Reign of Shadows #2 Rise of Fire

Presenting Reign of Shadows #2 Rise of Fire by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:


The richly suspenseful sequel to Sophie Jordan’s romantic fantasy Reign of Shadows.

Luna and Fowler have escaped the kingdom of Relhok, but they haven’t escaped the darkness. When a battle against the dark dwellers mortally injures Fowler, Luna is faced with a choice: put their fate in the hands of mysterious strangers or risk losing Fowler forever.

Desperate to keep the one bright part of her life alive, Luna accepts the help of soldiers from a nearby kingdom. Lagonia’s castle offers reprieve from the dangerous outside world—until the king discovers both Fowler's and Luna’s true ties to Relhok and their influence over the throne.

Now pawns in each kingdom’s political game, Luna and Fowler are more determined than ever to escape and build the life they’ve been dreaming of. But their own pasts have a tight hold on their hearts and their destinies. Luna must embrace the darkness and fire within her before she loses not only Fowler, but the power she was destined to inherit.

REVIEW ==

Typical of duologies..... They might be a hit... Or a miss. Sadly in case of Rise of Fire, it just doesn't come to par with the fantastic and exciting that was the first book. Reign of Shadows, was a powerhouse in on itself. It was new and very exciting.... Rise of Fire in comparison just doesn't do it justice.

That is not to say that that I disliked Rise of Fire... I did not but it just didn't give that feeling of hair raising fun like the first book. Of course more of Luna and Fowler was a bonus. But other than that it felt like a haphazard mess. Don't get me wrong. There is a happy ending here and personally I like a good and happy ending but what paved the way to that was in the short order a disaster. 

My only beef with this book is just that inclusion of third wheel between Luna and Fowler of the Lagonian royalty and their stake in the power play.... Something that was totally not needed at all in the long run and just served to downgrade a possibly action packed and a hair raising finale. Where it felt like the author just threw in a final confrontation with the creature because she suddenly remembered what the story was all about.

"A disappointing conclusion to an exciting beginning"

Genre :     Young Adult, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Romance, Fairytale re-telling, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 7th February, 2017

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:             2/5 (It was Ok)

Other Books by the Author(review links):
         Uninvited #1 Uninvited
         Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows

Buy:         Amazon | Book Depository 

Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows

Presenting Reign of Shadows #1 Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.

But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.

With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

Rapunzel meets 30 Days of Night (movie, without the vampires). An eclipse cloaked the world in shadows and the monsters from deep within the depths of the Earth have come out to stay.Sophie Jordan's latest presentation Reign of Shadows has it all. An eye catching cover. A strong plot and very very strong characters to drive the plot forward. This is pure and simply a post apocalyptic dystopia as the denizens make ends meet to survive this Reign of Shadows.

The strong survive and the weak suffer. Miss Jordan has presented here a bleak and terrible era for humanity. A cut throat world in earnest is where the story begins with Luna, the lost princess of Relhok, hidden way in the mystery tower with her aides when the world began to grow dark. Not purely Rapunzel but our story takes its queue from the classic. Luna was a breath of fresh air. She is strong, agile and remarkably vigilant to everything that happens around her. Fiercely loyal and stubborn. She knows she must forevermore stay hidden and stay safe but she doesn't want that. She was something else. Something more.

There is something about Luna that endears us to her. So vulnerable, yet so strong. So different yet just extraordinary. A light in the darkness. She is something different than what we usually see amongst heroines of this genre and I love her dearly for it. She may have been coddled and sheltered her entire life but she definitely knows to grab the opportunity when it rises and I respect her for it.

Our gruff and strong protagonist is Fowler. The tall and stern guy with his own closet full of secrets to carry around. Comes off as cruel at first. But it soon becomes apparent that he carries great sorrows in his heart. He believes staying alone and not forming attachments is how you survive in this world. But gradually Luna penetrates that thick shell and out comes a vulnerability and sense of protectiveness that warms not just us reader but Luna too.

A selfless soul, Fowler may have taken her with him at first to repay a debt but through their journey they reach newer heights together in this dying world. A burgeoning slow building romance that helps to balance the dark and dreary that surrounds them. The world building was appropriately proportioned and the plot well paced through the pages. A lot of question were raised her which i'm hoping the sequel would address ....... That brutal cliffhanger though ...... is definitely making me desperate.

"Dark and the apocalyptic. Sophie Jordan ensnares us with this brand new and thrilling beginnings"

Genre :      Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Romance, Fairytale re-telling, High Fantasy

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: 9th February, 2016

My Copy: publisher & edelweiss

Rate:              5/5 (It was Awesome)

Other Books from the author I have read:
                       (review links)
           
Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository 

Uninvited #1 Uninvited

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!! Presenting Uninvited #1 Uninvited by Sophie Jordan.

Here is the summary of the book:

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

'Uninvited' marks my first Sophie Jordan read. I had heard a lot of her and have the first two books of her Firelight series but haven't been able to get to them yet. So this will be my first read from her and I am thankful to edelweiss and the publisher's for accepting my request.

The first book of a new series from the author, this is one of those unputdownable addictive ones that you can't help but feel one with as you read and feel what the characters or situations illicit in you. This is a pure contemporary dystopia. The government has made testing for HTS (Homicidal Tendency Syndrome) or the common term 'kill gene' compulsory, that supposedly spurns people to commit crime and do unlawful acts. If found positive, you are shunned your whole life, none of the institutions accept you and you are monitored by the government and if found guilty then the life you know will take you from bad to worst and you won't be able to anything because you are powerless.

Beautifully rendered by Jordan as she tells the story of Davy Hamilton, a music prodigy with the perfect life which takes the tumble when she is tested positive as an HTS carrier. Dumped by the boyfriend, betrayed by the friend, family helpless and her perfect plan to go to Julliard rejected. She struggles to accept. Accept the sudden changes that seems to be her life. At time she feels naive, thinking it only a fluke but little by little, she adapts to her surrounding and strives to not let the HTS define her.

Sean, the male protagonist and a male carrier is the only one who seems to understand what Davy is going through and helps her whenever she is in a predicament. He is the strong, silent bad boy with the killer good looks. Brought up in a foster home, his background is largely still a mystery. But Davy and him made for quite an interesting pair. Hot and cold and late passionately swoonworthy. A breathless romance like no other.

You can actually feel for them at the injustice to them all. I actually cried during the time when Davy's (supposed) BFF got her turned in just because of a slap getting her into more trouble. The anger, betrayal, broken trust, the helplessness, the friendship, the adrenaline, of new chances, and all the action; Uninvited is definitely one of those book you can't help not miss out on.

"An action-packed and intriguing new arrival from Sophie Jordan"

Genre :      Young Adult, Contemporary, Dystopia, Romance

Publisher: HarperTeen

Release Date: 28th January, 2014

My Copy: publisher and edelweiss

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository