Chaos & Flame (Chaos and Flame Book 1) - Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland

An assassin, a soldier, a prince . . . and a deadly game of power, where no one knows the rules. Prepare to enter the world of Chaos and Flame - perfect for fans of Iron Widow and Legendborn.

When Darling Seabreak's family were murdered by the ruthless House Dragon, she swore she'd get revenge. And as a deadly assassin, there's no one she'd rather take out than their bloodthirsty war general, Talon Goldhoard.

Talon Goldhoard has no problem defending his lands from threats - even ones he hates, like the whispers of madness that surround his brother, the High Prince. So when he battles a ferocious girl who looks exactly like the one Caspian has painted obsessively, repeatedly, for years, Talon knows he must capture her alive - and find out exactly what kind of a threat she really is.

What Talon is unprepared for is the thrilling chaos that Darling will bring into his life. With the world they both know appearing to catch fire all around them, these unlikely allies must navigate a game of power, betrayal, destiny - and love - that neither of them could ever have expected.

 

What did I think?

Chaos & Flame is a great start to a new YA fantasy series and I really enjoyed it.

The book is a collaboration between fantasy author Tessa Gratton and author of graphic novels Justina Ireland.  It’s beautifully written and there’s no noticeable change of writing style at any point to make it obvious that there was more than one author.

With houses at war, it’s very reminiscent of Game of Thrones but with added magic in the form of gifts that are particular to each person, ranging from prophecy to invisibility.  Caspian, the Prince Regent of House Dragon, has been compelled to paint images of an eyeless girl since he was a young boy.  Now Caspian is about to meet Darling in real life, as she has been captured by his brother Talon, but Darling is on a mission to destroy House Dragon.

With chapters written from the point of view of the three main characters, Chaos & Flame is absolutely riveting and completely unpredictable; I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page.  The story ends quite neatly and satisfyingly whilst at the same time leading nicely on to book two, which I am most eager to read.

My rating:

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Love Like a Cephalopod - Cassondra Windwalker

To death and to the dragon born.

Being an executioner for the state is exhausting, but after a lifetime of dispatching the criminal and the inconvenient, fifty-eight-year-old Grenda finds it does have its compensations. Her cat-sized dragon Bjartur and the dragon eggs she tends are all the friends and family she needs. Completely cut off from the outside world, she happily accepts the luxuries owed her status – including a pet octopus named Morrigan – without the faintest twinge of conscience or doubt.

All that changes when she encounters the most unexpected nemesis: a young refugee girl whom Grenda is incapable of executing. Against her will, Grenda finds herself shifting from killer to caretaker, risking her life to defy the state she’s never questioned and help young Allora to freedom. Everything Grenda thinks she knows about her world, her life, and even her own identity cascades out of her control—including the dragon-bond she holds dearer than life itself.

 

What did I think?

Fantasy is not my usual genre but I was so impressed by Cassondra Windwalker's unforgettable novel Idle Hands that I leapt at the chance to read an early copy of Love Like a Cephalopod and wow, I was not disappointed.  

The writing is exquisite and the characters and scenery are brought to life so vividly that I could easily conjure their images in my mind.  The beautiful purple shades of octopus Morrigan's tank and the glittering green scales of Bjartur the dragon as well as the gooey melting cheese that Grenda loves so much.

I loved Grenda, the cheese-loving older protagonist whose life (if you can call it that) revolved around her work as an executioner for the state.  She works, she eats, she sleeps, she works and doesn't question it until she is unable to execute a young girl which completely tips the scales of Grenda's work/life balance.

As much as I loved Grenda, I also loved her dragon Bjartur who is really an extension of Grenda, as the pair imprinted when Grenda was a young girl.  The care they take over nurturing the dragon eggs in their care is very moving and it actually brought a lump to my throat at the end.

For me to love a book that belongs to a genre I don't normally read it has to be extraordinary and I absolutely loved Love Like a Cephalopod.  At only 211 pages long, I could have read so much more about this fantasy world but it might have been a bit daunting for new fantasy readers like me if it had been the traditional epic length of a fantasy novel.

Love Like a Cephalopod is a beautiful, moving and entertaining novel that held my interest from start to finish.  I loved it and could easily read it again right now to revisit and re-experience this highly imaginative and stunning fantasy world.  Cassondra Windwalker is a hugely talented hidden gem of an author and I highly recommend this extraordinary novel.

Many thanks to the publisher Bayou Wolf Press for sending me a digital ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Bound in Black - Steven De Luca

Galdor the Green, great and powerful leader of the Lifting Plateau dragons, finds himself magically incarcerated—without means of escape—deep within an underground cavern. Deceived by the dragon, Blaze, once friend and ally, a black scaled, black-hearted liar and master of deception.

A lot can happen to a dragon in a hundred years and the constant emotional turmoil, and starvation, weigh heavy on his heart.

Now, close to the brink of insanity, Galdor is plagued with nightmares over the havoc the deceitful Blaze will inflict upon his lost colony.

Yet, there is hope. The key to his return, lies in his past… with a human sorcerer. And another black dragon.

With his rival safely out of the way, Blaze the usurper is free to advance his coup unchecked. Dragons have become soft under Galdor’s complacent rule. It is up to him to restore his species to their rightful place, using his new found magic to strengthen his position and teach dragons how to really behave. As his magic grows, so does his ambition, and with it an unknown influence of unstoppable power, never before seen on his world.

Once fully ensconced as Galdor’s replacement, he will deal with the hateful humans, and by fang and flame, he will teach them the way of the dragon.

Skies will burn. Dragons will clash. Enemies, old and new, will die.

What did I think?

I rarely read fantasy but having read Steven De Luca's fantastic debut, Bound in Scales, I definitely became more open to reading novels in the fantasy genre and I was super-excited to read Steven De Luca's new novel, Bound in Black.  It certainly didn't hang around on my TBR list for very long!  Don't worry if you haven't read Bound in Scales, as Bound in Black reads very well as a standalone and it introduces us to a completely new colony of dragons.

The story is told in three parts as Galdor, the moot leader of the Lifting Plateau, is tricked and imprisoned by fellow dragon, Blaze.  Part One is very much setting the scene and Galdor's imprisonment, with a cameo appearance by our favourite sorcerer, Alduce.  When he came into the story, albeit briefly, I felt like I was seeing an old friend who I hadn't seen for years!  Alduce helps Galdor to escape his stony prison but the world to which he returns in Part Two is nothing like the peaceful colony he once led.  Blaze has become new moot leader and has waged war against the humans, turning once peaceful dragons into fighting machines.

Parts One and Two already had me on the edge of my seat but the pacing and tension are ramped up to the max in Part Three: the inevitable showdown between Galdor and Blaze.  Galdor has a little help from his friends and I was absolutely delighted to see some much-loved dragons from Bound in Scales appear in the story.  The friendship between Nightstar and Sunburst is stronger than ever and I love how little character quirks of the other rub off on each of them.  They definitely steal the show and make me want to read so many more of their adventures.

Bound in Black is fantastic fantasy!  I am surprised how much I love these stories of dragons and magic but that's all down to the captivating writing of Steven De Luca.  Bound in Black is gripping, captivating and filled with fast and furious fiery fun!  I couldn't put it down and I'm already crying out for more!  Bound in Black is very highly recommended; I absolutely loved it and could read it all over again right now.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Bound in Scales - Steven de Luca

Scientist.

Sorcerer. 

Thief.

For most of his adult life Alduce has kept to the shadows… until now.

His passion to complete ‘The Atlas of Dragons’—the definitive guide to dragon lore—consumes him and he must emerge from the safety of his studies to face the world once more.

After years of research he has discovered the secret to unlocking the fabled gateways, powered by a legendary lost metal known only as Flaire.

Risking his life on an experiment fraught with danger, he embarks on an unimaginable journey to another world, where dragons are real.

He will forge an unlikely new friendship and face the ultimate test to his humanity, changing his life forever.

His voyage of self-discovery leads to lies, deception and betrayal that threaten to destroy everything he has strived to achieve.

Will Alduce find the answers he seeks?

Can he learn from his mistakes and find redemption? 

Or will he choose the path of destruction?

What did I think?

Fantasy is not my preferred genre so I didn't really know what to expect when embarking on Bound in Scales by Steven de Luca.  A couple of hours later, I was like a newly hatched dragon emerging from an egg, blinking in an attempt to focus on the time when I managed to tear my eyes away from the page.  There's magic in this book, that's for sure; it even made me forget about my morning cup of tea to the point that the tea was STONE COLD.  Books have come close but have never succeeded in making me forget about my first cuppa of the day until Bound in Scales landed on my kindle.

Alduce is a bit of a loner, content with his own company he is writing an Atlas of Dragons and what better way to study these fine creatures than from within their midst.  Using science and sorcery, Alduce adds shapeshifter to his repertoire as he transforms into magnificent black dragon, Nightstar.  In the land of dragons, he befriends a yellow dragon named Sunburst and together the pair form a friendship that will be tested time and again.

With Alduce being a human, his thoughts and fears, hopes and dreams are completely relatable.  When he becomes Nightstar, he is still the same person underneath and his whole character is part of who Nightstar becomes.  With individual personal strengths and surprising insecurities, the dragons became characters I quickly began to care about, forgetting at times that they were beasts not people.

The whole story had me gripped from start to finish, from Alduce trying to keep his identity a secret from the other dragons to the battle with the evil Extractor who sees dragon blood as a valuable commodity.  The writing is excellent as landscape and characters are described so vividly that I could easily visualise the intended scenes.  I have to applaud the author for his amazing Northern Lights scene as the breathtaking beauty of this natural phenomenon is described with such reverence and clarity through Steven de Luca's outstanding imagery.   

Harry Potter meets Game of Thrones in this fantastic debut from new fantasy writer, Steven de Luca.  Remember that name as I'm sure we're going to be hearing a lot more about him.  Don't be put off if fantasy is not your preferred genre, this is an extraordinary piece of pure escapism fiction and one that I will enjoy reading again...hopefully along with a sequel so we can continue the adventures of Alduce and Nightstar.  Try something new and take a chance on Bound in Scales, you won't regret it!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon