Rogue (The Talon Saga)

Rogue picks up right were Talon leaves off and immediately dives into the action. One thing I love about a series is that book 2 can be so much more actiony and edge of your seat as the world and characters have already been established. And I love how the characters often grow and change as the series progresses. This is certainly the case with Rogue as there is just so much that happens in this book and it will almost leave you breathless from all the action. There are no super big reveals and I found the story a little predictable but I am such a fan of Kagawa's writing style that I don't mind if I figure out where things are going before the big reveals. While there is a lot that happens in Rogue there is also a lot still to come as this is going to be a five book series so don't expect the big story threads to be closed anytime soon. But if you've read Kagawa before you know that she excels at the slow burn story and that the ending will be well worth the wait from any emotional trauma that she puts you through along the way. I am enjoying this new series of hers (hello dragons!!) and I am definitely looking forward to the next book.

★★★½
Rogue is the second installment in Julie Kagawa's young adult, fantasy trilogy titled: Talon. I had a bit of difficulty getting into this middle book, and for a while I was fearful this would be your classic "filler book", but I am happy to say it got better! Lots of action, plot twists, young-adult romance (and yes, unfortunately more of the dreaded love triangle). I'm pretty confident fans of this trilogy will be happy. If you like fantasy/paranormal-themed stories about dragon shifters and have historically enjoyed trilogies such as Marie Lu's Legend then the Talon trilogy is for you!

My favorite quote:
“You burn so hot, and so bright, you set everything around you on fire. Just be careful that the people around you don’t get singed,” he said in a low voice. “Or that you don’t burn too hot, too quickly. The brightest flames are usually the ones that are extinguished first.”

This book from start to finish was full of adventure and edgy drama. I liked how fast-paced this second book in the series was compared to the first. The first book feels more like an intro into the story now.
Ember is a more likable character now too. She was way too naive in the first book, and in this book, the naivety seems gone. She is smart, strong and fearless. I like that in a lead character, male or female. I just wish she'd forget about Garrett and get with Cobalt already. The chemistry between them is heavy and unmistakable.
From the sounds of the goings on in this book, the next book, Solider, sounds equally exciting. Hunting down a traitor spells suspense, action and adventure to me so I can't wait. I just hope it doesn't disappoint!

4.5/5

Plenty of action this time around, however I still find the storyline move a little too slow for my liking. But there is enough going on through the different points of view to keep you interested.
The love triangle intensifies in this one and the emotion is strong. It's one of the better love triangles I've read with it not being the central focus but during on the sidelines waiting to be addressed.
As it's part of a series the story continues but it feels finished for now.
4 stars

* Review originally posted in my blog, Blackplume https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/rogue/

Rogue is a thrilling, action-packed and un-putable-down read that waste no time in shoving readers to the danger as Ember and Riley make their move rescuing Garret from one of the St. George chapter house where he is being held as a prisoner waiting for execution. From then on every steps is for survival as villains are coming from different sides.

Told in different point of views, we get to read not just Ember voice/thoughts but also Garret, Riley/Cobalt, and Dante which all provides more dynamics to the story as it opens more story-lines from these characters’ lives and backgrounds. These characters’ voices are all uniques which makes the narration easy to read. It never feel cluttered or confusing as it is easy for me to distinguish who’s talking even not checking the the narrator’s name on each chapters.

Julie Kagawa developed each of her characters very well. In this installment, she weaved each of her characters with intriguing background, purpose, and depth. Ember a dragonnell who can shift to human is still determined just like she is in the first book, Talon. But gone is the girl who is also stubbornly curious and hard-headed. Ember on the run is more cooperative, a team player who listen to orders but still questioning authority. She is a fierce fighter who take into action for what she believes is right, and care for others.

As a hatchling, Ember’s balancing her dragon and human side is more evident in this installment, though mostly concentrated in love affairs. Her dragon selves is drawn into Riley while her human selves is into Garret. She still clueless to both worlds but not as much as she is in the first book.

Garret triggered most of the feels for me. His struggles and confusions are very believable. After allowing Ember to escape in the first installment he is now a traitor to the Order of St. George. He is on the run together with Ember, Riley, and Wes fighting for survival as they are hunted both by the Orders and Talon. As part of the Orders he is taught to hate dragons, trained to kill them without question but after knowing Ember he gradually realized that not all dragons are bad. They have emotions and feelings too not just mindless creatures who wants to dominate the human world. With those realizations, his beliefs shattered and his life changed which makes everything more questionable and confusing for him.

As for Riley, well honestly I didn’t like him much in Talon but in here he just stole the show from Ember, which is expected given the title of the book. Not only he has own chapters where his back story and previous life as Cobalt is told but he also took charge of the plot. He isn’t perfect but he is loyal, brave and devoted to cause, even sometime’s Ember is stealing him away from it. I like him in this installment, which is a big step from what I’ve read of him from the first book, Talon. Though liking him doesn’t mean I want him for Ember. He maybe the best and logical choice since they are both dragons but I still think they are not for each other.

I prefer Garret for Ember. That’s why I feel a little sad in the ending. But knowing that there are more books coming I still have hopes for him. This is just the second installment and I think Julie Kagawa is storing a lot more for the other books of this series. There are still lots of unanswered questions, so many plot lines need to delve into, more secrets to reveal, and characters to develop and justify. There so much promise in this installment which I believe if handle very well will make this dragon story soar high.

Overall, Rogue is a perfect follow up to Talon. Julie Kagawa push the story to soar by adding more intrigues in the story. The stakes are higher, tasks are more complicated, and villains are coming from different sides. Ember, Garret and Riley’s adventure and the political intrigue around them are worth all the hours of lost sleep. And even after reading I can’t help but stay awake because of so many questions left unanswered. I’m really excited to see where this series is heading. Looking forward for the next installment though my patience will be tested since I just found out that it will be released two years from now.

This was a pretty good sequel a little predictable, but still good nonetheless. The story picks up where Talon ended with Ember and Riley on their way to save Garrett from St. George. The adventure that comes from their mission kept me intrigued and it was interesting to see Ember come to terms with her situation.

What lacked for me in this one was the excitement that grabbed me the first time. I felt like things moved a little slower and that this book fell into that second book in a series category. That category for me always has sequels that are more filler than meat and this one kinda is. We get a few things explained and we the story moves a little but not enough in my opinion.

The author did do a good job at setting up the scene for the third book and I have a feeling that one will be explosive and amazing. So all in all this was just okay, but still worth reading if you liked the previous book.

This was a great second book in the Talon series, and it begins shortly after where the first book let off, with Ember and Riley on a personal and dangerous mission… breaking into a St. George compound! There was action from beginning to end as all the characters face difficult challenges, without getting themselves captured or killed!

I keep forgetting that Ember is only 16, and therefore wants to rush into every situation to save those she cares for. Luckily, she has Riley and he is able to reason with her and together they make plans. I like how their dragons react to one another, and their connection is strengthened because of it. I can see that they both care for each other… but we cannot forget Garrett – the guy that got under Ember’s skin in Talon. Ember is still drawn to him, regardless of his history and wants to explore those feelings. Right now, I am not too worried about a love-triangle, they are all difficult relationships because the dragons are involved.

In Rogue, I was able to get a little more insight into a few areas that I wanted to know more about. Cobalt’s (Riley) POV was a great insight into Talon and what happened in the past. Seeing what Ethan is doing showed me what Talon was willing to do to bring Ember back; the people in Talon are a very manipulative bunch and are willing to sacrifice anyone to get what they want. Garrett was able to give me a bit more detail into how St. George worked and what their beliefs are.

I enjoyed the multiple POV’s in this book and how each character is coping since the explosion of events in the first book. Julie Kagawa has continued to build this world up and there is still so much to learn about it and the secrets each side is hiding. There are traitors everywhere and it is hard to figure out who to trust. The storyline is continuing to build and I am interested to see what happens now.

Complimentary copy provided by Harlequin Australia, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Teen for the arc of Rogue by Julie Kagawa! The story opens with Garret on trial. Several alternating points of view bring interest to the story. Points of view include the rogue Riley, twelve years in the past and the present time, Ember, Garret and Dante. Traitors and friends abound where you least expect them! I absolutely love this story as much as I enjoyed Talon! I cannot wait until Soldier, the third book in the Talon Saga!

Excellent sequel, maybe a little slower paced but still a really good story. I don't want to give away to much of the story but one of the things that I like most about this book is the chance to learn more about each individual character and to me the author does a really good job of fleshing them out. I'm really looking forward to book 3 as I have a feeling that it will be even better than the first two.

Julie Kagawa has a way of breathing new life into old mythology and 'popular' fantasy. I got hooked on her Iron Fey series and wanted to see if she can work her magic on dragons. While 'Talon' was refreshing, 'Rogue' is a tired tale of hide and seek with obligatory romance (another love triangle) and fight scenes.

Disclaimer: I am not a teen. Those years are a long time ago. Perhaps as a young adult (12 to 17), I would have enjoyed more and not have been too bothered by the formulaic plot. Lastly, the way this series was set up seemed designed to be sold to Hollywood as the next movie franchise. Though this would be true of all three of Kagawa's book series.

The second in Julie Kagawa's series, this one packs in a bit more action and less cheesy romance than the first one. I like that the love triangle, while still present, takes a backseat to the actual story (I'm *not* a fan of love triangles, feeling particularly burned out after so many in YAs these past couple of years).

This "plot" of this tired, immature and overlong sequel could be summed up in about four pages. The rest of the book is belabored, juvenile inner thought that is not at all necessary. So, to save you the pain of having to slug through and find the actual plot: Ember muses about her feelings for Garrett and Cobalt. Garrett muses about his feelings for Ember. Cobalt--a one note wonder--fumes about his feelings for Ember and distrust of Garrett. Yawn. Dante allies himself with the evil Talon and muses about world dominion. Ember and her shallow-thoughted male mates spend much of the book running from the bad guys (musing all the while) and encounter two very-obvious-to-the-reader spies for Talan, are duped (silly characters--they are clearly not as smart as the readers) by the spies, Our heroes escape of course, causing Evil Talon to vow revenge and our heroes to keep running. Garrett vows to return to St. George to uncover more secrets. I am sure he will pine over Ember for at least 150 pages in Book 3. Because the author--who must be what, ten years old given her mentality?--seems to think that pining for boys is all readers want to read about. Grow up, Ms Kagawa. Give your readers more credit than that. These "dragans" are supposed to be a thousand years old. WHy. then, would they still have the thought processes of ten year old girls?

This promised so much and provided so little. This is the 2nd in the series and it shows. The basic plot moves, but not a whole lot. It's pretty much filler material, preparing the reader for the concluding installment. If you read Talon, then you'll want to read Rogue, but don'e expect too much from it.

I loved it. The character development was exemplary, and had me in love with them by the second chapter. The romance was easy to b swallow, but also hot and exciting. They way each of them had struggles, both internal and external, which they have to over come is pure soul food. I recommend it to anyone who loves good stories, great characters, and new ways to have fun with dragons.