This sequel was amazing! Heart of flames review!

Title: Heart of flames.

Author: Nicki Pau Preto.

Format: Audiobook.

Publisher: Simon Pulse.

Page count: 640 (23h 17min)

Release day: February 11^th 2020.

Genre: YA, fantasy.

Rating: 5 stars.

*See my review for book one here!*

What is it about? (Summary from GoodReads)

Veronyka, Tristan, and Sev must stop the advancing empire from destroying the Phoenix Riders in this fiery sequel to Crown of Feathers, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake calls “absolutely unforgettable!”

You are a daughter of queens.

The world is balanced on the edge of a knife, and war is almost certain between the empire and the Phoenix Riders.

Like Nefyra before you, your life will be a trial by fire.

Veronyka finally got her wish to join the Riders, but while she’s supposed to be in training, all she really wants to do is fly out to defend the villages of Pyra from the advancing empire. Tristan has been promoted to Master Rider, but he has very different ideas about the best way to protect their people than his father, the commander. Sev has been sent to spy on the empire, but maintaining his cover may force him to fight on the wrong side of the war. And Veronyka’s sister, Val, is determined to regain the empire she lost—even if it means inciting the war herself.

Such is your inheritance. A name. A legacy. An empire in ruin.

As tensions reach a boiling point, the characters all find themselves drawn together into a fight that will shape the course of the empire—and determine the future of the Phoenix Riders. Each must decide how far they’re willing to go—and what they’re willing to lose in the process.

I pray you are able to pass through the flames.

My thoughts:

I absolutely loved book one and wanted to love this one as well! So I was a bit afraid that my expectations for this book were too high, but I worried for nothing! This book was just as amazing as book one!

Sometimes the middle book in a series is a bit slower compared to the other first and last book. Since it often contains a lot of planning and political stuff. While this book definitely contained some planning as well, it definitely did not lack on action! There were so many amazing action scenes in here, and I just could not stop listening! I always listen to audiobooks while traveling to my internship, and every day I hoped no one would be in the office yet so I could listen just a bit longer haha!

The plot was just good. It made sense, it was not random action scenes for the sake of action but there was reasoning behind them. Also consequences for the rest of the book and other characters! Also so many questions from book one are answered, but so many more new ones are now here?!

And then for the characters, they are all so good and well developed! I was interested in all their storylines, there was literary no POV that I did not really care for! I do think Tristan’s character could have developed a bit more, at some point he realizes he is doing something wrong, I mean that is step one, but then kinda continues doing the same?! Maybe he will improve in the third book!

There is some kind of romance in here, but it is so small and on the background. I would almost call this a fantasy without romance, even though I’m expecting it to become a bit bigger in the last book.

I think the relation between Veronyka and her sister Val is so interesting. I can’t really say much about it without spoilers. But I can see why Veronyka feels what she feels, but also OPEN YOUR EYES!!

I just still absolutely love the phoenixes, and the fact that they are quite present!

Idk how I’m going to wait another year for the last book..

Have you read this book? What did you think?