Kidnapped, imprisoned, and alone. But she isn’t dead yet.
Talise’s secret is out. Much to her surprise, Kessoku hasn’t killed her. But they aren’t about to let her go either.
Her latest escape attempt ends when she nearly launches herself down a chimney that leads to an incinerator. Her captors laugh at her antics and call her names.
She lets them.
She plays along, acting as scared and as helpless as they want her to be. Time in her cell is spent whimpering, groaning, and jumping at the slightest noise.
Little do they know, she is taking note of their routines. Watching for inconsistencies. And waiting. If they believe her to be weak, they’ll never expect another escape attempt. She is determined that the next one will be successful.
After twelve years, she’s not about to give up now.
Kay L. Moody is the YA fantasy author of COURT OF BITTER THORN and THE ELEMENTS OF THE CROWN. Her books feature rich world building, slow burn romance, mythical creatures, and twisty plots.
As a lover of strong female characters, books, and the color pink, she enjoys diving into magical worlds where characters can overcome even their darkest struggles. She lives in the western United States with her husband and four sons. Connect with Kay directly when you follow her on social media @kaylmoody
Received as an ARC, this is an honest review. Talise has been captured by the Kessoku, holding her in a dank dungeon at a base of theirs. While waiting for them to determine her fate, Talise takes every opportunity to learn how to escape by using her shaping. When she finally meets the importance person to whom wanted to speak to her has a very personal connection to Aaden. He wants knowledge of an amulet and grave of immense importance to Kamdaria. After a successful, daring escape, Talise relays what she knows to Aaden and those she trusts; together a plan is hatched to bring an intensive attack against the Kessoku that could go wrong if they are discovered. For both Aaden and Talise, embracing their pasts are key for what comes next to be successful. This series just keeps being cleverly inventive.
I seriously loved this episode so much! Talise is a kick butt female and I adore her and her strength. I have been reading and reviewing the ARC’s for this series and I’m so honored! They are brilliant!
Stop leaving me with all these cliffhangers ... my heart can't take it. Finally a book in the series where Talise doesn't make me shake my head at her decision-making. And Aaden, my hero Aaden, what will happen?? I want to know!!!
Thank you for only sprinkling romance here and there in the books! The relationships blossoming in this series are more realistic than those we usually read about in YA fantasy novels. Real life doesn't go like this: girl meets boy, they fall in love like crazy, bad things happen, boy saves girl, and they ride into the sunset and live happily ever after.
Book Title: Flame Crown (The Elements of Kamdaria Book 4)
Author: Kay L Moody
My rating 1-5
Edit quality:5 World Building:4 Characters : Main character 5 ; Supporting Characters 4
My attempt at a summary:
This is the fourth book in the series and it starts where the third book ended. This setting was a lot more painful to read, trying not to spoil it for future readers.
Here you meet another character that was mentioned a few times in the past books and it's very compelling. This character changes a lot of the dynamic between Talise and Aaden, I guess him being an antagonist is still up in the air? We will just have to keep reading to find out.
Her skills with the elements are fun to read, and the battles between the rebel faction Kessoku. We arent finished with them by a long shot so it will be interesting to see what's in store in the future.
There are experiences that change someone, gives them wisdom. Some of those experiences are painful and things you dont wish on anyone. That is what our main character goes through in this book.
(Spoilers and Suggestions)
After spending so much time apart, Talise and Aaden finally reunite and not 2 min later he leaves her and It just tore my heart to pieces. Seriously this girl needs some chocolate and spa day. She never seems to catch any happiness. I still want to keep reading, she has to win one eventually? Right? I just hope that when it's her turn the reward for her character going through the ringer is balanced and isnt given a paragraph or two for a happy ending. I have read published authors that do that and it seriously gets me annoyed and dissatisfied.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is the finale of a story arc, so please read books 1-3 first. In Flame Crown, Talise has been captured by the enemy, and she is such a wonder woman that she is contemplating escaping again. It pulls me right into the story! Talise demonstrates her mastery of strategy as she uses the gleaned information to plan a real escape, but it leaves me wondering.
How can she learn to get to know the soldiers, but she never really tries to talk to the enemy soldiers, one of whom always taps his foot before the change of the guard. What that tells me is the job is boring and he wants to go home. Been there.
Still, Talise times her escape with some commotion in the third week of captivity, for what is a little filth and tiny cell compared to life in the Storm?, and discovers that her friends have found her and are trying to rescue her. This is so cool.
Talise does not figure out who the traitor in the palace is (I have a suspicion) but she does find fault with Aaden. I don’t see why. You should read it and make your own decision, but true love seems obvious.
The climax pumped up my heart, but it also helped Talise discover who she really is, and what she really wants to do with her life. She has the skills, chops, and knowledge to become the savior of society I always wanted to be. Swoon.
The fourth novella of the Elements of Kamdaria series picks up with Talise having been kidnapped by the Kessoku and wondering why they're keeping her alive when they've killed every other prisoner that's come through. When it feels like enough time has passed that she likely isn't going to get a rescue, she must come up with a plan to save herself.
I was really hoping that this, as the finale of the volume, would have some sort of conclusion to it, however its ending continued the episodic feel where you must read the next part in order to see where the story goes. I think, with tweaks, these four installments could have been made into one complete book that, while still perhaps leaving on a cliffhanger for some threads, could've at least felt like it concluded somehow. While the action was admittedly well-written and enough to keep interest throughout, as a whole, these novellas follow the same peak-and-valley each time simply to propel forward. Those who enjoy small bites of stories at a time will likely enjoy this, as the stories all do link, but I got tired of it by the end of this volume and likely won't continue on.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Things are a little slow in this one as not much happens. There really isn't a lot of information that gets revealed. To me, it's not shocking that Lucien helped the traitors and did everything on purpose. It just hurts because Aaden deserves better. And I also hate how his grandfather treats him. Aadan is not his father. I don't want him to betray Talise. I hope that he truly loves her and is loyal. That everything works out for them. Talise so strong and amazing! She survived and suffered so much. She deserves to be happy
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I struggled a bit with Talise’s character in the beginning, especially at the end of the first book. That said, I appreciated her character development throughout the series. I enjoyed the relationship between Talise and Wendy and also between Talise and Tempest. Some parts of the plot were predictable, but they were executed well and were still enjoyable to read about.
I'll admit I didn't like the first few books that much, and they have the issues all novellas have, but how that we've finished the first quartet, I'm really drawn into the story and invested in the characters. Don't view it as 4 novellas - look at it as 1 novel split into 4. It's really good!
This book felt faster paced, more action. Another cliffhanger (my heart is getting used to it now). Talise and her indecisiveness can be a little annoying, but it's better explained here why she feels that way. I hope to continue to see her grow more and become a better and stronger character. Now I'm off to sate my eager heart that doesn't like to be left hanging!
I was given a copy of this book in an exchange of an honest review•all thoughts and opinions are mine though ◻ It was really nice as are the rest of the books . I highly recommend them 😁 Nice covers 😄 Better though to get the Elements of the crown that has all of them 😁
I love this series, its great to read, the way it leaves you on cliff hangers is really hard cause you want more. I am glad to have been able to read this series so far, the author is doing a great job on them.
This story is getting better and better with each book!! I love Kamdaria, the shapers, the storm, all of it! Talise is such a great mc and I love the evolution of her and Aadens friendship. So so good! There are twists and turns in the plot that keep the story interesting and the pace of great. I’m so glad the next book is already out.
The book starts out with Talise a prisoner and what she does to survive. A few secrets are revealed and others are introduced. Just a great addition to the series that has me hooked. I thought this one was just as good as the others and keeps me addicted to the series. Plus the ending sets up what will come next.
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
Before I dive into the review, it’s important to note that this is part of a novella series, where all the installments are shorter than the standard novel. Despite this, the story contains so much action, suspense and excitement – as much as a full-length novel would.
Here’s what you can expect while reading Dust Crown:
• Talise’s secret is out and she has been kidnapped and imprisoned. But since when has the confines of a prison cell stopped her? Expect to see an escape attempt or two. • This book mostly focuses on Talise as she is the one imprisoned in solidarity. However, we are greeted with a new cast of characters; namely, the guards, and a certain individual who’s been mentioned but never appeared makes an appearance. • There is no language or adult content. • I just love the writing style! It is a compelling read, once you start, you won’t be able to put it down, and before you know it, you would have finished it!
Overall, just as exciting and great as the first, it’s really amazing how the author has managed to capture so much and present it in such a short book while still retaining its value and importance. I can’t wait to see how the series continues!
After being captured by the Kessoku, Talise finds myriads of ways to fight the guards and attempt escapes or fake escape attempts. At the same time, she questions who has betrayed her and how have the Kessoku discovered her identity? But when she finally meets their general, she realizes she has been mistaken about a great many things. Are the Kessoku on the right side? And even they are, can their methods be the only option for Kamdaria? As Aaden's past is increasingly intertwined with the present, who will hold his allegiance?
Both Talise and Aaden are faced with questions of trust and loyalty. Talise wonders if her loyalty is to her family, to her soldiers, to the emperor, or to the people of Kamdaria. Even the Storm is presented in a new light. Aiden's past is also increasingly intertwined with the present. Do his loyalties lie with his grandfather or the emperor or Talise or someone else entirely?
These and many other new questions leave readers in eager anticipation of the next installation of this saga.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
Kidnapped, imprisoned, and alone. But she isn’t dead yet. Talise’s secret is out. Much to her surprise, Kessoku hasn’t killed her. But they aren’t about to let her go either. Her latest escape attempt ends when she nearly launches herself down a chimney that leads to an incinerator. Her captors laugh at her antics and call her names. She lets them. She plays along, acting as scared and as helpless as they want her to be. Time in her cell is spent whimpering, groaning, and jumping at the slightest noise. Little do they know, she is taking note of their routines. Watching for inconsistencies. And waiting. If they believe her to be weak, they’ll never expect another escape attempt. She is determined that the next one will be successful. After twelve years, she’s not about to give up now.
What a great addition to this series. The twists and turns just keep coming. Wonderful well written plot and story line. Very gripping and engaging. Loving the characters and what the author is doing with them throughout the story. Can't wait for the next installment!!!
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Kay L. Moody’s Flame Crown is a mind-blowing addition to The Elements of Kamdaria series. Flame Crown starts off with Talise being imprisoned after she was captured at the end of book three, Dust Crown. The story continues to have unexpected outcomes and thrilling events that take place.
Flame Crown is skillfully written and fast paced. New conspiracies are unraveled. Our heroes are further challenged. My heart went out to Talise and everything she endured. However, the story wasn‘t all gloom and doom. The characters did get some good news.
I love this series. I think it would make an excellent movie or television series. I do suggest reading the books in order. I recommend this novel to people who enjoy fantasies. The series is suitable for young adults. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Two weeks have passed as we open this book and Talise has been held prisoner, kept alive for one person in particular. Her identity has been found out and she finds herself in dangerous hands. The whole time she is held, turns into three weeks, she cowers and plays the scared, pitiful prisoner all the while she’s plotting her escape and learning what she can to defeat her enemy.
Talise is definitely a female MC to be proud of-she’s kicking butt and not backing down but still remembers who she truly is. The supporting characters are definitely becoming their own person as well and they all seem to be taking their place in the story. It’s easy to cheer them on and feel for them at their low points. I look forward to what happens next. These books are getting better with each instalment!
In this fourth installment of the series, which starts out with Talise imprisoned and many people knowing her secret, events take quite a different turn than what we might have been led to expect up until now. This whole book leads down pathways that are unexpected and take you places you never expected to go through to the very end of the book - quite a departure from the previous books direction. I was so engrossed and rooting for my favorite characters in the various situations that it ended far too soon and not necessarily how I wanted it to! But, thankfully, there's another book in the offing to hopefully resolve MY issues, lol, and we'll see how this all plays out! I was given an ARC and this is my honest review.
I'm loving this series so far, but I have the same beef with this book that I had with book 2: there's just no ending!
There's an AMAZING beginning, the middle is also pretty great, and then... it ends. I just don't like where the story stops, even if these are novellas, the story needs closure.
Other than this, I can say that this book and the previous one were my favorite ones in the series so far, so despite my ranting about the endings, I feel that the story (and the writing) is getting better and better as the series progresses.
ARC received from author. This episode of the series is full of action but with a lot of feelings too. Its keeping you glued to the book the entire time. We get to see a Talise very determined to fight for her friends and for her people. She has a path to travel in order to reach maturity and from what we see in this episode she is on the right way. Only this road is not an easy one and she will have to go over different obstacles. She will have to deal with pain, both physically and emotionally. But I have all confidence that she will overcome all and in the end we will get to see a strong master shaper and princess. Can't wait to read the next book 🙂
I'm loving this story. I can't say this enough. You have no idea what you have been missing if you haven't started it. In this chapter there is a major surprise and we continue to oscillate between what is real and what is deception. We can't figure out who is being working undercover and were the good guys are. We follow her dilema in the story too, about what should be her real role. I have no idea how the plot is being intensifying for so long, but at the end of this book it will get even thicker. Kay is really writing a master piece. I do hope this reaches the big/small screen at the end. It will be only fitting for such a great story.
I adore these books. They're just too short!! That is, of course, my ONLY complaint. I adore the main characters, the newfound depth in the bad guys, and how everything is just plain ramping up in Flame Crown. I am, as always, anxious for the next book. I read this one in 1-2 hours when I should have been sleeping because I just cannot stay away! I'm happy to hear there will be 12 books in the series, because these are just too short. I'm in no way finished with Talise and Kamdaria!!
Just one thing... brace yourself for the ending. Gosh, I hope that gets resolved how I want it to...
Flame Crown, the fourth book in the Elements of Kamdaria Series, is as thrilling as the first three. I can recommend to continue this series to everyone who started it. It's definitely worth it! In this one Talise gets kidnapped by Kessoku and uses every chance to try to escape. During her time in the dungeons she learns a lot of new secrets about this terror group.
I'm really excited to read the next book in the series to find out if Talise is able to stop Kessoku and how things are going to be between her an Aaden.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I couldn't put this book down! I finished it in less than 1 day. Wow. The story line keeps getting better. The new twist in the story line made me step back and ask why.... Talise is really becoming her own person. Ms. Moody does a great job showing the inner struggle that Talise is facing as she attempts to determine exactly who she is meant to be. I can't wait for book 5! I have to know what happens next.
I love how creative this world and the magic in it is. The author has done a great job. She keeps you on your toes! I read this in one sitting. It's short, but still! So good. I couldn't put it down, but also didn't want to finish it because then it'd be over and the next episode River Gate isn't out yet! The struggle with unfinished series...so I will have to somehow be patient till its release.
This is the 4th installment of this series and to say I'm hooked it's an understatement. This was a roller coaster of emotions. We finally have our Princess amd her Knight together and then everything is upside down. Heartbreak, new alliances, new enemies, mysteries uncovered. Wow this was nonstop!!! Read it all in one night!
A wonderful read. Its fast paced and action packed and grabs you right from the beginning to the end. It had me on the edge of my seat. This is an epic story that I definitely recommend. Shauna Joesten