This book! This series! This everything! What I absolutely love about this book, besides everything, is its positive representation of LGBTQIA+ characters. Everyone is absolutely remarkable, everyone is accepted, there are zero stereotypes, it is just an absolutely beautiful thing to see in literature today. In addition to that, Klune's ability to craft not just his characters, but his entire world and narrative so well makes this a book that is truly accessible to all. Readers who love superhero stories will love this, those who love love stories will love this, readers who love friendship and adventure and drama and well you see where I'm going with this . . . everything is so finely crafted that it just makes it a book fit for everyone. Additionally, I love that the side characters are just as important and well developed as the main ones, especially the adults. The relationship between Nick and his father, Seth and his aunt and Uncle, and the introduction of Jazz and Gibby's parents is spectacularly well done and it's so much to an already well done and fully developed plot. This is a must have for every collection (along with its predecessor, "The Extraordinaries") and one that will also find it's way into every reader's heart. It certainly found it's way into mine!

This sequel is fast paced and brings readers more of everything they loved about the first book. I found it to be a very quick and fun read that I will definitely be recommending to my older readers.

All I have to say is NICKY YES!!!

But seriously, what a sequel! I already had so much fun reading The Extraordinaries I thought it would be hard to top that. But this book had me laughing and smiling even more. I am a very character driven reader, and this book has some amazing and diverse characters. Nick is a great protagonist with his adorably nerdy charm, how can you not love him. Him and Seth never failed to make me smile. I mean what's better than gay superheroes??

My favorite part of this series will forever be Nick and his dad's relationship. The love they have for each other is so heartwarming! And his dad constantly trying to embarrass him cracks me up every time. I even had some second hand embarrassment from the things his dad says and does LOL

On top of that, this book has some great rep and touches on serious issues while still sticking to the plot. It didn't feel like the author was just throwing something in there for the sake of having it.

While the characters are enough to keep me reading this series, the book definitely isn't lacking in action and plot. A lot happens in this book and it all happens very quickly that it's a very easy book to just fly through! (pun intended)

AND THE ENDING gave me chills. literal chills.

I took a chance on this one, as Klune is one of my favorite authors. The first book didn't spark much interest in me, both for the rocky presentation of police characters/police actions, and just my own general dislike of teenage angst (though this one isn't that terrible....), and unfortunately the second one didn't either. I appreciate the effort Klune made to provide more context about the police behavior, and his inclusion of diverse voices. As always, his work is whimsical and fun, with a cast of diverse people with different lives.... but I think I might have to pass on this series going forward, it just didn't do it for me.

2.5? Might come back and up to 3 after I sit on it a while but I'm landing closer to the 2 right now

I can tell that after receiving a lot of (rightfully shared and very true) critique on the first book, Klune went back and did some edits and added some parts to this one in response and it feels very... awkward and out of place at times? I'm non-Black so it's absolutely not my place to say whether it was well done or if it even begins to make up for harm caused by the first book, but reading it a lot of things felt very out of place and almost like they were acting as a bandaid to avoid future criticism. The problems in book 1 should have never made it as far as they did and I gave this a chance because of his statement that he would do better in book 2 and I'm even more on the fence about the 3rd because while I might be interested in the characters' stories, it didn't improve in regard to cops nearly as much as I wanted it to.

Beyond that, the plot of this one also felt very, very slow. This is a common problem in middle books of trilogies, but especially when reading superheroes, I expect a little more excitement. Most of the book just felt like waiting for very obvious plot points to finally be revealed. I almost feel like it should either be more unpredictable or move faster, but slow and so tropey nothing is a surprise is just not a great combination.

That said, I can see why some people will love it and ultimately a lot of it really is just a silly teenage superhero story that doesn't take itself too seriously.

This book was the perfect sequel to 'The Extraordinaries'. Nick and Seth's relationship was well developed and the discussion of how their physical relationship may or may not move forward was really important. The side characters were given a lot more time too and the diversity allowed for a issues such as gender, security and race to be discussed in a healthy way. This book was both hilarious and action packed and ended in a way that makes me so excited for the 3rd book in the series!

What a delicious sequel! I loved getting to revisit this world and the END is fabulous. Cannot wait for book 3!

TJ Klune has done it again. There is nothing this man can't write. TJ Klune is such a talented writer and there is a reason he is one of my favorite authors. He has a way of making the most simple lines hit you so deep in the feels. This story was beautiful and filled with so many life lessons about equality, friendship, family, and love. I laughed so many times I lost count and in typical TJ fashion he will have you screaming at the pages of this book.

I am eagerly awaiting the next installment and I can't wait to see what's next for Nicky and the gang!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

"Flash Fire" was by far one of my most anticipated 2021 books and my most anticipated sequel of this year and it didn't disappoint!

The story was super fun, the characters loveable and the found family aspect amazing. I found myself a little bored at times, but it didn't effect my overall reading experience. I also adored the developing relationship between Nick and Seth, as well as the relationships Nick has with his friends & family.

Overall, a brilliant sequel to a great series so far, I can't wait for book 3!

Flash Fire by TJ Klune is the second entry in The Extraordinaries trilogy. After a complicated reading experience with the first book (loved the characters, LGBTQ+/ADHD/fandom rep, and superhero tropes, did not love the pro-cop sentiments), I was curious to see how events in the second book would play out. The best way to describe my feelings on Flash Fire are mixed.

What I enjoyed about Flash Fire: Nick and Seth’s developing relationship with all its ups and downs, the continued superhero tropes reminiscent of traditional comic book arcs, the Big Reveal of this novel, the on page acknowledgment of the harm caused by Nick’s dad and other cops, and Nick’s continuing character arc.

What I didn’t enjoy as much: the chaotic introduction of a wider cast leaving far less space for characters from the first book, the oddly paced plot points that often missed emotional marks, the stilted way discussions of police brutality and abuse are inserted, and the gnarly cliffhanger.

Part of this can be attributed to second book syndrome, and despite my love-hate relationship with the cliffhanger at the end of this novel, it promises an exciting conclusion to The Extraordinaries. The diffuse focus of Flash Fire as compared to the first book did it no favours, but it was still a fun read and I am curious to see how the series will conclude.

Thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for an advance reading copy. All opinions are my own.

As a general rule, superhero stories aren't my tippy-top favorite, but TJ's take on the genre has been fun and entertaining so far.

I must admit, though, that after reading and reading and reading, then only seeing that I was less than a third done, in spite of the significant number of pages, there weren't really a lot of "things" that had actually happened by that point.

The pacing and level of action improved significantly after The Attic scene, when the arc of the story finally began to experience some decent forward momentum.

The cast of characters was nearly identical as in the first book, with the absence of The Previous Bad Guy and the presence of two New Good Guys and two New Bad Guys, but the tone and level of humor felt about the same as well, so I enjoyed that.

I continued to loathe both Rebecca Firestone and Simon Burke, as they continued to fight it out for the Worst Human Ever title, but I adored Nick's reactions and snark when they attempted to ruffle his quirky little feathers.

My absolute favorite part of the story for me was the prom. For many, many very spoilery reasons, which I refuse to give away.

As for the ending, several reviews mention this being a cliffhanger, but it didn't really "feel" that way to me. Like most of the books in TJ's series', the book ends at an okay "plateau" point.

There's impending doom of another Extraordinary gunning for them in the shadows, along with a huuuge "Big Reveal" in literally the last 100 words of the story, but no one is in immediate danger.

I'd rate this book at around 3.75 stars and do look forward to the final installment, which I'll definitely be reading.

When I read "The Extraordinaries", I wasn't as enamored with NIck and the gang as I was with character from TJ Klunes' other stories. I found Nick to be slightly annoying and completely naive (so naive it was painful to read). I enjoyed the book, but didn't love it. So while I was looking forward to reading "Flash Fire", I wasn't overly excited about picking it up.

However, I found myself enjoying this story much more than the first one (and you do need to read the The Extraordinaries first). Nick has calmed down (only slightly), has gotten a little more mature (baby steps), and is starting to see the bigger picture all around him. It was nice to see. And while I love seeing the relationship between him and his friends, I really enjoyed getting to see Nick and his father learning how to navigate their new circumstances. To me, that was the most emotional part of the book.

The story itself moves fairly quickly and before you know it you suddenly at the big climactic ending, which was pretty awesome! It had a great cliffhanger as well that makes me excited to see what the 3rd book has in store. Overall, I'd say this book really added a lot to the larger narrative and I am definitely looking forward to more.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. In the second book of The Extraordinaries, Klune hits it out of the park with the action and fight scenes throughout the book. The quick wit is well written between the characters even as we watch them navigate more serious topics. The addition of new Extraordinaries is a definite plus to the book because we see other's unique skills. FLASH FIRE is a great action packed sequel in The Extraordinaries. The ending to FLASH FIRE sets up another addition we will all anxiously await.

Flash Fire 🦹🏽‍♂️🦸🏼‍♂️

Welp TJ Klune….. WHAT THE HECK?!?!
What was that cliff hanger?!?!
What are you trying to do to me?!?!

Ok ok I’m fine I’m fine.
If you haven’t read The Extraordinaries yet…. What are you doing???
It is the most perfect queer superhero book I have EVER read.
Nick is by far one of my most favorite fictional characters to ever be written.
He is so freaking fierce and hysterical and so unapologetically himself it literally brought tears to my eyes at points.
The cliff hanger at the end…. TJ COME ON!!!
I’m ready for book three right NOW!

Thank you again to @torteen for a gifted copy! #partner

Absolutely loved this book! Such a great follow-up to the Extraordinaries. I loved Nicky's development, how his relationship with Seth grew, and the way all the friends banded together and supported each other. Highly recommend this one!

3.75 stars

Ugh. I don't know where to start with this one. There's a lot to love with TJ Klune's writing and his storytelling, but there were also some things that just really didn't hit their mark for me in this one.

Okay, so first of all, there are still some factors that I now deem quintessential for an Extoridinaries boo. Namely, Nick. The way he narrates the story is highly entertaining and makes for a read unlike any other. Plus, with a few of the twisties, from the first book and this one, we get to see him screwing up and saying the wrong thing over and over again, which is always a good time. While plenty of the jokes and situations are a bit exaggerated and unrealistic, it still makes for a fun read. On the flip side, there are also plenty of real things happening, too. The relationships between Nick and his friends and family are one of a kind and truly interesting to explore.

I'm still intrigued in this world, even if everything didn't go like I thought it would in this one. I want to know more about Extrodinaries and how they came to be. And what happens from here. And all the good stuff. So my curiosity alone really drives me to finish this series, in this regard and in regard to the cliffhangers that keep popping up in these books.

Now, as much as I enjoyed some aspects of this book, I did not actually enjoy it as much as the first (and I still had some issues with the first). Here are just a few reasons why this book didn't hit the mark for me:

- Nick's narration, while superb at times, is also at other times very hard to get a grasp of. ADHD does not translate well on the page. While I appreciate the rep, I think there's a way to keep the same level of humor and the same showcase of Nick's neurodiversity without making the scenes a complete mess. Nearly every aspect of this book seems like an extreme version of the thing, including Nick's ADHD.

- Several things felt very repetitive. I don't know if there just wasn't an early reader of this book who told Klune that several conversations happen too many times or what. But going in circles and reading the same jokes and same issues and same conversations more than once or twice isn't something I enjoy in a book.

- The best example of my above comment (which also leads into another) is the police issues. I definitely appreciate that police brutality was brought up at all. I appreciate that the feelings of the black characters were represented on the page. I do not think it was handled as smoothly as it could have been. The several conversations about it were basically the same thing over and over again. And, like—I don't know. I am not the best person to truly review how it was handled, but to me it just felt a little... hollow?

- Lastly, just not a lot happened in this book. Well, actually, a lot happened, but not things that truly felt like they were progressing the story. It took a while to get through this book for it to not be truly integral to the plot of the series. I don't know if this series is supposed to be a trilogy or longer, but it felt like it suffered from "middle book syndrome."

Overall, I still enjoyed this book and I think I'll continue the series, if only to get some real answers.

I just enjoy this author and his characters so much! The characters are charming and TJ Klune writes with so much warmth.

Once again, TJ Klune has completely blown my mind. I read The House In The Cerulean Sea earlier this year, and it immediately became my favorite book. Now it is a tie between THITCS and Under The Whispering Door.

Wallace Price is.... Well, he's an asshole. He doesn't have any friends, because who needs friends when you can have business partners? His wife left him for the gardener, and his employees fear him. When he dies, he is forced to confront the type of life he led. At his funeral he meets Mei, a reaper who has been assigned to bring him to a ferryman who will help him cross over. Of course, that just won't do, because Wallace Price is a very important lawyer with very important work meetings. (Lol he's dead, it doesn't matter... A river only flows in one direction after all)

TJ Klune has this wonderful talent for writing the MOST loveable, funny, charming and flawed characters I've ever read. Just like in The House In the Cerulean Sea, the group of people we meet at Charon's Crossing will instantly find their way into your heart. This book will absolutely put you through the emotional ringer. I laughed, I got mad, I cried... I laughed WHILE I was crying. Also had a bit of an existential crisis, cause... you know... death is weird.

After another absolutely perfect 5 stars, TJ Klune is going on my instant-buy author list. The only thing I could possibly complain about is that it ended... And I really really didn't want it to end. 😭😭 I cried for like a half an hour after I finished it because it was just so beautiful. If you loved The House In the Cerulean Sea, you will also absolutely love Under The Whispering Door. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I found out there was going to be a sequel to The Extraordinaries, I gasped! I screamed! I immediately got anxious because it was so good I didn’t want it to hit the sophomore slump. Nick was one of my favorite MCs of 2020 because his ADHD self and my ADHD self connected. Thankfully, Flash Fire delivered on a wonderful book 2 of the series.

I laughed hard at Flash Fire. Nick, Seth and the rest entire Lighthouse team were perfect on every level once again. From Jazz and her heels, to Nick meeting Miss Conduct (perfect name), I still got the “laugh out loud” moments I was hoping for. Also, Nicky with the Bluetooth is literally my biggest fear when I’m listening to a steamy audiobook, so I felt this on a different level.

We also got really good dialogue in regard to police reform and racism. I like how Trey and Aysha were able to express their valid concerns in regard to the police and the safety of their daughter as she joins in on the dangerous tasks. I also liked how Aaron didn’t have BS answers to comfort them. That it was wrapped in a bow and solved. Because, that’s not life.

I really enjoyed Flash Fire as we got a lot more backstory and growth from our lovable characters in The Extraordinaries! Gibby’s valedictorian speech, the inevitable annoyance of Rebecca Firestone, lots of truths revealed and less lies, it was good! I was not surprised by the ending, but I’m so happy it happened. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Thank you so much Tor Teen for the gifted copy. Flash Fire is out now!

Book two of the Extraordinaries takes us out of the slow burn and right into the dumpster fire — but in the best possible way. With MORE Extraordinaries turning up in Nova City, MORE fan fiction peppering the narrative, MORE Nicky and Seth developing their boyfriend groove, MORE extreme secondhand embarrassment from the endearing father-son situation, MORE Jazz and Gibby time, MORE stream-of-consciousness ADHD brilliance from Nicky, MORE thoughtful discussions of difficult topics (including police brutality and corruption), MORE #SquadGOALS, MORE over-the-top villains, and, I hate to break it to you, MORE CLIFFHANGER REVEALS.

Some of the pacing seems just a little off, some of the heavier topics a little belabored, and some of the surprise twists and reveals a little too obvious, but overall, this is a delightful extension of this world and I love spending time with this group. The drama keeps getting deeper but so do the relationships — and it's all delivered with that sparkle of wit, imagination, and kindness that you've come to expect from Klune.