I loved the first book so much, so of course I had to get my hands on this book. This book picks up from the cliffhanger of the first one, it is hard to give a big review of this book since this book does take place of the ramifications of the first one. The world building is great, I love the fantasy world, but I still love Talon's character. Though to me, Talon's character was better without Darling. I do wish there was more but this was a fun duology.

This was okay. It was about the same level as the first one. I wasn’t wowed by the 1st but I was really hoping to be redeemed by the 2nd. The characters felt a little too 2-dimensional to me and the plot sort of felt flat and underdeveloped a bit. I can’t put my finger on exactly what I didn’t like, but it wasn’t overall terrible. It felt middle of the road for me.

I enjoyed this sequel better than the first. This was a fascinating world with chaos magic, blood magic, empyreals, and an awesome Phoenix. The reason I liked this one better is that there was a bit less of the annoying instalove between Talon and Darling and more traveling around trying to find the newly made Empyreals and continue the peace efforts that Caspian had started before he turned into a dragon and stop the despicable Aurora from completing her dastardly blood magic plan and ruining everything. That's quite a lot to put on the plate of Darling who went from battle captive to the Phoenix reborn though I think it was rightly given for all that she went through and she is definitely the best person for the job.

There is a little dive into the history of Chaos and the use of blood magic back in the past which led to the death of the phoenix a hundred years ago, as well as the damning up of chaos, making boons weaker and wrong as time went on. This book is mostly righting all those wrongs and while there was the tracking down of the compelling dangerous Aurora, it is mostly peaceful and I enjoyed reading this (though I hated the part in the barn at the end). It does end nicely and wraps up the story on a good note.

Blood and fury by Tessa gratton & Justina Ierland is a second and final book in a ya fantasy duology and I thought it was a solid duology! The reason why is I found this one to be a lot faster pace of a read just because I knew all the characters already and new the magic system and the dragons and phoniex's, so I honestly love this one more than book 1. I will give a more detial review later on this sequel but overall I gave it 5 stars!!(:
Thank u to Penguin Teen for sending me a copy of the e-arc & Netgalley for sending it to me as well! Happy reading!(:
#penguinteen #penguinteeninflencer

Who knew a kiss could unearth fire and the long-lost Phoenix? In the second installment of the Chaos & Fury series we pick up months later after Darling finds out that she is now the Phoenix. As Darling learns how to control her Phoenix she discovers that she has unlocked everyone's seeded Chaos powers. Filled with revenge, can Darling find the love she once had with Talon?
Talon, reeling with the devastating realization of how his aunt Aurora has controlled her powers, sets out to find Darling and deliver the one who has truly deceived them all. But when Aurora escapes she leaves a path of destruction that forces Darling and Talon to team up to finally eradicate their common enemy.
Overall rating 3/5
I absolutely loved the first book and could not wait to get my hands on the sequel. However, I was a little disappointed. I felt that 70% of this book dragged as the reader was taken on a tour around the world with lackluster action. I did love the final slow buildup to Darling and Talon finally seeing each other since the fateful kiss. I wish we could have gotten more in depth interactions with all the different “houses” and their new powers.


*Thank you to Tessa Gratton, Justina Ireland, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Razorbill, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this digital advanced reader copy (e-ARC) in exchange for an honest review.

★★★ (3.0)

I think the author tried to fit a wide and complex sequence with some political intrigue that concludes the whole story of this series into a short-length book but didn't do a great job with it. The atmosphere still shared similarities with Book 1, but the plot strayed a bit from what the story intended to wrap up. This book offers much, but it is not comparable to what it actually explains. What I hoped for was more of Caspian and more from the villain, but instead, the plot focused on Talon and Darling's closure. It felt like it only talked about them without giving attention to the other characters.

I was curious about the others because we were introduced to another house, but they just existed to make the story more crowded. The conclusion of everything felt unsatisfying because of how rushed it was. There was just one chapter for the climax, and nothing interesting about it.

When I finally finished this, I was sad that the better development I craved was not present. I didn't hate the book, just felt disappointed with how it ended. For me, it was just an okay duology, not really hooking me, but I still enjoyed some parts of it.

I love that we got to explore the ramifications and aftershocks of the ending of book 1. It was a crazy ending and we got to see what that ending did to all the characters and kingdoms involved. I don't want to get into it too much because there are a lot of spoilers, but I enjoyed exploring this aspect of the plot.

Also, it was cool to get more a of a backstory about certain characters that contribute to the plot in significant ways.

The hardest part about this book was the pacing. I had an issue with it in the first book and it remained the same in this one. The story is interesting and the world is fascinating, but it's so slooooow. There are action-packed moments, but once that moment ends, the pace slows down. I was bored through so much of this book which is something I never want to be when reading a book. It took a lot of effort to push through. My curiosity was the main driving factor.

Overall, not my favorite duology, but it had it's moments. I think if the pacing had been better, my rating would have gone up quite a bit.

i personally don’t want to make this review too long because i’ve already discussed a lot of my issues with this duology as a whole in my review for the first book, chaos & flame. but let’s just say a lot of my issues with the disability rep and the romance and even the world-building stay the same, if not are amplified more in the sequel.

however, i think overall, the premise of the second book is MUCH stronger than the first one. i was worried about how things were going to fall out after the ending events, which did have me pretty piqued. and i think the sequel did an incredible job following the aftermath of the first book. the lore of the world became so so much more interesting to me, especially since we had some more insight into aurora’s story (but unfortunately not much into her motives). the concept of the regent ephemerals was an incredible addition to the world’s political and foundational background.

did this additional also make darling even more of a chose one. absolutely. that’s where i struggled to separate the fact that her disability was ultimately shown as a superpower, especially since it was kind of, sort of, even more so in the second book. in this book, we learn that her blindness is essentially magic itself. and she is the only one who can repair it. so… still not really ideal in my book.

lets just put it this way, if you liked the concept of the first book and can put aside any issues with insta-love and poorly done disability rep then i definitely think you will like the second book even more. in my opinion it had a lot more going for it, despite the flaws from the first book carrying over. i really do implore you to read the review i wrote for the first book if you’re curious about my thoughts in more full. this isn’t much more i could’ve add about this book that i hadn’t touched upon there besides that i liked the world building much more in finale.

"Blood & Fury," co-authored by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland, emerges as a stunning sequel to "Chaos and Flame," reaffirming Justina Ireland's an d Tessa Gratton's prowess in storytelling. As a dedicated fan of "Chaos and Flame," I was eager to dive into this continuation, and it certainly did not disappoint.

The novel masterfully concludes the duology, leaving me both satisfied and melancholic at its conclusion. The romance between Darling and Talon is beautifully portrayed, woven seamlessly into the narrative without overpowering the central plot. Their relationship evolves organically, adding depth and emotion to an already compelling storyline.

The skillful prose ensures that the plot flows effortlessly, maintaining a captivating pace from start to finish. Each twist and turn is expertly executed, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover what lies ahead. The authors' collaboration shines through in the seamless blending of their writing styles, creating a cohesive and immersive world.

Overall, "Blood & Fury" stands out as a worthy sequel that not only lives up to its predecessor but also delivers a satisfying conclusion to the duology. It's a testament to Justina Ireland's ability to craft compelling narratives and Tessa Gratton's contribution to the rich tapestry of the story. Fans of historical fantasy and intricate romances will find much to love in this book.

After that shocking betrayal, aka cliffhanger, I was more than ready to read about Darling and Talon's next adventures. Darling never truly knew her true purpose until the very end of the first book. And she is now wondering what she needs to do to serve her purpose. She may have some feelings regarding Talon, but she won’t betray herself. She already learned from her experiences that Talon would never be loyal to her. 

Talon couldn’t believe his luck. After Darling's betrayal, he is more than willing to push his feelings aside and bring the kingdom to peace again. However, he has the worst luck, with family betraying him left and right. He has no idea what to do to save the kingdom, but he is more than willing to keep trying.

I am kind of mad that we didn’t start off right after the cliffhanger. Apparently, time has passed in Blood & Fury, and we go from there. I feel like it’s a cop-out because I needed all of the characters feelings. Their angst and betrayal feelings will bring the tension between the kingdoms even higher. Anyway, I definitely enjoyed the high-strake fantasy aspect. It brought the world-building in Blood & Fury even more in style with the dragons and phoenix. 

I truly think that we need to stop thinking about this book as a romance fantasy read. It’s more political fantasy with messy family drama. The romance is more of a of a sub-pplot. It’s not the true focus, which I don’t mind. It just needs to be marketed as a bit more political fantasy than romance. 

Definitely read book one before reading this book. It’s a more high-strake political fantasy read.

RATING: 4 out of 5 Enchanted Roses

ONE-WORD REVIEW: FIERCE

TAG LINE: Chaos will rise.

OPENING LINE: The second scion of House Cockatrice was eleven years old when her mother gripped her chin to tilt her face this way and that, studying her hair and eyes and skin and mouth, her posture and her build.

REVIEW:

Huge thank you to James and PenguinTeen for sending me an ARC of BLOOD & FURY!

BLOOD & FURY was a great follow-up and satisfying conclusion to CHAOS & FLAMES! Book 1s are a tough act to follow but this sequel did not disappoint. BLOOD & FURY was an action-packed, quick YA fantastical read interwoven with a lush romance, entertaining lore, and, of course, dragons! The world-building was as interesting as ever! Like its predecessor, BLOOD & FURY continued the storyline in dual POV—Talon’s and Darling’s.

Only complaint: We don't get the same dazzling prophesies and political intrigue we did with CHAOS & FLAMES.

Overall, BLOOD & FURY was a well-paced, enjoyable read that I recommend to fans of the first book in the duology--CHAOS & FLAMES--, The Color of Dragons by R.A. Salvatore and Nemesis by Anna Banks!

Happy Reading!
Ashley
www.TheTatteredPage.com

I received this book from NetGalley and Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review.

Blood & Fury is a fantastic follow up to Chaos & Flame and conclusion to this duology. This was one of my most highly anticipated releases for the year and I am very happy to say it did not disappoint whatsoever.

I came into this book already deeply attached to the characters and this sequel only intensified those attachments. With the cliffhanger of Chaos & Flame, I was eager to see where our characters ended up and how things were going to evolve from those events in book one. Talon was a character that I liked a lot in the first book but in this one he really become one of my favourites. I loved his relationship with Darling but also how dedicated to everything he put his mind to in this book. Darling took on a whole new level of power and purpose in this and I really enjoyed watching her evolve with that added responsibility. Caspian got on my last nerve but it made sense still. Vivian was a new favourite for me and I really loved seeing more of her.

There were multiple moments in this where I physically felt my heart pounding while reading and could not put it down. The action really sucks you in once things start to really pick up. Overall, I think this was an excellent conclusion and I'm sad to no longer be in this world. Highly recommend.

*5/5 stars*

Thank you Penguin Young Readers and Netgalley for this eARC!

This is such a strong sequel and really sticks the landing as the end of a duology. After the cliffhanger of book one, book two satisfied the need of more from these two authors and answered my world building questions.

I loved the romance between Darling and Talon so much. I adored Talon's POV because we got to see how down bad he was for Darling.

I need more from both of these authors so bad. I enjoyed their style and how the plot flowers with the characters.

I loved this book so much - it was such a good follow up to the first one. I'll be recommending this series over and over again

A strong follow up to it predecessor chaos and flame and a more solid story that follows as well. The world building and magic system are unique and kept me listening to each piece of the story as it flowed. This is a political fantasy series with mythical creatures, romance, magic and conspirators. At times the pacing was a bit slower then i would of like but with only two books to build a story that bound to happen. I think a trilogy would of been better so parts could of been more flushed out.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the arc of this book. all opinions are my own.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed it! I'd recommend it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this duologys! Blood and Fury was a great follow up and I loved being back in this world again. The authors did a great job and I hope we might someday seelre from this series!

I thought this sequel would be better but on the contrary it came to be worse than the first one and I barely got through 60 pages before skimming the rest and realizing it was not worth my time.

You can not read this one without reading the first book. Sometimes even in duologies the stories can stand independent of each other, this isn't one.

It's a fine enough story, with blood magic, betrayal and houses from fantastical creatures. The sections seemed a bit repetitive at times, and the pacing was odd but it's a fine fantasy story.

Rating: Really Enjoyed It

I had a really great time with this duology! This is a political, young adult fantasy with a strong romantic element. We are in a kingdom in which there are multiple noble houses that are defined by their empyreals (rulers who turn into a giant mythical creature such as a Kraken, a Dragon, a Gryphon, etc), all ruled over by the Phoenix. At least that was the case until the Phoenix disappeared and the empyreals died out. Now the country is ruled by the House of Dragon who ruthlessly conquered the land and completely wiped out some of the other houses.

In this, we follow Darling and Talon as they adjust to a world that was forever changed by the events of Chaos & Flame.

This picks up several months after the ending of Chaos & Flame. We follow both characters as they begin to make ammends and work towards a better country. There is taint of blood magic that must be eradicated, the empyreals must be tracked down and returned to themselves, and the antagonist, Aurora must be dealt with.

I enjoyed the events of this book. It sucked me in and I tore through it in about 36 hours. I really enjoyed seeing how events unfolded. However, there were a couple of times that the characters made egregiously terrible decisions, which was frustrating. It kind of felt like it was only happening in order to move the plot along. And then when they made the same terrible decision multiple times, It pulled me out of the story and kept me from loving it.

While it is fairly fast paced, I felt like some of the events almost moved along too quickly. I would have enjoyed some time sitting with the different characters more rather than just hurtling along at break neck speed to get to the end.

However, it is a fun story, it reads quickly, and I thought it was a good ending to the duology. I think there were some events that didn't hit as hard as they were meant to just because we didn't have the time to sit and really get to know the characters beyond our POV characters. But ultimately, it was still a good time and a solid YA fantasy!

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.