Cover Image: Fireborne

Fireborne

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Member Reviews

I don’t have much to say about this book. It was enjoyable but I felt there was something missing even though I am not sure what. I mostly liked the characters, and the plot was interesting, I just had a hard tome getting through this for some reason. I still would recommend this book because I think some people would like it more than I did.

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The language is awkward at times, making it confusing and there were a lot of footnotes and more than once a chapter was repeated multiple times, so I had to skip ahead, but I have no doubt this will be a well received book once corrected and released. The storyline is interesting and the author created a unique world that manages to encompass fantasy traits we come to expect while infusing their own twist on things. Plenty of heart wrenching moments in a plot that makes you strive for the best for both protagonists. I truly hope for a sequel.

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I wish I could scream from the rooftops about how much I loved this book. But I don't think my neighbors would appreciate that. So, I basically shrieked all over twitter about this book and pushed it at all my blogging friends instead. Munda did not disappoint in her thrilling and action packed emotional thrill ride that incorporates the destruction and formation of new government. Told in the point of view of Lee and Annie, it gives an interesting view of two different sides of this revolution and how it strains their friendship.

Lee and Annie were only children when a harsh and brutal revolution massacred the drangonborn who were the ruling class, changing the country. Now, people from all metal classes have the ability to test into the class of Dragon Riders. Lee, who is the son of Leon Stormscourge, survived The Palace Day murders of the three ruling families only to become a rising star in the regime. Only, no one knows his real identity. As a child Annie's family was killed by a dragon fire and she was sent to an orphanage where she grew up besides Lee. Now two best friends are pitted against each other for the top position in the dragon riding fleet. But then Lee is contacted by his cousin who survived Palace Day, with a threat of war on the horizon. The families are back and they want what is theirs. Lines are drawn, sides chosen, and a new firstrider rises.

I loved all the dragons in Fireborne. I find a lot of time that books that have dragons in them, they aren't the main point of attention. But in Fireborne, Munda makes sure that her readers get to know these dragons, their weaknesses and their connections with their riders. Each dragon is described beautifully and characterized into their species of dragon and are beautiful magnificent creatures that play an essential role in the society that The Protector is trying to build.

I found the characters to be super relateable. A lot of time in fantasy you find that the protagonist acts like they are in their 20s rather than their actual age. Lee and Annie and all of the other riders in Fireborne acted like they were teenagers, they made mistakes, they don't know how to deal with certain things and they learned through trial and error and endless hours of training as well as the ghosts of their past. They were flawed and far from perfect, but Lee and Annie both have their own unique story to tell and that story shapes who they are as characters.

I wish I could discuss the Revolution with out spoiling it, but quite honestly it's going to be hard and confusing, so I am going to leave the Revolution up to the reader to learn about. But my heart breaks for Lee and Annie and everyone else who was affected by it. It brings into the question of change, if after so many years things can be different and fight of right and wrongs.

Fireborne is an amazing debut novel and had made my list of top ten books that I have read this year. I am super excited to see what Munda has in store next for these characters because it can only get better from here. (Well, it's already amazing so even more so.) If you love dragons, politics, battles, war and angst filled romance then make sure that you add Fireborne to your TBR immediately!

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First of all, thank you to NetGalley.com, author Rosaria Munda, and my friends at PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy for free in exchange for a honest review. This book will be published on October 15, 2019.
The tale is full of intrigue and passion. Dragons abound with their riders, protecting the town of Callipolis. We follow Lee sur Pallor and Annie sur Aela through the novel. Lee is the hidden son of a dragon lord, while Annie is the daughter of a tradesman from the highlands.
Brought together at an orphanage after the down fall of the Old Regime, they are used to being the only ones fighting together.
The dragon riders are fighting for the right to be Firstrider of the Guardians. This will be the first time that a Firstrider has been chosen since that bloody Revolution.

But all is not well, there are rumours that some of the ruling class of before have survived. They have been hiding in a nearby city called New Pathos and have been biding their time to make a stand for the future of Callipolis. They want their city back, and will do anything to make that happen.

Lee must make a choice. Does he stand with his friends and made family; or does he turn and join his blood relatives again to take down those that massacred the dragon lords? How do you make the choice that has no good answer?

Dragons and politics, love and honour. I recommend this book to all that have a dream of flying and who can empathise with the struggle of doing what is right when everything is falling down around you.

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