This is a fantastic book! I really enjoyed the story line and the characters where great! I will definitely suggest this book to some of our patrons.

This would be my first book I have read by the wonderful J.M. Miller, where you are thrust into a world full of mystery, magic, and adventure. The era of kings and queens, young Vala is the kings guard. Her duty is to protect the prince at all costs. She was strong willed and fought for what she believed in. When there is an attempt to end the princes life, everything she thought she knew was a lie....

Fallen Flame was an action packed novel that I couldn't put down! I have no idea what is next to come for Vala, but I can't wait to find out.

This book is action packed and full of shocking moments and beautiful writing. I was very surprised with how much I enjoyed this. The book follows Vala a girl seemingly scorched by magic and feared by many. She has scorched skin as rough as rock that burns anything that lives with just a touch. Recognised as an asset she is taken in by the royal family as part of their guard. 

“My thoughts, my dreams, they had been nothing in comparison. They were a single drop of water, and this, the whole sea.”

I enjoyed the characters and there progression. Some things seemed a little rushed in the beginning but I feel like the pace of the rest of the book was perfect. There was always something happening and the action in this was expertly written. Some of the more shocking moments towards the end really had me gasping and sitting on the edge of my seat.  I also feel like the relationships were very well developed in a way that didn't seem to slow or too fast. Even though I do prefer slow-burning romances, and the more character development the better in my opinion, I think that the author was able to convey this while also having a very fast paced plot.

"The feelings that had once lifted me, that I'd once ached for, were like embers in the night fog, drifting into nothing, extinguished."

I liked the simplicity of the writing and how the writing really flowed quickly. I zoomed through it and just wanted to keep reading and reading. I read it so quickly. I believe this is the first book in a trilogy so I will definitely be watching out for the other books because I really want to find out where J.M. Miller will take this. I have a few predictions but with the shocking things that happened at the end of this one, there is not much chance in the series going in the way in which I expect. I just didn't see any of it coming.

"After so many years, your life above ended. Your new life began here, in a beautiful fire unlike any I'd ever seen."

The main problems I had with this is the background information we did get of the world and the things that have happened in the past. I felt like it was similar to a lot of other YA fantasies. However I found the plot to be very original and exciting to read. There are several shocking moments that were very heart-breaking to read throughout the story and as I said before the writing really grips you and pulls you in. I adored how J.M Miller was able to really make me feel for the characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I have high expectations for the sequels. I definitely recommend if your looking for a quick fantasy read that has a world that is easy to get immersed in.

A special thank you to J.M. Miller and Netgalley for providing me with an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 Stars

Fallen Flame is definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read so far this year. I knew it'd be good but I was still amazed by how engrossing it was.
Vala is a special girl born with charred skin, She was found when she was little by a kind woman who raised her as her daughter. Due to her unique ability (in relation to her skin), She is trained to be a member of the guard specifically among the Prince's detail. Vala grew up together with the prince Caulden and they formed a strong bond. An unsuccessful attempt on the Prince's life reveals that his assailant has skin just like Vala, this revelation leads her down a path that changes life as she knows it. The assailant is named Xavyn, He reveals things to Vala that made her doubt life as she knew it. The High Princess Anja and her mother Queen Meirin of Islain arrived in Garlin (Vala's kingdom) with the intention of Anja wedding Prince Caulden or so they say. But as Vala begins to find out, the royal family came with an hidden agenda. The royals arrival throw her whole life into disarray.
Vala is an amazing badass character who unfortunately never had much luck with companionship, Her difference mad her stand out in a rather ostracising manner. Meeting Xavyn, made her realise a lot of things about herself that she didn't know. His appearance in her life while scrambling life as she knows it, was very needed. Her relationship with him is complicated at first but it soon blossoms into something amazing. I also loved the fact that their relationship wasn't the major point of the book but a welcome addition.
I can't reveal too much about Vala's journey without spoiling it but I can guarantee it's one with top notch drama, great action, camaraderie, cool magic and twists and turns that'll leave you on the edge of your seat. The worldbuilding is equally phenomenal, the addition of many factors in the world is not confusing in any way but rather entertaining. It certainly holds a lot of potential.
The ending was an explosive whirlwind of action, revelations that absolutely stunned me, betrayal and fantastic magic. That is a perfect example of how to end a book, It left me thirsting for more in the series.
Fallen Flame has everything a reader could certainly want, superb storing, action, romance, magic, drama, great character growth, brilliant mysteries and revelations, Hateable villains (We all know we love hating on some really nasty characters), a beautiful cover and a really charming male lead (Xavyn is absolutely perfect).
I really commend the author for crafting a world that's this engrossing and captivating. Yes they're many YA Fantasy authors out there but J.M. Miller has amazed me with her brilliant writing and seared a mark in my heart. I have nothing but rave praise for this book and I recommend it to anyone looking for a great time.

P.S: That amazing cover totally has a symbolism that's pretty obvious at the ending.

P.P.S: I do like the fact that the magic system is refreshingly original.

I loved Fallen Flame, fantasy is one of my favorite genres and I loved that this one was fairly unique. I loved that it kept me interested from the first page until the last. The writing was excellent as was the pace of the story. I also like that this is a series and the book itself stands alone, there's no major cliffhanger, the book closes nicely with the promise of a new adventure in the next book. I'll definitely be back for book 2.

Now onto the book itself, Fallen Flame follows main character Vala, who is not like other people. Her skin is like that of cooling lava, hard on the outside, hot to the touch, and a burning ember underneath. Because of her "affliction", most of the townspeople are afraid of her and she has to hide her appearance, but Vala has found a place by dedicating her life as a guard for the royal family. She is the lead guard for the prince, and she and Prince Caulden have grown up together and have developed a close friendship. As the story progresses their friendship is challenged, and quite possibly broken as Vala begins to learn the secrets of where she came from and what she truly is. Vala’s story is wraught with magic and myth, and there are many secrets to be revealed. The story focuses on the suspicious events that occur with the arrival of Queen Meirin and Princess Anja on the island of Garlin. They are there to arrange a marriage with the prince in an attempt to strengthen relations between the island of Garlin and the main land of Islain. Prior to his impending engagement, Caulden’s friends take him out for Prince’s Night, a bachelor party style event with drinking, physical challenges, and mischief. During Caulden’s night of fun, there is an assassination attempt during which Vala meets another person who might be like her. This newcomer, Xavyn, turns out not to be a true enemy, however he knows about magic and that the Queen and Princess are up to something other than planning a wedding. As the plot unfolds, Vala isn’t quite sure who to trust, but she does decide that she is done hiding her true nature and that she is tired of hiding on Garlin when there is more out there that may tell her true story. As her lifelong friendships are challenged and secrets revealed, Vala learns a piece of her story, who she can really trust, and a lot about herself. I can’t wait to see where the next piece of her story takes us.

I received this ARC through Netgalley for a review covering my honest opinion. Thank you to both Netgalley and J.M. Miller for this opportunity.

OKAY, so just starting off, I just want to say this book was such a beautiful surprise. I am a bit picky when it comes to my fantasy novels and have lots of different elements I look for when reading them, so to say I was impressed with all that Fallen Flame brought to the table would be an understatement.

This story follows a girl named Vala who is the Prince’s guard. Vala differs from those around her because of her skin, which has been burnt and has been since she was a baby. Vala knows absolutely nothing about where she came from or what makes her so different from others. It isn’t until visitors from a different kingdom arrive to make plans and unite forces as well as an attack on the Prince that Vala starts questioning all that she has been told and decides to learn more about the secrets of the kingdom as well as herself.

Let’s start with what I really liked/loved about this book:
-THERE IS A MAP. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me. I find that fantasy novels always benefit from having maps because, most of the time, readers are thrown into a completely new/made up world and following the different areas and divisions can be difficult.
-The writing was actually really really well done. I have never read anything by J.M. Miller before but I plan on reading her other novels because I felt so immersed in the writing. I never once felt bored or that the story lacked because of the way it was written. There were also lots of quotes that I think I need to keep written down somewhere, they were that good!

-The characters were very interesting and were developed in a plot that was easy to follow. I really cared for Vala and was intrigued to see where her story would lead, as well as what roles her counterparts would play in the novel.

Now onto what I think could be improved/looking forward to seeing in the next installment of this series:
-The plot did seem a bit generic at times, but then again, most fantasy stories have a basis that they revolve around. While I did find similarities through this book and with others in its genre, I would love to see a bit more of what makes this story so different and original to others. Just developing the characters a bit more as well as the world/magic will definitely add to this! (Also, this is the first in the series and obviously isn’t close to being fully developed, so I can understand why I don’t have all the answers yet)
-Not sure how I feel about the love interest yet, but I think that could be developed in later books!
Overall, I don’t have much to say other than how much I enjoyed this and cannot wait for the second installment. Check this book out if you enjoy stories by Sarah J. Maas and Maria V. Snyder.

Wonderful read. I was drawn in immediately by the sadness that is Vala's life and the hope she experienced through her connection with Xavyn. I look forward to the next book in the series and seeing what Vala discovers about herself.

Review (3.5 Stars)

I was lucky enough to get a ARC of this book in the last week and as you can read in my Waiting on Wednesday post I did recently I had high hopes for this book. I however have come away from reading it a bit disappointed.

So this story follows Vala as she protects the Prince of Garlin. Yet a series of events at the start of the novel result in her searching for who or what she is. This is coupled with a bit of political mystery as a neighbouring Princess and her mother arrive in hope of marrying the prince and joining there lands, but the Queen is looking for something more. So Vala as well as searching for her own answers she also must figure out what the foreign queen is after.

This is a very plot driven book, it is all about Vala searching for answers. I enjoyed the story there was a hint of romance and maybe even a love triangle to begin with but nothing much developed with these (although I think it is likely that the romance side of the plot might feature more in the sequels). I think the main things which let this book down for me has to be the lack of world building and the limited 3D-ness (technical term there!) of the characters. I also felt as though there was a lack of information on Vala's skin 'condition' at the start of the novel, it did become clearer as we got seem more of Vala but to begin with I found it confusing.

Regarding the world building, well in my opinion there just wasn't any, other than some at the Sacred Lake, I couldn't tell you where the royalty live (apart from it has a conservatory, bedrooms, dining hall, kitchen and prison cells) but I can't picture it. The fog aspect of this world came as a complete surprise to me about a quarter of the way through the book, I would have through that the fog would have featured more in the earlier scenes, as much as it did from that point on ward, it almost felt as thought it was a detail added by the author part way though the writing process! I also didn't feel the personalities of the different characters, as the reader you could glean some personality traits from peoples actions but I didn't 'get to know' them that well, I didn't feel as though I could predict how they would reaction or ally themselves in situations.

Although this sounds like a negative review, I did enjoy the book, it kept me reading. My favourite aspect has to be the way that withholding just one piece of information, grew into this web of secrets and lies for Vala. This book was overall an okay start to a trilogy but there is a lot of development I would hope to see in the sequel in both world building as well as character development.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Where to begin? I LOVED this book.

Vala is a girl with charred skin. No one knows why she is the way she is. She is strong and fast and therefore, considered an asset to the Prince's guard. She grew up with the Prince and gives her life to serve him. When a Queen and Princess from another land visit to discuss the marrying of the Prince and Princess, an assassin comes to take the Prince's life. Vala stops him but also becomes intrigued by the assassin's origins. Does he hold the secret to who she is?

J.M. Miller's writing grips my attention and is easy to read. I read this book in an afternoon. Now, I have to rather fitfully wait for the next installment. If you are a fan of YA, fantasy--this book is the real deal. You will not be disappointed.

I don't know about you, but I really love this cover. I like them even more when they give a really good representation of what the book is about. This book was better than I expected.

I loved this unique magical story from beginning to end. The easy pace really made it hard for me to stop, I could have easily finished this book in a day. But the way it was written with the steady flow of information really kept me at the easy pace.

The complex characters were really well developed and kept the story fresh. Asking questions and really needing to keep going so you can truly figure out who is up to what and what's going to happen next. Who can Vala really trust?
In the end you really end up loving and hating some characters. But I will warn you at some point your opinion will change on quite a few!

I received a copy through Netgalley.

We meet a girl, whose forever set apart from those that took her in, but charged with the most sacred of duties. Protecting the Prince of her kingdom of Garlin.
Vala, found as a small child, covered in skin like cooling rock, her identity, the truth about her origins hidden. Thought to be cursed by magic, she is lovingly raised by someone close to the Royal Family. Trained for battle and fighting she is a member of The Guard.
On the night before a High Princess and her mother the High Queen are due to visit their small island kingdom, and attempt is made on the Prince's life, one of those assailants has skin just like her own.

Everything from this point on, Vala's life begins to unravel. She begins to question everything she knows, and the motives of those around her.

Vala is a strong, dutiful, stubborn young woman. For all the privilege she should have as the Main Guard over the Prince's detail she is still treated with fear and suspicion by those around her. And with the entrance of this stranger so much like herself, she begins to wonder if she's even human at all, or if a curse even exists.
I did enjoy this one, but it felt more like a prequel to a much larger story with Vala, we just barely scrape the surface of who and what she really is and what else exists beyond the small realm she knows. I'm looking forward to seeing where Vala and Xavyn go next on their journey.

This was book one in the Fallen Flame series, and it was a decent start to this new world. It wasn't very original in concept, but Miller does a good job in making it her own. Miller does an excellent job of world building on the little island that the entire book takes place on. However, it was a little confusing when they talked about other places in relation to where they were located. Eventually, I figured it out when it kept getting repeated (and maybe looking at the map in the beginning of the book helped out a lot as well). 

Vala is the main protagonist in this story, and I enjoyed learning more about her throughout the book. I just wish that the pacing was a little bit faster, I didn't really enjoy the book until about 80% in. We are told that Vala is different from everyone and that she was cursed when she was born. There is a lot of mystery surrounding that time, and Vala never really questions it until she meets an assassin who looks just like her. Ever since this assassin shows up, Vala starts to question everything about her life and who she really is. Which I thought was more interesting than what was going on in her life as a guard to the prince and eventually princess. 

Plotwise, it didn't seem to be much of one until the mystery of Vala's past comes up near the end. And then it just seemed as if it was only placed there to set up the next book. Majority of the book was Vala and the guards trailing behind the royals and trying to keep assassins from killing the prince. When Vala is accused of murder, is when the plot really picks up and questions sort of start to get answered. 

One aspects of the book that I had a major problem with was the relationship between the prince and Vala. It was always mentioned that Vala has gotten too close to the prince, and vice versa. When Vala is accused of murder, it was like that relationship never existed. He tortured her with water knowing how much pain it causes her, and he wouldn't even listen to her. I'm glad that she finally realized that he was not someone she needed to give up her life for in order for him to live just because he is the prince. 

Overall, this wasn't a bad book. It set up the world building nicely, introduced the characters very well, and left us with a mystery that just started to be solved near the end. I just wish the pace was a little bit faster.