This book was so so amazing!! It is the second in the series and totally held its own as the second book. It filled me with so much joy and happiness but damn did it also rip my heart out and stomp on a few times. I really hope I get approved for the third book on here! It’s full of action and love and some badass fiery battles! Highly recommend!

Crown of Feathers was one of my favorite books of 2019 and I was so excited to read Heart of Flames. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened with Veronyka, Tristan, Sparrow, and the rest of the characters I loved so much. Unfortunately, Heart of Flames dragged a bit. Given that this book is well over six hundred pages, I was surprised by how relatively little happened. I loved the journeys that the secondary characters went on but Tristan and Veronyka’s relationship didn’t really work for me. Their relationship was so riddled with secrets and angst that it never felt like a true partnership. 

Overall, Heart of Flames never quite grabbed me in the same way Crown of Feathers did, although I still did end up liking it. However, since the majority of this book was setting up the third book, I have high hopes that one will be as good as the first one was. 

*Disclaimer: I received a digital advance copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review originally posted on Goodreads, December 2019:

Review of eARC, finished 27 December 2019:

Continuing the excitement from Crown of Feathers, Heart of Flames was a fantastic read and I can’t wait to see how the trilogy ends.

Heart of Flames is the second book in the Crown of Feathers series.

This is an epic fantasy, set in a world which was once ruled by phoenix riding warrior queens until an epic war between the empire and the phoenix riders torn everything apart. The world building is wonderful and enriched with lore and myths surrounding creation of phoenixes and stories of this world’s gods. Like in most worlds conquered and reconquered the empire tried to squash the phoenix rider culture and iconography, but they couldn’t defeat it all. The myths and stories are still there; we learn about them as we read the story and uncover more of the violent history of this world.

As this is a sequel it’s hard to say much about the plot without spoiling book one, I will just say that our main character, Veronyka, is a war orphan who dreams of being a phoenix rider like the fierce warrior queens of old. When she finally finds them, she does everything in her power to join them and make a new home. You also learn from the synopsis that Veroynka has a controlling sister and that the empire does not welcome the return of the phoenix riders, both major conflicts in the story. The second book is a wonderful continuation of the story and conflict from book one. We get some answers to some questions from book one and meet some new characters. As most second books do, it ends with even more conflict and questions which I am very much looking forward to seeing the resolution in the final book. I will say while there is a lot going on, it wasn’t a terrible painful cliffhanger ending which I appreciate very much!

The magic in this world is very intriguing and a nice fit to the world. Phoenix riders are animages (animal mages) and animages are not treated so kindly throughout this world. With the outcome of the war, most animages had to go into hiding or face becoming a glorified slave to the empire.

Overall, I strongly recommend this series. It has so many great moments and characters, and did I mention phoenix riders!?

Heart of Flames by Nicki Pau Preto is the second book of the young adult fantasy Crown of Feathers series. As with most fantasy series this second book picks up after the first and continues the characters stories so they are best read in order to be understood. This particular series is one that changes the point of view between several characters and follows along their different story lines.

Crown of Feathers began the story and introduced the characters to us with Veronyka who is what is known as an animage who has the ability to communicate with animals. Since the end of the blood war animages have been in hiding and with a lack of Phoenix eggs the once mighty Phoenix warriors are no more but during her years of hiding with her sister, Val, Veronyka wants nothing more than to  become a Phoenix rider.

While Sev is also an animage he has hidden his abilities right in front empire by becoming one of their soldiers. The empire has ruled since the blood war and would stop at nothing to wipe out the animage and riders. Meanwhile, Tristan is part of the small  rebellion of Phoenix riders left in the world and along with Veronyka and Sev all three are on a path to bring them together.

When I first picked up this series I had my doubts seeing that the books were so long and normally with fantasy I end up finding the lengthy ones very slow paced but this series went at a nice steady rate that I didn’t find myself fighting boredom. The characters and plot kept enough going that I found myself entertained and pulled into the world of the Phoenix riders and wondering just what would come next and book two kept that up nicely as well. Definitely a solid series I find myself enjoying returning to.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was nervous when I started the second book to an AMAZING first. But Nicki does not dissapoint, she weaves a world of pheonix rides with a high fantasy story that will leave you desperate for the next one. The writing is well done and it shows with how her characters develope and grow through out the whole adeventure. I'm definedtly putting Nicki Pau Preto on my must read list.

4/5 stars

I really loved this sequel! It had just as much history and world building within it as 'Crown of Feathers'. I loved seeing the character growth and where this overall story is taking all the characters. 

<u>Pacing & Points of View</u>
The pacing was honestly slower than the first book. I honestly put it down a few times so just be prepared. There was a lot more history tidbits, internal dialogue and over four POV that made it drag a bit. But stick with it!

<u>Overall Thoughts</u>
I didn't think it was possible, but the history and world building was just as amazing as the first story! It does slow the story down, but it's all worth it in the end. Veronyka and Tristan's story is still my favorite to read, but I absolutely loved the growth for all the main characters especially Veronyka, Tristan, Sev, and Kade. I love that this series gives us more than one OTP as well! Val's character evolves a bit as well, but I found that I wasn't as invested in her story other than how it will shape Veronyka's story. I could read a lot less of her POV and just leave it up to mystery honestly. Even though the first half of the story was slow, the last 30% of the story and the end is where everything really picked up for me and made it well worth the wait! I can't wait to see how everything wraps up in the third book for this amazing fantasy series!

*Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster publishing and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The sequel to the Crown of Feathers is stunning! The detail in this book made the story as well as the vibrant writing. I highly look forward for the third installment!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Somehow in the chaos of the world, I forgot to upload my review for this. So, here I am catching up. 
Let me start off by saying that the original concept of a phoenix is something that has resonated with me for years. So after reading book 1, I couldn't get my grabby hands out quicker for the next installment. 
Heart of Flames took its reader on epic adventures back into this world of fantasy warriors. The world building is one things that really sticks out with these books. You have no problem having a complete visual of everything happening within these pages. Along with the world building, this book brought a new definition to the character building. In the first book, the characters weren't as strong as they are portrayed in this novel. So, seeing that evolution is quite fascinating. If I am not mistaken, but COF was a single narrative story, whereas HOF involves all three of the main characters. Not only was this a great focus to each character, but it also allows the reader that greater understanding as well in this new book.

While it took me longer to read and get into this book than I would have like, I think around one third through everything really started flowing. Nicki Pau Preto has made such a unique world with the Phoenix Riders and how the two sisters connect to both each other and to the past of the Phoenix Riders. The pacing towards the beginning was a problem for me, but I trust Pau Preto to always deliver unique and interesting plots, especially with that ending!

I thought the first book was great, but holy crap batman this one was even better. 

I love so much how Nicki carried this story strong. The world is so captivating and I didn't even realize I was done until I was like "WAIT WHAT IT"S OVER?!?" not my shining moment. 

I devoured this book in one sitting, and swear any single book Nicki puts out, I will buy. If any of her books are half as good as these last two, they will be amazing. 

Can't wait to see what else Nicki Pau Preto has inshore for us! 

Thanks netgallet for the ARC

This was absolutely incredible! I like the first book a lot but the character growth and story arcs in this one were just masterful. I cannot wait for the next book cause this was both satisfying but I need more. Cannot wait to see where this goes next!

Heart of Flames picks up immediately following the events of Crown Of Feathers -- Phoenix Rider Veronyka fighting to control her emotions and her magic, while simultaneously trying to uncover the truth of who she really is -- and what that means for her future. She has little time to ponder these questions, though, with a power-hungry Lord Rolan trying to provoke the Phoenix Riders at every turn, attempting to force the Golden Empire’s Grand Council into declaring war. 

With The truth about Veronyka’s past hanging in the wake. She must decide to use her shadow magic to contact the only person who knows about her and her past to help, Val. But at what cost? Speaking to Val means not only addressing herself but Val’s lies and manipulations as the reincarnated Ashfire Queen.

 While opening her magic might be helpful, --  it did help her fight the first war -- her inability to control it as well as her sister means being vulnerable to Val. Despite being sisters, Val uses every weakness she finds in Veronyka against her, hoping for victory over her sister. 

While there are several POVs through out the novel, our story still revolves around Veronyka. Veronyka is amazingly complex. She loves deeply and selflessly - despite what it may take from her.  We journey through her growth from a meek young girl - a victim living in her sister’s shadow - to an independent woman fighting for the things and people she loves, even if it means doing things she doesn’t necessarily want to.

 She doesn’t see good and evil, but love in all capacities and redemption possibilities across the board. This gives her an advantage that others may not, but also comes with a disadvantage that is hard to escape.

She understands that the right choice for somebody else might not be the right choice for her and seeks to understand people’s motives. We really delve deep into her past and her life in HoF. 

Val is back -- with a vengeance! She’s still the same manipulative and cold character we met in Crown of Feathers - cunning, deceptive, and malevolent. 

Now however, with each flashback,  we learn what has shaped her into the person she is, and why she treats Veronkya with such malice. Finally, we begin to see some of the cracks in her every strong, stoney demeanor. They help us to understand the choices she has made, and the one she continues to make.

 The relationship between Val and her sister is constantly evolving, making it difficult to predict what will unfold through out the story. Val's emotions are constantly shifting - from cold as ice to a genuine desire to  help her sister..

I really enjoyed this book more than the first. I loved getting to delve more into Veronkya and Val’s past, and their bond. Veronkya’s magic plays a big part in this book and we finally get to learn a little more about it and why it works the way it does. We get to see how strong she is both mentally, and physically. I loved the little side notes of the history added in and each of the characters parts and how they fit in with the story. It gives a full 360 view of all the things going on, which helps build on the complexity of the characters and the plot. Over all I'd give this book a 4.5 overall rating.

Crown of Feather lit my heart aflame last year and this sequel did not disappoint!

The world building, vivid descriptions, the compelling and complex characters, the bond between the phoenixes and their riders, romance and  history of the Phoenix Riders, and backstory, was on point and this sequel ramps up everything TENFOLD. It surprised me in a lot of ways, but it was still the same world, with the same characters, fighting the same battle and every single one of them was just as amazing.

The way Preto writes this world is something to behold. The writing makes everything seem comforting in a way, even if the things happening are the farthest things from comforting. She just has an amazing way with words. I also really liked how this world's politics played a part. I usually get bored easily with politics in books, but I found myself fascinating by this world's inner workings. I think that is truly a testament at how well this world is written and how interesting it.

All in all, I adored this book to pieces. It just as good as Crown of Feathers. It is a fantastic sequel and a fantastic addition to this series. I'm super pumped to read anything that Preto ever writes!

Heart of Flames is the most awaited sequel to Crown of Feathers which was one of my favorite 2019 books! I loved this book so much. I think I love this one even more than Crown of Feathers. I loved the characters, the new POVs, the world-building, the twist and turns.... and mostly the details that are sprinkled throughout this humongous book. I loved everything in this book. Honestly, I tried to look for pros and cons... I found nothing that I didn't like in this book other than Val being horrible. I hate her but I LOVE to hate her. Nicki has the talent to perfectly write  a villain. I loved how each character grows in this sequel especially Veronyka & Sev. 

Seeing Veronyka coming to terms with who she is and accepting her heritage and her particular power is so beautiful and well done. I loved her growth and how she stood her ground even if her sister Val was taking a dark turn. I'm scared and very excited about their relationship in the third book. In this one, it's so complex! Their relationship is so toxic and intriguing because even though they're related, Veronyka knows that Val is evil... but it doesn't prevent her from loving her. Sometimes you don't get to choose your family. 

Sev was amazing in this sequel. He's one of the LGBTQ+ characters and I loved his growth. We follow his journey here in the enemy territory. He's a spy for Commander Cassian and I loved how he goes through so much. He is forced to do some awful actions that go against his values but he does it for a better outcome. I love the fact that in the end, he embraces his spy role even though it takes him on a difficult path where he has to let go Kade. He & Kade are everything. Their friendship, their support. They're always there for each other. Honestly, I was waiting for them to acknowledge their feelings. It was so damn cute when it happened. I know that the ending sets them apart... but i'm hoping that they will find each other again and get their happy ending.

Tristan was adorable. I loved how he kept hinting at his feelings for Veronyka... when she kept ignoring it... because she thought that she was protecting him. Their slow-burn is EVERYTHING. You have to be so patient with this couple but it's so satisfying when they finally express their mutual feelings. I was waiting for it since book 1 and it was SO worth it. I love them so much. They deserve everything... please Nicki don't break my heart in the third book :')

I also loved seeing the relationship between Tristan and his dad bloom. We learn so much more about his mother and the history behind the ruling of Kings and Queens. I loved the many insights we got from the old history where the blood war was still brewing. 

What I also love about this world is PHOENIXES. They are everything. Honestly, I just love the bonding system. I love how deep it can go and how the feelings and conversation work between an animage and a phoenix. It's so pure. I'm in love with Xephyra's & Veronyka's relationship. It's just so cute. I love that we get to know more about the bonding between phoenixes. Xephyra & Rex (Tristan's phoenix) are SO ADORABLE UGH. 


One last thing: I loved that we got Elliot's POV. After what happened in Crown of Feathers, we needed to understand his intentions and actions and why he did what he did. I loved his perspective and I adored the friendship that bloomed between him and Sparrow. 

This is one of the most unique YA fantasy I've read so far and it's a debut author... her writing is so beautiful, immersive and complex. I loved the political intrigue and the details. Nicki put so much love and soul into this work and I'm in awe. Her books need to be hyped up. It's such an underrated series. If you haven't picked this one yet, just do it because you're in for a WILD ride!

Rating: 5 glorious stars.

I really enjoyed this sequel to one of my favorite books of last year, Crown of Feathers. This is a fantasy world like none I've read before. Perfect for fans of the Seven Realms series who like their high fantasy with multiple POVs and high political stakes. This world stands out for its Phoenix Riders, a group that fought in the war of long ago but has resurrected from the ashes (pun intended) to fight again. The trouble is they still have plenty of enemies and must figure out who to trust and ally with among the uncertainty. Each of our 4 main characters plays a pivotal role either in the Riders or secret ally helping them undercover. I do think this book suffers some from the second book slump as the characters spend a lot of time discussing what next steps to take and are thrown off from their origins stories that were originally so compelling. However, the stage is set for an epic conclusion I can hardly wait to read.

I loved everything about this book! The characters, the world building, the twists and turns - everything was excellent! I loved the way that each of the characters developed throughout this book, especially Veronyka and Sev! Veronyka has been slowly coming to terms with who she is and what she is capable of, and with how this book ended, I'm both excited and scared to see what happens next with her storyline. Then with Sev, he's gone from this self-serving soldier just wanting to slide under the radar, to someone who is strong and wants to do the right thing for the people that he cares about. Tristan also goes through some nice development throughout this book, especially when it comes to his father and their relationship. I even love Avalkyra's character, even though she maybe isn't a character to root for.

We learned so much more about not only these characters and how they all connect to one another, but we also learned a ton about the history of this world and how that impacts current events. I also love the way that some of those past events are shown to us, with letters or excerpts from books written in the past. This is such an incredibly detailed and well thought out world and I quite honestly wish that this book was longer so that I could see even more of it! For a book that's already 600 pages, that's saying something. Not once did I feel like this book was weighed down by descriptions or pages that you needed to slog through, it was so fast paced even when there wasn't any action happening because you just had to know what was going to happen next!

The magic in this world is also really interesting, with both animages and shadowmages. We got to learn a lot more about Veronyka and Val's shadow magic in this book, and boy is it a game changer! There wasn't as much of a focus on the animal magic in this book, but with all the action going on, it didn't hinder the storyline at all. 

The amount of detail that Nicki added to this series is astounding, especially with this being her debut series! I'm so excited to see what she comes up with next, because if this is just her getting started, I think we are all in for a wild ride.

There are quite a few series out there where the second book suffers from "second book syndrome", but that is definitely NOT the case with this book. With the way this book ended, I'm very scared for these characters that I've grown to care for. This is such an incredible series and if you haven't started it yet, you really need to get on it! This is not your average YA fantasy, it's so much more than that. It's only February, but if this book doesn't make my top 10 of 2020 list I'll be shocked.

Review will be posted to www.meltingpages.wordpress.com on 3/5/2020.

In the ending of the last novel of the series, we find out some crazy stuff. Betrayal, phoenixes on fire, and magic are only the beginning of the world of Crown of Feathers.

Following three characters with completely different upbringings, Heart of Flames brings readers three additional characters perspectives to follow on the journey. Tensions are high, everything is at stake, and everyone will stop at nothing to secure their future. The author does a great job of developing the characters, and I mean a tremendous job. We find what makes them tick, their weaknesses, and their strengths through times of stress.

Who could not like Veronyka? While there are time she goes all Harry Potter on me, does what she pleases, and bears no consequences, we see that she is flawed. She is so passionate about her mission, that she, too, gets carried away and starts acting more like Avalkyra without even knowing it.

While I initially found Sev’s point-of-view to be on the boring side, that eventually blossomed into the more romantic and reliable aspect for me. The introduction of more characters perspectives into the mix helped readers to understand all sides of the feud.

Readers who love a fast-paced, hopeful, and profoundly developed characters will love Heart of Flames.

Nicki Pau Preto introduces readers to a vibrant land infused with magic, friendship, love, and resilience.

Heart of Flames is absolutely stunning. I am a huge YA fantasy fan and this book is probably the best YA fantasy that I have ever read. It is very easy for a reader to say “OMG this is my favourite book ever!” We can fall in love with books so easily and although that is wonderful it is not always helpful when rating new books. So, I have been sat here comparing Heart of Flames to my favourite YA fantasy books. The real test is do I like it more than my current favourite A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas? Believe me when I say I love ACOMAF but the answer is yes, I really do and I think the writing is also superior.

The novel opens a few weeks on from the events of the last book, with the characters still dealing with the aftermath.


Characters & Relationships
I was SO excited to get back to Veronyka, Val, Tristan, Sev and Sparrow. The character development in the novel is fantastic for both the main characters and the supporting characters.

Sparrow
I love Sparrow, she is such a wonderful character and still reminds me a little of Luna Lovegood. Quirky and caring. It is fantastic that as a blind character Nicki does not hold Sparrow back. There is a lot of ableism in fantasy, which as a disabled person saddens me. Sparrow has her own gifts and always plays an important role. She cleverly sneaks around and has a knack for knowing a lot more than she is supposed to!

Elliot
Elliot was a significant character in terms of the plot for book one but we didn’t learn a lot about him as an individual. I loved reading from Elliot’s point of view in this book and getting to know him better. He has such a different perspective from the other phoenix riders and it was really interesting watching him continue to make difficult decisions and develop as a character.

Veronkya
Veronyka learns a lot about herself in Heart of Flames and goes on a huge personal journey. After her experiences in Crown of Feathers, she has become a much stronger character. I love her resilience. She is superbly written, as is her sister Val.

Val
Val is back with a vengeance. She is such a cool character. I loved learning more about her past and how that influences her now. Val can be cold and manipulative but there are always shades of grey and glimpses of the person she could be if she made different choices. The relationship between Val and her sister is ever-changing and makes it hard to predict what will happen in the story. I love how the book ends with Val and cannot wait to see her development in book three.

Sev
Sev! I will ship Sev and Kade all day long, not just because of the LGBT+ representation but they are both awesome characters. I love Sev’s chapters and how he develops as a character.

Tristan
Tristan I find a lot more interesting than in book one. He has a bit more grit and confidence. Obviously I wanted to find out how is relationship developed with Veronkya and I was not disappointed. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens.


Structure
Nicki Pau Preto is a master of writing from multiple points of view. In her first book she wove together each individual narrative beautifully but Heart of Flames is on a whole new level. Nicki worked really hard on balancing perspectives in this book and it really does show. I love each individual narrative as all of the voices are equally as strong and well written. It is rare for me to not want to skip forward when there are multiple points of view but the thought didn’t cross my mind whilst reading Heart of Flames. I was equally invested in what happened next to each of the characters. There are new perspectives in this novel and I particularly enjoyed Elliot being added to the pool of voices.

Another interesting structural aspect to the novel is the use of various documents or letters between chapters. The letters are written by characters who were involved in the Blood War, offering differing perspectives. The other quotes from books or poems also help to highlight the history of the world and it’s people.


Themes
There are many continuing themes in this series but bonds are the most profound. We explore different types of bonds; magical, natural, animal, between people and between people and animals (magical and otherwise).

Loss and grief are also themes explored throughout the novel. The Blood War meant that many people lost their friends, bondmates and family. The echoes of the war are still impacting characters in the story and the potential for another war weighs heavily on them. In many ways Veronyka has lost her sister and there is a grief for what could have been; a life never lived.


Final Thoughts
Heart of Flames is the sort of book that other YA fantasy books want to be. It has everything a fantasy lover could want in a book – a well thought out magic system, great pace, an interesting story, fantastically developed characters, masterful writing, disability and LGBT+ representation…. I loved every second of this book. It is lengthy but doesn’t feel it because it captures the reader so well. If you are a YA fantasy reader who enjoys high fantasy then I definitely recommend that you pick up this series. For those who have already read Crown of Feathers, savour every moment of Heart of Flames. It is brilliant.

If you have ever found yourself picking up the next book of a beloved series, you definitely know that feeling of worry that the sequel won't be as amazing as the first book and can't possibly live up to your expectations. You think there’s just no way the author can match or top how you felt about that first experience with their characters. Worry not! I’m here to say this is not the case with HEART OF FLAMES. Nicki dives deeper into the world of The Golden Empire. We get to explore histories, characters and the world itself in a way that we didn't during CROWN OF FEATHERS.

We get to see Pyra through a couple new POV's, and one in particular had me especially giddy. The different points of view really help with tracking several subplots within the story. The love interests that were established in CoF start to heat up in HoF (see what I did there?). There was a lot of foreshadowing romantic feelings in CoF, but they never really came to fruition. It was exciting to watch those relationships begin to unfold and I would still say that it's appropriate for a younger audience, think PG-13.

This book is a beast at over 600 pages. It took me quite a while to get through but I never really felt like it was dragging on, if that makes sense? I felt like all of the pages and points of view had a significant purpose. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of reading HEART OF FLAMES. The end made me gasp out loud then immediately flip back through some of the epigraphs and history snippets (aka interstitials... but who even knows that word anyways?) to see if I had missed something. NOPE, Nicki got me and in the best way possible. The wait for Crown of Feathers book 3 is going to be long, but oh so worth it.

Even better than book one! Nicki Pau Preto's writing and world building continue to be amazing. I love the characters. I love the pacing. I love the phoenixes. Literally everything in this book is perfect. Go go go! Read this series now!