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atrailofpages's review
5.0
Wow, I just love these books! The second book takes off right after Xavyn and Vala leave Garlin. And we travel with them past The Divide. When they pass it, it causes a change to occur and everyone is literally effected by it, especially with magic returning. Some change is good, and some really not so much. Vala also begins to change, as well as Xavyn, both becoming stronger, in a sense. We travel with them to locate Vala’s feathers so that she can gain all her power back and restore balance and order with magic and the two worlds.
First off, I just love books that integrate different mythical creatures, and tastefully too, not just haphazardly adding them into the book just because, but actually integrating them into the story and becoming part of the story.
So, when Xavyn and Vala first pass The Divide, we meet the Mer who have been suffering ever since magic was taken away, but begin to feel the effects of the change Vala caused upon her crossing, along with other Fae(woodland and sky Fae), dragons, witches, and probably other mythical creatures. I loved seeing these other creatures, especially since so many books tend to stick to the same ones, but these books had different Fae, and dragons(which I never get enough of
First off, I just love books that integrate different mythical creatures, and tastefully too, not just haphazardly adding them into the book just because, but actually integrating them into the story and becoming part of the story.
So, when Xavyn and Vala first pass The Divide, we meet the Mer who have been suffering ever since magic was taken away, but begin to feel the effects of the change Vala caused upon her crossing, along with other Fae(woodland and sky Fae), dragons, witches, and probably other mythical creatures. I loved seeing these other creatures, especially since so many books tend to stick to the same ones, but these books had different Fae, and dragons(which I never get enough of
leight_w8's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
j_m_miller's review
Character Illustration by Gabriella Bujdosó
Available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited!
Fallen Flame - Book 1
Scattered Plume - Book 2
Map design by Tiphs
nite0wl29's review
DNF’ed at 15%
I wanted to love this. But I literally can’t wrap my brain around anything that’s happening here.
I wanted to love this. But I literally can’t wrap my brain around anything that’s happening here.
chllybrd's review
3.0
I gave it 2.5
I really enjoyed FALLEN FLAME, but SCATTERED PLUME didn't do much for me.
I found quite a bit of things to be confusing. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't remember everything that happened in FALLEN FLAME or if there just wasn't enough explaining. I'm leaning towards not enough explaining between info dumps and new character introductions.
I wasn't that into the romance of SCATTERED PLUME. I didn't feel their connection or really care if they ended up together or not. I just wasn't feeling it.
I'm on the fence about if I want to continue the series at this point. I probably won't unless something in the blurb really jumps out at me.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed FALLEN FLAME, but SCATTERED PLUME didn't do much for me.
I found quite a bit of things to be confusing. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't remember everything that happened in FALLEN FLAME or if there just wasn't enough explaining. I'm leaning towards not enough explaining between info dumps and new character introductions.
I wasn't that into the romance of SCATTERED PLUME. I didn't feel their connection or really care if they ended up together or not. I just wasn't feeling it.
I'm on the fence about if I want to continue the series at this point. I probably won't unless something in the blurb really jumps out at me.
* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
apagetoturn's review
5.0
Once again I am blown away by a sequel that's not even really a sequel - yes, it's the second book in the series technically, but it reads so much like a standalone! This is an incredible universe that JM Miller has created - so many aspects and little details that many people wouldn't even think of. Her setting descriptions are ON POINT in this story, I was instantly able to imagine what this world might look like, then I got a glimpse of her world map for this story, and it matched what I imagined perfectly. I got the chance to beta read this one, and enjoyed getting to see this story literally come to life. If you are a Sarah J Maas fan... give this series a shot. You will love it!
Xavyn and Vala set out on a new journey at the end of Fallen Flame, book one in this series. You don't necessarily have to read that one first, but I would recommend it - mostly just so you understand Vala herself and the history about where she came from and her purpose there. This journey started I think as a way for Vala to finally come to terms with understanding herself, and Xavyn is determined to be by her side to help her.
I love the kinship that connected them so quickly in Fallen Flame, he's protective of her in a way that makes me smile everytime I see him do it. It shows a little of his vulnerability when what he shows everyone else is how tough he is. This new journey is a rocky one, many ups and down, and questions to answer along the way - but it's a journey of discovery, and the exploration of a world Vala has never seen before. They meet new and strange creatures, and discover even more about them selves as well. Also, can I just say DRAGON. I'll just leave that right there, not gonna say anymore. You just need to go grab these two books and read them. RIGHT NOW. Enjoy, you won't be sorry.
Xavyn and Vala set out on a new journey at the end of Fallen Flame, book one in this series. You don't necessarily have to read that one first, but I would recommend it - mostly just so you understand Vala herself and the history about where she came from and her purpose there. This journey started I think as a way for Vala to finally come to terms with understanding herself, and Xavyn is determined to be by her side to help her.
I love the kinship that connected them so quickly in Fallen Flame, he's protective of her in a way that makes me smile everytime I see him do it. It shows a little of his vulnerability when what he shows everyone else is how tough he is. This new journey is a rocky one, many ups and down, and questions to answer along the way - but it's a journey of discovery, and the exploration of a world Vala has never seen before. They meet new and strange creatures, and discover even more about them selves as well. Also, can I just say DRAGON. I'll just leave that right there, not gonna say anymore. You just need to go grab these two books and read them. RIGHT NOW. Enjoy, you won't be sorry.
luciameetsbooks's review
5.0
4.5 stars If you haven't read Fallen Flame yet, I think you definitely should!
Now, it's been a year since I read the first book in this series so I had to read my review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2516147769?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) to remember what relationship some characters had with the main character, Vala, but after that everything went smoothly.
One thing that really stood with me, as the first book did too, was the dedicatory: "To those unsure, the watchers, the self-doubters, take the chance, despite the fear. You are a fortunate one." And this one is even better than the first one because after reading the book you get a secret meaning.
"I stopped, planting my boots. There was a need in me, to know more, and I was not willing to be led blindly."
Firstly, Vala is still one of my favorite female characters. She's so prepared to fight against anything that isn't right and she also hates not being informed of things happening around her. In this second book, aside from those great traits, she has more physical strength and also she's more confident because she finally realised she's not a simple guardian. I truly adore her <3.
"Today had changed many minds. It had ended many as well."
Although Vala is amazing, for me the most fantastic thing in this book was the world. There are mermaids, dragons, Volares, fae of all kind, a tree with special abilities, etc. It was incredible! Every detail was so well explain (without being tiring) that I felt I was beside these creatures watching them interact with one another.
"I believed she had been strong all along, but I felt as though she had become something more in the time I'd known her, something fierce. Something heroic."
Another character that I loved was Esenna and her fabulous friendship with Vala, the girl love was truly powerful in their relationship <3 Moreover, Esenna is just a wonderful person to be around, she helped everyone and was very determined to do what was right.
There were only two aspects that I didn't enjoy as much as everything else. The first one was that a lot of things seemed too easy to fix, maybe if there was a little bit more of action and suspense I would have enjoyed it more. And the other thing was the romance, don't get me wrong, for me it was super cute and lovely but it developed a bit too quickly for my liking.
However, the ending was expectacular. I almost cried because it was so heartwarming, I wasn't expecting it at all but I'm so glad it happened. I'm sure it's going to stay in my mind forever because of how lovely it was. I'm really looking foward to reading the next book (especially the dedicatory :P) because I'm really intrigued by what a certain character is planning to do next ;).
Thank you so much to J.M Miller for giving me an e-arc of her book in exchange of an honest review.
Now, it's been a year since I read the first book in this series so I had to read my review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2516147769?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) to remember what relationship some characters had with the main character, Vala, but after that everything went smoothly.
One thing that really stood with me, as the first book did too, was the dedicatory: "To those unsure, the watchers, the self-doubters, take the chance, despite the fear. You are a fortunate one." And this one is even better than the first one because after reading the book you get a secret meaning.
"I stopped, planting my boots. There was a need in me, to know more, and I was not willing to be led blindly."
Firstly, Vala is still one of my favorite female characters. She's so prepared to fight against anything that isn't right and she also hates not being informed of things happening around her. In this second book, aside from those great traits, she has more physical strength and also she's more confident because she finally realised she's not a simple guardian. I truly adore her <3.
"Today had changed many minds. It had ended many as well."
Although Vala is amazing, for me the most fantastic thing in this book was the world. There are mermaids, dragons, Volares, fae of all kind, a tree with special abilities, etc. It was incredible! Every detail was so well explain (without being tiring) that I felt I was beside these creatures watching them interact with one another.
Spoiler
One scene that even to this moment I can't stop thinking about was when Amias got his tail and started living in the sea, I was expecting it. I thought he was going to die."I believed she had been strong all along, but I felt as though she had become something more in the time I'd known her, something fierce. Something heroic."
Another character that I loved was Esenna and her fabulous friendship with Vala, the girl love was truly powerful in their relationship <3 Moreover, Esenna is just a wonderful person to be around, she helped everyone and was very determined to do what was right.
There were only two aspects that I didn't enjoy as much as everything else. The first one was that a lot of things seemed too easy to fix, maybe if there was a little bit more of action and suspense I would have enjoyed it more. And the other thing was the romance, don't get me wrong, for me it was super cute and lovely but it developed a bit too quickly for my liking.
However, the ending was expectacular. I almost cried because it was so heartwarming, I wasn't expecting it at all but I'm so glad it happened. I'm sure it's going to stay in my mind forever because of how lovely it was. I'm really looking foward to reading the next book (especially the dedicatory :P) because I'm really intrigued by what a certain character is planning to do next ;).
Thank you so much to J.M Miller for giving me an e-arc of her book in exchange of an honest review.
ammalek's review
5.0
4.5 Stars.
I haven’t read a good fantasy In a while but this series just keeps getting better. I was so excited to get back into this world with Vala and Xavyn. They cross the Divide and suddenly Vala realizes her return has some unexpected consequences, both good and bad. I was happy to join Vala on the explanation of her true home and meet so many new characters. Of course there were some great twists along the way. I’m anxiously awaiting book three.
I haven’t read a good fantasy In a while but this series just keeps getting better. I was so excited to get back into this world with Vala and Xavyn. They cross the Divide and suddenly Vala realizes her return has some unexpected consequences, both good and bad. I was happy to join Vala on the explanation of her true home and meet so many new characters. Of course there were some great twists along the way. I’m anxiously awaiting book three.
verlkonig's review
2.0
This ARC was provided by the author in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Fallen Flame when I read it last year. It was a fun YA fantasy novel that, despite some of the usual YA fantasy tropes, crafted a nice murder mystery in an interesting setting with an unusual heroine with charcoal-y skin.
Unfortunately, I have to say I was left disappointed with its follow-up, Scattered Plume. At first, I put it down to my having forgotten much of the plot of the last book when I was reading this, as the action picks up very much from the finale of Fallen Flame. I was left scrambling to remember who exactly everyone was and what was going on - was Xavyn, the love interest, trustworthy? Who was Elige, and why did Xavyn work for her? I vaguely remembered the Divide, a magical barrier separating the human world from its mystic counterpart, but couldn't remember much else about the world building, as Fallen Flame (to my memory) had taken place exclusively in a palace in the human world.
So, when our two main characters cross the Divide in an explosion of magic, with ships firing at each other, much yelling, and previously landlocked merpeople sprouting gills all of a sudden, I was quite confused. I'll admit, catching readers up on previous events can be pretty tricky, but I don't remember the last book being so complicated that it would need much time to do so. Plus, a lot of the information we're bombarded with is brand new, since the last book was set in a (mostly) human world. I honestly had no idea what was happening, but just decided to keep going in the hopes that it would become clearer.
Sorry guys, but it did not become clearer. At all. The mcs, Vala (and the following is not a spoiler as it is revealed sometime during Fallen Flame) who is the reincarnated goddess Alesrah, and Xavyn, a shape-changing fae, are on a quest to find 3 feathers. The feathers belonged to Alesrah, who shed them and hid them in various places in the magical half of the divide at the cost of her own immortality. So...honestly, I didn't quite understand this. I wasn't sure why exactly the feathers needed to be shed and hidden; I didn't understand the reasoning for Alesrah's decision to separate humans from magical beings; I didn't understand the events leading up to the Final War and why two other goddesses turned against her; I didn't understand what she was a goddess of, even - fire? Humans? I quite simply didn't believe that Vala/Alesrah was a goddess. The only thing we're told about her goddess years is that she got very unfortunately fucked over by her (non-divine) lover. This just...didn't seem so goddess-like to me. Honestly, I liked Vala a lot better in book one wherein she was a smart, badass guard living with a very unfortunate complexion. Her pluck and intelligence and bravery in Fallen Flame seemed to fall by the wayside here.
Plot-wise, aside from being very confusing with little in the way of explanation, it's also paced very inconsistently. The first half is a lot of info-dumps, talking, and many characters being introduced in brief scenes that didn't seem to flow together properly. Then, from the 65% mark, 2 feathers and an important sword are found one after the other fast as you like. The journeys between each location were so short it was as if they were right next to each other.
This leads me to my main problem with the novel - it simply seems rushed, especially in the second half. The tight plotting of the first novel is nowhere to be seen here. It's deeply frustrating, as there is a lot of potential in both Miller's story and world. Magic returning to a ravaged land? Cool. Flying fae? Cool. Goddesses? Cool. But none of it fits together properly - there are very few details which makes it very hard to a) understand or b) care about anything in this world. The rushed world building also seeps into the characters. They do not have clear voices or even clear personalities or appearances. It was hard for me to tell them apart, never mind guess at their allegiances, who might betray who etc. They all spoke in ways that didn't fit their sketchy personalities or the setting, such as a presumably wise, older merman saying: "I'm sure you've noticed that today has not been the greatest." It comes off as not only rushed, but childish. This poor choice of words is unfortunately present throughout the book - a description of a dragon was particularly disappointing: "the pen gate burst open and the most terrifying creature I'd ever seen burst through. Thin grey scales reflected the firelight with its movement, though there was a darker reddish colour like the cavern stone shading on the top of its head and neck, and lower on its legs too. Its long neck and tail swung around as it opened its wide jaw and screeched louder than it had before.."
I would be seriously hard pressed to describe this novel as young adult at times, due to the behaviour of the characters and how the plot moved along. The speed and ease in which the quest items are found...the fact that the main trio manage to get themselves a pet dragon...which they name after their own initials... it was all very twee.
I was also not at all sold on the romance between the main characters, as I simply didn't feel any kind of love between them. I was told about it, but not shown it. Xavyn is a particularly frustrating character, as I really did think he was going to betray Vala. This isn't a good thing, as it only conveys how vague his character was.
Overall, Scattered Plume is a very different beast from the first book both in terms of plot and tone. While there is certainly potential in the world that has begun to be formed here, in my opinion it needs a lot of work for it to be believable and engaging for its target audience, which may well be middle grade readers.
I really enjoyed Fallen Flame when I read it last year. It was a fun YA fantasy novel that, despite some of the usual YA fantasy tropes, crafted a nice murder mystery in an interesting setting with an unusual heroine with charcoal-y skin.
Unfortunately, I have to say I was left disappointed with its follow-up, Scattered Plume. At first, I put it down to my having forgotten much of the plot of the last book when I was reading this, as the action picks up very much from the finale of Fallen Flame. I was left scrambling to remember who exactly everyone was and what was going on - was Xavyn, the love interest, trustworthy? Who was Elige, and why did Xavyn work for her? I vaguely remembered the Divide, a magical barrier separating the human world from its mystic counterpart, but couldn't remember much else about the world building, as Fallen Flame (to my memory) had taken place exclusively in a palace in the human world.
So, when our two main characters cross the Divide in an explosion of magic, with ships firing at each other, much yelling, and previously landlocked merpeople sprouting gills all of a sudden, I was quite confused. I'll admit, catching readers up on previous events can be pretty tricky, but I don't remember the last book being so complicated that it would need much time to do so. Plus, a lot of the information we're bombarded with is brand new, since the last book was set in a (mostly) human world. I honestly had no idea what was happening, but just decided to keep going in the hopes that it would become clearer.
Sorry guys, but it did not become clearer. At all. The mcs, Vala (and the following is not a spoiler as it is revealed sometime during Fallen Flame) who is the reincarnated goddess Alesrah, and Xavyn, a shape-changing fae, are on a quest to find 3 feathers. The feathers belonged to Alesrah, who shed them and hid them in various places in the magical half of the divide at the cost of her own immortality. So...honestly, I didn't quite understand this. I wasn't sure why exactly the feathers needed to be shed and hidden; I didn't understand the reasoning for Alesrah's decision to separate humans from magical beings; I didn't understand the events leading up to the Final War and why two other goddesses turned against her; I didn't understand what she was a goddess of, even - fire? Humans? I quite simply didn't believe that Vala/Alesrah was a goddess. The only thing we're told about her goddess years is that she got very unfortunately fucked over by her (non-divine) lover. This just...didn't seem so goddess-like to me. Honestly, I liked Vala a lot better in book one wherein she was a smart, badass guard living with a very unfortunate complexion. Her pluck and intelligence and bravery in Fallen Flame seemed to fall by the wayside here.
Plot-wise, aside from being very confusing with little in the way of explanation, it's also paced very inconsistently. The first half is a lot of info-dumps, talking, and many characters being introduced in brief scenes that didn't seem to flow together properly. Then, from the 65% mark, 2 feathers and an important sword are found one after the other fast as you like. The journeys between each location were so short it was as if they were right next to each other.
This leads me to my main problem with the novel - it simply seems rushed, especially in the second half. The tight plotting of the first novel is nowhere to be seen here. It's deeply frustrating, as there is a lot of potential in both Miller's story and world. Magic returning to a ravaged land? Cool. Flying fae? Cool. Goddesses? Cool. But none of it fits together properly - there are very few details which makes it very hard to a) understand or b) care about anything in this world. The rushed world building also seeps into the characters. They do not have clear voices or even clear personalities or appearances. It was hard for me to tell them apart, never mind guess at their allegiances, who might betray who etc. They all spoke in ways that didn't fit their sketchy personalities or the setting, such as a presumably wise, older merman saying: "I'm sure you've noticed that today has not been the greatest." It comes off as not only rushed, but childish. This poor choice of words is unfortunately present throughout the book - a description of a dragon was particularly disappointing: "the pen gate burst open and the most terrifying creature I'd ever seen burst through. Thin grey scales reflected the firelight with its movement, though there was a darker reddish colour like the cavern stone shading on the top of its head and neck, and lower on its legs too. Its long neck and tail swung around as it opened its wide jaw and screeched louder than it had before.."
I would be seriously hard pressed to describe this novel as young adult at times, due to the behaviour of the characters and how the plot moved along. The speed and ease in which the quest items are found...the fact that the main trio manage to get themselves a pet dragon...which they name after their own initials... it was all very twee.
I was also not at all sold on the romance between the main characters, as I simply didn't feel any kind of love between them. I was told about it, but not shown it. Xavyn is a particularly frustrating character, as I really did think he was going to betray Vala. This isn't a good thing, as it only conveys how vague his character was.
Overall, Scattered Plume is a very different beast from the first book both in terms of plot and tone. While there is certainly potential in the world that has begun to be formed here, in my opinion it needs a lot of work for it to be believable and engaging for its target audience, which may well be middle grade readers.
luthereadingqueen's review
5.0
4.5 stars If you haven't read Fallen Flame yet, I think you definitely should!
Now, it's been a year since I read the first book in this series so I had to read my review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2516147769?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) to remember what relationship some characters had with the main character, Vala, but after that everything went smoothly.
One thing that really stood with me, as the first book did too, was the dedicatory: "To those unsure, the watchers, the self-doubters, take the chance, despite the fear. You are a fortunate one." And this one is even better than the first one because after reading the book you get a secret meaning.
"I stopped, planting my boots. There was a need in me, to know more, and I was not willing to be led blindly."
Firstly, Vala is still one of my favorite female characters. She's so prepared to fight against anything that isn't right and she also hates not being informed of things happening around her. In this second book, aside from those great traits, she has more physical strength and also she's more confident because she finally realised she's not a simple guardian. I truly adore her <3.
"Today had changed many minds. It had ended many as well."
Although Vala is amazing, for me the most fantastic thing in this book was the world. There are mermaids, dragons, Volares, fae of all kind, a tree with special abilities, etc. It was incredible! Every detail was so well explain (without being tiring) that I felt I was beside these creatures watching them interact with one another.One scene that even to this moment I can't stop thinking about was when Amias got his tail and started living in the sea, I was expecting it. I thought he was going to die.
"I believed she had been strong all along, but I felt as though she had become something more in the time I'd known her, something fierce. Something heroic."
Another character that I loved was Esenna and her fabulous friendship with Vala, the girl love was truly powerful in their relationship <3 Moreover, Esenna is just a wonderful person to be around, she helped everyone and was very determined to do what was right.
There were only two aspects that I didn't enjoy as much as everything else. The first one was that a lot of things seemed too easy to fix, maybe if there was a little bit more of action and suspense I would have enjoyed it more. And the other thing was the romance, don't get me wrong, for me it was super cute and lovely but it developed a bit too quickly for my liking.
However, the ending was expectacular. I almost cried because it was so heartwarming, I wasn't expecting it at all but I'm so glad it happened. I'm sure it's going to stay in my mind forever because of how lovely it was. I'm really looking foward to reading the next book (especially the dedicatory :P) because I'm really intrigued by what a certain character is planning to do next ;).
Thank you so much to J.M Miller for giving me an e-arc of her book in exchange of an honest review.
Now, it's been a year since I read the first book in this series so I had to read my review (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2516147769?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) to remember what relationship some characters had with the main character, Vala, but after that everything went smoothly.
One thing that really stood with me, as the first book did too, was the dedicatory: "To those unsure, the watchers, the self-doubters, take the chance, despite the fear. You are a fortunate one." And this one is even better than the first one because after reading the book you get a secret meaning.
"I stopped, planting my boots. There was a need in me, to know more, and I was not willing to be led blindly."
Firstly, Vala is still one of my favorite female characters. She's so prepared to fight against anything that isn't right and she also hates not being informed of things happening around her. In this second book, aside from those great traits, she has more physical strength and also she's more confident because she finally realised she's not a simple guardian. I truly adore her <3.
"Today had changed many minds. It had ended many as well."
Although Vala is amazing, for me the most fantastic thing in this book was the world. There are mermaids, dragons, Volares, fae of all kind, a tree with special abilities, etc. It was incredible! Every detail was so well explain (without being tiring) that I felt I was beside these creatures watching them interact with one another.
"I believed she had been strong all along, but I felt as though she had become something more in the time I'd known her, something fierce. Something heroic."
Another character that I loved was Esenna and her fabulous friendship with Vala, the girl love was truly powerful in their relationship <3 Moreover, Esenna is just a wonderful person to be around, she helped everyone and was very determined to do what was right.
There were only two aspects that I didn't enjoy as much as everything else. The first one was that a lot of things seemed too easy to fix, maybe if there was a little bit more of action and suspense I would have enjoyed it more. And the other thing was the romance, don't get me wrong, for me it was super cute and lovely but it developed a bit too quickly for my liking.
However, the ending was expectacular. I almost cried because it was so heartwarming, I wasn't expecting it at all but I'm so glad it happened. I'm sure it's going to stay in my mind forever because of how lovely it was. I'm really looking foward to reading the next book (especially the dedicatory :P) because I'm really intrigued by what a certain character is planning to do next ;).
Thank you so much to J.M Miller for giving me an e-arc of her book in exchange of an honest review.