Flamecaster audiobook

On Sale for the month of March on Amazon for $1.99Be careful what you wish for. This was my thought this entire book. I loved the Seven Realms series and like many pined for more stories in this world. Well I got it CWC completely delivered a fantastic story but I also got what comes with that. All the characters that were safe in my head with their Happily Ever Afters are no longer safe and I learned early that I might not be okay with that because CWC totally ripped out my heart while it was still beating, threw it on the ground, dropped a piano on it and then she Cackled…yes Cackled maniacally. Me Opening the first pages of this book:Me before starting this book: Seven Realms I’m home againMe after chapter 1: This hurts a littleME AFTER CHAPTER 2: Hey look there is my heart beating in front of me ON THE GROUND. Watch out for the Piano it is coming. ME AFTER CHAPTER 3: WHY Chima WHY???? It burns us precious.AND HERE IS CHIMA: Cackles Maniacally, “You thought you wanted more stories…..I’ll give you more stories.” Okay Okay…..maybe it wasn’t quite that bad no it was totally that badBut here is the thing I learned while reading The Seven Realms series (which even though you totally don’t have to read it first you really should because it is AWESOME and I want you to be as emotionally connected to everything as I was), where was I…oh yes this is what I learned CWC has a plan. She always has a plan in her stories and if you wait for the completion of it she will give you a beautiful story.So I will just remember when I was reading The Exiled Queen and my ship totally sank….and it sank hard, like the Titanic and I was devastated. But then something magical happened and I totally fell in love with how almost everything worked out on the romantic front for said Queen even though I almost never jump ships. I was so on board with how everything happened once the series was at completion and I thought ’Yes! This is fantastic. This is how it was meant to be. How could anything else have happened?’ So THIS is my hope for this series as well. But that said….I might still throw things if a certain thing happens….I will not be happy about it and I WILL RANT FOREVER if that is why I had to go through that pain in this book. *Takes a deep breath* unless CWC makes me love it…I don’t see how it could happen but……let’s just leave it there.Moving On, even though I felt so broken after the first few chapters Chima told me a fantastic story with things like foreign Queens, and Evil King, Assassins, Spies, gorilla warfare tactics, blood drinking priests (ewe) and DRAGONS!!!! Ash is everything I expect from a child born to Han and Raisa. Quick witted, sneaky and a man with a plan. He is an easy character to root for and I wonder how many tricks he has up his sleeve with a former street lord for a father. He is definitely dangerous.Jenna is a bit of an enigma in this and I loved the mystery that surrounded her. Most of the book is a set up to part of her story arc and by the end of this my mouth dropped to the floor and I was WOWed. *slow claps* for CWC for how that all went down.There are some great other side characters in Lila and Destin. I’m a sucker for the snark and both bring it in spades. "Second thing, whatever the king asks you to do, say yes. If he asks you to dig up your mother and hang her body from the ramparts, say yes. If he wants to you to make him a coat from the carcasses of kittens, your answer is yes. If he wants you to kiss his royal ass, say yes. Am I clear?""Yes," Destin said. Then couldn't help adding, "And if he asks me to kill you? Should I say yes to that as well?" I’m hoping that Destin turns out to be in team good but it seems that he has a few skeletons in his closet and so I’m not really sure where his loyalties and motivations lay. But I do know it will be interesting to discover them.Lila on the other hand is a warrior woman, I loved her from the first page but it might take others a minute to warm up to her. Still she gets some of the best snarky lines throughout the book and so it was instalove for me. “You don’t have to come with me,” Ash said. “I only brought you along because you’re good with a knife. And got us the uniforms. And the explosives.” Lila snorted. “Sorry I’m not pulling my weight.” I do love a girl that knows her way around explosives.OverallIt was fantastic and I loved it being back in this world so much. There is something really magical about the Seven Realms and the first series has stuck with me as one of my favorites throughout the years. I even came up with a theory to get my through part of my heartbreak of the beginning and I’m hoping that it pays off in the long term, because I do not accept it….I’m not ready to say that ‘the incident’ really happened in a permanent sense….I can’t do it. The only bad thing is that I found this series starting on book 1 and will have to wait with the rest of the world for its completion.Before reading.I know this awesome person (she is really the best, you know who you are) that was able to snag me an ARC. I can't wait to get back into the world of the Seven Realms, I might vomit I'm so excited.

"Hope is the thing that can't be reined in by rules or pinned down by bitter experience. It's a blessing and a curse." Okay, let's break this down:1) This is one of the most promising starts to a fantasy series I've read in a long time.2) I haven't read the Seven Realms series but, if you have, there is something that happens at the start of this book that will give you serious feelings. I almost feel them just by knowing what I know, even though I never read the original books.3) Flamecaster was an exciting and engaging book, but not quite what I expected. In some ways, though, it was so much more.4) There is magic and dragons and pirates and revenge and evil royalty and characters that may be good or bad... must I go on?!I want to say some more about #3 because, based on all the reviews I've seen, I went into this book expecting something and that wasn't exactly what I got. When it comes to fantasy, I tend to expect one of two things: 1) A long, dense work, filled with description and a slow-moving but intricately-woven plot (think Sanderson or Rothfuss), or 2) Lighter, simpler fantasy, filled with lots of drama, action and romance (think Maas or Bardugo). Both have their merits, but I was under the impression that Flamecaster was going to fall easily into the second - fast-paced, action-packed and probably romantic. And it didn't.Don't get me wrong, Flamecaster does not quite follow the pattern of long, wordy, adult fantasy novels either. But Chima writes like the seasoned author she is, with a knack for building up her storytelling, crafting a perfectly-told scene gradually, and developing multiple interesting characters over the course of the novel. The one romance that surfaces is not particularly central to the story and falls into its rightful place behind survival, intrigue, and a web of mystery and lies.There's a richness to this novel, and it's well-written in a way I don't see too often in YA fantasy anymore. I liked how the story unfolded gradually, fuelled by the characters' and the reader's need for vengeance and justice. I'm coming to understand that the words "fast-paced" and "engaging" are not necessarily the same thing. It is possible for a book to be packed full of random action and never pull you into the story, just as it is also possible - and as is the case here - for a book to reveal its secrets slowly and gradually, but be all the more engaging because of it. Good old tension, how I have missed thee.Flamecaster is a book that is clearly meant to be read as part of a series. This first installment does not follow the standard format of conflict and resolution, saving many things for the bigger story arc and leaving gaping questions at the end. But, honestly, it just made it even more thrilling. I can't wait for the next book.Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store

Flamecaster (Shattered Realms, #1), Cinda Williams ChimaFlamecaster is a breathtaking story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death. This series is set about two decades after the end of the Seven Realms series.Adrian-Sul-Han, known as Ash, is a trained healer with a powerful gift of magic—and a thirst for revenge. Ash is forced into hiding after a series of murders throws the Queendom into chaos. Now he’s closer than ever to killing the man responsible, the cruel king of Arden. With time running out, Ash faces an excruciating choice: Can he use his powers not to save a life but to take it?Abandoned at birth, Jenna Bandelow was told that the mage-mark on the back of her neck would make her a target. But when the King’s Guard launches a relentless search for a girl with a mark like hers, Jenna assumes that it has more to do with her role as a saboteur than any birth-based curse. Though Jenna doesn’t know why she’s being hunted, she knows that she can’t get caught. Eventually, Ash’s and Jenna’s paths will collide in Arden. Thrown together by chance and joined by their hatred of the ruthless king, they will come to rescue each other in ways they cannot yet imagine.تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز بیست و دوم ماه دسامبر سال2017میلادیعنوان: شعله گیر کتاب نخست از سری قلمروهای متلاشی شده؛ نویسنده سیندا ویلیامز چیما (چایما)؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگان ایالات متحده آمریکا - سده21مکتاب «شعله گیر» کتاب نخست از سری «قلمروهای متلاشی شده» داستانی نفس گیر از جادوی تاریک، و تهدیدهای مهیب، با دو شخصیت فراموش نشدنی است، که بر روی خطی تیز، بین مرگ و زندگی گام میزنند؛ «آدریان سول هان»، نامدار به «اَش»، یک شفا دهنده ی آموزش دیده، با توانایی جادوگری، و تشنه ی انتقام است؛ پس از یک سری کشتار که «کویندوم» را به آشوب میکشاند، «اَش» پنهان میشود؛ اکنون او بیش از هر زمان دیگری، به کشتن پادشاه ظالم «آردن» نزدیک شده؛ با پایان یافتن زمان، «اَش» با یک گزینش توانفرسا روبروست: آیا او می‌تواند از توانایی خویش نه برای نجات یک زندگی، بلکه برای گرفتن آن زندگی، سود ببرد؟تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 01/10/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی

That was too far, Chima, TOO. FAR!Why!?? how?? why?? You’ve struck hard, and right where it hurts. Cruel move. This series is set about two decades after the end of the Seven Realms series and what happens here is as a result of that went down in the first series. So,YOU NEED TO READ THAT SERIES FIRST in order to better understand the world and certain characters.

*** 4.25 ***A buddy read with the wizards at BB&B!!!I just finished reading this book, the first in the spin-off series of Seven Realms. Here the realms are Shattered and my heart was shattered along with them between chapter 1 and 3, rubbing some salt in the wound with characters 4 and 5, just in case we were not hurting enough, or could imagine hope or something... I am actually ready to bet that this author was one of the creators behind the illegal but still practiced on terrorists torture manual for the Bolivian Prison System!!! Or at least the CIA in Guantanamo... Maybe she got fired because of unusual cruelty and then decided to become a Fantasy Writer, so she can pass on the torture to us, poor, unsuspecting victims, or readers - in this case the two are interchangeable!!! I should start by saying that the first series, "The Seven Realms", consisting of 4 books, made me a fan of her writing, making me fall in love with the characters and their world. There were some signs of the author's potential for cruelty, but it all is well when ends well, right? Then came the news of this spin-off series, same world, 20-25 years later. Happiness ensued, jigs were danced, there was even a talk of nominating Cinda Williams Chima for sainthood... Then couple of weeks ago, among the happy celebrations of revelers for the book's release, we began hearing screams of pain, hearts braking, souls crashing and wails of despair... What happened? How could she do this to us??? What had we done to deserve this *BAD THING* to befall us??¿???? Then I knew - it was a conspiracy to lull us in a benign sense of pleasant safety, than BANG, hit us where it will hurt the most!!! She was clever, she knew how to get most from her stabbing...I wish I could say that she had the assassin honor of finishing us straight off after that, but I can't. Remember her previous profession, the torture creating gig, right....She began healing us, putting salves, cleaning the wound, clean bandages and even some TLC.. You don't trust her, you know better now, but she is building the sense of safety and security again... You start to have some hope, maybe a Phenix will rise out of the ashes... And she seals the promise with a Dragon (still a flying flame-resistent creature), and we, the suckers that we are, are going to open the next book brimming with hope and hungry for the Happily Ever After we have dared to dream about again... She had better deliver!!!Despite the emotional pain, this book was just as bewitchingly beautiful as the previous books!!! I was hooked, and went on the ride holding on for dear life by my fingernails!!! The writing is flawless, the characters real, the world and magic build up on the previous series. It is very much an Young Adult Fantasy and I didn't even care - I lost myself in the storytelling and will await the next installment with trepidation!!! I recommend this series (but read the first 4 books in order) to all lovers of Fantasy despite the other genres designations... Happy Reading to all and may the book fairies bring you what and when you need to read!!!!

4.5 Solid start to another solid series by Ms. Chima

"Love is the root of so much suffering and misery, so much loss. It’s the worst thing in the world, to risk yourself by loving someone. At the same time, it’s the best thing in the world—and worth the risk.” Flamecaster is an awesome epic fantasy novel that ticks all the right boxes. I know some people were a little distressed by the death early on of a character from a previous series but I can't really comment on that as I haven't read the originals. I will say it seems a bit harsh to one star an entire book for something that occurs like 30 pages in... anyway.... this series is fabulous. WRITINGThe writing is really funny. It has this delightfully wry tone: "His mood was so black that getting murdered was beginning to seem appealing” It is light on info dumps, has very funny dialogue and manages to weave a pretty complicated history/ background seemlessly into a fast paced plot. CHARACTERSCharacters were sophisticated, complicated and multifaceted. With the exception of the central antagonist everyone got reasonable development. "No, Hanson, this is not the scene where the girl puts on a skirt and some paint and her schoolmate, who’s a little thick, suddenly realizes that she is his true love.” “Oh,” Ash said. “Good to know.” There was an even spread across genders, no one felt trope-ish. There was a bit of Insta-ish love but it was understated. Ash, Jenna and Lila are all especially awesome, flawed characters and I found their trials and tribulations absorbing. QUIBBLES* I've already read the next book and now I'm not so sold on the Insta-love. Am I crazy for thinking a slow burn with Shadow would have been better? Him all grief struck, slowly building trust? No? Its just me? :'(* This book has a lot of political subplots. I enjoy that but if you prefer action, action, action it might be a slog. * It takes Ash too long to realise he has done the wrong thing, I would have preferred a more developed arc where he came to recognise his mistakes slowly over the course of the book with valid introspection which was dramatised thru his interactions with other characters- basically a more sophisticated exploration of family obligations, guilt and grief that arose out of watching how other people dealt with this stuff. I think that plot line was meant to be his dramatic thru-line but it basically only came up at the start and the end.Despite these minor issues I thought this was great.If you haven't read the author's other books and have been put off by disappointed fans don't let that deter you. Going in fresh I thought this was fabulous.

I keep fluctuating between 4 & 5 stars. Something that happens in the beginning of the book made me almost put it down and walk away. My daughter actually did put it down. I'm still not happy about it, so I'm just pretending I didn't read that part. This book is very different from the first Seven Realms series, but also very much the same. I loved the glimpses of the old characters, and loved the new ones I got to meet. I couldn't read this fast enough, and once I moved on from the beginning, I didn't want to do anything other than read. This world is one I could live in indefinitely, and Cinda Williams Chima is a master of storytelling. Whether you've read the other series or you just love fantasy, I think you'll be swept away by this story too.

Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series was one of my favorites when I was younger. So, I had high expectations coming into the Shattered Realms series, and I'm happy to say I was not disappointed. Mrs. Chima's characters, world building, and plot were just as top notch as I remember. I enjoyed everyone of the POV's in this book. Ash, Jenna, Lila, and Destin were all great characters and the side characters were just as well developed. This series has a darker feel that the original, and Mrs. Chima shows she is not afraid to kill of characters when the need arises. Every scene is meaningful and helps develop the story. It was so easy to get sucked in that I devoured this book way faster than is normal for me. In the end I was left with more questions than answers, but that is to be expected with the first book in a series. Needless to say I will be starting the second book right away. I would recommend this to all the readers who enjoyed the Seven Realms series, and lovers of YA fantasy. "Hope is the thing that can't be reined in by rules or pinned down by bitter experience. It's a blessing and a curse." Actual Rating: 4 stars ****

4.5 Stars It took me 3 years to finally start this, since I knew that my favorite character of the original series was going to die in the first few pages. It was horrible and I cried, but to be honest, the rest of the book is amazing. I love the new characters, there's just something about Cinda Williams Chima's writing and character building that I enjoy enormously.

Buddy read with Buddies Books and Baubles *Please note that this review may contain spoilers for the Seven Realms series so if you're not up to date with those books look away now*I absolutely love Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms series so when I found out she was returning to that world, albeit 20 years later, in the Shattered Realms books I couldn't wait to pick up Flamecaster. You know that well used phrase "be careful what you wish for" though? Well, Flamecaster is a perfect example of why you should take that advice to heart! This book may be set 20 years in the future and it may revolve around the next generation of characters, but that doesn't make it any less brutal and the first five chapters nearly killed me. I was utterly heartbroken and I came so close to putting this book down and pretending it didn't exist because the author doesn't shy away from tearing apart things that we thought were safe at the end of the previous series. I'm still praying that events at the beginning of this book weren't what they originally seemed and that we're going to be able to heave a huge sigh of relieve when we pick up the next book and find out what really happened. Please Cinda Williams Chima take pity on me, I beg you!Anyway, if you can get past those first few chapters and kind of put aside your love for old characters long enough to give the new ones a chance I still think you're going to love this book so don't let my comments above put you off reading it. We are introduced to some absolutely brilliant characters here and I'm really excited to see what comes of them as the series continues. This book starts 20 years on from The Crimson Crown, Raisa has been a good queen to the Fells but they have been at war with the Arden ever since she publicly rejected the king's marriage proposal so long ago. The war has taken it's toll on the Fells and the surrounding realms but Arden is stronger than ever, especially since they have been capturing wizards and using magical collars to force them to do the king's bidding.I was a little worried that the main characters were only about 13 when we first started reading but luckily after a bit of background we get to jump forward around 4 years which puts them at a similar age to Raisa at the start of the previous series. Ash is Raisa and Han's son and he's seen first hand what the King of Arden has cost his family and his people so he decides to set out on a mission to sneak into Arden and assassinate him. He has been trained as a healer but that just gives him an advantage as he knows which plants can kill, he just has to get close enough to the king to be able to use them. Ash has a lot of Han's street smarts and he's a really easy character to root for and like although I wasn't too happy about the way he left home so suddenly without letting Raisa know he was safe.Jenna is a girl who comes from a poor town in Arden, she was forced to work in the mines from a very young age and when the king killed her two closest friends she joined the rebellion determined to end his reign of terror once and for all. There is a lot more to Jenna than first meets the eye and her family have been keeping secrets that even she doesn't know about so her storyline gets interesting really quickly when it becomes known that the king is searching for a girl with a certain birthmark. I'm not going to say much more than that - I think you should read the book to find out the details! - but I loved her character. She's incredibly brave and puts herself into some tough situations in her quest for revenge so I definitely want to see her succeed with her goals.We have a couple of great side characters too in Lila and Destin. Lila is a warrior and at first glance she's quite mercenary and only seems to go where the money is but she has a good heart and is very protective of the people she cares about. Destin is more morally ambiguous, I'm hopeful that he's on the side of good but I do worry about some of the things he does. Is he just playing the king and his guards though? He's definitely keeping secrets and I'm not even sure if he knows what side he falls on yet so that's going to be interesting to watch play out in the future books. Flamecaster has everything I loved about the original series - the great characters, the interesting plot twists and the fabulous world building - but then Cinda Williams Chima had to one up herself and include dragons! I honestly don't think it could get much better and I'm going to be first in line for the sequel when it publishes next year.

“Love is the root of so much suffering and misery, so much loss. It’s the worst thing in the world, to risk yourself by loving someone. At the same time, it’s the best thing in the world—and worth the risk.”...*pulls knife out of chest*I was personally attacked by this book. The first few chapters of Flamecaster fucking KILLED ME. Why would you do this to me, Cinda?! Ahem. Yeah, people weren't wrong about how brutal the first few chapters of this book were. If you've read the Seven Realms series (and you damn well should!) then Flamecaster will hit you hard. I won't get into specifics, but damn. I cried like a little baby.And I mean it, guys: Read the Seven Realms series before starting this series. You're only doing yourself a disservice. It was so unbelievably worth it!Now, onto Flamecaster.This first installment in the Shattered Realms follows a plethora of characters, all from different corners of the Seven Realms. Ash is a young mage on a quest for revenge. Jenna is a rebel hiding out in the lawless village of Delphi, plagued by a secret power she doesn't understand. These two characters cross paths, and nations face off in war that could tear the realms apart. This book was great.Flamecaster was my companion through long bus rides along Czech countrysides. I read the last half of this book on my international flight back to the US. It had me in its claws from page one. And part of that is due to the fascinating characters.I really like our leads. Ash is a very unconventional hero; he's a healer with violent desires. To protect his family and his country, he's out for the blood of one man: the vicious, ruthless Gerard Montaigne, King of Arden. One of the things I like about Ash was the inner conflict that he faced. His past and his dreams were at war with one another, and the struggles he went through in this book were heartbreaking. Jenna was a badass character as well. Her story was definitely an interesting one, and I can't wait to find out more about her! The magic she possesses, and the secrets surrounding her lineage have me itching to pick up the second book right away. Not only was Jenna fierce and crafty: she was also flawed and realistic, which I appreciated.However, the side characters in this book are amazing. Destin Karn is a "villain" with layers and hidden motivations. He was awesome. And then we have Lila Barrowhill, a thief/con-artist whose side you're not really sure she's on. What a badass she was!My favorite character in this entire book has to be Evan Strangward, a pirate with storm magic from Carthis. I LOVE HIM. I want an entire book about this guy, please and thank you.I loved hearing about characters from the previous series that I loved. Being thrown into this world again was such a joy. It's rich and full of depth, with so much history and magic. The Seven Realms is a fascinating fantasy world that I hope Chima continues to write about. A good portion of this book is set in Arden, a land that we only get glimpses of in the previous books, and and we're learning a lot more about Carthis, an Empire overseas with a badass sorceress queen. Sign me the fuck up.The plot in this story was very character driven, but there was a lot of great tension built up in the political machinations of the warring countries of the Fells and Arden. There were secrets, spying, and surprises all around. I was consistently entertained! I'm so excited to continue on with this series and see where our characters go from here.Because that ending. was. INSANE. This book made me emotional. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I was constantly enthralled with it. The only downside to Flamecaster was the romance. I didn't particularly care for it. I mean, it made sense why Jenna and Ash would gravitate towards one another given the circumstances of their relationship, but I felt it was...a little rushed? You guys know I'm trashed for slow burn. Other than that, I thought this book was great. You all are sleeping on Cinda's books: SHE'S A QUEEN. On to Shadowcaster! I'm so excited.

My! The story was epic! I love it! I love it! I love it! The element of surprise was truly stunning. I really should read The Seven Realms.Just one issue, the romance was too sudden. Just in my opinion though. The romance was logic to happen in the plot. And I love the relationship. It's was sweet.This book will for sure be my fave 2016.5TH JANUARY 2017JUST LOOK AT THE NEW COVER! IT HAS TOG VIBES WITH IT!AND KNOW I DON'T WHICH SHOULD I PICK....

THIS BOOK. THIS FUCKING BOOK REACHED INTO MY CHEST, TORE MY HEART OUT, AND STOMPED ON IT REPEATEDLY IN 26 PAGES. 26 pages in and I was ugly crying for a good hour. I have never cried so quickly for a book ever. When I finally composed myself every time page 26 was alluded to I started tearing up again. Ever since I read The Seven Realms series a few years ago, I was in love with this beautiful world Chima had built. I was especially in love with the characters. When news came that this series would be a follow up about Han and Raisa's kid, I danced and screamed like a loon. I still am a little, but goddammit this isn't what I wanted. Not at all. Don't get me wrong, this is a great start to a fantasy series, but page 26 is not what I wanted for my Seven Realms loving heart. Enough about my grieving, let's get back to the actual plot. After the events of page 26 Ash finds himself running away to Oden's Ford, the mage school he's always wanted to go to. He has only one goal in mind, to kill the king of Arden. I loved Ash. He is exactly how I expected Han and Raisa's son to be, smart, cunning, compassionate, determined, and ruthless. He will stop at nothing to kill the king, but he has the patience to wait for the right time. Then we meet Jenna, a miner girl with her own reasons for wanting the king dead and a mystery surrounding her. I like Jenna. She's smart and headstrong, but I was more curious about what made her so damn special. When I finally guessed it and was right, I must say, it's pretty damn cool. I'm very curious to see how she will tie into everything as the series progresses. Secondary characters are also great. We have Destin, a lieutenant and son of the general, and Lila, a spy with her own secret agenda. Both appear to be morally ambiguous characters, you're not quite sure whose side they're on. They're great characters though. Destin has a dry sense of humor, and a complicated history with his father. Lila is sassy and snarky. I'm eager to see more from them as well. We interact more with the world outside of the war between the Fells and Arden. The Northern Islands are involved somehow, and we meet new characters from there. I'm really eager to explore more of this section of the world and find it the mystery behind everything. Now, you'll notice I docked a star off. That is because of the instalove. Now, I'm usually open-minded about instalove because my boyfriend and I have been together for over 3 years and we kissed two days after we met, and got together 2 weeks after our first meeting. Instant attraction does happen, and relationships do start quickly. It's rare, but it happens. My relationship is proof of that. However, two characters meet once and as soon as they part they're thinking about each other, swooning and everything. The next day they're kissing. A few days later, they're doing more than kissing. Like damn, slow down guys. You literally met each other six days ago and you're already proclaiming your love?? Attraction and crushes I can understand, but love in six days? I don't think so. Granted, at their first meeting something happens between them that might explain this a bit, but it's still ridiculous. You guys barely know each other! It was just too ridiculous. I found it kinda funny though (view spoiler)[ because Han and Raisa took four books to be together, and Ash and Jenna do it in one. Like damn Ash, you're smoother than your own father. (hide spoiler)]Other than that, it was great. There are assassination attempts, bloodsucking priests, pirates, and mythical creatures. The story is well-paced, and the characters are well-written. Chima's writing is beautiful as always. She manages to throw in deep character introspection as all the madness is happening. This was a solid building block to a new series, and I'm really eager to see where Chima takes it! (view spoiler)[I am especially eager to go back to the Fells and see Ash's reunion with Raisa and his sister! I hope she yells at him for running away for four years. BE WITH YOUR MOTHER ASH, COMFORT HER DAMMIT. (hide spoiler)]I still have hope for a solution to page 26. THERE ARE 3 MORE BOOKS TO FIX THIS. I REFUSE TO GIVE UP!!!!

It hasn't been that long since I'd read this novel, but I wanted to get a reread in before I finally picked up the sequel. And I'm definetly glad I did, the rating stays solid. But I have to say, I forgot how many questions this book left me with! Especially that epilogue, my excitement is totally rekindled. This is somewhat of an edit for my original review, so there's some light spoilers ahead. Still super short, however, and everything I'll say is revealed within the first hundred pages, but still just go read the books if you haven't lol. Cinda Williams Chima has yet to disappoint me, and I’m quite a ways past obsessed with her books (not to mention their covers because wowza). It blows my mind how unbelievably underrated this woman is. Why are more people not reading her books?? What are all of you doing with your lives?? The Seven Realms series as a whole was one of the best that I read in 2016 and I’m so glad that the sequel series is off to such a fabulous start—better than its predecessor at point.Flamecaster was both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because, as always, I fall in love with Chima’s characters. They’re all so fabulously layered and unique. You can’t help but root for them. And I always have so much fun, as there’s just the right amount of banter and snark (Lila, amirite?) and humor to lighten things up when you need it. I wish I could explain how much I love being immersed in this world, the politics and the magic of it all. But, as I said, it was also a curse. There was a lot of grief. The true tragedy of this book, of the existence of this series really, is definitely the stolen happy ending for the Seven Realms. Han and Raisa deserved to live out their lives together and in love. It's bittersweet knowing they had 25 years, that they loved and raised children but lost their first. Ash, I love him so much though. I'd be glad to have this series if only for him. Well, Ash and Jenna both. I love how they came together and their stories meshed so beautifully. I'm looking forward to their reunion more than anything else hands down. I won't say anything more, except that I can't wait to see where Shadowcaster takes me.

Flamecaster held up beautifully on its own as a young adult high fantasy, but to be back in the seven realms again was magical. Chima wove an intriguing and heart pounding story, and despite certain events at the beginning of the book, I absolutely loved every bit of it. The mentions of the original characters were perfect and made me so happy, but Ash and Jenna were fantastic protagonists full of Chima's charisma and dry humour. The plot was amazing and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and she set up the rest of the series perfectly. I can't wait to see where this goes and can't recommend this one more. Wait anxiously for April because Flamecaster was perfect!