I really enjoyed this ARC I got for winning a contest by the author. It took me a while to get to it but it was a solid book with good characters and a compelling plot.

I'll definitely be back to write a more further in depth review but in a nutshell this book just didn't do it for me.

The reason why I have to come back to write this is because I don't even remember the characters name. I really couldn't care for either of them which leads me to not even remember their names.

The plot of the story didn't really kick in until later and it was so generic that it didn't even hit a wow factor.

There were some interesting aspects about this book, but overall it was underwhelming and I couldn't wait to get it over with.

Interesting take on Russian folklore! I loved the dynamic between the sisters, as well as the slow-burn romance. There were a few pacing issues, but overall a great read!

Russian Folktale. YA. Enemies to Lovers. F/F. What is there not to love!? I thought the writing was a bit bumpy at times but the VIBES were immaculate and honestly the entertainment value was so high it made up for the occasionally clunky writing.

Fantasy is one of my favorite genres, and fantasies with difficult sister relationships are particularly a favorite of mine. So this drew my eye immediately.

As Izaveta prepares to be crowned, her sister inherits the fabled power of the Firebird. And the political intrigue filling the royal court means that their goals for the queendom may be incompatible with them rebuilding their relationship.

This was such a fascinating story. I loved the expansive world building we got, although I would have loved to know more about how the magic works in this world. Political intrigue isn’t usually my jam, but reading about how it was affecting Izaveta and her relationships was powerful.

And the relationship between the two sisters takes center stage here. They’ve been separated for years, trained and molded to fit their respective roles, and the fissure between them only grows as they try to reconcile their duties and their familial relationship. It was messy and difficult and I was 100% invested.

I could have done without the epilogue, which seemed like nothing more than sequel bait. But everything else, even the slight romance was interesting enough that I will definitely be looking up the sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for this advance reader’s copy.

This one had a great premise, but the execution just wasn’t there for me.
I wasn’t connected at all to the sisters or their story.
This one just wasn’t for me.

A good start to the duology, the ending leaves you wondering what could possibly be done in book #2 to make that wish happen (trying not to spoil anything). I like that the story is based on Russian folklore, that was cool. The sisters were written well, both were strong willed and raised to fulfill their individual roles. I liked their interactions after they reunited, just like real sisters, they loved each other but fought.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars

This was a solid YA fantasy debut. It had interesting lore, a complicated sibling dynamic, and just enough action to keep me interested, However, this book definitely had pacing issues that are common in YA fantasy. The middle dragged on for quite a bit and then it felt like everything that could have happened throughout the course of the whole book happened in the last 75 pages. Some of the descriptions felt overly wordy, which contributed to the mid-way lag. I enjoy how the main relationship explored in the book are the two sisters, with just a bit of romance happening on the side. Overall, I enjoyed this book enough to read the sequel.

I didn’t have time for this book when I was approved. I plan to read it in the future though. Looks fun!

I was immediately intrigued by this book after reading the synopsis but had to give up about 55% into the book. The story was confusing and slow and I honestly was bored reading it. I found the whole thing uninteresting and the queer aspect was super awkward and uncomfortable.

I thought this was a stunning book, with sisters who are set on two very different life paths yet still find their way back to each other. We have political intrigue, secret church sects who are in an evil mission, and lots of action! I listened to the audiobook on my holiday commute, and it was excellent. Definitely recommend this read if you love a good fantasy story!!

If I had to review These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy in one sentence, it would be simple: I LOVED IT.

This novel was probably one of my all-time favorite YA fantasy books! I actually read it almost an entire year ago, and I can still remember it with such clarity because it was just so good. I simply cannot wait to read its sequel, This Cursed Crown. And with This Cursed Crown having been just published, I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit my thoughts about this fantastical novel!

In These Feathered Flames, the Russian folktale The Firebird is reimagined for a modern YA audience. In the world of Tourin, there are twin heirs. One, Izaveta, was designed to rule as the future queen, and her sister, Asya, was fated to become the next Firebird, a magical being who ensures that magical costs are always repaid. When their mother, the reigning queen, dies unexpectedly, both sisters are thrust into their new positions much sooner than anticipated and have to deal with the consequences these responsibilities entail.

The worldbuilding showcased in These Feathered Flames is so immersive and creative. The magical system in particular was so well designed. Every aspect of this novel was perfectly constructed from the plot to the character development. I felt like the narration revealed just the right amount to keep your interest hooked but also left you guessing until just the right moment. Between the political intrigue, relational dynamics, building tension, the unexpected plot reveals, (and that cliffhanger ending!) this novel truly has it all.

Asya and Izaveta were both fantastic leads. They had very different personalities and challenges to overcome. And I loved seeing them and their complicated relationship develop as the story progressed. Watching Izaveta learn to manage the complicated political conflicts she’s been abruptly thrown into after only ever watching from the sidelines. Following Asya as she comes to terms with the power raging inside of her that she has always only ever feared.

And I haven’t even brought up their budding relationships with others yet! All I’ll say is Overy definitely knows how to do enemies-to-lovers.

I actually loved both sisters’ romantic developments. I find in books where there are multiple leads, I often enjoy one’s storyline more than the other. But that never happened here! I really enjoyed seeing both of them navigate their own storylines and build their romances. Not only did I love both main characters, but I also enjoyed both of their love interests! They were both so fantastic in their own right.

If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, These Feathered Flames is an absolute must-read. Fingers crossed the follow-up is just as fantastic!

Thank you to the publisher, Inkyard Press/Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I will not be giving feedback on this book as I couldn’t really get into it but I think others may enjoy it.

Apologise for the lateness of this review.

I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait for the second one to release.

The story of Asya and Izabeta is amazing, heartwarming and heartbreaking.

The fast pace and the political intrigue and twists and turns had me hooked. Highly recommend.

These Feathered Flames is a YA Fantasy and WLW retelling of a Russian folktale The Firebird, which I was not personally familiar with prior to reading this book.

I am not a huge fantasy reader, but I thought the world-building in this book was excellent and I'm so impressed that this was Overy's debut novel.

I especially loved the duel perspectives, the exploration of the complex relationship between the two vastly different twin sisters, and the enemies-to-lovers romance. My biggest "critique" is less of a criticism and more of my own bias showing through, as I just wish we got to see more of the romance! But I know that's definitely a "me" thing.

Overall, if you're a fan of fantasy - specifically political fantasies - with sword-wielding lesbians, and complicated sibling dynamics, this book is for you!

My Rating: 3/5 stars

My Review:

I received an e-arc of this book from Inkyard Press in exchange for an honest review and place on this blog tour – thanks!

I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this book, but I did enjoy reading it. I had never heard of the fairytale that this story is a retelling of – but I don’t think that hinders the reading experience at all. It was very much a character driven story, which I don’t mind, but I felt like it was missing something. What that something is … I am not quite sure. I will probably pick up the next book, especially after the way this one ended – I need answers!!!

One thing this book did really well was building up Izaveta’s and Asya’s personalities, showing how their time apart has changed them. I felt like we really get thrusted right into the middle of their reunion, with all of the emotions and disappointments they faced when trying to rekindle their relationship. The character development in this book was *chef’s kiss*. I felt connected to these two, to the point where you can see where their actions are taking them and I think that is a sign of really great character development.

What I do wish there was more of was world building. I am still very confused by the conflicts the story presents. We are told constantly about the feuds between Tourin and other kingdoms but we are never shown what that means nor do we really learn much about how this plays into the politics of the Tourin court. The reader is expected to just accept these realities and I think that expanding upon them could have really helped build the world around the characters.

I don’t want to spoil anything about this book, but there is a very slow burn queer enemies-to-lovers subplot and it just made my heart so happy. I cannot wait to see what the next book holds for this pair.

All in all, These Feathered Flames was an excellent read, one that I think will be great for those who prefer a character driven fantasy rather than one with dense world building. I look forward to seeing where this story goes next.

Happy Reading!

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this is much as I did, especially since I was conflicted about the two characters. I couldn't help but immediately like Asya but Izaveta really surprised me, especially at the end. Also, I absolutely loved the lesbian vibes and am sad with how it ended. Except it sounds like this isn't the end so perhaps I can still hope! A very interesting story

This book had a great premise however I don't think it was executed as well as it could have been. I didn't feel overtly connected to the sisters as I really thought I should be. Unfortunately, it wasn't as interesting as I had hoped and I won't be following with this series.

Two sisters navigating court life after the death of their mother. Iza and Asya don't even know if they can trust each other, and I believe that was one of the most difficult things to get through. Filled with scheming, politics, and a fantasy land out of balance.