Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this amazing YA fantasy novel!!

These Feathered Flames is a retelling of the Russian folktale "The Firebird," featuring Asya, who is destined to become the Firebird, and her twin sister, Izaveta, who is destined to become the queen. The two sisters have been separated for many years, but reunite following the death of their mother. They find themselves thoroughly enmeshed in court intrigue, and have to figure out who to trust in order to save their kingdom. I absolutely love fairy tale and folktale retellings, and this one did not disappoint. The story is beautifully told, and features both sisters' perspectives, which gives the reader the chance to know each of these characters intimately. I especially loved the worldbuilding, and I found myself fully transported to the kingdom of Tourin. I loved all the relationships between the various characters, and I loved getting to know all the side characters as well. The twists and turns in the plot are amazing and fun to follow, and I definitely want to read the sequel to find out what happens next.

Definitely a unique YA fantasy novel that I highly recommend!

These Feathered Flames is a magical retelling of Russian Folklore that everyone should read. Alexandra Overy wove a tale of sorrow and love, friends and enemies, and weaved it with the telling of two strong female sisters who are equal and yet only parts of a whole. Beautifully written and excited to learn how their stories unfold.

The book was descriptive, but it was so slow and uninteresting. I didn’t feel like I was the character and the history and world building was confusing to me. I had to stop reading in chapter 13 because I was pushing myself so hard to read, it wasn’t enjoyable anymore. The characters were too closed off and the beginning wasn’t captivating. I hate giving bad reviews, but I didn’t like it at all.

I absolutely adored this story. I am unfamiliar with Russian folklore and this retelling was magical and made me want to read more. I had many predictions, and about 70% in, they completely went out the door.

This novel was surprising and unique, and I hope to read more from this author. The characters were complex and the plot was (I thought) predictable.... until it wasn’t. I think this is a fantastic addition to my book collection and cannot wait to buy a copy when it is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for providing an eARC for review.

These Feathered Flames is a retelling of the Russian fairy tale, The Firebird. It follows two sisters, twins, who were separated at a young age to pursue their destined roles as the princess and the Firebird. The Firebird is a magical being that exacts a tole for magic used without paying the cost. There is little magic left in the world and if the price is not paid, there will be dire consequences.

Izaveta is trained in the art of politics from her cold, distant mother. Because of this she trusts no one and hardens her exterior to exude power. Asya has trained as the Firebird with her aunt, though thus far has shown that she struggles with having the harshness necessary to complete her duties. Before her training can be completed, the queen dies and Asya must return to the kingdom and her sister to fulfill her role as the Firebird.

The beginning of this was strong for me. I liked Asya's character and the role of the Firebird was really intriguing. The writing felt polished and the first 25% of this flew by. However, I feel like the pacing of this story was all over the place. I felt like the politics were too convoluted and I didn't like that the relationship between Izaveta and Asya was so strained. I understand the reasoning behind it, but it made for an uncomfortable reading experience. I wish that the story would have started out with them together at a young age, giving us a feel for their prior relationship before being separated. As is, I felt connected to Asya and her storyline, but I really struggled with Izaveta's POV. I did like to dynamic between Asya and her bodyguard. I thought that was engaging and the arc of their relationship felt natural.

Overall, I liked this book but it was a very slow read for me.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

I really enjoyed the majority of this book. The story line behind what the Firebird is and how it affects the whole world was great. Especially when it comes to ensuring things were balanced when it came to magic.

The only reason this isn't a five star review for me is because I found it a little hard to relate to the characters a majority of the time. I liked the idea of the twin sisters being either a crown or the Firebird but found them hard to believe at moments.

This is a great story if you're into epic, wintery, fantasy tales. I didn't really connect with the characters, but I'm clearly not the intended audience for this book. I think the market for this genre has been flooded - and because I read more than the average reader.. I suspect I've just got a feeling of "been there done that".

The sibling relationship was good, and added an extra layer to the story but I felt as though it didn't carry this book far enough into unfamiliar territory for me.

The author is a great writer with a creative style.

*Review will be posted on blog on 4/8/21*

Likes:
*It has a gorgeous cover! I love red covers.

*I liked the power of the Firebird. Izaveta and Asya are twins but separated because one will be Queen and the other will be this mysterious, powerful Firebird. The Firebird basically finds someone who’s done something it deems wrong and takes “payment” in usually violent ways from the person committing the crime. Asya is the Firebird and she is trying to control the power in her, afraid of it’s power.

*Izaveta is the cold and cunning princess who will be Queen. She plays the politic games and tries to stay a step ahead of everyone, including her own sister.

*There is a strained relationship between them since both have different roles in this kingdom. But each of them have missed one another, so it was interesting to see them navigate their relationship as strangers pretty much. Deep down though, their need for each other is fierce.

*I liked Asya’s growing relationship with her guard. Asya is feared and despised by everyone around her, including her guard, but things change when they are thrown together. Things definitely get intense between them and it’s a f/f romance. Izaveta has a growing love interest as well but with a scholar.

Random Notes:
*Sadly, I didn’t connect to any of the characters.

*If you like Three Dark Crowns where sisters are against one another, you will enjoy this one. I think I needed to be in the right mood to read this one.

Final Thoughts:
For me this was just an okay read, maybe it would have been more enjoyable for me if I was in the right mood for it. I do think the story is fascinating with the Firebird storyline and it will definitely appeal to young adult fantasy readers.

I really struggled with this book. I wanted to love it, the premise sounded absolutely incredible, and I’m a sucker for mysterious magic.

Here’s my main problem with this book: the book could’ve been about 30 pages long if PEOPLE COMMUNICATED WITH EACH OTHER. I know that this a common troupe in literature, after all where’s the fun in a story if everyone sits down and talks about their problems the whole time? But once it happens 3-4 times, it starts to get old and repetitive. Why talk to the one person who can help you or understand your problem? No, it obviously makes a lot more sense to go behind everyones back, get in loads of trouble, and then have to explain your ridiculous behavior to the one that could have helped you.

Honestly, this is the biggest theme in the story and it made it so difficult to care about some of the characters when their actions were consistently reckless and poorly thought out.

I also wasn’t a fan of a lot of the side characters. Vilanovich didn’t have much of a personality other than “I’m a badass soldier with a grudge”, and I found I didn’t care too much about her romance with Asya. Then there was Kyrill who screamed “I’m an asshole” from his very first appearance but thats all I knew about him. He had some sort of past with Izaveta, but the vague hints and statements about their shared past and their hatred (and weird loyalty on Izaveta’s part) were off-putting. No matter what happened with Kyrill, I just couldn’t bring myself to care about him. His only personality trait was asshole, and if the book ended with him dying in a giant explosion, I don’t think I would have cared in the slightest.

The first 60% of this book I struggled a lot – it took me about a month to read that far. It was too many characters, too little plot, and a whole bunch of terrible decisions made by all characters involved.

AND THEN the book took an interesting twist. Asya and Izaveta finally started to communicate, not as Firebird vs Queen, but as sisters who cared about each other and what is best for the kingdom. It was at this point that the plot started to really move forward. We were blessed with nefarious plots to reveal the “bad guy”, open communication, and the unveiling of the truth.

The romances started to have an actual purpose in the story, with Vilanovich becoming a more interesting character rather than “closed off soldier” and Izaveta’s potential suitor became a useful part of the story.

I loved watching the sisters come together and realizing that the firebird and the crown don’t need to be separate, that coming together was the best thing for everyone.

Of course, the book ends with a massive cliffhanger, leaving me unsure if I want to continue the story or not. I might read the second one, if its anything near as exciting as the second half of the book, but if it doesn’t interest me right away, I’m not going to bother.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, I had high expectations and I didn’t enjoy it at first, but the ending was worth it. I loved the way small pieces of the story came together, how minor characters were revealed to be much bigger personalities and more important to the story than originally perceived. I didn’t like how many characters were in this story, it made it hard to follow along with whose who and why they mattered.

I don’t think I’ll necessarily recommend this book to others. The overall plot and slow paced nature of the story ranks it pretty low on my list of books I love, but I also wouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it either.

I think maybe I am getting burnt out from YA Fantasy that is Russian folklore inspired.

These Feathered Flames was good. The world building was nice, and the political side of it was actually quite intriguing. Sadly, neither Izaveta or Asya really connected with me as the reader. Perhaps my expectations for fully fleshed out characters are too high, but I just didn't feel as invested in their stories as much as I could have been,

Worth a read if you have been really loving the snowy settings and Russian inspo in Fantasy lately.

3.7/5

These Feathered Flames is full of unexpected twists and turns as Izaveta and Asya learn to fulfill their duties for their kingdom. As twins in the story, it made for some interesting Russian folklore with the Firebird choice and the magic made it even more exciting. The relationship between the sisters was palpable, and I found myself often feeling like I was there. I am hoping there will be a sequel because I can't wait to put this book in the hands of my fantasy-loving YA students.

I am not usually into full fantasy - different worlds, extra moons, difficult to pronounce names, and the like. This one is an exception. It's Frozen plus Russian folklore and culture, with a dash of His Dark Materials. And there is a pronunciation guide in the back for the Russian names.

The characters are compelling, developed, and you want to cheer them through their growth. All characters are flawed and redeemable in their own ways, although you can tell a soft spot in the author's heart for Asya, the twin who became the Firebird alluded to in the title. I was surprised by a plot twist more than once, and that's not something that frequently happens, but there were other places that were oh so formulaic. I also with that the very last snippet were saved for opening the sequel, because it is such a beginning rather than a cliffhanger.

Overall, small quibbles with an engaging and compelling first novel. I'm ready for the sequel!

Thanks to Alexandra Overy, Inkyard Press, and Netgalley for an advance ecopy in exchange for an honest opinion

This Russian folklore inspired Fantasy will keep readers turning the pages! With the magic of the Phoenix, bears used as transportation, twins separated by their birthright, and strong female protagonists, this book is a fantastic read from cover to cover. Recommended for fans of Linsey Miller and Marie Lu.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley.

Really enjoyed this one but didn't quite love it. The world building is intriguing, especially the magic system, and I'm very curious to see where the sequel will end up going.

I loved this way more than I expected. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked and couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happens next. I did not intend to read this book all in one Saturday, but here we are. The writing in this story was descriptive and engaging that I was quickly immersed in the story like a fast paced action movie in my head. I think fire magic is one of my favorites so I was drawn in quickly by that. The contrast in personalities between the sisters made for a good story of lies, betrayal, manipulation, and the power of love. The ending left just enough suspense that I groaned knowing I’ll have to wait ages for a sequel. I can’t wait to read what Overy does next.

🔥 YA Fantasy 🔥

“Magic demands payment.”

📚Izaveta and Asya are sisters, twins in fact. But, as tradition dictates for Royals such as them, on their 10th birthday they must undergo a ceremony that decides which one of them will be Queen, and which one will become the Firebird. Molded from Russian folklore, the Firebird exacts payment from anyone who does not pay the proper price when doing magic. She is dangerously powerful and exacting, and Asya is forced to leave the palace to train for her new role. Years later, the sisters reunite — their mother is dead by magic, Iza is to be coronated in two weeks time, and Asya must follow the Calling to discover who murdered their mother and exact the price in return.

👍🏻 The Good: The dual POV in this novel is extremely well done. I would usually find myself rooting for one POV more than the other, but this book gives light and life to both sisters equally and I enjoyed following along on their journeys. They both grew tremendously by the end, and were likeable, unique, and tough. (Praise strong female heroines!) The romances were handled very well and at a good pace; so often YA Fantasy has unrealistic love at first sight, but the romances in this one were well fleshed out and fought for. It also features queer representation!

The political intrigue and court machinations were well crafted and I often wasn’t sure who to trust and what was real. I also must praise the ending! I so often am disappointed by the endings of YA Fantasy, they are usually rushed and unrealistic. This one however was full of twists that I did not expect (but that made sense when looking back at breadcrumbs!) and set up for the sequel perfectly.

👎🏻 The Meh: The middle section of this book was a bit of a lull for me pacing wise, especially compared with the beginning and the end. I also found that Iza and Asya were a bit repetitive in their internal thoughts, there was a lot of repeating of how Iza wanted to be better than her mother and how Asya was afraid of her power.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
World Building: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

“These Feathered Flames” is a magical foray into Russian folklore and the beautifully burning and inextinguishable bonds of sisterhood. I will definitely be picking up the sequel!

Hoo boy, I really loved this.I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did, my friend has been absolutely raving about it for months now so I wanted to see what the excitement was about.
It was justified.
For me, I felt it was a little slow to start off, but I’m not sure if that was the plot or formatting issues with the arc that had me dragging my feet. I think my issues was I got a lot of worldbuilding and foreign terms thrown at me and it made my head spin, but I loved the characters so much, I powered through. I’m so glad I did because somewhere along the way I fell in love with the rich worldbuilding, I wanted to know more. I’m not sure when I fit that point that I couldn’t put it down, that I was reading chapters during breaks at work and being so annoyed when I had to go back to greeting customers, but it happened and that’s when I knew this book owned my soul.

I cannot WAIT for more.

This is a great and unique fantasy novels with all the things a fantasy novel should have! I loved the characters, I got invested, I loved the fantastical elements. You get to know the characters really well throughout the story, and it is a YA fantasy, so beware if you aren't into that, but I love some YA fantasy!

Might just pick up my own copy when this book hits the shelves! :)

For fantasy-loving teens, this book has it all. A cool magical universe, Russian folktales (which seem to be the best), and siblings who unite to save their realm! I love a good firebird re-telling and this one is awesome.

I wasn’t familiar with the Russian folktale The Firebird, but I’ve read a couple other books based on Russian retellings that were incredible.

In this world magic comes with a price. Once a spell is cast, the Firebird collects payment from the caster to maintain balance in the realm. Payment can range from a small amount of blood to loss of life depending on the complexity of the spell. Because of this the Firebird isn’t looked upon kindly.

At a young age it’s determined that Izaveta will be the future queen, while Asya trains to be the next Firebird. Their mother, the queen, teaches Izaveta that most interactions with people at court are usually power plays in disguise. She must constantly strategize and look for hidden meanings. As a result, she trusts no one. Asya’s training requires her to ignore emotion while exacting payment no matter how she feels. Balance must be maintained. It’s a constant struggle and she doubts she has what it takes to do the job. I found it interesting that each sister is envious of the other’s life and quite possibly better suited for it. Izaveta is a tough one to like initially and she can’t even let her guard down for her twin. Asya is kind-hearted, but feared by most people and considered a monster.

There are a ton of minor characters which means lots of suspects in the death of the twins’ mother. That being said, they felt flat and difficult to distinguish from each other. Pacing is a bit slow out of the gate, but the twists and surprises come soon, and the last thirty percent moves at breakneck speed. I appreciated the pronunciation guide at the end and was surprised I actually said some of the names correctly.

With complex political schemes and maneuvering, this novel will keep you guessing, and the relationship between the sisters is a strong point. I’ll be interested to see where the author takes this story in the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.