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Fallen Flame #1
Fallen Flame
Nineteen years ago, on the island kingdom of Garlin, a girl was born. With charred skin as rough as rock, Vala was instantly feared. For how could one be scorched by magic when it had perished ages before? Recognizing an asset, the royal family welcomed her on their Guard. Her the prince. To watch. To protect. She has grown with him, lives her life for him.When the high kingdom’s princess comes to assess the prince, assassins of rival courtiers come to claim his life. One nearly succeeds in his mission. But with shadowy movements and charred skin like her own, Vala knows he is not like the rest.As threats to the prince continue and questions about Vala’s life begin to rise, she faces a fear worse than fire or water, worse even than losing him. She fears finding out who she truly is.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2017
199 people are currently reading
3634 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Miller
12 books606 followersJ.M. Miller lives on Florida’s Emerald Coast with her husband and daughter.
When she isn't spending time with her family or being distracted by social media sites, she writes contemporary and fantasy romance novels.
When she isn't spending time with her family or being distracted by social media sites, she writes contemporary and fantasy romance novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
July 19, 2017
Published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Tasya
Fallen Flame is the first book of an intriguing series about magic and goddesses. In a land where magic has perished ages before, Vala was born with scorched skin, marking her different and to be feared. The royal family took her in to join the royal guard, but when royals from another kingdom come, attempts on the prince’s life are made and with it, the questions about who Vala really is.
The book begin with Vala having her weekly bath to remove her scorched layer of skin, only to be disturbed by the news that the prince is missing, and the story goes from there. The writing style is quite detailed and some people might find they struggle with it, but it worked well for me. Since the story is told from Vala’s point of view, it’s really fitting that she pays attention to the finer details because after all, she’s a royal guard so she has to pay attention. The focus on description and details of the story helps to give life to the world and everything in it, including the characters and their arcs. If there’s any complaint though, the pace of the novel becomes slightly disrupted from the detailed writing.
The way magic is interwoven into the story is really amazing. It’s like it’s a taboo, but also an intriguing topic. In this novel, magic has brought war upon humans and the mythical creatures of the world. The whole myth and plot is very original and interesting, which will entice readers to continue on with the series.
The characters are well written with our main character Vala being both levelheaded and strong. She perseveres in the face of trouble and her sense of loyalty is outstanding. Unfortunately it can also make her quite naive, but she is always quick to learn from her mistakes. Readers will be able to sympathise with her and find themselves caring what happens to her character over the course of the book. The romance isn’t too convincing, but it does have potential to be developed in future instalments. Like any book, particular YA, love triangles are prominent and this shows hints of one forming in it, but let’s hope that changes.
Overall, with its great writing, amazing world building and strong characters, Fallen Flame is a solid first book for an interesting series filled with magic.
Fallen Flame is the first book of an intriguing series about magic and goddesses. In a land where magic has perished ages before, Vala was born with scorched skin, marking her different and to be feared. The royal family took her in to join the royal guard, but when royals from another kingdom come, attempts on the prince’s life are made and with it, the questions about who Vala really is.
The book begin with Vala having her weekly bath to remove her scorched layer of skin, only to be disturbed by the news that the prince is missing, and the story goes from there. The writing style is quite detailed and some people might find they struggle with it, but it worked well for me. Since the story is told from Vala’s point of view, it’s really fitting that she pays attention to the finer details because after all, she’s a royal guard so she has to pay attention. The focus on description and details of the story helps to give life to the world and everything in it, including the characters and their arcs. If there’s any complaint though, the pace of the novel becomes slightly disrupted from the detailed writing.
The way magic is interwoven into the story is really amazing. It’s like it’s a taboo, but also an intriguing topic. In this novel, magic has brought war upon humans and the mythical creatures of the world. The whole myth and plot is very original and interesting, which will entice readers to continue on with the series.
The characters are well written with our main character Vala being both levelheaded and strong. She perseveres in the face of trouble and her sense of loyalty is outstanding. Unfortunately it can also make her quite naive, but she is always quick to learn from her mistakes. Readers will be able to sympathise with her and find themselves caring what happens to her character over the course of the book. The romance isn’t too convincing, but it does have potential to be developed in future instalments. Like any book, particular YA, love triangles are prominent and this shows hints of one forming in it, but let’s hope that changes.
Overall, with its great writing, amazing world building and strong characters, Fallen Flame is a solid first book for an interesting series filled with magic.
July 8, 2017
Fallen Flame by J.M. Miller is an action-packed YA fantasy story about a girl with magic, in a world without magic. The premise sounds a little unoriginal and now that I think back of it, the whole story isn't really that original, it is a fun book though.
Fallen Flame is about Vala, a girl whose body is scorched by magic, meaning that her skin is rough, stone-like. Vala is the guard of the prince, called Caulden, who is also one of her best friends. They grew up together and are therefore really close. There is also some romantic tension between the two, which was an aspect I didn't really like. It felt like an overused trope, the guard and the prince falling in love. Vala herself is an interesting character, though after reading this entire book, I still don't know much about her. She's determined, curious and protective but besides that? She lives for her work and especially in the beginning, I found her to be very one-dimensional. She had no interests besides protecting Caulden.
The story itself was very enjoyable. It was fast-paced and there was a lot of action happening. I liked the introduction of Xavyn and the mystery surrounding him. He starts to play a very important role in the story and lead to Vala trying to find out more about her past. The ending still feels a bit strange for me, but considering it is the first book in a series, there will probably be a lot resolved in the other books.
I really liked the writing style of the book, it really kept you interested in the story. Many of the chapters ended in a sentence that was so intriguing that you wanted to read the next chapter immediately. I wasn't a big fan of the first-person perspective, but that is just a personal thing.
Overall, this book wasn't a bad start for a trilogy. I think the characters can really use some more development, and perhaps the next book will be a little less predictable. I enjoyed the writing style and the pacing of the book, but sadly, I couldn't connect to any of the characters and they felt a little flat. Besides Vala's skin condition, there was no diversity in this book. I am giving this book 3.5 stars because it was decent, but could have been a lot better.
*I received an ecopy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
Fallen Flame is about Vala, a girl whose body is scorched by magic, meaning that her skin is rough, stone-like. Vala is the guard of the prince, called Caulden, who is also one of her best friends. They grew up together and are therefore really close. There is also some romantic tension between the two, which was an aspect I didn't really like. It felt like an overused trope, the guard and the prince falling in love. Vala herself is an interesting character, though after reading this entire book, I still don't know much about her. She's determined, curious and protective but besides that? She lives for her work and especially in the beginning, I found her to be very one-dimensional. She had no interests besides protecting Caulden.
“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea.”
The story itself was very enjoyable. It was fast-paced and there was a lot of action happening. I liked the introduction of Xavyn and the mystery surrounding him. He starts to play a very important role in the story and lead to Vala trying to find out more about her past. The ending still feels a bit strange for me, but considering it is the first book in a series, there will probably be a lot resolved in the other books.
"The feelings that had once lifted me, that I'd once ached for, were like embers in the night fog, drifting into nothing, extinguished."
I really liked the writing style of the book, it really kept you interested in the story. Many of the chapters ended in a sentence that was so intriguing that you wanted to read the next chapter immediately. I wasn't a big fan of the first-person perspective, but that is just a personal thing.
Overall, this book wasn't a bad start for a trilogy. I think the characters can really use some more development, and perhaps the next book will be a little less predictable. I enjoyed the writing style and the pacing of the book, but sadly, I couldn't connect to any of the characters and they felt a little flat. Besides Vala's skin condition, there was no diversity in this book. I am giving this book 3.5 stars because it was decent, but could have been a lot better.
*I received an ecopy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
August 17, 2017
Well slap me silly and call me Gertrude - I fully enjoyed a YA fantasy novel. This does not happen very often.
J.M. Miller has crafted a story that may boast a few of the standard YA fantasy tropes - a "different" heroine who knows her way around a sword, some unrequited love that threatens to evolve into a love triangle - but she deftly outmanoeuvres many more. This story is relatively short with no waffly paragraphs describing repetitive and dull feelings, and at no point did I want to shake our heroine, Vala, by the shoulders for her stupidity.
Vala is the head guard of Prince Caulden of Garlin. She takes her duties very seriously, not least because she kind of fancies him. She's also very different from anyone else on her island kingdom - her skin is scorched (I imagined it like charcoal or cooled lava) and burns to the touch. She's monstrous in appearance, and that helps her as a guard - people tend to think twice before making any moves against her prince. Vala has been dealing with the prejudices that come along with looking as she does for her entire life, and that's made her a little defensive, a little slow to trust, a little lonely.
On the night before the Prince meets a Princess from a neighbouring kingdom for a possible marriage and alliance, an assassin attempts to end his life. Vala does her job, but not before she sees something that makes her hesitate - the assassin's skin is just like hers.
What follows is an exciting, plot-led adventure with plenty of mystery. This is what made the novel stand out amongst the rest for me. Not only were there heaps of unknowns, questions, and conspiracy theories; but the answers weren't obvious. I was continually grasping for answers and trying hard to figure it all out, unsure if I was being double bluffed, and there were a couple of twists I was truly not expecting. It's so refreshing to read a YA fantasy where the ending isn't painfully obvious. Miller is adept at showing, not telling, and it makes for a far more enjoyable read.
Some of the characters were a little stock-ish, but the fun plot, the tight writing and the simple yet solid world building made this a very welcome surprise. It's rare that I enjoy YA fantasy, and even more rare that I would go on to read the second in a series, but Miller has convinced me that this world is one I should return to.
J.M. Miller has crafted a story that may boast a few of the standard YA fantasy tropes - a "different" heroine who knows her way around a sword, some unrequited love that threatens to evolve into a love triangle - but she deftly outmanoeuvres many more. This story is relatively short with no waffly paragraphs describing repetitive and dull feelings, and at no point did I want to shake our heroine, Vala, by the shoulders for her stupidity.
Vala is the head guard of Prince Caulden of Garlin. She takes her duties very seriously, not least because she kind of fancies him. She's also very different from anyone else on her island kingdom - her skin is scorched (I imagined it like charcoal or cooled lava) and burns to the touch. She's monstrous in appearance, and that helps her as a guard - people tend to think twice before making any moves against her prince. Vala has been dealing with the prejudices that come along with looking as she does for her entire life, and that's made her a little defensive, a little slow to trust, a little lonely.
On the night before the Prince meets a Princess from a neighbouring kingdom for a possible marriage and alliance, an assassin attempts to end his life. Vala does her job, but not before she sees something that makes her hesitate - the assassin's skin is just like hers.
What follows is an exciting, plot-led adventure with plenty of mystery. This is what made the novel stand out amongst the rest for me. Not only were there heaps of unknowns, questions, and conspiracy theories; but the answers weren't obvious. I was continually grasping for answers and trying hard to figure it all out, unsure if I was being double bluffed, and there were a couple of twists I was truly not expecting. It's so refreshing to read a YA fantasy where the ending isn't painfully obvious. Miller is adept at showing, not telling, and it makes for a far more enjoyable read.
Some of the characters were a little stock-ish, but the fun plot, the tight writing and the simple yet solid world building made this a very welcome surprise. It's rare that I enjoy YA fantasy, and even more rare that I would go on to read the second in a series, but Miller has convinced me that this world is one I should return to.
June 18, 2017
I received this ARC through Netgalley for a review covering my honest opinion. Thank you to both Netgalley and J.M. Miller for this opportunity.
OKAY, so just starting off, I just want to say this book was such a beautiful surprise. I am a bit picky when it comes to my fantasy novels and have lots of different elements I look for when reading them, so to say I was impressed with all that Fallen Flame brought to the table would be an understatement.
This story follows a girl named Vala who is the Prince’s guard. Vala differs from those around her because of her skin, which has been burnt and has been since she was a baby. Vala knows absolutely nothing about where she came from or what makes her so different from others. It isn’t until visitors from a different kingdom arrive to make plans and unite forces as well as an attack on the Prince that Vala starts questioning all that she has been told and decides to learn more about the secrets of the kingdom as well as herself.
Let’s start with what I really liked/loved about this book:
-THERE IS A MAP. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. I find that fantasy novels always benefit from having maps because, most of the time, readers are thrown into a completely new/made up world and following the different areas and divisions can be difficult.
-The writing was actually really really well done. I have never read anything by J.M. Miller before but I plan on reading her other novels because I felt so immersed in the writing. I never once felt bored or that the story lacked because of the way it was written. There were also lots of quotes that I think I need to keep written down somewhere, they were that good!
-The characters were very interesting and were developed in a plot that was easy to follow. I really cared for Vala and was intrigued to see where her story would lead, as well as what roles her counterparts would play in the novel.
Now onto what I think could be improved/looking forward to seeing in the next installment of this series:
-The plot did seem a bit generic at times, but then again, most fantasy stories have a basis that they revolve around. While I did find similarities through this book and with others in its genre, I would love to see a bit more of what makes this story so different and original to others. Just developing the characters a bit more as well as the world/magic will definitely add to this! (Also, this is the first in the series and obviously isn’t close to being fully developed, so I can understand why I don’t have all the answers yet)
-Not sure how I feel about the love interest yet, but I think that could be developed in later books!
Overall, I don’t have much to say other than how much I enjoyed this and cannot wait for the second installment. Check this book out if you enjoy stories by Sarah J. Maas and Maria V. Snyder.
OKAY, so just starting off, I just want to say this book was such a beautiful surprise. I am a bit picky when it comes to my fantasy novels and have lots of different elements I look for when reading them, so to say I was impressed with all that Fallen Flame brought to the table would be an understatement.
This story follows a girl named Vala who is the Prince’s guard. Vala differs from those around her because of her skin, which has been burnt and has been since she was a baby. Vala knows absolutely nothing about where she came from or what makes her so different from others. It isn’t until visitors from a different kingdom arrive to make plans and unite forces as well as an attack on the Prince that Vala starts questioning all that she has been told and decides to learn more about the secrets of the kingdom as well as herself.
Let’s start with what I really liked/loved about this book:
-THERE IS A MAP. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. I find that fantasy novels always benefit from having maps because, most of the time, readers are thrown into a completely new/made up world and following the different areas and divisions can be difficult.
-The writing was actually really really well done. I have never read anything by J.M. Miller before but I plan on reading her other novels because I felt so immersed in the writing. I never once felt bored or that the story lacked because of the way it was written. There were also lots of quotes that I think I need to keep written down somewhere, they were that good!
-The characters were very interesting and were developed in a plot that was easy to follow. I really cared for Vala and was intrigued to see where her story would lead, as well as what roles her counterparts would play in the novel.
Now onto what I think could be improved/looking forward to seeing in the next installment of this series:
-The plot did seem a bit generic at times, but then again, most fantasy stories have a basis that they revolve around. While I did find similarities through this book and with others in its genre, I would love to see a bit more of what makes this story so different and original to others. Just developing the characters a bit more as well as the world/magic will definitely add to this! (Also, this is the first in the series and obviously isn’t close to being fully developed, so I can understand why I don’t have all the answers yet)
-Not sure how I feel about the love interest yet, but I think that could be developed in later books!
Overall, I don’t have much to say other than how much I enjoyed this and cannot wait for the second installment. Check this book out if you enjoy stories by Sarah J. Maas and Maria V. Snyder.
April 29, 2018
I lowered the one in my hands and tossed it onto another, watching my flame catch and spread over the ground, like a wave of fire, lighting it all
* * * *
4 / 5
Nineteen years ago, many years after a veil of fog went up across the ocean and magic vanished from the human lands, a girl with charred skin was born. A girl who looked like she'd been rolled in the dying embers of a fire. Vala is the Captain of the Prince's Guard, and when assassin's and courtiers land on Garlin Island, the action and intrigue in Fallen Flame really shine.
I stepped out of the tank, newly shed and exposed. The air kissed my red-orange skin with spiked lips as I watched the old charred flakes settle to the bottom of the tank
What I loved most about this book is Vala. She such a rarely wonderfully mature character; she wears a hooded cloak to cover her scarred, charcoal face but she is not bitter. She wonders what she is and why she was born, she thinks wistfully about who she might have been, but there are no long self-pitying monologues that I have come to expect from YA characters. The height of Vala's arc is not her putting on a dress and realising that, after all, she's beautiful (a trope I really despise). Neither is she sassy, pushing authority and flouting rules willy-nilly.
A distant ache panged somewhere inside, the longing to stay with Caulden twisting into something different, something new. A raw need to know more about myself, to see more than this island, to learn more about everything
Vala is thoughtful and she is, in one word, dutiful. She protects the Prince, she does what she genuinely thinks is best after careful thought. I love my rebellious girls, my Katniss Everdeen's, my girls on fire, but I also love the ones that think, that swallow their pride, that do what is best rather than what they want. Vala is such a refreshing YA character and I loved her. Also she's literally on fire in that when she bathes she goes all ember-y, and she's definitely on fire on the battlefield.
She's even got a romance I like. And. It involves two guys. And I liked it! Let's set the scene: Vala has served Caulden since she was a child. He stands up for her and does not flinch at her skin and Vala is pretty sure that he loves her. She definitely loves him. As I started reading this I admit I rolled my eyes; here we go, I thought, the midnight trysts, the "oh I can't love you but Vala you're so special you're not like other girls I'll give up my crown for you lets run away together". That's not what we get. Instead we get a young woman realising that there are some things you just can't have and a transition is affections that is not so much a love triangle but a realistic progression.
My world was crumbling, all my years falling around me like heaps of inconsequential rubble. I had been nothing but loyal, honest. Dutiful.
What I didn't like quite so much was the world building, mostly because I didn't really get it. There is a foreign, otherworldly assassin. There's a fog wall across the ocean which humans can't pass through. There's myths and legends and faeries that are all woven throughout the book but never really explained. I could have done with a little more clarity. To offset this, the plot is simple enough: a neighbouring island's Queen and Princess visit hoping to arrange a marriage but there's suspicious goings-on. It's a good, classic plot and Miller's first person writing style is just lovely.
Overall, Fallen Flame is a great fantasy read with a fantastic main character. The secondary characters are a bit lacking, but there's lots of political intrigue, assassins, magic, and sword fights to spice things up.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * * *
4 / 5
Nineteen years ago, many years after a veil of fog went up across the ocean and magic vanished from the human lands, a girl with charred skin was born. A girl who looked like she'd been rolled in the dying embers of a fire. Vala is the Captain of the Prince's Guard, and when assassin's and courtiers land on Garlin Island, the action and intrigue in Fallen Flame really shine.
I stepped out of the tank, newly shed and exposed. The air kissed my red-orange skin with spiked lips as I watched the old charred flakes settle to the bottom of the tank
What I loved most about this book is Vala. She such a rarely wonderfully mature character; she wears a hooded cloak to cover her scarred, charcoal face but she is not bitter. She wonders what she is and why she was born, she thinks wistfully about who she might have been, but there are no long self-pitying monologues that I have come to expect from YA characters. The height of Vala's arc is not her putting on a dress and realising that, after all, she's beautiful (a trope I really despise). Neither is she sassy, pushing authority and flouting rules willy-nilly.
A distant ache panged somewhere inside, the longing to stay with Caulden twisting into something different, something new. A raw need to know more about myself, to see more than this island, to learn more about everything
Vala is thoughtful and she is, in one word, dutiful. She protects the Prince, she does what she genuinely thinks is best after careful thought. I love my rebellious girls, my Katniss Everdeen's, my girls on fire, but I also love the ones that think, that swallow their pride, that do what is best rather than what they want. Vala is such a refreshing YA character and I loved her. Also she's literally on fire in that when she bathes she goes all ember-y, and she's definitely on fire on the battlefield.
She's even got a romance I like. And. It involves two guys. And I liked it! Let's set the scene: Vala has served Caulden since she was a child. He stands up for her and does not flinch at her skin and Vala is pretty sure that he loves her. She definitely loves him. As I started reading this I admit I rolled my eyes; here we go, I thought, the midnight trysts, the "oh I can't love you but Vala you're so special you're not like other girls I'll give up my crown for you lets run away together". That's not what we get. Instead we get a young woman realising that there are some things you just can't have and a transition is affections that is not so much a love triangle but a realistic progression.
My world was crumbling, all my years falling around me like heaps of inconsequential rubble. I had been nothing but loyal, honest. Dutiful.
What I didn't like quite so much was the world building, mostly because I didn't really get it. There is a foreign, otherworldly assassin. There's a fog wall across the ocean which humans can't pass through. There's myths and legends and faeries that are all woven throughout the book but never really explained. I could have done with a little more clarity. To offset this, the plot is simple enough: a neighbouring island's Queen and Princess visit hoping to arrange a marriage but there's suspicious goings-on. It's a good, classic plot and Miller's first person writing style is just lovely.
Overall, Fallen Flame is a great fantasy read with a fantastic main character. The secondary characters are a bit lacking, but there's lots of political intrigue, assassins, magic, and sword fights to spice things up.
My thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this book.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
May 10, 2019
This book is action packed and full of shocking moments and beautiful writing. I was very surprised with how much I enjoyed this. The book follows Vala a girl seemingly scorched by magic and feared by many. She has scorched skin as rough as rock that burns anything that lives with just a touch. Recognised as an asset she is taken in by the royal family as part of their guard.
“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea.”
I enjoyed the characters and there progression. Some things seemed a little rushed in the beginning but I feel like the pace of the rest of the book was perfect. There was always something happening and the action in this was expertly written. Some of the more shocking moments towards the end really had me gasping and sitting on the edge of my seat. I also feel like the relationships were very well developed in a way that didn't seem to slow or too fast. Even though I do prefer slow-burning romances, and the more character development the better in my opinion, I think that the author was able to convey this while also having a very fast paced plot.
"The feelings that had once lifted me, that I'd once ached for, were like embers in the night fog, drifting into nothing, extinguished."
I liked the simplicity of the writing and how the writing really flowed quickly. I zoomed through it and just wanted to keep reading and reading. I read it so quickly. I believe this is the first book in a trilogy so I will definitely be watching out for the other books because I really want to find out where J.M. Miller will take this. I have a few predictions but with the shocking things that happened at the end of this one, there is not much chance in the series going in the way in which I expect. I just didn't see any of it coming.
"After so many years, your life above ended. Your new life began here, in a beautiful fire unlike any I'd ever seen."
The main problems I had with this is the background information we did get of the world and the things that have happened in the past. I felt like it was similar to a lot of other YA fantasies. However I found the plot to be very original and exciting to read. There are several shocking moments that were very heart-breaking to read throughout the story and as I said before the writing really grips you and pulls you in. I adored how J.M Miller was able to really make me feel for the characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I have high expectations for the sequels. I definitely recommend if your looking for a quick fantasy read that has a world that is easy to get immersed in.
A special thank you to J.M. Miller and Netgalley for providing me with an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea.”
I enjoyed the characters and there progression. Some things seemed a little rushed in the beginning but I feel like the pace of the rest of the book was perfect. There was always something happening and the action in this was expertly written. Some of the more shocking moments towards the end really had me gasping and sitting on the edge of my seat. I also feel like the relationships were very well developed in a way that didn't seem to slow or too fast. Even though I do prefer slow-burning romances, and the more character development the better in my opinion, I think that the author was able to convey this while also having a very fast paced plot.
"The feelings that had once lifted me, that I'd once ached for, were like embers in the night fog, drifting into nothing, extinguished."
I liked the simplicity of the writing and how the writing really flowed quickly. I zoomed through it and just wanted to keep reading and reading. I read it so quickly. I believe this is the first book in a trilogy so I will definitely be watching out for the other books because I really want to find out where J.M. Miller will take this. I have a few predictions but with the shocking things that happened at the end of this one, there is not much chance in the series going in the way in which I expect. I just didn't see any of it coming.
"After so many years, your life above ended. Your new life began here, in a beautiful fire unlike any I'd ever seen."
The main problems I had with this is the background information we did get of the world and the things that have happened in the past. I felt like it was similar to a lot of other YA fantasies. However I found the plot to be very original and exciting to read. There are several shocking moments that were very heart-breaking to read throughout the story and as I said before the writing really grips you and pulls you in. I adored how J.M Miller was able to really make me feel for the characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I have high expectations for the sequels. I definitely recommend if your looking for a quick fantasy read that has a world that is easy to get immersed in.
A special thank you to J.M. Miller and Netgalley for providing me with an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Character Illustration by Gabriella Bujdosó
Map design by Tiphs
Character Illustration by Gabriella Bujdosó
Map design by Tiphs
June 18, 2017
Fallen Flame is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read so far this year. I knew it'd be good but I was still amazed by how engrossing it was.
Vala is a special girl born with charred skin, She was found when she was little by a kind woman who raised her as her daughter. Due to her unique ability (in relation to her skin), She is trained to be a member of the guard specifically among the Prince's detail. Vala grew up together with the prince Caulden and they formed a strong bond. An unsuccessful attempt on the Prince's life reveals that his assailant has skin just like Vala, this revelation leads her down a path that changes life as she knows it. The assailant is named Xavyn, He reveals things to Vala that made her doubt life as she knew it. The High Princess Anja and her mother Queen Meirin of Islain arrived in Garlin (Vala's kingdom) with the intention of Anja wedding Prince Caulden or so they say. But as Vala begins to find out, the royal family came with an hidden agenda. The royals arrival throw her whole life into disarray.
Vala is an amazing badass character who unfortunately never had much luck with companionship, Her difference mad her stand out in a rather ostracising manner. Meeting Xavyn, made her realise a lot of things about herself that she didn't know. His appearance in her life while scrambling life as she knows it, was very needed. Her relationship with him is complicated at first but it soon blossoms into something amazing. I also loved the fact that their relationship wasn't the major point of the book but a welcome addition.
I can't reveal too much about Vala's journey without spoiling it but I can guarantee it's one with top notch drama, great action, camaraderie, cool magic and twists and turns that'll leave you on the edge of your seat. The worldbuilding is equally phenomenal, the addition of many factors in the world is not confusing in any way but rather entertaining. It certainly holds a lot of potential.
The ending was an explosive whirlwind of action, revelations that absolutely stunned me, betrayal and fantastic magic. That is a perfect example of how to end a book, It left me thirsting for more in the series.
Fallen Flame has everything a reader could certainly want, superb storing, action, romance, magic, drama, great character growth, brilliant mysteries and revelations, Hateable villains (We all know we love hating on some really nasty characters), a beautiful cover and a really charming male lead (Xavyn is absolutely perfect).
I really commend the author for crafting a world that's this engrossing and captivating. Yes they're many YA Fantasy authors out there but J.M. Miller has amazed me with her brilliant writing and seared a mark in my heart. I have nothing but rave praise for this book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great time.
P.S: That amazing cover totally has a symbolism that's pretty obvious at the ending.
P.P.S: I do like the fact that the magic system is refreshingly original.
October 3, 2020
not bad! pretty enjoyable, very interesting and cute romance. not particularly memorable, but still an enjoyable read :))
April 21, 2020
This book was so much fun! While I wish it was longer, I would've liked to hear more about Vala's backstory and develop her character a little bit more, I still throughly enjoyed this book. It just threw me off a little bit because we start in the middle of the action and do not let up whatsoever. Boy this book was fast paced! For the most part I enjoyed it and that helped to make it an even quicker read but also it lead to me having to reread some stuff because so much was happening that I forgot about it. Last thing I want to mention is that people always bitch about there not being enough diversity in fantasy books, so if you want a fun fantasy book that has plenty of POC's and even has a character with vitiligo, I definitely recommend this book!
July 11, 2017
‘Fallen Flame’ by J.M. Miller.
Review:
“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea”.
We would just like to say a special thank you to J.M. Miller and Netgalley for this opportunity to review a digital copy of this novel in exchange for our honest opinions.
Okay, firstly we have to say that this novel was just filled with lots of action and shocking surprises! We weren’t quite sure about this novel going into it as we hadn’t previously read books written by this author. We can happily say that we were really caught off guard by this novel, we are still just so pleasantly surprised by it!
This novel follows the leading character Vala, a girl who is feared by many due to her appearance as it is believed that she has been scorched and perhaps cursed by magic. Her scorched, rough skin burns anything with just a single touch. She was soon recognised as an asset to the royal family, as part of the prince’s guard.
Whilst reading this really intriguing novel, we found that we really enjoyed the characters and how they grew within themselves in each situation throughout the plot. If we are being completely honest, we did find it hard at first to get into the novel as we found the beginning a little rushed however. Over the course of this novel, there was definitely an improvement in pace.
This novel was just so action packed! We were sitting on the edge of our seats right to the very end. The characters relationships and plot development were really planned out and developed, even though the plot seemed very fast paced. We really enjoyed the romance in this novel. Without giving anything away, we just really loved how the characters noticed each other’s differences in appearances and personalities. They didn’t discriminate each other. Although appearing very different, they welcomed each other with their traits and abilities.
The writing of this novel was just so exciting and really creative. We couldn’t put this novel down, we just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next! This is meant to be a first book to a trilogy which we will definitely be on the lookout for. We will be waiting quite eagerly to see where the author will take the series next!
Although we really enjoyed this novel, we just wish we had more background information on the character Vala and the history of the kingdom. However, this information might be introduced in the second novel. We do feel as though this novel was similar to some books that we have read before in regards to the plot. However, the book was just so unique and exciting to read!
There was just so many situations in this novel that left us in shock. The writing in the novel really just gripped us from the beginning! We felt so many mixed emotions whilst reading this novel. In different stages of the book, our emotions were a mixture of being excited, intrigued, being thrilled and heart-broken.
Overall, we really enjoyed this novel. We recommend this novel for those of you who enjoy quick fantasy reads!
Book Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️.
https://pocketfullofpagesblog.wordpre...
Review:
“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea”.
We would just like to say a special thank you to J.M. Miller and Netgalley for this opportunity to review a digital copy of this novel in exchange for our honest opinions.
Okay, firstly we have to say that this novel was just filled with lots of action and shocking surprises! We weren’t quite sure about this novel going into it as we hadn’t previously read books written by this author. We can happily say that we were really caught off guard by this novel, we are still just so pleasantly surprised by it!
This novel follows the leading character Vala, a girl who is feared by many due to her appearance as it is believed that she has been scorched and perhaps cursed by magic. Her scorched, rough skin burns anything with just a single touch. She was soon recognised as an asset to the royal family, as part of the prince’s guard.
Whilst reading this really intriguing novel, we found that we really enjoyed the characters and how they grew within themselves in each situation throughout the plot. If we are being completely honest, we did find it hard at first to get into the novel as we found the beginning a little rushed however. Over the course of this novel, there was definitely an improvement in pace.
This novel was just so action packed! We were sitting on the edge of our seats right to the very end. The characters relationships and plot development were really planned out and developed, even though the plot seemed very fast paced. We really enjoyed the romance in this novel. Without giving anything away, we just really loved how the characters noticed each other’s differences in appearances and personalities. They didn’t discriminate each other. Although appearing very different, they welcomed each other with their traits and abilities.
The writing of this novel was just so exciting and really creative. We couldn’t put this novel down, we just had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next! This is meant to be a first book to a trilogy which we will definitely be on the lookout for. We will be waiting quite eagerly to see where the author will take the series next!
Although we really enjoyed this novel, we just wish we had more background information on the character Vala and the history of the kingdom. However, this information might be introduced in the second novel. We do feel as though this novel was similar to some books that we have read before in regards to the plot. However, the book was just so unique and exciting to read!
There was just so many situations in this novel that left us in shock. The writing in the novel really just gripped us from the beginning! We felt so many mixed emotions whilst reading this novel. In different stages of the book, our emotions were a mixture of being excited, intrigued, being thrilled and heart-broken.
Overall, we really enjoyed this novel. We recommend this novel for those of you who enjoy quick fantasy reads!
Book Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️.
https://pocketfullofpagesblog.wordpre...
September 23, 2018
To see more reviews, considering taking a peek at my first in series YA book blog here
This book was better than I imagined it would be- and that is always a pleasant surprise.
Vala is the Prince's personal guard, one small mistake during an assassination attempt and she is stripped of her rank and forever dealing with the Queen's suspicious ire. Vala would give her life for her people, but the sentiment may not be returned...did I mention Vala's skin is literally fire? No- well, When Vala is touched she burns. Poor Vala must deal with her feelings for the prince while protecting him and his guest/potential marriage partner who seems to be looking for the island's secrets.
I went into this book thinking it would be very simple. A shadow of some of my favorite fantasies, but it wasn't. Fallen Flame held it's own. Vala's turmoil over whether to trust Xavyn with her life and her secrets was somewhat complex. Her relationship with Haidee who had been an estranged, resentful sister turns into a sisterly bond full of trust when there should have been doubt. She realizes heartbreak when the person she loved--who she thought loved her in return--may not be the best person for her.
I feel I must illuminate my grudge around Xavyn's character for a moment here. It is clear he goes through quite a process when figuring out whether to trust Vala. Vala however, it doesn't really explain where her trust in Xavyn comes from. To me, it seems that it stems more from the betrayal of the people she was loyal to rather than anything Xavyn did himself. Actually though, where did that love story come from? It feels more like Hero syndrome where she falls for the person who "saves" her.
The plot was predictable but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading Fallen Flame. The emotions and betrayal and near-miss moments of being found out kept me on my toes. Definitely a solid fantasy with a unique plot.
This book was better than I imagined it would be- and that is always a pleasant surprise.
Vala is the Prince's personal guard, one small mistake during an assassination attempt and she is stripped of her rank and forever dealing with the Queen's suspicious ire. Vala would give her life for her people, but the sentiment may not be returned...did I mention Vala's skin is literally fire? No- well, When Vala is touched she burns. Poor Vala must deal with her feelings for the prince while protecting him and his guest/potential marriage partner who seems to be looking for the island's secrets.
I went into this book thinking it would be very simple. A shadow of some of my favorite fantasies, but it wasn't. Fallen Flame held it's own. Vala's turmoil over whether to trust Xavyn with her life and her secrets was somewhat complex. Her relationship with Haidee who had been an estranged, resentful sister turns into a sisterly bond full of trust when there should have been doubt. She realizes heartbreak when the person she loved--who she thought loved her in return--may not be the best person for her.
I feel I must illuminate my grudge around Xavyn's character for a moment here. It is clear he goes through quite a process when figuring out whether to trust Vala. Vala however, it doesn't really explain where her trust in Xavyn comes from. To me, it seems that it stems more from the betrayal of the people she was loyal to rather than anything Xavyn did himself. Actually though, where did that love story come from? It feels more like Hero syndrome where she falls for the person who "saves" her.
The plot was predictable but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of reading Fallen Flame. The emotions and betrayal and near-miss moments of being found out kept me on my toes. Definitely a solid fantasy with a unique plot.
June 22, 2017
"That's not possible. All the stories say that no one can travel there."
"And yet, here I am," he replied in almost a bored tone. "Someone who you can't explain because you can't even explain yourself."
It was a truth I couldn't debate.
**
I absolutely adored this amazing, magical world that Miller created. While it did start out a bit slow for me, I soon became entranced as the pace quickened and this incredible story progressed. So many questions get asked and only a few get answered. But it kept me intrigued the whole last half. I didn't even care that we didn't get all the answers we seek. It has me eager to find them out in the next book.
Vala was such a fabulous character. One I have not ever seen written before, making her as unique as the storyline itself. I wondered about where she came from, what she was, and what the future held for her. When she meets Xavyn, he awakens all these questions as well. Always accepting what she was told, Vala now wants to know where she came from and who she is.
What I didn't care for, or I should say who I didn't care for, was Prince Caulden. From the start I didn't feel any connection to him or even cared if he was to live or die and it stayed that way throughout the book. I wasn't surprised toward the end of the story when he acted and reacted the way he did. I sort of wanted to yell "told you so." Well, I may have mumbled it to myself, I just didn't yell it.
I look forward to more of this story and where it is headed. There is so much we have to figure out and have answered. 4 Intriguing, Magical and Mysterious Stars!
"And yet, here I am," he replied in almost a bored tone. "Someone who you can't explain because you can't even explain yourself."
It was a truth I couldn't debate.
**
I absolutely adored this amazing, magical world that Miller created. While it did start out a bit slow for me, I soon became entranced as the pace quickened and this incredible story progressed. So many questions get asked and only a few get answered. But it kept me intrigued the whole last half. I didn't even care that we didn't get all the answers we seek. It has me eager to find them out in the next book.
Vala was such a fabulous character. One I have not ever seen written before, making her as unique as the storyline itself. I wondered about where she came from, what she was, and what the future held for her. When she meets Xavyn, he awakens all these questions as well. Always accepting what she was told, Vala now wants to know where she came from and who she is.
What I didn't care for, or I should say who I didn't care for, was Prince Caulden. From the start I didn't feel any connection to him or even cared if he was to live or die and it stayed that way throughout the book. I wasn't surprised toward the end of the story when he acted and reacted the way he did. I sort of wanted to yell "told you so." Well, I may have mumbled it to myself, I just didn't yell it.
I look forward to more of this story and where it is headed. There is so much we have to figure out and have answered. 4 Intriguing, Magical and Mysterious Stars!
August 20, 2021
Audio Review:
Fallen Flame (Fallen Flame Series, Book ) is the first book in this young adult fantasy romance series. A intriguing world suffused with adventure, betrayal, magic, mysterious and a dust of romance. The mc Vela tells her story in single pov. Her character is well developed and intriguing. The synopsis is alluring and the plot unfolds seamlessly. I would have liked more details and multiple pov's to get the other characters thoughts.
Amelia Hugh accentuates the fantasy with her storytelling. Her inflection is very smooth, and exuberant. Excellent narration.
Fallen Flame (Fallen Flame Series, Book ) is the first book in this young adult fantasy romance series. A intriguing world suffused with adventure, betrayal, magic, mysterious and a dust of romance. The mc Vela tells her story in single pov. Her character is well developed and intriguing. The synopsis is alluring and the plot unfolds seamlessly. I would have liked more details and multiple pov's to get the other characters thoughts.
Amelia Hugh accentuates the fantasy with her storytelling. Her inflection is very smooth, and exuberant. Excellent narration.
June 16, 2017
I would like starting this review by saying two things this book had that I loved: First it has a map which is great to see where are you in this world and to picture where are the places they talked about. And the second is the dedicatory his book has is soo sweet: "To those unsettled, the dreamers, the wanderers, keep searching, keep fighting. You will find yourself"
Fallen Flame was an interesting story about a girl that's been treated badly or ignored because of the texture of her skin. For me it had a great message about discrimination and how to stay strong and love your self no matter what other people see or think.
"I wanted to react, to reach for him, to look at his hand, to apologize for what I'd done. Only, I hadn't done anything. He had grabbed me. He knew what I was. And I wasn't sure I should apologize for that anymore"
Our main character Vala was a great character, she was a really strong girl that would stand up for what she thought was right eventhough she worked for the royalty. At first what made me identify with her was that she had a wall between her and other people, and I used to be like that so it made her feel more real and it made me connect with her right away. Another thing I liked about her is that she knew her priorities, sometimes she would get distracted along the way but at the end she knew what her goal was.
"And alonside those doubts and fears rose smething even more dangerous. Curiosity"
Then we had the Prince Caulden. Even though at first I liked him a little bit, as the story goes on I liked him less. He was a weak prince, always doing what other people wanted him to do or doing nothing at all. I didn't feel a lot of depthness in his character which may be the reason why I couldn't click with him.
There's also Haidee, Vala's adopted sister. At the begginig of the novel I had my doubts with her because we didn't know much about her at the time but once we get to actually know her we know she's a sweet and very loyal girl. Full of sympathy and very selfless, I really like her at the end.
Something that surprised me of this book was that I actually thought that it needed a little more of descriptions on the baths and romantics scenes (I always have trouble with too descriptive scenes). In the baths scenes I could see that Vala was in pain and I felt sorry for her but I didn't get to feel or imaging the feeling she was going through. And in the romantic scenes, I didn't get to see the romance. Once two characters kissed and I didn't realised until three chapters later when they talked about it.
The mistery about Vala was predictable, not from the start because we didn't know about the things we were looking for but once we start figuring things out it becomes clear what her secret is and it's a little bit of a cliché. However, I didn't mind this time because I enjoyed most of it.
Fallen Flame is also a funny book, various times I found myself laughing out loud because of the sarcasm or sassiness of some characters, and for some weird reactions too.
I don't have a clue to where the story is going in the second book and I wish I could read it right now mainly because of that special character that I ended up loving.
Fallen Flame was an interesting story about a girl that's been treated badly or ignored because of the texture of her skin. For me it had a great message about discrimination and how to stay strong and love your self no matter what other people see or think.
"I wanted to react, to reach for him, to look at his hand, to apologize for what I'd done. Only, I hadn't done anything. He had grabbed me. He knew what I was. And I wasn't sure I should apologize for that anymore"
Our main character Vala was a great character, she was a really strong girl that would stand up for what she thought was right eventhough she worked for the royalty. At first what made me identify with her was that she had a wall between her and other people, and I used to be like that so it made her feel more real and it made me connect with her right away. Another thing I liked about her is that she knew her priorities, sometimes she would get distracted along the way but at the end she knew what her goal was.
"And alonside those doubts and fears rose smething even more dangerous. Curiosity"
Then we had the Prince Caulden. Even though at first I liked him a little bit, as the story goes on I liked him less. He was a weak prince, always doing what other people wanted him to do or doing nothing at all. I didn't feel a lot of depthness in his character which may be the reason why I couldn't click with him.
There's also Haidee, Vala's adopted sister. At the begginig of the novel I had my doubts with her because we didn't know much about her at the time but once we get to actually know her we know she's a sweet and very loyal girl. Full of sympathy and very selfless, I really like her at the end.
Something that surprised me of this book was that I actually thought that it needed a little more of descriptions on the baths and romantics scenes (I always have trouble with too descriptive scenes). In the baths scenes I could see that Vala was in pain and I felt sorry for her but I didn't get to feel or imaging the feeling she was going through. And in the romantic scenes, I didn't get to see the romance. Once two characters kissed and I didn't realised until three chapters later when they talked about it.
The mistery about Vala was predictable, not from the start because we didn't know about the things we were looking for but once we start figuring things out it becomes clear what her secret is and it's a little bit of a cliché. However, I didn't mind this time because I enjoyed most of it.
Fallen Flame is also a funny book, various times I found myself laughing out loud because of the sarcasm or sassiness of some characters, and for some weird reactions too.
I don't have a clue to where the story is going in the second book and I wish I could read it right now mainly because of that special character that I ended up loving.
June 19, 2017
This would be my first book I have read by the wonderful J.M. Miller, where you are thrust into a world full of mystery, magic, and adventure. The era of kings and queens, young Vala is the kings guard. Her duty is to protect the prince at all costs. She was strong willed and fought for what she believed in. When there is an attempt to end the princes life, everything she thought she knew was a lie....
Fallen Flame was an action packed novel that I couldn't put down! I have no idea what is next to come for Vala, but I can't wait to find out.
**Thank you J.M. Miller for an arc.**
Fallen Flame was an action packed novel that I couldn't put down! I have no idea what is next to come for Vala, but I can't wait to find out.
**Thank you J.M. Miller for an arc.**
July 12, 2017
I picked up FALLEN FLAME from Netgalley on a complete whim and I'm so glad I did. The story was easy to follow, the pace was nice and the characters and their development kept me reading.
I loved Vala. She is a mystery to those in Gala and even to herself, but she has made a good life for herself and lives to protect the prince. I found Vala to be strong, loyal and willing to get her hands dirty to protect those that needed protecting.
There are a two love interests in FALLEN FLAME. I liked prince Caulden when he was introduced and was rooting for things to work out between Vala and him, but I slowly lost respect for him as the book went on and by the end knew that even if they could have been something, they weren't right for each other. Xavyn was a huge mystery when he was introduced, but was very open with Vala and really opened her eyes to the world outside of Garlin and how she could fit into it. Although nothing happened romantically between them in FALLEN FLAME, I look forward to the time when something does.
The plot was interesting. Some things were predictable, but I still very much enjoyed the way things were revealed. The mystery surrounding Vala and her birth was very intriguing and made the plot even more exciting. Vala is a true fighter and I enjoyed the action throughout FALLEN FLAME. There is zero doubt in my mind that I will be grabbing a copy of book two when it is out. In fact, I am stalking the author's pages in hope that there will be information about it soon.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Vala. She is a mystery to those in Gala and even to herself, but she has made a good life for herself and lives to protect the prince. I found Vala to be strong, loyal and willing to get her hands dirty to protect those that needed protecting.
There are a two love interests in FALLEN FLAME. I liked prince Caulden when he was introduced and was rooting for things to work out between Vala and him, but I slowly lost respect for him as the book went on and by the end knew that even if they could have been something, they weren't right for each other. Xavyn was a huge mystery when he was introduced, but was very open with Vala and really opened her eyes to the world outside of Garlin and how she could fit into it. Although nothing happened romantically between them in FALLEN FLAME, I look forward to the time when something does.
The plot was interesting. Some things were predictable, but I still very much enjoyed the way things were revealed. The mystery surrounding Vala and her birth was very intriguing and made the plot even more exciting. Vala is a true fighter and I enjoyed the action throughout FALLEN FLAME. There is zero doubt in my mind that I will be grabbing a copy of book two when it is out. In fact, I am stalking the author's pages in hope that there will be information about it soon.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2017
Source: eARC from Netgalley (This does not affect my rating and review)
Format: Kindle Book
Summary: This book follows a girl named Vala who is the top guard for Prince Caulden. A Princess has come to the kingdom of Garlin to see if she wants to marry the Prince, but trouble begins to happen in the Kingdom. Assassin's from neigborhing kingdoms are sent to eliminate the Prince, and that is where we find a shadowy figure who has skin like Vala. Vala knows that this one assassin is like her, but she has to figure out who she is exactly. Who is Vala and why was she born the way that she was? She has to find herself, and protect her Prince at the same time.
Thoughts: This book was really awesome! It was action paced the entire time, and there was never a dull moment. I remember not wanting to put the book down because I loved reading it so much. I loved Vala's character. Her story was interesting in a way that made me want to listen and read it. She had a way about her that grabbed me. I also enjoyed reading about the Prince and Haidee. I wish we could have gotten multiple perspectives in the book, just so that we could understand what the others where thinking and feeling. Learning about this kingdom and world was really interesting. It was not all detailed like high fantasy, and I liked that. I was simple for one to understand what was going on in the story. We also get a map which is always great in my opinion! I am looking forward to reading a sequel, because I believe this will be a series.
Rating: 5/5
Video Spoiler Free Review: https://youtu.be/nCdueD2mTsg
Format: Kindle Book
Summary: This book follows a girl named Vala who is the top guard for Prince Caulden. A Princess has come to the kingdom of Garlin to see if she wants to marry the Prince, but trouble begins to happen in the Kingdom. Assassin's from neigborhing kingdoms are sent to eliminate the Prince, and that is where we find a shadowy figure who has skin like Vala. Vala knows that this one assassin is like her, but she has to figure out who she is exactly. Who is Vala and why was she born the way that she was? She has to find herself, and protect her Prince at the same time.
Thoughts: This book was really awesome! It was action paced the entire time, and there was never a dull moment. I remember not wanting to put the book down because I loved reading it so much. I loved Vala's character. Her story was interesting in a way that made me want to listen and read it. She had a way about her that grabbed me. I also enjoyed reading about the Prince and Haidee. I wish we could have gotten multiple perspectives in the book, just so that we could understand what the others where thinking and feeling. Learning about this kingdom and world was really interesting. It was not all detailed like high fantasy, and I liked that. I was simple for one to understand what was going on in the story. We also get a map which is always great in my opinion! I am looking forward to reading a sequel, because I believe this will be a series.
Rating: 5/5
Video Spoiler Free Review: https://youtu.be/nCdueD2mTsg
July 14, 2017
********I received an e-arc from Netgalley. These are my 100% honest opinions.*******
I just finished this novel and I think J.M. Miller murdered my heart with this novel.
I loved the plot of the novel. It had so many twists and turns. You guys know I typically can see what is going to happen in a novel, but honestly, I only guessed maybe half or less of this novel. It’s written that well. This book is kind of an emotional rollercoaster. I felt so many emotions towards the events and characters. I loved them, I disliked them, I was annoyed with their actions, and I shipped them. I loved how the novel ends. It sets it up for the second novel perfectly. I cannot wait till the next novel comes out!
As I mentioned, I really liked the character development. Vala had great character growth throughout their novel. I loved the other characters and loved watching them develop in character as well. The characters didn’t just have one specific personality treat to them. I love when authors do this because it makes them realistic. The amount of secrets we find out during the novel and questions that are unanswered because they are for the next novel are endless. It was interesting seeing how far trust went in the novel. The realistic portrayal of trust was amazing.
Basically, I fell in love with this novel. I plan on checking out J.M.’s other writings while I impatiently wait for the next novel to try to fill the void of not knowing what happens next.
I just finished this novel and I think J.M. Miller murdered my heart with this novel.
I loved the plot of the novel. It had so many twists and turns. You guys know I typically can see what is going to happen in a novel, but honestly, I only guessed maybe half or less of this novel. It’s written that well. This book is kind of an emotional rollercoaster. I felt so many emotions towards the events and characters. I loved them, I disliked them, I was annoyed with their actions, and I shipped them. I loved how the novel ends. It sets it up for the second novel perfectly. I cannot wait till the next novel comes out!
As I mentioned, I really liked the character development. Vala had great character growth throughout their novel. I loved the other characters and loved watching them develop in character as well. The characters didn’t just have one specific personality treat to them. I love when authors do this because it makes them realistic. The amount of secrets we find out during the novel and questions that are unanswered because they are for the next novel are endless. It was interesting seeing how far trust went in the novel. The realistic portrayal of trust was amazing.
Basically, I fell in love with this novel. I plan on checking out J.M.’s other writings while I impatiently wait for the next novel to try to fill the void of not knowing what happens next.
July 23, 2017
***3.5 Stars***
This book was so much fun! While I wish it was longer, I would've liked to hear more about Vala's backstory and develop her character a little bit more, I still throughly enjoyed this book. It just threw me off a little bit because we start in the middle of the action and do not let up whatsoever. Boy this book was fast paced! For the most part I enjoyed it and that helped to make it an even quicker read but also it lead to me having to reread some stuff because so much was happening that I forgot about it. Last thing I want to mention is that people always bitch about there not being enough diversity in fantasy books, so if you want a fun fantasy book that has plenty of POC's and even has a character with vitiligo, I definitely recommend this book!
This book was so much fun! While I wish it was longer, I would've liked to hear more about Vala's backstory and develop her character a little bit more, I still throughly enjoyed this book. It just threw me off a little bit because we start in the middle of the action and do not let up whatsoever. Boy this book was fast paced! For the most part I enjoyed it and that helped to make it an even quicker read but also it lead to me having to reread some stuff because so much was happening that I forgot about it. Last thing I want to mention is that people always bitch about there not being enough diversity in fantasy books, so if you want a fun fantasy book that has plenty of POC's and even has a character with vitiligo, I definitely recommend this book!
January 28, 2021
No. This is not the most surprising, most original story ever. But YESSS you should read it.
I don’t understand why not more people read this because I think this is a typical YA fantasy book everyone could read.
1. Do you like difficult fantasy worlds? Meet Garlin.
2. A girl with cool powers who becomes more herself throughout the story? Meet Vana.
3. A mysterious man with some cool secrets himself? Got it.
4. A Not-Friends-To-Almost-Lovers relationship? Guess what!
5. A mystery that turns out to be something big? All in here.
Even though some things were a bit predictable, it was a quick read where felt like I could read this in one sitting (something I don’t feel that often with a book) and I just loved my time reading this. I will definitely read the sequel!
I don’t understand why not more people read this because I think this is a typical YA fantasy book everyone could read.
1. Do you like difficult fantasy worlds? Meet Garlin.
2. A girl with cool powers who becomes more herself throughout the story? Meet Vana.
3. A mysterious man with some cool secrets himself? Got it.
4. A Not-Friends-To-Almost-Lovers relationship? Guess what!
5. A mystery that turns out to be something big? All in here.
Even though some things were a bit predictable, it was a quick read where felt like I could read this in one sitting (something I don’t feel that often with a book) and I just loved my time reading this. I will definitely read the sequel!
December 12, 2020
review coming soon
July 10, 2022
The fanart of this book is amazing
July 11, 2017
Source: eARC from Netgalley (This does not affect my rating and review)
Format: Kindle Book
Summary: This book follows a girl named Vala who is the top guard for Prince Caulden. A Princess has come to the kingdom of Garlin to see if she wants to marry the Prince, but trouble begins to happen in the Kingdom. Assassin's from neigborhing kingdoms are sent to eliminate the Prince, and that is where we find a shadowy figure who has skin like Vala. Vala knows that this one assassin is like her, but she has to figure out who she is exactly. Who is Vala and why was she born the way that she was? She has to find herself, and protect her Prince at the same time.
Thoughts: This book was really awesome! It was action paced the entire time, and there was never a dull moment. I remember not wanting to put the book down because I loved reading it so much. I loved Vala's character. Her story was interesting in a way that made me want to listen and read it. She had a way about her that grabbed me. I also enjoyed reading about the Prince and Haidee. I wish we could have gotten multiple perspectives in the book, just so that we could understand what the others where thinking and feeling. Learning about this kingdom and world was really interesting. It was not all detailed like high fantasy, and I liked that. I was simple for one to understand what was going on in the story. We also get a map which is always great in my opinion! I am looking forward to reading a sequel, because I believe this will be a series.
Rating: 5/5
Video Spoiler Free Review: https://youtu.be/nCdueD2mTsg
Format: Kindle Book
Summary: This book follows a girl named Vala who is the top guard for Prince Caulden. A Princess has come to the kingdom of Garlin to see if she wants to marry the Prince, but trouble begins to happen in the Kingdom. Assassin's from neigborhing kingdoms are sent to eliminate the Prince, and that is where we find a shadowy figure who has skin like Vala. Vala knows that this one assassin is like her, but she has to figure out who she is exactly. Who is Vala and why was she born the way that she was? She has to find herself, and protect her Prince at the same time.
Thoughts: This book was really awesome! It was action paced the entire time, and there was never a dull moment. I remember not wanting to put the book down because I loved reading it so much. I loved Vala's character. Her story was interesting in a way that made me want to listen and read it. She had a way about her that grabbed me. I also enjoyed reading about the Prince and Haidee. I wish we could have gotten multiple perspectives in the book, just so that we could understand what the others where thinking and feeling. Learning about this kingdom and world was really interesting. It was not all detailed like high fantasy, and I liked that. I was simple for one to understand what was going on in the story. We also get a map which is always great in my opinion! I am looking forward to reading a sequel, because I believe this will be a series.
Rating: 5/5
Video Spoiler Free Review: https://youtu.be/nCdueD2mTsg
July 7, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
Fallen Flame is a unique fantasy read! I really didn't have high expectations on it but Its premise really intrigued me and being a huge fantasy reader, I can't help myself from picking it up. It's my first book from the author and I enjoyed reading it because it was not only unique but also pretty interesting to read. This book is a good start for a new fantasy series. Despite few flaws, I really liked it. It has interesting characters, good plot and a decent world building.
The story is set in a fictional place called Island Kingdom of Garlin. Nineteen Year Old Vala is born with a charred grey molten skin which made her an anomaly and feared by everyone in the kingdom. Her skin is a burning lava which makes her pretty deadly. Her ability makes her an asset to the kingdom so the queen of Garlin appoints her as a personal guard to prince Caulden. They both grew up together and eventually formed a deep bond. When a queen and princess from a high kingdom of Islain arrives to form a alliance between them by a marriage, assassination attempts were made on prince Caulden and one of them nearly succeeds but when Vala confronts the assassin, she's pretty much shocked to find that he looks just like her with charred grey skin. Vala always been loyal to the Kingdom of Garlin and never curious about her birth but after meeting the assassin Xavyn, she wants to know more about her birth and where she came from. She later learns that the queen of Islain seems to have an hidden agenda and the alliance is only a facade.
Though I enjoyed every character in this book, I felt some of them lacking depth. I really liked Vala! She's totally a refreshing main character I really enjoyed. She's a strong female protagonist who is very loyal, brave and tough. She always stood strong even though she is vulnerable inside and never let her physical appearance weaken her. The way the author described her, she really looks terrifying. I always felt bad during her cleansing bath sessions which always makes her hurt as hell. Xavyn is mysterious and intriguing character. He is a good male lead and I'd love to know more about him. I enjoyed the growing relationship between him and Vala. The romance is not the major aspect of this book but It's a great addition to the plot. I loved every interaction between them and how they slowly grew to trust each other. Prince Caulden didn't impressed me much. He seemed like a weak character and I was very disappointed with him at the ending which made me hate him. I liked Vala's adopted sister Haidee. She's a very loyal person and the only person who deeply cares for her well being.
The plot is very interesting but still I found some parts predictable. Even though the pacing is slow it haven't hindered my enjoyment. The twists in the plot and the mystery surrounding Vala's birth is what made the story even more interesting. My only issue with the plot is the ending which felt a bit rushed. I loved the action in this book and I hope there is more of it in the next book. The author has a great writing style. The entire story is told from Vala's POV but It would've been great if it was told in multiple pov's because I really wanted to see the story from multiple perspectives. I liked the world building and the unique magical system. I'm glad the author provided a map which helped me better understand this world. The first book is set on Island of Garlin and I can't wait to explore more of this world. I hope we get to explore the fae kingdoms in the sequel.
Overall, I liked it! Even though it isn't a mind blowing fantasy read, I enjoyed reading it. The book finally concludes with no cliffhanger but I'm very eager to know what happens next so I'll definitely look forward to the next book.
Same Review Also Posted In My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
Fallen Flame is a unique fantasy read! I really didn't have high expectations on it but Its premise really intrigued me and being a huge fantasy reader, I can't help myself from picking it up. It's my first book from the author and I enjoyed reading it because it was not only unique but also pretty interesting to read. This book is a good start for a new fantasy series. Despite few flaws, I really liked it. It has interesting characters, good plot and a decent world building.
The story is set in a fictional place called Island Kingdom of Garlin. Nineteen Year Old Vala is born with a charred grey molten skin which made her an anomaly and feared by everyone in the kingdom. Her skin is a burning lava which makes her pretty deadly. Her ability makes her an asset to the kingdom so the queen of Garlin appoints her as a personal guard to prince Caulden. They both grew up together and eventually formed a deep bond. When a queen and princess from a high kingdom of Islain arrives to form a alliance between them by a marriage, assassination attempts were made on prince Caulden and one of them nearly succeeds but when Vala confronts the assassin, she's pretty much shocked to find that he looks just like her with charred grey skin. Vala always been loyal to the Kingdom of Garlin and never curious about her birth but after meeting the assassin Xavyn, she wants to know more about her birth and where she came from. She later learns that the queen of Islain seems to have an hidden agenda and the alliance is only a facade.
Though I enjoyed every character in this book, I felt some of them lacking depth. I really liked Vala! She's totally a refreshing main character I really enjoyed. She's a strong female protagonist who is very loyal, brave and tough. She always stood strong even though she is vulnerable inside and never let her physical appearance weaken her. The way the author described her, she really looks terrifying. I always felt bad during her cleansing bath sessions which always makes her hurt as hell. Xavyn is mysterious and intriguing character. He is a good male lead and I'd love to know more about him. I enjoyed the growing relationship between him and Vala. The romance is not the major aspect of this book but It's a great addition to the plot. I loved every interaction between them and how they slowly grew to trust each other. Prince Caulden didn't impressed me much. He seemed like a weak character and I was very disappointed with him at the ending which made me hate him. I liked Vala's adopted sister Haidee. She's a very loyal person and the only person who deeply cares for her well being.
The plot is very interesting but still I found some parts predictable. Even though the pacing is slow it haven't hindered my enjoyment. The twists in the plot and the mystery surrounding Vala's birth is what made the story even more interesting. My only issue with the plot is the ending which felt a bit rushed. I loved the action in this book and I hope there is more of it in the next book. The author has a great writing style. The entire story is told from Vala's POV but It would've been great if it was told in multiple pov's because I really wanted to see the story from multiple perspectives. I liked the world building and the unique magical system. I'm glad the author provided a map which helped me better understand this world. The first book is set on Island of Garlin and I can't wait to explore more of this world. I hope we get to explore the fae kingdoms in the sequel.
Overall, I liked it! Even though it isn't a mind blowing fantasy read, I enjoyed reading it. The book finally concludes with no cliffhanger but I'm very eager to know what happens next so I'll definitely look forward to the next book.
September 24, 2018
I would like starting this review by saying two things this book had that I loved: First it has a map which is great to see where are you in this world and to picture where are the places they talked about. And the second is the dedicatory his book has is soo sweet: "To those unsettled, the dreamers, the wanderers, keep searching, keep fighting. You will find yourself"
Fallen Flame was an interesting story about a girl that's been treated badly or ignored because of the texture of her skin. For me it had a great message about discrimination and how to stay strong and love your self no matter what other people see or think.
"I wanted to react, to reach for him, to look at his hand, to apologize for what I'd done. Only, I hadn't done anything. He had grabbed me. He knew what I was. And I wasn't sure I should apologize for that anymore"
Our main character Vala was a great character, she was a really strong girl that would stand up for what she thought was right eventhough she worked for the royalty. At first what made me identify with her was that she had a wall between her and other people, and I used to be like that so it made her feel more real and it made me connect with her right away. Another thing I liked about her is that she knew her priorities, sometimes she would get distracted along the way but at the end she knew what her goal was.
"And alonside those doubts and fears rose smething even more dangerous. Curiosity"
Then we had the Prince Caulden. Even though at first I liked him a little bit, as the story goes on I liked him less. He was a weak prince, always doing what other people wanted him to do or doing nothing at all. I didn't feel a lot of depthness in his character which may be the reason why I couldn't click with him.
There's also Haidee, Vala's adopted sister. At the begginig of the novel I had my doubts with her because we didn't know much about her at the time but once we get to actually know her we know she's a sweet and very loyal girl. Full of sympathy and very selfless, I really like her at the end.
Something that surprised me of this book was that I actually thought that it needed a little more of descriptions on the baths and romantics scenes (I always have trouble with too descriptive scenes). In the baths scenes I could see that Vala was in pain and I felt sorry for her but I didn't get to feel or imaging the feeling she was going through. And in the romantic scenes, I didn't get to see the romance. Once two characters kissed and I didn't realised until three chapters later when they talked about it.
The mistery about Vala was predictable, not from the start because we didn't know about the things we were looking for but once we start figuring things out it becomes clear what her secret is and it's a little bit of a cliché. However, I didn't mind this time because I enjoyed most of it.
Fallen Flame is also a funny book, various times I found myself laughing out loud because of the sarcasm or sassiness of some characters, and for some weird reactions too.
I don't have a clue to where the story is going in the second book and I wish I could read it right now mainly because of that special character that I ended up loving.
Fallen Flame was an interesting story about a girl that's been treated badly or ignored because of the texture of her skin. For me it had a great message about discrimination and how to stay strong and love your self no matter what other people see or think.
"I wanted to react, to reach for him, to look at his hand, to apologize for what I'd done. Only, I hadn't done anything. He had grabbed me. He knew what I was. And I wasn't sure I should apologize for that anymore"
Our main character Vala was a great character, she was a really strong girl that would stand up for what she thought was right eventhough she worked for the royalty. At first what made me identify with her was that she had a wall between her and other people, and I used to be like that so it made her feel more real and it made me connect with her right away. Another thing I liked about her is that she knew her priorities, sometimes she would get distracted along the way but at the end she knew what her goal was.
"And alonside those doubts and fears rose smething even more dangerous. Curiosity"
Then we had the Prince Caulden. Even though at first I liked him a little bit, as the story goes on I liked him less. He was a weak prince, always doing what other people wanted him to do or doing nothing at all. I didn't feel a lot of depthness in his character which may be the reason why I couldn't click with him.
There's also Haidee, Vala's adopted sister. At the begginig of the novel I had my doubts with her because we didn't know much about her at the time but once we get to actually know her we know she's a sweet and very loyal girl. Full of sympathy and very selfless, I really like her at the end.
Something that surprised me of this book was that I actually thought that it needed a little more of descriptions on the baths and romantics scenes (I always have trouble with too descriptive scenes). In the baths scenes I could see that Vala was in pain and I felt sorry for her but I didn't get to feel or imaging the feeling she was going through. And in the romantic scenes, I didn't get to see the romance. Once two characters kissed and I didn't realised until three chapters later when they talked about it.
The mistery about Vala was predictable, not from the start because we didn't know about the things we were looking for but once we start figuring things out it becomes clear what her secret is and it's a little bit of a cliché. However, I didn't mind this time because I enjoyed most of it.
Fallen Flame is also a funny book, various times I found myself laughing out loud because of the sarcasm or sassiness of some characters, and for some weird reactions too.
I don't have a clue to where the story is going in the second book and I wish I could read it right now mainly because of that special character that I ended up loving.
July 18, 2017
Magic is long dead... or at least it should be. Vala is a sign of a time once thought to be over. A time when magic ruled the world and otherworldly beings lived alongside humans. Vala hard chard, rock-like skin that could only come about in one way... magic. Because of this, Vala has been ostracized her entire life and feared by almost all on her small island. She still has a job though. Because of her skin, she makes the perfect guard for the prince. She is a skilled fighter, on top of her intimidation factor in which she was chosen for, based on her lava rock like skin. When there is an assassination attempt on the prince's life, Vala is thrown into a dangerous mystery where she bears to lose everything: the prince, her position in the guard and her very beliefs. Confronted with this conflicting problem, she will have to figure out friend from foe, and truth from lie.
I found this novel surprisingly fun to read. It's hidden plot parts had me wondering where things were going and really what type of novel it would be in the first place. I didn't really characterize it form the starts so most of the plot points were all fun, new and exciting. I liked Vala. Her unique situation was riveting to read about and her characters was fairly well developed, similarly to the plot. The magical element was riveting and had me constantly guessing what Vala's history was. How she got the way she was, and what the full extent of her abilities are. All in all, I really like Fallen Flame and I give it the rating of FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS!!!
Want more of me? Go to: http://thenotsopubliclibrary.blogspot.ca
June 25, 2017
I was able to read this ebook through NetGalley!
This book was a pleasant surprise. It's hard these days to find gripping, well-written fantasy for young adults. Vala, living on a secluded island as a Guard to the prince, only knows that she was found as a baby with mysterious skin that can burn others. Miller shoves the reader right into the action as Vala tries to protect the prince, all while finding out more about her own birth and life. The characters were interesting and well-developed, the plot was continuously moving, and everything remained absorbing. I would def. recommend to any YA fantasy readers!
This book was a pleasant surprise. It's hard these days to find gripping, well-written fantasy for young adults. Vala, living on a secluded island as a Guard to the prince, only knows that she was found as a baby with mysterious skin that can burn others. Miller shoves the reader right into the action as Vala tries to protect the prince, all while finding out more about her own birth and life. The characters were interesting and well-developed, the plot was continuously moving, and everything remained absorbing. I would def. recommend to any YA fantasy readers!
July 23, 2017
LIST OF REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD/SHOULD NOT READ FALLEN FLAME:
It is incredibly boring.
Like really.
Let's get started.
1. The characters were horribly bland. 2 dimensional at best.
- Miller somehow has successfully written the most boring Prince in all of YA fantasy history.
He does absolutely nothing.
There's nothing attractive about him, nothing swoon worthy, nothing distinct about him at all.
He's just a Prince, thats it. Vala talks about how gentle and kind he is but... bish where? We don't get much from him that makes a lasting impression. The only thing I remember about him is how he let Vala be whipped after she saved him. And that's not gentle or kind..
- For a person whose skin can burn you with a single touch, Vala is pretty tame. The most interesting part of her obviously, is her skin condition. And because this is a YA novel she's obviously in love with the Prince. BORING!
-Xavyn, How the hell do you pronounce this? Why do authors think its cool to create names that can't be read? How did she even come up with this? To be fair he is the most interesting character in this book. But that isn't saying much, is it?
-All other characters just fall to the wayside. We have the evil queen, the rival or evil stepsister, and the devious princess.
2. It also wouldn't be a YA fantasy novel without the eradication of magic through some convoluted events that happened in the past. So yea, another played out story plot, thanks Miller.
3. Fallen Flame devoted too much time detailing the politics of the kingdom it featured. Miller spent an unfortunate amount of time boring us with the menial work Vala does as a guard, and the day to day politics of this supposed marriage alliance. Basically it boiled down to a lot of "they want our crops" this and "they want our soil" that and "They'll take over our kingdom" ... blah blah blah.
4. Fortunately, the writing was good. It read really well and flowed quite nicely.
5. But there were way too many info dumps. The characters who, mind you, were already boring me out of my mind, would then proceed to go on these page long speeches about the kingdoms history.
6. Perhaps the most infuriating aspect of the book is the complete lack of urgency, of tension and of a goal to be honest. Until I stopped reading the plot consisted of simply trying to find out who Xavyn was and what he wanted.
And that wasn't interesting enough. And then Vala befriended him , so that plot line was toast.
The only reason to continue reading was the hope that Xavyn knew what she was and where she came from.
But then he revealed his power: mimicry, which meant that he had no idea what she was because he was just copying the power she had!
Mind you, this is all done in the calmest writing possible.
There was no need for me to continue reading ... and so I didn't. I had no intense desire to find out what would happen next. I didn't care for the characters, and I couldn't connect with them. The world didn't draw me in, and I couldn't loose myself while reading this book. It's safe to say that Fallen Flame is not a page turner.
It is incredibly boring.
Like really.
Let's get started.
1. The characters were horribly bland. 2 dimensional at best.
- Miller somehow has successfully written the most boring Prince in all of YA fantasy history.
He does absolutely nothing.
There's nothing attractive about him, nothing swoon worthy, nothing distinct about him at all.
He's just a Prince, thats it. Vala talks about how gentle and kind he is but... bish where? We don't get much from him that makes a lasting impression. The only thing I remember about him is how he let Vala be whipped after she saved him. And that's not gentle or kind..
- For a person whose skin can burn you with a single touch, Vala is pretty tame. The most interesting part of her obviously, is her skin condition. And because this is a YA novel she's obviously in love with the Prince. BORING!
-Xavyn, How the hell do you pronounce this? Why do authors think its cool to create names that can't be read? How did she even come up with this? To be fair he is the most interesting character in this book. But that isn't saying much, is it?
-All other characters just fall to the wayside. We have the evil queen, the rival or evil stepsister, and the devious princess.
2. It also wouldn't be a YA fantasy novel without the eradication of magic through some convoluted events that happened in the past. So yea, another played out story plot, thanks Miller.
3. Fallen Flame devoted too much time detailing the politics of the kingdom it featured. Miller spent an unfortunate amount of time boring us with the menial work Vala does as a guard, and the day to day politics of this supposed marriage alliance. Basically it boiled down to a lot of "they want our crops" this and "they want our soil" that and "They'll take over our kingdom" ... blah blah blah.
4. Fortunately, the writing was good. It read really well and flowed quite nicely.
5. But there were way too many info dumps. The characters who, mind you, were already boring me out of my mind, would then proceed to go on these page long speeches about the kingdoms history.
6. Perhaps the most infuriating aspect of the book is the complete lack of urgency, of tension and of a goal to be honest. Until I stopped reading the plot consisted of simply trying to find out who Xavyn was and what he wanted.
And that wasn't interesting enough. And then Vala befriended him , so that plot line was toast.
The only reason to continue reading was the hope that Xavyn knew what she was and where she came from.
But then he revealed his power: mimicry, which meant that he had no idea what she was because he was just copying the power she had!
Mind you, this is all done in the calmest writing possible.
There was no need for me to continue reading ... and so I didn't. I had no intense desire to find out what would happen next. I didn't care for the characters, and I couldn't connect with them. The world didn't draw me in, and I couldn't loose myself while reading this book. It's safe to say that Fallen Flame is not a page turner.
January 8, 2018
Read original review at Lost in a Book Blog
Well, at first I was truly interested in the book. When I read the blurb it got my attention and I thought it would be something I would enjoy. And I did, but man, it took SO LONG for me to start enjoying it.
The story itself is too slow. The first 60% of the book could've been told in less pages, saving us a lot of time. It felt like it dragged too much on the same things, the same details, without revealing anything at all. So I was as blind and unknowing at 50% as I was when I started the book. So that made the whole experience kind of boring. I mean, I still wanted to know what the hell was happening, but I still got bored at times. Around 65 or 70%, the plot started to pick up a bit, making it a lot more interesting.
So, let me tell you a bit about the story. Vala is this young girl who's grown along their prince, they're friends and sometimes it feels like they're more or that they could be more, but the thing is, Vala isn't like everyone else. She has charred skin and can burn other with barely touching. She's feared by mostly everyone, making her the perfect guard for her beloved prince. So at a young age, she swore to protect him at all costs, even if that means her life.
At first I liked her, she was a misunderstood girl, who had a crush on her friend who happened to be the prince. As the book went on, her story started to became a little boring, because it kept being told and retold in the same way, no new additions or anything that would give us something, so it started to feel repetitive and made me lose my interest more often than not.
Then we had the prince, who started off as someone I would like, but then became such a fucking prick. I can't even bother to talk about him.
Then we have the weird stranger who may or may not know something about Vala and what she is. He's mysterious and entertaining. He seems to know a lot, but like everything else, it takes too long to know or understand what he actually knows.
Towards the end of the story, the pace picked up and so did the characters. Some of them started to show their true colors, including Vala's and her personality got stronger and deeper than it was at first which I enjoyed. I think that, yes, the pace was slow and I don't have anything against that. My main problem was that even though some things were truly interesting and honestly got my attention, some other bothered me way too much. Like, the lack of information. Nothing was said until almost the very end, there were almost no clues as I was reading, so when everything was said and done at the end, it felt a bit rushed and weird.
I wished I'd liked this one a lot more than I did.
Well, at first I was truly interested in the book. When I read the blurb it got my attention and I thought it would be something I would enjoy. And I did, but man, it took SO LONG for me to start enjoying it.
The story itself is too slow. The first 60% of the book could've been told in less pages, saving us a lot of time. It felt like it dragged too much on the same things, the same details, without revealing anything at all. So I was as blind and unknowing at 50% as I was when I started the book. So that made the whole experience kind of boring. I mean, I still wanted to know what the hell was happening, but I still got bored at times. Around 65 or 70%, the plot started to pick up a bit, making it a lot more interesting.
So, let me tell you a bit about the story. Vala is this young girl who's grown along their prince, they're friends and sometimes it feels like they're more or that they could be more, but the thing is, Vala isn't like everyone else. She has charred skin and can burn other with barely touching. She's feared by mostly everyone, making her the perfect guard for her beloved prince. So at a young age, she swore to protect him at all costs, even if that means her life.
At first I liked her, she was a misunderstood girl, who had a crush on her friend who happened to be the prince. As the book went on, her story started to became a little boring, because it kept being told and retold in the same way, no new additions or anything that would give us something, so it started to feel repetitive and made me lose my interest more often than not.
Then we had the prince, who started off as someone I would like, but then became such a fucking prick. I can't even bother to talk about him.
Then we have the weird stranger who may or may not know something about Vala and what she is. He's mysterious and entertaining. He seems to know a lot, but like everything else, it takes too long to know or understand what he actually knows.
Towards the end of the story, the pace picked up and so did the characters. Some of them started to show their true colors, including Vala's and her personality got stronger and deeper than it was at first which I enjoyed. I think that, yes, the pace was slow and I don't have anything against that. My main problem was that even though some things were truly interesting and honestly got my attention, some other bothered me way too much. Like, the lack of information. Nothing was said until almost the very end, there were almost no clues as I was reading, so when everything was said and done at the end, it felt a bit rushed and weird.
I wished I'd liked this one a lot more than I did.
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