A complicated, slow-moving book about a wide cast of disparate characters. POV switches frequently, moving you into and out of very different storylines that are all going on simultaneously. The tone shifts between family/slice-of-life in some chapters, to heroic fantasy or grim sword & sorcery in others. I enjoyed most of these vignettes, but couldn't make out how they related to each other.

This is a novel I would like much more than I actually do - or better, I do not. While I admit the skills in the fantasy-world building here in the novel, there is a strong lack of the plotting in the novel. I do not get the story this novel is trying to tell. That there is five sisters who are trying to do...what, really? With the obvious feminist streak, it is not as they try to survive in the world of men.
Also, the characters are quite unlikable. I get that all of the sisters (and/or females) have their own personality with personal lights and shadows and that the interesting person is not always the likable one - yet to build a relationship with the characters, there must be something to connect with. I can come to like Ash, Rose and Rowan and that is it.
Also, there is something hard, almost crude present - the often used *f* word (mostly connected with sex) makes this for a cold, hard read. Men are to be used. Love is an obstacle between you and your goals. I admit that this is the authoress's prerogative to set the tone that way - but I can not subscribe to that narrative, because it simply presents an unequality from the other side.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

The battle–scarred warrior princess Bluebell, heir to her father's throne, is rumoured to be unkillable. So when she learns of a sword wrought specifically to slay her by the fearsome raven king, Hakon, she sets out on a journey to find it before it finds her. The sword is rumoured to be in the possession of one of her four younger sisters. But which one? Scattered as they are across the kingdoms, she sets out on a journey to find them.Her four sisters all have their own paths to tread, the gifted magician Ash is on a journey to find a dragon that could determine her destiny. The beautiful, unhappy Rose has left her undermagician Aunt and is speeding to the aid of her daughter, Rowan, who has been lost to her. Ivy, sold into marriage for the sake of an alliance, is now set to become the ruling Duchess of Seacaster with the imminent death of her much older and sick husband, and the power–hungry Willow is raising her infant child as a potential trimartyr king and training to be a warrior for the fanatical religious order Maava. From wild rocky coastline to granite–topped tors, from bustling harbours to echoing ghost towns, from halls of kings to ancient primal woodlands, this story follows five sisters upon whose actions kingdoms will rise and fall.

This is the second book in the Blood and Gold series, and takes place a few years after the conclusion of Daughters of the Storm.

The first thing that strikes me about this book are the main characters - complex, intricate and fascinating. It is hard to say with any real certainty which one I enjoyed most (although Bluebell was certainly the one I identified with - strong, independent and courageous.) Each of the sisters had their own compelling storylines and I was rapt with each.

The storytelling was fast and perfectly delivered. The flow between the characters stories is immaculate and I at no stage felt like I had been thrown from the story with the changes of character. That is a real skill. The ability of the author to keep secrets from each of the characters but NOT use them as a plot device was excellent.

The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that I feel like there was just something left out for the final book - not necessarily a cliffhanger but that I just sort of felt like nothing was going to be resolved fully until the final book in the series.

I recommend reading the first book in the series before getting into this one. The backstory is important to know before the events in this book.


Paul
ARH

Such an entertaining and fast-paced read! These are the types of books that make me love fantasy even more.

I got the opportunity to preview this title before its release tomorrow. Before I go further, let me warn you that this story has two brief but explicit scenes.


Sisters Of The Fire is a novel of daring and magic. Five sisters take the stage, each facing her own adventure and her own challenges. Bluebell is the fierce warrior; the right hand of her father the King. Rose is an exiled queen; separated from her firstborn. Ivy is a duchess of a great seaport; searching for love and her place in the world. Ash is an apprenticing magician; on a deadly quest. Willow is a zealot; placing her faith in Maava above all else. These sisters are separated by geography and vastly different personalities. Their stories intertwine and unfold in unexpected ways. Nothing else makes a story more complete than villains you love to hate and this story is full of them. Similar to George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones, Sisters Of The Fire is passionate and brutal.


Will the sisters reunite or will their differences pull the family apart?

Will their kingdoms still be standing at the end?

An enjoyable fantasy read with many characters and an interesting storyline.