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Enchanted #1
Storm and Flame
Elena has always been a disappointment. Her magic is practically non-existent and now, on her sixteenth birthday, she is expelled from magic school by the strict headmistress–also known as her mother. Cast out into the world of the magically inept with only her familiar for company, Elena feels lost and alone until she meets a strange boy in the woods.
Quinn is a thief, a hunter, and a hothead. His unexpected friendship with Elena awakens a fiery side in him–quite literally–and uncovers new and surprising magical abilities. Except men aren’t supposed to be capable of magic.
With Quinn’s help, Elena carves a safe new life as a barmaid, but when she is attacked, her powers awaken with shocking ferocity. Elena’s explosion of magic creates a power surge that attracts the attention of magical investigators, sent to uncover and contain the source of the power surge.
But the awakening of their powers kickstarts an ancient prophecy. Will they be able to escape those that hunt them? Can they fulfill the prophecy, destroy the turmio and save magic from being destroyed once and for all?
Content warning: the story mentions incidents of child abuse, sexual assault, and birth trauma. May not be suitable for some readers.
Quinn is a thief, a hunter, and a hothead. His unexpected friendship with Elena awakens a fiery side in him–quite literally–and uncovers new and surprising magical abilities. Except men aren’t supposed to be capable of magic.
With Quinn’s help, Elena carves a safe new life as a barmaid, but when she is attacked, her powers awaken with shocking ferocity. Elena’s explosion of magic creates a power surge that attracts the attention of magical investigators, sent to uncover and contain the source of the power surge.
But the awakening of their powers kickstarts an ancient prophecy. Will they be able to escape those that hunt them? Can they fulfill the prophecy, destroy the turmio and save magic from being destroyed once and for all?
Content warning: the story mentions incidents of child abuse, sexual assault, and birth trauma. May not be suitable for some readers.
383 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2022
32 people are currently reading
532 people want to read
About the author
Mallory Wanless
8 books46 followersMallory lives in Texas with her husband and their two young boys. She spends her days homeschooling and full-time parenting. Her nights, and any free time she manages to carve out during the day, are devoted to reading and writing. She has always been a massive bookworm. Books are her preferred outlet when the world is overwhelming or too busy.
Since having kids, she uses books and stories to escape from the day-to-day responsibilities of stay-at-home parenting. Disappearing into magical worlds makes laundry and cooking more entertaining.
Since having kids, she uses books and stories to escape from the day-to-day responsibilities of stay-at-home parenting. Disappearing into magical worlds makes laundry and cooking more entertaining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 26, 2022
Content warnings: Attempted rape / attempted gang rape (2 scenes), sexual assault, child abuse, parental neglect, parental abandonment, childbirth (not the main character), childbirth complications (but the mother & baby are okay and alive in the end), death, sexism, PTSD
Overall, Storm and Flame is pretty good. I liked it despite its cliffhanger ending. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough that I’ll definitely read book 2.
THE PREMISE:
Only those born with magic have familiars, talking animals that they share a soul with. (Sort of like daemons in the His Dark Materials trilogy, but only for those with magic). Only women are born with magic. And familiars don’t have magic themselves … or so everyone thought.
17-year-old Elena has a magical familiar and has never been able to get her magic to work like all the other enchantresses, to her mother’s endless bitter disappointment. Elena gets kicked out of a magical boarding school, the only home she’s ever known, by the school’s headmistress who just happens to be her own mother. Her mother even used a flimsy lie to justify the expulsion.
Homeless and devastated, Elena stumbles upon a boy around her age, named Quinn, who has a magical familiar himself. With Quinn’s help, she learns how to live the world outside her magic school. Then, Elena and Quinn begin to display very powerful magic they didn’t know they had. Unusual magic. Pretty soon, Elena and Quinn are searching for answers and on the run. Unbeknownst to them, an ancient prophecy foretelling disaster lurks on the horizon, soon to be fulfilled.
THE WRITING::
The main characters were likeable and imperfect. Elena and Quinn are both inherently kind. They both grew a lot over the course of the story. In particular, they grappled with learning to recover from trauma. I’m invested enough in the characters and plot to read the second book. The rotating POV lets you get to know both main characters, Elena and Quinn, pretty well. It also gives you a peek into the mind of the antagonists and peripheral characters.
The book’s got a lot of found family vibes. It definitely reads like a young adult book, but it deals with some heavy topics, like dealing with trauma and killing in self-defense. They’re handled pretty carefully and well, but not delved into too deeply. There’s lots of healthy messages and themes: embracing one’s difficult emotions (instead of repressing them), questioning the prejudices/beliefs you’ve been raised on, self-acceptance, helping those in trouble, etc.
It was a little heavy on fate and destiny for my taste, but there wasn’t a fated/meant-to-be romance plotline, so it didn’t bug me too much. In fact, there’s not really any romance at all.
The pacing was a little uneven. It could get a bit slow at times, but it always picked back up again. Near the end, the story seemed a little rushed. The plot had plenty of twists and turns. While I did predict a few, there were still some big surprises at the end that I never saw coming. Be forewarned, the book ends on a big cliffhanger.
The female main character, Elena, is strong and formidable, despite needing some aid at times. Yes, the male main character is quite protective of the female main character, but he’s also a protective person in general. It’s a core part of his personality and backstory. Elena proves quite capable of protecting herself, while still struggling with trauma because no one’s invincible. She heals and builds up her self-confidence bit by bit.
The main characters could stand to be developed more. Some of the characterization felt a bit rushed. The plot felt rushed near the end too. The characters were developed enough for me to care about them, but they also felt like they needed to be filled in more with quirks, hobbies, interests, and details that would make them more unique.
I received a free digital advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
Overall, Storm and Flame is pretty good. I liked it despite its cliffhanger ending. It’s not perfect, but it’s good enough that I’ll definitely read book 2.
THE PREMISE:
Only those born with magic have familiars, talking animals that they share a soul with. (Sort of like daemons in the His Dark Materials trilogy, but only for those with magic). Only women are born with magic. And familiars don’t have magic themselves … or so everyone thought.
17-year-old Elena has a magical familiar and has never been able to get her magic to work like all the other enchantresses, to her mother’s endless bitter disappointment. Elena gets kicked out of a magical boarding school, the only home she’s ever known, by the school’s headmistress who just happens to be her own mother. Her mother even used a flimsy lie to justify the expulsion.
Homeless and devastated, Elena stumbles upon a boy around her age, named Quinn, who has a magical familiar himself. With Quinn’s help, she learns how to live the world outside her magic school. Then, Elena and Quinn begin to display very powerful magic they didn’t know they had. Unusual magic. Pretty soon, Elena and Quinn are searching for answers and on the run. Unbeknownst to them, an ancient prophecy foretelling disaster lurks on the horizon, soon to be fulfilled.
THE WRITING::
The main characters were likeable and imperfect. Elena and Quinn are both inherently kind. They both grew a lot over the course of the story. In particular, they grappled with learning to recover from trauma. I’m invested enough in the characters and plot to read the second book. The rotating POV lets you get to know both main characters, Elena and Quinn, pretty well. It also gives you a peek into the mind of the antagonists and peripheral characters.
The book’s got a lot of found family vibes. It definitely reads like a young adult book, but it deals with some heavy topics, like dealing with trauma and killing in self-defense. They’re handled pretty carefully and well, but not delved into too deeply. There’s lots of healthy messages and themes: embracing one’s difficult emotions (instead of repressing them), questioning the prejudices/beliefs you’ve been raised on, self-acceptance, helping those in trouble, etc.
It was a little heavy on fate and destiny for my taste, but there wasn’t a fated/meant-to-be romance plotline, so it didn’t bug me too much. In fact, there’s not really any romance at all.
The pacing was a little uneven. It could get a bit slow at times, but it always picked back up again. Near the end, the story seemed a little rushed. The plot had plenty of twists and turns. While I did predict a few, there were still some big surprises at the end that I never saw coming. Be forewarned, the book ends on a big cliffhanger.
The female main character, Elena, is strong and formidable, despite needing some aid at times. Yes, the male main character is quite protective of the female main character, but he’s also a protective person in general. It’s a core part of his personality and backstory. Elena proves quite capable of protecting herself, while still struggling with trauma because no one’s invincible. She heals and builds up her self-confidence bit by bit.
The main characters could stand to be developed more. Some of the characterization felt a bit rushed. The plot felt rushed near the end too. The characters were developed enough for me to care about them, but they also felt like they needed to be filled in more with quirks, hobbies, interests, and details that would make them more unique.
I received a free digital advanced reader copy via NetGalley. I am writing this review completely honestly and voluntarily.
January 8, 2026
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, a lot happened in this book and it was am okay start to the series too. It's so funny because earilier I read a book where only men had the magic and it was frowned upon when a woman had it. Storm and Flame is like the complete opposite because only women are born with magic.
The characters were okay, likable to a point but also had their fair share of flaws too. I liked them when they, Elena and Quinn, were together for the most part. They definitely had their problems and needed to find ways to heal from it all. Even though it's YA, this book does dive into some heavy topics that might be hard to read/listen to. Though, I will admit that I had to take mini breaks every now and then to digest it all.
As for the overall story, it was okay pace wise for me. The end did feel really rushed though. I'm also intrigued with out it all ended and will probably add the next book in this series to my evergrowing TBR. Definitely want to know what will happen next for this little found family.
Okay, a lot happened in this book and it was am okay start to the series too. It's so funny because earilier I read a book where only men had the magic and it was frowned upon when a woman had it. Storm and Flame is like the complete opposite because only women are born with magic.
The characters were okay, likable to a point but also had their fair share of flaws too. I liked them when they, Elena and Quinn, were together for the most part. They definitely had their problems and needed to find ways to heal from it all. Even though it's YA, this book does dive into some heavy topics that might be hard to read/listen to. Though, I will admit that I had to take mini breaks every now and then to digest it all.
As for the overall story, it was okay pace wise for me. The end did feel really rushed though. I'm also intrigued with out it all ended and will probably add the next book in this series to my evergrowing TBR. Definitely want to know what will happen next for this little found family.
September 2, 2022
After Elena and her familiar, Agon, are kicked out of Harbor Ridge School for Enchantresses, they find themselves with nowhere to go. Quinn and Lyra quickly stumble upon them and help start a new life. Not long after Elena left school, her powers were awakened after an incident, and she is a lot more powerful than anyone could expect. Elena, Agon, Quinn and Lyra flee the small village in search of answers. Along the way they learn that not only is Elena powerful, but Quinn has magic inside him, which is impossible seeing as he is a man. Not long after fleeing they find themselves on a quest to save all magic and magical beings, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
The author Mallory did a wonderful job at building a new world that you could see while reading and was easy to follow throughout the entire book. This book was hard to put down once I started reading, there are a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, once I got to the end I wanted to start the next book in the series. That cliff hanger was something else!!!
I would recommend this YA book to anyone that is interested in getting into fantasy, this is a good push into that world.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!
The author Mallory did a wonderful job at building a new world that you could see while reading and was easy to follow throughout the entire book. This book was hard to put down once I started reading, there are a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged, once I got to the end I wanted to start the next book in the series. That cliff hanger was something else!!!
I would recommend this YA book to anyone that is interested in getting into fantasy, this is a good push into that world.
Can't wait for the next book in the series!
June 8, 2022
Elena’s magic is weak and now, she is expelled from magic school her mother who is also the head mistress. Cast out into the world with only her familiar for company, Elena feels lost and alone until she meets Quinn. Quinn’s unexpected friendship with Elena awakens a fiery side in him–quite literally–and uncovers new and surprising magical abilities. Except men aren’t supposed to be capable of magic. With Quinn’s help, Elena starts new life as a barmaid, but when she is attacked, her powers awaken. Elena’s explosion of magic creates a power surge that attracts the attention of magical investigators, sent to uncover, and contain the source of the power surge.
This book was amazing and was one I will recommend to everyone who loves fantasy. I thought this would be just another YA book with the same tropes, but instead I got a book with a unique take. The characters were witty and had moments of lightheartedness. I did not see the twist at the end coming and I am still surprised by it. I am dying for book two after the cliff hanger this book ended on.
This book was amazing and was one I will recommend to everyone who loves fantasy. I thought this would be just another YA book with the same tropes, but instead I got a book with a unique take. The characters were witty and had moments of lightheartedness. I did not see the twist at the end coming and I am still surprised by it. I am dying for book two after the cliff hanger this book ended on.
November 26, 2022
After being expelled from the academy by her own mother, Elena finds herself in a world she doesn’t know. After a rather inconvenient meeting with Quinn she finds herself under his protection while trying to have a normal life, after being attacked she discovers she has really powerful magic that awakens the interest of many. Suddenly she finds herself running from the people that want that power while discovering her involvement in a prophecy she never knew about.
“𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲.”
This book catches your attention since the very first pages, the plot is pretty cool, the characters are relatable and complex. We don’t just have a plot, we have characters that deal with trauma and their current situation, also that ending blew my mind.
“𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥, 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐩. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐭. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲.”
This book catches your attention since the very first pages, the plot is pretty cool, the characters are relatable and complex. We don’t just have a plot, we have characters that deal with trauma and their current situation, also that ending blew my mind.
September 4, 2022
Storm and Flame
by Mallory Wanless
YA Fantasy
NetGalley ARC
Elena's magic isn't up to par so at sixteen her mother, the headmistress of the magic school, kicks her out. So with limited knowledge of the outside world, and no survival skills she is alone with her familiar to fend for herself. She meets Quinn and he brings her to safety and a friendship between them evolves, but her powers awake, more powerful than anyone had seen before, but one that was spoken in a prophecy, and she and Quinn are the world's only hope to save magic.
The story is pretty good, though the writing is lacking descriptions. Not much stands out with the characters other than they all had a hard childhood, but what they looked like and their clothes, were just your general descriptions.
The story was promising, but because of the scarcity of descriptions, there wasn't much to keep me interested. I also had who was who, figured out by 10%, and knowing it was going to be a cliffhanger by 50%. Have I ever mentioned I hate cliffhangers? And sadly, this is one of the worst types.
Overall not bad, but nothing too great about it either. Take the more adult content and tweens could read this without a problem, but as is, only mature readers over sixteen should read this.
A very low
3 Stars
by Mallory Wanless
YA Fantasy
NetGalley ARC
Elena's magic isn't up to par so at sixteen her mother, the headmistress of the magic school, kicks her out. So with limited knowledge of the outside world, and no survival skills she is alone with her familiar to fend for herself. She meets Quinn and he brings her to safety and a friendship between them evolves, but her powers awake, more powerful than anyone had seen before, but one that was spoken in a prophecy, and she and Quinn are the world's only hope to save magic.
The story is pretty good, though the writing is lacking descriptions. Not much stands out with the characters other than they all had a hard childhood, but what they looked like and their clothes, were just your general descriptions.
The story was promising, but because of the scarcity of descriptions, there wasn't much to keep me interested. I also had who was who, figured out by 10%, and knowing it was going to be a cliffhanger by 50%. Have I ever mentioned I hate cliffhangers? And sadly, this is one of the worst types.
Overall not bad, but nothing too great about it either. Take the more adult content and tweens could read this without a problem, but as is, only mature readers over sixteen should read this.
A very low
3 Stars
July 14, 2022
Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read Storm and Flame.
The premise of this book sounded really promising but for some reason the book itself just fell flat for me. I didn’t care for the MC’s self pity and felt like some of the sentences droned on. Also for some reason the font was absolutely huge for this ebook and it made reading this a challenge.
The premise of this book sounded really promising but for some reason the book itself just fell flat for me. I didn’t care for the MC’s self pity and felt like some of the sentences droned on. Also for some reason the font was absolutely huge for this ebook and it made reading this a challenge.
September 30, 2023
I Love this book. The characters are so rich and take amazing and delightful turns! I cannot recommend enough!
October 6, 2025
Quick YA fantasy that ended on quite the cliffhanger. Cute and while ‘bad’ things happened, quite upbeat.
May 12, 2022
Couple of items up front: The author discusses sexual assault, and child abuse - she distances the reader from the actual incidents, but you may want to be aware of this before you begin reading the novel. Also this novel does have a cliff hanger - and you may want to wait until the second novel in the series comes out - but sometimes I really enjoy the tease of a cliff hanger - to each their own.
This is a solidly written novel, one that the reader will enjoy. This is a brilliant read ... well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable in regards to the written text. Great suspense and action with and wonderful world building. I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.
This is a solidly written novel, one that the reader will enjoy. This is a brilliant read ... well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable in regards to the written text. Great suspense and action with and wonderful world building. I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.
November 12, 2022
*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
And that's the only reason I finished it. I lost interest in everything--the story, the characters--pretty quickly. I just couldn't find it within myself to care what happened to them. Yesterday at about 60%, I finally just started skimming to get the general idea of what happened so that I could finish reading it and move on. I'm granting it 2 stars because I typically reserve my 1-star ratings for truly atrocious books.
Perhaps the skeleton of the story wasn't bad, but I just didn't feel like it was put together well. The writing was rather juvenile, the dialogue was awkward, and the events were contrived. I cannot tell you how many times the words "we're okay," "you're okay," and similar phrases were said by the characters, but it was a lot. The alternating use of "Quinn" and "Q" just felt silly. Many of the main characters' actions were caused by feelings, desires, and instincts that they just didn't understand (and felt the need to frequently point out). In addition, other characters who had actual knowledge or reasons would give Quinn and Elena little hints and then say things along the lines of "but I'm not going to tell you anything else for reasons I also won't tell you."
Although this book kind of ends (rather abruptly) with a cliffhanger, I will not be continuing on with the story. Congrats to the author for being published; it appears that a number of people thoroughly enjoyed reading her book, but I was not one of them. My journey with Quinn and Elena has (thankfully) ended.
How it ends:
Note: Attempted rape. Made-up swear words.
And that's the only reason I finished it. I lost interest in everything--the story, the characters--pretty quickly. I just couldn't find it within myself to care what happened to them. Yesterday at about 60%, I finally just started skimming to get the general idea of what happened so that I could finish reading it and move on. I'm granting it 2 stars because I typically reserve my 1-star ratings for truly atrocious books.
Perhaps the skeleton of the story wasn't bad, but I just didn't feel like it was put together well. The writing was rather juvenile, the dialogue was awkward, and the events were contrived. I cannot tell you how many times the words "we're okay," "you're okay," and similar phrases were said by the characters, but it was a lot. The alternating use of "Quinn" and "Q" just felt silly. Many of the main characters' actions were caused by feelings, desires, and instincts that they just didn't understand (and felt the need to frequently point out). In addition, other characters who had actual knowledge or reasons would give Quinn and Elena little hints and then say things along the lines of "but I'm not going to tell you anything else for reasons I also won't tell you."
Although this book kind of ends (rather abruptly) with a cliffhanger, I will not be continuing on with the story. Congrats to the author for being published; it appears that a number of people thoroughly enjoyed reading her book, but I was not one of them. My journey with Quinn and Elena has (thankfully) ended.
How it ends:
Note: Attempted rape. Made-up swear words.
July 30, 2022
Thank you to Enchanting Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless is a YA fantasy with plenty of cool magical powers. The story revolves around Elena, who has been kicked out of magic school by her mother, the headmistress. In the woods, she meets Quinn, a thief who also has magical powers. The two band together and get closer. But when Elena's magic powers are suddenly fully awakened, they unwittingly begin to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"Elena was easily the worst enchantress in her class, probably the whole school. The other students mocked her mercilessly. It didn’t help that her mother, Madame LaBelle, was the most famous enchantress in the whole country, possibly the world, and the headmistress of their school. She could turn a seed into a centuries-old tree with the flick of her wrist. Elena could grow a seed into a sapling with twenty minutes of chanting, flicking, waving, and praying. Maybe. On a good day.
Madame LaBelle was notorious for her skills with magic as much as her beauty. Unfortunately for Elena, she inherited her looks from her father. At least, she assumed that’s where she got her flat hair and dull brown eyes. She’d never actually met him."
Overall Storm and Flame is a YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of magical academy books who wonder what is outside of the academy. One highlight of this book are the cool magical powers. The protagonists can talk to animals, summon fire, etc. I did take off 1 star, because I was annoyed by the fake cursing (replacing curse words with fake words). It made it feel like a middle-grade novel to me. At the same time, this was definitely YA, since there were scenes of attempted sexual assault, too. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless is a YA fantasy with plenty of cool magical powers. The story revolves around Elena, who has been kicked out of magic school by her mother, the headmistress. In the woods, she meets Quinn, a thief who also has magical powers. The two band together and get closer. But when Elena's magic powers are suddenly fully awakened, they unwittingly begin to fulfill an ancient prophecy.
Here is an enchanting excerpt from Chapter 1:
"Elena was easily the worst enchantress in her class, probably the whole school. The other students mocked her mercilessly. It didn’t help that her mother, Madame LaBelle, was the most famous enchantress in the whole country, possibly the world, and the headmistress of their school. She could turn a seed into a centuries-old tree with the flick of her wrist. Elena could grow a seed into a sapling with twenty minutes of chanting, flicking, waving, and praying. Maybe. On a good day.
Madame LaBelle was notorious for her skills with magic as much as her beauty. Unfortunately for Elena, she inherited her looks from her father. At least, she assumed that’s where she got her flat hair and dull brown eyes. She’d never actually met him."
Overall Storm and Flame is a YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of magical academy books who wonder what is outside of the academy. One highlight of this book are the cool magical powers. The protagonists can talk to animals, summon fire, etc. I did take off 1 star, because I was annoyed by the fake cursing (replacing curse words with fake words). It made it feel like a middle-grade novel to me. At the same time, this was definitely YA, since there were scenes of attempted sexual assault, too. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!
February 7, 2023
Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless is the first book I have read by this author. It has a fresh and original, to me, take on the magic world. And, I liked it very much. The author has crafted an intricate and rich, but not overly cluttered, world for her characters. As the back cover blurb indicates, the story does address instances of child abuse, sexual assault and birth trauma which might not be appropriate for some readers. These are treated carefully, with just the right amount of information, by Ms. Wanless.
In a world where it is presumed only women have magical powers, the enchantresses are in for a shock. Elena’s magic appears to be almost non-existent and her familiar is… well, weird. At sixteen, Elena’s mother, the headmistress, expels her from magic school. Alone and afraid, Elena meets Quinn, who, as a male, shouldn’t have any magic, nor a familiar, at all. After a fairly rocky first encounter, Quinn helps Elena navigate the world of the magically inept. The peripheral characters that Elena encounters in the village are mostly charming and good-hearted. But it’s the evil ones who drive Elena’s and Quinn’s discovery of their magical powers.
This is also a coming-of-age story and I was impressed by how the author moved her characters from impulse to maturity. As in our own world, the bad things in our lives can teach us and help us mature. This was true for Elena and Quinn. Their traumas facilitate their growth in knowledge, wisdom and self-discipline. Throughout the book there are sprinkles of humor, minimal teenage angst, plus some surprising twists. This book is the first in a series and the ending is a total but necessary cliffhanger.
I recommend this book for fantasy readers, teens and above. I received a review copy of this book with the request that I would leave an honest review.
In a world where it is presumed only women have magical powers, the enchantresses are in for a shock. Elena’s magic appears to be almost non-existent and her familiar is… well, weird. At sixteen, Elena’s mother, the headmistress, expels her from magic school. Alone and afraid, Elena meets Quinn, who, as a male, shouldn’t have any magic, nor a familiar, at all. After a fairly rocky first encounter, Quinn helps Elena navigate the world of the magically inept. The peripheral characters that Elena encounters in the village are mostly charming and good-hearted. But it’s the evil ones who drive Elena’s and Quinn’s discovery of their magical powers.
This is also a coming-of-age story and I was impressed by how the author moved her characters from impulse to maturity. As in our own world, the bad things in our lives can teach us and help us mature. This was true for Elena and Quinn. Their traumas facilitate their growth in knowledge, wisdom and self-discipline. Throughout the book there are sprinkles of humor, minimal teenage angst, plus some surprising twists. This book is the first in a series and the ending is a total but necessary cliffhanger.
I recommend this book for fantasy readers, teens and above. I received a review copy of this book with the request that I would leave an honest review.
March 30, 2023
Wow. This is the series you didn’t know you needed. This is the PG version of what happens when Harry Potter meets The Witcher… This is Storm and Flame.
It’s the type of book you can’t put down, attempting to get through to the end as quickly as possible. But when you find it’s almost finished, you start hoping you don’t finish it, because you’re not ready to be done. It’s the perfect start to a series, and fortunately for me - the rest of the trilogy is already available.
This is a fast paced book with fairly short sections that makes it easy to read “just one more”. The chapters rotated between the perspectives of the two main characters, as well as a few supporting characters. Because of the alternating views, the story stays fresh and moved quickly, without any spots of empty “filler story” that you have to trudge through to get to the next interesting part.
The characters are believable and relatable. I found myself immediately rooting for the main characters - emotionally invested in their success and well-being.
There was a very conscientious trigger warning at the beginning of the book. As a sensitive adult, I expected to be bothered by the topics. In reality, although several adult themes were briefly addressed in the story, it was not graphic or in a way that I personally found disturbing.
I found myself laughing out loud one moment and tense the next… leisurely enjoying the read followed by anxiously skimming paragraphs. If you like your books to contain fantasy and magic, and enjoy reading YA and period pieces - this is a series for you.
It’s the type of book you can’t put down, attempting to get through to the end as quickly as possible. But when you find it’s almost finished, you start hoping you don’t finish it, because you’re not ready to be done. It’s the perfect start to a series, and fortunately for me - the rest of the trilogy is already available.
This is a fast paced book with fairly short sections that makes it easy to read “just one more”. The chapters rotated between the perspectives of the two main characters, as well as a few supporting characters. Because of the alternating views, the story stays fresh and moved quickly, without any spots of empty “filler story” that you have to trudge through to get to the next interesting part.
The characters are believable and relatable. I found myself immediately rooting for the main characters - emotionally invested in their success and well-being.
There was a very conscientious trigger warning at the beginning of the book. As a sensitive adult, I expected to be bothered by the topics. In reality, although several adult themes were briefly addressed in the story, it was not graphic or in a way that I personally found disturbing.
I found myself laughing out loud one moment and tense the next… leisurely enjoying the read followed by anxiously skimming paragraphs. If you like your books to contain fantasy and magic, and enjoy reading YA and period pieces - this is a series for you.
November 19, 2022
If you like Eragon and The Golden Compass, you’ll love this book.
Beside the surprise twist at the very end, this reminded me of Eragon (but without the dragons) and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice movie (minus the love story). The book is long, so brace yourself for adventures, posturing, learning magic and a dark & devious backstory peeled back like an onion. 16yo Elena is a clumsy enchantress with a weasel familiar who is kicked out of school by her own mother, no less. When see meets Quinn with a similar abnormal familiar, they strike up a strange friendship and adventures follow. A magical war is coming and they are at the center of it. I loved the flow of the story but because it was so long, by the end I was reading diagonally to get the gist of the plot. I liked the author’s use of Finnish as the evil language of the Brotherhood of anti-mages - made me chuckle coz Finnish is notably one of thr most difficult languages to learn. The main characters were hot-headed teens discovering their abilities, so a coming of age story as well. Quite an enjoyable slow-burn good vs evil & save-the-world story, bordering between witchy and epic.
Recommended for lovers of YA clean & sweet action-adventure and witchy fantasy.
Beside the surprise twist at the very end, this reminded me of Eragon (but without the dragons) and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice movie (minus the love story). The book is long, so brace yourself for adventures, posturing, learning magic and a dark & devious backstory peeled back like an onion. 16yo Elena is a clumsy enchantress with a weasel familiar who is kicked out of school by her own mother, no less. When see meets Quinn with a similar abnormal familiar, they strike up a strange friendship and adventures follow. A magical war is coming and they are at the center of it. I loved the flow of the story but because it was so long, by the end I was reading diagonally to get the gist of the plot. I liked the author’s use of Finnish as the evil language of the Brotherhood of anti-mages - made me chuckle coz Finnish is notably one of thr most difficult languages to learn. The main characters were hot-headed teens discovering their abilities, so a coming of age story as well. Quite an enjoyable slow-burn good vs evil & save-the-world story, bordering between witchy and epic.
Recommended for lovers of YA clean & sweet action-adventure and witchy fantasy.
February 18, 2024
I struggled so much reading this book and if not for it being an ARC I received I probably would have put it down and walked away. The format I received it in was e-reader form and for whatever reason the font was absolutely huge. I needed to put the formatting down to the smallest size and even then it was still quite big on my screen. I understand this isn't the authors fault but thought other readers should be aware. Also this book as several triggers and I highly recommend reading the warnings before hand.
As for the story it just fell very flat for me. Some parts felt super rushed and the sentencing tended to drag on. I couldn't find myself liking Elena as her self pity just frustrated me. The ending has a major plot twist though looking back at Amazon's description for the book it seems like the ending could have been figured out sooner. I feel that with some more editing this could be a very good story since the idea was fascinating.
I received an ARC from Story Origin for an unbiased review.
As for the story it just fell very flat for me. Some parts felt super rushed and the sentencing tended to drag on. I couldn't find myself liking Elena as her self pity just frustrated me. The ending has a major plot twist though looking back at Amazon's description for the book it seems like the ending could have been figured out sooner. I feel that with some more editing this could be a very good story since the idea was fascinating.
I received an ARC from Story Origin for an unbiased review.
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January 30, 2025Good fun fantasy
Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless was a fun, quick fantasy read that has me eagerly waiting for book 2.
A young girl and her familiar are kicked out of their magic school because she doesn't show promise with her magic abilities, a young boy and his fox live a solitary life alone and help out their community where they can. When the two characters meet each other, something sparks, and their lives are never the same again. Soon, a plot gets uncovered where a brotherhood is trying to release an evil that will kill all magic people, leaving the world without magic.
This was definitely a YA novel, but as I've said before, it was a fun read. The characters are likable, and the narrorator did a phenomenal job portraying them in the audiobook version. I recommend this one to anyone who likes fun fantasy or anyone who is looking to get their teens into reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Storm and Flame by Mallory Wanless was a fun, quick fantasy read that has me eagerly waiting for book 2.
A young girl and her familiar are kicked out of their magic school because she doesn't show promise with her magic abilities, a young boy and his fox live a solitary life alone and help out their community where they can. When the two characters meet each other, something sparks, and their lives are never the same again. Soon, a plot gets uncovered where a brotherhood is trying to release an evil that will kill all magic people, leaving the world without magic.
This was definitely a YA novel, but as I've said before, it was a fun read. The characters are likable, and the narrorator did a phenomenal job portraying them in the audiobook version. I recommend this one to anyone who likes fun fantasy or anyone who is looking to get their teens into reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Storm and Flame. At sixteen, her mother, who is also the headmistress of Harbor Ridge school of magic, expels her. Elena is cast off into the world with only her familiar Agon for company. It’s there Elena meets Quinn and they soon realize that Quinn is different. He has magic, even though the guys in this world do not posses magic.
The story is easy to follow, and the magic system is simple. Storm and Flame is told in Multiple POV, which I enjoyed. There are a couple of trigger warnings, child abuse, sexual assault and birth trauma. The author doesn’t go into too much detail, but please be aware. Storm and Flame is the first in a series, I look forward to reading the next installment.
The story is easy to follow, and the magic system is simple. Storm and Flame is told in Multiple POV, which I enjoyed. There are a couple of trigger warnings, child abuse, sexual assault and birth trauma. The author doesn’t go into too much detail, but please be aware. Storm and Flame is the first in a series, I look forward to reading the next installment.
July 17, 2022
"Prophecies are tricky.No two people will interpret a phrophecy the same way, and no one ever seems to decipher them correctly."
After being expelled from school by her own mother, Elena has no choice but to start a new life with the help of Quinn. But their newly awakened powers and prophecy might suggest that they have much bigger roles to play.
I enjoyed this story very much! Elena was kind and optimistic. Quinn was loyal and protective to those he loves. Him helping the girl he just met felt odd, but the ending explained everything. Her, Quinn's and Roska's familliars were adorable. I also liked that there are different characters' POVs. It was a good book for the first one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
After being expelled from school by her own mother, Elena has no choice but to start a new life with the help of Quinn. But their newly awakened powers and prophecy might suggest that they have much bigger roles to play.
I enjoyed this story very much! Elena was kind and optimistic. Quinn was loyal and protective to those he loves. Him helping the girl he just met felt odd, but the ending explained everything. Her, Quinn's and Roska's familliars were adorable. I also liked that there are different characters' POVs. It was a good book for the first one in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!
March 21, 2022
I had the pleasure to beta read Mallory Waneless' debut novel Storm and Flame, wherein I found a rich fantasy world full of magic and adventure. The story line follows young Elena, cast out from the only home she's ever known, into a unfamiliar world of magept (non magical people). With only her Familar as company, Elena is utterly alone until crossing paths with the brave, loner Quinn and his beloved animal companion Lyra. This story is packed full of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat—turning pages well into the night to see what happens next. I'll be looking forward to the next book!
July 14, 2022
Storm and Flame: Enchanted I, my first read from author Mallory Wanless. A well-written, entertaining first book, with intriguing, well-developed characters. 308-pages that I read in a single setting. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Obviously the first book of a series, I look forward to Enchanted II when it's published! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
August 11, 2022
TW: Child Abuse, SA
I read this in one sitting! Elena and Quinn have easily made it on the list of favorite Main Characters. The journey they experience is so increadible- you'll want to keep reading to understand and know it all! I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read what happens next because CLIFFHANGER.
Thank you to NetGalley and Enchanted Publishing for the eARC of this book!
I read this in one sitting! Elena and Quinn have easily made it on the list of favorite Main Characters. The journey they experience is so increadible- you'll want to keep reading to understand and know it all! I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read what happens next because CLIFFHANGER.
Thank you to NetGalley and Enchanted Publishing for the eARC of this book!
August 19, 2022
I am obsessed with this story! Elena has so much growth in such a short period of time and I love everything about Belladonna, the wards, the snark, the hermit home. Absolute dream! The ending is masterful and I am so excited for the next book but the things that Ros and Dem went through is so heartbreaking.
It's got great pacing, heart wrenching scenes, fuzzy and warm scenes, and a lot of wonderful banter. Perfect read if you are in a slump!
It's got great pacing, heart wrenching scenes, fuzzy and warm scenes, and a lot of wonderful banter. Perfect read if you are in a slump!
August 22, 2022
I found this to be quite an easy read. The world-building was not overwhelming, the same with the magic system. I enjoyed the plot and the different POVs throughout. The main characters were all flawed, having had different (but all awful) childhoods, and they grew as the story went, adapting to the change in their circumstances. The ending held an intriguing twist, and I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the next one.
August 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. The characters Elena and Quinn were fully developed and and believable.
I did have a hard time following the plot at times and the story seemed to drag at certain points. However overall it was an enjoyable read.
A solid 4! Recommend for those, like me, who are into magic and fantasy.
Thank you to the author, Enchanting Publishing and NetGalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I did have a hard time following the plot at times and the story seemed to drag at certain points. However overall it was an enjoyable read.
A solid 4! Recommend for those, like me, who are into magic and fantasy.
Thank you to the author, Enchanting Publishing and NetGalley for granting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
November 25, 2022
Enjoyable from the first page to the last. It's the perfect book for curling up on these cold nights. If you enjoy YA books in general you'll like this. But if you love books about finding yourself, stepping out from someone else's shadow, becoming who you were meant to be, friendship, loyalty, love, and magick?! Then this is the book for you. Eloquently written, capturing the reader with every word, scene, and chapter.
June 21, 2023
Storm and Flame was a cute concept that I think fell a little short. I loved the familiars, and aspects of the book but it read really young at times. I wish the magic system was explained a little better, and it felt a little rushed towards the end. I didn’t like the introduction to new POVs that I personally didn’t feel necessary. Overall, the book was a cute concept but I’m not sure I will read more!
December 5, 2023
Be sure to read the trigger warnings before reading this book.
I really enjoyed this read. It's full of magic and tragedy and hope and friendship. I wasn't bothered a lot by the traumas in the story, but I also know that those scenes were necessary for the character and story development. I think a lot of people will relate to Elena and Quinn. You get to know them pretty well and I hope that book 2 continues on in the same vein and we can grow to know more of the secondary characters.
I really enjoyed this read. It's full of magic and tragedy and hope and friendship. I wasn't bothered a lot by the traumas in the story, but I also know that those scenes were necessary for the character and story development. I think a lot of people will relate to Elena and Quinn. You get to know them pretty well and I hope that book 2 continues on in the same vein and we can grow to know more of the secondary characters.
May 28, 2022
This book is a storm going to happen! The storytelling is expressive while engaging the readers. Elena was a daughter that belonged to a school that her mother Madame LaBelle controlled, and she was the famous enchantress in the country. Elena couldn't do the magic like the other girls so her mother was always unhappy with her. Things got out of control when Elena had to endure some life changes.
June 24, 2022
Storm and Flame is a beautifully inventive debut novel. If you love magic and furry friends, this is the book for you. From meek to formidable, this books takes the reader on a hero’s journey that twists and turns in ways that kept me on my toes & had me eager for answers. Although a fantasy, the trials & internal struggles of each character was still relatable & heart warming.
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