This novel has the same funny, strong, diverse characters as the first one, but I think they are even better here. I felt like in this novel the characters from the first novel became more deep, we learned even more about them, and there was just a lot of character growth and development. Honestly, even if nothing happened in the plot, I feel like Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz sitting in a room alone would still be enough for me to be invested.

Most importantly, Klune appeared to really put effort into changing how police were portrayed in this novel after the concerns raised about book one, and I appreciated the active steps he took to bring these conversations into the novel. I don’t think I’d have been able to read this novel if these changes from book one hadn’t occurred. And there is acknowledgment from the MC that he should have thought about this stuff sooner. It felt like drastically different portrayal from book one and I appreciated that. Moving forward, I hope to see the white characters (like Nick and his dad) rely less on people of color (like Gibby and her family) to educate them though and continued acknowledgment of systemic problems. However, I also encourage people to look into own voices reviews, as they are the only ones who can determine if enough changed in portrayal in this book.

Does anyone know of a good void I can go scream into while I wait for the next book? Everything I wanted. We're here, we're queer, and we have SUPERPOWERS. I mean, with that and a neurodivergent main character, can you really ask for a more perfect read?

I will read anything Klune writes. His style is so distinct and captivating, and his characters climb off the page. I loved this just as much as The Extraordinaries, and I can't wait to read what he does next.

Summary: This book follows Nick as he continues to discover what it means to live in a world where kids have to balance the human and the superhuman. Nick and his friends are just teenagers but are they really? Along with all that good teenagey stuff that everyone else is dealing with, Nick, Gibby, Jazzy, and Seth also have to manage some "extraordinary" things. At the end of book 1, Nick had finally found his way to the boy he loves, but having a boyfriend is new territory, let alone a boyfriend with this particular set of gifts. On top of all this, Nick has his own mysteries to uncover and they just might shake up his entire life.

Review: This entire duology was a breath of fresh air. The humor and the graceful way Klune navigates difficult topics like mental illness, sexuality, and police brutality, all contribute to how truly wonderful and different this book was. Nick has ADHD and suffers from panic attacks and chronic cluelessness, all of which make him that much more lovable and relatable. There were some moments where I thought I'd surely die of second hand embarrassment on his behalf but it was worth it. His relationship with Seth is heartwarming to say the least and the way they navigate the unchartered waters of love and adulthood together is a beautiful example to young teens. I enjoyed this book immensely.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review!

I wanted SO badly to like this as much as I did the Extraordinary’s... something just felt off. The characters were there, the plot was interesting, the writing was still Klune-esque... but it just didn’t connect for me until the end. I felt myself fighting to pick it up rather than fighting to put it down (which, by the way, I did with Extraordinary’s this past year... reading until 3 am isn’t something I can do anymore now that I’m a real life adult, but it was SO WORTH IT!). I definitely will say it’s not BAD... I’ll still buy it, and I’m still going to recommend it to people! I often feel that the second book in a trilogy of this genre tends to be the fluff/filler... that’s a bit what it felt like, at least to me.

Though, looking through some other reviews, I believe I’m the only one with that opinion!

Just finished this one! Definitely going to have to write a more in detail review in a few but, it was phenomenal! I just want to go and binge read all of TJ Klune's books.Amazing sequel! And the cover is so gorgeous

Just like the first book in this series, The Extraordinaries, this novel has a good balance of what I look for in a book. It has memorable characters you want to root for. The relationships between those characters are more than just one note. And the story is allowed to be silly and serious at the same time without it feeling off. If there is one thing I have come to appreciate about Klune’s work is the humor he injects into the more serious aspects of a story.

And this book is funny, mostly because of Nick and his reactions to the things going on. But I don’t think anyone would be surprised there. If you were okay with the secondhand embarrassment we all called humor from the first book, you won’t be disappointed in this one. In fact, I think that was turned up a notch in Flash Fire. Nick’s Father takes great pride in educating his son on safe sex and we get enjoy the effects it has on Nick and Seth.

It was also nice to see how Nick and Seth’s relationship is progressing. They are finding their rhythm as a couple, which I enjoy reading about. And Nick and Jazz as a duo will always be one of my favorite aspects of this series. Though, thinking back, we really didn’t get much of Gibby outside of the next point I wanted to discuss.

While I really did love this book, there were a few things that took me out of the story. I understand the author wished to do some course corrections after he received criticism from the first book, but I feel it came off as a little unrealistic. Going from book one to book two was a complete 180 on how certain characters felt about other characters. Or just how they felt in general. It was jarring. So much was explained in one chapter that it felt like I was being lectured to instead of reading a book about superheroes. And it was a thread line that continued to pop up throughout the book, understandably as it’s not an issue that would have been handled in that one chapter, but it almost always felt out of place.

I know this isn’t the best review as I really didn’t discuss the plot outside of what I didn’t think worked, but I feel if I say more I’ll spoil something and I don’t want to do that. So I’ll just say that overall I found this to be a quick and enjoyable read. If you enjoyed the first book, I think you’ll enjoy this one too.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

T. J. Klune us a master at is craft. And Flash Fire is just another example of why he deserves all of the praise as an author. As a fabulously queer author.

I was hesitant going into Flash Fire. Extraordinaries was, for me, rather boring and drawn out for the first half of the books. I didn't find much of the twists and big reveals to be, well, hard to figure out very early on. The last half of Extraordinaries really kicked up the intensity and I quickly became obsessed.

However, Flash Fire never let me down. It was delight from the first "Nicky, yes!" to the very last page. Are the plot twists complicated? No. Are they easily called out? Yes. But, and if you really think about Flash Fire (and Extraordinaries) neither book is really that special in its idea. Super heroes with identities fighting bad guys and also juggling normal lives. But, they are also very queer. I say this not to knock either book, because this familiarity to a genre I love so much is why I adore these books.

And Klune does not disappoint with his signature style of creating wonderful found families, emotional moments riddled with intense character growth, and just being absolutely freaking funny. All wrapped up in a splendid queer super hero story like you've never seen before.

Nick Bell is, and I will die on this hill, one of the best (if not the best) character ever to be written. He's charming, funny, and just full of fluster and courage and love. There's an essence to Nick that Klune has captured that brings him to life. I laughed and rolled my eyes and yelled "Nicky, no!" along with all of his friends. He (Nicky) pulls you in and you feel like you are right there with Team Pyro Storm.

And (maybe very slight spoilers but not really) I want to talk about all of the funny, cringy, and awkward talks revolving sex in this book. Specifically, gay sex. Klune really did something special in trying to normalize talking about the awkwardness and realities of sex for the first time. What a teenager (especially a gay teen boy) might struggle with when deciding if it's time to have sex. How that sex would work. How to have that conversation with a potential partner. The funny and awkwardness of having a parent that is both supportive and protective of their kids possibly having sex. It's not anything I have really ever seen in a queer ya novel, and I am so happy that it was a part of this book.

Extraordinaries caused some concern when it released because of the way the story seemed to gloss over the harm Nick's dad did as a police officer. I won't speak much on this, other than that Klune took these concerns and addressed them in the story in an organic and thoughtful way.

Flash Fire is defiantly another Klune masterpiece. Full of witty banter, queer characters who never back down, and super heroes that don't always have super powers. If you love Klunes work, you will love this book. If you've. read Klune before then brace yourself, because everything he writes is a whirlwind of green and blue and pack pack- sorry, wrong series. But it still stands. You will fall in love and be crying by the time you put the book down.

Flash Fire, the sequel to The Extraordinaries, was so good! Nick and Seth’s story picks up where we left o

Fire Flash was such a mix of laughter, adventure, inclusion, tears, and did they really just say that? As someone with a parent in the local police force TJ Klune did an amazing job expressing the turmoil of a kid who loves their dad but not so much what he does. I cannot wait for the 3rd book!

A highly entertaining sequel to Extraordinaries, we are taken back to the world of Nick and Seth and Gabby and Jazz!
All of them have to come to terms with what happened with Owen at the end of book 1. Simon Burke is still creating hell for them and there are many more Extraordinaries in Nova City apart from Pyro Storm!! How that changes the dynamics of Team Pyro Storm and how they go through their own personal struggles and life decisions is what Flash Fire is all about!!
I love how TJ Klune writes the cutest characters!! I loved the characters of Seth/ Gabby and Jazz. Nick is part adorable and part extremely annoying and his interactions with his dad provided some seriousness as well as comic relief at times.
I really loved it and can’t wait for the third book!

Flash Fire is the seventh book that I have read by TJ Klune, which also makes it the seventh TJ Klune book that has made me cry. An upper-level queer YA featuring superheroes with neurodivergent rep? Yes please always. Flash Fire was exciting to me because it addressed many of the issues I had with The Extraordinaries while providing very exciting set up for the next book!
I loved The Extraordinaries mainly because of the same reason I love all of TJ Klune's work - the beating heart that is at the centre of all of his characters. However, the positive portrayal of policing in that novel did not sit well with me and affected my overall opinion on the book.
In Flash Fire, TJ Klune addressed the very valid and necessary criticisms that were raised in The Extraordinaries. I thought that the way that he handled this was thoughtful and caring. At times, this came across a bit didactic, however I think this was necessary because of how much uncritical pro-policing sentiment was present in the first book and the amount of work that was required to dismantle and shift this perspective both in terms of the characters in the book and the overall plot of the novel.
TJ Klune is great at worldbuilding and at plot continuity. Both The Extraordinaries and Flash Fire do an excellent job of situating themselves both in the context of their setting and in terms of a narrative, and I am excited to see what happens in the next book in the series. The plot twists are really good (even if I felt like I saw the big post-credits reveal coming from way early on) and the action (when it finally happens) is exciting to read.
Where Flash Fire fell short to me was in pacing and plot development. In these categories, it very much felt like the middle volume between two more exciting bookends. I wanted more! The final fight scene was gripping, but it felt like there was so much exposition that needed to happen that I wanted there to be a better balance between explaining everything going on and stuff actually happening.
What makes this series so exciting is that it is a combination between classic queer YA coming-of-age and an epic superhero adventure, and even though I am not a big superhero fan, I will read pretty much anything written by TJ Klune because his characters are always so unique and fun to read, and the ways that he is able to craft communities of people who love each other deeply and fight for each other always tugs at my heartstrings.

Flash Fire is the sequal to the fantastic book The Extraordinaries and if you haven't read it I reccomend you do so ASAP.

This book catches up with Nick and the rest of Team Pyro Storm. The plot is predictable, but easy to overlook because you are drawn in by the fantastic characters, action scenes and humor.
There are new Extraordinaries who shake things up for the team and Rebecca Stone is once again the worst human EVER. Like Umbridge level bitch.

I absolutely love Nick and his fathers relationship and I laugh so hard every time his dad tries to talk about sex and how clueless Nick is about some things.

I absolutely love how the author has tackled ADHD, lgbtq+ issues, along with race and police issues.

With every book of T.j klunes that I read the more I love his work. He has such a skill with writing and developing characters you immediatly love and would do anything for.

I cannot wait for the next installment!

4.5 stars.

Well, shit.

I was expecting a lot of things to happen (some of which did) but I was not expecting that!!!

I need the next book

I enjoyed this story even if I wanted to duct tape the MC's mouth shut MULTIPLE TIMES. How are his friends okay with this? Fun gay superhero story regardless. I like that police presence and actions were addressed but it kinda felt like too much weight were put on the BIPOC characters to do it. Very glad to see that mistakes were owned by adults (when/where mistakes were made).

This book was an amazing sequel! I loved the characters and the story! This amped up the level of awesomeness and the ending was definitely hinting at a 3rd book! Highly recommend this book when it comes out July 13th!!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Flash Fire, the sequel that my heart wanted and needed. I needed something that made me laugh, and Klune did not disappoint.

If you have not read the first book, The Extraordinaries, then go read that first. Then come back and check out this review. Now let’s get to the actual review and my constant fangirling.

The characters are still endearing as ever, especially Nick. His chaotic self was just as amazing as I remember. His relationship with Seth (ABOUT TIME) is by far my favorite part of this entire series. They are just utterly adorable. The rest of the gang got more page time, and I loved that. It’s about time we get more Gibby and Jazz.

I appreciate that Klune included a lot of sex positivity and safe sex talks. While the sex talk scenes were a bit embarrassing, and by a bit, I mean a lot. I still loved that they were included. Leave it to TJ Klune to give me some second-hand embarrassment within the first 15 pages. I swear my cheeks are still red.

Now let’s talk about that big issue from book one. I was really nervous about how Klune would address the police plotline. For reference, Aaron (Nick’s dad) assaulted a man in custody. While I can’t say that I am 100% happy with how it turned out. I am happy that there were several discussions on why it was wrong. Both from Aaron and Nick. The biggest reason why I was unhappy about it, it felt like most of the responsibility fell onto Gibby and her parents to explain things. But I did appreciate the many conversations that the characters had. I do hope going forward this continues to be a topic in the book.

Thank you to Netgalley & Tor Teen for letting me read one of my most anticipated reads!

In this sequel to The Extraordinaries the whole world is changing. Nick has finally landed himself the boyfriend of his dreams. Nova City has new heroes arriving (to help or to harm?). There are shake ups and conflict in the police department. And prom is coming up and Nick doesn’t know how to dance!

I’ll try to avoid as many spoilers as I can for this second book in the series, so this will be a vague review. First of all, this book is nowhere near as fun and campy as the first book was, but given the events of this book that makes sense. Don’t get me wrong, there are still certainly awkward and funny bits throughout the book (and an especially cringey one within the first few pages that had me drop my Kindle, I was laughing so hard). The attitude towards the police has taken a total 180, so if that was a problem for you in the first book it has been remedied. I did find the change in attitude very abrupt considering this book takes place only a few months after the first book, but I understand why the author did it. I love these kids even more than I did in the first book. Oh, and Rebecca Firestone and Simon Burke are pure evil, and they better get their comeuppance in the sequel or I’m going to riot 😁

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan-Tor/Forge for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

loved this even more than the first one I was so happy to see these characters the story was great and engrossign

This sequel to The Extraordinaries is laugh-out-loud funny. I always love how Klune writes dialogue and banter. The narration is spot-on for teenage awkwardness and it's often as endearing as it is cringe-worthy. The plot was easy to predict, but filled with action and humour, making it a rapid, compulsive read. The author also attempts to address serious issues raised following the first book, including police brutality. I thought the conversations and content surrounding consent and sex were handled well. A fast-paced and intense ending sets things up nicely for book three - I can't wait to see where this story goes.