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Loom Saga #2
The Dragons of Nova
The only thing that could compare to the Dragons' beauty is their brutality.
Cvareh returns home to his sky world of Nova with the genius crafter Arianna as his temperamental guest. The mercurial inventor possesses all the Xin family needs to turn the tides of a centuries-old power struggle, but the secrets she harbors must be earned with trust - hard to come by for Ari, especially when it comes to Dragons.
Up on the sky islands of Nova, Ari finds herself closer to exacting vengeance against the traitor who killed everything and everyone she once loved. But before Ari can complete her campaign of revenge, a secret from her past is exposed. One that will change the world.
While Nova is embroiled in blood sport and political games, the Fenthri on Loom prepare for an all-out assault on their Dragon oppressors.
Florence unexpectedly finds herself at the forefront of the new rebellion, as her unique blend of skills, and quick-shooting accuracy, make her a force to be reckoned with. For the future of her world, she vows vengeance against the Dragons.
But freedom comes with a steep cost. Before the rebellion can rise, the Guilds of Loom must fall.
The second book in the Loom Saga expands on its divided world, exploring the brutal and bloodthirsty sky islands of Nova. The Loom Saga is perfect for readers of gaslamp fantasy looking for deep worldbuilding and something truly unique.
Cvareh returns home to his sky world of Nova with the genius crafter Arianna as his temperamental guest. The mercurial inventor possesses all the Xin family needs to turn the tides of a centuries-old power struggle, but the secrets she harbors must be earned with trust - hard to come by for Ari, especially when it comes to Dragons.
Up on the sky islands of Nova, Ari finds herself closer to exacting vengeance against the traitor who killed everything and everyone she once loved. But before Ari can complete her campaign of revenge, a secret from her past is exposed. One that will change the world.
While Nova is embroiled in blood sport and political games, the Fenthri on Loom prepare for an all-out assault on their Dragon oppressors.
Florence unexpectedly finds herself at the forefront of the new rebellion, as her unique blend of skills, and quick-shooting accuracy, make her a force to be reckoned with. For the future of her world, she vows vengeance against the Dragons.
But freedom comes with a steep cost. Before the rebellion can rise, the Guilds of Loom must fall.
The second book in the Loom Saga expands on its divided world, exploring the brutal and bloodthirsty sky islands of Nova. The Loom Saga is perfect for readers of gaslamp fantasy looking for deep worldbuilding and something truly unique.
426 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2017
370 people are currently reading
6423 people want to read
About the author
Elise Kova
59 books17.2k followersJoin Elise's mailing list to never miss a giveaway, release, sale, and more: https://elisekova.com/subscribe/
ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
Say Hello!
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 460 reviews
August 1, 2017
♥ Love my swag ♥
Okay, so I got a little excited and pre-ordered the kindle version like I did the first book. Then I got more excited and got the Hardback with a coupon like I did the first book. And this time since I have joined audible, I got the audio that was on sale. Lol, but look at all the wonderful stuff I got just like I did with the first book. *Swoon* ↑
OMG! Half way through the book I'm sitting on the edge because of the sexual tension!!!!!!! For the love of Pete, someone have sex with someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please hold for a brief intermission
Okay, so this book was amazeballs! I loved it so much. It was even better than the first book and I loved it too.
Cvareh has taken Arianna to Nova to meet with his sister who is a head honcho and see if they can't work something out between Nova and Loom. Petra (said sister) wants to make something and Arianna has the means to do it. This would also mean that Nova and Loom would have to come together and they don't really want that, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet.
Cvareh and Arianna have a connection and that's all I'm saying because I'm not getting started again.
Arianna is sooooooooooooooo bored for quite some time and has to hang around this jerk named Cain because Cvareh would not come and see her. I was feeling bored for her but then some things happen. Just gross things and we are off and away.
Then some fighting, then some poisoning, then someone being stupid, some sex, cutting off of hands and sewing someone else's on and random other tidbits. < --- these are not all in order.
The ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to smack so many people. Holy crap on a cracker!!!!!!!! I have to wait forever and 9 years for the next book! Well, not that long but I digress.
Enjoy peeps ♥
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Okay, so I got a little excited and pre-ordered the kindle version like I did the first book. Then I got more excited and got the Hardback with a coupon like I did the first book. And this time since I have joined audible, I got the audio that was on sale. Lol, but look at all the wonderful stuff I got just like I did with the first book. *Swoon* ↑
OMG! Half way through the book I'm sitting on the edge because of the sexual tension!!!!!!! For the love of Pete, someone have sex with someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please hold for a brief intermission
Okay, so this book was amazeballs! I loved it so much. It was even better than the first book and I loved it too.
Cvareh has taken Arianna to Nova to meet with his sister who is a head honcho and see if they can't work something out between Nova and Loom. Petra (said sister) wants to make something and Arianna has the means to do it. This would also mean that Nova and Loom would have to come together and they don't really want that, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet.
Cvareh and Arianna have a connection and that's all I'm saying because I'm not getting started again.
Arianna is sooooooooooooooo bored for quite some time and has to hang around this jerk named Cain because Cvareh would not come and see her. I was feeling bored for her but then some things happen. Just gross things and we are off and away.
Then some fighting, then some poisoning, then someone being stupid, some sex, cutting off of hands and sewing someone else's on and random other tidbits. < --- these are not all in order.
The ending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wanted to smack so many people. Holy crap on a cracker!!!!!!!! I have to wait forever and 9 years for the next book! Well, not that long but I digress.
Enjoy peeps ♥
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
January 13, 2018
ARC provided by Keymaster Press in exchange for an honest review.
1.) The Alchemists of Loom ★★★★
“She was Arianna the Rivet. She was the White Wraith. And she would not scream.”
I devoured this book in one day and one night. It was so whimsical and fantastic, but kept true to its steampunk roots. This book even surpasses The Alchemists of Loom tremendously, and you guys know I loved that. Like, this series is so under-hyped, but is so outstanding. It's unique, so very creative, beautifully written, completely captivating, and so very addicting.
If you guys are looking for a different kind of fantasy that sits right between YA and NA, please give this a shot. It for sure is mature YA, because this book does have sexy time, but it's not explicit or anything like that, but it is important to mention if that's something you're not comfortable with. But also don't go into this expecting A Court of Mist and Fury's sex scenes, but go into this knowing that it is an older YA book with mature themes that are amazingly written.
“But desire and love and forever were all separate mistresses.”
Book one, The Alchemists of Loom, mostly centers on the world of Loom and seeing how the people are pretty much slaves to the Dragons on Nova. Well, in this book we spend most of our time on Nova and we are able to see how many of the Dragons are not happy with the current ruler. It truly is desperate times for one Dragon house, and our main character, Ari, from Loom might be the only answer to save them.
So, this is book two in a series, but I will do my best to give a little summary, and a big breakdown, that doesn't give away too much, but still gives you a feel for this amazing world. This world that Elise Kova has built is so very intricate, detailed, and has some of the best world-building I've ever read in my life. Honestly, she amazes me and I'm not sure how she has done it, but at this point I'd read anything and everything by her.
There are Two Worlds, Separated by Clouds:
➽ Loom - The main setting of The Alchemists of Loom, and is home to Fenthri and Chimeras and their five guilds.
➽ Nova: The main setting of this book (we do get one amazing perspective on Loom in this book) and the Dragon homeland that is inhabited by three Dragon Houses.
There are Three Main Characters:
➽ Florence - Young Fenthri, whose story-line showcases what's going on in the heart of the guilds. And she's a lesbian!
➽ Arianna/Ari - The main character, who is made up of nothing short of magic. She's strong, she's feared, she's openly bisexual, and she's amazing.
➽ Cvareh - A Dragon in House Xin, who is trying to change the Dragon's hierarchy, while also owing Ari a boon of her choosing!
There are Three Races:
➽ Fenthri - Grey, black, white, the weakest of the three races, and have tattoos on their face depicting what guild they belong to.
➽ Dragon - A vast array of colors, very primal, can regrow most things from their bodies, have magical abilities, enslaved Loom and sees Fenthri as servants.
➽ Chimera - Fenthri with Dragon blood and/or organs. They are made by Alchemists, and are very strong.
The Three Dragon Houses:
➽ Rok - Red Dragons! Strongest house, and the Dragon King's House.
➽ Tam - Green Dragons! Second strongest house, and very aligned with House Rok.
➽ Xin - Blue Dragons! Weakest house.
The Five Guilds of Loom:
➽ Alchemists - Developed Chimeras, and the only guild to not be under the Dragon King's thumb.
➽ Rivets - Specializes in refining processes in steel mines and applications for gold.
➽ Revolvers - Explores all the uses for guns and explosives!
➽ Harvesters - Supplies all the bare materials to all the other guilds.
➽ Ravens - Moves people and goods all around Loom.
The Fenthri population is completely controlled on Loom, and these five guilds are something that is forced onto you at birth, without choice. It doesn't matter that you'd be better fit as an Alchemist, if you are chosen to be a Raven. You are given two tests, which you must pass or you will die, then you are branded with a face tattoo according with the guild are you in, and then you will work in alignment with the rest of the guilds granting the Dragons of Nova's demands.
This sparks an amazing discussion about who we are forced to be and who we truly are when we are able to accept ourselves for who we are. Florence, a Fenthri who is Ari's assistant, and who has completely won over my heart, has struggled with this her entire life. Her points of view were so amazing and so heartwarming and watching her grow and accept is one of the most beautiful storylines I've ever been blessed enough to read.
“Her value extended far beyond the marking on her cheek.”
There is also another very important discussion on how we see certain races as superior and how we build stereotypes and prejudices off of it. Not to get too political here, but this is a pretty close to home parallel for me, and I'd support any book that makes people think twice about judging others off their skin color or other physical characteristics that are unlike their own.
The other
“She bent before no man, woman, king, or queen—and most certainly no Dragon.”
This book has everything: political intrigue, romance, death duels, betrayals, gunslinging, technology, magic, and freakin' dragons! Like I said, it is for sure mature YA, with darker themes and some sexual content, but I feel like this is truly a unique gift to the YA genre.
Book three, The Rebels of Gold, comes out in December of this year and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
“For Loom, there is nothing she wouldn’t do.”
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The quotes above were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
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July 17, 2017Want to learn more about the world of Loom? Check out my website: http://elisekova.com/the-world-of-loom/
November 11, 2020
I’ve been trying to get to sequels of books that I love, and this book is no exception! I read and reviewed the first book. I absolutely loved it, but for some reason it took me some time to get to this sequel. Probably me just being ridiculous, as usual.
The plot in this one is incredibly fast paced. I was hooked all the way through, eagerly watching everything unfold. Sometimes I found little plot points to be a bit predictable as I could see the direction they were heading in. However, that does not stand for the overall plot. I didn’t see the main plot climaxes coming at all!
One thing this book suffered from was perhaps too many points of view. The first book in the series did not have this many. I understand why the author chose to include more. There is a lot going on in different places and at different times. It helps to have different points of view so we can bounce between them all and experience all the different character’s opinions and plans. But it fell to there inevitably being some storylines and points of view that I didn’t care about. That said, there were some that I loved too.
Now we have to talk about the romance. The romantic tension and pining was intense in the first book. I kind of expected the slow burn to last all the way into the third book in the series, but it didn’t happen that way! I was blown away with the romance and how everything unfolded for the couple in this one. I also… didn’t expect it to be as explicit as it was. Maybe I was wrong in thinking this series was young adult? Either way, the steam rose from the pages.
I don’t have much to say about the characters that is anything new from my review of the first book. But I will take a moment to remind you that Arianna and Cvareh are both absolutely brilliant.
I need to take a moment to remind you that this series is steampunk fantasy and it does a fantastic job of world building. All of the gadgets are easily explained without it feeling info dumpy at all. I was so immersed in the world that I felt like I was there. We get to see so much of the world in the first book, and the way Kova opened up this world all the more took me by surprise. We get to go to places I never dreamed we would in the series… and I was incredibly happy.
Kova also knows how to write a good villain. I love when we get the villain’s perspective because it shows the complexity to their evil. The villain in this book isn’t just evil. We see that he has a family, and he loves his wife, and enjoys his role as king. We see that there may be some good elements to him while we also see and understand that he remains evil. I also loved seeing his wife. It really made me question who was worse – him or her.
The ending! I completely didn’t know what to expect from the end and I was bowled over. I need the finale to the series, stat D:
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2020/1...
The plot in this one is incredibly fast paced. I was hooked all the way through, eagerly watching everything unfold. Sometimes I found little plot points to be a bit predictable as I could see the direction they were heading in. However, that does not stand for the overall plot. I didn’t see the main plot climaxes coming at all!
One thing this book suffered from was perhaps too many points of view. The first book in the series did not have this many. I understand why the author chose to include more. There is a lot going on in different places and at different times. It helps to have different points of view so we can bounce between them all and experience all the different character’s opinions and plans. But it fell to there inevitably being some storylines and points of view that I didn’t care about. That said, there were some that I loved too.
Now we have to talk about the romance. The romantic tension and pining was intense in the first book. I kind of expected the slow burn to last all the way into the third book in the series, but it didn’t happen that way! I was blown away with the romance and how everything unfolded for the couple in this one. I also… didn’t expect it to be as explicit as it was. Maybe I was wrong in thinking this series was young adult? Either way, the steam rose from the pages.
I don’t have much to say about the characters that is anything new from my review of the first book. But I will take a moment to remind you that Arianna and Cvareh are both absolutely brilliant.
I need to take a moment to remind you that this series is steampunk fantasy and it does a fantastic job of world building. All of the gadgets are easily explained without it feeling info dumpy at all. I was so immersed in the world that I felt like I was there. We get to see so much of the world in the first book, and the way Kova opened up this world all the more took me by surprise. We get to go to places I never dreamed we would in the series… and I was incredibly happy.
Kova also knows how to write a good villain. I love when we get the villain’s perspective because it shows the complexity to their evil. The villain in this book isn’t just evil. We see that he has a family, and he loves his wife, and enjoys his role as king. We see that there may be some good elements to him while we also see and understand that he remains evil. I also loved seeing his wife. It really made me question who was worse – him or her.
The ending! I completely didn’t know what to expect from the end and I was bowled over. I need the finale to the series, stat D:
This review and others can be found on Olivia's Catastrophe: https://oliviascatastrophe.com/2020/1...
August 26, 2024
4.5
"No half measures," Coletta said with singsong delight.
"No half measures," Yveun repeated, and savored the tuning sounds of discord in the air as he stepped behind the conductor's podium for the greatest symphony of destruction ever composed.
...
Wow. What an amazing follow up to The Alchemists of Loom! I can't even begin to describe how enamored I am with this series.
The Dragons of Nova is book 2 in the Loom Saga, and picks up right where the first book left off. In this behemoth of a book, the world continues to expand, characters are pushed to unimaginable lengths, and the story twists and spirals into unexpected and exciting places. I was on a high while finishing this book. This is how a sequel should be: darker, sexier, and way more evil.
The characters in this series have captured my heart. I love them all so dearly. They're complex and they make mistakes, but it's so hard not to fall madly in love with them.
Arianna is one of the fiercest female characters I've ever read from. She rivals Lada Dracul with her ruthlessness, cunning, and thirst for vengeance. There are deeper layers to Ari, however, and we continue to learn more about her past traumas in this installment. Beneath the efficient, hardened exterior she's donned as the White Wraith, Ari has a loving, fiercely loyal heart. She's bull-headed, jumps to conclusions, and often lets revenge control her. But I really love her. Flawed, badass heroines with a heart of gold are what I live for.
Cvareh is my metrosexual muffin and I ADORE HIM. He's so precious to me. Dear lord, his sweet, loyal soul is everything to me. He's wholeheartedly devoted to his house Xin, his sister Petra, and a certain white-haired Rivet who calls herself the White Wraith. Cvareh can hold his own in a fight, but his expertise lies in his wit, ambition, and undying loyalty. I just...love him so much.
And then there's Florence. She's probably my favorite character in this series, and that's saying something because I love everyone. I appreciated her growth so much in this book. She really came into her own as kickass Revolver in the first book, but in The Dragons of Nova, Florence is faced with even bigger challenges. She lives in a world on the brink of war. Leaders around her are divided. She wants to fight for the freedom of Loom, but the rebellion she seeks seems unattainable. Florence gets her hands dirty; she makes tough decisions, but she never stops fighting. Goddammit, I love her to death. SHE'S MY CHILD.
Even the side characters in this installment were compelling. Petra, Cvareh's sister, was the ruthless leader of House Xin, and she's so powerful. She exuded confidence and strength, and I wanted her to be Queen of the World. Yveun, the tyrannical king of the Dragons and leader of House Rok, was complex and terrifying. His wife, Colletta, surprised me. I won't say too much about her, but she's an excellent villain.
There is a plethora of powerful women in this series. All different, but all equally empowering. It made me love and appreciate the Loom Saga even more. Elise Kova really outdid herself with these characters.
In The Alchemists of Loom, a majority of the characters' time is spent on the ground-world of Loom: a colorless, steam-punk society filled with clockwork and grit. But in The Dragons of Nova, we get to see the Kingdom of the Dragons: the sky-world of Nova. Just imagine Pandora from Avatar.
Yeah, it's that cool. Nova is full of colorful, floating islands separated by clouds and sky. Completely different from Loom, Nova celebrates the arts, is a hierarchical society centered around three Dragon houses, and is driven by cut-throat politics. Kova's world is so rich and consuming. You feel like you've lived in it after you've finished this book.
Like I said before, The Dragons of Nova is darker, grittier, and sexier than the first book. It kind of reminded me of The Empire Strikes Back. It's a sequel that's unforgiving, brutal to our characters, and entirely evil when the conclusion is reached.
The political intrigue was deliciously compelling. The romance was so rewarding and wonderful. The plot constantly had me on my toes. Paired with excellent writing, Kova crafted a promising, lush installment in the Loom Saga that had me begging for more. Even though the first hundred pages or so were a little slow, and a couple of side characters involved with Florence's arc were underdeveloped, I loved this book. I need The Rebels of Gold right now.
If you haven't picked this series up yet, do yourself a favor and read The Alchemists of Loom. All three books are currently out, so if you're up for marathoning a badass fantasy series, I highly recommend the Loom Saga!
The Rebels of Gold will probably kill me, but I'm so ready.
"No half measures," Coletta said with singsong delight.
"No half measures," Yveun repeated, and savored the tuning sounds of discord in the air as he stepped behind the conductor's podium for the greatest symphony of destruction ever composed.
...
Wow. What an amazing follow up to The Alchemists of Loom! I can't even begin to describe how enamored I am with this series.
The Dragons of Nova is book 2 in the Loom Saga, and picks up right where the first book left off. In this behemoth of a book, the world continues to expand, characters are pushed to unimaginable lengths, and the story twists and spirals into unexpected and exciting places. I was on a high while finishing this book. This is how a sequel should be: darker, sexier, and way more evil.
The characters in this series have captured my heart. I love them all so dearly. They're complex and they make mistakes, but it's so hard not to fall madly in love with them.
Arianna is one of the fiercest female characters I've ever read from. She rivals Lada Dracul with her ruthlessness, cunning, and thirst for vengeance. There are deeper layers to Ari, however, and we continue to learn more about her past traumas in this installment. Beneath the efficient, hardened exterior she's donned as the White Wraith, Ari has a loving, fiercely loyal heart. She's bull-headed, jumps to conclusions, and often lets revenge control her. But I really love her. Flawed, badass heroines with a heart of gold are what I live for.
Cvareh is my metrosexual muffin and I ADORE HIM. He's so precious to me. Dear lord, his sweet, loyal soul is everything to me. He's wholeheartedly devoted to his house Xin, his sister Petra, and a certain white-haired Rivet who calls herself the White Wraith. Cvareh can hold his own in a fight, but his expertise lies in his wit, ambition, and undying loyalty. I just...love him so much.
And then there's Florence. She's probably my favorite character in this series, and that's saying something because I love everyone. I appreciated her growth so much in this book. She really came into her own as kickass Revolver in the first book, but in The Dragons of Nova, Florence is faced with even bigger challenges. She lives in a world on the brink of war. Leaders around her are divided. She wants to fight for the freedom of Loom, but the rebellion she seeks seems unattainable. Florence gets her hands dirty; she makes tough decisions, but she never stops fighting. Goddammit, I love her to death. SHE'S MY CHILD.
Even the side characters in this installment were compelling. Petra, Cvareh's sister, was the ruthless leader of House Xin, and she's so powerful. She exuded confidence and strength, and I wanted her to be Queen of the World. Yveun, the tyrannical king of the Dragons and leader of House Rok, was complex and terrifying. His wife, Colletta, surprised me. I won't say too much about her, but she's an excellent villain.
There is a plethora of powerful women in this series. All different, but all equally empowering. It made me love and appreciate the Loom Saga even more. Elise Kova really outdid herself with these characters.
In The Alchemists of Loom, a majority of the characters' time is spent on the ground-world of Loom: a colorless, steam-punk society filled with clockwork and grit. But in The Dragons of Nova, we get to see the Kingdom of the Dragons: the sky-world of Nova. Just imagine Pandora from Avatar.
Yeah, it's that cool. Nova is full of colorful, floating islands separated by clouds and sky. Completely different from Loom, Nova celebrates the arts, is a hierarchical society centered around three Dragon houses, and is driven by cut-throat politics. Kova's world is so rich and consuming. You feel like you've lived in it after you've finished this book.
Like I said before, The Dragons of Nova is darker, grittier, and sexier than the first book. It kind of reminded me of The Empire Strikes Back. It's a sequel that's unforgiving, brutal to our characters, and entirely evil when the conclusion is reached.
The political intrigue was deliciously compelling. The romance was so rewarding and wonderful. The plot constantly had me on my toes. Paired with excellent writing, Kova crafted a promising, lush installment in the Loom Saga that had me begging for more. Even though the first hundred pages or so were a little slow, and a couple of side characters involved with Florence's arc were underdeveloped, I loved this book. I need The Rebels of Gold right now.
If you haven't picked this series up yet, do yourself a favor and read The Alchemists of Loom. All three books are currently out, so if you're up for marathoning a badass fantasy series, I highly recommend the Loom Saga!
The Rebels of Gold will probably kill me, but I'm so ready.
May 31, 2019
This book was bloody brilliant! A wonderful sequel that certainly surpassed its predecessor.
The Characters:
Ari - Continues to be the kick-ass spymaster we know and love
Also, this line actual line by Ari is literally me in so many book situations: "You think now is a good time to be kissing me? Bloody cogs, your incompetence is only rivaled by your idiocies."
Cverah - A precious cinnamon roll, who has nothing but love and respect for the powerful, independent women around him
Florence - Goes from merely an apprentice to someone who finally gets to call the shots
Petra - A queen with no qualms about doing whatever it takes to ensure her house gets the recognition and respect it deserves
The Relationships:
Cverah & Ari
These two are each other's enigma. What started off a very tentative partnership in book 1, blossomed into something so utterly beautiful and bittersweet. Cverah's devotion to Ari, despite her efforts to push him away, is just so precious.
"I love you Arianna. And I will not stand in your way, but I will also not let you flee from this. Reject me if you must, and that will be that. Until you do, I will see my future built with space for you in it."
And when Ari tries to deny that she loves Cverah
Fortunately, for us she does finally admit the truth to herself by book's end.
She did love him. Despite everything, it was true.
My Internal Soundtrack
Beth Crowley - Battle Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H9A4...
Yes, I realize this song is based on ToG, but I have not yet to read that series and for me, this song works for Ari too.
Basically, my verdict is simple: Read this book
The Characters:
Ari - Continues to be the kick-ass spymaster we know and love
Also, this line actual line by Ari is literally me in so many book situations: "You think now is a good time to be kissing me? Bloody cogs, your incompetence is only rivaled by your idiocies."
Cverah - A precious cinnamon roll, who has nothing but love and respect for the powerful, independent women around him
Florence - Goes from merely an apprentice to someone who finally gets to call the shots
Petra - A queen with no qualms about doing whatever it takes to ensure her house gets the recognition and respect it deserves
The Relationships:
Cverah & Ari
These two are each other's enigma. What started off a very tentative partnership in book 1, blossomed into something so utterly beautiful and bittersweet. Cverah's devotion to Ari, despite her efforts to push him away, is just so precious.
"I love you Arianna. And I will not stand in your way, but I will also not let you flee from this. Reject me if you must, and that will be that. Until you do, I will see my future built with space for you in it."
And when Ari tries to deny that she loves Cverah
Fortunately, for us she does finally admit the truth to herself by book's end.
She did love him. Despite everything, it was true.
My Internal Soundtrack
Beth Crowley - Battle Cry
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H9A4...
Yes, I realize this song is based on ToG, but I have not yet to read that series and for me, this song works for Ari too.
Basically, my verdict is simple: Read this book
September 26, 2025
The Dragons of Nova starts out good, but then quickly devolves into a deeply disappointing read. (spoilers ahead) For one, the enemies to lovers romance crashes and burns. What even do they have in common at this point? Cvareh is a dragon noble who's fine with the horrible practices of his homeland and knows nothing about anything deeper than a puddle, and Ari is just fine with that. I really wish they'd had some differences to work through - maybe the dragons' view of saving the Earth vs. the Fenthri wanting their freedom back.
Ari comes to see him as genuine and peaceful and kind, but is that the same Cvareh we're talking about here? The same high-ranked Shin who sees other dragons as only useful if they're strong, despite not being all that strong himself, and hates failures, despite constantly failing himself? The same Cvareh who doesn't even question owning slaves (both his own kind and Fenthri)? It just doesn't make sense at all why these two would feel anything for each other beyond a very superficial attraction. And as a random aside, how did Cvareh survive in this world, in his position, while being such a terrible liar??
Ari mostly does nothing of note throughout this entire book. Even though she's on Nova to meet with prospective allies, she's constantly putting up a fight for no reason. If she can't trust Petra (and she could still work with her despite that, given the Fenthri she works with), she should at least try to make other connections. What about the lower rungs of dragon society? Hello? Perfect candidates to help in your revolution? They're somehow never even considered by her or the other Fenthri (ironically enough, Yevaun gets a new commander from their midst). And then she makes the dumbest choice ever by suddenly trying to assassinate Yevaun.
I think my biggest issue with this book is that it's just so ideologically flat. The overarching story in this trilogy is one of revolution and the romance is between two main characters from opposing sides, and yet neither of these two characters have any meaningful views or causes to fight for beyond a vague "I guess I want to help this one person who's important to me."
The one aspect of this book I actually like is Coletta (oh, and Florence). She's the most interesting character of the bunch at this point and comes up with some cunning plans (even if the other side being so incompetent makes them a bit less impressive). Such an unworthy sequel to The Alchemists of Loom. 2.5 stars
Ari comes to see him as genuine and peaceful and kind, but is that the same Cvareh we're talking about here? The same high-ranked Shin who sees other dragons as only useful if they're strong, despite not being all that strong himself, and hates failures, despite constantly failing himself? The same Cvareh who doesn't even question owning slaves (both his own kind and Fenthri)? It just doesn't make sense at all why these two would feel anything for each other beyond a very superficial attraction. And as a random aside, how did Cvareh survive in this world, in his position, while being such a terrible liar??
Ari mostly does nothing of note throughout this entire book. Even though she's on Nova to meet with prospective allies, she's constantly putting up a fight for no reason. If she can't trust Petra (and she could still work with her despite that, given the Fenthri she works with), she should at least try to make other connections. What about the lower rungs of dragon society? Hello? Perfect candidates to help in your revolution? They're somehow never even considered by her or the other Fenthri (ironically enough, Yevaun gets a new commander from their midst). And then she makes the dumbest choice ever by suddenly trying to assassinate Yevaun.
I think my biggest issue with this book is that it's just so ideologically flat. The overarching story in this trilogy is one of revolution and the romance is between two main characters from opposing sides, and yet neither of these two characters have any meaningful views or causes to fight for beyond a vague "I guess I want to help this one person who's important to me."
The one aspect of this book I actually like is Coletta (oh, and Florence). She's the most interesting character of the bunch at this point and comes up with some cunning plans (even if the other side being so incompetent makes them a bit less impressive). Such an unworthy sequel to The Alchemists of Loom. 2.5 stars
October 10, 2025
4.25 ★— Ahhh, this was so fun! It did exactly what a sequel ought to do: it expanded on its fictional world, went deeper into characters we previously knew little about, further developed the series' main characters, and introduced more intricacies of dragon society and how it’s set up.
From the very beginning, this book really emphasized again how ruthless the dragons are, and I truly loved seeing more of how their religion and world were built up. Seeing logic-loving and stoic Arianna among the more faith-based, aesthetic-obsessed dragons was a treat!
When it came to character dynamics, her relationship with Cvareh fully blossomed here, and my man PINED with a capital P, devoted and ready to risk it all for her. Arianna, in true avoidant attachment nature, did follow her attraction to him eventually, but you could see that she was intimidated by how deeply Cvareh’s feelings manifested for her.
In addition to their development, this book also introduced Petra, Cvareh’s older sister and the head of their House Xin. She’s tough, ruthless, and a born leader, who contrasts wonderfully with Arianna, whom she comes head-to-head with here. I almost wished we could have seen more scenes with these two because they’re both so unafraid and strong in their own ways, which more often than not led to them not interacting at all because of how badly they clashed. I didn’t need them to be friendly at all, but I do wish their dynamic could have been expanded upon. It felt like Cvareh more often than not turned into the messenger between the two.
Alongside Petra’s introduction, the book also gave us more of the Dragon King’s mate, Coletta, and man, is she tricky. I enjoyed how her strength manifested quite differently from Petra’s and even Arianna’s. Her presence put the king’s prior actions and his character in a new light for me because Coletta truly is the definition of the one doing it all in the shadows and using optics and other people’s perceptions and biases to her own advantage. I loved her truly, and I thought that scenes featuring her and Petra were electric.
As the story progressed, the brutality of dragon society was increasingly on display, and there were definitely a few moments where I had to pause because of some of the gory descriptions the author used. I’m not complaining, though! This series is basically 25% people harvesting organs and swapping body parts, so at this point, I’m desensitized lmao.
Finally, while the main plotlines kept me engaged, I STILL don’t care about Florence and wish we had gotten more of Cvareh’s POV instead of hers. Though her role was needed and there was actually quite a lot of movement in the story on her side, she still bores me immensely.
From the very beginning, this book really emphasized again how ruthless the dragons are, and I truly loved seeing more of how their religion and world were built up. Seeing logic-loving and stoic Arianna among the more faith-based, aesthetic-obsessed dragons was a treat!
When it came to character dynamics, her relationship with Cvareh fully blossomed here, and my man PINED with a capital P, devoted and ready to risk it all for her. Arianna, in true avoidant attachment nature, did follow her attraction to him eventually, but you could see that she was intimidated by how deeply Cvareh’s feelings manifested for her.
In addition to their development, this book also introduced Petra, Cvareh’s older sister and the head of their House Xin. She’s tough, ruthless, and a born leader, who contrasts wonderfully with Arianna, whom she comes head-to-head with here. I almost wished we could have seen more scenes with these two because they’re both so unafraid and strong in their own ways, which more often than not led to them not interacting at all because of how badly they clashed. I didn’t need them to be friendly at all, but I do wish their dynamic could have been expanded upon. It felt like Cvareh more often than not turned into the messenger between the two.
Alongside Petra’s introduction, the book also gave us more of the Dragon King’s mate, Coletta, and man, is she tricky. I enjoyed how her strength manifested quite differently from Petra’s and even Arianna’s. Her presence put the king’s prior actions and his character in a new light for me because Coletta truly is the definition of the one doing it all in the shadows and using optics and other people’s perceptions and biases to her own advantage. I loved her truly, and I thought that scenes featuring her and Petra were electric.
As the story progressed, the brutality of dragon society was increasingly on display, and there were definitely a few moments where I had to pause because of some of the gory descriptions the author used. I’m not complaining, though! This series is basically 25% people harvesting organs and swapping body parts, so at this point, I’m desensitized lmao.
Finally, while the main plotlines kept me engaged, I STILL don’t care about Florence and wish we had gotten more of Cvareh’s POV instead of hers. Though her role was needed and there was actually quite a lot of movement in the story on her side, she still bores me immensely.
August 5, 2017
Original Post: The Dragons of Nova at FLYLēF (www.flylef.com)
ELISE KOVA IS exceptionally good at sweeping me off to another world for long hours at a time, despite all my responsibilities. In The Dragons of Nova (Loom Saga 2), she brought me to an impressive world populated with compelling characters, dangerous magic, and vicious court intrigue. I enjoyed this second installment even more than the first!
Cvareh returns to Nova, home of the Dragons, with Arianna, the White Wraith, as his guest and secret weapon. The knowledge that she carries to make the Philosopher’s Box—the perfect chimera—could end the power struggle in Nova in favor of House Xin and bring peace on Loom. But as the Crimson Court draws near, and with it the traitor who took everything that Arianna once loved, her revenge may come at a risk far greater than she could ever imagined.
The sky world of Nova is a portal into another dimension unlike any other I’ve experience. Together with Loom, the world-building is a magnificent display of contrasts. Kova draws upon antithesis to illustrate the intricacies of their differences. Where Loom is defined by its simplicity, Nova is defined by its radiance. And, in every sense that Loom follows the laws of physics, Nova is an endless foundation of impossibilities and backward logics that defy rational explanation. It was all so magical.
I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Arianna and Cvareh. Their relationship, initially born out of an overlapping necessity that strung them together, pleasantly evolved into a deeper fondness for one another. Ms. Kova strips away their guarded emotions and personal obligations, to reveal two flawed individual who are perfectly matched.
Each chapter follows a character giving me more insight and connection to them. Kova has created an especially strong female cast (sorry boys). There were many heroines whom I rooted for, and exceptionally villainous females whom I hope meet a deserving ending. The chapters transition from character to character that ebbed and flowed with ease. Overall the story has nice pacing, with the exception that Kova likes to end many of her chapters with cliffhangers. I've read many an author who embraces this style, and I still regretfully don't enjoy it because it loses so much momentum.
It’s no surprise that Elisa Kova also ends The Dragons of Nova with a nail-biting cliffhanger. But before that moment, I enjoyed following Arianna above the clouds in pursuit of new opportunities, old truths, and the scores yet to be settled. It was definitely worth setting aside my to-do list so I could be lost in her world for hours on end.
{Thank you to the author and publisher for kindly giving me this book free of charge, which does not influence my review.}
May 10, 2018
Con ese final, no puedo evitar odiar a Arianna
September 15, 2017
I got an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, this has not influenced my opinion. Check out my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jRDn...
First time giving something else than 5 stars to an Elise Kova book. While this book was really cool it also had some things that I did not like that much...
The things that I didn't love:
1: Inconsistent information. Example: Cvareh is the younger brother of Petra and Petra is his younger sister... How does that work?
2: Unfinished scenes. Example: Ari tries to grab her daggers before someone else takes them. We never find out if she succeeds until a page later where Ari uses them. This might be something that Elise did to keep things exciting and at a high pace but to me it feels sloppy.
3: Weird/difficult sentences. Some are so confusing that I have to reread them again and again which gets me out of the reading flow. I forgot to mark an example for this but I found most of these sentences at the beginning (first 150 or so pages).
4. The pace. Because we have 5 different POVs the story for the first 300 or so pages is kind of slow. Every time we reach an exciting point with one of the characters the chapter ends and you have to read from 4 different ones before you go back to the exciting POV which has then already passed the exciting moment.
5. Timeline. We never have two chapters back to back from the same POV. Because of this it sometimes feels as if the timeline is screwed up. We will read about something, have 4 different POV chapters in between and then go back to the something that we were reading about and almost no time has passed. It is difficult to feel how much time has passed in this book and between every chapter and sometimes it feels like we are going back and forth in time.
These 5 points made me give the book 4 stars. I know that it is a good rating but it still hurts. Elise Kova is one of my favourite authors and I have never not given a book by her 5 stars until I read this one. The 4 stars are still deserved because the characters, world, plot and writing style are really good. And the last 150/200 pages were definitely worthy of 5 stars. I really hope that the next (and I believe final book in the Loom Saga) will be a 5 star read.
First time giving something else than 5 stars to an Elise Kova book. While this book was really cool it also had some things that I did not like that much...
The things that I didn't love:
1: Inconsistent information. Example: Cvareh is the younger brother of Petra and Petra is his younger sister... How does that work?
2: Unfinished scenes. Example: Ari tries to grab her daggers before someone else takes them. We never find out if she succeeds until a page later where Ari uses them. This might be something that Elise did to keep things exciting and at a high pace but to me it feels sloppy.
3: Weird/difficult sentences. Some are so confusing that I have to reread them again and again which gets me out of the reading flow. I forgot to mark an example for this but I found most of these sentences at the beginning (first 150 or so pages).
4. The pace. Because we have 5 different POVs the story for the first 300 or so pages is kind of slow. Every time we reach an exciting point with one of the characters the chapter ends and you have to read from 4 different ones before you go back to the exciting POV which has then already passed the exciting moment.
5. Timeline. We never have two chapters back to back from the same POV. Because of this it sometimes feels as if the timeline is screwed up. We will read about something, have 4 different POV chapters in between and then go back to the something that we were reading about and almost no time has passed. It is difficult to feel how much time has passed in this book and between every chapter and sometimes it feels like we are going back and forth in time.
These 5 points made me give the book 4 stars. I know that it is a good rating but it still hurts. Elise Kova is one of my favourite authors and I have never not given a book by her 5 stars until I read this one. The 4 stars are still deserved because the characters, world, plot and writing style are really good. And the last 150/200 pages were definitely worthy of 5 stars. I really hope that the next (and I believe final book in the Loom Saga) will be a 5 star read.
December 8, 2017
“There were two types of people in the world: those who loaded the gun, and those who pulled the trigger.”
In terms of the storyline, this book was definitely better than its predecessor. The world of Nova was colorful and interesting and dangerous. I found the cultural differences of Nova and Loom really interesting, and despite the fact that they are two made up races, quite realistically written. I finally came to appreciate the overall world building more in this book, it just took some time to get used to.
Also, the floating islands of Nova kind of reminded me of the islands of Pandora in the Avatar. I was actually thinking a lot about the world of Avatar while reading about Nova and the Dragon society.
The characters were all pretty great overall. The main thing as to why I'm giving this book three stars is that I couldn't connect to any of the characters. I skimm read many of Florence's chapters simply because I sadly wasn't interested in her character at all. I did admire Arianna for the sheer force of nature she was and quite liked Cvareh, but I couldn't connect to them, or the romance all that much either. Petra, Cvareh's older sister, was someone I disliked most of the time. Though one of the things I really like about this series is that there are so many determined, kick ass female characters. These books were quite a lot about the strength of women. Actually, most of the main females here were the strongest characters in the whole series.
Also, I've noticed that this book gives a strong vibe of dystopian novel when it comes to the potline.
Interested to see how it will all end.
“She bent before no man, woman, king, or queen—and most certainly no Dragon.”
In terms of the storyline, this book was definitely better than its predecessor. The world of Nova was colorful and interesting and dangerous. I found the cultural differences of Nova and Loom really interesting, and despite the fact that they are two made up races, quite realistically written. I finally came to appreciate the overall world building more in this book, it just took some time to get used to.
Also, the floating islands of Nova kind of reminded me of the islands of Pandora in the Avatar. I was actually thinking a lot about the world of Avatar while reading about Nova and the Dragon society.
The characters were all pretty great overall. The main thing as to why I'm giving this book three stars is that I couldn't connect to any of the characters. I skimm read many of Florence's chapters simply because I sadly wasn't interested in her character at all. I did admire Arianna for the sheer force of nature she was and quite liked Cvareh, but I couldn't connect to them, or the romance all that much either. Petra, Cvareh's older sister, was someone I disliked most of the time. Though one of the things I really like about this series is that there are so many determined, kick ass female characters. These books were quite a lot about the strength of women. Actually, most of the main females here were the strongest characters in the whole series.
Also, I've noticed that this book gives a strong vibe of dystopian novel when it comes to the potline.
Interested to see how it will all end.
“She bent before no man, woman, king, or queen—and most certainly no Dragon.”
July 11, 2017
*I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
“There were two types of people in the world: those who loaded the gun, and those who pulled the trigger.”
The Dragons of Nova is the second installment in the Alchemists of Loom series, and in my opinion, one of the best sequels out there and a brilliant addition to the series!
Right from the beginning, one of the biggest differences between this book and the first one was the pace. While The Alchemists of Loom was super action packed and an absolute crazy ride, The Dragons of Nova has a slightly lower pace and it's mostly focused on the world building and character development, and that's something I really enjoyed! We got to explore new parts of Loom and also discovered the world of Nova, which had me completely fascinated! I absolutely loved the complexity of both worlds and I'm sure there's so much more to discover! Honestly, the world building in this series it's incredible!
I feel like I say this all the time, but my favorite thing about Elise's books are the characters. Not only she writes the most wonderful, yet complex and flawed characters, but she also manages to create beautiful, healthy relationships and I really appreciate that, since when don't get to see it very often in most books. For me it was really interesting to see how much this characters and their relationships have changed from the previous book. Ari's character development it's SO good. We got to see a little bit more about her struggles with her past, and even trying to face her growing feelings for Cvareh, something that took very interesting turns *evil laugh* Seriously, Ari and Cvareh's relationship may be one of my new favorite things ever, simply because they give me all the FEELS!! I can't say much without spoilers, but OH BOY SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED WITH THIS TWO!!
Talking of characters, I really enjoyed how Flor was more envolved in this book. She's finally come into her own, stronger than ever, trying to save Loom and create a rebellion, all by herself! (she's the best!!) I also loved all the new pov's and new characters that were presented in this book. Petra is definitely my favorite, and it was really cool getting to know her from her own perspective!
Since I can't really talk about the plot without spoiling, all I will say is that there are a lot of things that will happen, so beware of many CRAZY twists and turns!!!
Overall The Dragons of Nova was an incredible book, and now I'm super pumped to see how Elise is going to wrap up the series on the last book! Can't wait for you guys to read this one!🙌🏻❤️
“There were two types of people in the world: those who loaded the gun, and those who pulled the trigger.”
The Dragons of Nova is the second installment in the Alchemists of Loom series, and in my opinion, one of the best sequels out there and a brilliant addition to the series!
Right from the beginning, one of the biggest differences between this book and the first one was the pace. While The Alchemists of Loom was super action packed and an absolute crazy ride, The Dragons of Nova has a slightly lower pace and it's mostly focused on the world building and character development, and that's something I really enjoyed! We got to explore new parts of Loom and also discovered the world of Nova, which had me completely fascinated! I absolutely loved the complexity of both worlds and I'm sure there's so much more to discover! Honestly, the world building in this series it's incredible!
I feel like I say this all the time, but my favorite thing about Elise's books are the characters. Not only she writes the most wonderful, yet complex and flawed characters, but she also manages to create beautiful, healthy relationships and I really appreciate that, since when don't get to see it very often in most books. For me it was really interesting to see how much this characters and their relationships have changed from the previous book. Ari's character development it's SO good. We got to see a little bit more about her struggles with her past, and even trying to face her growing feelings for Cvareh, something that took very interesting turns *evil laugh* Seriously, Ari and Cvareh's relationship may be one of my new favorite things ever, simply because they give me all the FEELS!! I can't say much without spoilers, but OH BOY SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED WITH THIS TWO!!
Talking of characters, I really enjoyed how Flor was more envolved in this book. She's finally come into her own, stronger than ever, trying to save Loom and create a rebellion, all by herself! (she's the best!!) I also loved all the new pov's and new characters that were presented in this book. Petra is definitely my favorite, and it was really cool getting to know her from her own perspective!
Since I can't really talk about the plot without spoiling, all I will say is that there are a lot of things that will happen, so beware of many CRAZY twists and turns!!!
Overall The Dragons of Nova was an incredible book, and now I'm super pumped to see how Elise is going to wrap up the series on the last book! Can't wait for you guys to read this one!🙌🏻❤️
July 13, 2017
The Dragons of Nova is the second book in Elise Kova’s Loom Saga, therefore I won’t be summarizing the plot as it might spoil things! The book is still told from the POVs of the three main characters – Arianna, Cvareh and Florence – but the perspectives of Cvareh’s sister Petra and Yveun, who’s the King of Nova, were added!
I loved how that added so much depth to the entire story! Petra and the King are and have always been rivals because they belong to different Dragon Houses. Petra wants to see Yveun dead because she's not okay with the decisions he makes and the power he has over everyone.
Seeing the perspectives of the two rivals was very entertaining because the reader knew more than the respective characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat especially seeing how the characters would react to the betrayal and deviousness!
The Dragons of Nova was a lot more about the actual conflict between the Dragons on Nova and the Fenthri (which are the equivalent to humans) on Loom, as well as the inner conflict on Nova between the King of Nova and Cvareh’s sister! There was a lot of scheming and plotting involved and to me it felt like a game of chess! Most of the book is set on Nova and we see the conflicts and acts of betrayal from 4 different POVs! And even though it was a lot more political, there were still had exciting parts that involved blood, gore, explosives, fights, betrayals and death which was very exciting!
I am a big fan of Elise Kova’s writing style especially when it comes to her world-building. Her descriptions of Nova in this book were so extensive and vivid but it absolutely did not feel like an unnecessary info dump! The “floating islands”, the mountains, the sky, the houses and buildings, all the different colours – it was so beautifully depicted and my imagination was running wild trying to picture all of Nova the way it was described!
Overall, The Dragons of Nova was a perfect sequel to The Alchemists of Loom and it definitely left me wanting more!
Full review is now up on my blog: https://toomuchofabooknerd.wordpress.... :)
*I received an ARC from Keymaster Pres via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way!*
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29th June:
ANOTHER BRILLIANT BOOK BY ELISE KOVA WOWOWOWWW. RTC
I loved how that added so much depth to the entire story! Petra and the King are and have always been rivals because they belong to different Dragon Houses. Petra wants to see Yveun dead because she's not okay with the decisions he makes and the power he has over everyone.
Seeing the perspectives of the two rivals was very entertaining because the reader knew more than the respective characters. It kept me on the edge of my seat especially seeing how the characters would react to the betrayal and deviousness!
The Dragons of Nova was a lot more about the actual conflict between the Dragons on Nova and the Fenthri (which are the equivalent to humans) on Loom, as well as the inner conflict on Nova between the King of Nova and Cvareh’s sister! There was a lot of scheming and plotting involved and to me it felt like a game of chess! Most of the book is set on Nova and we see the conflicts and acts of betrayal from 4 different POVs! And even though it was a lot more political, there were still had exciting parts that involved blood, gore, explosives, fights, betrayals and death which was very exciting!
I am a big fan of Elise Kova’s writing style especially when it comes to her world-building. Her descriptions of Nova in this book were so extensive and vivid but it absolutely did not feel like an unnecessary info dump! The “floating islands”, the mountains, the sky, the houses and buildings, all the different colours – it was so beautifully depicted and my imagination was running wild trying to picture all of Nova the way it was described!
Overall, The Dragons of Nova was a perfect sequel to The Alchemists of Loom and it definitely left me wanting more!
Full review is now up on my blog: https://toomuchofabooknerd.wordpress.... :)
*I received an ARC from Keymaster Pres via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion in any way!*
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29th June:
ANOTHER BRILLIANT BOOK BY ELISE KOVA WOWOWOWWW. RTC
October 4, 2017
** I am assuming you have read book 1 - The Alchemists of Loom!! **
Cvareh returns to Nova, the dragon home, with Arianna, the White Wraith, the knowledge to help his family inside her head. We pick up with the events at the end of The Alchemists of Loom. Cvareh’s sister, Petra and Yveun, the dragon King vie for power during the crimson court. Florence is set a task for the resistance and uses everything she has to make a difference when the worst happens. Hidden allies aide both sides, but who will end up with the most power in the end...?
The world is expanded as we learn and experience the dragon world of Nova. The descriptions were incredibly vivid and rich. I could totally imagine Nova and the islands Petra and Yven call home. There is increased understanding of the dragons and how they work through the plot. I.E. we learn about dragon culture and it illustrates too well why Cva and Ari are an anomaly as a couple. The world building is just as good as the first time. We have more organs we learn about with the magic!! The steampunk aspect and the differences of the races is worked into the story in such a smart way. The culture of Loom and the Fenthri is utilized from the first book to create natural conflict and smart plot!!
Cva, Ari and Flo are just as incredible to follow as they were the first time! I just like them as characters. Flo though really blew me out of the water. I wanted to get back to her part every time we swung away from her, because hers was a story of growth and learning. Such a real and visceral journey to getting to know who she is. Ari was in an emotional fight for her life and that was illustrated so well! There was action and stuff, of course, but she is really put through the wringer. I felt like she was the embodiment of what women go through for men and how their emotions swing as they try to decide once and for all. I LOVED seeing Ari's process of how she goes about a job. We saw that from the outside in the first book but now she's on the inside trying to work her way out and so it was the same but different! Really such great characterization!
I LOVED the addition of Petra and Yven's POV!! There is this lovely tension you feel reading this book as the villainous king makes decisions and react trying to out think our protagonists. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat as you come to see why Yven is still king... Petra, oh, Petra! This POV makes you love Cva more! You understand why Cva is so loyal to his sister and to his house. This rivalry was a big part of the book and added so much conflict for poor Flo down on Loom!!
Why only 4 stars?
The start. The first 25% nothing much happened. There was NO HOOK! I was bored... I hung in there because I like the world and the characters... but it was a lot to ask to wait until then for the first real plot point. That 25% could have happened off screen. By 30% I was happy and ready to see where the story took me. There was not only plot but action plot at 30% so it got really, good, fast... I loved the description but surely we could have had plot at the same time?
Cva was sort of pushed back as a character (he shared the limelight with Petra). He has a small arc to do about Ari and his feelings that is the core of the romance part of the plot, but obviously the majority of his growth will happen in book 3 after the events at the end of book 2. I don't mind this but I would have at least liked a glimpse of his reaction to be tantalized. I also feel like his romance arc is incomplete without seeing that...
This was my initial reaction to the end: "Okay yeah... how can smart savvy women first off be SO STUPID!! I thought Ari WAS DUMB AS A DAMN STUMP IN THIS BUT NOW PETRA TOO? Florence isn't too bright either... I get it... characters have to be stupid at times otherwise they don't seem real but ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME?!" Thinking about the end I have since calmed down. The weakness of smart and savvy women is their extreme pride in believing THEY alone always have the right answers. This end makes PERFECT SENSE with these women. I don't have to like it but storywise I LOVE that such mistakes are an obvious part of their character... #conflicted
BOTTOM LINE: An excellent sequel that builds on the world and the characters in the BEST way possible!!
Note: There is sex in this book, tastefully written in one spot and easily skipped if its not your thing.
Thanks to Chapter by Chapter and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Cvareh returns to Nova, the dragon home, with Arianna, the White Wraith, the knowledge to help his family inside her head. We pick up with the events at the end of The Alchemists of Loom. Cvareh’s sister, Petra and Yveun, the dragon King vie for power during the crimson court. Florence is set a task for the resistance and uses everything she has to make a difference when the worst happens. Hidden allies aide both sides, but who will end up with the most power in the end...?
The world is expanded as we learn and experience the dragon world of Nova. The descriptions were incredibly vivid and rich. I could totally imagine Nova and the islands Petra and Yven call home. There is increased understanding of the dragons and how they work through the plot. I.E. we learn about dragon culture and it illustrates too well why Cva and Ari are an anomaly as a couple. The world building is just as good as the first time. We have more organs we learn about with the magic!! The steampunk aspect and the differences of the races is worked into the story in such a smart way. The culture of Loom and the Fenthri is utilized from the first book to create natural conflict and smart plot!!
Cva, Ari and Flo are just as incredible to follow as they were the first time! I just like them as characters. Flo though really blew me out of the water. I wanted to get back to her part every time we swung away from her, because hers was a story of growth and learning. Such a real and visceral journey to getting to know who she is. Ari was in an emotional fight for her life and that was illustrated so well! There was action and stuff, of course, but she is really put through the wringer. I felt like she was the embodiment of what women go through for men and how their emotions swing as they try to decide once and for all. I LOVED seeing Ari's process of how she goes about a job. We saw that from the outside in the first book but now she's on the inside trying to work her way out and so it was the same but different! Really such great characterization!
I LOVED the addition of Petra and Yven's POV!! There is this lovely tension you feel reading this book as the villainous king makes decisions and react trying to out think our protagonists. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat as you come to see why Yven is still king... Petra, oh, Petra! This POV makes you love Cva more! You understand why Cva is so loyal to his sister and to his house. This rivalry was a big part of the book and added so much conflict for poor Flo down on Loom!!
Why only 4 stars?
The start. The first 25% nothing much happened. There was NO HOOK! I was bored... I hung in there because I like the world and the characters... but it was a lot to ask to wait until then for the first real plot point. That 25% could have happened off screen. By 30% I was happy and ready to see where the story took me. There was not only plot but action plot at 30% so it got really, good, fast... I loved the description but surely we could have had plot at the same time?
Cva was sort of pushed back as a character (he shared the limelight with Petra). He has a small arc to do about Ari and his feelings that is the core of the romance part of the plot, but obviously the majority of his growth will happen in book 3 after the events at the end of book 2. I don't mind this but I would have at least liked a glimpse of his reaction to be tantalized. I also feel like his romance arc is incomplete without seeing that...
This was my initial reaction to the end: "Okay yeah... how can smart savvy women first off be SO STUPID!! I thought Ari WAS DUMB AS A DAMN STUMP IN THIS BUT NOW PETRA TOO? Florence isn't too bright either... I get it... characters have to be stupid at times otherwise they don't seem real but ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME?!" Thinking about the end I have since calmed down. The weakness of smart and savvy women is their extreme pride in believing THEY alone always have the right answers. This end makes PERFECT SENSE with these women. I don't have to like it but storywise I LOVE that such mistakes are an obvious part of their character... #conflicted
BOTTOM LINE: An excellent sequel that builds on the world and the characters in the BEST way possible!!
Note: There is sex in this book, tastefully written in one spot and easily skipped if its not your thing.
Thanks to Chapter by Chapter and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
Currently reading
September 18, 2024
“She had always seen tools of destruction as the way to gain control. Hope was a much more dangerous weapon.”
The story continues with Ari & Cvareh on their way to Nova to coerce with his family and Florence in the Alchemists guild working away towards a new rebellion against the dragons. The Dono is aware of a rebellion arising from Loom as well as the Xin House and is taking measures to hold is rule over it all.
The Story-You know, I really do read a lot of YA fantasy. So now that I am reading just a regular fantasy series, it really makes you appreciate how the story falls without something like romance or a singular person’s ideals. The fact that this book is told from both sides gives it a sort of a GoT-y. Mind you, I can’t really say that with authority because I have only read the first half of the first book….But I hope you can imagine the fact that we could all be rooting for Loom, but understand why Nova is operating the way it does. I just love how as the story goes a long, another layer is peeled back to show more adversity for our characters.
The World Building-In tDoN we get to spend a lot more time in Nova where the Dragons reside – and what a beautiful colorful world it is. I love that while Arianna spent time in Nova she was slowly introduced into the things that Dragons do not for practicality that she is used to, but for beauty, and just because it was nice. Like extra pillows & wind chimes. Further indicating how different the world on Loom is from Nova, function versus beauty.
“You build for beauty before function. You spend countless hours on adornments. You make noises with your mouth and tools, calling it song, moving to it and calling dance, but it serves no greater design.”
As the story progressed we got a further understanding of the functions of each guild on Loom. The way that Kova describes the world is poetic without being ostentatious, and it still offers us a super cool steampunk vibe.
“It was as if the Harvesters had peeled back the surface of the earth to find its soul. And its soul was the very lifeblood of Loom: iron, minerals, oil, and coal.”
The Characters-
Arianna- Could this girl get any more cooler? Ari’s has this confidence that makes me want to think she is full of herself, but I just end up admiring her badass-ness.
“Far below, a pale blue woman stood with eyes like late sunset and hair the color of morning’s first light. She cut her place in the world with foolhardy arrogance, standing as though she were the personified herald of the Death Lord himself.”
Cvareh- I love Cvareh and his role in the story. He is what is connecting Loom to Nova as he battles between what Arianna wants from him and his duty as Ryu to the Xin House. The chemistry that he has with Arianna is sweltering and his need for her is almost tangible.
Florence-Flor’s development in this book was really strong. Without Arianna as a crutch, Flor really blossomed into a brave, independent girl with her own ideals and dreams.
“She had struggled for so long trying to find a place where she belonged that she had never stopped to see the innate benefits of belonging to nowhere. She could do things no one else could do. She could be things no one else could be.”
Petra- The one word I immediately think of for Petra is fierce. ‘Ends before ideals‘. I love how Petra is unshakable in her hatred for house Rok and her expectation for every Xin dragon to sacrifice everything for House Xin.
More reviews can be found at:
The story continues with Ari & Cvareh on their way to Nova to coerce with his family and Florence in the Alchemists guild working away towards a new rebellion against the dragons. The Dono is aware of a rebellion arising from Loom as well as the Xin House and is taking measures to hold is rule over it all.
The Story-You know, I really do read a lot of YA fantasy. So now that I am reading just a regular fantasy series, it really makes you appreciate how the story falls without something like romance or a singular person’s ideals. The fact that this book is told from both sides gives it a sort of a GoT-y. Mind you, I can’t really say that with authority because I have only read the first half of the first book….But I hope you can imagine the fact that we could all be rooting for Loom, but understand why Nova is operating the way it does. I just love how as the story goes a long, another layer is peeled back to show more adversity for our characters.
The World Building-In tDoN we get to spend a lot more time in Nova where the Dragons reside – and what a beautiful colorful world it is. I love that while Arianna spent time in Nova she was slowly introduced into the things that Dragons do not for practicality that she is used to, but for beauty, and just because it was nice. Like extra pillows & wind chimes. Further indicating how different the world on Loom is from Nova, function versus beauty.
“You build for beauty before function. You spend countless hours on adornments. You make noises with your mouth and tools, calling it song, moving to it and calling dance, but it serves no greater design.”
As the story progressed we got a further understanding of the functions of each guild on Loom. The way that Kova describes the world is poetic without being ostentatious, and it still offers us a super cool steampunk vibe.
“It was as if the Harvesters had peeled back the surface of the earth to find its soul. And its soul was the very lifeblood of Loom: iron, minerals, oil, and coal.”
The Characters-
Arianna- Could this girl get any more cooler? Ari’s has this confidence that makes me want to think she is full of herself, but I just end up admiring her badass-ness.
“Far below, a pale blue woman stood with eyes like late sunset and hair the color of morning’s first light. She cut her place in the world with foolhardy arrogance, standing as though she were the personified herald of the Death Lord himself.”
Cvareh- I love Cvareh and his role in the story. He is what is connecting Loom to Nova as he battles between what Arianna wants from him and his duty as Ryu to the Xin House. The chemistry that he has with Arianna is sweltering and his need for her is almost tangible.
Florence-Flor’s development in this book was really strong. Without Arianna as a crutch, Flor really blossomed into a brave, independent girl with her own ideals and dreams.
“She had struggled for so long trying to find a place where she belonged that she had never stopped to see the innate benefits of belonging to nowhere. She could do things no one else could do. She could be things no one else could be.”
Petra- The one word I immediately think of for Petra is fierce. ‘Ends before ideals‘. I love how Petra is unshakable in her hatred for house Rok and her expectation for every Xin dragon to sacrifice everything for House Xin.
More reviews can be found at:
June 5, 2018
hi. i need this on my shelf so i can read over and over.
and also, why don't these "dragons" have fucking wings ?? it makes me think of the Navi from avatar cept w/o tails.
May 15, 2024
Esto… no está tan mal. Tampoco es genial, pero tolerancia y así.
Escenas:
*El, ah, muy accidentado aterrizaje en Nova: en serio, ¿cómo es que no le enseñaron a un Dragon de una casa noble a pilotar correctamente un planeador?
*La Crimson Court: luchas sangrientas y más muertes de las que deseo contar. ¡Divertido!
*La destrucción del Harvesters Guild: deja de decir "el arte es una explosión", cerebro.
"—Fines antes que ideales —le recordó Petra—. Haz lo que debas por nuestra Casa, Cvareh."
Arianna va a Nova no solo buscando pruebas de que puede confiar en Cvareh y en la afirmación de que su hermana será una buena gobernante, sino también algo necesario para la Philosopher’s Box… pero los Dragons son todo menos amables, navegar por un mundo desconocido no es fácil y, sin que Arianna lo sepa, Petra Xin’Oji To está tramando en pos de beneficio propio…
Dejada atrás por su maestra y su tal vez amigo, Florence intenta ganarse el respeto de los miembros de la rebelión y ayudarlos; lamentablemente, ni estar bajo la sombra de Arianna ni los continuos fracasos que se encuentra teniendo en su trabajo le están simplificando las cosas.
Quizás, quizás, sea hora de recurrir a medidas más extremas y realizar actos irreversibles…
Yveun Rok’Oji Dono se siente furioso. Petra lo ha desafiado, Cvareh le ha mentido en la cara y Leona, su Master Rider, ha muerto… mas él tiene un aliado contra House Xin y planes.
...Vale. Coletta’Ryu, su pareja, tiene planes. planes muy malos, nada buenos y muy malvados. Y el Dragon King está tremendamente dispuesto a escucharla y ponerlos en marcha, sí…
En una nota relacionada, esta saga me molesta porque pintó a ciertos personajes como fuertes y prometedoramente amenazantes… y luego procedió a matarlos.
Y empezó a hacerlo en el primer libro, gente. ¡En el primer libro!
Escenas:
*El, ah, muy accidentado aterrizaje en Nova: en serio, ¿cómo es que no le enseñaron a un Dragon de una casa noble a pilotar correctamente un planeador?
*La Crimson Court: luchas sangrientas y más muertes de las que deseo contar. ¡Divertido!
*La destrucción del Harvesters Guild: deja de decir "el arte es una explosión", cerebro.
"—Fines antes que ideales —le recordó Petra—. Haz lo que debas por nuestra Casa, Cvareh."
Arianna va a Nova no solo buscando pruebas de que puede confiar en Cvareh y en la afirmación de que su hermana será una buena gobernante, sino también algo necesario para la Philosopher’s Box… pero los Dragons son todo menos amables, navegar por un mundo desconocido no es fácil y, sin que Arianna lo sepa, Petra Xin’Oji To está tramando en pos de beneficio propio…
Dejada atrás por su maestra y su tal vez amigo, Florence intenta ganarse el respeto de los miembros de la rebelión y ayudarlos; lamentablemente, ni estar bajo la sombra de Arianna ni los continuos fracasos que se encuentra teniendo en su trabajo le están simplificando las cosas.
Quizás, quizás, sea hora de recurrir a medidas más extremas y realizar actos irreversibles…
Yveun Rok’Oji Dono se siente furioso. Petra lo ha desafiado, Cvareh le ha mentido en la cara y Leona, su Master Rider, ha muerto… mas él tiene un aliado contra House Xin y planes.
...Vale. Coletta’Ryu, su pareja, tiene planes. planes muy malos, nada buenos y muy malvados. Y el Dragon King está tremendamente dispuesto a escucharla y ponerlos en marcha, sí…
En una nota relacionada, esta saga me molesta porque pintó a ciertos personajes como fuertes y prometedoramente amenazantes… y luego procedió a matarlos.
Y empezó a hacerlo en el primer libro, gente. ¡En el primer libro!
June 21, 2018
1.) The Alchemists of Loom ★★★★★
2). The Dragons of Nova ★★★★★
This book picks up right where the first book ends. Ari and Cvareh travel to Nova to meet up with Petra while Florence stays back in order to help with the rebellion. This installment includes a map of both Loom (like the first book) and Nova. Since we are exploring the Dragon land for the first time everything is very magical and we get to understand the culture and behaviors of Dragons.
I am really enjoying this series and I am very surprised more people haven’t read it. The book covers are gorgeous, there’s diversity, dragons and other mythical creatures as the main characters, and it’s adventurous. Oh well at least I feel special because I get to enjoy a book that most will never read because it's not over-hyped.
FYI: This book is a new adult/ adult novel for mature audiences only. Elise Kova has another series called "Air Awakens" for Young Adults that I plan on reading in the near future :)
Want to read
October 6, 2017FYI, if you're in the US, this is on sale for $2! on the kindle store!
November 7, 2017
4 for probably up to 4.25.
Review WIP (Taking summer semester on top of everything else... unlikely to finish the review soon, however, feel free to read my status updates, I comment on every 4 chapters I read lol)
One thing for sure; sorry folks, it's official now (I'm rather devastated myself), Flor just rubs me the wrong way. Perhaps some people would see her change as "growing up," well, that could be the case, and unfortunately, I do not like what she's growing up to be. I did not like Sophie one bit, but I thought the whole thing that happened towards the end was silly. If the system is stupid as eff (granting a certain person with certain absolute power), how is killing one person going to help? How are they going to guarantee the next Vicar won't follow Sophie's footsteps? If she does, then what, kill the new one again? Gawd I'm happy to live in a democratic society, and I pray that it stays that way. I'm sorry (but not really), man, Flor promising to show something that she wasn't even the one directly involved with, just pissed me the eff off. I honestly feel like we lost the sweet Flor when she chose to turn into a Chimera; it's like something broke and the sweet Flor died.
Updates: I'm listening to the audiobook while doing homework (illustration;) and I'm so pissed that I decided to take a break and update my review. I mean no disrespect towards Slytherins and Loki, there's those that are good and those that are not, and Gawds, to me, Flor truly disgusts me the way she grew up to be. The way she cleverly egged on the group and add fuel to the conversation to maneuver it towards the direction where she wanted. Good job, doesn't mean I like any bit of it. An unconventional relationship (since there might be a trouple thing going on) is all fine and well, but it was extremely ill timed; I have no problem if it is later confirmed to be a three-way attraction, but the fact that scene did not include all three of them, really doesn't do her well as now I'm also getting the impression of her being someone to come onto someone already in a relationship, both parties being her friend no less!
---
See how the physical book looks like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LRorRUNJCk
See what the swags look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYNcL-ETGk
BTW, DYK? Elise Kova has actually stated that the Loom Saga is NOT YA:
https://twitter.com/EliseKova/status/... &
www.facebook.com/AuthorEliseKova/post... (more detailed) (it's also in the media kit for the books, same being stated on NetGalley) I think she actually wants people to know it's NOT the official genre, even though certain YA readers can see it as such. I figured I might as well share the links as I did the two videos.
---
After reading fellow GR user Melissa's brilliant review that shares photos of the previous swag, I was devastated that I missed out such a cool opportunity last time, and I vowed not to let it happen again...! =D
Review WIP (Taking summer semester on top of everything else... unlikely to finish the review soon, however, feel free to read my status updates, I comment on every 4 chapters I read lol)
One thing for sure; sorry folks, it's official now (I'm rather devastated myself), Flor just rubs me the wrong way. Perhaps some people would see her change as "growing up," well, that could be the case, and unfortunately, I do not like what she's growing up to be. I did not like Sophie one bit, but I thought the whole thing that happened towards the end was silly. If the system is stupid as eff (granting a certain person with certain absolute power), how is killing one person going to help? How are they going to guarantee the next Vicar won't follow Sophie's footsteps? If she does, then what, kill the new one again? Gawd I'm happy to live in a democratic society, and I pray that it stays that way. I'm sorry (but not really), man, Flor promising to show something that she wasn't even the one directly involved with, just pissed me the eff off. I honestly feel like we lost the sweet Flor when she chose to turn into a Chimera; it's like something broke and the sweet Flor died.
Updates: I'm listening to the audiobook while doing homework (illustration;) and I'm so pissed that I decided to take a break and update my review. I mean no disrespect towards Slytherins and Loki, there's those that are good and those that are not, and Gawds, to me, Flor truly disgusts me the way she grew up to be. The way she cleverly egged on the group and add fuel to the conversation to maneuver it towards the direction where she wanted. Good job, doesn't mean I like any bit of it. An unconventional relationship (since there might be a trouple thing going on) is all fine and well, but it was extremely ill timed; I have no problem if it is later confirmed to be a three-way attraction, but the fact that scene did not include all three of them, really doesn't do her well as now I'm also getting the impression of her being someone to come onto someone already in a relationship, both parties being her friend no less!
---
See how the physical book looks like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LRorRUNJCk
See what the swags look like:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoYNcL-ETGk
BTW, DYK? Elise Kova has actually stated that the Loom Saga is NOT YA:
https://twitter.com/EliseKova/status/... &
www.facebook.com/AuthorEliseKova/post... (more detailed) (it's also in the media kit for the books, same being stated on NetGalley) I think she actually wants people to know it's NOT the official genre, even though certain YA readers can see it as such. I figured I might as well share the links as I did the two videos.
---
After reading fellow GR user Melissa's brilliant review that shares photos of the previous swag, I was devastated that I missed out such a cool opportunity last time, and I vowed not to let it happen again...! =D
November 8, 2017
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Steampunk, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Dragons of Nova is the second installment in author Elise Kova's Loom Saga. This is a story that features five different characters; Arianna, Cvareh, Florence, Petra, and King Yveun. When we last we left Arianna, known as the White Wraith aka the Perfect Chimera, she had left her apprentice Florence behind to her own devices and flew off with Cvareh for Nova.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Steampunk, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
The Dragons of Nova is the second installment in author Elise Kova's Loom Saga. This is a story that features five different characters; Arianna, Cvareh, Florence, Petra, and King Yveun. When we last we left Arianna, known as the White Wraith aka the Perfect Chimera, she had left her apprentice Florence behind to her own devices and flew off with Cvareh for Nova.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
June 30, 2017
I received and e-ARC from the published on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Review can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Even better that the first book TDN, is an excellent sequel on Elise Kova's new fantasy series! Following straight from the events of the first book, Cvareh and Arianna arrive at the world of Nova, which resides above the mountains.
Falling into the politics of the Houses Arianna will have to find out about the traitor, fight to stay alive as also settle her feelings for Cvareh.
On the other hand, back in Loom, Florence tries to make the rebelion more active but there are differences and difficulties ahead. Not to mention hidden secrets and revelations for the Harvester Guld.
I enjoyed the world-building! It felt like I was transported into a high fantasy anime with colors and music on the background. I enjoyed the multiple POVs from all the characters, both good and evil, not to mention that I enjoyed Cvareh the most! Depsite the pace being a little slower than the first book, this one gave more detail to the character arcs and also a good setting for the third book, which I fear that will have far more tragic moments than this one!
Recommended if a good steampunk, hight fantasy setting is your flavor of reading! ;)
Even better that the first book TDN, is an excellent sequel on Elise Kova's new fantasy series! Following straight from the events of the first book, Cvareh and Arianna arrive at the world of Nova, which resides above the mountains.
Falling into the politics of the Houses Arianna will have to find out about the traitor, fight to stay alive as also settle her feelings for Cvareh.
On the other hand, back in Loom, Florence tries to make the rebelion more active but there are differences and difficulties ahead. Not to mention hidden secrets and revelations for the Harvester Guld.
I enjoyed the world-building! It felt like I was transported into a high fantasy anime with colors and music on the background. I enjoyed the multiple POVs from all the characters, both good and evil, not to mention that I enjoyed Cvareh the most! Depsite the pace being a little slower than the first book, this one gave more detail to the character arcs and also a good setting for the third book, which I fear that will have far more tragic moments than this one!
Recommended if a good steampunk, hight fantasy setting is your flavor of reading! ;)
June 24, 2017
Review first published on my blog The Fictional Reader
It's been months since I've written a review, and I feel like I've lost my touch. If I ramble in this one, I apologize. I'm pretty much always a rambling mess when talking about my favorite books though, so you might not notice a difference. As always, my reviews are spoiler free!
WORLD
If you haven't read the first book yet and have no idea what this is about, let me catch you up. This story is about Loom and Nova. Loom is where the humans (and Chimeras) live, while Nova is the country/world of the dragons. Years ago, the dragons invaded Loom and conquered their world. Loom's previous Guild system was adapted: instead of everyone studying at whichever Guild they were interested in, you now have to stay at the one you were born in. If you happen to be not-so-good at whatever that Guild does, you're pretty much dead.
Dragons also possess magic, while humans do not. This is where the Chimeras come in. Chimeras are humans who have dragon organs implanted. This allows them to use a limited amount of magic. However, too many dragon organs will rot the human's blood, and they will die too.
I really love this world. In the first book, we explored Loom and its different territories (each Guild has a territory). In this book we also get to see parts of Nova. As we explore more of the world, we also expand our knowledge of the world and different people's opinions on it. For example, Arianna (one of the MC) hates the dragons for destroying her world. Yet there are other humans who argue that the dragons saved them. If not for them, humans would have used up every resource and died. I liked seeing the world through different people's eyes!
PLOT
Obviously, I can't say much here. However, I can say that this one did not suffer from second book syndrome. If you've seen one of my recent wrap ups, you'll know I also read the second book in her Air Awakens series. That one felt mostly like a filler book to me, in which nothing really happened. That's really not the case with this one! So much happened, and I was astonished by the time the ending came around.
Honestly, there were so many surprises in the last half I spent most of my time thinking: "Wait. WHAT?"
CHARACTERS
I'll only talk about the main characters, so as not to spoil anything.
Arianna. I'm just in love with this woman. She is such a fierce badass, and I am in awe of her. But I wouldn't want to come across her in a dark alley. I probably wouldn't survive.
Cvareh. I find Cvareh to be an interesting character! He's a dragon from the Xin family, and in the second book we learn more about him and his family. The first book mainly focused on his character and who he really is. Now, family dynamics are thrown in. I am so fascinated by his family -and especially by Petra. There's also more of a political aspect to this book, because the dragon society is very political and backstabby (I made that word up, I know).
Florence. I feel like Florence grew most of all throughout this book. I found her journey fascinating, especially when her views on the world were challenged. She's a woman to look up to, that's for sure.
There are so many other fascinating (and utterly terrifying) characters, but I don't want to spoil you on this story.
IN SHORT
I adore this new adult fantasy series. I really enjoyed the first book, The Alchemists of Loom, when I read it last year. I certainly wasn't disappointed by the sequel. In fact, that ending left me wanting (and needing) more. I can't wait for the third book because I need to know what happens next!
It's been months since I've written a review, and I feel like I've lost my touch. If I ramble in this one, I apologize. I'm pretty much always a rambling mess when talking about my favorite books though, so you might not notice a difference. As always, my reviews are spoiler free!
WORLD
If you haven't read the first book yet and have no idea what this is about, let me catch you up. This story is about Loom and Nova. Loom is where the humans (and Chimeras) live, while Nova is the country/world of the dragons. Years ago, the dragons invaded Loom and conquered their world. Loom's previous Guild system was adapted: instead of everyone studying at whichever Guild they were interested in, you now have to stay at the one you were born in. If you happen to be not-so-good at whatever that Guild does, you're pretty much dead.
Dragons also possess magic, while humans do not. This is where the Chimeras come in. Chimeras are humans who have dragon organs implanted. This allows them to use a limited amount of magic. However, too many dragon organs will rot the human's blood, and they will die too.
I really love this world. In the first book, we explored Loom and its different territories (each Guild has a territory). In this book we also get to see parts of Nova. As we explore more of the world, we also expand our knowledge of the world and different people's opinions on it. For example, Arianna (one of the MC) hates the dragons for destroying her world. Yet there are other humans who argue that the dragons saved them. If not for them, humans would have used up every resource and died. I liked seeing the world through different people's eyes!
PLOT
Obviously, I can't say much here. However, I can say that this one did not suffer from second book syndrome. If you've seen one of my recent wrap ups, you'll know I also read the second book in her Air Awakens series. That one felt mostly like a filler book to me, in which nothing really happened. That's really not the case with this one! So much happened, and I was astonished by the time the ending came around.
Honestly, there were so many surprises in the last half I spent most of my time thinking: "Wait. WHAT?"
CHARACTERS
I'll only talk about the main characters, so as not to spoil anything.
Arianna. I'm just in love with this woman. She is such a fierce badass, and I am in awe of her. But I wouldn't want to come across her in a dark alley. I probably wouldn't survive.
Cvareh. I find Cvareh to be an interesting character! He's a dragon from the Xin family, and in the second book we learn more about him and his family. The first book mainly focused on his character and who he really is. Now, family dynamics are thrown in. I am so fascinated by his family -and especially by Petra. There's also more of a political aspect to this book, because the dragon society is very political and backstabby (I made that word up, I know).
Florence. I feel like Florence grew most of all throughout this book. I found her journey fascinating, especially when her views on the world were challenged. She's a woman to look up to, that's for sure.
There are so many other fascinating (and utterly terrifying) characters, but I don't want to spoil you on this story.
IN SHORT
I adore this new adult fantasy series. I really enjoyed the first book, The Alchemists of Loom, when I read it last year. I certainly wasn't disappointed by the sequel. In fact, that ending left me wanting (and needing) more. I can't wait for the third book because I need to know what happens next!
It was science, as Eva would say. And science existed beyond right, wrong, and fear.
July 28, 2017
you can find this review and others over on my blog!
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This book definitely did not have second-book-syndrome like so many sequels somehow have. The Dragons of Nova was somehow better than The Alchemists of Loom and I absolutely adored that book!
I’m going to keep this short and simple: I enjoyed this book a lot. It had more of everything I was expecting—Ari being Ari, Florence coming into herself, Cvareh and Ari, Petra.
If there’s one thing this book has, it’s definitely fierce and awe-inspiring women. Petra is a new character whose POV you get to read from. I enjoyed her character a lot—I can’t think of an adjective that would describe her well but wow, she was amazing. She never backed down for anything and she was a ruthless leader. I loved her ambitions!
Florence, who I was on the fence about in book one, shone in this novel. I did come to respect her a lot in this novel, and sort of wished for a little more page time, especially since her development is amazing in this sequel. At the same time, it was hard not to just skip to Ari and Cvareh’s.
Speaking of those two—YES. Finally. Elise Kova does not disappoint.
There’s also another POV in this one—the King whose name I happened to have forgotten. Oh well. Still, I didn’t care for him and I am anticipating the day Ari gets to kill him.
Overall, a fantastic sequel! I’m eagerly awaiting the final book. 4 stars!
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This book definitely did not have second-book-syndrome like so many sequels somehow have. The Dragons of Nova was somehow better than The Alchemists of Loom and I absolutely adored that book!
I’m going to keep this short and simple: I enjoyed this book a lot. It had more of everything I was expecting—Ari being Ari, Florence coming into herself, Cvareh and Ari, Petra.
If there’s one thing this book has, it’s definitely fierce and awe-inspiring women. Petra is a new character whose POV you get to read from. I enjoyed her character a lot—I can’t think of an adjective that would describe her well but wow, she was amazing. She never backed down for anything and she was a ruthless leader. I loved her ambitions!
Florence, who I was on the fence about in book one, shone in this novel. I did come to respect her a lot in this novel, and sort of wished for a little more page time, especially since her development is amazing in this sequel. At the same time, it was hard not to just skip to Ari and Cvareh’s.
Speaking of those two—YES. Finally. Elise Kova does not disappoint.
There’s also another POV in this one—the King whose name I happened to have forgotten. Oh well. Still, I didn’t care for him and I am anticipating the day Ari gets to kill him.
Overall, a fantastic sequel! I’m eagerly awaiting the final book. 4 stars!
0-own-tbr
June 1, 2017Got an ARC wooooo
Read
June 12, 2023can I marry this book? ... because I'm gonna do it.
I am in awe!
there was so much happening in this book that continues to build a much larger story and coming war. new POVs are introduced that I both loved and hated.
my entire favorite thing in this book besides dragons, duh was the floating islands in Nova. I mean, come on! I'm only heartbroken that they aren't real!
I am in awe!
there was so much happening in this book that continues to build a much larger story and coming war. new POVs are introduced that I both loved and hated.
my entire favorite thing in this book besides dragons, duh was the floating islands in Nova. I mean, come on! I'm only heartbroken that they aren't real!
March 23, 2020
My Rating: 3,5/5 stars
July 10, 2017
5 stars
This is a review for the second book in the ‘Alchemists of Loom’ Trilogy and, as such, spoilers for book one will abound.
When I read ‘The Alchemists of Loom’ last year, it was actually the first of Elise’s books that I had ever read. Oh, how times have changed…
I can remember falling in love with the world of Loom, so dark and exciting and original, with its complicated Guild system and video game worthy mechanics. There’s always the worry when you find a book which is so fresh and different, that the second book will not be able to live up to the standards of the first. Thankfully, that is far from the case in ‘The Dragons of Nova’. If anything, Elise has stepped up her game with book two. It is a dream of a sequel.
You can find the rest of my review over on my blog.
This is a review for the second book in the ‘Alchemists of Loom’ Trilogy and, as such, spoilers for book one will abound.
When I read ‘The Alchemists of Loom’ last year, it was actually the first of Elise’s books that I had ever read. Oh, how times have changed…
I can remember falling in love with the world of Loom, so dark and exciting and original, with its complicated Guild system and video game worthy mechanics. There’s always the worry when you find a book which is so fresh and different, that the second book will not be able to live up to the standards of the first. Thankfully, that is far from the case in ‘The Dragons of Nova’. If anything, Elise has stepped up her game with book two. It is a dream of a sequel.
You can find the rest of my review over on my blog.
February 16, 2024
Middle book syndrome like a MF
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