2.5 of 5 stars

Writing a negative is never easy, and there are certain books that make me feel extra crummy about it because I know the problem lies solely within me and not in the book itself. The Memory of Fire is a perfect example. It has a decent premise, a well-written story not marred by any serious technical problems, and it is also sequel to a debut I really enjoyed last year, called The Waking Land.

So then, why didn’t I enjoy this second volume, especially since it continued to expand the overall series arc by exploring many of the same world-building and magical themes from the first book? The main reason: a different main character. Instead of carrying on with the story through the eyes of Elanna Valtai, the wonderful star of the previous novel, The Memory of Fire changes tack and approaches things from the perspective of her lover, Jahan Korakides—whom I’m nowhere near as fond of. In fact, I came to downright detest him in the first book, as I found his personality to be incredibly dull and his romance with Elanna emotionally flat. As far as I was concerned, Jahan was little more than a distraction and an excuse for a romantic side plot, so I can’t say I was all that thrilled when I started the book only to discover that not only was he the focus of the sequel, we were actually getting the entire story from his point-of-view.

That being said, I was more than willing to give this novel a chance to change my mind. Learning about a character’s background and the experiences that helped shaped him can do wonders to alter existing perceptions, and I was hoping this book would warm me up to Jahan. We weren’t introduced to him until well into The Waking Land, and as a result, readers knew relatively little about his past and origins, except that he was a nobleman from Ida, and that unlike Elanna, he’s had a good grasp on his magical abilities since he was a child.

In The Memory of Fire, we get to find out exactly how Jahan developed his powers. The story takes us back to his homeland after he and Elanna’s time in Caeris is cut short by news that the empire of Paladis is planning an invasion. With Elanna’s powers exhausted from trying to restore the land, Jahan is forced to return to the court where he grew up to try and negotiate peace with the emperor.

But in Paladis, Jahan faces many challenges. With magic being outlawed and punishable by death, he must keep his powers under wraps, especially now that his friend Prince Leontius has turned his back on him, taking away any form of royal favor or protection. Worse are the political games he must play, as old enemies try to undermine the throne and threaten to reveal Jahan as a sorcerer. Returning home also means confronting his past and the painful memories of what happened to his family. Jahan is still plagued by memories of the manipulative witch Madiya, who secretly trained him and his brothers in magic—and caused a lot of emotional damage while doing it. Now her ominous messages to him are making it more difficult to focus on his mission, putting him in danger of being exposed.

I confess, I had really hoped reading a book from Jahan’s POV would change my impressions of him and make him more favorable in my eyes, but unfortunately, that just didn’t happen. I tried, I really tried. But far from getting me to get over my dislike of him, I think this novel merely exacerbated it, because I constantly found myself wishing we were still following Elanna–which isn’t fair, I know, since this is supposed to be Jahan’s chance to shine. To be honest though, his story just wasn’t anywhere near as interesting to me, especially since a good chunk of the first half was dominated by tedious political talk and the protagonist’s own fits of self-flagellating whining as he berates himself over and over for leaving his brothers in the hands of Madiya. Look, dude, you did what had to be done. Move on, and let’s get to some action already.

Thankfully, we saw the story pick up in the second half. The Memory of Fire is not only darker, but it is also more melancholy in tone compared to The Waking Land. It’s a good thing, I think, because this gives the series a bit more gravitas and shows it in the process of maturing into something greater. However, I don’t know if this is enough to overcome my ennui and lack of interest for most of this novel. I’m still rather apathetic towards Jahan, because he never really captured my attention the way Elanna did in the previous book. With her, the connection came effortlessly, in contrast to the narrative of this one, which tried a bit too hard to push Jahan upon the reader and, ironically, only served to drive me farther away.

Changing protagonists midway through a series is always a huge gamble, even if the story does require a different point-of-view in order to move forward. Callie Bates took the chance, and unfortunately, it didn’t pan out too well for me, though I’m sure it will work out just fine for plenty of others. In fact, if you enjoyed Jahan’s character in the first book, then there’s an excellent chance that you will enjoy The Memory of Fire. If you didn’t though, then your experience may be more touch and go. At this point, I’d still very much like to continue the series because the author is such a great writer, plus I love the world and the magic in these books. But if the story doesn’t return to Elanna, or at least focus more on her again, then I might have to reconsider. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

3.75 Stars

The Waking Land, first book in this series introduced us to Elanna Valtai, a teenage heroine who was enjoyable to read, and Jahan, a character who, as can be seen in my review of the previous book, I had reservations about. Whereas The Waking Land was all told from Elanna's POV, The Memory of Fire is Jahan's POV, a brave change of course for a second book. (Audiobook listeners who recall Erin Spencer's narration as Elanna in the first book will have Andrew Eiden narrating this book as Jahan.)

As the book opens, Elanna has exhausted herself and her powers trying to wake the land and restore agricultural fertility to villages in Eren. Jahan is called back to Paladis and we are introduced, through his painful memories and intrusive communique from a witch by the name Madiya (I kept thinking of Medea), to his painful history. Jahan and his younger brothers Rayka and Lathiel have all had their minds and their magic manipulated by Madiya. The damage done to their family has resulted in Jahan suffering lasting trauma and self-doubt. Madiya, using a combination of drugs and what can only be seen a coercion and torture, has sought to make Jahan resistant to the witch hunters, who use bells to see out those with magic. The tone of the bells disables the magician and from the opening scenes of the book we know that from early childhood, Jahan is as familiar with their use as he is with his own struggles to use magic in his homeland. (In contrast how to his magical ability flows when he is with Elanna in Eren.)

While I was interested in finding out more about Jahan's history, I found that I missed Elanna's bright voice. (I have to say that overall, Bates' prowess at the first person POV writing has improved since the first book.) This is a much darker book than the first entry in the series, because Jahan has had a much darker life. The political intrigue that awaits Jahan back in Ida is fast and thick, as he finds Lathiel addicted to opium, Rayka missing, his friend Prince Leontius on the outs, and all the usual fear of discovery should he or his brothers be revealed as sorcerers. Add to that Emperor Alakseus, who was less than thrilled with a Caveadear magically waking the land in Eren, having Elanna captured and dragged before him for draining of her power and execution. (He doesn't give a damn about kidnapping a subject from another country, dragging them before his throne and sentencing them to death for something that was legal in the country they were kidnapped from.) In attempting to protect her, Jahan himself is revealed as a sorcerer.

Some of the lackluster manner of Jahan that I felt in the first book is now clearly understandable after reading his history in this second book. His tendency to despair (in contrast to Elanna's resilience) made the middle portion of the book drag a bit but the last third of the book is full of action, as things must be put aright in Paladis. It is also full of Elanna and Jahan working in synchrony and ultimately I have decided I like them together. Jahan is a different character when Elanna is around.

This book's final chapter and epilogue provide a clear opening for a third book in the series. Bates has created a world that is fresh and characters who have plenty more life in them. I will definitely pick up the next book to see what trouble Elanna and Jahan get into next. I do have to say that I hope it will be Elanna telling us about it, however. The comparative vivacity of her POV just makes for an easier read.

Jahan Korakides showed up in the first book, The Waking Land. He saved Crown Prince Leontius in battle, helped win the revolution in Eren, and matched up with Elanna Valtai, heroine of the previous book, and a powerful sorceress in touch with the land.

This is Jahan’s book. He doesn’t see himself as a hero at all. He sees himself as a failed mage, haunted by memories of the sorceress who experimented on him and his brothers as children in her effort to train powerful sorcerers.

When the empire threatens war in retribution for Elanna's illegal sorcery, Jahan leaves Eren to negotiate with the emperor on Queen Sophy's behalf. But the capital has changed since the days he lived there. People are talking revolution, the emperor broods on his throne mistrusting everyone except the witch finders who seek and kill sorcerers, his much younger empress, and his second son and daughter (a pair of nasty articles pretty much like awful Princess Loyce and Denis in the first book). Jehan has to hide his sorcery, of course, but his secrets alienate all his old friends, who seem to regard him as a traitor.

Meanwhile one of his brothers is missing, and oh yes, the sorceress he ran away from keeps calling him mentally.

Things slowly go from bad to worse—and then the news comes that Elanna has been captured, and is slated for execution.

I thought the first book, in spite of a few problems, a bravura first novel that kept the pages turning. The pacing in this second book was even more intense, with the stakes, and the magic, inexorably building to a powerful climax. Bates does a terrific job with emotionally scarred Jehan, whose memories were tampered with, and who struggles to find his own moral center. At times it was difficult reading his determinedly morose POV, but Bates did an excellent job contrasting Jehan with other characters.

Except for the evil and princess, who were one-dimensional nasties much like the late and unlamented Loyce and Denis, Bates does a great job with complex characters, including other villains. Jehan’s friends are even more interesting. So, too, are the discussions of magic, power, and government. The details are vivid, and the worldbuilding gaining in complexity as well.

The first person present tense was a lot more gracefully handled in this book. Altogether a great summer read, leaving me looking forward to the next book in the series.

I hate it when I can’t think of how to start a review. I hate it, even more, when the review is on a book that I loved. If it was a book that I was “meh” on, then I wouldn’t be OK with it. But I loved The Memory of Fire. This book was as good as The Waking Land. From a fantastic plotline to characters that were relatable, I was taken away by this book.

In my experience, I have found that books that were 2nd in a series or trilogy usually drag. I have discussed this in earlier posts, but sometimes the author has used up all their creative juices in book 1 and book 2 gets the shaft. Not in The Memory of Fire. This book kept up the energy from The Waking Land. For an author to be able to carry that tension over from the first book astounded me. I loved it!!

The backdrop of the story, the country of Paladis, was perfect for what was going on in the book. This was a country that hated anything to do with magic. With the help of witch hunters and their bells, sorcerers and witches were hunted, captured and put to work in a prison made for them. Over the centuries, the emperors have used the witch hunters as a way to control the population and keep them compliant. But, things come to a head when Jahan is summoned to the palace. A revolution is about to erupt with magic at the center of it.

At the center of everything is Jahan. I loved him in The Waking Land. I was expecting to be let down when I realized that this book was his story. Oh boy, was I not!! Jahan was a damaged man. He is missing memories, thanks to the witch Madiya and her experiments on him. His mother was a shell of herself after witch hunter’s attacked his house. He, himself, was addicted to opium. Madiya would douse him with it to do her experiments. I wasn’t surprised by the terror that he felt when in Paladis, knowing that she was around.

He remained tortured about Madiya for 75% of the book. She was his Boogeyman. I was surprised when she made an appearance in the last half of the book. I was also surprised by the conflicting signals that she sent out. In the end, though, she did get what she deserved. Which made me happy.

There is so much that happened in this book that if I wrote out about it, my review would go on forever. I will say that I was happy when Elanna arrived. Not happy about how she arrived or how she was treated. I also wasn’t happy about certain things that happened that almost broke Jahan but I am happy when things were cleared.

The relationship between Jahan and Elanna was one of the best fantasy relationships that I have ever read. Again, not getting into it but I will say is what they have is true love. She is willing to accept him for who he is and vice versa.

I won’t go into much about the latter half of the book except to say “HOLY PLOT TWIST!!!!” I was not expecting what happened to happen. It threw me for a loop and kind of messed with my head. But, considering the duress that this person was under, I don’t blame them for doing what they did.

What I liked about The Memory of Fire:

A) Jahan

B) Madiya getting what she deserved

C) Jahan and Elanna’s relationship

What I disliked about The Memory of Fire:

A) How Elanna was brought to Paladis

B) Jahan’s tortured childhood

C) Madiya. An evil, evil woman

I would give The Memory of Fire a rating of Older Teen. There is sex, which is vague but you know what is going on. There is violence. There is no language. I would recommend that no one under the age of 16 read this book.

There are triggers in The Memory of Fire. They are child abuse.

I would reread The Memory of Fire. I would also recommend this book to family and friends.

I would like to thank Del Ray, Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Memory of Fire

All opinions stated in this review of The Memory of Fire are mine

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Set in the same world as The Waking Land, we spend a bit more time within the cities of Aexione and Ida, part of the Empire of Paladis. Jahan spends quite a bit of time on the move, as he eventually finds himself being hunted. The descriptions of the areas are well done, and there are also – thankfully – maps!

The main characters within this novel are, for the most part, the same as in the first. However, with this one, we focus on the point of view of Jahan, rather than that of Elanna. Having been a HUGE fan of book one, and really drawn into the character of Elanna, Jahan was a bit less my cup of tea. He’s very indecisive, and he makes decisions that sometimes felt just absurd. Of course, there are new characters as well, and a few who were minor in book one that have much greater prominence here. Many of them were interesting – in fact, most were…sharply drawn and with their own motivations to make things happen.

The story carried on shortly after book one and provided a neat continuation of the power struggles between two countries. However, it felt like it went on a bit too long here. Again, this was largely related to Jahan, whose internal battles often felt interminable. However, the story does follow an arc, and the third book is definitely set up by the ending.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book, though I was less enamored of Jahan’s POV as a main character. I will be curious to see if Queen Sophie is as good as Elanna, or if she too struggles in book three. I will definitely be interested in finishing the trilogy, as I have become enamored of *most* of the characters within.

NOTE: Larger review will be published on vampirebookclub.net

This is the second book in a trilogy. It follows THE WAKING LAND. Elanna and Jahan are in Caeris and Eren where Elanna is using her magic as the steward of the land to support the rule of their friend Queen Sophy. But Elanna is exhausting herself trying to fix the land and their neighbors are seeing the country as ripe for the plucking. Jahan is determined to go back to Paladis to try to forge a peace treaty with the emperor. While he is there, he would also like to rescue his two younger brothers from the influence of Madiya who has been experimenting on all of them since they were small children in order to enhance their sorcery.

However, magic is a crime in the empire and the emperor is unlikely to forge a treaty with known magicians. Jahan hopes that his charm and her personal relationship with Leontius, the heir apparent, will be enough to sway the odds in his favor. He has previously successfully hidden his magical abilities and plans to continue to do so.

Things have changed in the empire since he has been gone. The revolutionaries who want to have the law changed to allow sorcery are gaining in numbers. They also have the secret support of the emperor's second wife Firmina Triciphes and her cousin Bardas. Leontius has turned away from Jahan. And Leontius's younger brother and sister are undermining him in their quest to take the throne from him. The grand inquisitor Alcibides Doukas also has his eye on Jahan. He would love to prove that Jahan is a sorcerer and is willing to fabricate evidence if proof isn't available.

Jahan very reluctantly becomes involved in the revolution and his involvement escalates when the emperor captures Elanna and bring her to Paladis to execute her. This story is epic fantasy at its most epic with political intrigue, magic, treachery and betrayal. Of course it also has romance and daring deeds and characters who perform well above what could be reasonably expected of them.

The story was fast-paced and action-packed. I can't wait for the next book in this exciting trilogy.

"The Memory of Fire" eBook was published in 2018 (June) and was written by Callie Bates (http://calliebates.com). This is Ms. Bates' second novel and the second in her "The Waking Land" series.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in a fictional world where magic is possible. The primary character is Jahan Korakides, a former Paladisan noble.

Now after Korakides has, with the assistance of his girlfriend Elanna Valtai, won the independence from Paladis of Eden and Caeris (as told in the first volume of the series "The Waking Land"). Korakides travels back to the capital as their ambassador, seeking a peaceful settlement from the Emperor of Paladis. His return sweeps him back into court politics. Not only are there the subtle dangers of court intrigue, but he must hide his magical abilities as they are still outlawed in the Empire.

As tensions rise and the continued independence of Eden and Caeris comes under attack, Korakides must decide how far he can resist before revealing his hidden abilities.

I enjoyed the 11.5+ hours I spent reading this 448 page fantasy. I like the characters and world that Bates has created for these novels. I do think she should have given Korakides a little more strength and heroic nature. The cover art is OK. Certainly, I think it is eye-catching. I give this novel a 4.4 (rounded down to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

I found myself jumping back and forth between four books this past week: Memory of Fire by Callie Bates (speculative), Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (YA sci-fi/apocalyptic), Torment by Lauren Kate (paranormal?) , and Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis (sci-fi/paranormal?).  Let me tell you about Memory.

What Memory of Fire is About And Who Would Like It
Memory is the sequel to The Waking Land, which I reviewed here. Like that book, it is a rousing story of magic versus evil, told in vivid first-person. It is rich in storylines, thick in ambience, and strong in style. It's the story of Jahan Korakides, who is called to broker peace with the nation of Paladis after he helps his girlfriend, Elanna Valtai, win peace over the despotic ruler of the smaller kingdoms of Eren and Caeris. Elanna and Jahan are both sorcerers, though Elanna's magic is a much more powerful, land-based power.

As Jahan seeks that peace with the monarchs of Paladis, the story also becomes very much one of him striving to overcome the damage and trauma done to him when he was young by a woman hired by his father to grow his magical powers, and find his brothers, who were also hurt by her. The monarchs of Paladis want to eliminate sorcery altogether, and don't know that Jahan is a sorcerer and tied so closely to Elanna. The citizens of Paladis want Jahan to lead a rebellion that would have sorcerers holding just as much political power, if not more, than non-sorcerers. He just wants to heal, find his brothers, and get to safety, but quickly finds his way blocked and a different course laid out for him.

If I were to depict it in a video, as I'm wont to do, it would be this one:

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuwHhFXfv20" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>


..only perhaps sped up a little bit and with multi-colored threads as opposed to only white ones. The finished product is intricately-woven, moves at breakneck speed, and satisfies not only those readers looking for fantasy, but also those looking for high political intrigue, romance, and deft world-building.

Nutrition Facts, Anyone?
There are a few swear words and one or two allusions to sex. There are many references to the importance of family ties, no matter how difficult they can be to maintain. There is mention of a gay relationship, handled in a very gentle way. A good amount of violence.

Anything Wrong?
If I gave Memory of Fire anything less than a full 10 stars on my 10-star scale, I'd have to dock all books with the trope of a power-hungry antagonist (or two), and there are too many of those to count. I've read so many books lately where the antagonist is a flat character only motivated purely by a lust for power. What does it say about me that I want a little more dimension in the antagonists I read about?

P.S. If more editions of this book are printed, or even when this first edition is printed, it would really help if there was a map and a character index.

Disclosure: I received a free ARC of Memory of Fire from NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review of the book.

"The Memory of Fire" was an enthralling YA fantasy that continues the world and characters from the first "The Waking Land" novel. However, instead of focusing on Elanna, we get to hear Jahan's story- and it is absolutely as captivating as the first book. The book begins with Elanna and Jahan traveling around Eren/Caeris to win over (and feed) the people- they need to know the Caveadear is alive and wants to help them. However, Paladis will not allow sorcery to go unchecked and sends witch hunters and soldiers to capture Eren/Caeris.

Witch hunters carry special bells and stones which can rob a sorcerer of their power and make them lose their minds. The Caveadear is not exempt from their power- however, Madiya, during her cruel experiments claims to have made Jahan immune to the bells. Luckily, Jahan stops the invading force, but he knows that Paladis will just send more. He offers to travel back to Paladis to barter with the emperor to spare Eren/Caeris, and gets Sophy's blessing to be the official ambassador. Going back also has the added benefit that he hopes to save his two brothers, Rayka and Lathiel, who were also experimented on by Madiya.

As Jahan returns, so much more than he could have expected awaits him- the kingdom is poised for revolution- or maybe even more than one revolution, but all he wants to do is secure freedom for Elanna and the people in Eren/Caeris. Jahan must dig deep within himself to work towards the goals he and Elanna have set for themselves, and the decisions along the way will not be easy.

This book entirely features Jahan, and Elanna takes a backseat. Considering that plus the change in setting, and this book seems like it could be read as a stand-alone. It's been a while since I read the first- which I loved more than I thought I would- and I didn't feel like I needed to go back to know what was happening or to love this sequel! I had a hard time putting this one down, and it was absolutely as enthralling at the first. Jahan is very three-dimensional, and just as in the first, there are so many characters that are built so well you can't help but be caught up in their lives and this unique world.

I will say that the ending did not seem conclusive, and I am extremely curious (and hoping oh so much) if there will be another in this series. This is a really fantastic book, and I can't tell you how much I would suggest you give this series a try if you are at all a YA fantasy lover- it's really amazing!

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I had a much harder time being invested in this book than I did the first. I also don't really remember Jahan very well from the first book. I remember that he was there, that eventually a romance formed between him and Elanna, that he was kind of surly when we first meet his character, but beyond that, I don't really remember much. I would have much rather the story continue to follow Elanna.

This book had a really slow pace, that also added to why I struggled getting, and staying, invested in what was happening. I also don't remember Jahan being a weak minded person, and he came across as being very weak and doubtful of himself through most of the book.

I wish I loved this book as much as I did the first, but there are a bunch of small things that kept me from that. I also felt that Jahan did a lot of whining in this book, he wasn't exactly what I would call proactive.

I might come back to this book at a later time and give it another go; if I re-read the first book to refresh some of the events that spurred things in this book.

I loved book 1 of The Waking Land, so when I saw book 2 furthered the relationship of Elanna Valtai and Jahan Korakides, I was delighted. This time we get Jahan's POV and we learn a great deal about what drives him. In The Memory of Fire, Jahan returns to his hometown of Paladis to try and broker peace but when he arrives he finds that things were not the same as when he left. When searching for his lost brothers, he winds up caught up in a deadly rebellion against the emperor and his magic dampening witch-hunters. In the midst of it all he has to contend with a force from his abusive past. This is a fantastic continuation of Bates' series and I'm desperate to know where she's going to take us in Book 3!

Thanks to netgalley, for providing an ARC of this book in return for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Waking Land, so was very eager to read the next - and it did not disappoint.

I was surprised by the direction the author took here. Instead of continuing the story in Eren where The Waking Land took place, we moved to Ida and Paladis. And, in this book, the focus is on Jahan, rather than Elanna. Jahan returns to Paladis as an envoy from Sophy, to try to reach an agreement with the Emperor, to leave Eren alone and to ignore the use of sorcery in Eren by Elanna. There, he finds himself in the middle of trouble, as the Emperor is ruthlessly attempting to kill all sorcerors. Meanwhile, his old university friends in Ida are in the process of rebellion against the Emperor, primarily to support the sorcerors and the use of sorcery.

It's a interesting shift, to a book written from Jahan's perspective, and one in which Elanna is a supporting player. There are also a whole host of new characters, and an urban, rather than rural, setting. We also learn much about Jahan's back story, which is hard to read sometimes, but illuminates his character. This book is very different, but an equally good read.

This is enjoyable, well written fantasy. The plot flows, the characters are well developed and interesting, and it's fun to read. It's also clear where we're going in book 3, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Jahan Korakides, the sorcerer who is in love with Elanna, has to return to his homeland of Ida where sorcery is illegal to find his two younger brothers. Who, like him, were brought up to be the greatest sorcerers by an evil woman who wanted revenge against the witch hunters who she says stole her power. One brother has gone missing from his military school and the other cannot be found. While searching for his brothers, Jahan gets swept up in the court intrigue with the kings new wife, the prince who no longer will speak to him and a friend of the queen's who appears to be part of a rebellion growing in Ida to bring sorcery back.
Ellana is mostly absent for the first half of the book which really gives the story time to develop around Jahan's character which I really enjoyed. New characters are introduced which will obviously help carry on the story into the next book. While the first book was focused on Elanna and her power which gave the story a more organic feel this one was primarily located in the cities so it felt a little different but no less wonderful.
Overall a thoroughly enjoyable book. I highly recommend the series.

This book was amazing, somehow just as good as the first book! I really enjoyed the perspective shift as we heard from Jahan for this portion of the story. Learning more about the various cultures in Bates's land was so interesting as well!