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Burn Red Skies #2
Rise Red Kingdom
It starts with a rift that burns a thousand scars into the sky. It makes the winds stop. It makes the stars go dark. It awakens an ancient beast. And with it, a new reign of blood. It is the Summoning. And at the heart of it is fire.
Dove’s plan to slay a dead dragon has backfired spectacularly. Now there are two dragons, and Valerya the Fireborne is burning everything in her path to hunt her down. In the aftermath of battle, Dove must use her courage, wits—and an erratic, impulsive dragon—to protect her companions, make unexpected alliances… and survive.
Dove’s plan to slay a dead dragon has backfired spectacularly. Now there are two dragons, and Valerya the Fireborne is burning everything in her path to hunt her down. In the aftermath of battle, Dove must use her courage, wits—and an erratic, impulsive dragon—to protect her companions, make unexpected alliances… and survive.
386 pages, Paperback
First published February 22, 2022
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February 20, 2022I wrote this, so I won't rate it, but since I've gone through it approx. 100 times, it's definitely counting towards my reading challenge
June 22, 2022
Another great book read this year! Rise Red Kingdom is the sequel to the superb SPFBO7 Finalist, Burn Red Skies, which I read earlier this year.
A direct sequel that takes place immediately after the end of the first book (always love when it’s easy to get back into the story), Rise Red Kingdom continues the fabulous world building, dragon summoning, and political manoeuvring that we were introduced to in book 1.
As with Burn Red Skies, Rosero’s writing style is sublime. Every line is beautifully written, with just the right amount of vivid imagery to bring the world to life in the best way possible. We return to our favourite characters - Dove, Valerya, Bard (with some Gryff thrown in, too!) - and are also introduced to a couple of new ones - Pierce being the most important addition. My heart really bleeds for him.
One of Burn Red Skies strengths was the strong characters. Love them or loathe them, they each have incredibly strong, distinct personalities, and Rise Red Kingdom is no different. We explore a lot more of Valerya, in particular, actually getting to some of the deeper layers of her personality and why she is the way she is. I found her abrasive but with redeeming qualities in the first book - worthy of her titles, respect, and the fear she inspires in others. In this book, she seems so much more human, and various twists and turns also shine a light on some of her behaviours, which was was great to uncover!
Dove, too, changes. No longer the “weak flower” passed from pillar to post, she develops the ability to act according to her own whims and have far more of a say in what happens. Yes, she is still new and inexperienced, but you can absolutely see her coming into her own as the book progresses. She is such a great character and a breath of fresh air, and I can’t wait to see where her story goes!
Of course after how the first book ended, many characters are particularly interested in Dove, and they do wish to use her as a pawn, but her understanding and power grows, and she is a very different person by the end of the book.
And there are the TWO dragons to enjoy. Both are powerful, awe-inspiring creatures, but both are very different. I don’t want to say too much about them for spoilers, but I loved getting to understand them in more detail.
The pacing is succinct throughout, never really slowing or dragging in any parts. This is helped massively with short chapters, allowing this book to be read pretty quickly. Even by my standards, I easily read the last 100 pages over a day or two (usually I struggle to read more than 30 pages in one sitting), with tightly-written action sequences, building tension, and great atmosphere.
Much like the first book, there were some plot points that went over my head, and I was confused a few times why people were acting as they were/where they were, as character plans are often kept very close to the chest. However, it didn’t deter my enjoyment.
Along with exploring the two dragons, there is much more uncovered about their histories and what the future might hold, hinting at future possibilities. I feel like there is still a lot of mystery held just tantalisingly out of reach, but more layers are being peeled back and answers are given!
Compared to book 1, there is less “worldbuilding” here, with less travelling from one place to another overall, but the few areas we do get to pass through or catch a glimpse of are fabulous: the desert wastes stands out as a particular favourite.
Rise Red Kingdom is great sequel and a solid addition to epic fantasy, and I’m seriously looking forward to the third book!
A direct sequel that takes place immediately after the end of the first book (always love when it’s easy to get back into the story), Rise Red Kingdom continues the fabulous world building, dragon summoning, and political manoeuvring that we were introduced to in book 1.
As with Burn Red Skies, Rosero’s writing style is sublime. Every line is beautifully written, with just the right amount of vivid imagery to bring the world to life in the best way possible. We return to our favourite characters - Dove, Valerya, Bard (with some Gryff thrown in, too!) - and are also introduced to a couple of new ones - Pierce being the most important addition. My heart really bleeds for him.
One of Burn Red Skies strengths was the strong characters. Love them or loathe them, they each have incredibly strong, distinct personalities, and Rise Red Kingdom is no different. We explore a lot more of Valerya, in particular, actually getting to some of the deeper layers of her personality and why she is the way she is. I found her abrasive but with redeeming qualities in the first book - worthy of her titles, respect, and the fear she inspires in others. In this book, she seems so much more human, and various twists and turns also shine a light on some of her behaviours, which was was great to uncover!
Dove, too, changes. No longer the “weak flower” passed from pillar to post, she develops the ability to act according to her own whims and have far more of a say in what happens. Yes, she is still new and inexperienced, but you can absolutely see her coming into her own as the book progresses. She is such a great character and a breath of fresh air, and I can’t wait to see where her story goes!
Of course after how the first book ended, many characters are particularly interested in Dove, and they do wish to use her as a pawn, but her understanding and power grows, and she is a very different person by the end of the book.
And there are the TWO dragons to enjoy. Both are powerful, awe-inspiring creatures, but both are very different. I don’t want to say too much about them for spoilers, but I loved getting to understand them in more detail.
The pacing is succinct throughout, never really slowing or dragging in any parts. This is helped massively with short chapters, allowing this book to be read pretty quickly. Even by my standards, I easily read the last 100 pages over a day or two (usually I struggle to read more than 30 pages in one sitting), with tightly-written action sequences, building tension, and great atmosphere.
Much like the first book, there were some plot points that went over my head, and I was confused a few times why people were acting as they were/where they were, as character plans are often kept very close to the chest. However, it didn’t deter my enjoyment.
Along with exploring the two dragons, there is much more uncovered about their histories and what the future might hold, hinting at future possibilities. I feel like there is still a lot of mystery held just tantalisingly out of reach, but more layers are being peeled back and answers are given!
Compared to book 1, there is less “worldbuilding” here, with less travelling from one place to another overall, but the few areas we do get to pass through or catch a glimpse of are fabulous: the desert wastes stands out as a particular favourite.
Rise Red Kingdom is great sequel and a solid addition to epic fantasy, and I’m seriously looking forward to the third book!
August 27, 2023
Awesome sequel
Valerya the Fireborne continues her reign of terror. Stooping to new lows of viciousness. In this war torn world of summoners and dragons Dove will fight to survive. Such an adrenaline rush of a sequel! This tale is not letting up. Wonderful characters.
Valerya the Fireborne continues her reign of terror. Stooping to new lows of viciousness. In this war torn world of summoners and dragons Dove will fight to survive. Such an adrenaline rush of a sequel! This tale is not letting up. Wonderful characters.
February 22, 2022
I blasted through the ebook. Wow. In short, fans of Burn Red Skies will fall in love with the sequel! I had been waiting for the return of Valerya, Dove, Decker and all the others for months and the wait was definitely worth it! Burn Red Skies caught our breaths by ending on a cliffhanger. It was a strong book with an even stronger cast and Rise Red Kingdom picks up exactly where it left off.
For me, character development was the greatest strength of the first book. There were so many different characters, infuriating but relatable and they continue their development in this book in such a strong way. Rise Red Kingdom also brings a new layer into the mix as a new POV and as soon as it becomes clear how this POV affects everyone we already know, my jaw just dropped because the idea was so well thought out.
Valerya was always mysterious and powerful and you would not want to cross her as her temper was linked to that of an undead dragon. The way how her decisions are fueled by the rage of the dragon and how people interacting with her bow before her will and fury is amazingly crafted.
Dove as a mute always felt alone, she found new friends in the airship smugglers but is now dropped in a whole new world—again—alone. She is a fighter and with an unexpected ally, and she gains new strength and rides alongside the mighty.
I always liked how K.E.Rosero dropped bits of the past into each chapter so that the reader is not overwhelmed with the typical info-dump you see in other fantasy literature, especially in sequels. With each page, you find out more of how the different characters were already connected in the past and what motivates them to strive forward.
This book left as much as an impression on me as the first one and now I am where I left of last year: Waiting for the next book. The Burn Red Skies series is a must read and I want to encourage everyone to get their copy of volume 2!
For me, character development was the greatest strength of the first book. There were so many different characters, infuriating but relatable and they continue their development in this book in such a strong way. Rise Red Kingdom also brings a new layer into the mix as a new POV and as soon as it becomes clear how this POV affects everyone we already know, my jaw just dropped because the idea was so well thought out.
Valerya was always mysterious and powerful and you would not want to cross her as her temper was linked to that of an undead dragon. The way how her decisions are fueled by the rage of the dragon and how people interacting with her bow before her will and fury is amazingly crafted.
Dove as a mute always felt alone, she found new friends in the airship smugglers but is now dropped in a whole new world—again—alone. She is a fighter and with an unexpected ally, and she gains new strength and rides alongside the mighty.
I always liked how K.E.Rosero dropped bits of the past into each chapter so that the reader is not overwhelmed with the typical info-dump you see in other fantasy literature, especially in sequels. With each page, you find out more of how the different characters were already connected in the past and what motivates them to strive forward.
This book left as much as an impression on me as the first one and now I am where I left of last year: Waiting for the next book. The Burn Red Skies series is a must read and I want to encourage everyone to get their copy of volume 2!
December 31, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book just as I did the first in the series, however I feel that some of the complaints I had in book one were slightly expanded upon here. I was confused in some places, notably about the relationships between some of the characters, where people may be on opposing sides but are still helping each other out and are even appearing as friends and mentors. There were also a couple of characters who were known by two or three different names and sometimes we would be talking about or featuring a character and, especially at the start of the book as I was getting myself back into it, it would take me a while before I realised who it was.
As I say though, I enjoyed this overall. I liked the overall idea of it with a silent main character, and how we can still have interactions with her and she still has her own character voice. There were some good scenes and some good revelations in here, although again, one of these slightly confused me as there was a bit of a time jump for certain scenes and I was caught out by this. I did however, like the way this was revealed and it gave me a bit of a surprise, so I think it was well written in that sense.
I enjoyed this book just as I did the first in the series, however I feel that some of the complaints I had in book one were slightly expanded upon here. I was confused in some places, notably about the relationships between some of the characters, where people may be on opposing sides but are still helping each other out and are even appearing as friends and mentors. There were also a couple of characters who were known by two or three different names and sometimes we would be talking about or featuring a character and, especially at the start of the book as I was getting myself back into it, it would take me a while before I realised who it was.
As I say though, I enjoyed this overall. I liked the overall idea of it with a silent main character, and how we can still have interactions with her and she still has her own character voice. There were some good scenes and some good revelations in here, although again, one of these slightly confused me as there was a bit of a time jump for certain scenes and I was caught out by this. I did however, like the way this was revealed and it gave me a bit of a surprise, so I think it was well written in that sense.
February 9, 2024
“How easily we make sure our allies and enemies are saved or sacrificed shows who we really are”.
In Rise Red Kingdom we return to the fantastic fantasy world of vying kingdoms and vivid contrasting elemental magic created by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero. I thought the first book, Burn Red Skies, was a brilliant debut, so I’d been looking forward to reading the sequel for some time. If you haven’t read that book already, I urge you to remedy that right away, especially as this review contains some major spoilers for Burn Red Skies.
This novel immediately follows on from the concluding action scenes of Burn Red Skies, after which the plot moves swiftly, and our characters are soon spread out in several different locations. It was a little while since I’d read the first book but there was enough organic recap to bring me up to speed again in no time, and I was soon drawn back into Rosero’s world.
Although this is a straight continuation of the tale there were some big differences from the first book. The main plot is more focussed, primarily centred on the developing relationship between Valerya and Dove following the sudden shift in the power balance at the end of Burn Red Skies. At times the scale of the world and the number of separate viewpoints made it difficult to understand what was happening and why in the first novel. Rosero has dealt with that issue in Rise Red Kingdom, keeping the story moving forward at pace.
Rosero also develops the magical elements of the story, as this time we get to explore the Otherworld, the realm of dragons. Her take on dragons is unique and makes this story so distinctive, since the dragon spirits can only cross from the Otherworld into the world of the living with the aid of their summoner. Now that Dove has been revealed to be a summoner we get to find out what this means first hand. Dove needs to bond with her dragon, Rhysar, and the choice of putting these two companions together is interesting. Dove is voiceless whilst Rhysar is blind, and thus their nature and characteristics complement each other. The relationship is a strange one – more a melding of spirits than one being able to command the other. As the story progresses it becomes clear that there is always a price to be paid for being a summoner, with ominous hints at what is to come.
Dove begins this story in a rather helpless position, but as the tale progresses we see her begin to change as a result of her new status. I’m intrigued to see whether this is ultimately going to be for the better or worse for Dove and the kingdom as a whole. The development of Valerya’s character is also handled well. She’s one of the most memorable people in this series, perfectly capturing our contradictory nature, and trying to work out her agenda is fascinating.
Although Dove and Valerya take centre stage, Rosero still uses her ensemble cast to progress the plot, primarily through Bard and Decker. In addition to these fan favourites from book one, there’s the new character of Pierce, a spellcaster for the Red Spears, fighting against the Firelands and King Morian's empire. Young and full of worries and anxiety, he’s a distinctive character and the impact of Pierce's actions on his sister, Danea, are powerful.
In contrast, some of my other favourites barely featured in this novel, most notably Dancer, or drift in and out of the action, such as Gryff and Morian. I understand this decision, as Rosero is only using the characters she needs to tell this story and maintain her focus, so it’s a tricky balance. However, Morian’s absence in particular means this isn’t a straightforward tale with a clear antagonist. Instead, it’s much more about the development of the central characters. In that sense, Rise Red Kingdom feels like the slightly calmer middle section of a three-part act, very much setting the scene for book three.
Another distinctive aspect of Rise Red Kingdom is its use of alternate timelines, which gives us more insight into the previous famous summoners Baley the Kind and Bastyan the Cruel. This is done through clever use of magic and flashbacks as Rosero further expands her world, which I enjoyed. However, the overall backstory to many of the characters remains frustratingly elusive at times. There were occasions when I felt we could have lifted the curtain just a little more, especially when characters were reflecting on past events, only to turn away from the actual point at the last possible moment.
Tantalising questions for me are what really happened to Valk's brother Lucien and his wife and children, and why? Valk's true relationship to Dove is also intriguing. Overall, in this series it’s always hard to tell who is working to which agenda, an aspect I like but which might madden some readers who are looking for a more straightforward tale. There are plenty of hints that several major secrets are going to be revealed in book three, and I for one can’t wait to discover how it all works out.
Rosero is an extremely gifted writer with an innate storytelling voice. She writes in a way which always makes you want to know what happens next as you keep turning the pages. She has this vivid style which effortlessly conjures images in your mind:
“Faint clouds clung to the sky like memories that refused to fade, and even the stars had abandoned them.”
If you’re looking for beautifully written imaginative fantasy by an author equally comfortable with thrilling action scenes and intimate character work, and don’t mind being kept in suspense, then the Burn Red Skies series is for you. I’m eagerly looking forward to the concluding instalment.
In Rise Red Kingdom we return to the fantastic fantasy world of vying kingdoms and vivid contrasting elemental magic created by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero. I thought the first book, Burn Red Skies, was a brilliant debut, so I’d been looking forward to reading the sequel for some time. If you haven’t read that book already, I urge you to remedy that right away, especially as this review contains some major spoilers for Burn Red Skies.
This novel immediately follows on from the concluding action scenes of Burn Red Skies, after which the plot moves swiftly, and our characters are soon spread out in several different locations. It was a little while since I’d read the first book but there was enough organic recap to bring me up to speed again in no time, and I was soon drawn back into Rosero’s world.
Although this is a straight continuation of the tale there were some big differences from the first book. The main plot is more focussed, primarily centred on the developing relationship between Valerya and Dove following the sudden shift in the power balance at the end of Burn Red Skies. At times the scale of the world and the number of separate viewpoints made it difficult to understand what was happening and why in the first novel. Rosero has dealt with that issue in Rise Red Kingdom, keeping the story moving forward at pace.
Rosero also develops the magical elements of the story, as this time we get to explore the Otherworld, the realm of dragons. Her take on dragons is unique and makes this story so distinctive, since the dragon spirits can only cross from the Otherworld into the world of the living with the aid of their summoner. Now that Dove has been revealed to be a summoner we get to find out what this means first hand. Dove needs to bond with her dragon, Rhysar, and the choice of putting these two companions together is interesting. Dove is voiceless whilst Rhysar is blind, and thus their nature and characteristics complement each other. The relationship is a strange one – more a melding of spirits than one being able to command the other. As the story progresses it becomes clear that there is always a price to be paid for being a summoner, with ominous hints at what is to come.
Dove begins this story in a rather helpless position, but as the tale progresses we see her begin to change as a result of her new status. I’m intrigued to see whether this is ultimately going to be for the better or worse for Dove and the kingdom as a whole. The development of Valerya’s character is also handled well. She’s one of the most memorable people in this series, perfectly capturing our contradictory nature, and trying to work out her agenda is fascinating.
Although Dove and Valerya take centre stage, Rosero still uses her ensemble cast to progress the plot, primarily through Bard and Decker. In addition to these fan favourites from book one, there’s the new character of Pierce, a spellcaster for the Red Spears, fighting against the Firelands and King Morian's empire. Young and full of worries and anxiety, he’s a distinctive character and the impact of Pierce's actions on his sister, Danea, are powerful.
In contrast, some of my other favourites barely featured in this novel, most notably Dancer, or drift in and out of the action, such as Gryff and Morian. I understand this decision, as Rosero is only using the characters she needs to tell this story and maintain her focus, so it’s a tricky balance. However, Morian’s absence in particular means this isn’t a straightforward tale with a clear antagonist. Instead, it’s much more about the development of the central characters. In that sense, Rise Red Kingdom feels like the slightly calmer middle section of a three-part act, very much setting the scene for book three.
Another distinctive aspect of Rise Red Kingdom is its use of alternate timelines, which gives us more insight into the previous famous summoners Baley the Kind and Bastyan the Cruel. This is done through clever use of magic and flashbacks as Rosero further expands her world, which I enjoyed. However, the overall backstory to many of the characters remains frustratingly elusive at times. There were occasions when I felt we could have lifted the curtain just a little more, especially when characters were reflecting on past events, only to turn away from the actual point at the last possible moment.
Tantalising questions for me are what really happened to Valk's brother Lucien and his wife and children, and why? Valk's true relationship to Dove is also intriguing. Overall, in this series it’s always hard to tell who is working to which agenda, an aspect I like but which might madden some readers who are looking for a more straightforward tale. There are plenty of hints that several major secrets are going to be revealed in book three, and I for one can’t wait to discover how it all works out.
Rosero is an extremely gifted writer with an innate storytelling voice. She writes in a way which always makes you want to know what happens next as you keep turning the pages. She has this vivid style which effortlessly conjures images in your mind:
“Faint clouds clung to the sky like memories that refused to fade, and even the stars had abandoned them.”
If you’re looking for beautifully written imaginative fantasy by an author equally comfortable with thrilling action scenes and intimate character work, and don’t mind being kept in suspense, then the Burn Red Skies series is for you. I’m eagerly looking forward to the concluding instalment.
January 21, 2023
I really enjoyed book 1 as part of my SPFBO7 finalist read and was excited to pick this follow up.
The story starts ,straight from the end of the previous book. However the stakes are higher and the dangers are more real for everyone.
The characters continue to progress in their arcs and in particular Dove and Valerya are the stand outs. Unfortunately some of the some characters got a lot less pages in this one, which was a bit of a shame.
The story itself at times got a bit complicated. This isn't a bad thing , just means I'm glad I'm reading rather than listening. It's sometimes a bit jarring as we move through the realms and dreams
What I love about this book is the dragons and their personalities. Their connections to their summoners is an absolute highlight.
I look forward to seeing where this goes next
The story starts ,straight from the end of the previous book. However the stakes are higher and the dangers are more real for everyone.
The characters continue to progress in their arcs and in particular Dove and Valerya are the stand outs. Unfortunately some of the some characters got a lot less pages in this one, which was a bit of a shame.
The story itself at times got a bit complicated. This isn't a bad thing , just means I'm glad I'm reading rather than listening. It's sometimes a bit jarring as we move through the realms and dreams
What I love about this book is the dragons and their personalities. Their connections to their summoners is an absolute highlight.
I look forward to seeing where this goes next
August 7, 2024
4.5 - Stars
I began my journey through the Burn Red Skies series with book one of the same name back in June of 2022. I've had my eye on book two Rise Red Kingdom for quite some time now and it's been constantly floating around the edge of my monthly TBR list for what seems like ages. I finally locked it in for July due to two reasons. The first was I was looking for a reading challenge prompt that included airships. I know that was a considerable topic in book one so I figured it would probably still be in book two. Well… not so much. I told the reading challenge group I'm counting the month as a failure but I could probably make a considerable stretch to still include it from a part near the very end if I really wanted to. The other reason I finally got this one read was both Dom from Dominish Books also wanted to get to it soon so everything just aligned for us to get this read in July.
I felt the pacing of Rise Red Kingdom was fairly well done. As far as writing style, I really enjoy how Kerstin Espinosa Rosero tells her story. I will mention I picked up on a handful of what I felt were editing misses sprinkled here and there. When I came across them, they tripped me up briefly but not enough to take away from the story itself. There are a good amount of characters to keep track up. I didn't have too much trouble. However, I was also taking notes on each chapter as I went. If I wasn't doing that, it might have been a bit more difficult, I'm simply not sure. I have not had any issues with names of characters and locations to this point.
The world building continues to impress me. Book two added more layers to the history of this world than the first book did and I'm hear for it! This is certainly a magic rich world. The different regions and factions also add to a believable world as far as fantasy goes. The one thing I will mention regarding that, is readers might need to pay close attention to whom belongs to which faction as this story progress. Several things turn this world and it's characters upside down in Rise Red Kingdom. It is keeping this reader on my toes for sure.
And speaking of characters… The character development was another strong aspect of this read. As I previously mentioned there are a considerable amount of characters to keep up with in this book. I will try and not give anything too important or revealing away but there is a lot of growth going on with characters in this one. Certainly we can expect to see plenty from Dove as a main focal point. There is also quite a bit going on with Valerya. There are more than a couple of very good reveals in Rise Red Kingdom with characters. I even had a couple of chapter notes stating "awesome creepy chapter" and "holy cow!"
I took a look back and when I read book one, I wasn't doing the same style of detailed reviews that I am now. I did mark it as a 5-star read and even though I think I might have liked this one just a bit more. I'm going to end up giving this one a 4.5-Star. In hind sight I'd probably give book one a 4.25-Star looking back.
I don't say the above to take anything away from either story, they were both great! I just have a lot more books read under my belt now and I might be a bit more picky than I was back in 2022. I would still recommend this book and series to fans of high fantasy with some solid interesting magic and what is turning into a relatively deep world and characters populating it. There are a lot of complex characters through the first two books as well if that is your thing.
I began my journey through the Burn Red Skies series with book one of the same name back in June of 2022. I've had my eye on book two Rise Red Kingdom for quite some time now and it's been constantly floating around the edge of my monthly TBR list for what seems like ages. I finally locked it in for July due to two reasons. The first was I was looking for a reading challenge prompt that included airships. I know that was a considerable topic in book one so I figured it would probably still be in book two. Well… not so much. I told the reading challenge group I'm counting the month as a failure but I could probably make a considerable stretch to still include it from a part near the very end if I really wanted to. The other reason I finally got this one read was both Dom from Dominish Books also wanted to get to it soon so everything just aligned for us to get this read in July.
I felt the pacing of Rise Red Kingdom was fairly well done. As far as writing style, I really enjoy how Kerstin Espinosa Rosero tells her story. I will mention I picked up on a handful of what I felt were editing misses sprinkled here and there. When I came across them, they tripped me up briefly but not enough to take away from the story itself. There are a good amount of characters to keep track up. I didn't have too much trouble. However, I was also taking notes on each chapter as I went. If I wasn't doing that, it might have been a bit more difficult, I'm simply not sure. I have not had any issues with names of characters and locations to this point.
The world building continues to impress me. Book two added more layers to the history of this world than the first book did and I'm hear for it! This is certainly a magic rich world. The different regions and factions also add to a believable world as far as fantasy goes. The one thing I will mention regarding that, is readers might need to pay close attention to whom belongs to which faction as this story progress. Several things turn this world and it's characters upside down in Rise Red Kingdom. It is keeping this reader on my toes for sure.
And speaking of characters… The character development was another strong aspect of this read. As I previously mentioned there are a considerable amount of characters to keep up with in this book. I will try and not give anything too important or revealing away but there is a lot of growth going on with characters in this one. Certainly we can expect to see plenty from Dove as a main focal point. There is also quite a bit going on with Valerya. There are more than a couple of very good reveals in Rise Red Kingdom with characters. I even had a couple of chapter notes stating "awesome creepy chapter" and "holy cow!"
I took a look back and when I read book one, I wasn't doing the same style of detailed reviews that I am now. I did mark it as a 5-star read and even though I think I might have liked this one just a bit more. I'm going to end up giving this one a 4.5-Star. In hind sight I'd probably give book one a 4.25-Star looking back.
I don't say the above to take anything away from either story, they were both great! I just have a lot more books read under my belt now and I might be a bit more picky than I was back in 2022. I would still recommend this book and series to fans of high fantasy with some solid interesting magic and what is turning into a relatively deep world and characters populating it. There are a lot of complex characters through the first two books as well if that is your thing.
January 23, 2024
Wow a great follow up!
I still barely know what is going on but the suspense, action, dragons and huge character development for all the major players kept me completely hooked throughout!
If a book gives you the urge to finish it in one sitting and pumps the adrenaline then it has to be good, and Rise Red Kingdom does this in bucket loads.
A worthy 2nd installment and I cannot wait for the 3rd!
We end the book with Valerya being the kings sister.. her dragon wanting the crown and finding another person in its way. Dove and her dragon being urged by past summoners to both kill and save Valerya, whilst being her 2nd in command at the same time. Who knows where that leaves Bard and the Smuggler crews, with their new dragon shaped airship fleet!
I still barely know what is going on but the suspense, action, dragons and huge character development for all the major players kept me completely hooked throughout!
If a book gives you the urge to finish it in one sitting and pumps the adrenaline then it has to be good, and Rise Red Kingdom does this in bucket loads.
A worthy 2nd installment and I cannot wait for the 3rd!
We end the book with Valerya being the kings sister.. her dragon wanting the crown and finding another person in its way. Dove and her dragon being urged by past summoners to both kill and save Valerya, whilst being her 2nd in command at the same time. Who knows where that leaves Bard and the Smuggler crews, with their new dragon shaped airship fleet!
February 27, 2022
The Sword Lesbians Are Back Again!
Rise Red Kingdom is the second book in the trilogy that started with Burn Red Skies, and while the first book was great, this one is even better!
Rise Red Kingdom immediately throws us into a world that has to deal with the fallout of the first book's finale. Power gets shuffled around, new and unexpected alliances are formed, and the past - much like the dragons - is not quite dead.
From the perspective of old and new POV characters we get to see how the realms react to the reappearance of a second dragon. The in the first book sometimes overwhelming world now shines as the chessboard on which old plans are abandoned and new strategies set into motion. Yet at the same time, the characters always stay the true heart of the story. It is their (often complicated) bonds and relationships that drive this story more than any dragon.
All in all I recommend this book, and eagerly await the next one.
(This review was also posted on Amazon.de)
Rise Red Kingdom is the second book in the trilogy that started with Burn Red Skies, and while the first book was great, this one is even better!
Rise Red Kingdom immediately throws us into a world that has to deal with the fallout of the first book's finale. Power gets shuffled around, new and unexpected alliances are formed, and the past - much like the dragons - is not quite dead.
From the perspective of old and new POV characters we get to see how the realms react to the reappearance of a second dragon. The in the first book sometimes overwhelming world now shines as the chessboard on which old plans are abandoned and new strategies set into motion. Yet at the same time, the characters always stay the true heart of the story. It is their (often complicated) bonds and relationships that drive this story more than any dragon.
All in all I recommend this book, and eagerly await the next one.
(This review was also posted on Amazon.de)
February 28, 2022
Greatly enjoyed it. It improves a lot on the first book, both in terms of payoff for stuff set up before and avoiding some of the issues with the last one. It was a much faster read and just in general felt a lot more focused and quicker-paced. Looking forward to the next one.
March 14, 2022
A gripping sequel to our pick for SPFBO7
I thought the world building and prose were wonderful in book 1 but Kerstin has outdone herself in Rise Red Kingdom. Whilst we see more of both the mortal world, it is the dreams and world of the dragons (and of course the beautiful beasts themselves) that had me entranced the most; so beautifully presented.
Plenty of subterfuge, conspiracies, battles and action - this series is a joy to read.
I thought the world building and prose were wonderful in book 1 but Kerstin has outdone herself in Rise Red Kingdom. Whilst we see more of both the mortal world, it is the dreams and world of the dragons (and of course the beautiful beasts themselves) that had me entranced the most; so beautifully presented.
Plenty of subterfuge, conspiracies, battles and action - this series is a joy to read.
August 16, 2023
I debated DNFing the series after Burn Red Skies, but decided to keep going on the potential Valerya and the dragons alone. Now, having finished Rise Red Kingdom, I can confidently say I should have stuck with my first instinct and dropped the trilogy after the first book.
Like its predecessor, Rise reads as if whole scenes, if not entire chapters, are missing. On more than one occasion, I had to flip back to make sure my eyes hadn't glazed over and missed something. Nothing - from the world, through the magic system, to character motivations - is explained in a timely manner, if at all. Things just sprout out of thin air. Hey, there are magestones now??? More often than not, things happen off page that we are later told about, but never get to see. And, I'm sorry, but if it takes the main character the better part of two out of three books to start showing any character growth, then the pacing needs a lot of work. Sure, we are told that Dove is becoming fiercer, stronger, that she has a heart of gold, but we don't get to see it.
Also, are we seriously setting up a romance between someone who is 16-17 and someone who is in her thirties (I assume)? Because that needs to stop.
Like its predecessor, Rise reads as if whole scenes, if not entire chapters, are missing. On more than one occasion, I had to flip back to make sure my eyes hadn't glazed over and missed something. Nothing - from the world, through the magic system, to character motivations - is explained in a timely manner, if at all. Things just sprout out of thin air. Hey, there are magestones now??? More often than not, things happen off page that we are later told about, but never get to see. And, I'm sorry, but if it takes the main character the better part of two out of three books to start showing any character growth, then the pacing needs a lot of work. Sure, we are told that Dove is becoming fiercer, stronger, that she has a heart of gold, but we don't get to see it.
Also, are we seriously setting up a romance between someone who is 16-17 and someone who is in her thirties (I assume)? Because that needs to stop.
November 28, 2022
A truly spectacular sequel to the series. Rise Red Kingdom rose to the expectations of the first book and exceeded it. I’m truly blown away.
Once I got into the book, I could not put it down. I read the last 60% of it in the span of two or three days, and the plot twists thrown at you in this book will have your jaw on the floor.
I love Valerya. 🔥 I will never shut up about how much I love her.
Truly would recommend these books to anyone who likes queer representation, disability representation, found family, dragons, women in power, a really cool magic system, and just good old fantasy.
5/5 ⭐️ easily.
Eagerly and anxiously waiting for the next book!
Once I got into the book, I could not put it down. I read the last 60% of it in the span of two or three days, and the plot twists thrown at you in this book will have your jaw on the floor.
I love Valerya. 🔥 I will never shut up about how much I love her.
Truly would recommend these books to anyone who likes queer representation, disability representation, found family, dragons, women in power, a really cool magic system, and just good old fantasy.
5/5 ⭐️ easily.
Eagerly and anxiously waiting for the next book!
April 4, 2022
I pre-ordered once I found out it was available and was excited when it arrived on my kindle. I don't read a lot of fantasy but Burn Red Skies stood out to me because of how real the characters felt. The prose was artistic without being flowery, which stood out to me.
Rise Red Kingdom feels like an upgrade! It worked out the knots of the first book. I liked Burn Red Skies but it took a little while to read. This book took me a little over a day to finish. It flows well and the characters develop in believable ways. I find my favorite changing with each chapter but I think my overall favorite is Bard.
If you liked the first book you'll love this one, there is even a map and illustrations. It has a large cast of characters but I could always tell whose head we were in - a feat because there is a lot of head hopping!
Rise Red Kingdom feels like an upgrade! It worked out the knots of the first book. I liked Burn Red Skies but it took a little while to read. This book took me a little over a day to finish. It flows well and the characters develop in believable ways. I find my favorite changing with each chapter but I think my overall favorite is Bard.
If you liked the first book you'll love this one, there is even a map and illustrations. It has a large cast of characters but I could always tell whose head we were in - a feat because there is a lot of head hopping!
December 25, 2022
Even better than the first one!
January 7, 2023
Beautiful writing style on par with "Burn Red Skies'", but unfortunately "Rise Red Kingdom" had even less of a plot and had the same problematics as book 1.
With this type of writing, I think this author has a promising writing career ahead of her. Her words flow off the page and make the pages go by without noticing the time. I absolutely loved the dragon dynamics and the Otherworld. Here we got to see the dragons and how Valerya and Dove interacted with them. Their roles were much clearer, and getting to visualize their history was a nice touch. The use of the Otherworld, its depiction, and the way it developed the bond between Valerya and Dove was wonderful. Also, each character was very different with defined personalities that stuck out.
Unfortunately, none of them had character arcs. Neither did this story have a defined plot. It was a sequence of events, chapter after chapter, with no crescendo or end in sight.
The way book 1 ended, I hoped Dove's character would evolve and stop letting everyone walk all over her. That didn't happen. She was exactly the same character as she was in book 1 until the last 20% on the novel where suddenly she made decisions even though it was unclear why she finally took that initiative unless it was Rhysar's influence.
“Surely I don’t have to tell you how to do everything?”
This quote spoken by Valerya perfectly describes Dove's character. For the first half of the book, Dove and company travel to the north to adopt a northern name because her dragon is of the North, though the point of that is never clear. Suddenly, we're told it has been done, but never do we see it occurring nor does the name ever really get used or have a part to play other than Valerya's strategy in the North. In truth, with how events played out, I don't see what it really changed nor why the Falcons wanted it.
The secondary characters I had grown to care for in book 1 were almost non existant in this book. And Bard, though he was present, lost the humor in his personality from book 1 which defined his character and made him engaging.
But my main hang up was all the information and details missing between point of views. Gryff nevers wonders how Valerya and Valk knew Dove until it was spelt out for him. His character's presence in this book seemed like more of an afterthought. The revelation of Morian's unspoken sexual relationship with Lyra was shocking since it kind of came out of nowhere. At some point, Morian figured out Dove was the new summoner, but it's unclear how. He then demanded Valk's head which Valerya agreed to but never delivered on and this was never addressed. There were a whole bunch of these missing tidbits or unclosed plot points that made it uncohesive. The big reveal at the end though took it too far because I could not decipher how that was understood from an empty tomb and scarred hands.
Overall, it is a book worth the read because of the wonderful writing style, but I'm not sure I'll read on when the next book comes out because of all my frustrations while reading the first two books.
With this type of writing, I think this author has a promising writing career ahead of her. Her words flow off the page and make the pages go by without noticing the time. I absolutely loved the dragon dynamics and the Otherworld. Here we got to see the dragons and how Valerya and Dove interacted with them. Their roles were much clearer, and getting to visualize their history was a nice touch. The use of the Otherworld, its depiction, and the way it developed the bond between Valerya and Dove was wonderful. Also, each character was very different with defined personalities that stuck out.
Unfortunately, none of them had character arcs. Neither did this story have a defined plot. It was a sequence of events, chapter after chapter, with no crescendo or end in sight.
The way book 1 ended, I hoped Dove's character would evolve and stop letting everyone walk all over her. That didn't happen. She was exactly the same character as she was in book 1 until the last 20% on the novel where suddenly she made decisions even though it was unclear why she finally took that initiative unless it was Rhysar's influence.
“Surely I don’t have to tell you how to do everything?”
This quote spoken by Valerya perfectly describes Dove's character. For the first half of the book, Dove and company travel to the north to adopt a northern name because her dragon is of the North, though the point of that is never clear. Suddenly, we're told it has been done, but never do we see it occurring nor does the name ever really get used or have a part to play other than Valerya's strategy in the North. In truth, with how events played out, I don't see what it really changed nor why the Falcons wanted it.
The secondary characters I had grown to care for in book 1 were almost non existant in this book. And Bard, though he was present, lost the humor in his personality from book 1 which defined his character and made him engaging.
But my main hang up was all the information and details missing between point of views. Gryff nevers wonders how Valerya and Valk knew Dove until it was spelt out for him. His character's presence in this book seemed like more of an afterthought. The revelation of Morian's unspoken sexual relationship with Lyra was shocking since it kind of came out of nowhere. At some point, Morian figured out Dove was the new summoner, but it's unclear how. He then demanded Valk's head which Valerya agreed to but never delivered on and this was never addressed. There were a whole bunch of these missing tidbits or unclosed plot points that made it uncohesive. The big reveal at the end though took it too far because I could not decipher how that was understood from an empty tomb and scarred hands.
Overall, it is a book worth the read because of the wonderful writing style, but I'm not sure I'll read on when the next book comes out because of all my frustrations while reading the first two books.
September 1, 2022
What It's About: Dove's plan to slay the red dragon that destroyed her home has quite literally backfired: now there are two dragons in the world. But as she tries to undo what she created at the end of the previous volume, powerful political and magical forces are interested in her.
What I Thought: I thought the characters were great, and Valerya especially came to life a lot as a character. The plot felt somewhat tighter, and maybe because we'd already spent a whole book in this world, I found it easier to follow. Much more focused and clearer, growing on its predecessors' strengths as a compelling story while bringing the central narrative of Dove's growth into sharper focus.
Who Should Read It: I'd give this a hearty recommendation for lovers of high/epic fantasy, underdog heroes, and dragons.
What I Thought: I thought the characters were great, and Valerya especially came to life a lot as a character. The plot felt somewhat tighter, and maybe because we'd already spent a whole book in this world, I found it easier to follow. Much more focused and clearer, growing on its predecessors' strengths as a compelling story while bringing the central narrative of Dove's growth into sharper focus.
Who Should Read It: I'd give this a hearty recommendation for lovers of high/epic fantasy, underdog heroes, and dragons.
August 18, 2023
Rise Red Kingdom amplifies whatever you thought about the first book. If you liked or loved Burn Skies Red, this will probably be a fantastic sequal for you. But if you felt so-so about it, you’ll probably hate this book. I guess maybe in other words if you didn’t liked the first book it won’t get better, but if you liked it it won’t get worse.
Personally I liked it, so this was a great sequal that got me through a bad week. There is more direction and the writing is stronger. We follow my queen Valerya. There are some twists and turns I can’t stop thinking about. But yes if you thought Burn Skies Red was confusing, there will be more confusion here. My friend (who definately didn’t liked the first book, haha) said Espinosa does not hold your hand, but in this book, prepare to go bunjee jumping. But I loved it even more than the first book.
Personally I liked it, so this was a great sequal that got me through a bad week. There is more direction and the writing is stronger. We follow my queen Valerya. There are some twists and turns I can’t stop thinking about. But yes if you thought Burn Skies Red was confusing, there will be more confusion here. My friend (who definately didn’t liked the first book, haha) said Espinosa does not hold your hand, but in this book, prepare to go bunjee jumping. But I loved it even more than the first book.
March 28, 2022
I was excited when I saw this come out. It went by faster than the first one, I love how Dove and Valerya compliment each other's shortcomings. I used to think Valerya was the strongest but sometimes strenght is the courage to listen and understand. They spend the book at odds but must find a way to be in each others presence. I love it, so much tension (T_T)
The characters around them are headed in different directions, my favorite storyline is the airship pirates. One character's villain potential also explodes in this book. There are twists that left me dying, there is a lot happening but the cards are stacked well. I had no expectations starting the series but I have all the expectations for the next book (T_T)
The characters around them are headed in different directions, my favorite storyline is the airship pirates. One character's villain potential also explodes in this book. There are twists that left me dying, there is a lot happening but the cards are stacked well. I had no expectations starting the series but I have all the expectations for the next book (T_T)
July 2, 2022
Mind. Blown.
Book 1 was good. Great characters, decent narrative, wonderful plot twist at the end.
Book 2? Next level. This is what Game of Thrones would've been like if it wasn't full of way too many characters and threads (which I ultimately loved but found overwhelming in the first few books).
The writing is unpretentious yet full of descriptions that are brilliant. The characters continue to be flawed yet full of surprises. And the story... yes, yes, yes! More please.
I am full of admiration for Espinosa's way of introducing twists and turns and new elements without quite leaving the reader hanging, and providing reasonable closure while keeping us curious.
#writinggoals
Book 1 was good. Great characters, decent narrative, wonderful plot twist at the end.
Book 2? Next level. This is what Game of Thrones would've been like if it wasn't full of way too many characters and threads (which I ultimately loved but found overwhelming in the first few books).
The writing is unpretentious yet full of descriptions that are brilliant. The characters continue to be flawed yet full of surprises. And the story... yes, yes, yes! More please.
I am full of admiration for Espinosa's way of introducing twists and turns and new elements without quite leaving the reader hanging, and providing reasonable closure while keeping us curious.
#writinggoals
February 22, 2022
The series starts where it left off. Not only is the storytelling absorbing to the point that I totally immersed myself in the beautifully crafted world and forgot time, but especially the writing style reflects the thought and care the author put into each sentence. Only 100 pages into the read, and after finally putting the book down, the feeling of having been taken to a different reality lingered with me. It's been a worthwhile trip, so far. Deeply engaging, fun and emotional.
TO BE CONTINUED...
TO BE CONTINUED...
August 2, 2022
I was not disappointed, actually I enjoyed this even more than the first! There is more direction and now that the characters have been set up well, the story really takes off from here! It mixes up old and new constellations. Because the characters have so much depth and they are believable, even unlikely friendships become so fascinating. I really enjoy this series and can’t wait for the next book.
May 8, 2024
L'ho letto a un anno di distanza dal primo e ho ritrovato subito la stessa atmosfera che mi aveva catturata. Ci sono colpi di scena, personaggi delineati alla perfezione, scontri sanguinosi, battute divertenti. Rosero sa scrivere davvero bene, coinvolge e incanta.
Se riuscirò a tradurlo in italiano, sarà una bella sfida.
Se riuscirò a tradurlo in italiano, sarà una bella sfida.
February 25, 2022
The writing style is fantastic! Every single line is absolutely well crafted and the whole book is made with love for the detail. If you love fantasy books with airships, dragons, colorful moving characters, and an amazing world-building to develope, this is your book! 🔥
April 28, 2024
Solid second book in this series. I missed a certain POV, only getting it near the beginning and the end, and I was hoping for more airships (although it looks like book 3 will have some time in the skies), but we got plenty of dragon action and some impressive reveals. Looking forward to book 3!!!
March 7, 2022
This book lives up to the first book! So good! I want more please 😁
April 11, 2022
Das Warten hat sich gelohnt :) Eine ganz klare Empfehlung und ich freue mich schon auf mehr von der Autorin!
September 9, 2022
Rise Red Kingdom seizes this opportunity to attack with a strong plot, which elevates the book in every aspect! The story is clearer, the pacing is better and there are more of dragons, without sacrificing any of the character work from Burn. There are new characters, which I normally would be wary of (a me thing), but Espinosa writes them into the story well. Once I found out more about their role to play, I was on the FLOOR. Then the blows just keep coming. Rise Red Kingdom packs one emotional punch after the other. I will think about it for a long time.
Incidentally, I wrote this after reading The Long Way Down and my mind is still reeling from how different these two books are.
Incidentally, I wrote this after reading The Long Way Down and my mind is still reeling from how different these two books are.
December 28, 2024
I had a much more enjoyable time reading this book than I did the first. Things were much less confusing and a bit more interesting. To start with, there were reference pages at the start to help understand the layout/heirachy of the army and rebel groups as well as a map. I would have loved these in the first book, but they were still helpful for this one, too. The pacing of the story was still somewhat choppy, but the story followed a clearer path overall. I really enjoyed getting to know Valerya better and understanding the history of the dragons and summoners. There was a lot of enjoyable backstory that really strengthened the plot.
There was one twist about 3/4 of the way through that genuinely surprised me, and I found it very cleverly laid out and intriguing. However, there was one final twist that, while interesting, still didn't quite make sense to me how the characters had figured it out... Maybe we will learn more in the next book? I haven't seen any information regarding the third book though, so I'm not quite sure when to expect that.
There was one twist about 3/4 of the way through that genuinely surprised me, and I found it very cleverly laid out and intriguing. However, there was one final twist that, while interesting, still didn't quite make sense to me how the characters had figured it out... Maybe we will learn more in the next book? I haven't seen any information regarding the third book though, so I'm not quite sure when to expect that.
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