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amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
While away investigating the deaths of Idar near the Castle of Selwyn at the northern border of Arle, Aliza and Alastair Daired came face to face with House Daired’s sworn enemy Tristan Wydrick, previously thought dead, but still very much alive. That is, alive and ghast-ridden (playing host to violent shadow creatures). Wydrick imparts the same warning as others in the area: a great evil has been biding its time but is getting ready to strike.
As Arle prepares for a convocation between neighboring nations, and Tekari attacks are happening with more frequency, Aliza and Alastair must gather together all those able and willing to fight for Arle, because the evil is already at their shores.
Flamebringer picks up right where Dragonshadow left us, with Aliza and Alastair in pursuit of Wydrick. It’s not long before they realize it’s a fruitless endeavor as he’s already escaped for now. In other words, the book starts off running and while it seemingly has moments of pause and reflection, looking back as I write this review, I feel like Flamebringer—when compared to Dragonshadow’s languorous build—sped through the story too fast. It’s almost like books two and three are just parts two parts of a whole. They go hand-in-hand moreso than the first book which stands on its own more solidly despite having certain elements that were tied into the last two books.
Mostly, I felt like there were still a lot of issues that Aliza and Alastair needed to deal with that get pushed aside without any meaningful resolution because of the overarching conflict that has arisen. I loved how Elle Katharine White portrayed their marriage. You can feel the love they have for each other even when life happens and puts them on paths that are askew from one another. It’s one of the most honest and true relationships I’ve read recently. Yes, we love the Happily Ever Afters (at least I do), but what really solidifies a relationship is working through the difficult times and the times you’re at odds with your significant other.
I was super happy that there was a brief return to Hart’s Run and reuniting with Aliza and Alastair’s families and more characters from the first book. I felt like Dragonshadow really set the Daireds apart, and slightly adrift, from those they care about—an almost desolate feeling—but Flamebringer brings them back into the fold, so to speak, and you can feel that strength of heart and spirit that being around your loved ones provides. Elle Katharine White certainly doesn’t pull any punches throughout this series and with it being the final battle, you know Flamebringer is going to have some pretty big emotional moments.
Flamebringer is an engaging read. For all that I thought it went by too quickly, mostly that’s because I am really interested in the world Elle Katharine White has created, and don’t want to leave it so soon. I feel like there are still corners of Arle, and beyond, that beg for exploration, and there is certainly a plethora of characters who can take up the mantle in Alize and Alastair’s stead. Fingers crossed we get to explore some more. Overall, though, I’m really impressed with a series that started as a classic retelling but developed its own history and mythology that stand apart on their own merits.
While away investigating the deaths of Idar near the Castle of Selwyn at the northern border of Arle, Aliza and Alastair Daired came face to face with House Daired’s sworn enemy Tristan Wydrick, previously thought dead, but still very much alive. That is, alive and ghast-ridden (playing host to violent shadow creatures). Wydrick imparts the same warning as others in the area: a great evil has been biding its time but is getting ready to strike.
As Arle prepares for a convocation between neighboring nations, and Tekari attacks are happening with more frequency, Aliza and Alastair must gather together all those able and willing to fight for Arle, because the evil is already at their shores.
Flamebringer picks up right where Dragonshadow left us, with Aliza and Alastair in pursuit of Wydrick. It’s not long before they realize it’s a fruitless endeavor as he’s already escaped for now. In other words, the book starts off running and while it seemingly has moments of pause and reflection, looking back as I write this review, I feel like Flamebringer—when compared to Dragonshadow’s languorous build—sped through the story too fast. It’s almost like books two and three are just parts two parts of a whole. They go hand-in-hand moreso than the first book which stands on its own more solidly despite having certain elements that were tied into the last two books.
Mostly, I felt like there were still a lot of issues that Aliza and Alastair needed to deal with that get pushed aside without any meaningful resolution because of the overarching conflict that has arisen. I loved how Elle Katharine White portrayed their marriage. You can feel the love they have for each other even when life happens and puts them on paths that are askew from one another. It’s one of the most honest and true relationships I’ve read recently. Yes, we love the Happily Ever Afters (at least I do), but what really solidifies a relationship is working through the difficult times and the times you’re at odds with your significant other.
I was super happy that there was a brief return to Hart’s Run and reuniting with Aliza and Alastair’s families and more characters from the first book. I felt like Dragonshadow really set the Daireds apart, and slightly adrift, from those they care about—an almost desolate feeling—but Flamebringer brings them back into the fold, so to speak, and you can feel that strength of heart and spirit that being around your loved ones provides. Elle Katharine White certainly doesn’t pull any punches throughout this series and with it being the final battle, you know Flamebringer is going to have some pretty big emotional moments.
Flamebringer is an engaging read. For all that I thought it went by too quickly, mostly that’s because I am really interested in the world Elle Katharine White has created, and don’t want to leave it so soon. I feel like there are still corners of Arle, and beyond, that beg for exploration, and there is certainly a plethora of characters who can take up the mantle in Alize and Alastair’s stead. Fingers crossed we get to explore some more. Overall, though, I’m really impressed with a series that started as a classic retelling but developed its own history and mythology that stand apart on their own merits.
rpych2's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this series, but I feel like it got just a bit worse with every entry. This one was 2.5 stars rounded up for me, and it’s not that it was bad it just felt like it was missing something. There was a ton of action, which would make sense in the last book of a trilogy, but there wasn’t as much of the character drama that the first two books were full of. This was a rather dark entry too, which I actually thought was good. Solid series, and I’ll definitely be looking out for the author’s next work.
brandifox's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this whole trilogy. I will absolutely be rereading it.
bethjordahl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The conclusion to the Heartstone trilogy was fast paced, full of action and fun to read. I read it quickly because I couldn’t stop! I loved all of the creatures and I really enjoyed the twist at the end. Highly recommend this series for fans of fantasy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
blodeuedd's review
2.0
I liked book 1, but with this one. I felt sort of confused at times, and I felt myself not caring. It sort of dragged and then it all finished really fast.
I do not even want to talk a lot. It was boring. Glad it ended, on a sour note
I do not even want to talk a lot. It was boring. Glad it ended, on a sour note
nelsonseye's review against another edition
3.0
Flamebringer was a good end to the Hearstone trilogy. Despite some hints in the first and second books, the series was a lot darker/sadder than I expected. I do think it worked, but I was still surprised. One reviewer commented that there was maybe “too much” in this final book in terms of action etc., and, to some extent, I do agree. However, I’m not sure what could have been cut or moved to previous books, and I do think the final “battle” was well seeded in the previous books. Overall, I don’t quite recall why I picked up [b:Heartstone|31290944|Heartstone (Heartstone, #1)|Elle Katharine White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1471984666l/31290944._SY75_.jpg|50441200] about four or so years ago, but I am glad that I did. A final thought, the last paragraphs were quite touching.
emco_0's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
katleap's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good ending but it was hard. There were so many strings that I wanted to follow is this story and I don't feel that we got see enough of them. I have questions and there weren't any answers.
thunguyen's review against another edition
5.0
As I read Flamebringer right after Dragon Shadow, it's hard to review the 2 books apart. The story continued straight after the events in Dragon Shadow and carried on to complete the great plot that started in book 1. It's a very short book and lacks everything simply because everything has been set out in the previous 2 books, the world building, the mystery, the budding romance, the growing husband and wife relationship, everything has been set into stone so there was very little development in this book. It's just a good conclusion to the grand story of an epic battle against the great unknown evil. What struck me the most was how sad it is. For a story of an epic battle, it is very depressing and dwells so much in the lost, the scars, the sacrifice. The only thing good left is the love between Aliza and Alastair.