In this sequel to Frostblood, Ruby must fight the Minax and learn more about her heritage to do it. Ruby has the chance to travel to Sudesia with a Fireblood prince who she doesn’t know if she can trust, and even though it threatens her relationship with Arcus, she has to learn where she comes from. This book had a fiery start (pun intended), slowed considerably in the middle, but built momentum again in the end. The ending answers many questions, but also there is a lot left for the next installment. The descriptions of the setting are painted beautifully even if the detail at times felt slow and unnecessary. More action and less description of the curtains would have suited the story better, but the author definitely lets readers know where they are. Ultimately this was a good sequel that sets up the third installment nicely. Readers are definitely left wanting more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! 3.5 stars
This book might suffer a bit from middle book syndrome. The ending is revelatory and exciting, but much of the rest was main character learning to control skill and sudden love triangle for no good reason. Honestly, can't a new character just be introduced as a friend? Why must new character always be secondary love interest who really has no chance at winning the main character over (although THAT would be an amazing twist!)?

DNF

I reread the first book in one day, but I can't get into book two. I was sick of the Ruby/Arcus ZOMG HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME sads the moment they began, and I'm just bored. Splitting up the MCs is an easy way to drag out the romantic tension across a series in theory, but in reality it generally results in second book syndrome. I loved the first book so much, and this didn't sustain my interest.

I enjoyed this ya fantasy! I love a good story of a character having to overcome maltreatment while also falling for something they shouldn’t. And elemental powers!!

It was fun, but not super unique. I was hoping for a love triangle, but didn't really get that. The synopsis leads readers to think that Kai and Ruby might become more than friends, but then nothing actually happens between them... And I love Kai. It was a typical YA fantasy. Fun, but forgettable.

Fireblood by Elly Blake, sequel to Frostblood sees main character Ruby on the road to save a kingdom and get some answers. I chose to continue this series via audiobook. As it turns out, Fireblood adds an intriguing new perspective and uncovers a new land. On the whole, I am feeling like this book was an okay read and not really one that I could foresee myself revisiting.

Fireblood basically is about how Ruby travels to Sudesia which is the Fireblood kingdom to find another Minax and save the Frostblood kingdom. She travels with Kai who is an ambassador to the Frostblood court and they kind of have a flirtation going on. Meanwhile, Arcus has stayed behind at the Frostblood court because he’s got a kingdom to run. So for Ruby to get in good with the Sudesian queen, she has to get a control on her magic and pass some tests. Meanwhile, some pretty big knowledge has been dropped on Ruby. Like, we get some MASSIVE reveals in this book.

So, okay, this sequel has some great twists. However, I just wasn’t feeling the audiobook this time around. I don’t know why when it is the same narrator and I did like the first audio. Just for reference, the audiobook is narrated by Jennifer English. It is 11 hours and 35 minutes long. I think that is kind of short for an audiobook. It didn’t really entirely engage me. At this point, I don’t know if I will finish this trilogy, given that I have no real obligation to do so. I guess I’ll revisit that later. Still, if you want to learn more about the Firebloods and Frostbloods, you should pick up this book — especially if you enjoyed Frostblood. The reveals, as I said, are kind of worth the price of admission, so to speak.

Fireblood is the sequel to Frostblood and thus follows Ruby as her journey furthers through hardships, training, and heart break. I split it into three parts: 1. Court Life, 2. Training & Power, 3. Fix It. Fireblood is full of of action, knowledge, and growth, and also plot twists. Predictable or not, this is a quick read you can't help but be immersed in.

To start with my favourite part, I shall bestow you with details. The training not only allowed us to see Ruby's physical strength growing, but also her mental and emotional strength as well. She learned to focus, be one with the magic, and let go. For Ruby to actually embrace her emotions, if only partially, is a huge step for her. She may not be a Frostblood, but she definitely acts like she could be. Or at least she did in the first novel. I loved imagining the actions that had to go with her mental and physical struggles as she learned to hone her abilities. It gave me an insight into the characters that I otherwise wouldn't have had. Not to mention, Ruby and Kai bantered a lot which kept the tone light and amusing.

Which, unfortunately, brings me to this: love triangle. Ruby and Arcus were fairly instant, though they didn't act on it until quite a while after. They seemed to work in the first book. However, in Fireblood we get to see a new side of him, of them as a couple. Being the King of Frostbloods who hate Firebloods leaves little room for romance with the enemy. So no, Arcus does not man up and declare his undying love for Ruby, nor does she fight to be at his side and not merely a Lady of Court. They didn't fight for each other. And then someone else came into the picture. Someone who treated Ruby like an equal, who didn't care if others saw him touch her, laugh with her, smile at her. They taught each other a lot in their time together and allowed each other to grow. But Ruby just can't get Arcus out of her mind. It was frustrating. I actually wanted her to forget about him. I still do. So I actually really enjoyed the blooming romance in this book more than I did in Frostblood. It made me root for the characters.

As for characters. Arcus is now the King, struggling to attain and then to maintain control of the throne. Peace is within grasp but only after a lot of hard work, and after the horrible reign his brother just left, people are not so eager to help Arcus succeed in his endeavors. There was political intrigue mixed into every interaction between Arcus and Ruby until Ruby herself started getting sucked into it. People want to kill her so their King is no longer tainted. If she leaves Arcus will not have to fight for his throne so hard. And then when she leaves, even more politics follow her. Through her struggle to become a part of Court life, Arcus merely sees her as someone to call upon, someone who will be there. He doesn't seem to see her struggle to fit in, and he doesn't do much about it other than put her in positions she'd rather avoid. He seemed more careless in this installment.

Kai on the other hand used humor and wit to keep himself going, which provided readers with a lot of smile-inducing moments. He is honestly probably my favourite character. Full of sass, witty remarks, and a passion he won't deny, he made the pages breathe life. I hope the next book has more of him!

Overall, I enjoyed Fireblood and will be continuing this series!

Fireblood continues the story of Ruby and Arcus and it does not disappoint! Ruby and Arcus have a tough situation now that Arcus is King. He wants only Ruby by his side, but the Frostblood kingdom has a long way to go before they would ever accept a Fireblood queen. With the Minax still a threat, Ruby decides to travel to the Fireblood kingdom to search for a book that might hold the key to defeating the Minax once and for all. Escorting her is Kai, a mysterious fireblood who is more than what he seems. And, after spending more and more time with him, Ruby is now confused as to where her future lies.

A new world awaits Ruby in the Fireblood kingdom and she may have signed up for more than what she bargained for. With a Fireblood Queen who doesn't completely trust her, Ruby will have to do whatever it takes to prove her loyalty. An exciting sequel with lots of plot twists and turns! The perfect buildup to the last book in the series. Can't wait to read Nightblood!

ELLY GAVE ME MORE OF THEIR MYTHOLOGY AND BACK STORY AND YASSSSSSSSSSS. I could honestly read a book just of all the stories and mythology behind the magic in the world in which this series takes place. I loved how this next installment gave me more background on the world and magic system in the Frostblood Saga series.

I loved the introduction of Kai to my beloved cast of characters. Arcus and Ruby were my babies in Frostblood and I was a little closed off to a new member of the cast at first but he really grew on me. I loved his sass and he’s the kind of character that I would refer to as “infectious” if he were someone I knew in real life. I’m still not totally sure who I ship Ruby with now even so many weeks after finishing the book BUT I will gladly take either so they’re not lonely.

The story flowed quite well and it never felt like the story was dragging at all. It also did a great job of building up to Nightblood. It left me wanting more immediately after reading the last words. The first two installments came so close together that I got spoiled and now I’m just here trying to pretend like I’m not a mess of nerves waiting to see what happens to my babies.

Final Verdict:

No signs of second book syndrome here! This sequel gave me everything I was hoping for and more. Elly also beautifully set up my feelings and anticipation for the finale; in all honesty, I may even start a countdown!

In book one Ruby killed the Frostblood King, with the help of two Frostbloods. Now she is seeking the Fireblood throne so she can destroy the dangerous Minax, an evil force bent on destruction. Traveling to Sudesia, the land of her heritage and the land of Firebloods, is where she must go to accomplish this. Arcus, the new Frostblood King and the man who loves Ruby, urges her not to go but she is determined to put an end to the growing evil presence.

The Queen of Sudesia is not thrilled to have Ruby in her kingdom and Ruby comes to realize it is only through becoming a Fireblood Master that she will be able to complete her mission. Kai is a charming Fireblood who is selected as her trainer, leading to a possible love triangle.

This second book in the Frostblood series is a good follow-up to the initial book. What makes the book successful is the ability of Blake to bring readers to the edge of their seats with a powerful ending that will necessitate that they anxiously wait for the final installment.

This book was much better than the first. I was much more connected to the characters and cared about their outcomes. Plot made more sense and am now eagerly awaiting the next book.

The biggest thing this book suffers from is just not being able to compete with its predecessor. I adored Frostblood, and while Fireblood is still a decent book in its own right, it's just not nearly as good as the first one. I expected to race through it, but it took me a lot longer to finish than I had hoped. I just couldn't really fall into the story. There are too many cliches, and I saw the twists coming from too far away. Again, it's a decently written book, but I really hope if there is a third book it'll be much more like Frostblood.

I can't wait to read more from this author/series!! I can't even begin to express how much I loved this book!!

I wasn't exactly anticipating the release of FIRE BLOOD. In fact, I delayed reading FIREBLOOD because I was scared at the thought of a love triangle, but FIREBLOOD ended up surprising me.

There were some great reveals in FIREBLOOD. I didn't like the fact that Ruby was going off on her own with a stranger to a different land, but it ended up being ok and I really enjoyed learning about everything that was thrown out in the story. Ruby grew and learned a lot about herself in FIREBLOOD. Through every twist, she plowed ahead and got done what needed to be done.

Let's talk romance. I don't want to ruin anything, but I will say that Ruby knows exactly who and what she wants, and the wait to find out wasn't excruciating.

I will definitely read more from the Fireblood Saga. I have enjoyed the characters and the world and need to know what will happen next.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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 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.

If you haven't started this series you must pick it up immediately! I could not put it down as it left me either in shock or heartbroken. Elly Blake's writing was beautifully written and the background story was very insightful. Once I finished Frostblood, I knew that I couldn't wait to read Fireblood which is now one of my favourite books of this year! If you follow me on Goodreads, I mentioned that Chapter 5 left me heartbroken. It was a fast-paced, action packed and in the end surpassed my expectations and

Fireblood starts a few days after Frostblood ended and Ruby is trying to adjust to the Frost blood world. I would say I'm definitely invested in the characters and the entire novel. While you might see a love triangle in this novel my heart will still be with Arcus. But I still had a hard time choosing between him and Kai. But overall, I'm happy with Ruby's choice at the end! Looking forward to where Elly is going to go with this in Nightblood! As you go along we get to see more about Ruby's past and learn more about the Minax's history and learning to control her fire from the Fireblood masters.

Elly Blake has written a series that you get you hooked because I know I am! If you are looking for a great fantasy read you will want to grab this book series. The writing is spot on and the ending will make you wish Nightblood was already out! Plus look at the beautiful covers. Can't wait to see what is going to happen next in the series!

I love it when I find YA Scifi/Fantasy books by Canadian authors, especially when the concept is this fun. In this series there's huge divide between the two elemental groups; Frostbloods and Firebloods. After being at war for so long most of them have learned to hate each other. Our main character, a Fireblood named Ruby lives in the Frostblood Kingdom where shes hunted for her gift and unable to make it to the Fireblood Kingdom since the borders have closed. She must keep her gift hidden or risk death.

I love elemental magic and the author did such a great job creating a fascinating and unique mythology that really gives life to this world. Despite having such a developped fantasy world, the writing was easy to get into. The quick pace was exactly what I needed at the time and it wasnt too fast where I felt like other elements were lacking. I enjoyed getting to explore Sudesia and its culture. I also thought the Fireblood master trials were entertaining and intense to read about. I loved the bigger plot with the Minax and the prophecies.

Theres a love triangle in this book, but I personally dont mind them. I know lots of people dont like them, but Ive always believed its possible for some people to love more than one person. Just like Arcus in the first book, it took me a while to warm up to Kai. I dont usually like bossy men but his cocky attitude grew on me. I was still rooting for Arcus and felt so bad for him. I didnt expect the Fireblood Queen to be so ruthless, but I ended up really liking her Consort. Ruby was a captivating protagonist. Shes smart, strong and independent.

I liked that this story had more than one twist. I saw some of the twists coming, especially if there was some forshadowing before hand. I didnt predict them all though and I still enjoyed the outcome when I did. The last twist was fantastic and I cant wait to see what will happen in the next book. I think this series would be perfect for fantasy beginners, or if you're like me and want a quick fantasy that doesnt lack any world building or character developpement. Those kinds of books are rare in my opinion, but tend to be the ones I enjoy the most. Not to mention the covers are amazing.

Fireblood, by author Elly Blake, is the second installment in the author's Frostblood Saga. After finding a way to destroy the Frost Throne of Tempesia and King Rasmus, who sent his army out to annihilate all Firebloods in his Kingdom, Protagonist Ruby Otrera's life isn't much easier. Yes, she was the only Fireblood to ever survive a brutal challenge against Frostbloods in a gladiator like environment. But, the curse hasn't been broken, the shadowy creature known as the Frost Minax is on the loose, and causing tremendous problems for King Arcus. And, she wears a heart shaped mark on her face as a consolation prize.  

There are those close to Arcus who really want to see Ruby gone, and her relationship with Arcus is making people feel uncomfortable and down right rude towards her. She is, after-all, quite possibly the only Fireblood left in the land of Frostbloods. A nobody who rose from obscurity to change the direction of an entire country. This is a story that starts out with Ruby, Arcus, and Brother Thistle trying to find a way to destroy the evil Minax that is now haunting the Kingdom after being released. 

But, danger is lurking in the background in the form of assassins and others who want to see Ruby dead, and Arcus removed from the throne. But, it is the arrival of Kai that sends Ruby into an entirely different direction. Kai is from Sudesia. He arrived in Tempesia to discover who the girl is who did the impossible, and attempt to lure her back to Sudesia, which just happens to be her mother's homeland. 
Now, before you chide me on the whole love triangle aspect of this story, know this. Ruby loves Arcus. Ruby's future is most likely with Arcus even though he can be a stubborn arse at times. But, Kai is someone who is a Fireblood. 

He is someone who can teach her how to survive the trials necessary to become a Master. He, not Brother Thistle, can explain how it feels to actually feel the power of being a Fireblood. He is also a person who needs a second chance, and gets a chance to take it thanks to the arrival of Ruby. The movement to Sudesia for most of this story was a really great idea. Sudesia doesn't have any Frostbloods that are looking down at their noses to spite Ruby, or make rude and unnecessary comments towards her. 

That's because all of the Frostbloods have been removed at the behest of Queen Nalani. It is also a place where some really interesting surprises await Ruby that will take us right into the third book called Nightblood. Ruby is mostly
untrained, yet she is awfully powerful. As Ruby's training intensifies, she also has to find a book that may hold the answers in defeating both the Frost & Fire Minax's. In the end, this book also ends on an action packed breath taking battle between Ruby, Arcus, Kai, and a newly awakened villain who reveals a whole lot of twists that will leave readers heads buzzing. Bring on Nightblood!

The Frostblood saga continues with the second installment, Fireblood. In the aftermath of the events surrounding the melting of the Frost Throne, Arcus tries to stabilize his kingdom as Ruby does her best not to suffocate in the hostility of the court. When a handsome young ambassador from Sudesia appears with an offer to take Ruby there to meet the queen and train with Fireblood masters, Ruby sees an opportunity to not only learn how to defeat the Minax released from the Frost Throne, but also to finally meet more people like her. Her travels to Sudesia test her physical, mental, and emotional strength to the limits as the fates of Tempesia and Sudesia hang in the balance.

Fireblood is an enjoyable read and continues the development of its strong female lead. The unnecessary love triangle is the biggest detractor of the story, but it does not ruin the book. I look forward to seeing how events progress in book three.