What do you think?
Rate this book
Eternal Flame #1
Just Like Fire
A powerful curse is cast upon Edinretha by the last words of a dying witch: From this day on, no female will be born in Edinretha. The ones alive shall die and you will have no Paragon blood to shed at the door of Abyss. Your kind will never get the Crown of Fire and will never have dominion on the lands above and beyond.
Now, after more than a century, Eva an ordinary girl from Nomadic Hyur Tribe of the Kingdom Denali is abducted and forced to compete to become the mate of King Tau, the present ruler of Edinretha and give birth to a Paragon, a girl child that possess magical abilities.
What she doesn’t know, is the game of power being played to secure the Crown of Fire that belongs to Whiro, the Dark Lord of the Abyss. Centuries ago Whiro was cast back into the Abyss after his reign of terror was ended by the last three Great Ones and mankind, being led by the great king Rohaan of Edinretha. The gates of the Abyss were sealed with the blood of the first Paragon, and now can only be opened by shedding the blood of a Paragon, again.
In this game of power, Eva and Tau fall deeply in love with each other, but fate has other plans when Eva discovers dark secrets about her past and origin.
Now, after more than a century, Eva an ordinary girl from Nomadic Hyur Tribe of the Kingdom Denali is abducted and forced to compete to become the mate of King Tau, the present ruler of Edinretha and give birth to a Paragon, a girl child that possess magical abilities.
What she doesn’t know, is the game of power being played to secure the Crown of Fire that belongs to Whiro, the Dark Lord of the Abyss. Centuries ago Whiro was cast back into the Abyss after his reign of terror was ended by the last three Great Ones and mankind, being led by the great king Rohaan of Edinretha. The gates of the Abyss were sealed with the blood of the first Paragon, and now can only be opened by shedding the blood of a Paragon, again.
In this game of power, Eva and Tau fall deeply in love with each other, but fate has other plans when Eva discovers dark secrets about her past and origin.
- GenresFantasy
Paperback
First published June 15, 2020
4 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
August 3, 2020
Just Like Fire by Sanam Asif is a fantasy with an interesting plot that flows with quick battles, celebrations and the desire to acquire Whiro’s Crown of Fire. Eva and Vandalia are being trained to compete for the position of a queen but conspiracies within King Tau’s palace unravel and Eva finds herself mired in them. The strength and determination of Eva, her intrepid and outspoken nature earns the wrath of elders but she is too bold to be cowed down and speaks out her mind freely without thinking about the consequences. Even Tau is dumbstruck at the audacity of this girl who had been brought in as booty till a pendant changes her destiny.
No clear timeline has been mentioned though the description refers to archaic laws, mistreatment of women by the Emperor and his warriors; “The Great Ones” who perished and kingdoms of demons and men fought fierce battles, abducted tribal women but the palace had marble floors and glass doors – quite confusing! The characters have been crafted with panache; Sanam has given a terrific voice to Eva’s misery, heartbreaking ache, rejection and frustration with the right emotion. Her love and hatred coruscates throughout the book. Is another character that would win your heart.
I liked this book but it uses too many clichés. It has glaring grammatical errors and typos. It needs a perceptive editor.
No clear timeline has been mentioned though the description refers to archaic laws, mistreatment of women by the Emperor and his warriors; “The Great Ones” who perished and kingdoms of demons and men fought fierce battles, abducted tribal women but the palace had marble floors and glass doors – quite confusing! The characters have been crafted with panache; Sanam has given a terrific voice to Eva’s misery, heartbreaking ache, rejection and frustration with the right emotion. Her love and hatred coruscates throughout the book. Is another character that would win your heart.
I liked this book but it uses too many clichés. It has glaring grammatical errors and typos. It needs a perceptive editor.
July 16, 2020
Absorbing fantasy that is well constructed. The unique style is intriguing. The ultimate in escapism.
August 2, 2020
3,5 stars
Mostly sweet and romantic fantasy novel
Short and easy to read.
In the beginning, we can see an interesting setup. We learn about the three Great Ones. They were the ones that could put a leash on Whiro, the darkest creature that ever existed. Kingdoms all over Manavia Prime bowed to him in fear and he became the Emperor of the planet.
The story moves then 60 years later after the last attempt of men to find a Paragon that was the one that could help open the gate to the Abyss. A Paragon would be born only by a worthy woman at a certain time of the year, on a bloody moon. There was a curse too, something that couldn’t be broken for a century. I’ll not reveal more about the fantasy part, which got me a bit confused by the way😊, not to spoil the pleasure of discovering on your own.
And here comes Eva. She was kidnaped to be offered as one of the competitors to run for the queen position for the King Tau of Endiretha. Despite her fragile position, she didn’t hide her sharp tongue, never afraid to speak her thoughts even in front of the King or the Elders. She was weak at times but often. I couldn’t exactly grasp her exact persona. Kafele is the character that I liked the most, even though he also seemed different at times.
The main thing about this novel that grasped my attention was the love story. Although predictable for some readers may not be so for many others. I enjoyed the twists and turns that came unexpectedly.
Is Eva going to be the queen? Will she fall in love with Tau? Will a Paragon be born? I let you discover on your own and I look forward to the sequel, which I believe is to follow.
Mostly sweet and romantic fantasy novel
Short and easy to read.
In the beginning, we can see an interesting setup. We learn about the three Great Ones. They were the ones that could put a leash on Whiro, the darkest creature that ever existed. Kingdoms all over Manavia Prime bowed to him in fear and he became the Emperor of the planet.
The story moves then 60 years later after the last attempt of men to find a Paragon that was the one that could help open the gate to the Abyss. A Paragon would be born only by a worthy woman at a certain time of the year, on a bloody moon. There was a curse too, something that couldn’t be broken for a century. I’ll not reveal more about the fantasy part, which got me a bit confused by the way😊, not to spoil the pleasure of discovering on your own.
And here comes Eva. She was kidnaped to be offered as one of the competitors to run for the queen position for the King Tau of Endiretha. Despite her fragile position, she didn’t hide her sharp tongue, never afraid to speak her thoughts even in front of the King or the Elders. She was weak at times but often. I couldn’t exactly grasp her exact persona. Kafele is the character that I liked the most, even though he also seemed different at times.
The main thing about this novel that grasped my attention was the love story. Although predictable for some readers may not be so for many others. I enjoyed the twists and turns that came unexpectedly.
Is Eva going to be the queen? Will she fall in love with Tau? Will a Paragon be born? I let you discover on your own and I look forward to the sequel, which I believe is to follow.
September 5, 2021
Actual Rating 3.5
It is the first time, I read a fantasy that too in English from a Pakistani author.
Eva, a tribal woman, was abducted from her home in Denali and brought to the capital Endiretha. Endiretha is under a curse, Not even a single girl has been born in the last 100 years. They bring women from other parts to overcome this gender imbalance. Eva was also part of this whole woman trafficking's but she is here to compete with Vandalia to become Queen of King Tau. The difference is that Vandalia is there of her own will. Only the worthy queen can break the curse and fulfil the prophecy. Eva is everything that a Queen should not be. King and council of Elders have to decide which one will be Queen. King Tau is head to heels in love with Eva and that is the only thing that favour's Eva.
This book was quick and easy to read, Nothing was dragged. The story highlighted friendship, respect in relations, feminism and self-growth. The story was told from 3rd POV but it still managed to distinguish voices of different characters. The storytelling style was also different but intriguing at the same time. Many things were predictable but it didn't spoil the pleasure of reading it. Though this book had a lot of PG 18+ scenes which could easily have been cut short. This book was interesting and made me read it in 2 sittings.
It is the first time, I read a fantasy that too in English from a Pakistani author.
Eva, a tribal woman, was abducted from her home in Denali and brought to the capital Endiretha. Endiretha is under a curse, Not even a single girl has been born in the last 100 years. They bring women from other parts to overcome this gender imbalance. Eva was also part of this whole woman trafficking's but she is here to compete with Vandalia to become Queen of King Tau. The difference is that Vandalia is there of her own will. Only the worthy queen can break the curse and fulfil the prophecy. Eva is everything that a Queen should not be. King and council of Elders have to decide which one will be Queen. King Tau is head to heels in love with Eva and that is the only thing that favour's Eva.
This book was quick and easy to read, Nothing was dragged. The story highlighted friendship, respect in relations, feminism and self-growth. The story was told from 3rd POV but it still managed to distinguish voices of different characters. The storytelling style was also different but intriguing at the same time. Many things were predictable but it didn't spoil the pleasure of reading it. Though this book had a lot of PG 18+ scenes which could easily have been cut short. This book was interesting and made me read it in 2 sittings.
November 15, 2020
It is my book so I am gonna give it 5 stars.
I loved writing it. It was my escape during Covid.
I loved writing it. It was my escape during Covid.
February 18, 2021
This is a very traditional “high fantasy,” complete with a prologue that sets up the story, a magical object that is crucial to the success or failure of the protagonist, a curse, and a Chosen One. It also contains a romance. Devotees of the subgenre may find this to be a satisfying read, although another editing pass would greatly benefit it.
When the story begins, Eva is running for her life, threatened by both wild animals and another woman determined to win a physical combat. But it’s all staged, a contest to determine if she’s a worthy competitor to become the mate of King Tau.
Training is brutal, and the consequences for failure severe, but despite all this, Eva discovers an attraction for the king. She becomes determined to win against her rival, Vandalia, but that doesn’t stop her from speaking out when kidnapped women are brought into the throne room and distributed to Tau’s soldiers as payment.
Her circumstances are overwhelming, but along the way she receives some excellent advice: be a survivor, not a victim.
Even though King Tau best understands force, their romance grows. Eva has no chance of escaping him, but whether or not Tau can gain her heart depends on if he can learn to restrain his strong passions.
Will the two of them learn to overcome the circumstances that threaten to tear them apart? Will Eva survive to become queen? Will a Paragon be born who can save the kingdom? To find out the answers to these questions, you’ll have to read the book.
Trigger warning: abduction and rape.
When the story begins, Eva is running for her life, threatened by both wild animals and another woman determined to win a physical combat. But it’s all staged, a contest to determine if she’s a worthy competitor to become the mate of King Tau.
Training is brutal, and the consequences for failure severe, but despite all this, Eva discovers an attraction for the king. She becomes determined to win against her rival, Vandalia, but that doesn’t stop her from speaking out when kidnapped women are brought into the throne room and distributed to Tau’s soldiers as payment.
Her circumstances are overwhelming, but along the way she receives some excellent advice: be a survivor, not a victim.
Even though King Tau best understands force, their romance grows. Eva has no chance of escaping him, but whether or not Tau can gain her heart depends on if he can learn to restrain his strong passions.
Will the two of them learn to overcome the circumstances that threaten to tear them apart? Will Eva survive to become queen? Will a Paragon be born who can save the kingdom? To find out the answers to these questions, you’ll have to read the book.
Trigger warning: abduction and rape.
June 18, 2020
Can I say this is the best book ever? I started reading it and finished it within a day. Totally blown by the way the author has constructed the alternate reality and a world you cannot believe isn't real. If it were possible, I would wish to go to Minerva and meet King Tau.
Sanam, you've outdone yourself and I can't wait to read more in the series.
Sanam, you've outdone yourself and I can't wait to read more in the series.
July 22, 2020
A promising plot with good twists and turns. I would like to see more character development and world-building in the next two books.
September 5, 2021
I think we owe some bizarre and bittersweet thanks to COVID-19, in such that we were able to experience a very creative and free-self-expression type of boom in our world. Because self-publishing has become so universal, and easy, people all over the globe who want to write can now write. And often, that is a beautiful thing. There are many talented people out there.
Just Like Fire is one of the "COVID books", I think, and it's a solid story.
**I won't go into detail of all of the editing needs and clunky passages because from what I understand, the author is not a native American speaking woman, and therefore, some of that has to slide due to the difference in writing styles and language barriers.** Just my opinion, but the review should be about the story, not the style.
I was taken a little by surprise to find out, later in the book, exactly why it was considered a fantasy novel, because at first, that part escaped me. There are magical aspects and layers of a fantasy story that come together as the plot goes on, and though I think those pieces of the story could come in earlier, it's done so to wrap up nicely at the end and leave room for the rest of the books to come into play after this one.
I wonder what will happen in the next books...
Overall, a very fun read. Just the right length, can be read quickly or slowly.
Just Like Fire is one of the "COVID books", I think, and it's a solid story.
**I won't go into detail of all of the editing needs and clunky passages because from what I understand, the author is not a native American speaking woman, and therefore, some of that has to slide due to the difference in writing styles and language barriers.** Just my opinion, but the review should be about the story, not the style.
I was taken a little by surprise to find out, later in the book, exactly why it was considered a fantasy novel, because at first, that part escaped me. There are magical aspects and layers of a fantasy story that come together as the plot goes on, and though I think those pieces of the story could come in earlier, it's done so to wrap up nicely at the end and leave room for the rest of the books to come into play after this one.
I wonder what will happen in the next books...
Overall, a very fun read. Just the right length, can be read quickly or slowly.
February 17, 2021
This was a tough one to rate, I'd like to give 3.5 stars for the reasons below but my personal policy is when I'm stuck between stars to always round up.
First the love- I loved the entire concept of the Paragon. The idea of a world awaiting the birth of a promised one who will somehow free and empower them is hardly new (I mean, whole religions are based on that concept ;-) ) but most often the promised one is a boy. That this world awaits a fabled girl was a nice twist on the concept.
Books usually divide into thirds for me organically, and in this case I enjoyed the pacing and storyline of first and last third. I had a tougher time getting through the "messy middle". This may be more of a reflection on the reader, than the writer.
I appreciated Eva's strength, and I enjoyed the love story that was couched within this fantasy.
Grammar was problematic at times, this is something a good editor could fix though and it wasn't so distracting it ruined the overall story.
All in all, the story was engaging and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
First the love- I loved the entire concept of the Paragon. The idea of a world awaiting the birth of a promised one who will somehow free and empower them is hardly new (I mean, whole religions are based on that concept ;-) ) but most often the promised one is a boy. That this world awaits a fabled girl was a nice twist on the concept.
Books usually divide into thirds for me organically, and in this case I enjoyed the pacing and storyline of first and last third. I had a tougher time getting through the "messy middle". This may be more of a reflection on the reader, than the writer.
I appreciated Eva's strength, and I enjoyed the love story that was couched within this fantasy.
Grammar was problematic at times, this is something a good editor could fix though and it wasn't so distracting it ruined the overall story.
All in all, the story was engaging and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in book 2.
October 22, 2020
A stone thrown in water can cause a ripple effect, one after another until it calms down. Same goes with life, all events are connected with each other, somehow. It happened to Eva, the main character of our novel "Just like fire" (book 1). The first fiction writer of Pakistan. I love fiction, fantasies, fables and magical world's with a twisted plot but a linked story. Sanam has proved that a writer can come from anywhere. "Writing" it's a game of words. I greatly admire your work.
🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫
*Spoiler Alert*
🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫
The story is simple and I was able to read it in single sitting and it took me four hours to finish it up. The plot is easy. Book is paperback and pages of good quality.
The story starts with The Three Great Ones who could stop the evil power Whiro but due to his magnificent dark powers Kingdoms of Manavia prime bowed down to him, accepting him as the emperor. After years passed we see that there was a prophecy that only a paragon can open the gate of Abyss but a paragon can only be born at the night of blood moon. Edinretha grounds were under the curse that none was able to break, the curse, that a girl could never be born.
" And mark my words Sephora! For when she shall come, she will wreak havoc"
A girl, named, Eva got kidnapped from Denali, a place where women were treated as slaves, and was taken to Edinretha where she was hunted down but because of a pendant, she got spared. A pendant that was given to her as a reward of saving a life of a man. Eva was kidnapped so that she could compete with other woman for the spot of Queen, for King Tau of Edinretha.
Eva was bold, blunt and straight forward. She was a warrior at times and at certain times, a broken heart who needs care. She stood for the rights of women in front of King and the Great Elders.
Eva fell for Tau, the king and he for her but leaving One, all the elders were against her. One elder wounded Eva so that she won't be able to compete by bringing her such harm that she never could become a mother. Eva got claimed by the king's half brother, Kafele. Vandelia, the other competitor,became the Queen.
Kafele was the one whose life was once saved by Eva so he saved her from getting hunted by other men of Edinretha. Kafele, pampers Eva and deals her with patience and with time she accepts him.
One day, when Eva was out exploring Edinretha, the son of one of the Elders attacked Eva but got burnt by her dark flames. This is when Kafele knew about her hidden powers.
When Kafele left for war against the enemies, the dark ones attacks Edinretha. Meanwhile a girl is born to one of Eva's friend in bloody moon night who is kidnapped by Vandelia. Eva gets her baby Jasmine back but a huge fight was seen by the people of Edinretha between Mora, the dark witch (who made me imagine Bellatrix somehow) and Eva. Tau, the King wants to be the only power on the whole empire.
Would Eva be able to stop Tau? Would he become the emperor? Would Rehzar the evil emperor become stronger and rule the whole empire? Would Kafele bring a twist?
There are sssssssoooo many questions in my mind right now, I want to write here but you should read it to get the answers.
I remembered these lines when love story between Kafele and Eva started sparking.
You, me
We're face to face
But we don't see eye to eye
Like fire and rain (Like fire and rain)
You can drive me insane (You can drive me insane)
But I can't stay mad at you for anything
We're Venus and Mars (Venus and Mars)
We're like different stars (like different stars)
You're the harmony to every song I sing
And I wouldn't change a thing
The characters are sketched perfectly and Edris was one friendly fellow who was always there for Eva.
Anyhow @sanamasifwrites you need a professional editor as I saw many errors like paragraph separation, spelling mistakes, separation by comas between clauses etc., But the story is amazing and I loved it to bits, anxiously waiting for BOOK 2. Can you not send us right now? 🙈
🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫
*Spoiler Alert*
🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫
The story is simple and I was able to read it in single sitting and it took me four hours to finish it up. The plot is easy. Book is paperback and pages of good quality.
The story starts with The Three Great Ones who could stop the evil power Whiro but due to his magnificent dark powers Kingdoms of Manavia prime bowed down to him, accepting him as the emperor. After years passed we see that there was a prophecy that only a paragon can open the gate of Abyss but a paragon can only be born at the night of blood moon. Edinretha grounds were under the curse that none was able to break, the curse, that a girl could never be born.
" And mark my words Sephora! For when she shall come, she will wreak havoc"
A girl, named, Eva got kidnapped from Denali, a place where women were treated as slaves, and was taken to Edinretha where she was hunted down but because of a pendant, she got spared. A pendant that was given to her as a reward of saving a life of a man. Eva was kidnapped so that she could compete with other woman for the spot of Queen, for King Tau of Edinretha.
Eva was bold, blunt and straight forward. She was a warrior at times and at certain times, a broken heart who needs care. She stood for the rights of women in front of King and the Great Elders.
Eva fell for Tau, the king and he for her but leaving One, all the elders were against her. One elder wounded Eva so that she won't be able to compete by bringing her such harm that she never could become a mother. Eva got claimed by the king's half brother, Kafele. Vandelia, the other competitor,became the Queen.
Kafele was the one whose life was once saved by Eva so he saved her from getting hunted by other men of Edinretha. Kafele, pampers Eva and deals her with patience and with time she accepts him.
One day, when Eva was out exploring Edinretha, the son of one of the Elders attacked Eva but got burnt by her dark flames. This is when Kafele knew about her hidden powers.
When Kafele left for war against the enemies, the dark ones attacks Edinretha. Meanwhile a girl is born to one of Eva's friend in bloody moon night who is kidnapped by Vandelia. Eva gets her baby Jasmine back but a huge fight was seen by the people of Edinretha between Mora, the dark witch (who made me imagine Bellatrix somehow) and Eva. Tau, the King wants to be the only power on the whole empire.
Would Eva be able to stop Tau? Would he become the emperor? Would Rehzar the evil emperor become stronger and rule the whole empire? Would Kafele bring a twist?
There are sssssssoooo many questions in my mind right now, I want to write here but you should read it to get the answers.
I remembered these lines when love story between Kafele and Eva started sparking.
You, me
We're face to face
But we don't see eye to eye
Like fire and rain (Like fire and rain)
You can drive me insane (You can drive me insane)
But I can't stay mad at you for anything
We're Venus and Mars (Venus and Mars)
We're like different stars (like different stars)
You're the harmony to every song I sing
And I wouldn't change a thing
The characters are sketched perfectly and Edris was one friendly fellow who was always there for Eva.
Anyhow @sanamasifwrites you need a professional editor as I saw many errors like paragraph separation, spelling mistakes, separation by comas between clauses etc., But the story is amazing and I loved it to bits, anxiously waiting for BOOK 2. Can you not send us right now? 🙈
August 7, 2020
3.5 stars
I enjoy fantasy because of the wild imagination it takes to come up with the plots and the worlds. Just Like Fire has an interesting dilemma that launches the plot. It has good world building and characters, but both could use more development. Perhaps that will happen in the next book.
I enjoy fantasy because of the wild imagination it takes to come up with the plots and the worlds. Just Like Fire has an interesting dilemma that launches the plot. It has good world building and characters, but both could use more development. Perhaps that will happen in the next book.
July 3, 2020
"A powerful curse was casted upon Edinretha by the last words of a dying witch: From this day on, no female will be born in Edinretha. The ones alive shall die and you will have no Paragon blood to shed at the door of Abyss. Your kind will never get the Crown of Fire and will never have dominion on the lands above and beyond."
Sanam Asif is a Pakistani Author and Just Like Fire is her debut book.
Genre of Just Like Fire is fantasy (first book in this series) and revolves around Eva an ordinary girl from Nomadic Hyur Tribe of the Kingdom Denali, who is abducted and forced to compete to become the mate of King Tau, the present ruler of Edinretha and give birth to a Paragon, a girl child that possess magical abilities.
The plot of the book is quite strong and engaging. I really enjoyed the unexpected and thrilling twist that came in the last 100 pages of the book and made me read it in one sitting. Though, I think characters needed more development in terms of personality traits, emotions, & background story. That's the reason, I couldn't build a strong connection to the main characters of this book. Also, the worldbuilding was not as captivating as it should be in fantasy books.
Yet, it was a good effort on the writer's part as I didn't DNF the book and read till the last page. Also, I am thrilled to read the second book as the first book has a cliffhanger ending.
Sanam Asif is a Pakistani Author and Just Like Fire is her debut book.
Genre of Just Like Fire is fantasy (first book in this series) and revolves around Eva an ordinary girl from Nomadic Hyur Tribe of the Kingdom Denali, who is abducted and forced to compete to become the mate of King Tau, the present ruler of Edinretha and give birth to a Paragon, a girl child that possess magical abilities.
The plot of the book is quite strong and engaging. I really enjoyed the unexpected and thrilling twist that came in the last 100 pages of the book and made me read it in one sitting. Though, I think characters needed more development in terms of personality traits, emotions, & background story. That's the reason, I couldn't build a strong connection to the main characters of this book. Also, the worldbuilding was not as captivating as it should be in fantasy books.
Yet, it was a good effort on the writer's part as I didn't DNF the book and read till the last page. Also, I am thrilled to read the second book as the first book has a cliffhanger ending.
September 19, 2020
Sanam Asif has given us a complex fantasy involving relationships between men and women in well thought out mythos. Eva is an engaging character that you want to root for. Many of the secondary characters are also well developed. The plot is somewhat predictable, but that is not a bad thing as it allows the reader to anticipate scenes they want to see. However, my experience was sadly spoiled by many grammatical and language errors, head-hopping and plot holes that a good editor would have caught.
July 5, 2020
fantastic read. Loved it
October 1, 2020
This is a high fantasy novel, awash with tempestuous passions and imaginative creations. It reads as the first novel in the series. The Kingdom of Edinethra was cursed that no girl children can be born there. The warriors go on raids to snatch women from other countries. Eva is one who is abducted, and is not just abducted but tested to see whether she is a fierce fighter and is then shortlisted to be the Queen – providing she wins a duel against the other candidate. The ultimate prize is access to an ancient tomb and the powerful artifacts in there.
Eva finds herself living in the palace, being further trained for the planned duel. She is unhappy and rebellious, outspokenly critical of the King – who is also gorgeous and fancies her and she is attracted to him in her turn. There is quite the classic alpha male/feisty female theme going on. Eva does make new friends, both male and female, in this male dominated world. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises along the way.
The upside of this book is the energy and imagination of the story. I also found it refreshing that the world building is not on the classic northern European model with cold and draughty castles, smokey fires, wet woolen cloaks and chewy stews. Instead the reader is in a world of warm weather, grapes, naan bread and brightly coloured silks – there is only one stew mentioned – a “delectable lamb stew”. It is the first fantasy novel I've seen where warriors make their entrance in a formal ferocious dance, which I rather enjoyed.
The downside of this book is that it needs some serious editing. It has been spell checked (I've seen published books that weren't) which is a start. However, quite a lot of the sentences are clunky, even making allowances for the more formal and elaborate prose style common in high fantasy. There are tense changes within sentences, there are misused words (for example reticent when the meaning should be reluctant, vile for vial) and there are anachronisms with usage of modern terms such as “fetal position”. Also in places there is use of modern casual English - “yeah”, “wow”, “I guess”. The scenes were ones where it was friends chatting, but the informality would have been better done without such modern usage.
While I liked the energy and vivid colour of the story, I found the prose to be very hard work and kept on being dragged out of the story, and metaphorically reaching for a red pen.
I took a while to decide on the rating but in the end decided on two stars because of the poor editing. I think this could be a great high fantasy series, but it needs a lot more work and polishing. It takes at least as long to edit a book properly as it does to write one and can be remarkably tedious, but it has to be done if you want to appeal to a wide audience and also if you are asking people to pay you for what you've written. I hope that the author decides to re-edit and put out a second edition of her debut novel. I would also note that I part of my reading pleasure comes from the prose, not just the story, so I am a demanding reader.
Eva finds herself living in the palace, being further trained for the planned duel. She is unhappy and rebellious, outspokenly critical of the King – who is also gorgeous and fancies her and she is attracted to him in her turn. There is quite the classic alpha male/feisty female theme going on. Eva does make new friends, both male and female, in this male dominated world. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises along the way.
The upside of this book is the energy and imagination of the story. I also found it refreshing that the world building is not on the classic northern European model with cold and draughty castles, smokey fires, wet woolen cloaks and chewy stews. Instead the reader is in a world of warm weather, grapes, naan bread and brightly coloured silks – there is only one stew mentioned – a “delectable lamb stew”. It is the first fantasy novel I've seen where warriors make their entrance in a formal ferocious dance, which I rather enjoyed.
The downside of this book is that it needs some serious editing. It has been spell checked (I've seen published books that weren't) which is a start. However, quite a lot of the sentences are clunky, even making allowances for the more formal and elaborate prose style common in high fantasy. There are tense changes within sentences, there are misused words (for example reticent when the meaning should be reluctant, vile for vial) and there are anachronisms with usage of modern terms such as “fetal position”. Also in places there is use of modern casual English - “yeah”, “wow”, “I guess”. The scenes were ones where it was friends chatting, but the informality would have been better done without such modern usage.
While I liked the energy and vivid colour of the story, I found the prose to be very hard work and kept on being dragged out of the story, and metaphorically reaching for a red pen.
I took a while to decide on the rating but in the end decided on two stars because of the poor editing. I think this could be a great high fantasy series, but it needs a lot more work and polishing. It takes at least as long to edit a book properly as it does to write one and can be remarkably tedious, but it has to be done if you want to appeal to a wide audience and also if you are asking people to pay you for what you've written. I hope that the author decides to re-edit and put out a second edition of her debut novel. I would also note that I part of my reading pleasure comes from the prose, not just the story, so I am a demanding reader.
August 31, 2021
just like fire + crown of fire (the eternal flame saga #1 + 2):
oof. what a rollercoaster ride it was.
i would've written two different reviews for both books but not much happened in book 1, at least i didn't like what happened very much.
however, i'm still feeling blown away by its plot, especially of book 2. the way the world of this series is built was just amazing. and the twists and turns--oof. it was action-packed, and very graphic, so you know, if you're weak at heart? yeah.
[tw: a lot of blood. intense physical violence. a very bloody war. lots of explicit content. intense physically intimate scenes. read the s-word. 😂 all in all, all of these are 18+/adult content.]
unlike many reviews of this series, i don't like eva very much. she's just so...desperate. i mean yes, like those reviews, i do think she's strong, and she loves fiercely, but her love seems driven by lust and lust only; it reeks of lust. tau reeks of lust, kafele reeks of lust, vandalia and everyone else reeks of lust. almost everyone, at least.
but i could at least sympathize with vandalia, with the way she was driven by the desire to gain her father's love.
one thing i didn't understand is why vandalia would be okay with her lover's willingness in sending her away to edinretha to literally get pregnant by another man and give him an heir. i mean why didn't it look like a red flag to vandalia? it was honestly the brightest red flag ever.
i do like eva's power of forgiveness, though; it definitely makes her strong.
just like fire, book 1, is filled with unnecessary explicit scenes. all the romance and ‘love’ is only based off of physical connection/attraction. it's my least favorite romance trope. it might be just me, but i don't like it at all. i mean i don't really believe in love--i don't really have an opinion on it--but i think it's more than what eva and kafele had.
crown of fire, book 2, however, blew me away. it was filled with wild twists and turns. you might never see it coming. and the cliffhanger at the end--i cannot wait for book 3 to come out. (it's a trilogy.) but even the romance in this was...no. especially the scene after the revival (of whom, is a spoiler), uhh...it was unnecessary. that was the scene i disliked in the whole book the most. i hated it. ;-;
oof. what a rollercoaster ride it was.
i would've written two different reviews for both books but not much happened in book 1, at least i didn't like what happened very much.
however, i'm still feeling blown away by its plot, especially of book 2. the way the world of this series is built was just amazing. and the twists and turns--oof. it was action-packed, and very graphic, so you know, if you're weak at heart? yeah.
[tw: a lot of blood. intense physical violence. a very bloody war. lots of explicit content. intense physically intimate scenes. read the s-word. 😂 all in all, all of these are 18+/adult content.]
unlike many reviews of this series, i don't like eva very much. she's just so...desperate. i mean yes, like those reviews, i do think she's strong, and she loves fiercely, but her love seems driven by lust and lust only; it reeks of lust. tau reeks of lust, kafele reeks of lust, vandalia and everyone else reeks of lust. almost everyone, at least.
but i could at least sympathize with vandalia, with the way she was driven by the desire to gain her father's love.
one thing i didn't understand is why vandalia would be okay with her lover's willingness in sending her away to edinretha to literally get pregnant by another man and give him an heir. i mean why didn't it look like a red flag to vandalia? it was honestly the brightest red flag ever.
i do like eva's power of forgiveness, though; it definitely makes her strong.
just like fire, book 1, is filled with unnecessary explicit scenes. all the romance and ‘love’ is only based off of physical connection/attraction. it's my least favorite romance trope. it might be just me, but i don't like it at all. i mean i don't really believe in love--i don't really have an opinion on it--but i think it's more than what eva and kafele had.
crown of fire, book 2, however, blew me away. it was filled with wild twists and turns. you might never see it coming. and the cliffhanger at the end--i cannot wait for book 3 to come out. (it's a trilogy.) but even the romance in this was...no. especially the scene after the revival (of whom, is a spoiler), uhh...it was unnecessary. that was the scene i disliked in the whole book the most. i hated it. ;-;
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2020
I am ecstatic about this opportunity to read #justlikefire as the books written & published in the fantasy genre, that too in English, are rare in Pakistan. It came as a welcome change in what we usually read in Pakistani Literature.
.
It kept me hooked throughout & I ended up reading it in 4.5 hours only (2 sittings).
.
Passion. Curses. Lust. Prophecy. True Love. Patriarchy. Witches. Deadly Nocturnal Creatures. Miracles. Revenge.
This book has it all & a lot more. It is about Eva, who was an ordinary girl until she was abducted & forced to compete for being chosen as a Queen of King Tau of Edinretha. But, will it be easy for her to do that, or will fate intervene in the unlikeliest of ways?
.
The matters are not as simple as they seem. The centuries-old history of Manavia Prime & the Great ones, the creation of Paragons, Dark Lord Whiro from the Abyss, evil plans to end the curse of Queen Dina upon Edinretha (no girl child will be born), a crown of Fire & the hope for a Paragon child will keep you intrigued.
.
“And mark my words Sephiran! For when she shall come, she will wreak havoc.”
.
The reader will keep guessing if Eva & Tau will be together to break the age-old curse. I love how Eva, the protagonist, always took a stand against the wrongdoings of Edins & its warriors. Kafele’s (the elite warrior & stepbrother of Tau) opinions on a woman’s worth were admirable. His support & love was everything.
.
“It is the strength & determination that makes someone worthy, be it a man or woman.”
.
The elements of friendship among the ladies of Edinretha, their heart-breaking pasts, the constant support of Edris, the strict training by Jarrah, the big secret of Eva & its revelation, all were phenomenally written. The character development, the mysterious yet anticipated happenings, the attack by the blood-witch Mora with her night creatures & the miracle; everything was enough to keep you at the edge of your seat.
.
It did have some intimate/ passionate scenes, but the story progressed beautifully.
.
Recommended.
.
It kept me hooked throughout & I ended up reading it in 4.5 hours only (2 sittings).
.
Passion. Curses. Lust. Prophecy. True Love. Patriarchy. Witches. Deadly Nocturnal Creatures. Miracles. Revenge.
This book has it all & a lot more. It is about Eva, who was an ordinary girl until she was abducted & forced to compete for being chosen as a Queen of King Tau of Edinretha. But, will it be easy for her to do that, or will fate intervene in the unlikeliest of ways?
.
The matters are not as simple as they seem. The centuries-old history of Manavia Prime & the Great ones, the creation of Paragons, Dark Lord Whiro from the Abyss, evil plans to end the curse of Queen Dina upon Edinretha (no girl child will be born), a crown of Fire & the hope for a Paragon child will keep you intrigued.
.
“And mark my words Sephiran! For when she shall come, she will wreak havoc.”
.
The reader will keep guessing if Eva & Tau will be together to break the age-old curse. I love how Eva, the protagonist, always took a stand against the wrongdoings of Edins & its warriors. Kafele’s (the elite warrior & stepbrother of Tau) opinions on a woman’s worth were admirable. His support & love was everything.
.
“It is the strength & determination that makes someone worthy, be it a man or woman.”
.
The elements of friendship among the ladies of Edinretha, their heart-breaking pasts, the constant support of Edris, the strict training by Jarrah, the big secret of Eva & its revelation, all were phenomenally written. The character development, the mysterious yet anticipated happenings, the attack by the blood-witch Mora with her night creatures & the miracle; everything was enough to keep you at the edge of your seat.
.
It did have some intimate/ passionate scenes, but the story progressed beautifully.
.
Recommended.
October 23, 2020
The predominant themes of this book are love, friendship, power and magic.
.
We see that Eva, our bold and raging girl falls in love, gets her heart broken, then falls in love again, and with the right person this time. She survived everything just because of love. She even tried to take her life, but there was someone who would save her and will make her come back to life. The love between Eva and him (not gonna give any spoiler xD) is so pure and is just heartwarming. He is the kind of a man every woman deserves!! He was there to pick Eva up whenever she fell. He was there to comfort her and support her when everyone stood against her. 🥺♥️
.
The friendship we witnessed between Eva, her lady friends, Edris and her trainer Jarrah, is so precious and heart touching. They way Eva was there to protect her friends and how they didn't even hesitate to take risk just to save Eva from the blood witch, would warm your heart to the core. 💖
.
Then comes the power game. Every kingdom in Manavia Prime just wanted to gain power over it and to get the Crown of Fire to dominate over all the other kingdoms. The lust of power and domination was so strong and every kingdom wanted to be the first one to open the door of abyss. And for that, they even used magic.
The magic which could destruct the whole kingdom, if it wasn't for Eva. At the end of the day, she was the one to save Edinretha, but how??
For that, you need to get this book and give it a read!! 😉
.
To sum it all up, I would say that this book is a great read and it will hook you up so bad that you wouldn't want to detach yourself from it. It is just unputdownable. There were some confusions and questions left hanging, but probably they will be answered in the 2nd part of this series. Fingers crossed!🤞🏻
.
We see that Eva, our bold and raging girl falls in love, gets her heart broken, then falls in love again, and with the right person this time. She survived everything just because of love. She even tried to take her life, but there was someone who would save her and will make her come back to life. The love between Eva and him (not gonna give any spoiler xD) is so pure and is just heartwarming. He is the kind of a man every woman deserves!! He was there to pick Eva up whenever she fell. He was there to comfort her and support her when everyone stood against her. 🥺♥️
.
The friendship we witnessed between Eva, her lady friends, Edris and her trainer Jarrah, is so precious and heart touching. They way Eva was there to protect her friends and how they didn't even hesitate to take risk just to save Eva from the blood witch, would warm your heart to the core. 💖
.
Then comes the power game. Every kingdom in Manavia Prime just wanted to gain power over it and to get the Crown of Fire to dominate over all the other kingdoms. The lust of power and domination was so strong and every kingdom wanted to be the first one to open the door of abyss. And for that, they even used magic.
The magic which could destruct the whole kingdom, if it wasn't for Eva. At the end of the day, she was the one to save Edinretha, but how??
For that, you need to get this book and give it a read!! 😉
.
To sum it all up, I would say that this book is a great read and it will hook you up so bad that you wouldn't want to detach yourself from it. It is just unputdownable. There were some confusions and questions left hanging, but probably they will be answered in the 2nd part of this series. Fingers crossed!🤞🏻
December 2, 2020
Imaginative and Thought Provoking
There's much for delving into here. The plot throughout is strong and intriguing, with a few twists and turns along the way. The book's themes tackle issues such as Stockholm Syndrome, sexism, hierarchy and women's rights, all layered beneath the complex tapestry of an unfolding fantasy world full of folklore and prophecy. It's also a story of enduring love and the bonds of friendship. When you strip it down to its core, this is the lifeblood and beating heart of our tale.
The author doesn't short on crafting a coherent universe the reader can escape into. She creates a land enriched by history, so much so as to come with its very own map. However, the design of its characters is a little underdeveloped. I won't slight the author for this as this book is a part of an ongoing series and perhaps it was always her intention to flesh them out more as things progress in future volumes. I will say that the lead seems a strong-willed heroine who is cunning and skilled.
This book could benefit greatly from a proper editor. Honestly, I would have rated it higher if not for the amount of grammar errors and punctuation missteps found throughout the pages. That being said, there is still plenty to enjoy here. If you like fables with great action, interesting places and hidden surprises that manage to draw parallels with real world issues being faced even today, I recommend giving this a try.
There's much for delving into here. The plot throughout is strong and intriguing, with a few twists and turns along the way. The book's themes tackle issues such as Stockholm Syndrome, sexism, hierarchy and women's rights, all layered beneath the complex tapestry of an unfolding fantasy world full of folklore and prophecy. It's also a story of enduring love and the bonds of friendship. When you strip it down to its core, this is the lifeblood and beating heart of our tale.
The author doesn't short on crafting a coherent universe the reader can escape into. She creates a land enriched by history, so much so as to come with its very own map. However, the design of its characters is a little underdeveloped. I won't slight the author for this as this book is a part of an ongoing series and perhaps it was always her intention to flesh them out more as things progress in future volumes. I will say that the lead seems a strong-willed heroine who is cunning and skilled.
This book could benefit greatly from a proper editor. Honestly, I would have rated it higher if not for the amount of grammar errors and punctuation missteps found throughout the pages. That being said, there is still plenty to enjoy here. If you like fables with great action, interesting places and hidden surprises that manage to draw parallels with real world issues being faced even today, I recommend giving this a try.
August 31, 2020
I really liked the storyline even though the writing style sounded a bit off at some points also there were some moments where I even felt lil bit confused with the settings and characters but since this is the debut novel of the author hence I totally understand that. Other than that the plot was extremely intrigued! I really enjoyed reading it, especially the slow burn romance was to die for!
It was a fast paced story with lots of drama and betrayal which made it even more charming, I thoroughly enjoyed almost all the characters especially Tau, his character was quite difficult to get a hold of but didn’t i said that I have a thing for complicated characters?! Also there was a plot twist! A BIG plot twist which I really didn’t saw coming but the aftermath of it were quite soothing for my very soul (no, I’m not being dramatic) so it was worth it. The ending got me all ached up because now I want to get my hands on the squeal (yeah, it’s a trilogy!) ASAP.
In last, I just want to say that how grateful I’m of the author to write something magical like this, I always gets emotional when it comes to my own country writers because as a writer, I can definitively understand the perks of being a writer in a country like Pakistan where unfortunately, we don’t have any authentic publishing options. Thanks for your dedication!
It was a fast paced story with lots of drama and betrayal which made it even more charming, I thoroughly enjoyed almost all the characters especially Tau, his character was quite difficult to get a hold of but didn’t i said that I have a thing for complicated characters?! Also there was a plot twist! A BIG plot twist which I really didn’t saw coming but the aftermath of it were quite soothing for my very soul (no, I’m not being dramatic) so it was worth it. The ending got me all ached up because now I want to get my hands on the squeal (yeah, it’s a trilogy!) ASAP.
In last, I just want to say that how grateful I’m of the author to write something magical like this, I always gets emotional when it comes to my own country writers because as a writer, I can definitively understand the perks of being a writer in a country like Pakistan where unfortunately, we don’t have any authentic publishing options. Thanks for your dedication!
November 1, 2020
I must say this has a marvelous plot. The prologue set a powerful foundation for the story to go on. I was kinda skeptical at the start of the book. Thought it was in the direction of hunger games (survival of the fittest) but damn the author proved me wrong at so many levels. The subtle twist in plot halfway was spot on. Main characters got better as the book progressed on. The two male characters had many layers which unfolded as you read on and as for the female protagonist, i really disliked her for her decisions early on but then slowly the author moulds her into a strong character.
.
.
Few things that I didn't like was that I hoped the ending was more grand cause the storyline was soo good that it deserved something over the top. My another disappointment was that the side characters were very underdeveloped. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the one that dies in the end.
.
.
Nevertheless, this being Sanam Asif's first book, I think it was really good. This shows how much potential she has as an author. I would definitely recommend this to any romantic fantasy sucker who is looking for a quick and easy read. I will definitely be waiting for the sequel.
.
.
Few things that I didn't like was that I hoped the ending was more grand cause the storyline was soo good that it deserved something over the top. My another disappointment was that the side characters were very underdeveloped. I didn't feel any emotional connection to the one that dies in the end.
.
.
Nevertheless, this being Sanam Asif's first book, I think it was really good. This shows how much potential she has as an author. I would definitely recommend this to any romantic fantasy sucker who is looking for a quick and easy read. I will definitely be waiting for the sequel.
November 12, 2020
This is a great first novel. I really enjoyed reading it. I really appreciate and admire that you were able to write a novel during with children running around.
I hope you can take my review as something to help you improve and grow as a writer. I recommend having your novel proof read as there were some grammatical errors. I also had a hard time understanding the time the story takes place in. Some of the language and vocabulary used makes it sound like present times such as “yeah” and “maxi dress”. I also felt some scenes were rushed or I wanted to read more about the different scenes.
I am sure this must have been a challenge, writing a novel with kids. I would love to see a revised/edited version of the novel. And anxiously await for subsequent novels.
October 4, 2021
I really liked this book! I don't read fantasy much, but the descriptions and writing by Sanam Asif really draw and keep your attention along the way.
Just like Fire follows the strong female character Eva on a journey to break a curse. But there's more than that; the author does a great job with the many parts of the story; I really liked the descriptions; a captivating history of how things have come to be; the curse, the attraction between Eva and the king, and the twists and turns along the way.
You like Eva's character, she's a likeable protagonist. You like following her through her journey, with the other, well developed characters. Overall very happy with this read!
Just like Fire follows the strong female character Eva on a journey to break a curse. But there's more than that; the author does a great job with the many parts of the story; I really liked the descriptions; a captivating history of how things have come to be; the curse, the attraction between Eva and the king, and the twists and turns along the way.
You like Eva's character, she's a likeable protagonist. You like following her through her journey, with the other, well developed characters. Overall very happy with this read!
March 5, 2021
This isn’t breaking new ground in the high fantasy genre, but the story’s opening is clever, having our protagonist Eva running for her life…in what we soon learn is a staged competition. Adding a Hunger Games slant to the book does give the story a decent twist. Eva is pitted against Vandalia, vying for the privilege to marry King Tau and give birth to the mythic Paragon. We have romance and world building and numerous action sequences. All fine, but the text is rigid and the numerous grammatical errors are distracting. Many of the issues could be worked out with a competent editor.
March 29, 2022
Fantasy has never been my go-to genre, largely because of the mass-level universe building full of legends, myths, ancient magical artifacts, curses, prophecies, and a whole lot of bloodshed. Just Like Fire by Sanam Asif offers just that, but what’s really commendable about it is that it does the right amount of world-building that doesn’t rely on too many fantasy elements. Instead, it focuses on excellent character building laid out throughout the story without a ton of exposition that other books often become victim to.
Set in the fictional medieval world of Manavia Prime, the great Kingdom of Edinretha is plagued with an ancient curse that sees no household in the region have a female offspring. As the gender imbalance grows, the men of Edinretha resort to kidnapping and even trading in women as a means to replenish their numbers, but even then they only give birth to male offspring. Meanwhile, Edinretha must fulfill the prophecy and acquire the long lost Crown of Fire but is caught in a deadly battle against rival kingdoms as well as the dark realm of the Abyss.
In the midst of this, a peasant girl named Eva of the Hyur tribe is ripped out of her otherwise idyllic life and thrust into a world she has never imagined. She becomes the object of affection of Edinretha’s King Tau and must prove herself worthy to be his queen. But Eva is unlike any of the women the kingdom has long treated as prizes and tributes, and her headstrong nature to see justice for women in Edinretha sets her apart in the eyes of everyone, including the single-minded King Tau.
The highlight here is Eva and her determined as well as conflicted character who on the one hand is appalled at how women are treated in the greatest kingdom of Manavia Prime, but on the other hand is helpless against her feelings for her would-be captor King Tau and his advances. Apart from that, every single character is given a rich and natural development with their backstories peppered in just the right amount throughout the chapters so that it keeps the reader curious to their motivations. Like I said before, the fantasy aspects of the story are woven marvelously into the main story till they are truly needed, which makes for much more engaging reading. Moreover, the story itself is also a great social commentary on patriarchal norms while Eva can be seen representing the rising tide of change.
The best part is that this is just book one and I’m looking forward to the next installment. JLF is a must-read #MadeInPakistan book full of drama, action, romance, and even a neat amount of steam.
Set in the fictional medieval world of Manavia Prime, the great Kingdom of Edinretha is plagued with an ancient curse that sees no household in the region have a female offspring. As the gender imbalance grows, the men of Edinretha resort to kidnapping and even trading in women as a means to replenish their numbers, but even then they only give birth to male offspring. Meanwhile, Edinretha must fulfill the prophecy and acquire the long lost Crown of Fire but is caught in a deadly battle against rival kingdoms as well as the dark realm of the Abyss.
In the midst of this, a peasant girl named Eva of the Hyur tribe is ripped out of her otherwise idyllic life and thrust into a world she has never imagined. She becomes the object of affection of Edinretha’s King Tau and must prove herself worthy to be his queen. But Eva is unlike any of the women the kingdom has long treated as prizes and tributes, and her headstrong nature to see justice for women in Edinretha sets her apart in the eyes of everyone, including the single-minded King Tau.
The highlight here is Eva and her determined as well as conflicted character who on the one hand is appalled at how women are treated in the greatest kingdom of Manavia Prime, but on the other hand is helpless against her feelings for her would-be captor King Tau and his advances. Apart from that, every single character is given a rich and natural development with their backstories peppered in just the right amount throughout the chapters so that it keeps the reader curious to their motivations. Like I said before, the fantasy aspects of the story are woven marvelously into the main story till they are truly needed, which makes for much more engaging reading. Moreover, the story itself is also a great social commentary on patriarchal norms while Eva can be seen representing the rising tide of change.
The best part is that this is just book one and I’m looking forward to the next installment. JLF is a must-read #MadeInPakistan book full of drama, action, romance, and even a neat amount of steam.
September 20, 2020
Loved this book!
I’m so honored to be the beta reader but I think the way Sanam has executed it splendid.
It kept me hooked and this is definitely a page turner. I’m super glad that my friend wrote a book that’s first of its kind in the pakistani book sphere.
It’s fast paced, it is addictive and it’s very very creativity executed! Always waiting for the next parts!
I’m so honored to be the beta reader but I think the way Sanam has executed it splendid.
It kept me hooked and this is definitely a page turner. I’m super glad that my friend wrote a book that’s first of its kind in the pakistani book sphere.
It’s fast paced, it is addictive and it’s very very creativity executed! Always waiting for the next parts!
October 17, 2020
Just Like Fire by Sanam Asif features Eva, a woman who is kidnapped from her tribe and forced to compete to be queen for a king she doesn’t even know in order to break a curse.
Eva does not submit to her fate easily and demonstrates her fiery nature several times, shocking the Elders and earning her an admirer. She is tender-hearted yet has Lara Croft battle skills and goes through many trials as we get a glimpse of who or what she really is.
Apart from a curse and rivals fighting for power, this is a story about friendship and love. The love story was told with a classic flair and balanced out the book’s battle scenes nicely.
The book was an easy, fast read. I enjoyed Asif’s description of the world she created and there were some good plot twists that I didn’t see coming. The book could have used a good editor as there were several errors.
Eva does not submit to her fate easily and demonstrates her fiery nature several times, shocking the Elders and earning her an admirer. She is tender-hearted yet has Lara Croft battle skills and goes through many trials as we get a glimpse of who or what she really is.
Apart from a curse and rivals fighting for power, this is a story about friendship and love. The love story was told with a classic flair and balanced out the book’s battle scenes nicely.
The book was an easy, fast read. I enjoyed Asif’s description of the world she created and there were some good plot twists that I didn’t see coming. The book could have used a good editor as there were several errors.
March 18, 2021
An interesting read!
A great start to the series, and I was hooked by the storyline and characters from the beginning. The only thing that ruined it is the spelling and grammar mistakes so maybe get an editor to go over it. But overall, I enjoyed it and looked forward to seeing where this story goes in Book two.
A great start to the series, and I was hooked by the storyline and characters from the beginning. The only thing that ruined it is the spelling and grammar mistakes so maybe get an editor to go over it. But overall, I enjoyed it and looked forward to seeing where this story goes in Book two.
October 4, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed it. The book was a good distraction from the normalcy of life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews