I didn’t love this one, I have to say. First things first, because it is very YA and I’m starting to realize some of the YA books I choose are just not for me. So take this with a grain of salt, as you should with all reviews!

This book is very inclusive! The characters are constantly talking about things that are very prevalent in the world today in regards to inclusivity and diversity and I love that!

It felt like some things were repetitive, though. I’d heard there was some backlash about Klune making Nick’s dad a police officer with the first book, and I did feel like he tried to backtrack a lot because of that. I also felt like there was not enough regarding Nick’s ***SPOILER*** superpowers, which left me wanting for more because in the end of the first book it seemed like the buildup was all about that.

The twist in the end was good, but again I just wished for more of Nick’s abilities.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

TJ Klune has yet to disappoint me with a book. Flash Fire is the perfect squeal to The Extraordinaries. It maintained a lot of the same witty humour as the first book but took a slight step down form many of the more serious topics discussed in The Extraordinaries. I didn’t think it was possible for me to love the characters any more than i did but Klune loves to prove me wrong. I will say, the plot was kind of predictable, which i wasn’t sure if that was on purpose, but other than that i honestly really enjoyed this book. I absolutely cannot wait for book 3!

I personally did not enjoy this book as much as The Extraordinaries. However, it was still a lot of fun. It was great to be able to see Nick come into his own, and grow within the book. I enjoy reading about the characters and the different heroes and villians.

The pacing was a bit difficult in this book. I feel as though little happened in the beginning of the book, and even though I had fun with the characters, I wanted more of the story and action.

There were some sentences and scenes that were hard to get through due to a kind of secondhand embarrassment, but it fit well with Nick and the story.

Overall, I thought it was a good sequel, but it will be very hard to top the first book in the series.

Flash Fire is the continuation of The Extraordinaries and further elaborates on the relationship between Nick and Pyrostorm. In this way there relationship is working it’s way to the next level but both are still unsure what to do next. They do still have a common enemy in Simon Burke who it seems is doing everything he can to destroy The Extraordinaries of Nova City.

There is just too many tidbits in this one to spoil the story so I’m being as elusive as I can. I absolutely loved this one and there was no let down from the first book and for me I may have liked it even more. The book continues to push gay rights and overall inclusion forward. It was delves into the importance of family and friends which is also very important to me. The ending leaves us with a shocking cliffhanger that I cannot wait to see where the story goes. This is a for sure must read!!

Flash Fire, written by T.J. Klune, is the second novel in The Extraordinaries #2 series, and oh my god, this series is SO good. I fell in love with the first novel not too long ago, and I was so happy that I could dive right on into the second novel. Now I'm here, waiting on bated breath for the news of the third.

Nick has always been obsessed with Extraordinaries. The events of the last book should have made that clear, as he found himself stuck between two different Extraordinaries in a battle for the city – and his attention.

Now Nick finally has had his dreams come true. Well, some of his dreams. His boyfriend is a superhero, and there are more Extraordinaries in the city than ever before. Unfortunately, that comes with its own set of complications.

“We stand together,” Nick reminded him, “so we don’t have to struggle apart. You’re not alone in this, okay?”

Hold up; I need a minute. This book had me so entertained, as Nick's antics really are larger than life. It's part of what makes The Extraordinaries, and now Flash Fire, such a delight to read. Well, that and about forty other reasons.

Honestly, I'm not even entirely sure where to start. There were so many elements of this book (and series) that I just loved. Nick's confidence and sense of humor, for starters. All of the secondary characters. Oh! And don't forget about the antagonist or all of the secrets within this world.

Actually, saying there's a lot to love feels like an understatement all of a sudden. What I can safely say is that Flash Fire absolutely lived up to expectations set from The Extraordinaries. Some events in this book felt inevitable but in a good way.

Relationships changed and grew, some in ways I didn't expect. Speaking of, the secondary plot surrounding Nick's dad was a surprise – but very much appreciated. I love that TJ Klune didn't just gloss over what has happened.

“Screw anyone who doesn’t think we’re capable, because we’re gonna make this world a better place, with or without their help. And to those who will try and silence us, a message: you will fail, and fail hard. There is nothing we can’t do. There is nothing I can’t do. And I plan on showing you just that.”

I also would officially like to give an award to TJ Klune. It's an award I just made up, so I'm not sure how much weight it holds, but still. This award is for the best superhero name I have ever heard – in my life. I'm a comic book nerd, guys, so that actually carries a lot of weight. I'm not going to say the name here because I refuse to spoil its introduction. But it's fantastic.

If you love fun, quirky, and charismatic characters with access to strange powers and situations, then the odds are good that you're going to love The Extraordinaries and Flash Fire. These books should not be missed out on, as they are such a ride.

Is it possible to die from second hand embarrassment? Asking for a friend. Y'all the opening scene of this book took me out. And, I am not even going to give y'all any details on this one because I need to you to be as mortified as I was alongside Nick.

Flash Fire picks up shortly after The Extraordinaries. If you haven't read The Extraordinaries then DO NOT CONTINUE reading this review because it will inadvertently spoil the good bits.

Okay, now that you’ve been warned, this book picks up with Nick adjusting to being a boyfriend to Seth. One of the aspects that I really enjoyed is the exploration of “the next step”. Nick thinks he’s ready for sex, but ultimately doesn’t want to pressure Seth or go into a situation unprepared. I will say, the fanfic that he continues to write that explores all of the emotions he’s going through this time is both hilarious and spot on. Oh, and let’s not forget about the safe sex talks from Nick’s dad. The overall message reinforced sex positivity and consent throughout the book, which I loved.

So one of the biggest criticisms from book one was that The Extraordinaries felt like police propaganda because Nick’s dad is a police officer. While I agree that there is a lot of situations where the police are present and that it can in fact be triggering for BIPOC, I didn’t read this as police propaganda since the whole superhero/police struggle goes is literally a fundamental facet of their complicated relationship. That being said, I think Klune does a great job having a Black character stepping in and discussing how Nick’s dad’s behavior was problematic and the privilege that he was afforded where BIPOC would not have been. I don’t want to give away any more than that, but this is addressed on page.

The side characters (Seth, Gibby, and Jazz) continue to be amazing ride or dies, and I honestly I would die for them, so Klune don’t get any funny ideas. That being said, this team of badass friends continues to protect Nova City from new evil forces while trying to do normal high school things like going to school dances. Icons. Honestly.

In true Klune style, this also ended on one hell of a cliffhanger, and now I’m chomping at the bit for book three.

Thank you to Tor Teen for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

TJ Klune is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. I love the touches of whimsy and humor laced in to each of his stories. The Extraordinaries took me a bit to get into but not Flash Fire. I was drawn in immediately. The characters are all so varied and interesting (though I want to smack Nick half the time!). I love that it reps bipoc, queer, and neurodivergent characters. This book was pretty action packed and keeps you wanting to read more. Make sure you read the bonus scene at the end! I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Flash Fire is the second book in The Extraordinaries series by T.J. Klune. I loved book 1, The Extraordinaries and really enjoyed book 2 as well.

Now that Nick has the superhero boyfriend of his dreams, he’s struggling with the fact that he’s just ordinary. With the arrival of new Extraordinaries in Nova City, Nick, with the help of his friends, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz, must figure out who is truly good and evil while dealing with some truths about his past.

T.J. Klune does it again! This is the third book of his that I’ve read, and I truly enjoyed it. The way he writes the friendships in these books along with the relationship between Nick and his father was fantastic. These stories are coming of age, and now that Nick is in a relationship there is a lot of sex talk. At some points it was a bit much, but didn’t take away from the overall story.

I’m looking forward to continuing this series when book 3 comes out in 2022.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Teen for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I missed the first instalment of this book, I went into this one blind! I will be reading book one! i love the style of this writer and the underlining messuages in this novel 4/5

4.5 stars.

This series continues to be cute and fun. I love Klune's writing and how he manages to be flippant and sarcastic, but at the same time deliver lines that enforce the need for equality and treating people with the respect they deserve.

The plot moves pretty smoothly and there is a lot of action in the book, just like the first. There is some awkwardness and weirdness, but that's just the way Nick is. And I love him for it. He is an unabashedly outspoken person with a different way of looking at things and, while he occasionally gives me anxiety, I think he's adorable. Or adorkable. Either way.

I love the dialogue and the friend group. It's just so warm and inviting while still remaining fun. The characters are where Klune really shines. He just makes such vibrant and lovable characters, they are all wonderful and tangible.

I originally thought this was meant to be a duology, but OBVIOUSLY I was wrong. That ending...what????? I did NOT see that coming and I have some issues with it. There are questions that need to be answered. Now I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *

I was worried that it would be hard to recreate the unique quality of Nick's narrative in a second book. It would be so easy for it to become repetitive or pushed too far to force the story. I didn't need to worry, though: Nick is back with his unflinching sentimentality and unpredictable honesty, and I loved every page. There are still plenty of absurd quotes to be found:

"Oh my god, wait. There have to be trans Extraordinaries! Do you think we'll get to meet them?"
"Probably," Jazz said. "I've personally met an absurd number of queer Extraordinaries. Poor straight people. They really don't get to have much, aside from fake-white Jesus, do they?"
They took a moment of silence for the heterosexuals of the world. When enough time had passed (six seconds - straights didn't need that much sympathy), Nick clapped his hands.

There's definitely more action this time around, and I found the story to be a lot less predictable. But don't worry, it's still incredibly cheesy, especially as Nick and Seth navigate their friendship becoming a relationship. I loved Nick's steadfast refusal to allow bisexual erasure when it came to Seth's identity, always pushing it to the forefront while seemingly oblivious to their surroundings.

It's unusual for parents to play such a big role in YA, but it allowed for the discussion of police brutality that was sorely missing from The Extraordinaries. Admittedly, it was a little clunky and politically correct - it's hard to do a total 180 from cop worship to defund the police - but it was definitely an improvement. I'll be interested to see if this is developed further as the series continues.

The biggest sticking point for me was that no one figured out that ***SPOILER*** Seth was Pyro Storm. One day Nick is kissing Pyro Storm, and the next day he's kissing Seth - who else could it be?!*** For some reason, in a series that is full of plot holes and unlikely events, that's the one that bothers me. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of the post-credits scene this time, either. I'm hoping Klune can save this stinker of a development with a bulletproof explanation in the third book, but it doesn't seem possible.

Flash Fire managed to replicate the magic of The Extraordinaries while developing the relationships of the characters and adding more depth to the narrative. Nick and his friends demonstrate how to balance acceptance, inclusion, and accountability admirably; it's not always easy, but it's definitely worth it.

I really love this series. Flashfire is the second book in TJ Klune's Extraordinaries series.
Nick is finally in a relationship with his best friend/superhero Seth. The book was funny and sweet and real and authentic. He does a great job mixing the everyday high school elements with the superhero elements. He also does a great job dealing with the BIG ISSUES that come up in the book.

Flash Fire, the sequel that my heart wanted and needed. I needed something that made me laugh, and Klune did not disappoint.

The characters are as endearing as ever, especially Nick. His chaotic self was as amazing if not more amazing than I remember from book one. His relationship with Seth is one of my favorite parts of this entire story and I'm so happy I got more of it. They are absolutely adorable together. The rest of the gang got more page time, and I loved that too. All in all, definitely a series I would recommend.

4.5 Stars

Oh to be a teenager again! And even more, to be an EXTRAORDINARY teenager (emphasis on the EXTRA, please). Just the tought of sneaking around with your boyfriend (or girlfriend) and having your Dad walk in, exactly at the same time your bedroom echoes the phrase ‘BLOW ME’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣…

And that my friends is how ‘Flash Fire’ kicks off and becomes one of my FAVE books read thus far this 2021. To be honest, I dove into this book with the exact mindset you are supposed to being an adult who loves YA: just ENJOY IT.

After hundreds of books and a few dozen YA authors, giving Tj Klune the chance to prove himself as a masterful teen story teller was a no brainer since I’ve been a hardcore OG fan of his since day and book one, many, many, many, many moons ago. Did he changed his writing style now that he joined the ranks of high profile authors belonging to the NYT Bestsellers? I say it became a sharper style, but he didn’t lose his signature humor, sarcasm and wit. If you ask me what I think about this latest book? I’ll tell you that he is just plain and simple, a BRILLIANT author. Period. ‘Flash Fire’ -the sequel to last year’s ‘The Extraordinaries’- just proved my point.

And for that exact reason, going back to Nova City was the mental equivalent of traveling Disneyland on steroids.

I refuse to spoil this for you guys. This book DESERVES to be enjoyed in any and every format (cause his all time fantastic narrator Michael Lesly takes the cake here again with the audiobook) but what I will twll you is that no matter how ‘Extraordinary’ any character may or may not be, they are still TEENAGERS, and Lord HAVE MERCY, Tj portrayed these teens as realistic and dramatic and overbearing and HORMONAL as possible. After reading the first three chapters you simply CANNOT deny that everything Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz go thru is possibly a reflection of your OWN teenage years. It’s an ode to the supreme drama that floats around each teen at that perfect age where your heart melts when you see that boy or girl you like and the butterflies build a colony in your stomach. Yep, it has action, love, sweetness, drama, and though some things MIGHT seem predictable, they really end up NOT like you believe they will. Trust me on this. This book has EVERYTHING.

After the EPIC battle Nick and Pyro Storm fought against Shadow Star, everything SEEMED to be somewhat going back to normal, but not everything CAN go back to what it was, and Nova City is just preparing for another wave of not only new and brilliant Extraordinaries to join Pyro Storm in his mission, but we also see the possibility of not only one more story, but at least two more. I have my hopes high here, but I am a HUGE sucker for teenage drama (even more if this includes queer super heroes).

In short: Fash Fire brings the adventure and humor you would expect in your average YA story, but it also has those deeply rooted family ties Tj has mastered to portray over the years in every one of this books. Tj is an EXPERT storyteller when it comes to family bonds, blood and none blood related, and he manages to make you shed a tear or two with the way each story unfolds and the messages he wants to share. Flash Fire will make you laugh, cry happy tears but mostly, remember why your teenage years (or at least mine) were the BEST. ❤️

Tj Klune is one of my all time favorite authors. I actually ended up also buying the kindle version of this book and absolutely loved it. I am not usually an emotional reader, but Tj's sense of humor just gets me. I think that he is absolutely brilliant and it is evident in his style of writing. I loved the fact that even though there were jokes and lighter topics there were also important deep conversations that made this book just feel that much more real. I loved the super hero aspects and the powers, so much so that I almostttt forgive him for the cliffhanger and amount of twists and turns in this book.... no but really haha. Honestly I think that this book was even better than the first which was hard to top. Overall I though this was amazing, and Tj could release a grocery list and I would probably feel the same lol.

Setting aside my personal issues with the author and the choices that they've made in regards to some of their other books, this just wasn't my favorite. While I really enjoy queer stories, I felt the pacing of this was totally off for about the first third to half of the book, and then it felt like everything started to happen all at once, which really just isn't my style. It was almost a DNF for me and I kind of wish it had been.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

<i>"I have to hope it will be. We can't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but if we spend all our time focusing on what *might* happen, we could end up missing what *does* happen."</i>

TL;DR: A solid follow-up to what was a fun initial book -- but which, unfortunately, gets bogged down by clunky and awkwardly-integrated Very Important Messages.

Vibes: The MCU (NOT the DCCU because TJ Klune is absolutely hysterical at times) + The Boys (Amazon show) + Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl (but like, better, in every way) + Percy Jackson

Genre: True YA Superhero Queer Romance; Sequel

Character MVP: Still definitely Gibby and Jazz and Nick is still a bit much.
We get a few new characters this time around -- mainly Gibby and Jazz's parents and...*sigh* I get WHY TJ Klune added them, but <i>Buzz, your girlfriend. Woof.</i>. It's a swing and a miss for me.

Verdict: Okay, I loved TJ Klune's first book in this series. Like, flat out adored it.

But, I will be the first to admit -- I didn't consider the ramifications of Nick's dad being a cop. And that's on me. Especially in our current climate, police portrayals in *any* medium are being carefully rethought -- look at Brooklyn-Nine-Nine. What started as a light-hearted comedy about a lovable precinct of quirky police detectives has had to reinvent itself, especially since 4 of its 6 main characters are people of color.
And yet...I didn't give as much thought to Nick's dad being a cop when I read the first book, and I certainly didn't stop to reflect on the implications of him assaulting a witness aside from the fact that it was clearly designed to demote him and introduce some conflict into the plot.
Yikes.
Not a good look.

So I fully understand WHY TJ Klune did what he did in this book -- which is to say, he corrected course and made sure to place the characters in the context of our current, real-world climate. The fact that Nick's dad is a good person is never really questioned; it's more that (1) he benefitted from his position of privilege as a white man (he assaulted a witness and while said witness may have been taunting him about his wife's death, the fact remains that he was demoted and placed on leave, not fired and prosecuted); and (2) police officers aren't viewed the same by all members of a community. And those points are absolutely valid and absolutely necessary.

For me, they were just really awkwardly, and didactically, inserted into the story. We meet Gibby and Jazz's parents for the first time, and it seems like the only reason we do so is so that we can have those Very Important Conservations about race and policing. And again, those are conversations we absolutely need to have, it's just that they seemed to interrupt the flow of the story. Like, everything halted so the characters could have those conversations and really drive home the points to the audience. It was a bit of an over-correction for me.

Ugh, I love this completely random super hero world so much! The beginning was a teenage wet dream, but it got into the story and the loved it.
The book hit some major topics that are super timely, but in the best way possible.
The plot, while fairly obvious, was fun and definitely felt like a blockbuster movie! I flashed through this one very quickly!

I have been a fan of Klune since Wolfsong and since then I have loved everything I have read from him. Flash Fire is a beautiful story about finding yourself and real friendship. It is a story full of humor, heart, and adventure. If these are things you are looking for in a story then this is the one for you!

The humour in this book is some of the best I’ve ever read and had me laughing out loud so many times; it’s snarky, witty, and full of love. At its core, the story is about friendship, family, and love but it’s not afraid to dream big. This is a wonderful sequel with a diabolical cliffhanger.