Elly Blake

When last we saw Ruby, she was wondering what her life would be like living among Frostbloods as the love interest of the Frostblood king after having destroyed the last Frost King. Upon the opening pages of Fireblood, we learn exactly how difficult the struggle is. So when she is invited to visit the land of the Firebloods, we rejoice as she gets the opportunity to learn more about her people, learn more about her powers, and find a way to help Arcus.

As such things usually go, there is show more nothing about the trip that happens the way Ruby expects. There are agendas within agendas within agendas working against her, and Ruby is a bit slow when it comes to discovering them. She spends much of this book on her back foot, always trying to gain the upper hand but finding that she misread the situation yet again. It becomes a bit frustrating because we know she is a stronger character than this. Thankfully, we do get to see a bit more of Ruby’s powers, and she does get better at wielding them. We also learn more about her past and her mother. This helps round out her character a bit, explains a few unanswered questions, makes her less of an orphan, and helps offset the timidity of character she exhibits this go-round.

Upon finishing the book, there is the feeling that Elly Blake is not quite done with Ruby. Not only is there another book in the series, but her powers and her story remain unfinished. As we saw in the first book, there is much potential in Ruby. However, by the end of the second book, while more comfortable with her powers, you get the impression that she still hasn’t quite grown into all of them. Something is missing, and when she discovers what that is, there are going to be fireworks. What it is will undoubtedly relate to the big reveal in Fireblood, but what it has to do with the series ending remains to be seen.

One of the best things about Ruby is her independence. She does not sit around waiting for Arcus to find time in his day to spend with her. Instead, she is willing to put aside her feelings for the greater good of both countries. It is a lovely bit of sacrifice and a reminder that you should never lose sight of what is important when in a romantic relationship – yourself, your ideals, and your sense of duty.

Fireblood is a welcome sequel to the Frostblood series. It suffers only slightly from second book syndrome as Ruby is a bit too passive at times, reacting instead of acting. This was a flaw in the first novel as well, so I hope that in the third book she becomes bolder about taking the initiative. The story remains interesting with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, only some of which are totally predictable. In all, it remains a strong story with fun, well-developed characters. The only thing now is the year-long wait to find out how it all ends. show less

Initial Thoughts: “Elly Blake’s Frostblood series ended with a bang. I adored this series from the start, and I was eagerly anticipating the finale because I had no idea how it was going to end. Suffice it to say, Nightblood is everything I wanted in the series ending and more. Guys, it made me shed real tears. That almost never happens when I read, so books that do so always hold a special place in my heart. The story itself is pretty much perfection. The story goes to some very dark show more places, and there is plenty of violence to match that. Ruby faces the ultimate test in her powers and beliefs, and while she has grown and matured throughout the series, we still see glimpses of her initial awkwardness and charming ineptitude from the first book. The romance does not come easy, and any happy endings that occur are hard-won. I loved every minute of it.”

Now: I am still obsessing over the fact that Ms. Blake brought me to literal tears. I always get excited over excellent stories, but I rarely become so emotional that is causes a physical response like crying. The list of books that caused me to cry is so short that I can list them all without pause. In other words, it takes a lot to get me to cry, and yet there I was, weeping while reading as my heart tore during a particular scene towards the end of the novel. The pain and longing in that scene are so real that I forgot the scene was fictional. That is the hallmark of fantastic writing.

That one scene is the culmination of the rest of the series, and it highlights how stellar the rest of the story and series is. Ms. Blake does not just tie up loose ends, but she makes her heroes continue to fight and grow until the bitter end. They have to work for any happy ending they receive, which makes those endings so much sweeter for the victory they embody. Each story in the series develops into the other to the point where, while it would be possible to read each as a standalone novel, you lose so much if you did so. It is much more satisfying to see Ruby grow as much as she does, experience her journey, and cheer her on through all of the difficult decisions and impossible situations she faces. Ms. Blake’s Frostblood series is so impressive and satisfying that she is now on my must-read list, and I eagerly look forward to any future novels she might publish. show less

I realise I'm vastly in the minority here, but this needs to be said to preserve balance. I hated this book; I didn't even make it to the end of the first chapter, which is something of a record for me. (The author lost me at "His bare chest rose and fell with harsh breaths, the lantern light painting his lean muscles with loving attention to detail." This from someone who's possessed by the fire Minax.) Though I had reservations about Ruby's voice and the predictability of the plot while show more reading the second instalment, Fireblood, I was invested enough in the characters and in the storyline to want to find out how the saga ends.

First, there is something about Ruby's narration that I found incredibly irritating, and this old cynic found the romance angle completely overdone and sickeningly sweet – eurgh! Second, by spot-reading through the rest of the book to find out whether the read could be salvaged I discovered that it ends perfectly predictably, but even I hadn't reckoned on the appearance of gods to intervene in Ruby's fate and to bring Arcus back from the dead – pur-lease!

I applaud any author who realises their dream and pens a story to make it available to the wider public instead of hiding it away, but I won't be reading any more by Elly Blake. show less

Elly Blake’s entry into the fantasy young adult genre is not exactly groundbreaking but still manages to be compelling. Her story of ice versus fire is highly reminiscent of Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses, especially the sections where Ruby must compete in the tournaments. However, this should not concern interested readers for the story is still an intriguing one with plenty of differences.

Ms. Blake does quite a bit of worldbuilding within the story, an essential part of any show more new fantasy series. While this slows the pacing of certain sections, the payoff is considerable. It is one of the few fantasy novels where readers get the entire origin story of the world and its key players. Readers understand the politics as well as the magic, both of which are key focuses within the story. The lack of confusion about Ruby’s world is a welcome one, allowing you to focus on her trials and tribulations rather than trying to make sense of an unfamiliar world.

Ruby is another heroine in a long line of strong female characters upon whose shoulders rest the fate of her people. She has the determination and the fierce desire to win, a key trait of such figures. However, unlike some of the others with whom she could be compared, she also shows her youth in her irrational emotional responses. The intriguing part about this is the fact that Ms. Blake explains her emotional outbursts as part of her fiery nature; likewise the Frostbloods have an icy nature and are prone to hide their emotions. Indeed, there is a lack of angst in Ruby that is refreshing. Watching her harness her powers is equally fascinating, and the story ends with plenty of unanswered questions about her future potential.

While Frostblood may not be the strongest new novel, it is an entertaining one. Ruby gets under your skin in a good way, compelling you to continue along with her on her journey and forcing you to care about her that may not seem apparent given her propensity for emotional outbursts. The world in which Ruby must fight for her life is well-developed for the age target. While the story is somewhat self-contained, there remains plenty of fodder for future stories that will entice fans and make them anxious for the sequel. I think fans of the genre are going to love Ruby and Fireblood heart. show less