Ignite

Ignite is one of the strongest sequels I have ever read. Usually, the first book in a series or trilogy is what makes me fall in love with the characters and the story as a whole, but by the second book it usually goes downhill from there, in my experience at least. With Ignite, surprisingly, it could easily be seen as just as good or better (yes, better) than Defy (which I rated four stars).

Alexa is on my favorite female leads list, if I actually had a list, but you know what I mean. She is strong, willful, brave, and an exceptional guard. I just admire her so much, and I can’t find the right words to express that enough. I want all the happiness for this girl. And, also, Alexa had the cutest moments with a certain king.

Speaking of show more His Majesty, I adored how Damian treated Alexa throughout this book (and the first, too). He knew what Alexa was capable of and how strong she was. It’s so refreshing when a male love interest doesn’t try to hold back his lady love from important, dangerous missions. He was so understanding. Interactions between him and Alexa were so perfect.

Now about Rylan. What was his problem? I liked him in the first book, but he was a living ball of jealousy and constant angry faces in this one. Girl know who she wants, don’t be mad. There’s something really off about him, as well, and it’s not just his jealousy issues. I have a hunch, but I’ll have to wait and see.

While I had no clue what would happen for most of the book, I knew that a certain woman would be trouble. Insanely beautiful women usually aren’t the ‘good guys’ in these types of books, so I knew and Alexa obviously knew something was up. There’s quite a few unanswered questions that aren’t covered in the story, and while I really want/need to know the motive behind all that was happening, I’ll have to impatiently wait for the next book.
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As a sequel, Ignite definitely didn't disappoint. Sadly, the middle books of trilogies often end up sandwiched into a flattened mess of nothing, but that was definitely not the case here. The cast of characters remained as it was in the first book, with only a few additions. This allowed the established ones to develop and explore their dynamics with one another quite well in the relatively short number of pages.

From beginning to end, I ranted, melted in a puddle of emotions, raged some more, and braced myself for the tainted contentment of the not quite cliffhanger conclusion.

Third book, I'm ready and waiting.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Amazing sequel that lived up to all my expectations. Brimming with magic, romance, action, and betrayal this is one of my favorite high fantasy series of all time.

Opening Sentence: The heat in the hallway was stifling, even though it was well past midnight.

The Review:

In the land of Antion, there has been much unrest for many years. They had a tyrant of a king who led people by fear and was in no way a good man. But hope has finally come to the people in the form of a new leader, King Damian. In every way possible he has tried to make amends for all the crimes his father committed. Things aren’t perfect, but their country is finally on the mends until a new threat surfaces. A threat show more that can destroy all of Antion, and there is only person that can save the day — Alexa Holden.

Until very recently everyone thought that Alexa was a boy. To avoid the awful breeding houses she hid her identity and joined the army with her twin brother. But with Damian as the new king she no longer has to hide who she really is. There is no one that can match her skill with a blade and there is no one that is better fit to protect Antion’s new king. She is devoted to rebuilding her kingdom and will let nothing get in the way, including her feeling for Damian. She knows that for the kingdom to truly flourish Damian will need to marry someone fit to be a queen, and Alexa doesn’t fit that mold. But when their new allies attack their boarders, Alexa knows that something isn’t quite right. Alexa must uncover the truth and face a more deadly enemy then ever before.

From the first moment I met Alexa, I instantly loved her. She is a strong independent woman that is easy to look up to. But she also has a lot of girly insecurities that make her a believable character. She is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to battle and sword fighting, but when it comes to acting like a lady she doesn’t really have a clue what to do. While she wears the scars on her face proudly, she can’t help but be self conscious about how it makes her look, which is something I think most people can relate to. No matter how amazing you are at certain things you are never 100% comfortable in your own skin. You are your own worst enemy when it comes to criticizing yourself and Alexa struggles with this like most people do. With her amazing strengths and relatable flaws she is a very well rounded character that I completely adore and respect. I can’t wait to see where her story goes next.

Damian is such a dreamy guy. I fell madly in love with him in Defy and my fondness for him just grew in Ignite. Physically, he is a total hottie with a chiseled face, amazing body and piercing blue eyes, it’s hard not to find him attractive. But what I loved best about him was his overwhelming sense of goodness. He was raised in a terrible environment where he had to constantly fear for his own safety from his crazy father, but that in no way made him bitter. His sad past actually made him a more compassionate person and a wonderful leader. He has a great love for his nation and all those that reside in it. His relationship with Alexa has had a lot of bumps along the way, but I don’t think there are two people that are more perfect for each other. They have amazing chemistry and they complement each other perfectly. From the very beginning I have been team Damian and after reading Ignite my feelings haven’t changed.

Rylan is such a great guy. He is loyal to a fault and an amazing fighter. With his sweet personality and good looks he doesn’t have a hard time attracting the ladies. As another guard of the king he has been close with Alexa for years. They have always been really good friends and Rylan would do anything to protect Alexa. Rylan obviously has feelings for Alexa and has for a long time, but she just looks at him as a friend. I adore Rylan but personally I just don’t think he is for Alexa. I felt that in Defy the love triangle was a lot bigger part of the story then it was in Ignite. For all of those that read the first book and were disappointed by the love triangle, I think that you will be much happier with the second book.

Ignite was a fast paced story full of adventure, betrayal, romance, and action. I personally loved Defy and couldn’t wait to get my hands on of copy of Ignite and suffice to say I was not disappointed. I was eager to see where Larson took the story since the end of Defy wrapped a lot of things up nicely, but I knew there was more to come. I loved how she added new villains and expanded the world even more. The romance developed nicely and was done perfectly. Pretty much from the first page I was hooked and I couldn’t seem to put the book down. There were great plot twists and an ending that left me dying to see what happens next. This series is one of my all time favorite high fantasy series and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beautifully written story full of imagination and romance.

Notable Scene:

“You have brought peace between our two nations at great cost,” the man said in that same voice, chillingly empty of emotion.

“The cost, though great, was worth the result, I hope” Damian said, sounding a bit more cautious.

I hazarded a glance at Eljin again to find him staring directly at me. He shook his head infinitesimally and widened his eyes. A warning.

“If you believe the result was peace, you are mistaken,” the man responded and my head snapped forward again. The expressionless void was still in his eyes as he stared up at Damian, but he adjusted his stance, tensing slightly, and my blood ran cold. I began to pull out my sword but I was too late.

“There will never be peace for you or your kingdom.” He whipped out his sword and lunged so fast that Deron, who had reached for his own sword a second to slow, was unable to deflect him. The blade sliced through his bicep as Deron threw himself backward to avoid being run through. “The blood of your people will water the jungle floor!”

FTC Advisory: Scholastic provided me with a copy of Ignite. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

Rating: 4.25

This book followed the same pattern of the first book: relationship conflict, assassination attempt, kidnapping, journey through the jungle, magical warfare, rescue attempt, etc. I have a feeling the final book will do the same, which is slightly irritating, but at the same time, the pattern has been working for me because there are new enemies and mysteries to solve. Who is the true enemy, and how do we stop them? What do they want?

In this book, Alexia battles with herself over the decision she made at the end of book one, and it's a bit heart-wrenching. I love Damian's response ("Don't do that to me, Alexia.") to Alexia saying she'd understand if he wants to marry Vera. It's clear he loves her more than anything, and her show more actions (her daring attempts to save the kidnapped victim and the kingdom at large) prove how much she loves him.

Alexia is a kick butt character, but she still has vulnerabilities, and the scars than now mar her face heighten the relationship ones. A lot of those feels result from the stares and whispers or the court. How could that not weigh on her? She doesn't sulk though.

Rylan, we still know little about. I think he was just placed in the story as a sidekick with a crush. Kind of pointless if you ask me. I mean, he had done a lot in the books, but I don't know anything about him. I hope that changes in book 3.

Damian, now king, drops his needy prince act and shows what a leader he can really be. I love that he stands up to his advisers and is willing to trust those who have proven themselves in the past despite the evidence that makes them out to be the enemy.

The plot had several twists, and while many questions were answered, some where left for the final book. The mood of this book was suspenseful and daring. Everyone wants to save the kidnapped victim, but they don't know if they'll be able to. Then there was Vera, screwing up everything and manipulating all those around her. I felt for Alexia when she witnessed what happened in the garden. I didn't know it was Vera's doing and thought the accomplice was feed up and just went with it, not that I could necessarily blame the accomplice considering the hopelessness of the situation presented to them. Luckily it all gets resolved in the end.

Bring on the battles! This book had a ton of them, even in the opening chapters, and they continued throughout. This book needs to be a movie. I think they could fit it into one movie and be done. The pace is so fast it draws you in, and when you are done, you can't wait to pick up the next book. The main characters are complex and fully developed, which makes me care about them, though I have my concerns about the underdevelopment of Rylan.

The world building is complex, but the author reveals information at just the right speed, painting a vivid picture will providing motivations of the enemies. I can't wait for the final book. They are some many lose ends I need tied up.

If you liked [b:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810] [bc:Graceling|3236307|Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)|Kristin Cashore|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331548394s/3236307.jpg|3270810], you should try this out. show less

I can't even describe the thoughts in my head and course through my body. I love this book and at the same time it rips my heart out. I'm physically mourning the heartache. Alexa gives me mixed emotions. I feel as though she's selfish and immature, but at the same time, I feel as though I'd make the same stupid decisions as her. The only thing I find really missing is the passion. It seems fleeting, and for me, it's not enough. Amazing book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars ❤️

***This review and more can be found at my blog Love at First Write***


This book was nowhere near as awesome as Defy was, but it was still good. I know I had lots of questions after I finished reading Defy, and I don’t think any of them were answered in book two. I’m still not sure if you’re born a sorcerer or learn how to be one, or how one becomes a certain type, and apparently I also don’t know how one can have powers and NOT be a sorcerer. Additionally, I felt like the characters had become more flat, less three-dimensional from last time. I remember being stunned with Defy, there was a badass swordswoman, there were different types of relationships expressed, they lived in a tropical jungle AND there was magic. But we’re show more two thirds of the way done with the series and I still don’t see or understand the politics/relationships/cultures of the three different kingdoms. World building is crucial to any book, but this particular series is ABOUT the 3 kingdoms and war. Their world building seems crucial to the plot and is pretty nonexistent.

The plot of this book is that now Damian is king, there needs to be delegations from the surrounding allied countries just to reestablish connections with the new ruler. People from Dansii and Bvelon both show up, oddly around the same time, and it turns out the Bvelon soldiers are under a sorcerer’s control to attack the king. An attempt on the king’s life would be bad enough, but he’s the newly established monarch so his country is already unstable, and the Bvelonese were the people they literally just stopped fighting a war with in book 1. Basically, something’s fishy. Additionally, the Dansii couldn’t just send a normal delegation, they had to send a young pretty woman to seduce Damien, and to the torment of Alexa, she is successful in controlling the king. More complicated relationship stuff happens between Alexa, Rylan and Damien which eventually resolves itself to the conclusion of book 1. Alexa is still a badass swordswoman, but now she gets disrespected by the guards and the commoners which literally makes no sense because the guard knew her and was friends with her and respected her before she revealed her true gender. Being a girl doesn’t suddenly change the fact that she can kick all of their butts because she’s the best swordsman in the kingdom. So that was annoying but expected I suppose.

I also liked how Alexa’s relationship with Damien’s little brother was expanded upon. Their sibling bond is really cute and a great contrast to her complicated relationships with Damien and Rylan. The little brother looks up to Alexa and she helps him train and they platonically love each other and trust each other. When he is in danger, his life is put above all else. Not because he is heir to the throne, but because she cares for him. I will probably get around to reading book 3. Hopefully I will finally get some answers to all of my questions as well as a conclusion with some closure! show less

A solid follow-up to Defy, which furthers the story of Alexa and Damian. While I was delighted that Alexa and Damian's relationship made some progress(!), nevertheless I wish the plot had been better developed, but Ignite is still a very enjoyable tale and the ending did leave me ready for a sequel.