I was so excited for this sequel. Getting to see more of Vamala than just the Citadel, seeing the changing character dynamics, and answering lingering questions - this book delivered on all of it. I really enjoyed my time reading.

I do wish that more time was spent developing the villain, and there were a few plot threads that didn’t wrap up in a satisfying way. If the book could have been twice as long to accommodate this, I think it would have been twice as good. Other than that, I would definitely recommend this book and it’s predecessor.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this ARC not realizing that it was book 2 of a series, so I had to pick up book 1 to give it a full review. The first book was disappointing - there were some problematic things I saw with parental relationships and romances but Warriors of Wing and Flame did improve in generally doing away with some of the problematic relationships there were.

Unfortunately, I found the book generally difficult to get through. I wasn't really invested in the characters or their relationships. In fact, whenever anything vaguely romantic came up and either sister got distracted from the plot I just felt myself getting frustrated and wanting the plot to move on. Furthermore, the issue I had with Zuhra in book 1 and her inability to focus whenever she met a boy got transferred to Inara. While I finished the book, it was just an overwhelmingly average experience.

After reading the first book in this duology, I was anxiously awaiting this book. The first book left off in a cliff hanger place so it felt like a rough place to end and a long time to wait. You really must read the first book before you read this book.

This book picks up pretty much where the last book leaves off. It has excellent pacing and plenty going on that kept me interested in the story and invested in the characters. I loved the mix of adventure, action, romance and magic. I also loved how all the characters came together to fight against Barloc. It was satisfying to watch both Zuhra and Inara grow into power and confidence while the people around them support and build them up.

The only little glitch I had was telling the sisters apart. Their voices became very similar in this book and because the author changes the character narrative with each chapter, I found I had to go back and remind myself who was talking. Not always, but a few times for sure.

This is a fun young adult fantasy duology and I really enjoyed it.

Content: peril, violence, death, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much to Tor Teen and Netgalley for letting me read a copy of Warriors of Wing and Flame early! I was able to read the e-ARC of book one in this duology, Sisters of Shadow and Light, last year and I liked it, so I was really excited to see how the story continued/was wrapped up in book 2!


Warriors of Wing and Flame 4/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads: The doorway between the magical Visempirum and the human world has been reopened. Paladin are once more living in the citadel where Zuhra and Inara grew up completely isolated by the magical hedge that trapped them there. Amidst the brewing conflict between the Paladin and humans looms the threat of Barloc, who has stolen Inara’s immense power and continues to elude the Paladin who are desperately searching for him.
In this sequel to Sisters of Shadow and Light, Inara and Zuhra must navigate the treacherous paths of self-discovery, their love for each other, and for the boys who have captured their hearts. Together, they search for the strength within themselves to bridge the divide between the two worlds they inhabit, even as war threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—they love.

I did not like this one as much as I liked book one. Don't get me wrong, it was a good ending to the duology and I 100% understand why the author made all of the decisions she did and I know other people will probably really like it, I just had the hardest time liking the chapters that Inara was narrating/wanting to read, which in turn meant that I wasn't as engaged for about half the book... which was a little bit of a problem. I 100% understand that she just went through something really traumatic at the end of book one, so her reactions seemed completely on par with that, there was just something about the voice of those chapters that didn't gel with me and I had to force myself to keep reading them as to not miss the important plot points that I was sure to miss had I skipped them. The pacing was also not my favorite as it seemed as though the beginning and the middle were slightly drawn out, but the end was just kinda thrown together, but overall, it somehow worked. I really enjoyed all of Zuhra's and their mom and dad finally being able to come back together and be together was so cute! I loved how the story really ended and the way the relationships strengthened. If you really liked book one and you want to know what happens with the characters you ended up really liking in book one, definitely read Warriors of Wing and Flame. If you didn't read book one, then go read that, and if you like it, then you're definitely going to want to read book two!

Sara B. Larson is back with the closing book of the Sisters of Shadow and Light duology, Warriors of Wing and Flame. Filled with swoonworthy romance and dark magic, Warriors of Wing and Flame is sure to be a favourite for YA readers.

After the events of Sisters of Shadow and Light, Zuhra and Inara are left to grieve their losses. But Barloc, now in possession of the powers he stole from Inara, is advancing his murderous goal to rule the realms of humans and Paladins. The sisters must band together with their family, friends, and Paladins from Visempirum to take down Barloc before it’s too late.

Warriors of Wing and Flame is a similar experience to the first book in the duology, Sisters of Shadow and Light. The plot is at times clunky and predictable, but still enthralling. The characters are well-built, but will grate on the nerves of some readers. The atmosphere is great, but the worldbuilding could use some help. But at the end of the day, Warriors of Wing and Flame is a solid end to Sara B. Larson’s duology.

Zuhra and Inara grow quite a bit in Warriors, especially Inara. With the loss of her powers, her mind is finally all hers and she can experience the world in ways that she couldn’t before. The sisters, who grew up secluded in the Paladin citadel with their abusive mother, go through many external dynamic changes, but the core of their sisterly bond always remains strong. One downside is now that Inara is no longer overcome with her powers, her POV voice is hard to distinguish from Zuhra. There are more than a few times when I had to flip to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself whose POV I was in.

The exploration of mental health in Warriors was handled really well and is always something I like to see in YA novels. Both sisters have experienced a very sheltered life and the abandonment of their care from their mother. Once they start to explore the world outside their cloistered life, things like depression and social anxiety become apparent. Larson handles this delicately through the sisters, and while it isn’t a focal point, it was good to see this side of the story.

One thing that really stands out with Warriors, and this duology in general, is the atmosphere. There is a slightly creepy, mystical vibe that weaves through the whole story and I think this atmosphere helped fill in when the world building didn’t feel like it was all together there. The world definitely expands more in Warriors, but it always felt like the development of the world needed just one step further for it to all fit together nicely.

While interesting, the plot itself needed a bit of smoothing out. The first chunk of the book felt fairly slow and the momentum didn’t really pick up until the ending. And through there were bits of sweet or emotional moments in the slower parts, the story really could have used more of a jolt in the beginning to get it going. And though it was slow, there is something that just hooks the reader and keeps them going. There is a bit of predictability in the story, but it never seemed to matter to me or hinder my enjoyment.

Warriors may falter a little more than its predecessor, it is still a solid ending to Larson’s duology and a worthwhile read. There is something to be said for simple stories that take you out of your reality and Larson does that pretty darn well with Warriors of Wing and Flame.

This one picks up right where the first left off.

Whether you reread book one or not, is entirely up to you. I'll be honest, I planned to but time got away from me, so I jumped into WoFaW directly and it only took a little for the events from the first book to pop up. Also, if you have not read book one, please do so. This review may contain minor spoilers for it, not book two.

Zuhra and Inara are half Paladin and while one of them was sucked dry of her powers, the other discovered she had, in fact, possessed them, as well. Their mission is a deadly one; stopping Barloc isn't easy at all, what with him being so powerful. Sadly, there are many losses, along the way - heartbreaking scenes - but also ones that have your heart do a pitter-patter. Yes, I'm talking about the romance parts of the journey of the sisters. Seeing them have that, fall in love while trying to stay alive is balancing it all out.

I really don't want to spoil this awesome story for anyone, so I won't be saying anything else about the story, itself.

The characters are well-developed, in my opinion and I love the dynamic between them.

I recommend you read these books if you like reading about strong sisterly bonds; awesome, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-chair quests, and romance.

I voluntarily agreed to read an early copy via Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher! 5 stars.

“𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔? 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕 𝒃𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒆𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅.” —Sara B Larson

MY SYNOPSIS: Paladin are once again living within the citadel and sisters Inara and Zuhra are reunited, but it has come at great cost. Barloc has stolen Inara’s immense power, leaving behind a gaping hole that continues to threaten her life. She feels empty, and questions whether life is still worth living. But Barloc hasn’t stopped there. His power grows, and he continues to take the lives of other Paladins. Inara and Zuhra must find a way to defeat him while navigating the treacherous path of self-discovery that leads to deeper bonds with each other and unexpected love.

MY THOUGHTS: This was a satisfying end to an enchanting fantasy. It was sweet, fulfilling, and had the perfect fairytale feel. I could not put it down. Part of this was because the chapter POVs switch between the sisters, and each leaves on a cliff hanger that has you racing on to the next. What I loved was all the romance woven into Zuhra and Inara’s stories, their character growth, and the way the events of the plot challenged them.

The romance stood out the most for me. I was pleasantly surprised by how much more romance there was compared to the first book. And if you know me, you know I loooove my fantasy plots with TONS of romance. This did not disappoint. While it is YA, the spice level was done well. There weren’t any sex scenes, nothing beyond kissing, yet, some of the romantic scenes were still spicy (in a sweet way—since this has a fairytale feel to it). Better still, both sisters had their own romantic stories. So it was like a two-for-one. Double the romance fun!

I also liked the parallel this book created compared to the last. In the first book, it is Zuhra who goes through the portal. This time, it’s Inara. I was so thrilled that she got to see all the wonders that her sister saw before her. Those were some of the most exciting chapters for me, especially because it allowed her some time with Louk, and for their developing feelings. And on that note, their romance was definitely UNEXPECTED!!! I did not predict that AT ALL!! And it didn’t happen until after the 50% mark, but it felt so right, and so needed. So satisfying.

The sisterhood bond is still prevalent throughout this story. But this time, the bond is challenged as Zuhra and Inara must face their own obstacles. Yet, even though the bond is tested, they still love each other and they still always come back to each other for support. This created a feel-good aspect that I adored! By the end, I found myself tearing up with some of the final chapters. It is definitely going on my favorite duologies list! I think it’s a great story conclusion and a must read for anyone who likes enchanting fantasy stories with romance woven into them. MY RATING: 4.5/5⭐️

A big thank you to NetGalley and TorTeen for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Warriors of Wing and Flame is a fantastic conclusion to the Sisters of Shadow and Light duology. It had all the aspects I loved from the first book--sisters, romances, magic, gryphons!, adventure--but it amped up everything to a new level, as a sequel should. Warriors picks up a few days after Sisters ends, and the action never stops. It is told from Zuhra and Inara's points of view again, and the sisters' relationship only grows deeper the more they are able to interact. We get to see even more sides of the supporting characters in Warriors, such that it grows to feel like an ensemble cast with the depth and consideration Larson has given each of them. I was kept on the edge of my seat until the very end, and I was left with a feeling of satisfaction after reading the last line. I highly recommend this duology! (Obviously go back to Sisters of Shadow and Light if you haven't yet read that one. These do need to be read in order.)

Buy, Borrow, or Bypass: If you have a copy of Sisters of Shadow and Light, you definitely need a copy of Warriors of Wing and Flame for your collection. If you are a fan of sister-themed stories, YA fantasy, and duologies, then this is the series for you. At the very least you need to borrow this series from your local library or a friend for its fantastic exploration of family dynamics and what power looks like in its various forms. You don't want to miss out on reading this series. :)

Warriors of Wing and Flame picks up pretty much instantly from the ending of book one. Inara is struggling with the loss of her powers, she feels that there is an emptiness inside her that only her Paladin power can fill, and without it she's not sure it's worth carrying on. She is wary of the new Paladin now sharing the citadel with her family, and seeks solace in the strength of her sister and Halvor. Zuhra's feelings are mixed. On one side she is happy that Raidyn is stuck here with her, but she can't get over the feeling that there is something between him and Sharmaine . She senses something wrong with Inara, some darkness inside that she can't hide from someone who shares the sanaulus with her. When they learn that Barloc is gaining power they do the one thing they think might trap him... offer him more. But Barloc has other plans, and won't be content until he has destroyed both Paladin and Human. It will take sister working with sister, friend working with friend, family working together if the Paladin are to defeat Barloc once and for all.

I really enjoyed the first book in this duology though it did come with it's pitfalls which unfortunately the second book also fell into. In parts the pacing was off, I felt there were bits that lasted way longer than they needed too, and the action scenes just seemed to end a little too quickly for my liking. That being said, the authors descriptive writing transports you as the reader to Inara and Zuhra's world. It's easy to get swept away with the paladin magic, family dynamics and the romance. It's also easy to get swept away in just one sisters storyline. Zuhra was by far my favourite character in book one, but Inara stole the show in book two, and like the first book I found myself speed reading through the other sister's chapters to get to the ones I was really interested in.

Zuhra and Inara definitely grow as characters in this book. One thing you have to understand when reading this is that they have lived a life in virtual isolation, one with only their mother, housekeeper and each other for company. Do they fall in love rather easily? Absolutely, but wouldn't you if you were a 16-18 year old girl and met a boy that made you swoon or feel safe? They both have to traverse through new things that are completely foreign to them, travelling to a new city, flying on the back of a Gryphon, even just talking to new people, and I think they cope pretty well considering at the start of this book their whole worlds were upended. Yes, some of their interactions and inner thoughts fall to the younger end of the YA spectrum but when the situation calls for it both of them can act well beyond their years.

There is a lot of romance in this book, some new and some that has carried through from book one, and while the relationships do play a heavy part in the storyline, Larson's story isn't about romantic love. It is about the love shared between sisters, the love shared between people who have grown up together and would be willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the other. She really play's into the relationship between Inara and Zuhra and you can't help but want them both to come out with happy endings. Romance wise, be prepared for a few twists from book one, we still get treated to stolen glances and brief touches that just make you swoon.

As usual be prepared for plenty of twists and turns, I can't even talk about the second half of the book without giving away spoilers. While there is a lot of introspection, Larson still gives us enough action and romance scenes to keep the book going at a steady pace. There were parts I felt dragged slightly, but they didn't take away from my overall love of the book. A great duology for fans of an intricate magic system and a world that transports you away from the one you know.

I loved this book! It has adventure, romance, a beautiful sisterly bond, and gryphons! What more could a reader ask for?

By the end of the book I was flipping pages as fast as I possibly could because I needed to know how everything would end up ASAP. The characters are well-written, and I just wanted to hug all of them! This book also broke my heart several times, so of course I want everyone to read it too, so they can have their hearts broken with me.

I love Zuhra and Inara so much! I really enjoyed following along with them, and I also loved the side characters, especially the love interests.

I’ve read all of Sara Larson’s published books, and I have to say that I have loved all of them. I’m looking forward to reading whatever she publishes next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content:
Clean romance, some moderate kissing (I think it was still PG).
Mild swearing.

I loved the first volume and I was really looking forward to discovering the rest of Inara and Zuhra’s adventures after all the events that had taken place.

Now that the two sisters are together again, they have to deal with the consequences of everything that happened beforehand, and it’s far from easy! With their allies, they will soon have to go after Barloc in order to neutralize him. Unfortunately, Barloc is becoming increasingly powerful and deadly.

It was a pleasure to see all the characters get together, and especially to really witness the reunion of this family that has been separated for so long. Raidyn and Zuhra’s relationship is very touching and it’s nice to see them both trying to understand what they want from each other. And what about Loukas? He’s also a character I really liked!

As in the first volume, the novel alternates between Zuhra’s and Inara’s point of view and if I have a little preference for Zuhra’s, I was also curious to see what her sister thought.

The author offered us two very good volumes and this novel really concludes the story well!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for review.

After having read the first one in this duology, I wasn't entire sure where it was going to be headed. But it was nice to see these sisters who spend so much of their life in complete isolation, truly find themselves. And accept who they are.

This is definitely a tale of sisters, and finding themselves, and each other. About bonds, and connections, of making your own family.

I don't want to say anything else to give away the plot. But this was a surprising solid ending to this story.

Warriors of Wing and Flame was an excellent read full of adventure, romance, and unique world building! I loved following the journey of each sister in both of the worlds Larson created and seeing their relationship as sisters grow and change. I couldn't put it down once I started!

After the events of Sisters of Shadow and Light, Barloc is unable to be found, and his desire to rule the realms of humans and the Paladin creates a dark cloud on the horizon. Inara's power has been compromised, and she and Zuhra grieve for those lost to Barloc's bloodlust. Out of this sorrow, the sisters forge a new path that can help them defeat Barloc and understand the nature of their Paladin powers more clearly. Along the way, their love for each other must sustain them, because even the best plans can be foiled by dark adversaries. Can these two sisters save Visempirum and humanity from destruction, or will Barloc's murderous ideals strangle the hope of peace for all?

The strength of this duology remains Zuhra and Inara's support and love for each other. I also liked that Inara gains a coherent voice this time around, along with a love interest of her own, as the story unfolds from each sister's viewpoint. The quartet of Zuhra, Inara, and their partners made for many romantic and sentimental moments, which helped to balance some of the necessary melancholy as the sisters search for their enemy and the means to defeat him. These characters make mistakes, and pay for them, and that is both heartbreaking and understandable because they are thrust into encounters and conflict they aren't prepared for after being shut away from the outside world for so long.

I do wish that Inara's voice had been more distinct from Zuhra's now that she is finally able to express herself cogently, but that is a small thing in an otherwise engaging, meaningful story about the joining and saving of two worlds. While this is not a perfect duology, and it meanders a touch midway, these sisters give it their all no matter the cost, and I'm glad I spent time in the world Sara B. Larson has created. Warriors of Wing and Flame is a fitting end to a touching duology about the power of love, bringing two worlds together, and fighting to protect what matters even when the battle is uphill and the enemy has every advantage.

First of all, Raidyn. He's my official book crush now. He was so amazing in this book. Kind with a huge heart, loyal, and a dedicated Paladin fighter.

This book starts off right where the last one ended. Inara has had her power stolen and Barloc is on the run. I loved that we get to know Inara better in this book now that the roar is gone. However, she and Zuhra were so similar in the way they spoke and acted that at times I had trouble distinguishing between the girls and had to go back and see whose chapter I was on (the book alternates between the two sister's points of view).

I love Larson's writing style and even though there were quite a few characters, it wasn't confusing or distracting from the plot. I appreciated getting to know the side characters in this book, especially learning more about Loukas. The love stories played out perfectly the way I wanted them to and I was cheering for Inara and Loukas the whole time. I wish there had been a little more mystery to this book like book one, but I feel that most of the mystery and questions were resolved in book one; book two was more of a battle/love story. There was a lot more magic in book two though, which I enjoyed.

I truly enjoyed this one and have already preordered my copy so that I'll have the set. I am sad this duology is over, but I definitely recommend it to for fans of YA fantasy.

I wanted so badly for this book to redeem its predecessor. Never has such an interesting concept gone so off the rails. Unfortunately, this sequel continues all the mistakes of Sisters of Shadow and Light.

There are some fascinating descriptions and fantasy-worldbuilding details in this book, but they were disjointed and unconnected to to plotline. Just like in the first book, everything happens out of nowhere. The villain instantly arises; characters instantly fall in love; forgiveness is instantly granted. And could someone please tell the author that there are other ways to bring attention to words than by italicizing them? When you've done the "put this word in italics for emphasis" thing 12 times (literally) in one paragraph, it loses all meaning. Especially when you do that on every freaking page.

None of the characters are relatable. And now that Inara has lost her only defining trait ("only lucid for a few moments a week"), she and Zuhra are basically indistinguishable. I ended up skimming after the first few chapters.

Warriors of Wing and Flame was a highly anticipated sequel for me, and Sara B. Larson did not hold back!

From the twists and turns, the heart-wrenching sacrifices Inara and Zuhra make for the good of both worlds, and the non-stop action, I couldn't put this one down! I've been a huge fan of Larson's books since she wrote the Defy trilogy, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this tale!

My review to follow my scheduled tour date

In Warriors of Wing and Flame, the spellbinding sequel to Sisters of Shadow and Light, acclaimed author Sara B. Larson continues her timeless tale of the bond between two sisters and the powerful magic that threatens to tear them apart forever.

The doorway between the magical world of the Paladin and the human world where sisters Zuhra and Inara grew up in isolation is open once more. But the joyous reunion with their Paladin father is shattered when a treacherous sorcerer attacks Inara, stealing her power for himself. Now nearly invincible and determined to rule over both Paladin and human alike, he will let nothing stand in his way.

Armed only with the power of love, courage, and sacrifice, two sisters must bridge the divide between worlds to confront the unspeakable evil that threatens to destroy everything—and everyone—they love.

The sequel picks up much where the cliffhanger leaves off in the first book. Barloc escaped and now our two sisters have to stop him. I definitely needed to read this book, as the Cliffhanger in the first sequel left me yearning for a more complete ending. I enjoyed reading the plot and the development of the characters but, I somehow wasn't wowed by it. The whole plot is beautifully written, yet in a very anti-climatic way.
Inara and Zuhra were great, but their points of view got a bit mixed in this book. I couldn't tell at times who was talking and had to flip back and see who it was, (which wasn't an issue with the first book).
I also believe that there wasn't enough plot for a second instalment, Not a lot was happening and it was hard to get through the book at times.
On the plus side: I loved that the author included the side characters from book 1 and deepened their characterization a little.
This was a solid read, with enjoyable moments but nothing out of this world.

Fun, lyrical and thrilling, this sequel to Larson's Sisters of Shadow and Light is a beautiful tale of devotion, love and family set in a highly original setting.