Review: As She Ascends

Title: As She Ascends
Author: Jodi Meadows
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 11, 2018

MIRA, THE HOPEBEARER
Mira Minkoba is on the run with her friends after a fiery escape from the Pit, where she’d been imprisoned for defending the dragons she loves. And she wants answers. Where have all the dragons been taken? Why are powerful noorestones being shipped to the mainland? And did the treaty she’s been defending her whole life truly sell out the Fallen Isles to their enemies?

MIRA, THE DRAGONHEARTED
As her connection to the dragons—and their power—grows stronger, so does Mira’s fear that she might lose control and hurt someone she loves. But the only way to find the truth is to go home again, to Damina, to face the people who betrayed her and the parents she’s not sure she can trust.

Home, where she must rise above her fears. Or be consumed.

The second page-turning novel in Jodi Meadows’ Fallen Isles trilogy scorches with mysterious magic and riveting romance as one girl kindles a spark into a flame.

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We start off immediately after the end of Before She Ignites. The gang has escaped from the Pit, Altan on their heals. Mira has discovered her new and explosive power, and the dragons are being taken away.

Can I just say that I love how Jodi handles cliffhangers? If you don't know what I mean, I urge you to read her Orphan Queen duology. But this one was entirely different. While I absolutely needed to know what would happen next, I wasn't cursing the author for leaving me hanging for a year. So at least there was that.

And then we have the world. While we learn a lot about the different Fallen Isles in Before She Ignites, we get to see even more. There's more of Khulan to be discovered, and there are other islands explored that we didn't see in the first book. Not to mention Idris and Aaru's POV. I mean, hello! We get Aaru's POV! Which I was completely stoked for, and it definitely lived up to the hype.

Mira and her friends have an awesome squad going, and it's clear to see that even though they fight, they all need each other. And things are likely to get very sticky for them in the final book.

One of my favorite things about As She Ascends was just how much character growth Mira had. At the beginning of Before She Ignites, she's easily manipulated. Complicit in whatever the Luminary Counsel asks of her. By the end she's fighting. But it's during As She Ascends that she truly learns exactly what she's fighting for and how to go about it. Instead of going on first instinct, she needs to learn more about each and every situation.

Plus the dragons. There's lots more dragons. LaLa and Crystal are still around. Plus let's not forget Lex and Kelsine from Before She Ignites. There are new dragons we haven't met, and old dragons we have. So many dragons!

We end with another intense cliffhanger as things have taken a turn for the worst. It will leave you needing the sequel immediately.

Overall

I honestly think I liked this better than the first book, which is always tough since second books tend to fall flat. But it was everything I could have hoped for. I loved it, and I cannot wait for more!

5 stars