Book Review: Fireblood by Elly Blake

Fireblood by Elly Blake

Pages: 304
Publish date: September 7th, 2017
Publisher: Hachette Australia
ISBN: 9781473635203
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby’s powers and past….

Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fireblood queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax – which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, how can Ruby decide whom to trust? The fate of both kingdoms is now in her hands.

Fireblood:

I received a free copy of Fireblood by Elly Blake from Hachette Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

This review will contain spoilers from Frostblood; book 1 in the saga.

I started off the year right with Frostblood and when I found out that book 2 was coming out a couple months later – I was so excited. And while I didn’t love Fireblood as much as book 1. I still really enjoyed it.

Fireblood picks up not long after we left Frostblood. We see that Ruby is really struggling with her time at the Frost court. The people of the court don’t like her, she can’t spend the time she wants to with Arcus, and she is struggling with the powers within her. But when she finds out there is a way to stop the Minax – she goes out to find it. Even if it means leaving Arcus behind.

Accompanying Ruby on this trip to Sudesia, is a Fireblood named Kai. But when she must enter a series of life or death trails to gain the trust of the Fireblood Queen – things start to get heated.

Ruby really grew throughout Fireblood, which is one of my favourite things to see in a novel. When character development is the pinnacle of the story. While at the start of the novel and even in the first book, Ruby is really struggling with who she is. But throughout Fireblood we start to see her accept that. There were things that Ruby did throughout Fireblood that really annoyed me to bits, but I liked to see her learn from them.

I hated that we did get to see much of Arcus in Fireblood. He was one of my favourite characters in Frostblood, and I wanted to see how he was dealing with being King. Although we did see some of that, he was out for most of the book. In saying that I did like what we did see. I find that Arcus wears his heart on his sleeve, and in Fireblood we see that. The reader is able to see how much he cares for both Ruby and his people. We see the hard decisions that a King has to go through.

Kai – what can I say. I wasn’t the biggest fan of him. I felt that he was too up himself, that he believed that he deserved the world. While reading Fireblood I really wanted to like him, but I just could not do it. I liked the strength that he gave Ruby, the lessons that he taught her. I liked that he made Ruby believe in herself. But, I really don’t care what happens to him in the long run.

I went into Fireblood believing that there was going to be a love triangle – and while it wasn’t really the way – it was still there. If you know me well, I hate love triangles, there aren’t many books with them that I end up loving. So when I read the synopsis for Fireblood, I was really upset. However, it wasn’t as strong as I expected. Which made me very happy.

Yes, Ruby and Kai had a connection, because he is one of the first Fireblood that Ruby has really seen and connected with. She is able to learn so much about her powers, and herself. But, I felt that he cared more about himself than others.

Ruby and Arcus had some really hard times in Fireblood and I hope that they continue to be there for one another in Nightblood. I love their connection and how much they do care about one another.

I feel in love with the world of Elly Blake when I began Frostblood, but we really get to find more about the world in Fireblood. All the info wasn’t dumped on us at the one time, it was slowly weaved throughout the book. Not only were there things that Ruby knew, but she also learnt so much. And it was great to learn that along with her.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fireblood by Elly Blake. I was engaged and turning page after page. I didn’t know what was going to happen next most of the time – which was fantastic. Fireblood explores falling in love, fighting for who you are and believing in yourself. It explores coming-of-age, finding your place and believing in what you. Fireblood takes you a journey and I really don’t want it to stop.