In the ending of the last novel of the series, we find out some crazy stuff. Betrayal, phoenixes on fire, and magic are only the beginning of the world of Crown of Feathers.

Following three characters with completely different upbringings, Heart of Flames brings readers three additional characters perspectives to follow on the journey. Tensions are high, everything is at stake, and everyone will stop at nothing to secure their future. The author does a great job of developing the characters, and I mean a tremendous job. We find what makes them tick, their weaknesses, and their strengths through times of stress.

Who could not like Veronyka? While there are time she goes all Harry Potter on me, does what she pleases, and bears no consequences, we see that she is flawed. She is so passionate about her mission, that she, too, gets carried away and starts acting more like Avalkyra without even knowing it.

While I initially found Sev’s point-of-view to be on the boring side, that eventually blossomed into the more romantic and reliable aspect for me. The introduction of more characters perspectives into the mix helped readers to understand all sides of the feud.

Readers who love a fast-paced, hopeful, and profoundly developed characters will love Heart of Flames.

Nicki Pau Preto introduces readers to a vibrant land infused with magic, friendship, love, and resilience.

Heart of Flames is absolutely stunning. I am a huge YA fantasy fan and this book is probably the best YA fantasy that I have ever read. It is very easy for a reader to say “OMG this is my favourite book ever!” We can fall in love with books so easily and although that is wonderful it is not always helpful when rating new books. So, I have been sat here comparing Heart of Flames to my favourite YA fantasy books. The real test is do I like it more than my current favourite A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas? Believe me when I say I love ACOMAF but the answer is yes, I really do and I think the writing is also superior.

The novel opens a few weeks on from the events of the last book, with the characters still dealing with the aftermath.


Characters & Relationships
I was SO excited to get back to Veronyka, Val, Tristan, Sev and Sparrow. The character development in the novel is fantastic for both the main characters and the supporting characters.

Sparrow
I love Sparrow, she is such a wonderful character and still reminds me a little of Luna Lovegood. Quirky and caring. It is fantastic that as a blind character Nicki does not hold Sparrow back. There is a lot of ableism in fantasy, which as a disabled person saddens me. Sparrow has her own gifts and always plays an important role. She cleverly sneaks around and has a knack for knowing a lot more than she is supposed to!

Elliot
Elliot was a significant character in terms of the plot for book one but we didn’t learn a lot about him as an individual. I loved reading from Elliot’s point of view in this book and getting to know him better. He has such a different perspective from the other phoenix riders and it was really interesting watching him continue to make difficult decisions and develop as a character.

Veronkya
Veronyka learns a lot about herself in Heart of Flames and goes on a huge personal journey. After her experiences in Crown of Feathers, she has become a much stronger character. I love her resilience. She is superbly written, as is her sister Val.

Val
Val is back with a vengeance. She is such a cool character. I loved learning more about her past and how that influences her now. Val can be cold and manipulative but there are always shades of grey and glimpses of the person she could be if she made different choices. The relationship between Val and her sister is ever-changing and makes it hard to predict what will happen in the story. I love how the book ends with Val and cannot wait to see her development in book three.

Sev
Sev! I will ship Sev and Kade all day long, not just because of the LGBT+ representation but they are both awesome characters. I love Sev’s chapters and how he develops as a character.

Tristan
Tristan I find a lot more interesting than in book one. He has a bit more grit and confidence. Obviously I wanted to find out how is relationship developed with Veronkya and I was not disappointed. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens.


Structure
Nicki Pau Preto is a master of writing from multiple points of view. In her first book she wove together each individual narrative beautifully but Heart of Flames is on a whole new level. Nicki worked really hard on balancing perspectives in this book and it really does show. I love each individual narrative as all of the voices are equally as strong and well written. It is rare for me to not want to skip forward when there are multiple points of view but the thought didn’t cross my mind whilst reading Heart of Flames. I was equally invested in what happened next to each of the characters. There are new perspectives in this novel and I particularly enjoyed Elliot being added to the pool of voices.

Another interesting structural aspect to the novel is the use of various documents or letters between chapters. The letters are written by characters who were involved in the Blood War, offering differing perspectives. The other quotes from books or poems also help to highlight the history of the world and it’s people.


Themes
There are many continuing themes in this series but bonds are the most profound. We explore different types of bonds; magical, natural, animal, between people and between people and animals (magical and otherwise).

Loss and grief are also themes explored throughout the novel. The Blood War meant that many people lost their friends, bondmates and family. The echoes of the war are still impacting characters in the story and the potential for another war weighs heavily on them. In many ways Veronyka has lost her sister and there is a grief for what could have been; a life never lived.


Final Thoughts
Heart of Flames is the sort of book that other YA fantasy books want to be. It has everything a fantasy lover could want in a book – a well thought out magic system, great pace, an interesting story, fantastically developed characters, masterful writing, disability and LGBT+ representation…. I loved every second of this book. It is lengthy but doesn’t feel it because it captures the reader so well. If you are a YA fantasy reader who enjoys high fantasy then I definitely recommend that you pick up this series. For those who have already read Crown of Feathers, savour every moment of Heart of Flames. It is brilliant.

If you have ever found yourself picking up the next book of a beloved series, you definitely know that feeling of worry that the sequel won't be as amazing as the first book and can't possibly live up to your expectations. You think there’s just no way the author can match or top how you felt about that first experience with their characters. Worry not! I’m here to say this is not the case with HEART OF FLAMES. Nicki dives deeper into the world of The Golden Empire. We get to explore histories, characters and the world itself in a way that we didn't during CROWN OF FEATHERS.

We get to see Pyra through a couple new POV's, and one in particular had me especially giddy. The different points of view really help with tracking several subplots within the story. The love interests that were established in CoF start to heat up in HoF (see what I did there?). There was a lot of foreshadowing romantic feelings in CoF, but they never really came to fruition. It was exciting to watch those relationships begin to unfold and I would still say that it's appropriate for a younger audience, think PG-13.

This book is a beast at over 600 pages. It took me quite a while to get through but I never really felt like it was dragging on, if that makes sense? I felt like all of the pages and points of view had a significant purpose. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of reading HEART OF FLAMES. The end made me gasp out loud then immediately flip back through some of the epigraphs and history snippets (aka interstitials... but who even knows that word anyways?) to see if I had missed something. NOPE, Nicki got me and in the best way possible. The wait for Crown of Feathers book 3 is going to be long, but oh so worth it.

Even better than book one! Nicki Pau Preto's writing and world building continue to be amazing. I love the characters. I love the pacing. I love the phoenixes. Literally everything in this book is perfect. Go go go! Read this series now!

Thank you so much to Simon Pulse Via NetGalley for the eARCof Heart of Flames in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed Crown of Feathers quite a bit, and unfortunately found Heart of Flames falling into the second-book-slump.

There are good and bad things and I will start with the good. The phoenixes reminded me of giant playful horses, essentially trying to be your best friend and flirting with each other while also being huge and potentially deadly. Their personalities, personification, and actions in general were well done and I enjoyed watching the bond between Xephyra and Rex develop.

Other than that, I enjoyed how shadow magic was expanded upon in this book, and no spoilers but I could not believe the ending!

On the flip side, I don't understand how it took Pau Prego 600+ pages to get us from point A to B in this book. I didn't even realize that it was a trilogy until I saw that the book was not wrapping up. There was SO MUCH repetition it forced skimming at times. Veronyka would give her inner monologue, then repeat it a few pages or chapters later, multiple times, and Sev's only function in this book was to mirror her monologue back AGAIN. I get that the audience is teenagers and young adult but give them some credit, I don't think they need to hear Veronyka's moral debates 3-4 + times.

Then her relationship with Tristan was just annoying; he didn't stand up for his riders at all and I was glad to see that they eventually called the commander in to evaluate things. The relationship was all angst and no trust and it really was bad, thankfully the phoenixes kept them in line for the most part. The commander seemed to act totally out of character in this book as well, not so much with his actions but the personality changed so much throughout the book.

For the most part though the book just dragged for me. The repetition and slow burning and multiple points of view added up for a slow book two. Honestly if the end had been any less insane I wouldn't even read book 3, but I feel vested at this point, especially in the phoenixes😳

In summary I think younger adults won't be as bothered by my issues with the book, and will still enjoy this series. It doesn't have anything too new and innovative but is not a bad concept. I hope book 3 will pick up again Thank you so again so much for the chance to review this title!!

**Review will be posted on my blog on 2/8/20**
**2.5 Stars**
Thank you to Simon Pulse and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, Crown of Feathers, but for some reason, I could not get into this second book, Heart of Flames. Maybe it’s a mood read kind of thing, maybe I’ll reread in the future and enjoy it more.

Things pick up where it leaves off in book one. Val’s identity is revealed and the tension between the empire and the Phoenix Riders have grown. There is a spy, Sev, who is taking a very big risk. Tristan and Veronyka’s relationship grow further and my favorite characters, the phoenixes are back! This sequel is more in depth but for some reason failed to hold my attention.

What I Liked:

*I love the covers so far in this series, all that fire and flames. It’s gorgeous!

*The phoenixes of course! They are my favorite part of the story because they are awesome beings who can communicate. Reading this series makes me want to be a phoenix rider too!

*The world building is so detailed and vivid, the author does a good job at making it all come to life.

*Veronyka and Tristan’s relationship is growing but it has it’s frustrating moments. The romance doesn’t overtake the story which is nice because they have a bigger mission at hand but it was nice to get more acknowledgement between them about their feelings. Also the other relationship that I enjoy a lot is Sev and Kade. Sev is taking a big risk being a spy and the two of them have gone through some tough events together. Love that they are together again in this book.

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:

*I was just bored reading this story. 😕 I was slugging through the beginning and started not to care about Veronyka and Val’s history. And for me this felt like too long a read, especially when my interest started to wane. I read the first book in one sitting, but this installment I picked up and put down so many times. 😞

*There are many characters in this book and they are all pretty fleshed out which is great, but because it jumped from one perspective to the other, I lost interest. Usually, I enjoy different perspectives but for some reason this one didn’t cut it for me.

Final Thoughts:
I skimmed a lot of the ending of this book unfortunately because I just wanted to finish but my interest was gone by the halfway mark. I might pick this up later again when I’m in the mood to read about phoenixes because that is my favorite part about this series, the magical creatures and their bond with their riders! But I know a lot of people will enjoy this sequel but for me, it fell flat.

Just like the first book, this was incredible. I love the idea of riding phoenixes into battle. It’s almost as cool as dragons. But what I like most about the story, other than the phoenixes, is how rich and immersive the world-building is. There are so many threads and complicated relationships and ties to the past that the world feels authentic and real. Paired with the beautiful prose, the story really takes flight, expanding the world and characters at the same time.

Like the first book, this story is told from multiple POVs, even more than the first. While at times switching POVs so often made the pacing slow, I like that it allows us to see the story from every side—good and bad. Each of the points of view also brings focus to the story. Yes, the characters are separated—sometimes by miles—but they come together in the end and build up an explosive finale (literally).

The romantic tension is also smoldering. Too many YA books rush romantic relationships despite having multiple books for the relationship to grow. But Nicki Pau Preto is a master at balancing character growth alongside relationships. Tristan and Veronyka had the beginning of attraction in book one, which grows in book two but isn’t rushed. It was almost too slow at times because I just wanted to take the two of them and say, “JUST KISS ALREADY!”

Veronyka’s other relationships are just as tense and complicated. More is revealed about her past and her connection to the former Phoenix Rider queen. And even though some of her choices about Val aren’t the best, it doesn’t come across as stupid and naive as other YA books. Instead, Veronyka grows from her mistakes and becomes stronger. She is an incredible and fierce female character, and I love how Nicki Pau Preto chose to show the different sides to her personality.

This is a long book and a lot of stuff happens. The world-building, the characters, the phoenixes—it’s amazing. And the way that book ended… I need the next one!

Heart of Flames continues the story of Veronyka and her older sister Val. Veronyka is continuing to fight against Val and fight with the Phoenix Riders in the Eyrie. Her close relationship with Tristan is starting to bloom and Veronyka wants nothing more than to prove herself as a Phoenix Rider. When more of Val's plans are revealed, and some details of Veronyka's background are discovered, Veronyka must decide which side she fights for.

I loved Crown of Feathers. I believe Heart of Flames suffers from middle book syndrome, where so much of it is spent to set up the plot in the third book. Parts were long an tedious, ripe with historical information, names, and events that are just too much to remember and keep in. The plot limped along with some moments of action and intrigue, only to flip to a different POV and have the excitement fizzle.

There are so many POV's that it is hard to keep track at times, and some events are told more than once through a different perspective. It's a little much, and is confusing when being read in an ebook format. I wanted to be able to go back easily and reference past parts.

Honestly, I am still buying this book. I love the characters SO MUCH. I ship Veronyka and Tristan, Sev and Kade until the end of time. As much as I think this book paled in comparison to Crown of Feathers in terms of plot, we get to see SO MUCH character development from everyone involved. This was the part I loved most abotu Heart of Flames, and I'm eager to see what happens in the third installment.

A GREAT story! I very much enjoyed the continuation of this story. If you enjoyed the first novel then you will need to pick up a copy of its sequel. You won't be disappointed.

“We were not meant to orbit one another, or to pass in and out of each other’s skies. We were always destined to collide, leaving heartbreak and desolation in our wake.”

This is everything that I wanted in a second installment! I think most people know, if they read my reviews, I tend to struggle with the first books in series if they have a lot of set up. Crown of Feathers (the first book, would recommend) was no different. I struggled with the beginning and the different storylines. But with that being said, Heart of Flames was fantastic! I had no issues with the different perspectives or the beginning. In fact, the story jumped right where CoF left off and had my attention right away.

We get more phoenix time, as well as more reveals on the history of the land and the riders themselves. The characters are all fabulous, all continuing to grow throughout the story. The readers get to see new strength and dimensions to each. The characters are relatable and likable, helping to connect the reader.

The plot was exciting and got the reader ready for the third installment, which I need to read ASAP! There is so much revealed about the characters and the history that there is no dull moments throughout the book. There is a lot more action and information on the creatures and magic.

It’s a fully packed book that will make you want to read till the end (and make you want a bondmate of your own). Which speaking of the end, it was fabulous! It will have you wanting the third book right then and there because your head will be spinning. Emotions will be flowing and the excitement will be real. I would most definitely recommend the YA fantasy series.

With the world built and things coming to a head at the end of Heart of Flames, I expected Crown of Feathers to hit the ground running. Instead, it's been chapter after chapter of twiddling thumbs, Veronyka obsessing over her shadow bond with Tristan, Tristan second-guessing himself, and Val grumbling to herself about needing to get Veronyka back on her side. No joke, if I have to read one more chapter of Val talking about how a forced bond using shadow magic isn't the same as a true bond...half of her chapters so far could have been cut, they hardly add anything to the plot. I was pumped for this sequel, and I wanted to love it, but it is so boring, which is upsetting because I am dying to know what happens! With so many other books waiting to be read, I don't know if I can sit through another three hundred and twenty pages to find out.

Okay, but that ending though 😱 I can’t wait for the third book!

I was really excited to read Heart of Flames after reading and loving Crown of Feathers. CoF has two of my favorite tropes in it: enemies to lovers romance (or more like enemies to friends to lovers romance), and the MC girl pretending to be a boy. And then the Phoenix aspect was so original and cool!

The phoenixes were again one of my favorite things about book 2, and while the other two tropes were not there this time, I still really loved the romances between Veronyka and Tristan, and Sev and Kade. I actually cared more about those relationships than the actual plot.

The storyline is fun and written pretty well. But I sometimes found myself getting bored with the actual story. That might have been due mostly to the frequent info dumps and more telling than showing. This happens in both the first and second books. I often felt like I was getting a mini history lesson.

But the story is still fun to read, and the characters are the best part of the book. I really do not like Val. (Which I’m sure we’re not supposed to.) She’s cruel and childish and I just want her to see reason and listen to her sister! However, the ending, like literally the very last paragraph, was so intriguing and makes me excited to see what will happen next with her!

I would recommend this series to ya fantasy lovers, especially those who love phoenixes.

Thank you @netgalley and Simon Pulse for an e-arc to review!

The hotly anticipated sequel to Crown of Feathera catapults us back into the world of the Golden Empire and the legendary Phoenix Riders.
 
Since the Battle of the Eyrie, Veronyka and Tristan are dealing with the new realities of what it means to be in open war with the Golden Empire’s armies, and they’re working toward building the Phoenix Riders forces. Meanwhile, Sev made his choice to stand with his fellow animages and the Phoenix Riders, and he faces his next steps in bringing down the Golden Empire. Join our beloved trio in their efforts to fight back against the people who want to seize power - Heart of Flames is the epic and explosive next instalment in the fantastic and fiery YA fantasy series.
 
I very rarely finish a book, and immediately want to reread it because I loved it with every fibre of my being. This happened here. Imagine the best rollercoaster you’ve ever been on, that had you like “I want to go again!” and that is the best summary of my feelings for Heart of Flames.
 
I love everything about the world of Crown of Feathers; the characters, the world building, the prose to name some of my highlights. And before even diving in, Heart of Flames strongly profits from the well-developed details in its predecessor due to the fact we already know and care for the majority of the characters, their causes and the world they live in.
 
Nicki Pau Preto spends a lot of time building upon these characters and the world she started in COF – from the villages the forces and armies visit, to the Golden Empire’s warring past – and continues to demonstrate her amazing ability to create such awesome imagery, like epic scenes of phoenixes dashing through the air. These amplifications also include the story’s magic system; COF established what being an animage entails, and HOF continues to bolster this and more by granting further insight into the use of shadow magic. 
Without a doubt all of these developments were exciting, engaging and cemented my love and awe for Pau Preto’s writing style and imagination even further.
 
All of the characters are vibrant and memorable; written with such prowess to make them likeable and relatable beyond measure. By far my favourite was Sev. Between COF and HOF, his character development has by far been the most drastic – in the most wonderful and best of ways. It’s been well illustrated how this scared, self-serving boy has moved beyond that caged mindset to become a thoughtful, courageous young man that evokes a great sense of admiration and pride from the reader.
 
Veronyka is still our spunky heroine and is at the heart of the book’s events. I had real problems with Veronyka’s actions in HOF; Veronyka’s desire for answers of where she comes from, ultimately who she is, brought out a primal selfishness to her in this instalment, which naturally rubbed me up the wrong way. But, the wonder of Nicki’s writing and how well conceived and developed Veronyka is, you understand her motives despite perhaps disagreeing with her actions. Achieving understanding like that, of a character’s flaws and mistakes, goes to the heart of how well a character is developed, and ultimately made me appreciate and love Veronyka even more. HOF delivered one heck of a journey for Veronyka. One minute my heart was aching for her, then the next I was furious with her.
 
Heart of Flames upgrades our original narration from three alternating characters to narration from five alternating character perspectives. We get to see more from Val’s perspective, and phoenix rider Elliot, who fell from grace in COF. 
I really loved the inclusion of Val and Elliot. Val’s POV allowed us insight into a darker mindset, and access to information from the past and about shadow magic. And Elliot’s POV ultimately presents us with a character who is lost, confused, and desperately seeking absolution. Both were brilliant additions that brought powerful themes to the plot.
 
When comparing our original three, it didn’t feel like Tristan had the same development as Veronyka and Sev this time around. It may be that Tristan’s story is to be more of a focal point in the concluding instalment, which in the meantime, leaves focus on enjoying Veronyka and Sev’s progression whilst welcoming Val and Elliot’s perspectives. It was just a little sad for my Tristan fangirling heart that I didn’t feel I had my fill of him in this instalment.

My most absolute favourite parts of this story were our fiery feathered friends!!! I’m still freaking out over this, because Xephyra and Rex get even more focus in HOF. Pau Preto magnified attention on the phoenixes by illustrating their nature, temperaments and personalities to the point where adoration for them isn’t even close to how I feel. We get to see more depth to them and, particularly with Xephyra, more insight into the relationship between phoenix and rider too.
My heart truly expanded with so much mad love for these precious phoenixes – just like how much I love my animal companions in real life. This is hands down my favourite thing to come in HOF and I’m so grateful; I can’t get enough of these beautiful creatures.
 
My romantic heart was so satisfied with HOF. I love all things fluff and romance in fantasy (when they’re done right) and boy is this super, super satisfying. The romances have been well developed and well-paced across COF and HOF for a natural and smooth progression, which made the payoff oh so worth it!
The greedy part of me wanted more and more, because I can be a right sop when it comes to my ships. Sev and Kade made my heart pound, and Tristan and Veronyka had my pulse racing.
 
There’s real heart in this story that, once you’ve read a story that has this kind of heart, it’s hard to find books that measure up to them. That’s why they’re 5 star reads and rare gems. Heart of Flames makes me appreciate the stories that don’t just leave the mark of an enjoyable read, but create a bond to a story that is for life, which truly is a testament of how Pau Preto is a fantastic writer.
 
And, as if the book couldn’t get more epic, the cliffhanger ending is jaw dropping insurance that the concluding instalment is not to be missed! I recommend this book series time and time again, it reintroduced me to my slumbering passion for the fantasy genre, and I hope people add it to their TBRs to appreciate its sheer brilliance. Thank you, Nicki, for creating these characters and this world, and letting me play a part in sharing how awesome it all is.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available on February 11th, 2020.

I was angry when I finished this book. I would have slammed it shut if I hadn’t been reading an ebook version. I’m going to try to explain why, but first let me remind you all that the things I dislike about a book might be the very things that you love. As Levar Burton says, “You don’t have to take my word for it.” So, deep breath: I’m about to dive in.

This book suffered horribly from Sequel Syndrome. You know, when the first book in a series is incredible, but the second book just falls flat. It’s possible for this series to regain its footing in the next installment, but this one was just bad.

First of all, all the characters acted in ways that made no sense for who they were. Commander Cassian, who showed determination, stoicism, and intelligence in Crown of Feathers, made the most ill-conceived and stupid move possible in this book. It made zero sense both from a characteristic standpoint, and a story standpoint. And he wasn’t the only one who acted contrary to how he was written in the first book.

Tristan and Veronyka entered into the dreaded angst-ridden relationship. I was so bummed about this! It could have added a really interesting facet to the interactions of the Phoenix Riders. Unfortunately, it just became annoying.


What bothered me more than even that, though, was Veronyka’s 180-degree turn. In Crown of Feathers, she was fierce, determined, and had a strong moral compass. She worked so hard to become a Phoenix Rider in the hope of joining a patrol. In this book, she was wishy-washy, threw all her hard work away for no reason, and dragged Tristan down with her. She basically snapped her fingers and he came running, leaving all his fellow Riders in the lurch.

Another odd choice that was made was how things were revealed. Often, Val’s internal dialogue would explain something to the reader, only to have it explained again at length to another character a chapter or two later. I understand that characters need to be given information in some way, but why explain it twice? Just reveal it to the reader as it’s revealed to the character. The amount of reiteration in this book was a bit much.

Okay, moving on to the things I did like.

Sparrow and Elliot were fantastic. Neither of them was in the book much, but they shone in every scene they were in. I love Sparrow in general. She’s such a wild-child, but wise beyond her years. In some ways, she reminds me of Luna Lovegood. I also liked Elliot’s desire to redeem himself after the events in book one.

I liked that the other Phoenix Riders were as annoyed by Tristan and Veronyka’s shenanigans as I was. I felt so bad for them in this book. They were completely messed over by Tristan’s lack of maturity.

I loved the phoenixes, of course. I’ve read a lot of fantasy lately that is bereft of fantastical beings, so I love seeing them making at least a bit of a return. I also liked that each of them had their own personalities.

Nicki Pau Preto knows how to turn a phrase. She’s a talented author, but I feel that she got in her own way with this book. I’m not giving up on the series. Rather, I’m hoping that the next book will return to the strengths that made me love Crown of Feathers.

If you know me at all then you know how much I absolutely loved Crown of Feathers earlier this year and how much I adore Nicki Pau Preto. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Heart of Flames and I will forever be grateful to Nicki because of it. Crown of Feathers was so good I didn't know how Nicki could possibly top it but she managed it, 100%. Heart of Flames is SO good.

I've seen some reviews of Crown of Feathers that claim they didn't like Veronyka because she was too "naïve" but like, isn't that the point of the story? How else will she grow and develop as a character? In the beginning of Crown of Feathers Veronyka is a CHILD, she is literally only 16 and has not yet experienced the tragedies of life. Throughout the story she experiences loss, betrayal, love, war, and so much more that some people will never even experience in their lives. In my eyes I see her story as one of growth, not of being naïve. Fast forward to Heart of Flames and Veronyka's growth has exponentially increased. I see her as so much more than a 17 year old. She has become a leader, she is strong and confident, and while she still has some things to learn (don't we all though?), I think she is an admirable character and I have nothing but love for how her story and character development has progressed.

In fact, all of the characters had incredible growth and change throughout Heart of Flames. This was a book of strength, and it was very character driven. We were able to learn so much more about our favorite characters and even our least favorite characters. A lot of books suffer the dreaded "second book syndrome" but I didn't see that at all with this one. If anything I liked this one even more than the first because of what it represents. That life goes on. All we can do is try and make the best decisions we can, and that no matter what, we have to face what comes from those choices.

In addition to an incredible development on all of the characters we got see so much more of this magnificent world which everyone should know is one of my favorite things! If I can't imagine the world the story is in, count me out. The fact that we got to see high and low and every nook and cranny of Pyra made my heart absolutely swell. This book is 600+ pages and I honestly wish it was longer. I want more detail, I want more descriptions. Some books have an issue with details like this because they go over board and bog you down with pages and pages and pages of describing the same scene or scenery. Heart of Flames isn't like that though, yes this book is big but you don't need to be intimidated by it. There is a lot of detail but it's necessary to drive the plot forward.

I am trying to be vague in my review because I know this book doesn't come out for 3 more months and the last thing I want to do is spoil it for you. If you take away anything from this I hope it is that this book is worth it. The beginning, middle, and end are all so beautifully well written it's hard not to fall in love with these characters and this story.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Heart of Flames. All I can hope is that I have inspired you to give this book a chance, to support Nicki, read Crown of Feathers or if you already have then read Heart of Flames when it's published!

A full review to come but this was basically everything I hoped it would be and more. The characters were somehow even more vibrant and real this go around and the dynamics between Veronyka and Val are OUT OF THIS WORLD. Pau Preto carries on her lyrical world-building and fast-paced plots from Crown of Feathers straight into Heart of Flames and you're left feeling as if time can't go by quick enough to get you to book 3. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I read Crown of Feathers last year and enjoyed the novel, but I thought the book ended just when it was getting good. I liked this sequel even better. The author has created a very interesting world of magic, and even better characters. I enjoy following the different viewpoints and seeing how the characters grow, and how the pieces fit together. I strongly recommend the book to anyone, but especially if you have read Crown of Feathers. This one does not disappoint.

I adored the family dynamic Preto built up in the first book. The friendships and the magic system is abyss deep and though the POV is ever changing the characters are so different in personality and style they are easily told apart. The proverbs, myth and folklore she has added before each chapter weaves a beautiful rich backdrop to a story that is one for the ages.

I especially adore the simultaneous exploration of the past while the future unfolds and think it extremely clever to have Veronyka and Avalkyra as two sides of the same coin – so different yet very much the same.
Val is the villian we all love to hate.. It is just a fact.
And though Veronyka is a typical YA heroine she also has flaws and choose to be truthful about who and what she is in the first book (there was a moment where I thought this book was going to fall into the incredibly annoying trope of keeping secrets just to further the plot… BUT THANK GOD IT DID NOT!)

I blame the ARC typesetting for some of my confusion – but this just means I cannot wait to read the finished copy and really immerse myself in the additional material we get in the opening of each chapter.

There is some issues (as there always is) but as this is only the authors second book I am inclined to overlook them, especially as this book takes you on a roller coaster ride of feelings and the last 200 pages flew by for me. I literally could not put it down. All in all a truly marvellous Young Adult Fantasy, which set me up to pine away until the third instalment comes out.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and

Veronyka is training as an apprentice, Tristan doesn't know they have a bond and she can feel his thoughts and emotions. Val has since disappeared, despite Veronyka knowing she's Avalkyra Ashfire. With Val missing, Veronyka has to focus on strengthening her Shadow magic, all the while battling her bond with Tristan.

When Commander Cassian lets Veronyka joins Tristan's patrol, tensions are already rising within the patrol, the Eyrie, and with the Governor. The Governor is trying to frame the Pheonix Riders for the war breaking out in the country, but the Pehonix Ryders are trying to beat the Governor's plans with Sev still in the ranks as a spy.

With Val trying to convince Veronyka to join her, the gathering strength of the Governor's armed forces, and the lack of Master Riders in the Eyrie, the Pheonix Riders are on the brink of falling apart, and Veronyka has to figure out how to balance her magic, her relationship with Tristan, and her duty as a Rider.

I loved Crown of Feathers, so I had really high expectations for Heart of Flames. It a bit like the standard Book 2 Syndrome. Not only was Heart of Flames fairly fat, we introduced a ton of new POV, and the characters are all shying away from something. In general, I felt more annoyed with this book. It had so many possibilities, and it just felt like it didn't meet them.

I loved Tristan and Veronyka's perspectives, and at times I really enjoy Sev's, but I did not enjoy Elliott or Val's POV. I wanted to know more about our main characters instead of being introduced to so many more thoughts. I really hope I like book three more!

Wow, just wow.
First off if you want a sequel just like Crown of Feathers, that's not what you're getting here. In book one Veronyka knew next to nothing about herself, about the world she lives in, etc. Veronyka only new pain and poverty at the start. Now Veronyka understands what it is like to have friends and people who care for her. She has her place in the world. But not long into the book her world is turned upside down.

The first half of this book was mostly very slow moving. This was mostly to set the stage for the second half, revelations had to made. Other characters became more important and have more developed storylines. We get to watch relationships grow. And we get to watch Veronyka and all the other characters grow. Veronyka started the series easily cowed and by the end of the sequel she has grown immensely and is a strong individual.