I just finished the first book and I have to say, thank you so so much for this recommendation. I absolutely loved it! Definitely the best book I have read so far this year and porbably one of my all time favourites.😊 I really hope the series continues this strong and hopefully doesn't get too depressing...😅
"i'm making all these weird noises and hand gestures because this book was so good" this is such a mood fauisdhfad I'm so glad you liked the book this much! I read this right when it came out, and was blown back by how intricate and well the political worldbuilding was in this story. I've long forgotten it and will definitely be reading this again. Thanks for reminding me this deserves a second (and more!) read!!
I read Fireborne last year and my assessment was the same as you! It took me about 150 pages to really get into it, and I felt like oh another ya angsty dystopia, warrior challenge, until that point. I agree the author is masterful at showing politics in a believable, hard hitting, but not side-taking way. You see problems with both sides and with the different POV and side characters plus their assignments give you what feels like personal insight. The way trauma and relationships are handled are also really realistic in my opinion! And the propaganda! It’s fascinating to me! I can’t wait for the next book!
I saw this in one of your other videos and decided to pick it up. Just finished it yesterday and came back to watch your review because I absolutely LOVED it so much. Thanks for helping me discover this gem of a story.
So glad you loved this!! This was my favorite book of last year. I thought the moral discussions, complex and realistic characters, and imperfect political structures were SO GOOD. There was so much to think about and dig into. Plus: dragons. What more could you want? 🙌🏻 Definitely could have used more dragons though.
I absolutely loved this book! I noticed last week it had come in on my library ebook app, so when I went to bed at 11pm I decided to read a chapter, just to get a taste. I then continued reading it until I finished it at 3:30am. It had me that hooked. I definitely was not expecting it!
I read it a few months ago; i loved it so much and i was kinda bummed that it's really not talked about a lot on booktube so i'm reeeally pleased that you loved it as well! I really enjoyed how the author played out annie and lee's dynamic, also how she fleshed out their characterisation without belittling their trauma. I'm so excited about the sequel 😍
Ahhhh, you read it! I've been trying to get more ppl to read it because DAMN this book totally deserves it. When I was trying to get my friend to read it the only negative I said was that it was a slow start. I'm a huge character driven person. Plot is important but a character could make it or break it for me. This book just had everything though. The incredible character growth of both PoVs was just so good. Now I feel like I need a reread...
This book has been on my radar for awhile, but I never knew enough about it to push myself to read it yet. Your review definitely pushed it to the top of my TBR! I adore political fantasies (and dragons), so I have a feeling this will be perfect for me. Thank you for an awesome review!
I almost stopped the video in the first minute based on what you said about similar tastes because I did enjoy many books that I read based on your recommendation, but then I remembered The Rage of Dragons and the action/training thing so I continued the video lol :)
I just today finished reading this based on your recommendation, and absolutely loved it - thank you! It's the best 'book by an author I haven't tried before' that I've read in a long time.
Gosh I love a full real book review, or like a full book chat, I wish they were still popular. I will for sure be adding this to my (way too long) TBR!
This book is SO good. One of my favorite YA fantasies that I’ve ever read, and it deserves so much more love. Thank you so much for hyping it up on your channel!
i never considered myself a political intrigue fan, but i also fell in love with this book! i agree with everything that you said and more about it. i can't wait for the sequel!
So I picked this book up solely because of your recommendation, and I ADORED it! I'm a sucker for character driven books and this one had me hooked the whole way through!
Side question....can I somehow filter your video lists and see only those that are like this one 4 years old as I now find books that are older and YT search doesn't alway give me good video sugestions and maybe you have done those books reviews
I’m currently reading Before they are Hanged. Warbreaker is next for me. This Fireborne book sounds awesome. I’ll pick it up and read it after Warbreaker. Thanks for all the great recommendations!
Picked this up after your year end recommendation and I loved it! Spoiler Alert! I was shipping Lee and Crissa way more than Lee and Annie. Crissa is just flippen lovely.
I'm genuinely surprised by how many people find this book so good. Almost nothing happens in this book. There are no stakes, the political intrigue is juvenile at best, and the action is non-existent. Then there's cannons that no one has thought to use against dragons or mount small ones to the dragons for airel combat. And guns apparently don't exist, which would seem like they would be helpful in trying to shoot a dragon rider from dragonback as well.
I picked up this book recently but still haven't gotten to it. I haven't heard anyone really talk about it so I just never prioritized it... hearing you gush though makes me want to move it farther up my TBR and get to it much sooner.
This sounds really interesting. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to have been published yet here in the UK or I would have bought the ebook straight away. I'll have to see if I can get an imported print copy!
I picked up this book earlier because of you previous tbr. Absolutely loved it. Thanks. It makes you realise for a particular government to work you need good people to them. Sometimes people remain stuck in the "idea realm" and end up becoming what they are trying to fight. You should check out "Orcronomics" by Zachary Pike. You would live it.
Out of curiosity, is there any particular reason you mentioned being reminded of the French Revolution and not, well... the Russian one (in relation to the Anastasia parallel)? Because the way you describe it it sounds like a straight up fantasy/dragon-filled re-interpretation of the Russian Revolution. 😅
I want to read this now!! You’re reviews always give such a good sense of what a story is like. I’m really curious to see what you would think of the Glass Alliance series by Joanna Hathaway ❤️
This actually wasn't on my TBR at all (even though half my GR friends added it, no one read it and it wasn't catching my attention), but this actually sounds great. I'm fine with dragons, but I really do enjoy political fantasy.
Your "gush fest" was adorable! I think it should be normalized for people to express when something makes them excited or happy! Radiate all of that happiness, girl!
Damnit Elliot ! I hadn't even heard of this book, or author, now I'm going to have add it to my TBR list. I'd give +2 likes if I could for your gushing praise, hand expressions and general excitement :)
The Valor and Ruin books behind you. What series is that? Those two books keep catching my attention and I hate asking questions like this because it makes me feel nosy. But I need to know.
I feel like I havent agreed without alot of the books youve liked and disliked lately. But this does sound good and interesting. I added it to my TBR, hopefully this can be another book we have the same opinion on :D
@@ebnovels Ooof! Well it probably started with Lies of Locke, then Steelheart, then there was Spin the Dawn, then Rage of Dragons and then your gush about Kaladin :P Everything else you've read the past couple of months I've either disagreed with or havent read! Im about to pick up Ash Princess and Fireborne JUST so I can gush with you! (Its really sad when you just dont a have a good groove with one of your favorite youtubers) OH! BUT i am finally reading Crown of Feathers this month. I cant imagine I wont like it so hopefully I can mutually gush with you about that lol
@@lucaleone4331 I hope this doesn't sound rude or anything, but is part of it that you aren't clicking with YA books right now? Or is that totally off? :O Btw, Ash Princess is super tropey in the first book, and there is a pretty prominent love triangle. I don't know if that's an immediate no for you!
@@ebnovels I wouldnt say so. Steelheart seemed kind of YA right? And I liked it. I also felt the same as you about the first two Shadow of the Fox books. And Ive read a couple of other ones that I liked. Plus Im about to publish my own YA book so I hope I click with the genre or we about to have a problem lol (To be honest, that wasnt rude at all, but when I saw the notification of your reply I thought you were gonna say something like, "tbh you should just find a new youtuber" or something which wouldve hurt lol)
Read it. LOVED IT. Though I'm still a little confused about: SPOILERS First off (and this one is really killing me) what the hell is going on with Lee and Annie (romantically)? Are they getting together are they not getting together, and what does Crissa think of the whole thing (does she not know about Lee and Annie? Does she even care?) Also, Annie's plan at the end. I thought people hated the Dragonborne? How was Annie and everyone so certain that the witnesses wouldn't just side with Atreus? I know Lee killed another Dragonborne for Callipolis but it feels like they just took his heritage in stride. Or maybe the other higher-ups were never in support of complete extermination of the the Dragonlords and their lines in the first place? I know the people definitely were, and they will be wanting Lee's head, or at least that's what I assume. I can't find anyone talking about Fireborne and I'm really frustrated about it lol
A Romanov dragon rider adjusting to the Bolshevik propaganda system? Political theorist author? Whaaaaaaat? I would never have picked this up because of the cover (dragons aren't my favorite thing to read about), but this sounds really really cool.
Haha, well if it helps, that dragons are not that significant. It doesn't seem that way at the beginning, but really, it's more political than anything. I told someone else that the dragons are kinda like horses that could destroy a village :O
Yessss Fireborne is so underrated!
I can't WAIT for its sequel. I remember you reading this and being like, "Why haven't more people read this?" Now I'm in that boat too :D
I just finished the first book and I have to say, thank you so so much for this recommendation. I absolutely loved it! Definitely the best book I have read so far this year and porbably one of my all time favourites.😊
I really hope the series continues this strong and hopefully doesn't get too depressing...😅
You had me at “if you have similar tastes to me, just pick up the book” 🤣 so basically I was sold at 3 seconds into this video
I almost wasn't sure you'd like it after what you said with Burn, but I think this one isn't *quite* the same :D
"i'm making all these weird noises and hand gestures because this book was so good" this is such a mood fauisdhfad
I'm so glad you liked the book this much! I read this right when it came out, and was blown back by how intricate and well the political worldbuilding was in this story. I've long forgotten it and will definitely be reading this again. Thanks for reminding me this deserves a second (and more!) read!!
WOW, this sounds amazing. I picked up Warbreaker based on your recommendation and I absolutely adored it, so thank you for that!
You're very welcome! I love Warbreaker :D
I read Fireborne last year and my assessment was the same as you! It took me about 150 pages to really get into it, and I felt like oh another ya angsty dystopia, warrior challenge, until that point. I agree the author is masterful at showing politics in a believable, hard hitting, but not side-taking way. You see problems with both sides and with the different POV and side characters plus their assignments give you what feels like personal insight. The way trauma and relationships are handled are also really realistic in my opinion! And the propaganda! It’s fascinating to me! I can’t wait for the next book!
Yes to everything you said! I felt exactly the same about it, especially the beginning :D
Political fantasy is a genre I didn’t know I needed. I’m actually going to do a first impression of this book, it immediately caught my attention 😩❤️
I saw this in one of your other videos and decided to pick it up. Just finished it yesterday and came back to watch your review because I absolutely LOVED it so much. Thanks for helping me discover this gem of a story.
Hurray! So glad you loved it. Now to wait for Flamefall 😭
You've said it all ! I've read it in 2 days after seeing your fantasy series recommandations and all I have to say is THANK YOU ! I loved it !!
So glad you loved this!! This was my favorite book of last year. I thought the moral discussions, complex and realistic characters, and imperfect political structures were SO GOOD. There was so much to think about and dig into. Plus: dragons. What more could you want? 🙌🏻 Definitely could have used more dragons though.
Hahaha, that’s maybe my only personal “negative” and it’s not even really one 😆
I loved this book so much, I picked it up by chance in the library a few years ago and it was amazing.
I'm so glad someone else loved this as much as I did!!! This book was so unexpectedly amazing.
It makes me so happy seeing this book get more love! I fell in love instantly and try to shove it into the hands of everyone I can!
Definitely gonna add this to my TBR. Sounds amazing!!
Finally picked up this book after years of it being on my tbr- thanks to you! I’m absolutely hooked and already on book 2.
I absolutely loved this book! I noticed last week it had come in on my library ebook app, so when I went to bed at 11pm I decided to read a chapter, just to get a taste. I then continued reading it until I finished it at 3:30am. It had me that hooked. I definitely was not expecting it!
Im gonna pick it up so excited it is on the top of my tbr now I just need to finish Mistborn first
I didn't think I'd be interested in this book coming into this review, but you've gotten me intrigued!
I’m currently reading this book and I’m loving the story and the slow world building throughout the story. Annie is my favorite character.
I read it a few months ago; i loved it so much and i was kinda bummed that it's really not talked about a lot on booktube so i'm reeeally pleased that you loved it as well!
I really enjoyed how the author played out annie and lee's dynamic, also how she fleshed out their characterisation without belittling their trauma.
I'm so excited about the sequel 😍
I'm so excited about the sequel too! And I'm right there with you on everything you said :D
Ahhhh, you read it! I've been trying to get more ppl to read it because DAMN this book totally deserves it. When I was trying to get my friend to read it the only negative I said was that it was a slow start. I'm a huge character driven person. Plot is important but a character could make it or break it for me. This book just had everything though. The incredible character growth of both PoVs was just so good. Now I feel like I need a reread...
I seriously wanted to reread it as soon as I was done with it 😄😄😄
I recently read this and really enjoyed this, but I love seeing you talk about books you love and it makes me want to read thia again :D
This book has been on my radar for awhile, but I never knew enough about it to push myself to read it yet. Your review definitely pushed it to the top of my TBR! I adore political fantasies (and dragons), so I have a feeling this will be perfect for me. Thank you for an awesome review!
Ohh, I think it will definitely be perfect for you then :D
I almost stopped the video in the first minute based on what you said about similar tastes because I did enjoy many books that I read based on your recommendation, but then I remembered The Rage of Dragons and the action/training thing so I continued the video lol :)
I picked this book up off of your recommendation and I loved it! Thank you for giving it such a glowing review. I agree completely!
I just today finished reading this based on your recommendation, and absolutely loved it - thank you! It's the best 'book by an author I haven't tried before' that I've read in a long time.
Gosh I love a full real book review, or like a full book chat, I wish they were still popular. I will for sure be adding this to my (way too long) TBR!
This book is SO good. One of my favorite YA fantasies that I’ve ever read, and it deserves so much more love. Thank you so much for hyping it up on your channel!
It really is! I love it, glad you did too :D
i never considered myself a political intrigue fan, but i also fell in love with this book! i agree with everything that you said and more about it. i can't wait for the sequel!
Thank you for this recommendation. I read it and now I'm obsessed!
Ok, I'm sold. Loved this review, and I'm definitely going to check this out. Fab video! x
So I picked this book up solely because of your recommendation, and I ADORED it! I'm a sucker for character driven books and this one had me hooked the whole way through!
I loooove how you react! Makes me want to try it myself!
Side question....can I somehow filter your video lists and see only those that are like this one 4 years old as I now find books that are older and YT search doesn't alway give me good video sugestions and maybe you have done those books reviews
It sounds great! I stopped the video at two minutes so I wouldn't get anymore info! LALALALALALA I cant hear you (as I run to the bookstore).
This is so right up my alley!
Definitely putting this on my TBR list, it sounds fascinating!
I’m currently reading Before they are Hanged. Warbreaker is next for me. This Fireborne book sounds awesome. I’ll pick it up and read it after Warbreaker. Thanks for all the great recommendations!
You're very welcome! I hope you enjoy them :D
Oh wow...I seriously need to pick this up!
Can you make a video with recommendations for more political fantasy books? With books such as this having more focus on politics rather than magic.
That'd be fun! I'll have to think about it though; I'm trying to remember other books that have a similar feel to this one :O
Political fantasy is my absolute favorite, so I second this! A recommendation video would be so great.
Picked this up after your year end recommendation and I loved it!
Spoiler Alert!
I was shipping Lee and Crissa way more than Lee and Annie.
Crissa is just flippen lovely.
Ok! I am sold.. this goes in my high priority tbr :)
I bought this book recently and I remember you said you loved this book.
I'm genuinely surprised by how many people find this book so good. Almost nothing happens in this book. There are no stakes, the political intrigue is juvenile at best, and the action is non-existent. Then there's cannons that no one has thought to use against dragons or mount small ones to the dragons for airel combat. And guns apparently don't exist, which would seem like they would be helpful in trying to shoot a dragon rider from dragonback as well.
I’ll definitely pick up anything you give this much praise for! 🙌
Yay! Now here's to hoping I didn't overhype it :O
This sounds like a perfect book to gift my husband. (& as a bonus, I think I'd want to read it too after he's finished.) Thanks for the review! :)
You're very welcome! I hope you both love it :D
I picked up this book recently but still haven't gotten to it. I haven't heard anyone really talk about it so I just never prioritized it... hearing you gush though makes me want to move it farther up my TBR and get to it much sooner.
Ohh, I hope you do :D :D :D
This sounds really interesting. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to have been published yet here in the UK or I would have bought the ebook straight away. I'll have to see if I can get an imported print copy!
This book does sound good. I'm reading Crown of Feathers right now because I heard you talking about it. I'm really enjoying it so far. ❤
I liked crown of feathers, but heart of flames was great! I can't wait for the third book.
I liked Heart of Flames even more as well :D
This
This sounds really cool
Well, let's throw it upon the neverending sky-high TBR
Ok, i trust you. I just picked this book up. Lets see 😎
I picked up this book earlier because of you previous tbr. Absolutely loved it. Thanks.
It makes you realise for a particular government to work you need good people to them. Sometimes people remain stuck in the "idea realm" and end up becoming what they are trying to fight. You should check out "Orcronomics" by Zachary Pike. You would live it.
Thank you for the recommendation! Glad you liked this one too :D
Yup, sounds good . Sounds very good , will definitely be picking it up 👍
Hope you enjoy it!
Out of curiosity, is there any particular reason you mentioned being reminded of the French Revolution and not, well... the Russian one (in relation to the Anastasia parallel)? Because the way you describe it it sounds like a straight up fantasy/dragon-filled re-interpretation of the Russian Revolution. 😅
haha ikr, it threw me off too
i see a dragon on the cover, i'm halfway to sold already! i haven't heard of this before, definitely adding it to my wishlist.
I want to read this now!! You’re reviews always give such a good sense of what a story is like. I’m really curious to see what you would think of the Glass Alliance series by Joanna Hathaway ❤️
I've just put it on my TBR!
Hurray!
This actually wasn't on my TBR at all (even though half my GR friends added it, no one read it and it wasn't catching my attention), but this actually sounds great. I'm fine with dragons, but I really do enjoy political fantasy.
I obviously just gushed about it for 13 and a half minutes, but to say it again, it was so good :D
Your "gush fest" was adorable! I think it should be normalized for people to express when something makes them excited or happy! Radiate all of that happiness, girl!
That’s so sweet, thank you!!! ❤️
@@ebnovels No problem ❤
Just bought the audio book, listening to some old SF; Isaac Asimov, then I’ll start this. Can’t wait
I’m finally reading this because I watched you recommend it three days ago 😂
Damnit Elliot ! I hadn't even heard of this book, or author, now I'm going to have add it to my TBR list. I'd give +2 likes if I could for your gushing praise, hand expressions and general excitement :)
Haha, I'm glad the weird excitement was enjoyed!
Added to tbr. Sounds interesting.
Like always watching ur videos!! Keep safe!!
Hi Elliot what are your top 5 favourite Fantasy books or series centred around or featuring political intrigue? I'd like to read more.
Awesome review.
I LOVE politics in fantasy!
If you haven't already, I would really appreciate a "Top 10 Political Fantasy" video.
Dragons and politics! I’m in!
Hurray! I hope you enjoy it :D :D :D
So if I said that I really enjoyed the BBC show Merlin, would this be something that one may think I'd enjoy?
I am definitely going to read this book. You convinced me the minute you talked about the politics in this book 😅. Thanks for the recommendation 😘
You're very welcome :D :D :D
You sold me in 10 seconds and I find myself checking this book out already 😂
I have similar taste so I might just have to pick this up and it also sounds *kinda* similar to the How to Train Your Dragon movies lol
I know you probably won’t respond to this but I just finished the book and I really would like to know if there’s a prequel?
The Valor and Ruin books behind you. What series is that? Those two books keep catching my attention and I hate asking questions like this because it makes me feel nosy. But I need to know.
Faithful and the Fallen series by John Gwynne
@@jesseemerson7383 thank you Jesse!
Oh my🤭🤭🤭 I need to read this like yesterday!!!
Okay okay, I'll add it to the list.
The Dragons and the riders sounds like Ann McCaffery's Pern series. We will see, it went the the top of my TBR anyway.
From what I've heard of that series, I don't *think* it's that similar, but I haven't read that one, so I could be totally wrong!
@@ebnovels It's an older series but still a good read. Me and my husband love them, one of our top 10 series.
Right, you’ve sold me now
I feel like I havent agreed without alot of the books youve liked and disliked lately. But this does sound good and interesting. I added it to my TBR, hopefully this can be another book we have the same opinion on :D
I know you said you didn't love Spin the Dawn--what were the other ones again? But anyway, I hope you enjoy this :)
@@ebnovels Ooof!
Well it probably started with Lies of Locke, then Steelheart, then there was Spin the Dawn, then Rage of Dragons and then your gush about Kaladin :P
Everything else you've read the past couple of months I've either disagreed with or havent read!
Im about to pick up Ash Princess and Fireborne JUST so I can gush with you!
(Its really sad when you just dont a have a good groove with one of your favorite youtubers)
OH! BUT i am finally reading Crown of Feathers this month. I cant imagine I wont like it so hopefully I can mutually gush with you about that lol
@@lucaleone4331 I hope this doesn't sound rude or anything, but is part of it that you aren't clicking with YA books right now? Or is that totally off? :O Btw, Ash Princess is super tropey in the first book, and there is a pretty prominent love triangle. I don't know if that's an immediate no for you!
@@ebnovels I wouldnt say so. Steelheart seemed kind of YA right? And I liked it. I also felt the same as you about the first two Shadow of the Fox books. And Ive read a couple of other ones that I liked. Plus Im about to publish my own YA book so I hope I click with the genre or we about to have a problem lol
(To be honest, that wasnt rude at all, but when I saw the notification of your reply I thought you were gonna say something like, "tbh you should just find a new youtuber" or something which wouldve hurt lol)
Sold! Im buying this book.
Yay!!!
"and there's dragons!" all said xD
OMG THERE IS A SEQUEL TO IT ITS COMING OUT IN MARCH
Fireborne is a cool name for a book ;)
Can't find your video on the other 2 books
Read it. LOVED IT. Though I'm still a little confused about:
SPOILERS
First off (and this one is really killing me) what the hell is going on with Lee and Annie (romantically)? Are they getting together are they not getting together, and what does Crissa think of the whole thing (does she not know about Lee and Annie? Does she even care?)
Also, Annie's plan at the end. I thought people hated the Dragonborne? How was Annie and everyone so certain that the witnesses wouldn't just side with Atreus? I know Lee killed another Dragonborne for Callipolis but it feels like they just took his heritage in stride. Or maybe the other higher-ups were never in support of complete extermination of the the Dragonlords and their lines in the first place? I know the people definitely were, and they will be wanting Lee's head, or at least that's what I assume.
I can't find anyone talking about Fireborne and I'm really frustrated about it lol
Anastasia. Loved that movie, say no more!
I wish I loved political fantasy but I just can't read it, I even struggled through well of ascension but i can try fireborne
Sweet! Been looking for some good political fantasy
I LOVE this book
After watching your video, I want to read Fireborne.
Hope you enjoy it!
Still waiting for you to read Best Srved Cold though.
Love this book
And my TBR gets one more book
Political intrigue is underrated.
It took me two minutes of the video to buy the book
Haha, well fingers crossed you enjoy it :D
A Romanov dragon rider adjusting to the Bolshevik propaganda system? Political theorist author? Whaaaaaaat?
I would never have picked this up because of the cover (dragons aren't my favorite thing to read about), but this sounds really really cool.
The dragons in this book are kinda like horses that could level a village. They are't *that* significant, so I think that'd actually suit you :)
@@ebnovels Very cool. I'm convinced!
Also leaving a like and a comment, but I'm not going to watch this video (stopped on 00:17 - as I'm running to a bookstore) :)
Political/Historical fiction is one of my guilty pleasures. However Dragons are an auto turn off. So now i'm confused over this book!
Haha, well if it helps, that dragons are not that significant. It doesn't seem that way at the beginning, but really, it's more political than anything. I told someone else that the dragons are kinda like horses that could destroy a village :O
@@ebnovels Horses that could destroy a village. That's alarming in it's self! :D
4 years late but am i the only one who cant stand lee? 🥴 im less than a hundred pgs into book 2
Im writing a political fantasy rn lol
i