Sisters of the Fire is the second installment in Kim Wilkins’ captivating epic fantasy series, Blood and Gold. It picks up four years after the events of the first book, continuing the adventures of the five royal daughters of the King of Thyrsland. Events from the first book have left the King’s daughters scattered far and wide throughout the kingdom. Only Bluebell, the eldest daughter, has remained at home with her father, as she will be heir to the throne one day. Bluebell has attained nearly legendary status as a warrior and is deemed by most to be unkillable, so when she learns one of her enemies has had a magical sword created that has the power to kill her and that it is in the possession of one of her sisters, Bluebell goes on a quest to find each of her sisters and figure out who has the sword so that she can destroy it before it can do her harm.

As with the first book in the series, we follow the perspectives of each of the five sisters, so we see what trials and tribulations the other four sisters are facing while we’re also following Bluebell on her quest. Sister Ash, a seer, is still in self-imposed exile learning to control her magic and hunting dragons, while sister Rose, is in hiding, having been cast aside by her husband because she was unfaithful. What made this second book an even better read for me than the first one was that the two younger sisters had much bigger roles this time whereas they felt more like secondary characters in the first book. Ivy is living with her much older husband and is in a position to attain great power should something happen to him, and Willow, our religious zealot from the first book, has become even more fanatical about her faith when we meet her in this book.

Sisters of the Fire is filled with secrets, lies, betrayal, plenty of action, familial love, and yes, even a few hints of romance. It also does a wonderful job of advancing the story arcs of each of the sisters, as well as introducing my new favorite character, Rose’s daughter, Rowan, who was an infant in the first book. Rowan has grown into a feisty rebellious character, who aspires to be a fierce warrior like her aunt Bluebell, while everyone around her wants her to be proper and ladylike. She’s a delightful addition to what was already a stellar cast of badass females, and I can’t wait to see how she factors in as this exciting series continues.

With this second installment, the Blood and Gold series continues to impress me and I look forward to seeing what is in store for all of the sisters, and of course, Rowan, in the next book. I highly recommend the series to fantasy fans, but I also wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about complicated family dynamics, especially sibling relationships.

Sisters of the Fire is the second installment in the Blood and Gold series which takes place four years after the events of the first book. We find the five sisters living their very different respective lives. The chapters are told from the point of view of each sister. The thing I really like about this concept is that readers will be able to identify with any of the sisters because they are all so different. They have different priorities, personalities, and challenges. I found Sisters of the Fire to be a better story for me than Blood and Gold. There is a lot going on amongst the five sisters and I thought Ms. Wilkins did a good job of not making things too confusing for a reader. Very interesting plot twists and well developed storylines.

WHOA! Saying that this is a highly anticipated sequel is very underrated! This book blew me away! I had my own ideas of what was going to happen to these sisters and how this novel was going to play out, but I was wrong in almost every aspect.

If you hadn't yet checked out my review for book one Daughters Of The Storm then CLICK HERE so you can see how these characters first started out.

Ok, so maybe the sisters themselves haven't changed very much in most ways BUT these other characters are what made this book. Here is a small character breakdown for you.

Bluebell: Still the super fierce warrior. Although we do find her soft spot in this one and it was incredible to watch her grow into who she is at the end of this one.

Rose: Oh my sweet sweet Rose. This poor girl has been essentially in hiding for 4 years and now has a son to the one man she never wanted kids with in the first place. Her heart gets thrown around so many times between her old love Heath, the daughter she can never see again, Rowan, her Aunt, and just everything going on in this world. My heart is with this woman, and I was so happy to see her step out of her commands and boundaries!

Ash: Like, what is Ash now? Visually she has made the most distinguished change. There is a part of me that always questioned her mental health in this book. If I could use one word to describe her this book it would be LOST. She is thrown many different ways and mentally I think she just wants it all to end.

Ivy: Oh Ivy, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? I'm just going to leave it at that....

Willow: I have no words. I didn't like her before and I definitely don't like her now.

Rowan: Oh my goodness she has grown so much. Such a sweet yet fierce little girl. Can't wait for you all to read about her.

Snowy: The man who had been raising Rowan. One of her many "dads" as she would say. Also Bluebell has special feelings for this one.

Unweder: Saw him a little in the last book, and see him a little in this one.

Hakon: Willow's partner in crime. Very unlikable characters.

"She learned that anyone who had power and influence in this world had to keep secrets, because they were the hidden glue that held all things together. She liked having secrets."

I loved this one. Sister Of The Fire was full of action, magic, adventure, and emotions. It was told in perspectives of each of the sisters and their struggles that the characters could leap off the page. This was such a compelling magical read with swords and dragons, Kings and Usurpers, blood and fights, Lies and deception.

What is also so amazing is that these sisters each have their own personality. Their own way to "narrate" their pages. They are all so different within each other and I think that is what makes them even more special.

We got to view these sisters as who they are and the journeys that they believe in. We travel with them on the paths that they take the mental struggles they endure and the emotions that hinder them.
The world building is so complex that you feel like you know the woods, the villages, the castles, etc because they are so detailed and beautifully written.

"Not blissful bright-yellow happiness-more of a muted sunset color- but happiness nonetheless."

Can I get book 3 NOW?
Again, if you haven't make sure to check out Daughters Of The Storm Review HERE!
This is going to be such an amazing trilogy and I can't wait to read the conclusion because I am already slumming after this one. I have no idea how to move on into my next reading adventure because I'm still living in this one.

Until Next Time,
Brittany @DauntlessReading

If "Daughters of the Storm" was the opposite of "Pride and Prejudice," then "Sisters of the Fire" is a combination of the Borgias and the Tudors!

Four years have past since the events of "Daughters of the Storm," and the time and the distance amongst the sisters have not healed any wounds. Bluebell and Ivy perform their "duties," even though one sister shows more enjoyment than the other. Rose and Ash remain isolated from their families for "the good of the realm," and Willow has become a religious fanatic who has come to believe that the ends justify the means. Parenting serves as the subplot once again when we see how the next generation handles the consequences brought on by their parents and their grandparents.

War is brewing from various angles: religious beliefs, magic, family dynamics, and conquer and control. Each of the sisters will meet up together for the first time in four years to battle for their beliefs, not for their family or for the good of the kingdoms. The second novel in the "Blood and Gold" series displays how desire overcomes reality in the worse ways. While the threats are overcome by the novel's end, the sisters and their relationships to each other and their families have received another blow. And, that cliffhanger alone will make "Queens of the Sea" a very desirable follow up novel.

"Sisters of the Fire" was a better read than the first book in the series; however, all of the elements from "Daughters of the Storm" play a larger role in the plot of the story. Mental health is a topic that makes its way into the series, but Kim Wilkins presents the disturbing realities surrounding mental health on the family members. And, this is a good thing because living in denial of mental health is just as bad as the people who live with those with mental illness. In this context, the consequences is taken to a much higher level, but the story concludes that once that line has been crossed, there is no going back.

I cannot wait to read the next book in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins is book two in the Blood and Gold series of five uniquely different and distinctive sisters. The bonds that they had working together in the first book to save their father, the king, seem nonexistent now four years later.

The secrets, jealousy, mistrust, and betrayal serve to separate the sisters even more as their journey continues. The imperfections, strengths and weakness are a part of each and is never masked or diluted for the reader. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don’t, but always they are interesting. The story is told from their alternating POV.

This fantasy is a riveting and bewitching read within an intricate magical world with the creatures to match. The setting, surroundings and other creatures caught and held me as much as the sisters. I would recommend Daughters of the Storm, the first book be read first.

A Fantasy Kingdom Peopled by Five Remarkable Sisters

In a fantasy kingdom much like ancient Britain live five sisters all with remarkable qualities. In the first book, Daughters of the Storm, the sisters worked together to return their father, the king, to health and restore his rule over the kingdom. With that accomplished, the strains on the sister’s relationship show. Like many siblings their rivalry has become a destructive thing.

Bluebell, the warrior and potential successor to the kingdom, is at home with her father, but when she learns that a sword has been forged to kill her, she goes to look for it. She is also close to Rowan, Rose’s daughter. Rose has been banished from her kingdom and has given her daughter to a caretaker to raise

.Ash is searching for dragons with a mysterious companion. Willow is most estranged. She hopes to become a fighter to take down Bluebell. Ivy is married to a much older man who she detests. He’s bedridden so she is able to take lovers, care for her sons, and rule the seaport without hindrance.

This is am addictive series. For having five main characters, the author has done an excellent job of giving them all distinct personalities. On the negative side, this can be a bit confusing since the narrative shifts from one sister to another. However, this is not a major problem since the characters are moving in different settings. I was glad to see more of Rowan in this book. She is building into a strong character.

This is a lovely book, but it is the second in the series and to take full advantage of the saga, it is important to have familiarity with the first book. If you enjoy well written fantasy, this is a book for you.

I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.

In the four years since Athelrick's five daughters worked together to restore his health, the bonds of sisterhood had all but dissolved. Bluebell remains at home, his heir and essentially the leader of his army. Ash had traveled to learn the ways of an undermagician. Rose was exiled from her daughter Rowan to keep the peace between kingdoms. Ivy is a Duchess with two sons and more secrets. Willow is still a zealot of the trimartyr faith, determined to see signs in everything around her. The fact that they are sisters still remain, and will further shape the world around them.

This is a sequel to Daughters of the Storm and is definitely enhanced by having read that one first. There are still contextual clues and conversations to highlight the most important parts of the first novel that apply to this one, so readers should be able to pick this one up and hit the ground running. The cover art between the two novels are similar, in that they both have the sisters' silhouettes in the shape of a crown. In the first novel, the girls all have their hands linked, and now in the second, they all stand alone in the shadow of the dragon fires that Ash had always been so afraid of. It's a brilliant way to visually mark the differences in the relationships between the sisters in the novels.

Bluebell is as martial and pragmatic as ever, still running roughshod over Rose's concerns. She did learn some patience, and the force of her love remains a palpable thing. We see Rowan now as a child capable of expressing herself, and the secret leading to Rose's exile now comes to bear on Rowan. She is a more central figure in this book, moving the plot for Bluebell and Rose, and positions Bluebell close enough to maneuver Ash closer to her destiny. Ash is largely a shadow in this novel, fear ruling her as much as her elemental magic. Willow is the other axis on which this novel spins, and she proselytizes and works to become a fighter to take down Bluebell. Ivy continues to have the weakest story arc of the sisters, though she has indeed grown up a lot since the first book.

The world of these novels is already well established from the first novel, but there are still features in this one that builds upon it in interesting ways. I never would have thought of a ghost horse or child being able to not only follow people outside of their place of haunting but to be able to interact with those close to death and magic. Prophecies always seem to come true, but never quite in the way that people fear that they will. It's fascinating to see the lengths that the characters will all go in the name of love, duty, and devotion, and how much the balance between religion, politics, family and marriage all balance for them. This book is put together just as well as the first, though Ash isn't the sister I connected with the most anymore. I was drawn more to Rowan and Bluebell's portion of the story. The story in this novel is complete, but there are definitely hooks to hang a third novel on, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

I am so happy I stayed with this series!. I read and reviewed the first book, Daughters of the Storm, months ago and while I liked it, I wasn’t really sure if it would pan out for me. Now that I’ve read this second book in the series I feel it has panned out in spades and just keeps getting better as it goes along.

The focus of this story is on five sisters. The setting is somewhat reminiscent of a Engish/Nordic/Viking, and the women are all daughters of one of the kings of Thrysland. The main characters are all so completely different, and the choices they made in the first book are now coming back to haunt them to differing degrees.

When it comes to reading a series, I frequently will re-read the first book in order to catch myself up on the story again. I have a bad habit of losing the plot thread in between books. I didn’t go for the re-read this time because I wanted to get it finished before the release date tomorrow, and I am so pleased that it didn’t bother me a bit. There is very little lag between the two novels even though there is a 4 year gap in the story line. The author did a great job of reminding the reader of the main story points without interrupting the flow. The plot progression is very strong.

When it comes to the characters, I still have very particular favorites, Bluebell and Ash being foremost, but this book introduces a new character, Rowan, who threatens to supplant them both in my heart. I will be so excited to read more about her in the next book, as I’m quite sure she will be playing a very large part in the story. That being said, I’m absolutely not sure what is going to happen next. I feel like we’ve reached a drop off point. Some of the major questions of the first book have been tied up to a certain degree, and this is usually the point where a story wraps up it’s threads and puts itself to bed. But this is book two. This means I have no idea where the story is going. That sounds bad … what I means is it’s become unpredictable in the best of ways.

I look forward to book three, I want to know what will happen to these women. I’ll be refreshing Netgalley constantly on the look out for the next installment.

Song for this book: Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

3.5/5 stars

Sisters of Fire picks up 4 years after Daughters of the Storm left off. It has a good amount of action, plotting, scheming, betrayal, etc. Each of the sisters are on their own path. Bluebell is working with her father, the King, and continues to have quite the fearsome reputation as a warrior. Rose has been cast aside and banished by her husband and is raising her younger child in a remote area. Her daughter Rowan is also featured with her caretaker who have been living in an isolated wood. I really enjoy that pair of characters and enjoyed seeing Rowan grow her independent and motivated personality. Ivy is Duchess and her older husband is quite frail. She continues to have questionable judgement and can be a bit selfish/vain. Ash is travelling with a mysterious companion that seems a bit scary at times, but have been hunting for a dragon across the lands, each for their own reasons. And then there is Willow. Willow seems to have gone a bit off the rails with her zealotry and has taken the villain route with her life and training (not that she sees it that way, but villains rarely do). It’s an interesting mix of personalities and story lines.

The first book in this series was addictive right from the start. It was one of those books that I just had a very hard time putting down and tore through in a very short period of time. While I still enjoyed this one, I had a different reading experience from the first.

I do want to lead with the fact that at the end of the book, I am quite happy with the story that this book tells. There is a serious amount of action and events that take place. That said, it did not have quite the same addictive quality for me, except maybe right towards the end. The end of this book is quite climatic, so many things come together it feels like everything that happens is pivotal at that point. It was an exciting ending, enough so that I was tempted to bump up my rating by half a star, but ultimately decided that my impression for the first 75% of the book should not be dismissed, if I bumped it up to 4 stars, it would have the same rating as the first book and my reading experiences with the two, while both enjoyable, were not really quite the same.

In terms of the story progression, this is definitely a book 2 were things do happen. Sometimes those middle books can feel less eventful in terms of overall story progression. Definitely not the case here. Each of the 5 sisters have their own stories and settings (as well as Skalimar/Snowy and Rowan), and honestly, I think this might be part of what slowed the book down for me. I really feel like there were some pacing issues that resulted from all the perspective changes. Yes, multiple perspectives are often key in telling an epic fantasy story because it is such a good way to view multiple sides to the story, add complexity and build the world, etc. However, the way these five were told, it just seemed to cause the story to lose momentum for me. I also found myself way more invested in certain ones, which can also slow down my overall reading.

Overall, this was a fun read that is setting up for what I expect will be a very exciting book 3.

The illustration of this book cover is beautiful. I love the colors along the five females and dragon in the background. It conveyed beautifully with this story.

If you enjoy

Journey

Adventures

Fast paced actions

Princesses

King

Strong women

Heirs

Villians

War

Thrones

Elemental Mage

Warrior

Zealot

Violence

War

Sarcasm

Hints of romance

and of course,

Dragon

Then this epic fantasy is for you if you're an adult. Finally! Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy YA Fantasy, but it's nice if we have adult fantasy from time to time. The author does not hold back on her awesome characters. Raw, gritty, down to earth, bar none truths, flaws flavored them which make them impressive and realistic.



First of all, I did not know this was a second book after The Daughters of the Storm. I need to read that book to make sure I didn't miss anything crucial before the third book comes out. The story starts four years after the first book. It focuses separately on Bluebell, Rose, Ivy, Ash, and Willow at first before intricately woven together in this magical storytelling spell. The author managed to keep my interest in this fast-paced novel with her rich and complex characters without losing me one bit.

I practically devoured this book within a couple of hours. There were 464 pages. I love it! I don't know why this book isn't even pushed hard publicly. I saw this book has a lot of high praises and high reviews rightfully so. We need to spread the news how fantastic this book is! I can't wait to get my hands on The Daughters of the Storm and when the next novel comes out.

Do yourself a favor, Get.This.Book. Don't take my words for it.



At this moment, I'm going to give this magical novel a four star until I read the other two books.



I received this entertaining ARC from Del Rey through Net Galley for my honest and unbiased review. Thank you!

The highly anticipated second book Sisters of the Fire in the Blood and Gold series, delivers a tour de force of imagination for your senses in plot and setting.

The adventures and misadventures of the sisters continues in a blaze of love, fury and betrayals in a world much like ancient Britain with rocky shores, craggy islands, mythical forests, whimsical towns and arcane fortresses.

Bluebell is the fierce warrior of the sisters and in search of the sword that has been crafted to slay her. She doesn’t trust her sisters and fears that one of them is in the possession of it to end her life.

Ash has seen the fate of the realm with her gift of seeing the future and is tormented and struggling to do anything in her power to prevent it.

Rose, the princess, was sent away by King Wengest, her Trimartyr husband until she finds a lead on her daughter Rowan’s whereabouts and follows a dangerous trail into the forest to find her.

Ivy has been in a forced marriage to man she does not love and is much older than her. His bedridden state is giving her the freedom to care for their sons and follow an affair with a much a young soldier. Her actions are tipping the balance of the realm in the most dangerous way, putting her in a delicate position to make decisions that alter everyone’s fate.

Willow is the rebel sister that defies it all. She has turned her back on the faith of her family and has become a Maava warrior priestess, proofing loyal and worthy of her god’s cruel love.

As each of them follow their hearts and purpose, the plot unfolds hair raisingly swift, dark and dreadful with mythical splendor, giving way to the depths of the characters desires, despairs, passions, fury and betrayal.

***

This novel was excellent in so many ways. Switching viewpoints from sister to sister, there were redeemable qualities in each of them and something to grab onto to vie for the character. My favorite parts were the settings and mythical creatures entangled and woven in.

Albeit excellent parts, there were a few weaker moments for me in my reading experience, mainly pacing issues of polar opposites. This may have only been my personal experience, as other readers absolutely praise the book.

I do agree that this is a very enthralling and compelling magical read not to be missed. A feast for the senses in the best of ways. I hope to be escaping into more books by Kim Wilkins in the near future.

Sisters of the Fire is a character piece at heart, revealing in the lives of five sisters who have taken vastly different paths after the events of the previous book. I was fascinated by the depth of personality and uniqueness each of the sisters inhabits. It’s rare to find a fantasy novel that deals with multiple protagonists, much less five, and I felt like I knew each of these women deeply. One is an epic warrior in the vein of Bloody Rose who strikes fear into the hearts of her enemies. Another is deeply magical with elemental ties that provide some of the more awe-inspiring moments of the book. All of them travel on vastly different paths that are forever connected and we see them grow as their lives begins to darken.

Full review at: https://reviewsandrobots.com/2019/01/23/sisters-of-the-fire-book-review

I did not realize this was the second book in the series. I need to see if my library has the first title and then I will review once I’ve read both. Thank you for the opportunity to read this!

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2019/01/15/sisters-of-the-fire-by-kim-wilkins/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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4.5 hearts
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I read <strong>Daughters of the Storm</strong> last year which started the <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/153638-blood-and-gold" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Blood and Gold series</a> </strong></em>and wanted the next book so much.  I loved the characters and the Norse fantasy themes.  I got this book early, way back in August but the New Release challenge has me trying to read current year rather than future years.  Then I had trouble starting to read, not actually reading, but picking up the book. Because I was afraid.

Once I started reading I was engrossed immediately, but worried for my beloved characters.  This is a story of 5 sisters, the daughters of a long time King. They are all very different but I liked Bluebell and Ash best, Rose was silly but okay, Ivy was selfish but without malice, and Willow is a religious nut and I hate her. I was glad to see Rose and Ivy have matured and are better people as parents, but nothing seems to improve Willow.

There are many battles with swords and some magic. There are dragons. It is an exciting story but I was scared all the time my favorites or the children would be hurt or killed.  Life, even when people are greedy or religious fanatics, was rough in this time. There is constant action,  and unending, urgent emotions of fear, love, pride, lust and disgust while reading these stories. Ivy and Willow had me rolling my eyes a few times, too.

While this is a satisfying ending point, there is much more to the overall story here.  I keep thinking because there are five sisters, the series would have five books, but it isn't how it is.  Each book has them all and various developments of them and their families.  The next book,  <strong>Queen of the Seas</strong> is projected for 2019 and I'm ready.
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This was another exciting installment in an epic tale of sisters. They have traveled such varied paths and yet they continue to intersect. I had hoped for more depth with the dragon - the way it turns out seems brutal and a missed opportunity creatively for the story. I look forward to the next book and hopefully the triumph of Willows child.

So I made a mistake. When I was reading the monthly NetGalley newsletter I came across the synopsis for Sisters of Fire by Kim Wilkins and I thought it sounded amazing, so what did I do, I requested it and was surprisingly approved. It wasn't until after I downloaded the galley that I realized that Sisters of Fire is the second book in the series and I have not read the first. I knew with my budget I couldn't get the first book before the galley was to be released so I had no other option but to go forward and read the second book first and let me tell you, it was amazeballs.

I thought by not reading the first book I was screwed but I was wrong. The way Kim told the story I felt like I got the gist of what went down in the first book and all of the most important information. While I do regret not reading the first book first I feel that me not reading it didn't take away from the Sisters of Fire book.

Sisters of Fire is what I imagine Game of Thrones must be like cause I never actually read/seen it. This was a high fantasy with all the dirty grim of the times with crazy magic, betrayal, warring religions, death, supernaturals and an overall sense of bat-shit crazy. The things that happened in this book! I was ready for shit to go down at anytime, the secrets that everyone was keeping that I was just waiting for someone to drag someone's dark deeds into the light and I was not disappointed.

Kim has a lot of themes going on in this book. On one had there is a religion that has gods and is added in the supernatural in a way and within this religion there is a lot of women empowerment, a girl is called my lord and will be king, not queen but king someday. However there is an opposite religion that put women at unspeakable vulnerability because men are held in higher esteem and hold all the power. There are hints at mental illness and the times are portrayed harder than I have seen in other books, it seem more true-to-form in some way.

Sisters of Fire have such complex characters that have multiple sides to them and are trying to do what they feel is best in their own way. The sisters were all so different, Bluebell the fierce warrior, Ash the undermagican, Rose who is passionate, Ivy who believes in living her whole life and Willow who is a zealot. Each of these sisters have both good and bad qualities and have to go through something in order to grow. While some have grown a lot or a little but another still has a lot of work that needs to be done.

My favorite characters are Rowan, Ash and Bluebell. Ash is trying hard to stop a future she has seen from happening, she has all this power but she tries not to abuse it, she just wants her family say and will sacrifice to make that happen. It takes a special kind of determination and strength to do what Ash does. As for Bluebell she is strong, brave and loves her family with whole being. She does the hard things to stop others in her family from suffering more than they have to and you just have to admire that kind of quality in a person. My favorite character is a seven-year old, Rowan, she is the best, a little beast in the making. Rowan has so many adult qualities for a child, she is special in so many ways and have so many burdens thrust upon her and she takes it all in stride. She tries to be true to herself while also being what the people she loves need her to be. Rowan is strong, brave and certain in a way that a lot of people, adults included, aren't.

As for the rest of the story, the action was very good when it happened but it was all the little clues that pointed to that crazy ending that had me hooked. I was waiting for the next thing to happen or for certain characters to find out all the information that I already knew and they didn't. I wanted to scream at certain characters to hurry up and get the clue. I loved the characters so much. This story was at its heart about a family and what goes on in a family, all the crazy, mean and complicated stuff that occurs in a family but with magic and swords.

Sisters of Fire was a fantastic story and I can't wait to read the next book. After the Sisters of Fire ending I have some major questions that I hoped to be answered. I also hope to hear from Rowan again cause like I said my favorite character, I can't wait to see what else will happen with her. One thing is for sure, this story is far from over and I am so happy about it.

This was a great fantasy novel full of amazingly strong women who all play different roles in their family. I was engaged the entire book with each of the 5 sisters' stories and love how they all played out. Looking forward to reading more of their story as the series continues.

I didn't realize this was the second in a series when I picked it up, but minus a little learning curve about the characters at the beginning, it didn't really bother me. I suspect someone who has read the first will appreciate some of the story better - and based on my reading of this novel, I would definitely be interested in the first one as well. However, it definitely stands alone without a need for the first novel.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing style, the characters, the plot, the way the author set the scene...all of it was an absolute treat. I review so many books, that sometimes I forget to read a book just for "fun," solely for me and my quiet time. This novel made me forget that I was doing a review at all, and immersed me instead into an entirely different world. An absolute recommend!

They were sisters, but their bonds were tenuous, almost non-existent, as their lives, their goals and their responsibilities were so divergent. Bluebell was the fierce warrior, manlike in her strength and abilities and she was the sister groomed to reign over their father’s kingdom. Underneath her gruff exterior is a heart filled with warmth for a limited few, because she could not show weakness. Each sister became the artist on the canvases of their lives, some colorful, some twisted and surreal, one would see only herself in the portrait of her life. One would hold the key that could bring their kingdom to its knees.

Bound by blood, divided by petty jealousies, selfishness and possibly a fear of being seen as weak or less than the others, they must come together one more time, but will it be for a new beginning or to lower the final curtain on their lives?

SISTERS OF THE FIRE by Kim Wilkins is nothing short of brilliant writing. Raw, bold and earthy, with scenes that evoke emotions on every level, this fantasy tale is for adults about adults. From their weaknesses to their strengths, these sisters’ stories will come together in an explosive and bittersweet reunion where blood will be shed, mistrust will run rampant while truths are revealed and deceits become like gaping wounds that may never be healed.

Kim Wilkins doesn’t mince words, she does not pretty up her characters, she lays them bare, flaws and all and what we see are whole beings struggling to maintain whatever facades they have built up. Will it be worth it in the end?

From start to finish, this addition to the Blood and Gold series is as hard-hitting as book one and just as emotionally charged. Readers will find characters to love, to hate and to pity in a world filled with turmoil and war that five sisters helped perpetuate.

Four years after the sisters have worked together to restore their father's health and save their kingdom the sisters are far apart. Blubell is at home with her father fulfilling her duties as his heir. Rose has been cast aside by her husband and is in hiding with her aunt separated from her daughter Rowan forever to keep peace between the kingdoms. Ivy is married to an older man she hates, Willow , the zealot hides a danger that could destry them all.
High fantasy and family drama make for another exciting read.