It's no secret that I'm a fan of retellings, so when I heard that The Firebird, a story told often in my childhood, was being reimagined in this debut, I jumped at a chance to read it. These Feathered Flames follows two sisters, Asya and Izaveta, as they are pulled apart and put on two separate paths — one raised to rule the kingdom, another trained as an apprentice to the legendary Firebird. In the aftermath of the death of their mother the queen, they are brought back together and must both take up the mantle for the roles for which they have been chosen.

For the most part, These Feathered Flames was a richly detailed story, with a heavy focus on characters and court politics. As these are all things I usually enjoy due to the subtleties and nuances present, this story really worked for me. I loved the conflict between both Asya and Izaveta and the division in their loyalties, it kept things interesting, especially with the dual points of view. The f/f relationship between Asya and the guard begrudgingly assigned to protect her was everything I needed. That alongside the build up. As for things that felt a little off kilter throughout the novel, there are only a few things that come to mind. First, there were really only a few elements connecting this story to the one it was based on, and while that didn't impede me from enjoying this in its entirety, I wouldn't say it was a retelling. The firebird is a prominent theme in the novel and there are a only few other things that reference the original story. Besides that, I would have loved more detail into the magic system and how prices are enacted as a result, but I suspect that will have to wait until book two. Being the first book in the series, I think the author really did a fantastic job setting the basis for the following books. It's clear that everything has been well thought out so far and I will definitely be on the lookout for more to come.

OVERALL:
This book is AMAZING. Holy SHIT. I was hooked from the start, and the pace was great, and the mystery was amazing to follow, and the magic was super cool, and the characters were so well developed, and the world building was fantastic and unique, and the end blew my mind. I cannot recommend this book more highly.

ASPECTS I GREATLY ENJOYED:
So, I enjoyed pretty much every aspect, as you can tell. But I think the enemies to lovers slowburn between Asya and her guard was my favorite part to read. I have a lot of feelings about them.

CRITICISMS:
I think the only thing I struggled with in this book was that early on, I didn't want to read Izaveta's chapters because I didn't care about her very much / didn't like her. Later, it got better once I was engaged in the plot, and I love that Izaveta is the kind of character she is, so it's not a gripe I actually have with the book. But it's the only criticism I have, so I suppose it belongs in this section.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc to read and review!

First off, I love fairy tale retellings so I was excited to pick this one up to read. I also was not familiar with the Russian tale and so I enjoyed this take and would like to read the original now.
I really enjoy YA Fantasy Fiction this was a great fantasy that I can't wait to have in my classroom to share with students. It is a little spooky and has great characters. I love the twin sister protagonists, who readers will love.
The setting of Tourin was well developed and I think readers will really become engrossed in life there and the Depthless Lake that surrounds it.
This was a great debut novel by author Alexandra Overy. I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

I only rarely have come across a book that left me going "omg!" at the end of every chapter, but this one did it! With varying emotions attached to the sentiment, of course. I also found myself directing a few choice curse words to certain characters and situations.

Firstly, I love both Asya and Izaveta. Both of them struggle with self-worth issues, torn between what their morals say and what their duties command of them and trying to make the best of their bad situations. Iza especially can come across as bitchy and unlikable, but once you consider the toxic/abusive parent/household she grew up with and the constant pressure she's been under for nearly two decades, it's easy to understand her. I may not agree with how she handled situations and relationships, but her faults are what ultimately make her so very human. If you can't muster a bit of sympathy for her before the end of the book, then I'd have to wonder if we were reading the same story.

Second, I absolutely adore the imagery! Overy doesn't bog down the story with a ton of detail about what things look like, just adds enough to evoke the atmosphere and incorporates descriptions into the flow of the plot as needed. These birds look this way because they're special and relevant to how things are going to go. These dresses look like this FOR A SPECIFIC REASON. I appreciate that so much because as much as I love seeing beautifully detailed things in visual media, going into descriptive overload in text for not much reason beyond "I want to" tends to bore me. And there is not a single boring thing about this book!

Nikov, Yuliana, and Iveshkin are also favorites of mine. I really loved having a "no time for your games, stop with the bullshit" military commander in here WHO IS ALSO MUTE AND COMMUNICATES HER SASS THROUGH AN ESTABLISHED SIGN LANGUAGE WITHOUT BEING OTHERED!!! Sorry for yelling, but that made me very happy.

I have some theories about other characters that were hinted at but not explicitly stated (because the story is about Asya and Iza, not them) and I'm looking forward to possibly having those expanded on in the next book. Because I have QUESTIONS!!!

In the end, my general feeling about These Feathered Flames is this: SCREEEEEEEEEEEEECCCCHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

A Russian folklore retelling, These Feathered Flames is an immersive fantasy story with dynamically developed characters. I enjoyed the story of the twin sisters, one who was chosen as the heir to the throne and one who was chosen as the Firebird, a supernatural figure who hunts down and punishes magic users who don’t offer enough to use said magic. Both sisters are unhappy with their lives and envy the other.

Izaveta, the sister chosen to be queen, envies Asya’s freedom as the future Firebird. Stuck under the heartless manipulations of her mother, Izaveta’s life is filled with politics and strategy. Asya wishes she had the opportunity to remain with her family since she has spent a lonely decade training to be the next Firebird. I found this aspect of the story interesting as both sisters slowly realize that each other’s realities aren’t enviable. Izaveta struggles to assert and define herself as a new and young queen. Asya struggles to live up to the expectations of the Firebird, as she doesn’t like what she has to do to others.

Since their mother, the Queen, died under mysterious circumstances, the sisters spend time immersed in political intrigue, which is fascinating. There are nefarious dealings and ever-changing political moves that put the sisters at risk. Neither sister knows whom she can trust, who has ulterior motives, and who is looking out for the best interest of their kingdom, which causes much conflict throughout the story and leads to some epic battles.

The idea of balance is examined repeatedly throughout the story. The kingdom lives in a precarious balance and relies on the unknown to maintain that balance. Izaveta continually struggles to balance her beliefs and desires with the needs of the kingdom, and Asya is repeatedly reminded that her role as the Firebird is necessary to maintain balance in their world.

There is also a great f/f, enemies-to-lovers romance that is great. Slow to trust and even like each other, this couple has a great love story. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow from verbal and physical sparring into something more.

Oh, and did I mention the bears?!? They pet and ride bears! How cool is that?

With lush and vivid world-building, surprising twists, and dynamically developed characters, These Feathered Flames is a great book for people who enjoy YA fantasy. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this! It had a ton of things I love in a book.
- variety of reps
- sister love
- Russian setting
- firebird retelling
- romance
- solid plot twist
- fighting; enemies to lovers, curses, political intrigue, and more! I can’t wait for the next book!

Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

A solid debut. A first in a new series that will delighted fantasy readers who like epic adventures with lots of detail.
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and the publisher for the E-arc copy of These Feathered Flames.

"How was it her sister was taken to live with a monster but Izaveta had become one?"
This highly anticipated YA Fantasy Fiction is a spooky fairy tale: part Anna Karenina meets The Hazel Wood meets the Parent Trap meets Frozen.
Though there are twin sister protagonists, it is Asya/Firebird who wins readers hearts with her endless dedication to her sister and other loved ones.
Otherwise the twisted smiles and cold stares from the power-hungry royals and bitter warriors makes the queendom of Tourin as cold a place as the Depthless Lake that surrounds it.
These Feathered Flames is an innovative, triumphant thriller from debut author Alexandra Overy.

Thank you for the ARC.

TFF has everything fantasy lovers will enjoy. A heroine (or in this case two heroines!) with agency, intelligence, and strength, but with plenty of conflict to keep her relatable and layered. A world with shifting political alliances and high stakes with a throne up for grabs. Family bonds that are tested. Life threatening battle sequences. Unexpected betrayals. Lovely imagery. A hint of romance. And just enough reference to a familiar fairy tale to draw in readers anxious to see Overy's new take on a story we know and love. I appreciated that not once did someone lock eyes and instantly fall in love, and none of the characters were infallible or all-powerful. Even the most nefarious of weasels had motivations beyond simply being the bad guy. And the good guys weren't always perfect. Though plenty happens within the pages--death defying battles, narrow escapes, magic rituals, a grand ball, a symbolic hunt, and lots of sneaking about the palace--interior monologue makes up the bulk of the prose, so this will appeal most to readers who enjoy a more contemplative pace. It ends on a cliffhanger, so if you dive into book one, prepare to wait anxiously for book two.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc.
I had high hopes for this novel because it seemed right up my alley. A Russian folktale retelling??? Sign me up!!!!!!
However, it ended up disappointing me. It was by no means BAD, but it also wasn’t great and it wasn’t what I had expected... so three stars. Good, but not great. I’m not entirely sure if I will continue the series either.
The synopsis led me to believe, perhaps presumptuously, that it would be like a fairytale, something akin to The Winternight Trilogy, Hunted, Deathless, Spinning Silver, etc. Whimsical, magical, maybe a bit unsettling, as all good fairytales and retellings are, but it wasn’t.
The story itself really doesn’t seem to be related to the Firebird folktales at all other than featuring a firebird as one of the main characters, as far as I could tell (not an expert though). It also doesn’t take place in Russia; it takes place in a fantasy world INSPIRED by Russia. Something about taking the barebones of a folktale and planting it in a made up world without the same context as cultural legends give it but having the first sentence of your synopsis say it’s a retelling.... doesn’t sit quite right with me. I think it would have been better set in Russia (an alternate one with magic)
More about the book: it follows royal twin sisters and because of some ancient magic law, one twin is chosen to be the queen and one is chosen to be the firebird. The firebird is a figure who hunts down people who haven’t paid the correct price for magic and are marked, so it is regarded as a monster. (If magic is left without the full price being paid, things get thrown out of balance, bad stuff happens, the usual) The twins are split up after the ritual, which took place years before the start of the novel.
The sister chosen to be queen, Izaveta, stayed at the castle with her mother the queen. The sister chosen to be the firebird, Asya, was taken away somewhere off in the woods to be trained to take the current firebird’s place. Izaveta is cunning and manipulative because she has to be to survive the court, and Asya is softer and caring and has a very hard time coming to terms with becoming something everyone regards as a monster.
But then the queen suddenly dies under mysterious circumstances, and since the queen dies, Asya’s power awakens and she takes the previous firebird’s place, but is dragged to the castle for the mourning period.
And then, the book that was pitched as a retelling, becomes nothing more than an average YA fantasy court intrigue novel. And a very introspective one, at that.
From the get go, both sisters are told by other characters “don’t trust her” “she’s not who you remember” “you can’t trust anyone” so for about 50% of the novel, it’s them not talking to each other, manipulating each other, keeping secrets. But then each of them will fret over their behavior and how they used to be close and think about talking to each other plainly but it never happens, etc. More of the typical miscommunication/no communication trope, which I find very tedious and not very enjoyable to read or entertaining.
The conflict comes from a combination of a few things; trying to figure out what happened to the queen, Izaveta trying to secure her place on the throne at such a young age, Asya coming to terms with her monstrous powers, and the fact that the country’s magic seems to be fading, and how some parties aren’t very happy with the Firebird in general.
It’s very heavily focused on Izaveta and Asya’s inner thoughts and feelings and struggles. Some action happens, but it’s mostly overtaken with the introspection. It did, however, manage to be not downright boring to me despite me liking action, plot-based books, so there’s that.
There is an enemies to lovers wlw romance! (with Asya, for parties interested) That was nice, but I didn’t feel like the romance was all that spectacular or compelling personally. Again, most things in the novel just felt.... average to me. Not bad, not stunning.
There was a reveal at like 85% that I didn’t expect, so that was pretty crazy. The climax was fairly good as well. Both of those prevented this from being a two-star read for me.
The epilogue sort of hinted at the conflict for the next novel and, without spoiling it, I don’t think I’m really interested in or like the direction it’s going.

I enjoyed this book, but the middle was hard for me to get through. Some of the stuff I saw coming, but not all of it. Overall a decent book and I will likely read the second book, but won't be dying to get it.

This book definitely lived up to my expectations. Based on a Russian folk tale, "These Feathered Flames" has plenty of court intrigue, action, magic, romance, amazing world-building, and some interesting plot twists. It's going to be a long wait for the sequel, but totally worth it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

These Feathered Flames was a richly imagined, character intensive novel that fell somewhat short of my expectations. If there existed a spectrum for books where on the right was the words "plot-driven" and on the left was the words "character-driven", this book would lean heavily to the left.

The novel follows a pair of twins, Izaveta and Asya, the former destined to be Queen and the latter destined to carry the power of the the legendary Firebird, whose duty it is to exact prices for the use of magic and keep balance in the land. I have to hand it to Overy--these two characters were incredibly well-established. I truly sympathized with their individual plights--Izaveta's to maintain a hold at court while trying not to fall into the twisted habits of her mother, and Asya's to fix the cognitive dissonance caused by the alternating agony and balence her role brought to the world. However, the novel frequently felt almost TOO introspective. We spent so much time in Izaveta and Asya's heads that I felt like it came at the expense of other crucial story aspects--namely world-building and the fleshing out of more minor characters. I was fascinated by the magic system and the lore surroundings the Saints, but none of that was explored to the extent that I was hoping. Furthermore, the minor characters felt fairly flat compared to the protagonists.

Example A: I ADORED Asya's relationship with Yuliana, but I felt as though that the few details we received about Yuliana's life were hurried and unsubstantiated. I also didn't feel remotely interested in whatever was going on between Izaveta and Nikov--I feel like Izaveta would have been better served without a love interest at all, regardless of how nothing really "happened" between them.

Another minor thing that bothered me was how much emotion the author attempted to convey by describing "the look" in a character's eyes. It just became a pet peeve for me as it occurred more and more frequently throughout the book--I feel like there are other, less contrived ways to write emotions.

Overall a beautiful portrait of two characters set in a world with a fascinating background that wasn't explored to the extent that it could have been.

This book was received as an ARC from Inkyard Press - OwnVoices in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I am a huge fan of female protagonists especially sisters that ban together to achieve a common cause and bring themselves closer together than never before. Izaveta and Asya discover their skills and powers and Izaveta after finding out the queen has been taken away by a firebird and its now Izaveta in line for the crown. Asya was destined to meet Izaveta and ban together to uncover secrets of their mother's past and the fate of their family is at stake and the cost might be bigger than they imagine. I was smiling ear to ear the whole time I was reading this book and our teen book clubs gravitates towards female protagonists overcoming obstacles.

We will consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I enjoyed most of the plot of the book. I did find myself skipping over large sections of description and boring court politics just to read the dialogue to move on with the story. I felt once it got away from the court politics and the threat was being discovered, the book became much more interesting. I'll be interested to see how the second book turns out.

Blurb:
Three Dark Crowns meets Wicked Saints in this queer #ownvoices retelling of “The Firebird,” a Russian folktale, by debut author Alexandra Overy.

When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.

But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.

As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

My review:

I'm still speechless as I write this review. It had EVERYTHING I wanted in a magical, own voice story. Magic. A retelling of Russian folklore, "Firebird." The magic was so well written. I'm a sucker when it comes to a deep power, billowing within someone because as a child, I always wished that I'd be someone who had a secret power. It has f/f enemies! SO MUCH FIRE!!!!!! Everyone needs to read this novel!!!!

This book took me on a ride. It had a number of my favorite tropes. The ending literally took my breath away and now i'm just sitting her like where do I go next? Alexandra Overy weaves a vivid wintery world of lavish furs and silk dresses, firey monsters and bears that you ride! The tale of two sisters chosen for two separate burdens finding their way back to eachother and themselves. The sequel cannot come soon enough.

*Spoiler free, 4.5 stars*

This book sounded firey and that was basically enough for me to know that I wanted to read it. Honestly, I'm realizing it doesn't take much to draw me into a book. I heard feathers and I heard flames. Firey birds. And that's enough for me to become invested. But I found out there were sisters and a dead queen and magic that demands a price. All of which sounds amazing, and which had me incredibly eager to see what else this book would hold. Trigger warnings: abuse

I have weird feelings about this book. I felt like most of the time I was reading it was spent wishing for certain things to happen, and then them not happening, but also enjoying what I was reading. Yeah, it was weird. I feel like this book could have been stronger in some places, but I also think that could just be my personal preferences talking. Nevertheless, this was a very, very good book and I really, really liked reading it.

This book had all the politics and lies hidden behind smiles that Game Of Thrones had, but what made this book stand out is that everyone seemed so much more, human. Asya and Izaveta weren't perfect. They made mistakes and had to make adjustments in their strategies. They felt things so fully and so clearly. They struggle with guilt and the pressure and the weight of their responsibilities on their shoulders. That doesn't mean they aren't darn good at what they do. Izaveta's strategy and the way she can weave words was something that left me wanting to see more to what she can do. Asya's firey power and her yearning to do the right thing was so starkly portrayed that it left me aching. These two girls are powerful, but they're also human. The balance was incredibly well done and it made the book all the better.

The one thing I was hoping for more of this book was for a character to lean towards the villain side. I have to be vague because of spoilers, but I wish someone's darker side was leaned into more. I was fully ready to hate them and to love hating them. I did end up not liking them that much, but in a different way. A softer, more "I don't really like the way you go about things but I can see where you come from and I think you're smart but hurting and extremely ambitious" and less "wow its fascinating to see this person cut out someones heart". But, the ending did intrigue me and I feel like it's leading into the more villainous side of this character and I am very, very eager to see where it goes.

There is also a f/f romance in this book and just, just. It was the bodyguard/princess trope and the grumpy/sunshine trope and some enemies-to-lovers and just all around incredibly sweet. I basically wanted to hug them the entire time, even when they were threatening each other with swords.

This whole world was so firey. I know that seems like a given, given the title and even the cover, but it truly is firey. Sometimes it's the burning power of wings made of flame and sometimes it's the sunlight sparking through the trees and cold air. Sometimes it's the subtle smile between pretty words to hide the manipulation and sometimes it's the price that has to be paid for the cost of magic.

There were also BEARS that you can PET. Gosh, am I jealous. Bears are so cute but too dangerous for petting and it makes me sad. But these bears are absolutely adorable.

This book was very character driven for me. I found myself liking characters I wasn't too fond of. I found myself in love with characters without really realizing it. Even the side characters were ones that I love. Really, my feelings can be describes as wanting to give everybody a hug haha. Two sisters shouldering their own guilt, a guard, a mentor, a sweet scholar, and cabinet members trying to further their own agenda. All of them were fantastic.

There's also a character who uses Sign Language. I can't comment on if the rep was good, only that it was there.

All in all, this was a very solid book that I find myself surprised to have liked so much. Human emotion is so prevalent and fire is in every single nook and cranny. There's also a cat and pettable bears!

A standout debut rich in Russian lore and lustrous magic, THESE FEATHERED FLAMES is for fans of Wicked Saints and A River of Royal Blood. Overy has a gift for writing about magic, and her visceral descriptions of the flames of the Firebird are perfection. The Sansa/Arya sisterly competition vibes are strong in this, and you'll feel for Iza and Asya as they try to navigate the death of their mother and their new positions of power in an unforgiving court of ice and intrigue.

A really fun and interesting read. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day!