I really enjoyed the world building in this book. Although I much preferred Asyas POV I thought Izavetas perspective did well in showing the political struggles faced. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press, and Alexandra Overy for the opportunity to not only read These Feathered Flames for an honest review, but to be invited to the Harlequin Trade Publishing Winter 2021 Blog Tour as well.

This novel is a retelling of the Russian folktale "The Firebird," though there are quite a few Firebird myths in the Slavic region. I am not too familiar with these, but I imagine there are some nicely pulled elements to craft this beautiful retelling.

This book took me a little while to get into, but once I got into it, there was so much going in with politics and romance!

Asya and Izaveta are twins. Asya, destined to become the next Firebird when her mother dies, was sent into isolation with her aunt, the previous Firebird. Izaveta is destined to become the next queen. When their mother dies far sooner than expected, Asya returns to court to take her place as the Firebird next to her sister's side. But before Izaveta can be coronated, she must go through the thirteen day mourning period. The challenge: for her and her sister to both survive until coronation.

All around there are people who want to take rule from Izaveta and people who do not trust, and even want to kill, the Firebird. Asya is still learning to control the Firebird within her, but when someone casts a spell, it is the Firebird that must exact the price from the caster. The Firebird is like the balance of magic within the world.

While Izaveta faces many plots against her coronation, she knows of a few trustworthy people, like Nikov, a scholar and historian that she seems to grow feelings for. Asya too has her own blossoming romance with the woman assigned t guard her, Yuliana.

Among the politics and romance fall plenty of betrayals, but the Firebird still seeks the price that has not been paid...

While it was a bit long for my taste, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It definitely has great writing craft and makes me want to read the original story of "The Firebird" just to learn about the source of inspiration. I enjoyed the ending because it feels wholesome with interpretation by the reader of what can happen next, but there's also the huge potential for a sequel (which I think is already listed on Goodreads). This is a fantastic novel I would recommend to fans of fantasy, sibling relationships, and mythology. What a great novel!

I wanted to like this book, as a matter of fact I went into it with high expectations. After all the synopsis hinted at action and adventure. Unfortunately it fell flat for me. It started out on a slow note and I found I had a hard time getting into the story. As a result I found myself giving up after reading at least twenty percent of the story. I have seen several rave reviews for this book, but unfortunately it was not the book for me.

It's been so long since I read retelling, and this book reminds me how much I love them, and retelling about folklore makes it even more magical. Plus it's also a queer book! Besides the gorgeous cover, this book also has a beautiful story about the sisterhood. I love reading both of the twin's POVs. How they are dealing with sudden change, political intrigue, even betrayal. Also, each chapter will end with such an impact and make you want to continue reading the next chapter.

Asya and Izaveta are wonderful main characters, each with her own distinctive voice and her own compelling storyline. Through Izaveta’s eyes, we get to see the political intrigues of Tóurin, as well as the complexities of court life. We also accompany her on her journey as she tries to follow into the footsteps of her mother, the late queen. Asya’s perspective on the other hand gives us a much closer look at the rich mythology of this world. The myth of the Firebird is cleverly adapted here in a way that celebrates the original story, while also building up on it to add richness to the fantasy aspect of the book. We also find out about the various gods and saints of this world, which I thought was really interesting. Similarly, we are given quite a lot of information about the history of Tóurin, including some backstory about past queens and Firebirds. Another thing that I really enjoyed was the queer/sapphic representation in the book. The book includes a slow-burn sapphic romance that I thought was executed really well, with a lot of cute, swoon-worthy moments, as well as truly heartfelt ones. Overall, I had a great time reading this book. It has interesting characters, awesome queer/sapphic rep and a fascinating world with an equally rich mythology. I honestly can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjoyed this Russian folklore-inspired Firebird retelling about two sisters whose duties have set them on two very different paths, reunited by tragedy and unrest in their queendom. This book is perfect for fans of court politics and scheming, as well as murder mysteries with a magical twist.

The world building was straightforward and easy to understand, but still produced a fully realized magic system and rich histories and legends. I really liked the concept of all magic having a price that must be paid, with the Firebird as the enforcer of balance to protect the world from magical chaos.

This is marketed as a “queer retelling,” but I think that’s a bit of an overstatement. The queer romance is there, but it’s very subtle and doesn’t develop into much. I think that relationship will be further realized in the sequel, but the most important relationship in this book is the one between sisters Asya and Izaveta.

Overall I found this book to be fast paced (a blessing for 500 pages), but it could get a bit repetitive at times. For example, each sister faced multiple, dramatic near-death experiences, and I can’t even count the number of times Asya reached for her weapon only to find she had left it in her room.

I was definitely surprised by many of the twists, and I am already counting down for the sequel!

Thank you to Netgalley and Inkyard Press for the complimentary eARC.

3.75 stars

These Feathered Flames is the first of a YA retelling of the Russian Firebird and follows two sisters who were separated at birth and raised to be the queen and the firebird. While the queen is responsible for the politics of the land, the firebird must collect from the people who use magic without proper payment. When Izaveta and Asya's mother dies of mysterious circumstances, they are reunited and must navigate the tumultuous court to solidify their power while deciding if they can trust each other. The plot delves into political intrigue, broken family dynamic, as well as understanding the balance of magic and religion in a land that's slowly falling apart.

I adore Russian folklore retellings and was sold when I heard there was an interesting sister relationship and a sapphic enemies to lovers element. These Feathered Flames is one of those stories that reminded me why I found court intrigue so fascinating. Nobody seemed trustworthy and even the sisters themselves didn't know where they stood with each other. Personally, the plot and world were more compelling to me than the characters themselves which rarely happens, but that just opens up the possibilities for the author to delve more into their development with the sequel. For a debut fantasy, this novel sets the stage for the next chapter of the story and unveils just the beginning of all that Alexandra Overy has planned for Izaveta and Asya.

The story follows two sisters, Asya and Izaveta, separated by fate. I really enjoyed this one and especially the world building which was fantastic!

The magic system in this felt unique.From start to finish this have a heavily character build up.You'll invest to the story and characters .

These Feathered Flames is a good political fantasy story.

I'm not huge into YA unless it has enough other bits and pieces to keep me interested, but this one definitely delivered! i'm not gonna lie: anything that is slavic-inspired and sapphic is a pretty sure bet to get me to read. while i remain, still, not the biggest fan of the YA format, i did enjoy this story immensely. it was engaging and exciting. i loooved the sister relationship at its core. definitely a good read! i'm awaiting the next one, for sure.

I’m not familiar with the Russian folktale “The Firebird” and that didn’t stop me from being fully immersed in this compelling fantasy. Overy gets straight to the action, and uses it to reveal critical truths about Asya, the firebird-in-training, who will one day take over the role of firebird from her aunt, Tarya. The contrast between Asya and her aunt highlights the important features of Asya. While she feels like a failure, she’s kind-hearted and hasn’t stopped caring about people. She starts to see compassion as her biggest weakness, because she doesn’t want to do what the firebird is supposed to do.

When people in Tourin use magic without paying a price, the firebird exacts a price from them. Sometimes the firebird takes their arm.

Other times, the firebird takes their heart.

The firebird lives inside the designated host, who learns they’re chosen to be the firebird at the age of 10 and immediately begins their training.

They train until the queen dies and a new queen must be crowned. That’s when the firebird rises full in them and they become the new, official firebird.

When that happens to Asya, it represents several things. She knows she isn’t ready and is upset about losing time as a mortal, because as the firebird, she won’t age and will enjoy super healing abilities until the firebird is passed on to the next vessel. She also won’t have a choice about punishing people who violate the rules of magic in her land.

She also knows it means her mother, the queen, is dead.

Asya is conflicted and must return to the palace for the first time in seven years.

Her twin sister,v, has been in the palace training to become queen. While Asya’s learned to fight with weapons, Izaveta has learned to manipulate and strategize. And she needs those skills more than ever, because it’s soon evident that people are plotting against the throne.

The problem is, she doesn’t know who’s conspiring against her, and she must be careful to protect herself and the queendom.

Suspicion and distrust cloud the relationship between the twins when they’re reunited, and Asya’s frustrated by being shadowed by a guard who’s allegedly supposed to protect her. She suspects her sister’s spying on her, and when she finds a murdered cabinet member, it only compounds the distrust in the court.

This is the foundation for the story, and covers the key factors from the early chapters. As the plot progresses, both Asya and Izaveta wrestle with internal battles between their instincts and their training. This feeds into conflict between the twins and conflict between each of them and others in the court.

The plot is relentless. There’s murder, intrigue, assassinations, and assassination attempts, attempted kidnappings, and personal conflicts filling every page. I felt the characters were believable and their motivations were convincing. Overy also did a great job of putting my head and heart at odds. I understood the price that must be paid, but like Asya, I sympathized with the needs that prompted people to use magic.

Tourin is a shadow of its former self, and the imbalance is threatening the nation. Can two 17-year-old girls find a way to restore the balance and save their nation before those who’re plotting against them strike? That’s the question lingering on every page of this book.

The only niggle with These Feathered Flames is that it’s a duology and does not resolve this story. Although the truth about the queen’s death is revealed by the end, there are a lot of things that aren’t resolved and readers will have to check out the conclusion to get the answers they’re seeking. I think it’s worth it, but people who don’t like cliffhangers may disagree. 4 stars.

Initial Thoughts

I was so excited to be chosen for this tour. This book sounded so fantastic. I love Russian folktales and didn’t realize how much I wanted this retelling of “The Firebird” until I started reading this book.

Some Things I Liked

Dual POVs and twins! I love stories of siblings and I love multiple POVs. The contrast between Izaveta and Asya was so interesting as they learned to navigate their strained relationship and rebuild trust that was lost a long time ago. I also loved that they were not together for many scenes so the world building and plot felt richer when they were separated, and narrating different things at the same time.
The romances. I loved both of the romance plots. They were subtle and understated but oh so important to the story (and also very different from each other). Both Izaveta and Asya found themselves drawn to people they didn’t expect to be and the banter that ensued was perfect. I think I’m more partial to Asya’s love story as I love enemies to lovers.
Complex history and world building. I have to applaud the author’s ability to build a complicated political structure and a rich world in such a small amount of time. I feel like I understand the world but ache to know more about it. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

Series Value

That ending. I need book two IMMEDIATELY! It should go without saying that I plan to continue to read this series. The ending hurt but it was so worth it! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for these characters.

Final Thoughts

I loved the mythology and world building in this book as well as the dynamic between the main characters. I knew I’d like it, but I really loved this story and can’t wait to read whatever else Alexandra Overy wants to write.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Furyborn by Claire Legrand
The Bright and the Pale by Jessica Rubinkowski

3.75 Stars. This was a good read. It had a few bumps but it was well written, especially for a debut. While I know a few Russian folktales, I knew nothing about this one besides The Firebird name. I can’t say how close this was to the original tale, but I liked this book in comparison to other YA fantasy. There was a lot of stuff in here that was well done and it didn’t feel like something I had read twenty times already. I’m not sure if this is planned to be just a duology or a series, but I will absolutely read the second book when it comes out.

The writing was easy to read and easy to get you hooked into the book. However, there were a few pace issues for me. The book is in two main character’s POV’s (two sisters), and just when I would really get into the story for one character, we would switch to the next. The problem was that the pace would pick up, and then we would switch and the book would slow down. It was a little bit more of a ride then I wanted to be on and I always felt like I was reading about the opposite sister than I wanted too. This was a stylistic choice the author chose and I get why, I just wish the transitions had kept the pace a bit smoother.

The other writing bump had to do with world building. What is there is wonderful but I really wanted more. I’m one of those fantasy geeks that love a slow beginning filled with great world building. The beginning here was slow, but Overy didn’t quite put the time in for the history that I wish she did. The magic system ended up being the same way. The system in place was great, I loved the main components, but again I wanted more. And in the end, not quite having the rich history I wanted, I found myself confused at certain points. I don’t want to go into what exactly I mean since it is a bit spoilerish, but I will say that it seemed like we are told one thing but it really is another. This left me scratching my head wondering if I missed something or did I just not understand. On the good side, there were a few twists and turns I did not see coming so Overy impressed me with that.

The romance that is there is a WLW, enemies to lovers romance. There also seemed to be a potential for an M/F romance, but I’m not yet sure. I was surprised how much chemistry was in the WLW romance. The characters don’t have a ton of time in this book to have romantic moments, with so much going on, but what was there was well done and I hope there is a chance for more.

I have to be honest that I don’t know if this story really needed a book 2. I think with a few changes this could have been a one and done. But since I did enjoy the characters, magic, and can see a ton more potential in Overy, I will happily read more. This book did end on a cliffhanger so it will be interesting to see what adventures Overy takes us on next. If you are a YA fantasy fan, especially of retellings, then I think chances are high that you would enjoy this one too.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book had such a slow start. I want a book to grab my attention from the very start, but I want to say that this didn't exactly get to that point until about 35% in. However, once I did hit that part, I really enjoyed myself. This was sold as something of a romance, but I found that the sisters relationship actually took the front seat instead of either of their individual romantic ventures.

I loved the atmosphere of this book. The settings were gorgeously described as were the characters. There was a lot of detail that went into showing us what the characters were wearing and what they looked like. I definitely love a good Slavic inspired fantasy story and this wasn't a disappointment. I loved the strong female characters and am looking forward to the next one. The ending was a tad confusing, but it seemed more like a set-up for a sequel if anything.

I enjoyed myself but at points found myself comparing it to other Slavic inspired-fantasy that I've read. The magic was pretty original but I just wanted more of it. It was more of a political fantasy that focused on that aspect rather than one that focused on the magic. In the backdrop of that is a strange murder-mystery that, at least in my opinion, was just sort of so-so. Overall it was a solid book.

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: These Feathered Flames

Author: Alexandra Overy

Book Series: These Feathered Flames book 1

Diversity: dead character and sign used, f/f romance

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: mystery lovers, fantasy readers, ya readers, lgbt+ readers

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: April 20, 2021

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 496

Recommended Age: 16+ (Gore, Violence, Attempted assault possibly sexual)

Synopsis: 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.

Review: Overall I liked the book. It was highly imaginative and I loved that it was based on Russian mythology. The book had well developed characters and the world building was well done.

However, the book had a lot of issues. The plot was slow and so was the pacing. The magical elements weren't well explained. And, until 80% into the book, the book was just a struggle to get through. I definitely loved Azya's storyline more than Izaveta's, as hers was an awful experience to read through. I am also not a fan of how the relationship between Azya and her love interest turned out. I felt like it was a bit cliche to older queer tropes.

Verdict: It was good, just needed a bit more on Izaveta's side.

Ok Alexandra Overy. I see you. This book was gorgeous. A bit out of my comfort zone, not a typical read for me. The plot is written so well, and had me entranced the entire time. One point I didn’t know I had a few pages left! I love this book, more excited to see how the sequel will hold up!

I have no words to adequately describe this book. The plot twists, as soon as you think you figured one thing out something new hits you in the chest, unexpectedly. And its not for shock value either, but a well-crafted dance.

Following the dual points of view of Asya and Izaveta, we see a power struggle for the queendom, political games, sisters with their own demons to fight, matters of the heart and a magic system that will keep you lost in this world of bears and birds.

Add in a writer, @allywritesandstuff - that skilfully crafted a world that relies on magic for strength, that cannot be used without a price, and the Firebird as the keeper of balance, and you get a complex plot worthy of a whole series...

These Feathered Flames is the story of twins Asya and Izaveta. One is the heir to the throne of their kingdom, while the other is the heir to the ancient mantel of The Firebird (the balancer of magic in their world). Both girls are called upon to fulfill their destines earlier than expected when their mother meets an untimely death. Reunited for the first time in years the girls will need to work together to battle court politics and deal with a cult that is determined to bring an end to the tradition of the Firebird.

What a great read! I'm sometimes skeptical when a book tries to sell itself as a retold fairytale, but this was amazing. The world building was well thought out and detailed, and the two protagonists are both compelling, well fleshed out, individuals. There is some romance, but it does not overpower the story, but is super enjoyable to read about. The plot is high stakes, which compelled me to finish this book in no time at all.

Overall highly recommend especially for someone looking for their next YA Fantasy series to read.

I love this retelling of the Russian folklore the Firebird. I was excited to read a story from a culture I don't know many tales for.

Izaveta and Asya are twins in a queendom ruled by the legacy of twins In their pre-teen years, the twins endure a ritual deciding who would be queen and who would be the Firebird --a mystical beast that lives with the human to ensure the price of magic is paid. The sisters have split apart and lived very different lives. When they meet again after their mother's death, their destinies truly intertwine.

Alexandra Overy creates a beautiful but dangerous world where magic lives but cannot run free. I love the fantasy touches such as the characters riding bears instead of horses while keeping with the architecture of the area. Each detail brings you further into a world of magic that seems almost familiar; the fairy tale world with some realistic touchstones.

While the setting is beautiful, it is the characters that are truly the stars. Each sister has complex thoughts and ideas. They are not regulated to stereotypes. The author does a great job of making secondary characters think they are these archetypes while the reader knows the truth and cheer the twins when they break those chains (literally and figuratively). Each sister is both right and wrong bluing the ethical teachings of the story. The only thing the reader comes away with as truth is that magic must be balanced.

I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good folktale, into YA adventure, or just loves a good fantasy tale. These Feathered Flames leave me wanting more and excited for the sequel.

These Feathered Flames
Thank you so much to Inkyard Press for having me as a part of their blog tour for These Feathered Flames and for giving me access to an eARC of it via NetGalley! I don’t know much about the myth of the firebird, but I definitely liked this book!

These Feathered Flames 4/5 Stars

With the way this book starts out with Asya and her aunt going to extract the price of magic that the firebird demands from a little girl, I knew I was in for a super interesting and great ride and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! Told in alternating points of view from Asya, the firebird, and Izaveta, her twin sister the queen, this book goes through the intrigue and manipulation that it takes to be a monarch as well as the solitude and loneliness that comes from being a powerful symbol and how when family decides to work together and trust each other, it can sometimes be for the better. I really liked Izaveta as a character. The way that she was isolated and honed into the manipulative and untrusting almost queen that she had become was sad, but I also loved how ruthless she was. Asya was fine too- she was definitely more of the soft and questioning sister, and I think when you have both of them working together, you get what you need, both sides of a coin. Plot and pacing wise, I was really engaged throughout the book- it is a rather long book though (almost 500 pages), so don’t think it’s a quick read. There are definitely lots of characters that I want to read more about and I remember seeing something about a book 2, so I’m very excited about that!

These Feathered Flames is a thrilling and utterly magical fantasy, unlike any other I’ve read. Overy is definitely one to watch and she has my full attention.

This is a spell-binding and gorgeously told tale. Every page felt like it was infused with some spell to keep me glued to its pages. The level of detail and immersion was excellent and I felt like I was totally swept up in this vast, dangerous world.

I really liked how much this book dealt with the intricacies of court politics. You never really felt like you could trust anyone and for good reason with the amount of backstabbing, duplicitous deals and betrayal on show. I liked how often dialogue sounded like one thing but really meant another. This feels like the type of book I want to pour back over to appreciate every detail over and over again.

A large focus of the book deals with embracing your power in a world that seeks to contain it. Both protagonists face challenging decisions that corrupt their morality and make them question what they’re willing to do in order to survive. This leads to some shocking moments and huge plot twists. Overy excels in this, as she makes both protagonists so compelling that you want to love and support them no matter what. They’re complex, fractured sisters torn between love and duty. The roles prescribed to them from a young age seek to restrict them, but they are so much more than their respective titles.

I also cannot talk about this book without delving into the topic of romance. In a world such as this, romances often come with a tinge of political powerplay. People rarely do something without expecting a favour in return. This makes real romance rare to see, but we do get a glimpse into some beautiful, heartfelt scenes that made me feel all gooey inside. This particular pairing has such great chemistry, brilliant banter and an undeniable connection. The path of true love does not run smooth however and there are plenty of twists and turns found in that story too.

These Feathered Flames is an incredibly strong debut with a gorgeous story of power and love in its many forms, with an ending that will make your jaw drop. All I can say is that the sequel needs to be in my life as soon as possible.