These Feathered Flames

These feathered flames is an epic fantasy about twins torn apart by fate and brought back together because all magic has a price.

This is a heartbreaking story that tells of how nature vs nurture can affect a family. Two sisters, two fates. Who will pay the price? What happens if the price isn’t paid? Can the sisters trust each other or must they question everyone?

On a quest to find out who killed the queen, the twins mother, Izaveta and Asya must decide what’s more important: the queendom or each other.

Oh man, I loved the sisters at the center of this book. What a great premise and a great magic system created by the author. I really enjoyed this book!

Wow, this book is FANTASTIC if you're looking for an empowering, thrilling, action-packed fantasy ride.

I loved all the characters, the story ARC, the vulnerability of our FMCs. Their growth was so well-developed.

I'll admit I'm mostly a romance reader. I went into this expecting more romance and NOT expecting it to be FF. I was surprised on both accounts. The romance was lacking (for a heavy romance reader like me) and while I love MM romance, I've never really read FF romance. I liked this book, but I think I need to dive I to some heavy FF romance and then come back to this story.

Regardless, this book is entertaining and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to expanding my reading preferences so I can return with a more open mind.

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy is the first book in this new series with the title being the same. The stories revolve around twin sisters, who as heirs, have their fates determined at an early age and separated. Izaveta remained home, being trained by her mother the Queen, to learn all the skills required as the future queen. Asya was sent to train with her aunt, Tarya, to learn how to use the ancient power building up in her, to become the Firebird. Though they rarely saw each other, their bond remained very strong. The POV’s switch between both of them.

Izaveta learned quickly how to maintain control, and not let people see the real her; as she spent her whole life in the shadow of her mother, who was a very powerful queen, and always one step ahead of those who may want to dethrone her. Izaveta, was raised to be like her mother, to make people follow her orders and manipulate them.

Asya, though not happy in her role, continued to learn from her aunt, but she feared the power of the Firebird. A Firebird is a powerful being, that monitors those who use spells against the rules, and shifts into this huge bird to make those pay the price for using magic; her aunt who shifts into the Firebird tries to train her when it’s time for Asya to rise into the role. I really loved Asya, as she was sweet and caring, not really wanting the role she must assume; but as things begin to change drastically, she must rise up to save those threatening their lives.

The worldbuilding was very good, but it was a bit slow early on, though that is usually normal for first books in fantasy novels. The majority of the story is set in the castle and on royal grounds of the Queen’s home; especially after Izaveta and Asya, are reunited after their mother's death. I really did like both Asya and Izaveta, even if they were both different, but when push comes to shove, their bond keeps them close. The political turmoil and unrest will force them to work together to defeat their enemies, with Izaveta pulling an amazing twist. There is also an f/f enemy to lover’s relationship that was briefly started, not explored too much due to the confusing ending.

What follows is an exciting, wild and tense last half of the book, which I was unable to put the book down. These Feather Flames was a fantastic fantasy, with wonderful world building, intrigue, mythology, magic, and two great sisters that were in the forefront throughout it all. I will say that the ending seems a bit rushed, as well as totally confusing. I do look forward to seeing where Alexandra Overy will take us in the next book. I suggest you read These Feather Flames, which was very well written by Overy.

These Feathered Flames is a fantastic series opener that had me gasping. A story with amost continual action, I couldn't decide if I liked the sister relationship, the action, or the world the best! A good sister relationship will always get me, but a complex one is my favorite. And talk about complex! Asya and Izaveta haven't seen, or talked to each other, for years. Honed into weapons, one a Firebird and the other a Queen, in the midst of this political maelstrom, they have to figure out how to talk to each other.

How to be sisters in a court of lies, betrayal, and power. The dual POV allows readers to thoroughly see their miscommunications and misunderstandings. The ways Izaveta has had to harden her heart to survive. At the same time, we can see Asya's wavering doubts about the nature of the sacrifices and Firebird. How Asya questions whether it must always be like this and how concenred Izaveta is with just surviving to the next day.

These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy was everything I wanted in a retelling of The Firebird and more!

Asya and Izaveta are sisters that go on their separate paths early in life. Asya to follow her aunt, Tarya, the reigning Firebird, and Izaveta to follow in their mother's footsteps, the Queen. When the Queen suddenly dies, Asya and Izaveta must assume their designated roles even as they question everything. The sisters are once again reunited and this is when the story really takes off.
I adored the politics in this story and, of course, a slow burn romance that made me so happy.

I highly recommend this to fans of retellings and magical worlds!

This book was amazing!! I loved the dynamic between Asaya and Isaveta. It definitely gave off Arya/Sansa vibes. You could tell that both sisters love each other very much and just want to protect one another but are influenced by others and circumstance to not trust one another. Despite this though the story really showcases the strength of sisterhood. The pacing was great and the character growth of both Asaya and Izaveta was done very well. I liked that there was a touch of romance but not so much that it was overbearing or the main focus of the story. Then the ending! I’m desperate to see what will happen next.

[ BLOG TOUR ] Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review!

"These Feathered Flames" is a queer, #OwnVoices retelling of a Russian folktale, “The Firebird.” I have never read it but have played the composition of “The Firebird” by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky and love “The Firebird” section in Disney’s "Fantasia 2000." So this was an interesting read with a compelling premise. I also appreciate the inclusion of a pronunciation guide.

The world Alexandra Overy has created is a harsh one overflowing with political intrigue and tension you can cut with a knife. Trust is a currency no one can afford unless you know how to play the game. This is especially true for our twin sisters and main characters, Izaveta (the queen to be) and Asya (the new Firebird). The plethora of suspicious characters - most notably the crooked Vibishop Sanislav - made for a great mystery to be solved. Chiefly, bad things kept happening that affected Izaveta’s standing with the cabinet and court.

The sisters had a somewhat pleasant life growing up until age 7 when their worlds drastically changed as taxing, unsympathetic duties were thrust upon them. It became an us against the world kind of situation, which sometimes had the two at odds with one another. It was sad, almost cruel, how the sisters were broken apart and struggled to make sense of who they’d become. Izaveta - cold, calculating, barely hanging on to power/control. Asya - kind-hearted but feared and hated due to the blazing Firebird residing within her. Both became a product of their environments and positions.

I love books with firebirds or phoenixes in them because they are such cool, beautiful magical creatures. In "These Feathered Flames," The Firebird’s existence is an interesting dichotomy. The Firebird maintains balance in the world. It also makes sure that the price of using magic is paid, which has caused many to fear and despise the Firebird and whoever is unfortunately chosen to embody it. This is more apparent since the decline of magic in Tóurin (the setting), referred to as The Fading. The lack of magic causes a strain on the queendom because for years it had allowed Tóurin to be a force to be reckoned with.

The beginning I had a hard time getting into the story but was still curious by what was happening. I was invested in Izaveta and Asya’s relationship. For me, things didn’t pick up until almost halfway through (this book is nearly 500 pages so that might be why). By then the story had an iron-clad grasp on my attention. I did not expect the bit of romance to happen in such a bleak place! And all the huge revelations were mind-blowing! Those scenes were intense, pivotal changes to the plot that really spiced things up.The climax was amazing and the fallout left me with tons of questions (in a good way!).

"These Feathered Flames" is a solid beginning. I think it will only get better as the series progresses.

This is another YA retelling of a famous fairytale. That it is a Russian one is nice. I have heard of the "Firebird" before, but didn't know of the details, so even with some minor research I don't know all of the story points that were changed and which were not. The biggest story change is that it is a queer retelling of the story, with the story mostly told from the point of view of the Firebird. From what I understand, it is not usually told from her perspective, so that is a little refreshing.

I actually rather enjoyed this book, but could not fully give it more stars because there were some unintentionally muddled parts to the book. It made a story that is set up to be a more political intrigue even more confusing - and not for the better. I had to go back some times to reread passages at times, breaking some of the momentum it built up.

Even so, I really liked reading about all these leads, especially the sisters. Izaveta grew up under the care of the girls' mother, a person who lost all of her humanity due to the nature of cutthroat court machinations. Asya was chosen to be the next firebird and went to train with their aunt, who is the current firebird. The tension built between one sister coveting power while the other tries to reject it with all her being is probably one of my favorite parts of the book. It provided a more nuanced take on the concept of "power corrupts", especially if it is something that can keep you alive.

I believe that this is a lovely debut, with a very high ceiling. If you are a high fantasy fan who also enjoys retellings, I think this will be for you. I certainly enjoyed the intrigue and world building even if if some aspects were a little too confusing.

*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book sounded from the blurb like something that I would be excited about. I have really enjoyed quite a few Russian-inspired fantasy novels. However, I just jive anymore with plots that revolve around people not communicating with each other. Almost all the problems the sisters were having could have been solved if they would have just talked to each other. Or at least they could have solved them together instead of constantly wondering if the other one was going to turn around and stab them in the back. I may have not minded it as much if this book hadn't been so introspection heavy.

This novel is 496 pages and I would honestly say that 296 pages of it was the inner monologue of these two sisters, their feelings and exposition. This made the pacing incredibly slow and it was a slog to get through. The author clearly did a lot of work with the world-building, but I just really want it shown to me through the characters interacting with it as opposed to the characters telling me about it through their head. Use those pages for character development, relationship building, and actual action/plot.

Honestly, I probably would have DNF'd this book if it weren't for the side characters. Namely, Commander Iveshkin, who is a deaf female military commander, Mishka the "perenially confused" bear, and Nikov the soft scholar boy. Who doesn't like some deaf representation in no nonsense military commander, a slightly dopey bear, and gentle intelligent boys who will throw your idiocy back at you. I could happily read an entire book about these three at the front lines, because at least something would be happening there. It's called the front lines for a reason.

There are some flashes of brilliance in the story. There is a fairly interesting "twist" or two, my favorite one being when the sisters actually decide to work together. The fight sequences are decent, the plot of the second book will probably be quite a bit better because of everything that was set up in this one.And of course my three side loves as mentioned above. Perhaps, the sapphic attraction will actually turn into a romance in the next one too.

Overall, I would recommend this book for people who like sister angst, Russian-inspired fantasy, but aren't necessarily attached to the story of the Firebird as much as the Firebird itself. I don't think that if you liked The Bear and the Nightingale, you'll enjoy this book as the writing and the situations will just seem too juvenile. Ultimately, there was just not enough bears (of either type) to keep me satisfied, I love my three side characters, but I don't care about either sister or their lack of communication. This didn't work for me, hopefully, it will work for you.

Overall a very solid 3 star read for me and a matter of personal reading preference: absolutely adore world-building and all for elements presented in the book, references are great, fantasy and magic system-wise a very interesting read, I am just not a lover of romance/sapphic relationships and I wish that was marketed prior, so I do not provide a lower rating for the read.
I absolutely adored sibling relationships and very opposite worlds sisters were placed in an overall as a work of fiction, as a fantasy novel, this is a very solid start for the series, again, just a matter of personal preference,

3.5 stars This was good, the cover is gorgeous and the synopsis sounded fun which is why I picked it up. But overall it just fell a little flat for me in terms of pacing.

I throughly enjoyed this book. Without posting spoilers, my feelings for this story were up and down. There were a few slower parts but otherwise it was a great read and I can’t wait for publication day!

Author interviews with blog tour

The one major flaw I had with These Feathered Flames was that the magic system was never explained well enough and it was such a huge part of the story.

We know that spells can be cast and there is a cost to be paid and if it isn't paid that the realm is out of balance.

But we don't know who casts spells. We know that the price for casting a spell isn't always the same- so who decides the cost and how, why? I love the idea of a magic system that cost a price!

What is the history of this magic, why did this system of there being a cost even start... why is it necessary to keep the realm in tact?

Is there multiple kinds of magic?


I do live how Iz and Asya truly sound and act like teenagers thrown into these roles they aren't ready for. Their dynamic, their development throughout the story is brilliant.

The politics, the cast of characters surrounding the sisters are all fantastic. Having read the ARC, I know the cliffhanger as it was, was fantastic and I look forward to the next book but I know there are changes to the final, as well.

3.5/4

Twins have finally been born again in Tourin, something that is celebrated, but sisters Asya and Izaveta aren't happy because they know it means they will eventually have to be separated. The sisters must go through a ceremony one that changes their lives forever choosing Asya to be the next Firebird and Izaveta to become the next Queen. The sister's are separated from that day to begin their training, but before long, and long before Asya is ready the Firebird blooms in her veins meaning one thing, the Queen is dead and she must return to the capitol to see in the reign of her sister. Asya is excited to see Iz, especially having been separated for so long, but the person that greets her at the entrance isn't the sister she knew and loved. Iz has been raised by her mother to trust no one and to use people to her advantage. She so wants to embrace the sister she hasn't seen for years but can't help being suspicious of her and the power that runs through her veins. After it comes to light the Queen died from suspicious circumstances the sisters must decide whether to work together or to let their respective titles set them apart forever, a choice that could effect not just the sisters but the whole kingdom.

These Feathered Flames is told from the duel perspectives of Asya and Izaveta. Asya never wanted to be the Firebird, and isn't sure she will ever be ready to exact the price of magic the role requires. She is the naive sister, the one who looks at the world through slightly gilded lenses. She is eager to return to her sister, but when she gets there and see's who Iz has turned in to she isn't sure they can ever return to the relationship they once had. Her Aunt, the previous Firebird has tried to prepare her for the role as best she can, telling Asya that she will be shunned at Court and only wanted for her power, but Asya knows Iz, she loves her and surely her sister would never see her as a threat.

Izaveta spent a life caught in a Castle and role she never wanted, she hoped to become the Firebird and escape her home and her mother. She resent's Asya her freedom and her power, especially when no one in court feels Iz is ready for the role of Queen. She has had to cultivate an appearance of ruthlessness, showing no weakness and never letting anyone in, even the sister she once knew better than herself. She is the strong sister, the resilient and sharp one, but underneath the standoffish exterior she is just a girl who has been raised to never trust, to only see people for what advantage they can give her, and she must decide whether she can afford to let people in, starting with the sister she's not sure she can trust.

We also get a wide breadth of side characters, my favourites of which were Tarya Asya and Iz's Aunt and the previous Firebird, Yuliana the Strashe (guard) sent to overlook Asya whilst she is in the Castle and Nikov, a scholar sent to investigate the loss of magic in the kingdom and whether it's linked to the Firebird. One thing the author does incredibly well is show the difference in ages between all the characters. We can easily see the age gap between the Court, politicians, church officials and Asya and Iz. She writes teenage girls so well, Iz and Asya show just how young they are (I picture them as late teens though it's never specifically stated in the book) with some of their actions and inner monologues, at times they could be so frustrating, but when you take their ages and responsibility into account it all starts to make more sense.

I really enjoyed reading about the Firebird magic. As we are always told ' all magic comes with a price' and if that price isn't paid the Firebird is called to take it. The price differs between the sort of magic used and can be something as small as loosing a piece of hair to being killed. We also get too see the differences between Asya and her Aunt as Firebird. Her Aunt having done the job for centuries is numbed to the role, but Asya is afraid, afraid of answering her first calling and of what taking the price will cost her. Unfortunately, as well as the Firebirds magic is developed the general magic system is left a little lacking. I would have liked to be able to understand it a little better, who could do magic, how they used it etc. I'm hoping this will be developed a little better in book two, especially with the Firebird's magic being linked to the loss of magic in the Kingdom.

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for an arc of this book!

When they were younger, twins Asya and Izaveta were inseparable. But their paths were torn apart when they were 10, and Asya was destined to be the next Firebird, Izaveta the next queen. While Asya has been schooled in magic and what it costs, Iza is schooled in the politics of the court. They come back together when their mother is killed, and Asya must find out who did it before magic tears their queendom apart--all while Iza has to scheme to be allowed to claim the throne that is rightfully hers!

I was immediately gripped by the story and mythology behind this book. The writing had me on the edge of my seat and wondering what was going to happen next. The entire time I was reading, I was really routing for Asya and Izaveta (mostly Asya though) and wanting them to reconcile as sisters and work together! I also loved the rest of the cast of characters and how different they all were. I definitely was routing for Yuliana! And Nikov was such a cinnamon roll!

I loved how everything came together at the end of the book. It felt natural and how it should have been! My only complaint is that I didn't think there was enough chemistry between the love interests. Hopefully I will get to see more in the sequel!

Pub Date: April 20, 2021
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Animal death

Minor: Child abuse

THESE FEATHERED FLAMES blew me away. Too often in duologies, the author info-dumps in the first book and saves the action for the second—but Overy expertly avoids that pitfall, giving the reader a perfect balance of each in an original, unforgettable world. The result is an un-put-downable story about love and duty. Our two heroines (each with a POV) are memorable and relatable: the reader feels for Asya, who is terrified of a fate she didn't ask for and is learning how to grow into it; and they also feel for Iza, who has bent to her side of the same fate and refuses to let it crush her. Add in a dash of romance, some political intrigue, and absolute gorgeous world building, and you have the kind of book readers will revisit time and time again. A dazzling start to what is sure to be a bright career for debut author Alexandra Overy. I'm counting down to the days until the sequel!

First off I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Inkyard Press -Harlequin Trade Publishing the author Alexandra Overy , and to NetGalley for inviting me to join the blog tour for this book as well as letting me read and review it. As soon as I saw this beautiful cover and read that it was a A queer retelling of “The Firebird,” a Russian folktale ( which is something I never seem to get into is retelling's but i'm so happy I decided to give it a go ) I knew I was going to say yes to it, mostly because of how beautiful the cover is and I don't think I've ever read a queer retelling before. And while I've read some f/f romances before and just couldn't get into them ,this one I had no trouble with at all and the reason is because its more along the longs of fantasy which is one of the genres I love to read. Another thing that helped me to like the story was that it was more then just a retelling or even a romance it was that the story itself was full of twisty court intrigue, manipulations, and betrayals,and the characters themselves was compelling to the point that it was hard to choose which one to pick a side of but in the very end I went with the one that I liked the most which was Asya . With that said I can't wait to see to what happens next in this series ,

When I first heard about this book, I was really intrigued by its premise. I always love a complex sibling relationship! These Feathered Flames was a thrilling tale of magic and duty, as well as what we’re willing to sacrifice for family.

In Tourin, twin heirs are separated; one is to be the queen and the other becomes the Firebird, a magical being that ensures the balance of magic in the world. Asya was chosen to be the Firebird, leaving Izaveta to fend for herself at court with their mother. When Asya suddenly comes into her powers, it can only mean one thing: the queen is dead. She returns to court to navigate threats and conspiracies with Izaveta, but can either sister span the seven years separating them?

The worldbuilding in this book was very cool! It’s a retelling of a Russian folktale, the Firebird, which I’m not too familiar with. Here, the Firebird seeks out people who casted spells without paying the tithe back to the earth; therefore, magic in the universe is unbalanced and must be regained. Also, the destiny of the Firebird plays a part in Asya and Izaveta’s relationship.

Again, I always love reading about complex sibling relationships, and I definitely got to see that here. Asya and Izaveta haven’t seen each other in years, with Asya being spirited away to train as the Firebird and Izaveta to prepare as the heir. When Asya returns to court, their relationship is strained, especially as she sees Izaveta as cold and calculating, compared to the caring sister she left behind. I liked seeing them navigate this bond and gradually grow to know each other better.

I also liked the writing! It was very pretty and lent a calm tone to the book. The plot was very interesting; Izaveta has to handle her precarious position as assumed queen during the mourning days — an easy time for heirs to be overthrown. Meanwhile, Asya has to accept a power that she’s always found monstrous, even though it’s literally inseparable from her. There’s a lot of political intrigue, as well as a terse relationship with the church authority. I forgot this was the first book in a duology, so the ending was a bit of a surprise to me! I’m excited to read the sequel.

Asya and Izaveta both had romances, or at least hints of romance on Izaveta’s side. Asya is a lesbian, I believe, and her romance is hate-to-love. Honestly though, I was more interested in Izaveta’s potential romance just because I liked their dynamic more.

These Feathered Flames was an intriguing story that explored the depths of magic and sisterly devotion. I really liked the characters and the writing. I think you’ll enjoy These Feathered Flames if you’re a fan of Shadow and Bone or Down Comes the Night!

These Feathered Flames is a books about sisters whom have been separated for about 7 years – one learning the ways of the Firebird, the other learning to become queen. After the death of their mother, the sisters are reunited to undergo the succession process. But there are wolves in sheep’s clothing, seeking to steal the throne. Who can they trust? Can they even trust each other after so many years apart?

I was not a fan of this book. The MPOV bothered me because it seemed all I heard were the sisters thinking the same things about each other and if they just sat down and had a conversation, much of their inner turmoil would have been sedated. I love the Russian folklore of the book and I really liked the concept of the Firebird. Another thing I found interesting, was that it seemed like the majority of the kingdom was female… still wondering how that works. It does leave it open for another book.

Thank you Netgalley and Inkyard Press for this ARC. This book wasn’t for me, but I am sure my students will enjoy it! Look forward to adding it to my library upon its release.