Saturday, August 8, 2015

Review: The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy

The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles, #1)Title: The Last of the Firedrakes
Author: Farah Oomerbhoy
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Release Date: August 15, 2015

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.

Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.


This is a tough review to write.  There were some things that I loved about this book, and others not so much.

First off, the world-building is fantastic.  The world is huge and I'm pretty sure I missed things because there were just so many details.  But the history is wonderful.  I enjoyed reading about the fae and the mages and the differences in their magic.  And then we have all sorts of magical creatures, including a pegasus.  I found the mix of magical lore and Greek mythology strange, but it worked well.

I loved Rafe and Erien.  Though I think Rafe will stay my favorite.  He's broody and handsome and has a secret identity he doesn't want Aurora to know.  As the book goes on, it becomes more and more obvious who he really is.  But that's okay.  He's still a wonderful character.  He's dark, funny, an excellent fighter and I totally shipped him with Aurora from his first appearance.

The one thing that I'm truly on the fence about with The Last of the Firedrakes is Aurora herself.  I had so much trouble with the main character.  She acted so stupidly at times.  Yes, I get it.  She's new to this world.  But she doesn't listen to others' advice.  She waltzes in to situations that she knows are stupid because people keep warning her and is surprised when things turn out badly.  I really hope she learns some listening skills by the second book.

I enjoyed this book a good bit.  And the ending.  That ending leaves me wanting to read the next one pronto.

So what did I think overall?
I think this is certainly a worthwhile read.  I will definitely be reading the next book.  I think it's a series that has the potential to be excellent so long as Aurora starts to grow up a little.

Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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