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The Firebird Faerie Tales #1
Cry of the Firebird
A firebird is reborn on the borders of Russia, a gate to a world of monsters and magic is breaking, and only a reluctant, untrained shaman stands in the way of a flood of supernatural darkness...
Anya is still reeling from the death of her grandfather when a strange encounter with the Finnish God of the Dead changes her life forever: Her family has been guarding the gates to the Russian otherworld on their farm for centuries, and she’s the new gatekeeper. Worse, if she doesn’t awaken her magical abilities and assume her new role, the gate will break, unleashing a flood of monsters and dark gods into their world.
As Anya struggles to make sense of her changing world, she can’t deny the strange encounters. She’ll need to accept her fate and work with the legendary firebird if she hopes to survive—and protect humanity.
Anya is still reeling from the death of her grandfather when a strange encounter with the Finnish God of the Dead changes her life forever: Her family has been guarding the gates to the Russian otherworld on their farm for centuries, and she’s the new gatekeeper. Worse, if she doesn’t awaken her magical abilities and assume her new role, the gate will break, unleashing a flood of monsters and dark gods into their world.
As Anya struggles to make sense of her changing world, she can’t deny the strange encounters. She’ll need to accept her fate and work with the legendary firebird if she hopes to survive—and protect humanity.
316 pages, Paperback
First published December 17, 2014
289 people are currently reading
2051 people want to read
About the author
Amy Kuivalainen
50 books432 followersAmy is a best-selling author of fantasy, paranormal, and romance novels. After realizing she wasn't fit for academia, she channelled her passion for ancient history, magic, and mythology into her storytelling. With Amy's books, you can always expect adventure, mystery, and sizzling romance.
For those wondering, her Finnish surname is pronounced 'Quiver-lay-nen.'
For those wondering, her Finnish surname is pronounced 'Quiver-lay-nen.'
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
May 7, 2022
“Why would you want to be normal, when you could be extraordinary?”
A unique blend of Finnish, Russian, and Greek mythology and folklore, beautifully woven together.
After losing her beloved grandfather Eikki, Anya drowns her sorrows and grief, with copious amounts of vodka. Then one day during breakfast, Tuoni the Finnish God of the Dead, walks into her life and reveals that her ancestors were powerful shamans, that have been guarding the gates to a magical realm known as Skaski, on their family farm for generations. Tuoni also gifts Anya a small stone after telling her, “It has been in your family a long time. All you need to know is that it’s dangerous, and your destiny.”
Basically she finds out everything she thought she knew about her grandfather, family and herself is a lie. Oh, and Anya only has a few months to learn how to use her inherited shamanitsa magic before the gates burst open and allow all kinds of magical havoc into the human realm of Mir!
I’ve read quite a bit of Amy Kuivalainen’s work, and my favorite elements are always her world building, modern use of magic, and the amazing cast of characters she writes. The plot is great too! But the found families she creates, and the interactions & banter between her characters are on a new level. I was surprised by how many stunning mythological characters were involved in this story. Although I quickly recovered when the next one walked onto the page.
If you enjoy a great found family trope, Eastern European mythology and folklore, Greek mythology, demons, Baba Yaga, gorgeous shape shifters, an action packed magical quest, and maybe even a dragon, I’d highly suggest this book.
A unique blend of Finnish, Russian, and Greek mythology and folklore, beautifully woven together.
After losing her beloved grandfather Eikki, Anya drowns her sorrows and grief, with copious amounts of vodka. Then one day during breakfast, Tuoni the Finnish God of the Dead, walks into her life and reveals that her ancestors were powerful shamans, that have been guarding the gates to a magical realm known as Skaski, on their family farm for generations. Tuoni also gifts Anya a small stone after telling her, “It has been in your family a long time. All you need to know is that it’s dangerous, and your destiny.”
Basically she finds out everything she thought she knew about her grandfather, family and herself is a lie. Oh, and Anya only has a few months to learn how to use her inherited shamanitsa magic before the gates burst open and allow all kinds of magical havoc into the human realm of Mir!
I’ve read quite a bit of Amy Kuivalainen’s work, and my favorite elements are always her world building, modern use of magic, and the amazing cast of characters she writes. The plot is great too! But the found families she creates, and the interactions & banter between her characters are on a new level. I was surprised by how many stunning mythological characters were involved in this story. Although I quickly recovered when the next one walked onto the page.
If you enjoy a great found family trope, Eastern European mythology and folklore, Greek mythology, demons, Baba Yaga, gorgeous shape shifters, an action packed magical quest, and maybe even a dragon, I’d highly suggest this book.
February 19, 2023
Apologies to @Franlopedia, I know I suggested we BR and then raced ahead 🙈
I promise not to start book2 till we can do so together, but I could not stop reading this...I promise I truly tried! 🫠
Massive thanks to @Rachael whose review put this series on my radar - she promised found fam & boy did she deliver!
What a great gaggle of misfits have gathered in this first book 🤩😎
Pretty please check out her review, linked above, for a proper review vs this blubbering gushfest masquerading as "thoughts" 🤭
I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoyed the folklore in the Winternight Trilogy, mix in some Greek, Finnish + Norse Mythology and then make it Urban Fantasy with a Kate Daniels type heroine but like Harry Potter she has been sheltered from all things magical - am I speaking anyone else's language yet? 😉
Every chapter something is happening, while awesome I'd have enjoyed this even more if we could have spent more time with the characters getting to know them and for them to get to know each other better between events. Talk about not being able to catch a break/breath - I know it's fantasy and supposed to be unbelievable but I dunno that I'd be so trusting so quickly is all I'm saying 🫣
However as established above...I could not stop reading and am dying to pick up book2 but will behave and distract myself so that it can be an actual BR with Fran 🤗
I promise not to start book2 till we can do so together, but I could not stop reading this...I promise I truly tried! 🫠
Massive thanks to @Rachael whose review put this series on my radar - she promised found fam & boy did she deliver!
What a great gaggle of misfits have gathered in this first book 🤩😎
Pretty please check out her review, linked above, for a proper review vs this blubbering gushfest masquerading as "thoughts" 🤭
I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoyed the folklore in the Winternight Trilogy, mix in some Greek, Finnish + Norse Mythology and then make it Urban Fantasy with a Kate Daniels type heroine but like Harry Potter she has been sheltered from all things magical - am I speaking anyone else's language yet? 😉
Every chapter something is happening, while awesome I'd have enjoyed this even more if we could have spent more time with the characters getting to know them and for them to get to know each other better between events. Talk about not being able to catch a break/breath - I know it's fantasy and supposed to be unbelievable but I dunno that I'd be so trusting so quickly is all I'm saying 🫣
However as established above...I could not stop reading and am dying to pick up book2 but will behave and distract myself so that it can be an actual BR with Fran 🤗
did-not-finish
October 12, 2021DNF @ 45%
I'm having a hard time getting into CRY OF THE FIREBIRD so I'm going to DNF for now with the possibility of coming back later. I've read and loved other books by this author but this republishing of her debut novel feels a lot younger than her more recent books. There's a young adult feel to the character actions even though Anya is in her late 20s I believe.
However, my biggest struggle with this one is my ability to process everything that's going on. There are so so so many characters to keep track of, all with their own motivations, and that's combined with a blending of Russian and Finish folklore and even some Greek mythology. I can tell everything is highly researched but I'm not familiar with this folklore so it's a lot to take in and not everything is fully explained so context is sometimes missing for me. Also, there appears to be a love triangle developing and that's personally just not my thing so it's affecting my motivation to continue reading.
With all of that being said, I think if you already enjoy Russian and Finish folklore then you'd probably love CRY OF THE FIREBIRD. The story is fast paced, the writing is witty, and the characters are very likable.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I'm having a hard time getting into CRY OF THE FIREBIRD so I'm going to DNF for now with the possibility of coming back later. I've read and loved other books by this author but this republishing of her debut novel feels a lot younger than her more recent books. There's a young adult feel to the character actions even though Anya is in her late 20s I believe.
However, my biggest struggle with this one is my ability to process everything that's going on. There are so so so many characters to keep track of, all with their own motivations, and that's combined with a blending of Russian and Finish folklore and even some Greek mythology. I can tell everything is highly researched but I'm not familiar with this folklore so it's a lot to take in and not everything is fully explained so context is sometimes missing for me. Also, there appears to be a love triangle developing and that's personally just not my thing so it's affecting my motivation to continue reading.
With all of that being said, I think if you already enjoy Russian and Finish folklore then you'd probably love CRY OF THE FIREBIRD. The story is fast paced, the writing is witty, and the characters are very likable.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 23, 2017
You know that feeling when you're really in the mood for a specific book but finding it seems nearly impossible because theres likely nothing published that will match what you’ve conjured up in your mind? Yeah—that’s me with all of my reads. Lately, however, I’ve been craving Slavic folklore retellings. I find those fairytales to be the most intriguing, and I love the dark atmosphere they usually bring. But seeing as Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente and Uprooted by Naomi Novik are two of my all-time favorite books, the rest I come across have a lot to compete with.
What initially drew me into Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen was the synopsis. “Firebird” being in the title was one thing, but “…a noir paranormal series that brings to life the bloody fairy tales of the North” made me cross myself and thank whatever Gods have been guiding me along my search. Honestly, it couldn't have sounded better to me.
The ebook for Cry of the Firebird is FREE on iBooks right now, and if that wasn't another sign for me to start reading immediately than I don't know what else to tell you. Naturally, I stayed up until 4am for two nights before finishing the massive book (to be fair, its not super long but the online version was roughly 1,450 pages) and here’s what I’ve come to think of it.
It didn't let me down, but it also didn't exactly live up to my expectations. The writing is a little choppy at times, and there were a few phrases being overused when there wasn't any need for them to be. I’d say that the first 30% of this book had me on the edge of my seat, but it kind of dwindled after a while and I felt as though I was reading the same scenes over again for chapters. There is also an influx of characters that come into play one after the next, and while I love books that have tons of characters I felt as though these ones weren't getting the development that they deserved. The author draws you in with their stories, you grow attached, and then she leaves you hanging as to what will become of them. After all, there are so many to keep track of.
What I did enjoy about this book was the setting, plot, and the quirkiness and individuality of each character. For as many cons as I’ve listed, it balances out all of the pros. I’m still unsure how I truly feel about this one, but I’m leaning more towards a positive vibe because for all of its flaws, the good parts are too good to look over.
The characters—all one-hundred of them—are wonderful. I frequently find that with side-characters there are many authors who will bundle them together in similar mindsets so that they only serve the purpose of the main characters. That’s definitely not the case here. I loved nearly everyone, and it was wonderful to read how such a diverse cast came together for the sole purpose of defeating a threat to their realm. That’s was something I wasn't expecting to happen, and it couldn't have come as a nicer surprise.
World-building is definitely Kuivalainen’s strong suit.
We are brought across the Russian wilderness to a dark forest in an otherworldly spirit realm, back to Russia, all the way to France, and then eventually to Budapest. Each character is from a different country, a different era, and no two people (seemingly) share the same ‘species’ so to say. Bare in mind, everyone has a supernatural ability of sorts…or an unnatural talent with knives and guns and riding motorcycles.
I wasn't expecting this to be a series so when I read the final page, a cliffhanger no less, I was ready to scream until I saw the prologue for the next installment. I’m definitely going to read all of the novels in this series because I need to know what happens next.
Perhaps this one isn't great for getting out of a book-slump because of its length and swapping point-of-views, but it’s great if you’re looking for something new. Fans of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo will likely enjoy this one.
What initially drew me into Cry of the Firebird by Amy Kuivalainen was the synopsis. “Firebird” being in the title was one thing, but “…a noir paranormal series that brings to life the bloody fairy tales of the North” made me cross myself and thank whatever Gods have been guiding me along my search. Honestly, it couldn't have sounded better to me.
The ebook for Cry of the Firebird is FREE on iBooks right now, and if that wasn't another sign for me to start reading immediately than I don't know what else to tell you. Naturally, I stayed up until 4am for two nights before finishing the massive book (to be fair, its not super long but the online version was roughly 1,450 pages) and here’s what I’ve come to think of it.
It didn't let me down, but it also didn't exactly live up to my expectations. The writing is a little choppy at times, and there were a few phrases being overused when there wasn't any need for them to be. I’d say that the first 30% of this book had me on the edge of my seat, but it kind of dwindled after a while and I felt as though I was reading the same scenes over again for chapters. There is also an influx of characters that come into play one after the next, and while I love books that have tons of characters I felt as though these ones weren't getting the development that they deserved. The author draws you in with their stories, you grow attached, and then she leaves you hanging as to what will become of them. After all, there are so many to keep track of.
What I did enjoy about this book was the setting, plot, and the quirkiness and individuality of each character. For as many cons as I’ve listed, it balances out all of the pros. I’m still unsure how I truly feel about this one, but I’m leaning more towards a positive vibe because for all of its flaws, the good parts are too good to look over.
The characters—all one-hundred of them—are wonderful. I frequently find that with side-characters there are many authors who will bundle them together in similar mindsets so that they only serve the purpose of the main characters. That’s definitely not the case here. I loved nearly everyone, and it was wonderful to read how such a diverse cast came together for the sole purpose of defeating a threat to their realm. That’s was something I wasn't expecting to happen, and it couldn't have come as a nicer surprise.
World-building is definitely Kuivalainen’s strong suit.
We are brought across the Russian wilderness to a dark forest in an otherworldly spirit realm, back to Russia, all the way to France, and then eventually to Budapest. Each character is from a different country, a different era, and no two people (seemingly) share the same ‘species’ so to say. Bare in mind, everyone has a supernatural ability of sorts…or an unnatural talent with knives and guns and riding motorcycles.
I wasn't expecting this to be a series so when I read the final page, a cliffhanger no less, I was ready to scream until I saw the prologue for the next installment. I’m definitely going to read all of the novels in this series because I need to know what happens next.
Perhaps this one isn't great for getting out of a book-slump because of its length and swapping point-of-views, but it’s great if you’re looking for something new. Fans of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo will likely enjoy this one.
March 17, 2023
Sadly, this didn't work for me at all
While the blurb had me completely hooked and I wanted to like it so hard because it had all the cards to be a favorite like modern world setting, multiple mythological cultures blended in, and lots of cool supernaturals, the too quick pacing of the story, lack of character development and overall rush I felt while reading made this a very difficult read to enjoy.
The story focuses so much on the action part that it completely forgets to invest into proper character development and world building, leaving is with the feeling that all these people we meet are two dimensional and the magic has to be justified with "that's the way it works, don't worry about it".
So while the engaging plot and found family trope are the biggest attractive qualities of this book, sadly they were not enough for me.
Sorry this BR went down the toilet, Aoife. 😆
While the blurb had me completely hooked and I wanted to like it so hard because it had all the cards to be a favorite like modern world setting, multiple mythological cultures blended in, and lots of cool supernaturals, the too quick pacing of the story, lack of character development and overall rush I felt while reading made this a very difficult read to enjoy.
The story focuses so much on the action part that it completely forgets to invest into proper character development and world building, leaving is with the feeling that all these people we meet are two dimensional and the magic has to be justified with "that's the way it works, don't worry about it".
So while the engaging plot and found family trope are the biggest attractive qualities of this book, sadly they were not enough for me.
Sorry this BR went down the toilet, Aoife. 😆
August 31, 2021
received a copy from netgalley
When I saw the description of this book on netgalley, I was immediately hooked. I have never encountered a finnish-russian mythology book and I had no idea it even existed tbh so I thought it was a great chance to get to know it. Unfortunately, while the first chapters seemed promising, the rest of the book turned out to be a huge disappointment.
But let's start with the things I liked:
*I appreciated that the story doesn't take place in the US. Instead, the characters travel around East and West Europe and they aren't native English speakers which I love seeing in books given that the majority of the characters nowadays are related to the US/UK and English speaking countries in general.
*Just by looking at the writing,you can easily tell how much the author enjoyed writing and exploring this world. Despite not being immersed into the story, I could understand the love of the author for this book.
Now, on to the things I disliked:
*So.many.characters. were being introduced chapter after chapter(some of them completely unnecessary to begin with)that we,as readers, didn't have the time to process who they were,their contribution to the story. Simply,we did not care about any of them. Did I care about any of them?Absolutely not.Why?Because we did not get enough time to get to know them. I think they should have been introduced in the later books so as to help the readers connect with them. I want to believe that no more characters will be introduced because the amount of them we got in the first book was too much to handle.
*Everyone in this book is horny and attractive. Everyone. Literally in their first interactions with each other they just had to mention how good looking and hot the other person is.Do people actually do that?Have I stayed so long inside my house that I've forgotten how people interact with each other?Like,do people's actual first words to a person they've just met are "You're hot."?????
*The love stories were...questionable.I'm gonna start with the one we're following the most. I'm going to put a spoiler warning but honestly...don't even bother with it. . Moving on to the next two.
*I did not like the mix of Finnish-Russian folklore with Greek and Norse mythology,jewish fables etc. That's just a personal opinion but I don't care about this "globalisation" let's call it in the story.When I'm reading a book about Greek mythology,I don't want to see elements from Norse mythology etc.i want it specifically focused in the Greek mythology. And yes,this book is indeed focused in the Finnish-Russian folklore.However, we also focus on Greek/Norse mythology beings etc which I did not like.
*Now,as for the plot.It did not give me much. I lost my interest and at this point, I jsut wanted to get this over with.
*Lastly, the narrative switches between past and present and there are,let's say, two POVs. One of the characters we follow(past tense) and other of a God narrator(in the present tense).The latter chapters(that are at the end of the "normal" chapters) start the narration like this "Look through the fog to a small campground deep in the North American mountains."(Chapter 23) or like this "See the man in the forest and the bowl of blood he holds."(Chapter 2). It was quite confusing.
Anyway,overall I did not like this book which was a bummer.
When I saw the description of this book on netgalley, I was immediately hooked. I have never encountered a finnish-russian mythology book and I had no idea it even existed tbh so I thought it was a great chance to get to know it. Unfortunately, while the first chapters seemed promising, the rest of the book turned out to be a huge disappointment.
But let's start with the things I liked:
*I appreciated that the story doesn't take place in the US. Instead, the characters travel around East and West Europe and they aren't native English speakers which I love seeing in books given that the majority of the characters nowadays are related to the US/UK and English speaking countries in general.
*Just by looking at the writing,you can easily tell how much the author enjoyed writing and exploring this world. Despite not being immersed into the story, I could understand the love of the author for this book.
Now, on to the things I disliked:
*So.many.characters. were being introduced chapter after chapter(some of them completely unnecessary to begin with)that we,as readers, didn't have the time to process who they were,their contribution to the story. Simply,we did not care about any of them. Did I care about any of them?Absolutely not.Why?Because we did not get enough time to get to know them. I think they should have been introduced in the later books so as to help the readers connect with them. I want to believe that no more characters will be introduced because the amount of them we got in the first book was too much to handle.
*Everyone in this book is horny and attractive. Everyone. Literally in their first interactions with each other they just had to mention how good looking and hot the other person is.Do people actually do that?Have I stayed so long inside my house that I've forgotten how people interact with each other?Like,do people's actual first words to a person they've just met are "You're hot."?????
*The love stories were...questionable.I'm gonna start with the one we're following the most. I'm going to put a spoiler warning but honestly...don't even bother with it. . Moving on to the next two.
*I did not like the mix of Finnish-Russian folklore with Greek and Norse mythology,jewish fables etc. That's just a personal opinion but I don't care about this "globalisation" let's call it in the story.When I'm reading a book about Greek mythology,I don't want to see elements from Norse mythology etc.i want it specifically focused in the Greek mythology. And yes,this book is indeed focused in the Finnish-Russian folklore.However, we also focus on Greek/Norse mythology beings etc which I did not like.
*Now,as for the plot.It did not give me much. I lost my interest and at this point, I jsut wanted to get this over with.
*Lastly, the narrative switches between past and present and there are,let's say, two POVs. One of the characters we follow(past tense) and other of a God narrator(in the present tense).The latter chapters(that are at the end of the "normal" chapters) start the narration like this "Look through the fog to a small campground deep in the North American mountains."(Chapter 23) or like this "See the man in the forest and the bowl of blood he holds."(Chapter 2). It was quite confusing.
Anyway,overall I did not like this book which was a bummer.
August 24, 2017
To be fair, this is more a 2 1/2 stars than 3, but as usual I am rounding up. I won't bother rehashing the plot because the summary pretty much does that, so suffice it to say that this is one of those "hidden abilities come to the fore after the death of a loved one and all sorts of opposing forces gather for a big fight" stories. Toss in a lot of references to European folklore and fairy tales and there you have it. Well, sort of.
I didn't have a problem with the plot of the story. I kind of knew what to expect with the summary and dove in anyway hoping for something less meaningful and more fun. What I got was a story that felt like a quilt with pieces sewn together here and there to make a whole that just wasn't cohesive enough for me. Then we have all these characters that have some knowledge of each other and either hate each other or want to jump in the sack with each other, which happens far more often than one would expect for beings (only the heroine is human here) facing imminent destruction. In other words, my suspension of disbelief for the characters' actions just couldn't hold up. The farther I read the flatter and more predictable became the plot all while characters are saying "I hate you" "I love you" while being pursued by something really bad. It all ends in one of the most anti-climactic fights I've ever read accompanied by a momentary appearance of the real bad guy (who doesn't do anything except look menacing in a loincloth) and the revelation that the supposed good guys are just as bad as the bad guys.
For a debut novel and first in a series (I am re-learning why I hate series) this does show promise. There is nothing bad in here (more than a few editorial mistakes, but nothing egregious), but everything, especially the characters, just felt really shallow. And I was really missing any sense of tension or drama. All that being said, it wasn't hard to read, it wasn't hard to follow, and it really could go somewhere. It just didn't for me. Some things were just too quick, others not quick enough, and too much attention paid to things that didn't really matter (like the type and color of someone's car, which was described at least four times for no purpose).
I won't say steer clear of this book, but I can't say pick it up either.
I didn't have a problem with the plot of the story. I kind of knew what to expect with the summary and dove in anyway hoping for something less meaningful and more fun. What I got was a story that felt like a quilt with pieces sewn together here and there to make a whole that just wasn't cohesive enough for me. Then we have all these characters that have some knowledge of each other and either hate each other or want to jump in the sack with each other, which happens far more often than one would expect for beings (only the heroine is human here) facing imminent destruction. In other words, my suspension of disbelief for the characters' actions just couldn't hold up. The farther I read the flatter and more predictable became the plot all while characters are saying "I hate you" "I love you" while being pursued by something really bad. It all ends in one of the most anti-climactic fights I've ever read accompanied by a momentary appearance of the real bad guy (who doesn't do anything except look menacing in a loincloth) and the revelation that the supposed good guys are just as bad as the bad guys.
For a debut novel and first in a series (I am re-learning why I hate series) this does show promise. There is nothing bad in here (more than a few editorial mistakes, but nothing egregious), but everything, especially the characters, just felt really shallow. And I was really missing any sense of tension or drama. All that being said, it wasn't hard to read, it wasn't hard to follow, and it really could go somewhere. It just didn't for me. Some things were just too quick, others not quick enough, and too much attention paid to things that didn't really matter (like the type and color of someone's car, which was described at least four times for no purpose).
I won't say steer clear of this book, but I can't say pick it up either.
January 3, 2020
oof, no.. If you're going to self-publish you need an editor. If you're going to self publish a novel you wrote in a non-native language you need even more help. This book got none of that. If I can tell how badly this needed a native speaker's eyeball as well as the talents of a copy editor in the first couple of pages (generally the most heavily re-written section in books) then it is not a good sign for the rest of the novel.
March 22, 2017
*** 3 Cranky Stars ***
Anya, traumatized by the murder of her grandfather, spends her days drinking her pain away on a small farm in Russia.
Visited by a strange man in a small cafe, a destiny unfolds. The man isn't an ordinary human, he's Tuoni, a Finnish God, who informs Anya that the fate of worlds rests on her novice shoulders.
Enter: Yvan, a Prince from the otherworld, who not only has a passenger, but also, a host of enemies lining up against him. He is both a boon and a bane to Anya. His presence sets off a chain of events, which throws Anya headlong into not only trouble, but her history and destiny.
I actually enjoyed this book. I liked the languid writing style and the work's foundation on Nordic and Russian mythology.
From zero to twenty percent, this book had me enthralled and then it went off the boil. It also became repetitive: Anya drinks, Anya is untrained, and yet, not a lot is done to fix the issues.
There is a massive cast of characters in this book and when they've been developed to a level you're interested in their fate, another one is introduced. Then the ones you've become interested in are relegated to background furniture. In fact, new characters were still being introduced at ninety percent of the book.
I also felt that this book missed the mark on action. There was great set up and then it was over all too quickly. I really did feel that this was a missed opportunity to really nail it.
In saying the above, I liked Anya and Yvan. Anya, for all her faults, was witty and brave. I loved the use of Nordic and Russian mythology in this work. I also thoroughly enjoyed the setting in Russia and Paris, which made a welcome change to what I'm used to reading.
December 27, 2023
Loved!
Excellent world building and storyline that weaves through the perspectives of all the major key players. It only has a few lulls and keeps good momentum. The integration of various mythos (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Native American) was very interesting. I loved it, but definitely not spicy if you were expecting similar to the authors other books.
Excellent world building and storyline that weaves through the perspectives of all the major key players. It only has a few lulls and keeps good momentum. The integration of various mythos (Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Native American) was very interesting. I loved it, but definitely not spicy if you were expecting similar to the authors other books.
August 29, 2021
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Cry of the Firebird is a modern urban fantasy set in the Karelian area (formerly Finnish and now Russian controlled). The protagonist is a very unpleasant, incredibly rude, and bone dead stupid drunk who spends most of her time hampering a magical prince desperately trying to survive. The Finnish and Russian folklore elements are intriguing but completely destroyed by pedantic writing, use of every cliché in the YA romance book, and poor pacing.Story: Anya spends her days at her remote farm mourning the loss of her father and then uncle. When she is having dinner at a local cafe in town, the Finnish god of death visits her and tells her that she is the new guardian of the gates between the mortal and magical world. She will need to use her hidden magic to keep the realms in check. He gives her a mysterious rock and leaves without answering any of her questions. As Anya begins to explore her Uncle's belongings for help in learning more about the role she inherited from him at his death, she accidentally causes the rock to 'hatch' and a firebird appears. Turns out a prince's soul and the firebird were merged at one time and he is being hunted by his brother, who is bent on a mysterious vengeance. The prince calls on Anya to help him.
First and foremost, the YA clichés were ridiculous in number here. The girl who is a unique snowflake, she inherits magical abilities suddenly she needs to learn to use, no one bothered to tell her she was a unique snowflake despite it clearly being a life-threatening situation, a prince with a heart of gold who inexplicably falls madly in love with her despite her being incredibly rude and unlikable, the quest road trip that will cause the two to fall in love, etc. etc. I could go on but it was just ridiculous how the originality of blending Finnish and Russian folklore was lost in the hoary cliched writing.
As annoying as the above was, the problem of the heroine being bone dead stupid was incredibly disenfranchising. At points, I was rolling my eyes and groaning so much with the stupid things she said and did that I put the book down and didn't come back to it for a week. If ever there was a prototype for the "too stupid to live" heroine, we have her here. And that wasn't even when she was drunk. Compound this with the problem of a prince who a) thinks the idiot can help him run from his brother, b) the idiot was the one who put him in danger in the first place, and c) he inexplicably trusts, loves, and doesn't mind that she is stupid and insults him all the time. E.g., they enter the magical world for the first time together and he suggests she be careful/not use her magic and she demands rudely along the lines of, "Why? Your brother is in the human world and can't get us here." To which the prince has to patiently explain that she will attract malevolent magical creatures (because, yes, she is in a new world whose rules she knows nothing about but it's ok to ignore warnings by someone who does know the danger). It is at that point I wish the magic world had killed her so the prince could actually get away safely from the idiot.
The pacing is slow and I never got a feel for the Karelian area of Finland. There is a lot of 'magic' in that beautiful area that Finland lost after WW2 and it seemed such a waste to see so little of it. As well, I would have wished the story was set in the past and not the present. The present wasn't really needed and the telephones, cars, cafes, etc. were jarring.
In all, I want to read about heroines who use their intelligence and strength of character to solve conflicts. The YA cliche of heroines being handed magical skills and a milquetoast hero to save them from themselves is just lazy writing. Even the magical creatures felt juvenile. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.
October 21, 2021
As soon as I saw that this was set in Russia and was inspired by Russian and Finnish folklore, I knew I had to request a copy of this book. The story started out promising, but I started to quickly lose interest about two thirds of the way through.
After Anya’s grandfather dies, her life drastically changes when she’s approached by a stranger in her village’s cafe. Honestly, everything was going fine until they introduced the love interest and it turned out he’s immortal, has known her since she was a little kid and fell in love with her when she turned twenty-seven. Maybe this is a personal preference but falling for someone you met when they were a child is a big no for me. I also found him very possessive over Anya and everyone seemed to try to justify his toxic behavior because it was his first relationship? No, no, no. Especially when you have a much suitable lover right in front of you.
As stated before, Cry of the Firebird is targeted as Russian and Finnish folklore, yet as the story progresses it is mixed with Greek and Norse mythologies and other fables and as much as I enjoy reading about them, it got to a point it was too much to keep up. I felt like we didn’t get the chance to get to know the characters properly before being handed a new character from a totally different lore. In my opinion we could have waited until the next books to be introduced to some of the characters.
The pace was slow, and I was looking for some action that wasn’t delivered, which made me not really care about what was happening. Overall, I enjoyed the story but after some time I just couldn’t wait to read the whole thing to get it over with.
The main characters were very immature. Their interactions mainly focused on their physical appearance/attractiveness or the love interest’s jealousy and possessiveness over Anya.
One of the things that also bothered me were grammar mistakes. I understand that books go through proof reading before being published to avoid any of those, but this one is a new edition as it was already published for the first time in 2014 so they should have been fixed already.
Unfortunately, I will not be continuing reading this series.
I received an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you BHC Press and Netgalley!
After Anya’s grandfather dies, her life drastically changes when she’s approached by a stranger in her village’s cafe. Honestly, everything was going fine until they introduced the love interest and it turned out he’s immortal, has known her since she was a little kid and fell in love with her when she turned twenty-seven. Maybe this is a personal preference but falling for someone you met when they were a child is a big no for me. I also found him very possessive over Anya and everyone seemed to try to justify his toxic behavior because it was his first relationship? No, no, no. Especially when you have a much suitable lover right in front of you.
As stated before, Cry of the Firebird is targeted as Russian and Finnish folklore, yet as the story progresses it is mixed with Greek and Norse mythologies and other fables and as much as I enjoy reading about them, it got to a point it was too much to keep up. I felt like we didn’t get the chance to get to know the characters properly before being handed a new character from a totally different lore. In my opinion we could have waited until the next books to be introduced to some of the characters.
The pace was slow, and I was looking for some action that wasn’t delivered, which made me not really care about what was happening. Overall, I enjoyed the story but after some time I just couldn’t wait to read the whole thing to get it over with.
The main characters were very immature. Their interactions mainly focused on their physical appearance/attractiveness or the love interest’s jealousy and possessiveness over Anya.
One of the things that also bothered me were grammar mistakes. I understand that books go through proof reading before being published to avoid any of those, but this one is a new edition as it was already published for the first time in 2014 so they should have been fixed already.
Unfortunately, I will not be continuing reading this series.
I received an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review. Thank you BHC Press and Netgalley!
May 5, 2016
3.5*
The good
Let me start with a compliment to Ms Kuivalainen - Cry of the Firebird was an interesting concept with fascinating intertwining of mythologies and legends from different cultures . I was raised on Russian Skazki and found this foray in to Russian and Finnish folklore well told, respectful and vastly knowledgeable.
Not so good.
I found the pace of this novel too even, slow and plodding, lacking any tension or a build-up to the final confrontation, which was totally without any impact. For a story in which a lot suppose to happen, there was just very little actually happening. This is not a short book and most of it our protagonists spent running or hiding from evil pursuers while gathering the cast of supporting characters – even 80% in to the book we get someone new. For all the powers that this merry band of supernatural’s suppose to possess, it is surprising how often they had their assess kicked, and frankly, after a while the whole “must protect Anya” only plot purpose became a bit narrow.
The whole possible love triangle and romance was as tentative as mating between two porcupines. I think Ms Kuivalainen will greatly benefit from clearer definition of her target readers - as a mature reader, I found interaction between characters too formal, but at the same time slightly juvenile.
As a début novel, Cry of the Firebird showed great potential of a talented, creative writer. Ms Kuivalainen already covered “interesting” aspect of the storytelling, and I am sure that with continuingly improving her craft, she will progress to “exciting” by leaps and bounce.
The good
Let me start with a compliment to Ms Kuivalainen - Cry of the Firebird was an interesting concept with fascinating intertwining of mythologies and legends from different cultures . I was raised on Russian Skazki and found this foray in to Russian and Finnish folklore well told, respectful and vastly knowledgeable.
Not so good.
I found the pace of this novel too even, slow and plodding, lacking any tension or a build-up to the final confrontation, which was totally without any impact. For a story in which a lot suppose to happen, there was just very little actually happening. This is not a short book and most of it our protagonists spent running or hiding from evil pursuers while gathering the cast of supporting characters – even 80% in to the book we get someone new. For all the powers that this merry band of supernatural’s suppose to possess, it is surprising how often they had their assess kicked, and frankly, after a while the whole “must protect Anya” only plot purpose became a bit narrow.
The whole possible love triangle and romance was as tentative as mating between two porcupines. I think Ms Kuivalainen will greatly benefit from clearer definition of her target readers - as a mature reader, I found interaction between characters too formal, but at the same time slightly juvenile.
As a début novel, Cry of the Firebird showed great potential of a talented, creative writer. Ms Kuivalainen already covered “interesting” aspect of the storytelling, and I am sure that with continuingly improving her craft, she will progress to “exciting” by leaps and bounce.
January 4, 2022
Wow! This book was so so good. I enjoyed this lot. Being a re- released version I am glad I came across this.
Anya is descendant of Yanka and her life changes after the death of her grandfather Eikki. She doesn't know how powerful she is with all her magic buried deep inside and memory spell being casted on her. It all changes with a stranger coming to her. She is your chosen one and I loved her character. With Firebird on her side lot of things are going to happen.
Throughout this book and Anya's journey we meet all sorts of creatures and other characters that come together against a bloodbath that is coming. I liked each one of them. They all had a small story or incident of their own which makes it more interesting.
This is inspired by Finnish and Russian mythology and I can't wait to read more about it. The writing was easy, smooth flowing and good with a surprise element throughout the book and the cliffhanger, omg! Can I please get the second book soon. Filled with action, thrill, twists and turns, I do recommend this paranormal fantasy.
Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this in exchange of honest review.
Anya is descendant of Yanka and her life changes after the death of her grandfather Eikki. She doesn't know how powerful she is with all her magic buried deep inside and memory spell being casted on her. It all changes with a stranger coming to her. She is your chosen one and I loved her character. With Firebird on her side lot of things are going to happen.
Throughout this book and Anya's journey we meet all sorts of creatures and other characters that come together against a bloodbath that is coming. I liked each one of them. They all had a small story or incident of their own which makes it more interesting.
This is inspired by Finnish and Russian mythology and I can't wait to read more about it. The writing was easy, smooth flowing and good with a surprise element throughout the book and the cliffhanger, omg! Can I please get the second book soon. Filled with action, thrill, twists and turns, I do recommend this paranormal fantasy.
Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this in exchange of honest review.
December 26, 2014
Russian fantasy - never knew what I was missing.
Loved this book! Loved the characters; all so strong and confident. No simpering Damsels in Distress here. Great interactions and relationships. An Aussie superhero!! Gotta be a first!!
Such a variety of supernatural beings to choose from, and the action just doesn't let up. Can't wait for the next exciting episode.
December 23, 2014
I found this absolutely amazing! The characters are so well crafted it is like you are living vicariously through them. Loved every minute of reading it and wish I could reread it for the first time again!
March 20, 2016
Brilliant
Took away on an adventure holiday for an easy read to pick up an put down good story an no second guessing what happens next brilliant
Took away on an adventure holiday for an easy read to pick up an put down good story an no second guessing what happens next brilliant
October 11, 2021
Amy Kuivalainen (Magicians of Venice series) proves her world building abilities are as strong as ever with her new series, Firebird Faerie Tales. In this first book we meet Anya, a young woman who has been having a rough time. She's trying to make a go of her grandfather's farm in Russia after his death but her biggest success is in emptying vodka bottles. Then one day Tuoni, the Finnish God of the Dead appears to explain the facts of her life to her: her family has long been gatekeepers between the mortal world and a magical world and if she doesn't wake up and learn how to use her magic and control the family's gate within the next six months it will fall apart and allow all kinds of otherworldly creature free reign in the human world. Although on the bright side, magic users will probably brutally kill her for her magic way before then. Good luck. He also gives Anya a stone that he says has been in her family for centuries and is now hers to care for. Anya would love to pretend this is all a vodka fueled dream except that night the stone breaks and a firebird hatches out of it. Who then turns into a man. And that is the most normal thing Anya experiences for awhile.
Cry of the Firebird throws Anya and the reader into the deep end of a world that mixes "normal" and magic in intriguing blends. Fortunately, you don't need to know anything about Russian or Finnish fairy tales to understand, let alone enjoy, the story. Along the way Anya gathers unlikely friends and allies as she tries to learn enough about her magic to not get herself or anyone else killed and prepare to close her family's gate- especially as it becomes clear that the gate is unravelling faster than Tuoni had first predicted. Like in the Magicians of Venice series, Kuivalainen gathers an ensemble cast with radically different abilities, characters, and reasons for being together that works really well when a description of them suggest they wouldn't. Here the cast is larger and more varied and we get to know more of them right away, romantic (or at least sexual) interests flare faster, and fight scenes are epic. Light and Dark are not quite what you think they are and there is always a price to be paid.
Kuivalainen takes traditional myths and turns them into something uniquely her own in this new and engrossing novel. I already can't wait for book two in the series and am hoping someone will discover how brilliant all her books would be on Netflix.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Cry of the Firebird throws Anya and the reader into the deep end of a world that mixes "normal" and magic in intriguing blends. Fortunately, you don't need to know anything about Russian or Finnish fairy tales to understand, let alone enjoy, the story. Along the way Anya gathers unlikely friends and allies as she tries to learn enough about her magic to not get herself or anyone else killed and prepare to close her family's gate- especially as it becomes clear that the gate is unravelling faster than Tuoni had first predicted. Like in the Magicians of Venice series, Kuivalainen gathers an ensemble cast with radically different abilities, characters, and reasons for being together that works really well when a description of them suggest they wouldn't. Here the cast is larger and more varied and we get to know more of them right away, romantic (or at least sexual) interests flare faster, and fight scenes are epic. Light and Dark are not quite what you think they are and there is always a price to be paid.
Kuivalainen takes traditional myths and turns them into something uniquely her own in this new and engrossing novel. I already can't wait for book two in the series and am hoping someone will discover how brilliant all her books would be on Netflix.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
didn-t-finish
October 9, 2021I did not enjoy this book. I got about 15% of the way into it before finally deciding to DNF it.
I had a lot of problems with the beginning of this book. Part of my issue is due to misinterpreting the blurb. This book takes place in the present day and the current world. It follows the story of 27 year-old Anya who is running her family farm on her own after her grandfather passed away. The blurb makes it sound like this is going to be an old-timey fairy tale. I didn't understand when it said it was updated to be modern that that was what it actually meant. I was thinking perhaps a little more feminist with a diverse cast of characters. So that started me off with a bad taste in my mouth because I hate when books are falsely advertised. In this case, it wasn't exactly falsely advertised, I just misunderstood based on the rest of the blurb.
Anyway, I would have been able to overlook that were it not for the writing style. The story is so clunky and blunt. Basically the whole first 15% is just straight info dump. It feels like the type of story where we are told that the MC is smart and clever and pretty but that never actually translates to the reader seeing that on the page. Just the way that she was introduced to her magical heritage was really frustrating bc this random death god just sits her down in a coffee shop, blurts everything out, then leaves. I don't know it just felt really weird. Then we have the firebird, and all those interactions just felt very forced and left me feeling frustrated.
I knew if I continued this would turn into a hate read, which I didn't want because the blurb sounded so magical, and I am sure there are paranormal romance readers out there who will enjoy this. I would like to thank BHC Press and NetGalley for my e-ARC. This book releases on 10/14/2021.
I had a lot of problems with the beginning of this book. Part of my issue is due to misinterpreting the blurb. This book takes place in the present day and the current world. It follows the story of 27 year-old Anya who is running her family farm on her own after her grandfather passed away. The blurb makes it sound like this is going to be an old-timey fairy tale. I didn't understand when it said it was updated to be modern that that was what it actually meant. I was thinking perhaps a little more feminist with a diverse cast of characters. So that started me off with a bad taste in my mouth because I hate when books are falsely advertised. In this case, it wasn't exactly falsely advertised, I just misunderstood based on the rest of the blurb.
Anyway, I would have been able to overlook that were it not for the writing style. The story is so clunky and blunt. Basically the whole first 15% is just straight info dump. It feels like the type of story where we are told that the MC is smart and clever and pretty but that never actually translates to the reader seeing that on the page. Just the way that she was introduced to her magical heritage was really frustrating bc this random death god just sits her down in a coffee shop, blurts everything out, then leaves. I don't know it just felt really weird. Then we have the firebird, and all those interactions just felt very forced and left me feeling frustrated.
I knew if I continued this would turn into a hate read, which I didn't want because the blurb sounded so magical, and I am sure there are paranormal romance readers out there who will enjoy this. I would like to thank BHC Press and NetGalley for my e-ARC. This book releases on 10/14/2021.
September 21, 2022
I'm not sure whether it's an updated version or an edited one instead but a newer version was released last year which is the one I read.
I really liked the author's other series, The magicians of Venice so when I saw this series on Netgalley, I assumed it was a recent release (it's not of course) and was excited for it. I clearly didn't enjoy it as much for several reasons but if I take into account the release dates of both series, the author clearly have improved her writing style by a lot.
As for my issues with the book, I was disappointed since Anya is 27 (I'm 27 as of my time of reading) and she doesn't really act her age half the time (I would know since I thought I was worse but clearly not). The series felt closer to being YA than NA or adult. I wasn't really feeling the gang either and wasn't interested in the characters beyond Cerise and Isabelle. As for the romance, I wasn't into any of the ships nor felt any chemistry between them.
As for the whole plot and story, I was bored half the time since most of the book was just them running and fighting small fights here and there (the battles were very short even until the last chapter) and their hideout kept being broken into. I know Anya is learning her magic but I started to get tired of her being a damsel in distress most of the time and half the characters fainting to get into the next scene. Don't get started on why everyone is naked half the time in this book. Yvan seemed to suddenly vanish at moments since Anya is so focused on her romance with Trajan and as an ace, I'll never risk my ass for anyone romantically (just saying).
Overall, the premise was interesting but I wasn't a fan of the execution. I was hoping more out of the folklore aspect beyond just the monsters/fantastical beings. I'll most likely read the next book to see if things get better (hopefully it does) especially with the characters and their relationships.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
I really liked the author's other series, The magicians of Venice so when I saw this series on Netgalley, I assumed it was a recent release (it's not of course) and was excited for it. I clearly didn't enjoy it as much for several reasons but if I take into account the release dates of both series, the author clearly have improved her writing style by a lot.
As for my issues with the book, I was disappointed since Anya is 27 (I'm 27 as of my time of reading) and she doesn't really act her age half the time (I would know since I thought I was worse but clearly not). The series felt closer to being YA than NA or adult. I wasn't really feeling the gang either and wasn't interested in the characters beyond Cerise and Isabelle. As for the romance, I wasn't into any of the ships nor felt any chemistry between them.
As for the whole plot and story, I was bored half the time since most of the book was just them running and fighting small fights here and there (the battles were very short even until the last chapter) and their hideout kept being broken into. I know Anya is learning her magic but I started to get tired of her being a damsel in distress most of the time and half the characters fainting to get into the next scene. Don't get started on why everyone is naked half the time in this book. Yvan seemed to suddenly vanish at moments since Anya is so focused on her romance with Trajan and as an ace, I'll never risk my ass for anyone romantically (just saying).
Overall, the premise was interesting but I wasn't a fan of the execution. I was hoping more out of the folklore aspect beyond just the monsters/fantastical beings. I'll most likely read the next book to see if things get better (hopefully it does) especially with the characters and their relationships.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.
August 19, 2021
I read the new edition that is being released in October 2021. From what I understand, it's a significant rewrite of the original, which I haven't read.
I'm a big fan of Amy Kuivalainen's Magicians of Venice series, which is peak smart-girl-heroine vibes (think of Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series, Deborah Harkness's Discovery of Witches, A.J. Hackwith's Hell's Library series, or Stephanie Mirro's Immortal Relics series) and I'm a big fan of modern urban fantasy retellings of classic folklore, so I am absolutely here for this series.
Kuivalainen originally released this series a few years ago, but after the success of her Magicians of Venice series, it is getting a total re-do. It was aquired by BHC Press and is undergoing a rewrite. I own the original edition, but hadn't read it yet. When I heard she was rewriting them, I practiced superhuman powers of patience and decided to hold off on reading them.
So, to my delight, I received an advanced reader copy of book one, Cry of the Firebird, and read it in a single day.
It was everything I'd hoped it to be.
Our heroine, Anya, is a drunk. Living alone on her late grandfather's farm in Karelia, she doesn't expect much more from her life than rough farmwork during the day and falling asleep in a vodka stupor. But one day, Death himself shows up in a nice suit and informs her that he's not the only odd creature who would be visiting her in the next few days, and that she has a magical heritage that comes with some serious obligations.
What ensues is an engrossing tale of good versus evil played out across Europe and with a quick-growing cast of companions. While the characters are well-fleshed out and relatable, it is sometimes frustrating to become invested in one character's arc and then swiftly switch to the next. However, the story never drags, and is never a bore, and when this book ended I was hungry for the next.
Strongly recommended for fans of fantasy sagas or urban fantasy.
arc received from the publisher for review
I'm a big fan of Amy Kuivalainen's Magicians of Venice series, which is peak smart-girl-heroine vibes (think of Genevieve Cogman's Invisible Library series, Deborah Harkness's Discovery of Witches, A.J. Hackwith's Hell's Library series, or Stephanie Mirro's Immortal Relics series) and I'm a big fan of modern urban fantasy retellings of classic folklore, so I am absolutely here for this series.
Kuivalainen originally released this series a few years ago, but after the success of her Magicians of Venice series, it is getting a total re-do. It was aquired by BHC Press and is undergoing a rewrite. I own the original edition, but hadn't read it yet. When I heard she was rewriting them, I practiced superhuman powers of patience and decided to hold off on reading them.
So, to my delight, I received an advanced reader copy of book one, Cry of the Firebird, and read it in a single day.
It was everything I'd hoped it to be.
Our heroine, Anya, is a drunk. Living alone on her late grandfather's farm in Karelia, she doesn't expect much more from her life than rough farmwork during the day and falling asleep in a vodka stupor. But one day, Death himself shows up in a nice suit and informs her that he's not the only odd creature who would be visiting her in the next few days, and that she has a magical heritage that comes with some serious obligations.
What ensues is an engrossing tale of good versus evil played out across Europe and with a quick-growing cast of companions. While the characters are well-fleshed out and relatable, it is sometimes frustrating to become invested in one character's arc and then swiftly switch to the next. However, the story never drags, and is never a bore, and when this book ended I was hungry for the next.
Strongly recommended for fans of fantasy sagas or urban fantasy.
arc received from the publisher for review
Read
October 26, 2024I read the authors Blood Lake trilogy and loved it. This is apparently her debut novel and boy is it rough. The heroine is young and petulant and willfully obtuse like a child. She argues just to argue and nearly gets them killed again and again. She is an alcoholic and the others can tell but just keep giving her vodka. She’s old enough to not behave like a kid.
She and Yvan are developing a friendship when they go to Trajan for help. She and Trajan have sparks and so a love triangle seems imminent and I’m not down for that.
I echo other reviews. Too many characters and too much going on. It’s too hard to keep up with.
DNF 29%
She and Yvan are developing a friendship when they go to Trajan for help. She and Trajan have sparks and so a love triangle seems imminent and I’m not down for that.
I echo other reviews. Too many characters and too much going on. It’s too hard to keep up with.
DNF 29%
August 20, 2019
A captivating paranormal fantasy. I was in the mood for something based on Norse & Russian fairytales & in that regard, it did not disappoint. It is fast-paced & the pages really flew by. However, the writing is quite choppy & I feel the story barely scratches the surface of what could have been possible with the mythology and colorful characters. Anya's relationships with the others were also a little confusing at times (throughout the book, three men seem to fall in love with her). I would have appreciated more depth, but it was still quite an enjoyable read.
November 1, 2018
Whoa
Loved the story telling and the details but holy character overload! So many characters. Different points of view but it all fit.
Loved the story telling and the details but holy character overload! So many characters. Different points of view but it all fit.
October 12, 2021
First, let me say that I was given an early reviewer copy of this in exchange for an honest review (through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program).
Next - wow. The skill with which the author wove together myths, mysticism, and folklore is amazing. I have FEELINGS about one of the relationships that's developed and am definitely Team Firebird (not Team Thanatos), but it's still gorgeously written. I had an occasional feeling that it could have been streamlined a little, but since this is the first book of a series those seemingly extraneous bits could be leading to important story points later in the series.
Over all - yes. Read this book. Loved it and plan to buy a hard copy of it when it's released.
Sidenote: I HATE when publishers give you a pdf ARC - so easy to lose your place if you close it by accident.
Really a 4.5 star review.
Next - wow. The skill with which the author wove together myths, mysticism, and folklore is amazing. I have FEELINGS about one of the relationships that's developed and am definitely Team Firebird (not Team Thanatos), but it's still gorgeously written. I had an occasional feeling that it could have been streamlined a little, but since this is the first book of a series those seemingly extraneous bits could be leading to important story points later in the series.
Over all - yes. Read this book. Loved it and plan to buy a hard copy of it when it's released.
Sidenote: I HATE when publishers give you a pdf ARC - so easy to lose your place if you close it by accident.
Really a 4.5 star review.
January 28, 2018
This was one of those books that had so much potential but just didn’t hit the mark.
Cry Of The Firebird has a really interesting inspiration taken from Russian and Finnish folklore. These were the aspects of the story i loved the most. The beautiful settings of Russian woods and Sami traditions. Tales of gods and rune stones. It was all so interesting and i loved how it was incorporated into the story. Where this book went wrong was that all the hard work put into the world building and folklore was completely lost by the onslaught of tropes and unnecessary plot.
The first 100 or so pages of this has a beautiful woodland setting and a dark mysterious tone which made it a fast paced and interesting read, after that point though we were suddenly thrown into the modern day setting of Paris and Moscow with fancy houses that just ended up feeling very jarring. The inevitable love triangle was introduced which was eye roll worthy and completely turned me off from the plot and the romance just got taken over by it.
A few things i found really problematic with this read was the other characters treatment of the main character. Throughout the entire book they were so patronising and demeaning it would seem they were looking after a toddler not a supposedly hugely powerful lead character.
I felt the use of the term “bitch” was wildly overused and the sexual flirtations between characters felt very possessive and un consented which i really didn’t appreciate.
Overall this ended up being a really hard book to read. The first 100 pages i really liked and if it had carried on like in did i would have loved this book! However, this book just didn’t live up to it’s potential, could have been at least 150 pages shorter and really needs to brach out from the ya tropes.
Cry Of The Firebird has a really interesting inspiration taken from Russian and Finnish folklore. These were the aspects of the story i loved the most. The beautiful settings of Russian woods and Sami traditions. Tales of gods and rune stones. It was all so interesting and i loved how it was incorporated into the story. Where this book went wrong was that all the hard work put into the world building and folklore was completely lost by the onslaught of tropes and unnecessary plot.
The first 100 or so pages of this has a beautiful woodland setting and a dark mysterious tone which made it a fast paced and interesting read, after that point though we were suddenly thrown into the modern day setting of Paris and Moscow with fancy houses that just ended up feeling very jarring. The inevitable love triangle was introduced which was eye roll worthy and completely turned me off from the plot and the romance just got taken over by it.
A few things i found really problematic with this read was the other characters treatment of the main character. Throughout the entire book they were so patronising and demeaning it would seem they were looking after a toddler not a supposedly hugely powerful lead character.
I felt the use of the term “bitch” was wildly overused and the sexual flirtations between characters felt very possessive and un consented which i really didn’t appreciate.
Overall this ended up being a really hard book to read. The first 100 pages i really liked and if it had carried on like in did i would have loved this book! However, this book just didn’t live up to it’s potential, could have been at least 150 pages shorter and really needs to brach out from the ya tropes.
June 5, 2022
Cry of the Firebird is an urban fantasy with the most diverse, unique worldbuilding. Kuivalainen blends a variety of myths and legends, pulling from Finnish, Russian, and indigenous cultures. You can tell the book is well-researched, but the presentation of information never feels overdone.
The book includes multiple POVs, various characters, and an exciting plot. The story is very character driven, shaped by romance and found family relationships. As always, Kuivalainen ensures the main characters are in their late twenties. It’s a story for adults who still dream of going to Hogwarts or stepping into the wardrobe.
At times, I did wish the the story was more fleshed out. Some characters deserved more descriptors and backstory. I also felt the female characters were dealt a terrible hand. Each felt one-dimensional, like damsels in distress whose entire character arc was dependent on men. This is in stark contrast to the women in Kuivalainen’s other series, The Magicians of Venice.
Still the push to close the gates and fend off the enemies at large kept me interested. And after the cliffhanger ending, I remain eager for book two.
The book includes multiple POVs, various characters, and an exciting plot. The story is very character driven, shaped by romance and found family relationships. As always, Kuivalainen ensures the main characters are in their late twenties. It’s a story for adults who still dream of going to Hogwarts or stepping into the wardrobe.
At times, I did wish the the story was more fleshed out. Some characters deserved more descriptors and backstory. I also felt the female characters were dealt a terrible hand. Each felt one-dimensional, like damsels in distress whose entire character arc was dependent on men. This is in stark contrast to the women in Kuivalainen’s other series, The Magicians of Venice.
Still the push to close the gates and fend off the enemies at large kept me interested. And after the cliffhanger ending, I remain eager for book two.
May 26, 2015
This is Amy Kuivalainen 's first book, and is the first in a series. Like many first books, it has some rough spots, such as being a bit slow to start, and the narrator driven, third-person-from-on-high intervals seem a bit odd at first. The hardest part was that she seemed, at first, to be trying to make her heroine unlikeable; but you get past all that and Anya becomes a strong, albeit confused, character.
This story takes place in a world where the world of, primarily Russian, fairy tales and the real world sit next to each other, with gateways protected by gatekeepers - most of whom come from long lineages of gatekeepers.
Anya is different only in that all of her family is dead and she has never been trained, shown or known about the magic in her family.
Her real adventures begin when she finds a firebird in her cabin.
The characterizations are well done, the dialog is fun, and I very much enjoyed this book once I was past the first couple of chapters.
I would recommend this book, and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
This story takes place in a world where the world of, primarily Russian, fairy tales and the real world sit next to each other, with gateways protected by gatekeepers - most of whom come from long lineages of gatekeepers.
Anya is different only in that all of her family is dead and she has never been trained, shown or known about the magic in her family.
Her real adventures begin when she finds a firebird in her cabin.
The characterizations are well done, the dialog is fun, and I very much enjoyed this book once I was past the first couple of chapters.
I would recommend this book, and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
July 30, 2017
I really loved this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series. Cry of the Firebird is a refreshing modern urban fantasy. Its full of cool references to all sorts of magic, mythical creatures and cultural fairytales very entertaining as you never know what to expect next!
Its dark, funny, romantic and action packed! A real page turner.
Spoilers....
Anya, the main character, gets rudely taken out of her life and dumped in the middle of a crisis in which she needs to use power she doesn't know she has to save the world (sort of). I like that she doesn't immediately rise to the challenge, she has fear and doubt and more often than not, hides in the bottom of a vodka bottle. She isn't perfect and never tries to be which is refreshing for the hero urban fantasy genre.
There are lots of people that turn up to help her, everyone of them has a rich backstory that is fun to find out about. They have some issues getting this group together, there is some sexy little bits to keep it interesting, but they end up coming together for the common purpose of helping Anya.
Its dark, funny, romantic and action packed! A real page turner.
Spoilers....
Anya, the main character, gets rudely taken out of her life and dumped in the middle of a crisis in which she needs to use power she doesn't know she has to save the world (sort of). I like that she doesn't immediately rise to the challenge, she has fear and doubt and more often than not, hides in the bottom of a vodka bottle. She isn't perfect and never tries to be which is refreshing for the hero urban fantasy genre.
There are lots of people that turn up to help her, everyone of them has a rich backstory that is fun to find out about. They have some issues getting this group together, there is some sexy little bits to keep it interesting, but they end up coming together for the common purpose of helping Anya.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2015
Ok, I give up. I'm gonna have to DNF this (50%). Perhaps this is a 'it's me, not the book' situation, but I don't know. I thought the writing was fine. It was a bit stiff. There is a distinct lack of contractions, even in dialogue and it just felt overly formal in general. I also noticed a few missing comma. But all in all the writing was passable. But at 50% we're still just basically running around without purpose (being picked up and taken care of by one man after another), clumsily hinting at romance and maybe a love triangle, and meeting new characters. (At 50%! I'm of the opinion that by halfway I should know the cast by now, so that the story can progress beyond introductions and histories.) I'm sure there's a plot in the next 170 or so pages, but I'm done. I can't hang in any longer to find it.
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