I love the growth of characters and how they become more dynamic. The grandma is awesome-she did help put everything in perspective when it came to Valmont and the knight bond. She was understanding but also unyielding when it came to the marriage contract and why. With Keegan we get to see an understanding about the approval of marriage in clans. He is a great guy but that doesn’t mean others would be and as we see with the rebels sometimes crossbreeding dragons gives us some that are not stable.
I love seeing the peace that was garnered with some of ones who were cross breeds or married to someone outside the clan. This was precipitated by Jaxon more than anyone else and for me this shows his growth and empathy. He understands more than people think and he also knows how to be what everyone needs. I hated to see him in pain at the end but he fought with valor and showed that he was one to trust.
The story was action packed and gave us answers to so many questions. We learn more about knights of old and the bond between dragon and knights. We learn more about different type of crossbreeds. We learn about how some crossbreeds are only after peace. We see love and loyalty tested. Get more depth in characters and storyline come about. We see how people really feel about Valmont and you do feel for him. He loves Bryn but is also just a knight. He is set aside because he isn’t a dragon. Bryn is slowly evolving and growing into dragon society and ways. She is forgetting more of her human upbringing and starting to see things as those around her do. She forgets that Valmont gives up alot for her and does it without complaint. And that is the part that I don’t like. bryn is a good character she is just so focused on herself and her dragon world she forgets about others and how they are feeling or doing. Valmont is the biggest one caught up in this hurricane that is bryn. He is to me collateral damage. Poor guy. Other than this part of Bryn she is great. She grows into being more responsible and does begin to see views of the consul and why things are they way they are. She begins to realize her situation in the dragon world and comes to accept herself and this world more freely. She takes responsibility more but also becomes who she is supposed to be in dragon society. She learns that sometimes she must put aside her wants and do what is best for others. In the case of Jaxon and the marriage contract she does realize that it protects her and keeps her from becoming a societal outcast. She sees that Jaxon is more than he comes off as and is a good guy. We see resolution to issues and futures begin.
A wonderful ending to a great adventurous story that comes full circle. I hope we get some little novellas telling us how others are doing. I would love to see what happens with Keegan, Clint and Ivy, Valmont and even Bryn and Jaxon.
December 29, 2017
Directorate has decided to use the knight/dragon bond to search for weapons that can help them with the Rebels. They also have decided that others need to have a knight of their own (although they want same gender pairings- saves on the heartache). One more thing they have decided, that the marriage between Jaxon and Bryn should become a real thing. Only Bryn’s heart and Jaxon’s already belong to other people.
What girl wouldn’t fall for a knight in shining armor? Bryn had no choice but to fall for her knight, Valmont, but their relationship comes with a lot of sacrifices. Many on his part, which is unfair to both him and his family, as he left them to make sure that Bryn is safe. I personally hate their relationship, I liked the first guy that she was dating Zavien, and am totally bummed that he disappeared and is nowhere to be found. So as I was reading, I kept hoping that one or the other of these two would come to their senses and decide yeah this is too much.
The search for weapons and using the knight bond was an extra bonus. I love how they figure this out and all the mystery surrounding it. There is one weapon that is completely messed up. But I wonder how the Directorate is going to use them. I also wonder when they are doing to realize that they are treating their librarian like a moron, and she is the only one with a clue.
Overall, Fanning the Flames is a good continuation of Bryn’s learning curve in all things dragon related. The best thing is that you get to see Bryn’s growth over the series. Several things a revealed, and the last battle was an emotional one. I felt so bad for one of our major characters.
My Rating 4 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote “Do what you know until you know better, and then do better.”
Other People
Jaxon- Bryn’s nemesis
Rhianna- Jaxon’s girlfriend
Ivy- Bryn’s bestie
What girl wouldn’t fall for a knight in shining armor? Bryn had no choice but to fall for her knight, Valmont, but their relationship comes with a lot of sacrifices. Many on his part, which is unfair to both him and his family, as he left them to make sure that Bryn is safe. I personally hate their relationship, I liked the first guy that she was dating Zavien, and am totally bummed that he disappeared and is nowhere to be found. So as I was reading, I kept hoping that one or the other of these two would come to their senses and decide yeah this is too much.
The search for weapons and using the knight bond was an extra bonus. I love how they figure this out and all the mystery surrounding it. There is one weapon that is completely messed up. But I wonder how the Directorate is going to use them. I also wonder when they are doing to realize that they are treating their librarian like a moron, and she is the only one with a clue.
Overall, Fanning the Flames is a good continuation of Bryn’s learning curve in all things dragon related. The best thing is that you get to see Bryn’s growth over the series. Several things a revealed, and the last battle was an emotional one. I felt so bad for one of our major characters.
My Rating 4 out of 5 stars
Favorite Quote “Do what you know until you know better, and then do better.”
Other People
Jaxon- Bryn’s nemesis
Rhianna- Jaxon’s girlfriend
Ivy- Bryn’s bestie
March 18, 2017
These books are just wonderful to read. All the pages seem to fly by (ha! get it? this is a dragon shifter book!) and I'm left wanting even more with each new installment.
Bryn is the star of this series and she has been put through more trials than any teen should be. She recently lost her parents, found out she was an illegal hybrid shifter, was shipped off to a boarding school and got signed up to marry a jerk. If you think you should start the series with this book, you are wrong and should 100% go back and start from the beginning. I promise, it's worth it! That all being said, the entire school is pretty much waiting for the next big attack, similar to the one that left many students wounded beyond even their dragon's ability to repair. Oh, an Brynn is also secretly dating the knight that magically bonded with her. See? Brynn lives a crazy life.
So what's the overall story for this book? Bryn's drama aside, the rebel dragons are working on something that probably originates with the secret rooms and tunnels found beneath the school. While we have met some OK rebels and some really horrible ones, we're still trying to figure out what they truly want. Mostly, it seems, they want to blow things up and hurt people (the bad rebels, at least). Somehow, Bryn has become to go to girl for all things involving a dragon and her knight, and that is linked to these magic rooms/tunnels. Through some trial and error, Brynn is (yet again) working to save all her friends, her newfound family, her relationships, and the school (and maybe Jaxon, too). With all the craziness and gut punching loss that this book jams into the ending, I absolutely cannot wait to see what Bryn does next.
Bryn is the star of this series and she has been put through more trials than any teen should be. She recently lost her parents, found out she was an illegal hybrid shifter, was shipped off to a boarding school and got signed up to marry a jerk. If you think you should start the series with this book, you are wrong and should 100% go back and start from the beginning. I promise, it's worth it! That all being said, the entire school is pretty much waiting for the next big attack, similar to the one that left many students wounded beyond even their dragon's ability to repair. Oh, an Brynn is also secretly dating the knight that magically bonded with her. See? Brynn lives a crazy life.
So what's the overall story for this book? Bryn's drama aside, the rebel dragons are working on something that probably originates with the secret rooms and tunnels found beneath the school. While we have met some OK rebels and some really horrible ones, we're still trying to figure out what they truly want. Mostly, it seems, they want to blow things up and hurt people (the bad rebels, at least). Somehow, Bryn has become to go to girl for all things involving a dragon and her knight, and that is linked to these magic rooms/tunnels. Through some trial and error, Brynn is (yet again) working to save all her friends, her newfound family, her relationships, and the school (and maybe Jaxon, too). With all the craziness and gut punching loss that this book jams into the ending, I absolutely cannot wait to see what Bryn does next.
March 12, 2017
Have you ever completely understood why something had to happen yet your heart still fought it? Me too. This book moves the story forward in a couple of different ways and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story…it has character growth, action, mystery, and a bit of romance. It’s a great read. But it brought out so many emotions for me that I feel I must share! If you’ve followed my reviews for this series, then you know that I’m a bit conflicted…desperately trying to make up my mind but still shipping two possible outcomes. After the last book, I thought I might be ready to move forward and pick a side. Ms. Cannon kindly helps me along with my decision making through the twists and turns in this story but, funny enough, I discovered that I don’t want to decide just yet…or maybe not ever. I think I want to stay on my two ships forever. Go figure.
Anyhow, now that I’ve completely confused those of you who haven’t started the series, I must let you know that this is another fun read and I really enjoyed it. The story picks up where the last book left off and continues the adventures of Bryn, Jaxon, Valmont, and the rest of the gang. There are some expected elements here but also many unforeseen surprises as well. Bryn is still sassy and strong. She’s not afraid to share her opinions but she’s also figured out how to play the game…the dragon world is not as big a mystery to her as it once was and she uses that knowledge to her advantage. Her relationships grow and change here, and there are many emotions to be felt. This was certainly a rollercoaster ride.
This is a great fantasy series. The characters are likable and the plot is unique. If you haven’t given it a try yet, please do start with the first book…after all, you need to understand this world, and you need to experience all the feels this story will bring you. And, once you’ve caught up, let’s talk ships!
Anyhow, now that I’ve completely confused those of you who haven’t started the series, I must let you know that this is another fun read and I really enjoyed it. The story picks up where the last book left off and continues the adventures of Bryn, Jaxon, Valmont, and the rest of the gang. There are some expected elements here but also many unforeseen surprises as well. Bryn is still sassy and strong. She’s not afraid to share her opinions but she’s also figured out how to play the game…the dragon world is not as big a mystery to her as it once was and she uses that knowledge to her advantage. Her relationships grow and change here, and there are many emotions to be felt. This was certainly a rollercoaster ride.
This is a great fantasy series. The characters are likable and the plot is unique. If you haven’t given it a try yet, please do start with the first book…after all, you need to understand this world, and you need to experience all the feels this story will bring you. And, once you’ve caught up, let’s talk ships!
June 14, 2018
Dragons, battles, danger, magic... I think I am in love with this series. The world has certainly expanded since the first book and this is a world I simply adore. The plot had me on the edge of my seat and I am very invested in the characters at this point in the series.
Bryn is back baby, and she brings her sass and wit with her. I love this protagonist so much. She is certainly not perfect but that is what I love about her character. She is not afraid to break the rules for what she thinks is right.
There is more mystery and action in this instalment in the series. I picture the Hogwarts castle when I think of Bryn's school with students that can burst into dragons at any given moment... The rebellion and an upcoming war are plot points in this novel which certainly ups the stakes.
A book of fantastic dragon-ness packed with angst, mystery and romance. I simply love this series and cannot get enough. I am devouring this series. I never knew dragons could be this entertaining in a YA setting.
Bryn is back baby, and she brings her sass and wit with her. I love this protagonist so much. She is certainly not perfect but that is what I love about her character. She is not afraid to break the rules for what she thinks is right.
There is more mystery and action in this instalment in the series. I picture the Hogwarts castle when I think of Bryn's school with students that can burst into dragons at any given moment... The rebellion and an upcoming war are plot points in this novel which certainly ups the stakes.
A book of fantastic dragon-ness packed with angst, mystery and romance. I simply love this series and cannot get enough. I am devouring this series. I never knew dragons could be this entertaining in a YA setting.
March 7, 2017
I was given this ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
First of all, I love this series. So, in an effort to be honest, this review could be slightly biased. Although, I haven't given all of the books in the series 5 stars, so I am obviously not that biased. But this one definately deserves 5.
I am a big fan of puzzles and I love it when books always keep me second guessing. The author, Chris Cannon, did a great job of making me second guess myself throughout the book. Even up until the very end.
There were a few scenes that I would have liked to see drawn out more. Such as some of the more intimate scenes with the character's boyfriend (I mean, this is a book from a romance publisher). Also, I would have liked the very last part of the book to have lasted longer. It was an epic scene and deserved more spotlight for sure.
Overall, the book was great. I love the characters still (even after four books!) and I don't want to wait until the 5th book.
First of all, I love this series. So, in an effort to be honest, this review could be slightly biased. Although, I haven't given all of the books in the series 5 stars, so I am obviously not that biased. But this one definately deserves 5.
I am a big fan of puzzles and I love it when books always keep me second guessing. The author, Chris Cannon, did a great job of making me second guess myself throughout the book. Even up until the very end.
There were a few scenes that I would have liked to see drawn out more. Such as some of the more intimate scenes with the character's boyfriend (I mean, this is a book from a romance publisher). Also, I would have liked the very last part of the book to have lasted longer. It was an epic scene and deserved more spotlight for sure.
Overall, the book was great. I love the characters still (even after four books!) and I don't want to wait until the 5th book.
June 3, 2018
t's a 3.5 for me. The ending was amazingly heartbreaking but the reactions and aftermath emotions just didn't do it for me. I thought one of the characters deserved more, especially since they were one of the better people in this entire series.
Things were very repetitive and it's now obvious that this series reads more as a day-to-day with Bryn and the adventures aka near death experiences she... well, experiences.I love it when she's in danger because you really get the drama and excitement of watching her overcome the bad guys, but there was a lot of politics in here, and since a lot of their rules are overdue for an overlook, you can imagine my patience with it. I did like that Jaxon and Bryn were a little friendlier, but the way Bryn's changed toward a certain dilemma was a little weird for me.
Things were very repetitive and it's now obvious that this series reads more as a day-to-day with Bryn and the adventures aka near death experiences she... well, experiences.I love it when she's in danger because you really get the drama and excitement of watching her overcome the bad guys, but there was a lot of politics in here, and since a lot of their rules are overdue for an overlook, you can imagine my patience with it. I did like that Jaxon and Bryn were a little friendlier, but the way Bryn's changed toward a certain dilemma was a little weird for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews