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Ignite Duology
Ares
"Ares could feel it. He could feel it in the frantic snow and the biting wind that pummeled ice into his face. He felt his sister crying."
His sister can't tell. Not ever.
Ares is the son of the leading scientist in superhuman research, Dr. Hiram Bailey. His father thinks like everyone else. Supers are a stain on society.
But he doesn't know his own twins have powers.
Ares can keep a secret. But his sister? Her excitement over their powers just might make things dangerous for them both.
His sister can't tell. Not ever.
Ares is the son of the leading scientist in superhuman research, Dr. Hiram Bailey. His father thinks like everyone else. Supers are a stain on society.
But he doesn't know his own twins have powers.
Ares can keep a secret. But his sister? Her excitement over their powers just might make things dangerous for them both.
30 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2022
99 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Terese
2 books178 followersJenna Terese believes stories are powerful. That’s why she’s dedicated to creating fiction that will impact the world. You can find this INFP dreaming about the future, fangirling over her favorite books, geeking out about Marvel, playing piano, or sipping a chai tea latte as she writes sci-fi novels.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 25, 2022
❄️IT’S HERE!!❄️ Your favorite ice boy gets a prequel short story. 🥳 Many thanks to everyone who have been so supportive of this release! ❤️ Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3GZhDsU (Will there be pain and heartache? Why yes of course 😜)
#aresfanclub forever
#aresfanclub forever
February 16, 2022
Stars: 5
Synopsis: Ares and his twin sister Astrid have been tasked with a terrible secret...they, the children of superhuman scientist Dr. Hiram Bailey, have superpowers. And if their father finds out? Well, that won’t ever happen. Will it?
STOP IT, JENNA! YOU’RE BREAKING MY HEART!
Seriously, y’all, this short prequel to Ignite, Jenna Terese’s debut novel, shouldn’t have the power to rip my heart to shreds...but it does. In just a few pages, Jenna takes us back in time to Ares’ childhood...and to the day his world fell to pieces.
This thing is supercharged (no pun intended) with emotion. I could have cried, y’all! (Could have is serious for me, because I have only ever cried one and a half times while reading.) Somehow, Jenna packs it all in, creating a weapon of mass destruction and transmitting it to e-readers across the world.
Suffice to say, this is an epic short story (pain and heartache aside, of course). The development is spot-on, the flow is smooth, all that is on point. Of course, this really wouldn’t have the same affect or make total sense without reading Ignite first (first, because you must fall in love with Ares in Ignite; second, because this totally ruins the whole “Ares is Dr. Bailey’s son” plot twist, so…), but however you order things, it’s still amazing.
And can we all pause to appreciate how wonderfully Jenna wrote Ares’ voice? Like, I stink at writing kids—and I live with six of them—but I can recognize when someone has done a fantastic job of authentically and not awkwardly (I need a word for that...unawkwardly, perhaps?) writing the perspective of a child. Jenna did just that, so kudos, my friend!
Yeah, my heart is broken, but it’s a beautiful broken, if that’s possible.
All readers of Ignite and #aresfanclub, y’all need to read this. And bring a box of Kleenex and some duct tape...we can piece each other’s hearts back together with it.
Disclaimer: The lovely Jenna Terese supplied me with an ARC copy of this heartrending prequel. I wasn’t required to write a positive review, and all those tearful opinions expressed above are my own.
Synopsis: Ares and his twin sister Astrid have been tasked with a terrible secret...they, the children of superhuman scientist Dr. Hiram Bailey, have superpowers. And if their father finds out? Well, that won’t ever happen. Will it?
STOP IT, JENNA! YOU’RE BREAKING MY HEART!
Seriously, y’all, this short prequel to Ignite, Jenna Terese’s debut novel, shouldn’t have the power to rip my heart to shreds...but it does. In just a few pages, Jenna takes us back in time to Ares’ childhood...and to the day his world fell to pieces.
This thing is supercharged (no pun intended) with emotion. I could have cried, y’all! (Could have is serious for me, because I have only ever cried one and a half times while reading.) Somehow, Jenna packs it all in, creating a weapon of mass destruction and transmitting it to e-readers across the world.
Suffice to say, this is an epic short story (pain and heartache aside, of course). The development is spot-on, the flow is smooth, all that is on point. Of course, this really wouldn’t have the same affect or make total sense without reading Ignite first (first, because you must fall in love with Ares in Ignite; second, because this totally ruins the whole “Ares is Dr. Bailey’s son” plot twist, so…), but however you order things, it’s still amazing.
And can we all pause to appreciate how wonderfully Jenna wrote Ares’ voice? Like, I stink at writing kids—and I live with six of them—but I can recognize when someone has done a fantastic job of authentically and not awkwardly (I need a word for that...unawkwardly, perhaps?) writing the perspective of a child. Jenna did just that, so kudos, my friend!
Yeah, my heart is broken, but it’s a beautiful broken, if that’s possible.
All readers of Ignite and #aresfanclub, y’all need to read this. And bring a box of Kleenex and some duct tape...we can piece each other’s hearts back together with it.
Disclaimer: The lovely Jenna Terese supplied me with an ARC copy of this heartrending prequel. I wasn’t required to write a positive review, and all those tearful opinions expressed above are my own.
February 18, 2022
Characters: Ares was such a sweet kid. I really liked how protective he was toward his twin sister. Now I'm interested to see the continuation of his story in Ignite.
Language: Clean.
Moral: I don't remember a specific moral.
Plot: I try not to discuss plots too much in short stories because there's too much of an opportunity to give things away, but I'll just say that this one kept my attention throughout.
Romance: Clean. This story didn't contain any romance.
Writing: This is the first story I've read by Jenna Terese. I really enjoyed her writing style, and I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
Overall: Ares was a quick, entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy clean fiction and superhero stories.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Language: Clean.
Moral: I don't remember a specific moral.
Plot: I try not to discuss plots too much in short stories because there's too much of an opportunity to give things away, but I'll just say that this one kept my attention throughout.
Romance: Clean. This story didn't contain any romance.
Writing: This is the first story I've read by Jenna Terese. I really enjoyed her writing style, and I'm looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
Overall: Ares was a quick, entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy clean fiction and superhero stories.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
March 2, 2022
My oh my, where do I begin?
I'm not too much of a fan of short stories because they're just so short. Typically, I think that some authors don't know how to make them interesting enough with the short amount. However, this is one of the best short stories I've ever written. (And no, I'm not being bias because Ares is my favorite character. xD)
I love how descriptive the story is. Once you start reading the first page, you're immediately swooped into the story. The setting is vivid and captivating. And to be honest, Ares and Astrid were developed so well, I was flabbergasted at the fact that they were 5! I literally had to stop reading for a minute to let that soak in haha.
The entire storyline is just profound and seriously will make you cry your eyes out. I loved how fast paced it was and honestly, it did not seem like it was only 15 pages; it was so well-developed! I seriously wish that it was longer just because (haha!), but I loved this so much still.
I highly recommend checking it out!
I'm not too much of a fan of short stories because they're just so short. Typically, I think that some authors don't know how to make them interesting enough with the short amount. However, this is one of the best short stories I've ever written. (And no, I'm not being bias because Ares is my favorite character. xD)
I love how descriptive the story is. Once you start reading the first page, you're immediately swooped into the story. The setting is vivid and captivating. And to be honest, Ares and Astrid were developed so well, I was flabbergasted at the fact that they were 5! I literally had to stop reading for a minute to let that soak in haha.
The entire storyline is just profound and seriously will make you cry your eyes out. I loved how fast paced it was and honestly, it did not seem like it was only 15 pages; it was so well-developed! I seriously wish that it was longer just because (haha!), but I loved this so much still.
I highly recommend checking it out!
March 12, 2022
Whelp. It's been a minute since I've written any book reviews. BUT Y'ALL. This book Ares by Jenna Terese DESERVES one. I mean...I've read it twice since it came out in February. (And am tempted to read it again in honor of the snowy weather at my place today.) ;) But let's dive into this review shall we? (Note: This review is spoiler clean, but if you'd like to read an in depth review with spoilers I wrote one on my blog: https://gloryforgodalone.blogspot.com...)
The Plot
The plot was fairly simple and I honestly can't say too much without giving anything away, but for a short story it was SO. WELL. DONE. It didn't drag or feel too rushed and seemed to include the most important things in it that will affect the Ignite series the most!!! It also kept me TOTALLY HOOKED from the first word to the acknowledgments page and I read it in one sitting! (Which...like, wasn't super hard since it's a short story (as previously mentioned) but STILL.) And I, overall, LOVED learning about the backstory of Ares' powers!!! Jenna did a FABULOUS job with it and I was very satisfied with how it ended up! (For the backstory that is...the ending, well, I'll just say I'm now impatiently on the edge of my seat for Ignite's sequel!) XD
The Characters
MEEP. *takes a deep breath* MEEP AGAIN.How I will get through this without having a mental breakdown, I do not know.
Ares
ARES IS ADORABLE. ARES IS BROKEN. ARES NEEDS A HUG. ARES IS MINE. Not kidding guys. If I had to choose a fictional dude to be my big bro, it's Ares all the way!!! He's such an AMAZING, protective, and caring brother to Astrid and ASLDKFJAKSLDJF I NEED TO SEE MORE OF THEM TOGETHER. Like SOOOOON.I'm looking at you Jenna XD Again, I can't say tooo much because of spoilers but trust me. If you read Ignite or if you read Ares do it for Ares. I beg of thee.
Astrid
*SOBS* ASTRID IS A CINNAMON ROLL WHO NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES. (I mean, Ares is a cinnamon roll too, but in a different manner.) BUT ASTRID. Goodness gracious, she's SO STINKIN' CUTE and I LOVE HER ALREADY. Her excitement and joy over her ice powers was so heartwarming and I absolutely NEED more of her as well. *huggles the sweet girl*
Content Cautions
None!! There was a smidgen "violence" (if you could even call it that) with a slight physical struggle between two people and it's clear that two of the characters have many verbal fights, but that's it!
THAT SAID. If you're an Ignite fan, you MUST read this book!!! Seriously, you will understand Ares so much more and greatly appreciate the work Jenna has put into his backstory!! YOU. WON'T. REGRET IT. *shoves book into your hands and disappears in a whirlwind of snow*
I want to give a HUGE thank you to the author who gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
The Plot
The plot was fairly simple and I honestly can't say too much without giving anything away, but for a short story it was SO. WELL. DONE. It didn't drag or feel too rushed and seemed to include the most important things in it that will affect the Ignite series the most!!! It also kept me TOTALLY HOOKED from the first word to the acknowledgments page and I read it in one sitting! (Which...like, wasn't super hard since it's a short story (as previously mentioned) but STILL.) And I, overall, LOVED learning about the backstory of Ares' powers!!! Jenna did a FABULOUS job with it and I was very satisfied with how it ended up! (For the backstory that is...the ending, well, I'll just say I'm now impatiently on the edge of my seat for Ignite's sequel!) XD
The Characters
MEEP. *takes a deep breath* MEEP AGAIN.
Ares
ARES IS ADORABLE. ARES IS BROKEN. ARES NEEDS A HUG. ARES IS MINE. Not kidding guys. If I had to choose a fictional dude to be my big bro, it's Ares all the way!!! He's such an AMAZING, protective, and caring brother to Astrid and ASLDKFJAKSLDJF I NEED TO SEE MORE OF THEM TOGETHER. Like SOOOOON.
Astrid
*SOBS* ASTRID IS A CINNAMON ROLL WHO NEEDS TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL TIMES. (I mean, Ares is a cinnamon roll too, but in a different manner.) BUT ASTRID. Goodness gracious, she's SO STINKIN' CUTE and I LOVE HER ALREADY. Her excitement and joy over her ice powers was so heartwarming and I absolutely NEED more of her as well. *huggles the sweet girl*
Content Cautions
None!! There was a smidgen "violence" (if you could even call it that) with a slight physical struggle between two people and it's clear that two of the characters have many verbal fights, but that's it!
THAT SAID. If you're an Ignite fan, you MUST read this book!!! Seriously, you will understand Ares so much more and greatly appreciate the work Jenna has put into his backstory!! YOU. WON'T. REGRET IT. *shoves book into your hands and disappears in a whirlwind of snow*
I want to give a HUGE thank you to the author who gave me a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.
February 28, 2022
4.5 stars
Wow, what a short story! I came into this not having read Ignite (sadly - I hope to change that sometime!), and while a few parts were a tiny bit confusing, it was still heartbreaking! While I'd definitely recommend reading Ignite first, there's still so much to enjoy in this one.
Characters: Ares was such a cute little guy! I'm not sure if I've ever read a book where the main character was only five years old, but hey, it worked. His little sister, Astrid, was also such a sweetheart. And they both acted like realistic kids. (Except for the superpowers, that is.) The parents ... yeah. That was rough. That's all I'm going to say there so I don't spoil everything.
Plot/Setting/Writing Style: The plot was pretty straight-forward, and there definitely was some suspense while you waited for the inevitable to happen - you just didn't know when it would come! The emotional impact of it all, though, was tough. I've never read anything quite like this story, so how the superpowers were addressed was interesting. And for the writing ... wow. The kids actually seemed like kids, and that's not an easy thing to do at all. That was superb.
Moral/Theme: This was where I would've liked to see a little more. Maybe just because it was a short story, and I didn't know the whole context of the rest of Ares' story, was the reason I kind of missed a theme or moral? I'm not sure, but that's the one area I would've preferred more - but then again, this a prequel and a short story.
Overall, this was an original, clean read. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Wow, what a short story! I came into this not having read Ignite (sadly - I hope to change that sometime!), and while a few parts were a tiny bit confusing, it was still heartbreaking! While I'd definitely recommend reading Ignite first, there's still so much to enjoy in this one.
Characters: Ares was such a cute little guy! I'm not sure if I've ever read a book where the main character was only five years old, but hey, it worked. His little sister, Astrid, was also such a sweetheart. And they both acted like realistic kids. (Except for the superpowers, that is.) The parents ... yeah. That was rough. That's all I'm going to say there so I don't spoil everything.
Plot/Setting/Writing Style: The plot was pretty straight-forward, and there definitely was some suspense while you waited for the inevitable to happen - you just didn't know when it would come! The emotional impact of it all, though, was tough. I've never read anything quite like this story, so how the superpowers were addressed was interesting. And for the writing ... wow. The kids actually seemed like kids, and that's not an easy thing to do at all. That was superb.
Moral/Theme: This was where I would've liked to see a little more. Maybe just because it was a short story, and I didn't know the whole context of the rest of Ares' story, was the reason I kind of missed a theme or moral? I'm not sure, but that's the one area I would've preferred more - but then again, this a prequel and a short story.
Overall, this was an original, clean read. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author in the future!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
March 15, 2022
Wow. Wow. Like other readers of Ignite , I KNEW what was going to happen, but watching it all go down still hurt. I was not ready for the heartbreaking adorableness that is little Ares.
"He would protect her. Always."
... I really hope he finds Astrid sometime soon.
I don't have enough thoughts to do it justice. It's so cute and sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. Ares is so protective and thoughtful, and Astrid is so kind and of life. I'm so happy we'd got this look at them. And someone better give this boy a hug.
"Ares didn’t know how long he sat there. Knees hurting. Hands shaking. Tears falling. He couldn’t stop thinking about Astrid. Of her face just before the door closed. She wanted him to save her, to protect her. He’d promised he wouldn’t let her be taken away.
He didn’t keep his promise either.
He wanted a hug. A warm, long hug that made him forget everything. But he was alone. Just him and the ice beneath him. He didn’t want the ice . He didn’t want the cold. This time he wanted to be warm and held."
*I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author, but I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
"He would protect her. Always."
... I really hope he finds Astrid sometime soon.
I don't have enough thoughts to do it justice. It's so cute and sweet and heartbreaking all at the same time. Ares is so protective and thoughtful, and Astrid is so kind and of life. I'm so happy we'd got this look at them. And someone better give this boy a hug.
"Ares didn’t know how long he sat there. Knees hurting. Hands shaking. Tears falling. He couldn’t stop thinking about Astrid. Of her face just before the door closed. She wanted him to save her, to protect her. He’d promised he wouldn’t let her be taken away.
He didn’t keep his promise either.
He wanted a hug. A warm, long hug that made him forget everything. But he was alone. Just him and the ice beneath him. He didn’t want the ice . He didn’t want the cold. This time he wanted to be warm and held."
*I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author, but I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
February 10, 2022
Well... I guess it makes sense.
Ares is one of the most intriguing characters in Ignite, so I was excited to learn more about his backstory--and the history of his relationship with a certain doctor--in this prequel. I expected it to be sad, of course, and it was sad, but I don't want to think about that part. We're not going to dwell on the negativity in this review, okay?
And I'll keep it short, too, since the story wastoo short.
Not to anyone's surprise, the writing was just, just wonderful. Reading the POV of a small child is always a treat when it's well-written! Ares and his sister were really cute little kids, and seeing them for even such a short time--and even as little kids--makes me eager to return to them in book two (I'm assuming we will meet his sister in book two). And then there's that doctor... You know what, there really isn't much I can say about the doctor guy at this point. If you know, you know...
Overall, I really enjoyed this peek into everyone's favorite ice boy and his past. I see that this is apparently only the first of the Ignite Duology prequels to come, so I'm already getting my hopes up for some others, but until then, I'll just not hurl my Kindle against the wall and not find the author so I can not yell at her to finish writing book two because you can't rush art, you know.
And on that note... If you're interested in picking up Ignite or have already done so, definitely don't miss out on this prequel! You won't regret it ;)
*I received an ARC of this book on exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Ares is one of the most intriguing characters in Ignite, so I was excited to learn more about his backstory--and the history of his relationship with a certain doctor--in this prequel. I expected it to be sad, of course, and it was sad, but I don't want to think about that part. We're not going to dwell on the negativity in this review, okay?
And I'll keep it short, too, since the story was
Not to anyone's surprise, the writing was just, just wonderful. Reading the POV of a small child is always a treat when it's well-written! Ares and his sister were really cute little kids, and seeing them for even such a short time--and even as little kids--makes me eager to return to them in book two (I'm assuming we will meet his sister in book two). And then there's that doctor... You know what, there really isn't much I can say about the doctor guy at this point. If you know, you know...
Overall, I really enjoyed this peek into everyone's favorite ice boy and his past. I see that this is apparently only the first of the Ignite Duology prequels to come, so I'm already getting my hopes up for some others, but until then, I'll just not hurl my Kindle against the wall and not find the author so I can not yell at her to finish writing book two because you can't rush art, you know.
And on that note... If you're interested in picking up Ignite or have already done so, definitely don't miss out on this prequel! You won't regret it ;)
*I received an ARC of this book on exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required; all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
March 3, 2022
Despite being a short story, Ares packs a punch in a just a few pages, drawing us into a world where superhumans are criminals and one spark of power can tear a family apart in a matter of moments.
Ares is one of my favorite characters from Ignite, so I’m thrilled he got his own story! You’ll definitely want to read Ignite first though to get the full emotional impact of the story. This was a heart-breaking glimpse into his tragic past, leaving my heart aching for poor Ares and more excited than ever for Ignite's sequel. I enjoyed getting to see a glimpse of humanity in Dr. Bailey. After seeing him as a normal father here, he seems a little more real, and maybe even a tad bit sympathetic. (After all, what would you do if you had to choose between your family and what the law demanded of you?)
With tasteful, breathtaking strokes of prose, Jenna paints a story that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you longing for more. You won’t be able to put it down!
Ares is one of my favorite characters from Ignite, so I’m thrilled he got his own story! You’ll definitely want to read Ignite first though to get the full emotional impact of the story. This was a heart-breaking glimpse into his tragic past, leaving my heart aching for poor Ares and more excited than ever for Ignite's sequel. I enjoyed getting to see a glimpse of humanity in Dr. Bailey. After seeing him as a normal father here, he seems a little more real, and maybe even a tad bit sympathetic. (After all, what would you do if you had to choose between your family and what the law demanded of you?)
With tasteful, breathtaking strokes of prose, Jenna paints a story that will pull at your heartstrings and leave you longing for more. You won’t be able to put it down!
March 11, 2022
A heart-tugging backstory to mainly one, but really two key players in Ignite. Definitely raised some interesting questions.
I sometimes felt like Ares' inner dialogue was too old for his age, but that's just me. It was also shorter than I expected.
CW: yelling, fear, off-screen kidnapping of child.
Looking forward to the other prequels!
I sometimes felt like Ares' inner dialogue was too old for his age, but that's just me. It was also shorter than I expected.
CW: yelling, fear, off-screen kidnapping of child.
Looking forward to the other prequels!
February 26, 2022
This prequel short story gave us a great look into the history of Ares and his sister Astrid. It showed the innocence of the supers, the fear of the adults, and the reasoning behind Ares attitude in Ignite. Overall a fun story.
February 11, 2022
A touching and heartbreaking short story exploring a pivotal moment in Ares' life. Even though I beta read an earlier version of the story, the emotions crushed me as I read through the final version of the story. We get to know two major characters of Ignite a bit more, fleshing out their motivations and invokes my interest in book two of the duology with everything that was added. This is a must read for Ignite fans and those that are part of the Ares fan club!
*I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.*
*I received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.*
Read
February 16, 2022Yeah, I probably should have read Ignite before attempting this, but I didn't. So.
I enjoyed it anyways, but no doubt would have thought it even better if I had more context + was already attached to the characters?
Full review to come!
I enjoyed it anyways, but no doubt would have thought it even better if I had more context + was already attached to the characters?
Full review to come!
December 17, 2023
Ack! My poor heart! Ares and Astrid, as small little kids, were so cute! But this story hurt me....it was good, but sad and I don't know what to think...I loved it! And it was great to get Ares' full backstory, even if that backstory was super sad to read.
March 13, 2022
Note: I received an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Since I’ve had spotty experiences with prequels, I was a little nervous going into this. But, I needn’t have worried!
- First of all, the sibling relationship. Ares and Astrid are too cute!! I knew from Ignite that the theme of family was strong, and the prequel captures the same atmosphere–even more so, I’d say, since it’s the backstory that we’ve all been waiting for.
- Ice & snow. I don’t know why, but there’s something really fascinating about ice and snow–in fact, a lot of the stories I love have them! (Think Snow Queen, Wicked Saints, Frozen.) And obviously, I can’t help but love this story filled to the brim with ice & snow.
- The family dynamics. While Ignite already hinted at the complex story behind Dr Bailey and Ares, this prequel offered the exact story that led to Ignite. And obviously, as much as I like Ares (#aresfanclub), I’m also interested in Dr Bailey’s story, so I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The only complaint I have is that it felt too short! And now I can’t wait for book 2 to come out…
This book is for you if you like:
a) Complicated family dynamics
b) Sibling relationships
c) ice, snow, and superpowers
Since I’ve had spotty experiences with prequels, I was a little nervous going into this. But, I needn’t have worried!
- First of all, the sibling relationship. Ares and Astrid are too cute!! I knew from Ignite that the theme of family was strong, and the prequel captures the same atmosphere–even more so, I’d say, since it’s the backstory that we’ve all been waiting for.
- Ice & snow. I don’t know why, but there’s something really fascinating about ice and snow–in fact, a lot of the stories I love have them! (Think Snow Queen, Wicked Saints, Frozen.) And obviously, I can’t help but love this story filled to the brim with ice & snow.
- The family dynamics. While Ignite already hinted at the complex story behind Dr Bailey and Ares, this prequel offered the exact story that led to Ignite. And obviously, as much as I like Ares (#aresfanclub), I’m also interested in Dr Bailey’s story, so I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The only complaint I have is that it felt too short! And now I can’t wait for book 2 to come out…
This book is for you if you like:
a) Complicated family dynamics
b) Sibling relationships
c) ice, snow, and superpowers
March 4, 2022
5 stars
Y’all, Jenna Terese does it again.
By the end of Ignite I was extremely curious about Ares’s backstory, and Jenna gives us a taste of it with her eloquent writing and plotting skills. We get a taste of Ares’s relationship with his sister Astrid before his time at the SCF. Jenna’s imagery and literary devices really shape this short story, and it’s such a fun short read to enrich the Ignite universe. I really hope we get to see more of Ares in the future as this short story really gives us insight into his character and what he’s been through. Thank you Jenna for the ARC, I can’t wait to see where you take Ares next!
**I received a digital copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion.**
Y’all, Jenna Terese does it again.
By the end of Ignite I was extremely curious about Ares’s backstory, and Jenna gives us a taste of it with her eloquent writing and plotting skills. We get a taste of Ares’s relationship with his sister Astrid before his time at the SCF. Jenna’s imagery and literary devices really shape this short story, and it’s such a fun short read to enrich the Ignite universe. I really hope we get to see more of Ares in the future as this short story really gives us insight into his character and what he’s been through. Thank you Jenna for the ARC, I can’t wait to see where you take Ares next!
**I received a digital copy from the author. This does not affect my opinion.**
February 24, 2022
Ares fans will love this look into his story before we meet him in Ignite. Told from 4-year-old Ares’ POV, there are some really sweet lines… and some that were gut-wrenching. This short story will give you a better idea of where Ares is coming from in the Ignite series and leave you wanting more! ❄️🧊❄️
May 29, 2025
Gut. Punch.
Well-written with sweetness and melancholy tied up together, Ares is an achingly excellent addition to the world of Ignite. Tragic and chilling, the narration is poignant and every word counts in this short story. If you’re a fan of Ignite, this is a must-read.
❄️ content: marital/family strife. Ares feels threatened by the father. Brief mentions of kidnapping and violence ❄️
Well-written with sweetness and melancholy tied up together, Ares is an achingly excellent addition to the world of Ignite. Tragic and chilling, the narration is poignant and every word counts in this short story. If you’re a fan of Ignite, this is a must-read.
❄️ content: marital/family strife. Ares feels threatened by the father. Brief mentions of kidnapping and violence ❄️
February 26, 2022
😭😭😭😭 when your dad walks in and you're crying over the book you're reading 😂😂😂😂
April 17, 2022
I'm going to cry! Poor Ares!
February 26, 2022
In a world were superhumans are considered dangerous, a little boy tries to save his sister from the cruelness of the world.
Jenna Terese had done it again :')
The imagery is amazing, and the story itself is so beautiful tragic! It left me with more questions than answers, so I suppose that is a good thing for book two.
The story opened up a new level of the characters' personalities, and it has made me that much more excited to read Embers someday.
And the cover! It's absolutely gorgeous, especially when side-by-side with Ignite!
You did an amazing job capturing your world and characters, Jenna. (But you better be planning on mending my broken heart sometime soon. I think I'll need when Embers comes out.) 💖💖💖
Jenna Terese had done it again :')
The imagery is amazing, and the story itself is so beautiful tragic! It left me with more questions than answers, so I suppose that is a good thing for book two.
The story opened up a new level of the characters' personalities, and it has made me that much more excited to read Embers someday.
And the cover! It's absolutely gorgeous, especially when side-by-side with Ignite!
You did an amazing job capturing your world and characters, Jenna. (But you better be planning on mending my broken heart sometime soon. I think I'll need when Embers comes out.) 💖💖💖
March 1, 2022
*I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review*
I was so excited when I heard that we were going to get a prequel short story for Ares, and I jumped at the chance to get an ARC!
This is a short look at Ares’s backstory and what made him who he is when we meet him in Ignite. While there were some flaws with the grammar and some typos (let’s face it, they’re really hard to catch sometimes), it was an emotion-packed few pages. I felt myself on the edge of my seat as I read, and I felt so horrible for Ares and his sister. If you’ve read Ignite, I definitely recommend that you pick this short story up!
I was so excited when I heard that we were going to get a prequel short story for Ares, and I jumped at the chance to get an ARC!
This is a short look at Ares’s backstory and what made him who he is when we meet him in Ignite. While there were some flaws with the grammar and some typos (let’s face it, they’re really hard to catch sometimes), it was an emotion-packed few pages. I felt myself on the edge of my seat as I read, and I felt so horrible for Ares and his sister. If you’ve read Ignite, I definitely recommend that you pick this short story up!
September 2, 2025
Jenna knows how to pack a story into a short word count. Ares is a short story, but that doesn't keep the prequel from getting you invested in the characters.
Jenna did a great job of writing from a child's perspective. Ares's "young" voice was done super well, balancing the innocence of childhood with his more serious personality. The plot is simple, due to the word count, but it still grabs you. And if you've read Ignite, you can probably guess how it ends. But I still enjoyed it. :)
If you're a fan of Ignite, check out Ares!
Cautions: none
Jenna did a great job of writing from a child's perspective. Ares's "young" voice was done super well, balancing the innocence of childhood with his more serious personality. The plot is simple, due to the word count, but it still grabs you. And if you've read Ignite, you can probably guess how it ends. But I still enjoyed it. :)
If you're a fan of Ignite, check out Ares!
Cautions: none
Read
April 22, 2022It was interesting to see Ares backstory, even though I already knew how things would turn out. (Honestly, I'm mostly not a fan of prequels, but I wanted read this one because... Ares.) I enjoyed the sibling relationship rep. Of course, it was sad, but there was no content warnings that I could think of.
March 15, 2022
Ares was the perfect backstory before the events in Ignite. Jenna Terese did an incredible job describing what life was like as Ares and his sister's powers change their family's lives. The plot was paced well and the characters' voices and personalities were spot on for their ages. Seriously y'all, Jenna nailed Ares' "little kid" voice perfectly.
I highly recommend this emotional, bittersweet short story for Ignite fans and anyone else (although it might not make much sense if you haven't read Ignite XD).
*Disclaimer* I received an ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review.
I highly recommend this emotional, bittersweet short story for Ignite fans and anyone else (although it might not make much sense if you haven't read Ignite XD).
*Disclaimer* I received an ARC from the author and was not required to write a positive review.
February 20, 2025
Emotional. Vivid. Imaginative. Artistic. Chilling. (pun both intended and not).
I started reading while busy, thinking I'd just read a couple of pages and finish that weekend. WRONG. I finished it in one reading because I was hooked. I’ve heard someone say, "Some stories speak. But this one SINGS." This is Ares.
Ares and Astrid are unique characters and their handhold in the snow was very sweet.
I won’t give away any spoilers, but I felt immersed while reading. Readers will leave the story wondering if ice is in their veins too.
I started reading while busy, thinking I'd just read a couple of pages and finish that weekend. WRONG. I finished it in one reading because I was hooked. I’ve heard someone say, "Some stories speak. But this one SINGS." This is Ares.
Ares and Astrid are unique characters and their handhold in the snow was very sweet.
I won’t give away any spoilers, but I felt immersed while reading. Readers will leave the story wondering if ice is in their veins too.
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