The Last of the Firedrakes (The Avalonia Chronicles Book 1)

This story was such a pleasant surprise. It captured my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting more of Aurora's story at the end.

Farah Oomerbhoy wove a brilliant story between our world and that of magical beings. She has such a way with words that the reader is able to submerse themselves completely into the world of Avalonia. Oomerbhoy builds and teaches the reader, as well as Aurora, the way of Avalonia and those that live within. The descriptions in which Oomerbhoy uses to develop the world is part of what makes this book so magical. The reader can truly envision the different kingdoms and dwellings of Avalonia. From the tree houses of the Fae, to the dark and dangerous dungeons of Balek's castle, everything is beautifully descriptive.

The story follows the trials and triumphs of Aurora. The reader immediately falls in love with the main character, hurting with her as she is psychologically abused by the relatives that took her in after the death of her adoptive parents. Aurora feels alone and suffers, only to be abandoned by yet another set of "parents" into a dangerous and unknown world. She triumphs over these bitter circumstances and grows to accept the life she was meant to have. She beings to embrace the new world wholeheartedly and slowly builds friendships with those around her.

Not only is Oomerbhoy a master at world building, she develops characters fully. The reader feels as though they are truly getting to know the characters within this story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, magical worlds, and roguish men. It was exactly what I was looking for!

YA is not my cup of tea. I don’t know why Facebook keeps suggesting them. That being said I loathe Aurora. She that girl that you just want to smack and yell to stop being so stupid. She creates strife in her own life for idiotic reason like not telling people information because of hurt feelings, or being pig headed and prideful and doing something she knows, and we as the reader knows, is wrong. Just stop. Grow up and make grownup decisions. This is why I don’t like YA. I can’t stand a character who has no common sense. And she’s to be queen but stomps her foot like a spoiled girl.

Now getting over my hate for the heroine the storyline was fine yet I could scan pages of the story. I figured out Rafe long before his cover was revealed. I don’t want to say any more negative things but I really didn’t like the story simply because of Aurora. A different, stronger, more mature girl and I’d have like it. Really telling Rafe at the end who really helped capture her might have had me bumping this to four stars but that was my breaking point. From then on I kept thinking how much I hated the girl. I don’t think I can continue the series. I liked Rafe, Kelan, even the evil kids at school. I just can’t see how she grew up the way she did to act the way she does. Okay. I’m done otherwise I’ll just keep going on about Aurora.

**I would like to thank Netgalley, Wise Ink Creative Publishing and the author Farah Oomerbhoy for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.**

I didn't know what to expect from this book. It has been a while since I'm read a book about Fae or anything like it. The Last of the Firedrakes was really a great surprise. :-) I think it's one of those books you should take your time with, enjoy, don't rush, cus you'll miss all those details. This book was very descriptive, so you should slow down and visualize what you're reading, don't rush through it like many do. I want to get to know the characters and these places, make them real. It's how I get attached to them. :-)

The Last of the Firedrakes is about Aurora, an orphaned girl, who was adopted and is shy and bullied at home and at school. She's any sixteen year old girl but she feels invisible and alone. But something happened, something that could only happen in dreams or nightmares. She's kidnapped and dragged to a magical world. She meets interesting creatures and beings, like Fae and mages and hey there's a Pegasus :-) Her new friends want to help Aurora figure out who she really is. She learns of her real family, that she has magical powers and is someone everyone thought was dead. That she has enemies and of an evil Queen that wants her dead. Aurora is more than she could've ever imagined. She finds family, friends, love, powers magic, enemies, a title, hope, strength, confidence, and a kingdom to fight for.

I thought Aurora was a real girl with feelings, and who makes mistakes, she was lost but she's finding herself. There were times that i was over here like "girl, what are you doing, don't do that!!" But i still rooted for her, I wanted her to kick ass because I knew she could. Aurora was sad and lonely at first, I felt bad but she didn't sit around waiting for things to happen, like I would, she goes and finds answers. She grows stronger and confident.

Rafe also known as The Black Wolf was kind of a mystery at first, he has secrets. He was kind of like Robin Hood for the Fae. I didn't know what he was up to at times cus of his cryptic mysterious smiles,,,, suspicious,,, and if he was interested in Auro or not. Auro in the other hand can't wait to run into him again, and hey who would disagree, I wanted more of him :-) and was looking forward into their next encounter, which happened frequently because Auro always got herself into trouble. I hope for more of him and character development in the next book, i really enjoyed this light romance, it wasn't the main focus, it was just there lingering in the background while Auro figured things out.

A couple of other characters : Vivienne became Auroras best friend, I thought she was a good friend very understanding of what Auro was going through. Erien was a good cousin, kept her company and informed her of her family's history. Kalen, now he was entertaining :-) I thought it was funny when Auro and Kalen were trying to eavesdrop on Rafes and Leticias conversation :-) :-) but hey Kalen could've easily told Auro about Rafes secret, since he likes to talk a lot. The Blackwaters, I did not like. They were rich snobs that got away with many things. The evil Queen is the definition of evil. Even though she's evil, I do want to see what happens with her.

Another thing I liked was the map :-) :-) :-) I think maps are little gifts from the author :-) It helps me visualize this magical world. Where Aurora is going and where she's been. It helps a lot cus I sometimes forget the names of these places.

I really enjoyed reading The Last of the Firedrakes. I'm glad I read it :-) I recommend it to those who love, magic, elemental abilities, fantasy, and hope. It was a great read and I can't wait for the sequel. :-) I want to see what happens with Aurora, what she does, and who she becomes. And I'll also like to see what happens with Aurora + Rafe :-)

Aurora thinks she's just another normal orphan living with her hateful family and bullied at school until one day she's knidnapped and taken through a magical portal into a fairy tail word and finding out it's even worse than her old life.
She soon discovers she's in Avalonia, a magical land where those who possess magic reign and whose queen is a vile human being that will take down everything that stands between her and her goals and thirst for power.
Aurora soon finds that the key to her past lies deep in Avalonia and she will need the help of the friends she made along the way to find out who she is and to take her place in the world again.
While reading this book you'll notice two things: one is that Avalonia is like if you grabbed all your fairy tale "land" ideas and had smashed them all into only one and the other thing is that you'll never want to put this book down!
The storyline and the characthers in this book are so well developed that you'll really feel transported to Avalonia and you'll fell that you're Aurora and that you're doing the things she's doing and that, my friends, is one of the greatest things an author can do, in my humble opinion.
Everything in this story is well thought and beautifully acomplished! There are details that you'll find in one part of the story that will only be used a little ahead and you're only given a little bit of information at a time so when the main characther wonders what is it that the others are hiding you feel exactly what she feels!
I loved the way that the author used references from Arthurian Legends, fairy legends and even, I think, of real life and putted it all in one concise story, that way you feel a little familiar with the story but even then the story is completely different from what you'll expect.
If you love everything that has to do with Disney or love history, adventure, magic, love honor and friendship you should really read this book since it will satisfy your thirst for good stories.
I'm really anticipating the next book!

http://thebewitchedreader.blogspot.pt/2015/07/the-last-of-firedrakes-avalonia.html

I have been in a groove lately and it seems like I am either reading YA, pararnormal/fantasy or some combination of the two. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, especially after reading this book.

Right away you feel bad for Aurora - adopted as a toddler her parents are both killed in a car accident. She is taken in by her aunt and uncle and their spiteful daughter, not ideal that is for sure. It is more than obvious that her aunt and cousin don't want her around so when her uncle shows up at school to tell her they are going on holiday for a few days, she is somewhat surprised. Last time they took a vacation they left her behind.

Here is where the book really begins. Her uncle has made a deal with Lord Oblek, someone who works for Morgana - a ruling Queen from another land. When they arrive at Lord Oblek's Aurora witnesses something that is hard to believe - a large tapestry in the library is revealed to be a portal, and her own uncle is going to be selling her off to Lord Oblek for a hefty sum. He REALLY wants to bring Aurora to Queen Morgana - they have been looking for her for some time.

***SPOILER***
Aurora is Queen Morgana's niece, and you are led to believe that she has killed both of Aurora's parents in order to attain the throne. Both of Aurora's birth parents were very powerful in their magical abilities - one was a fae and one was a mage. So when Aurora escapes the dungeon with the help of Rafe, she finds out she is incredibly rare - so rare and powerful in her magic that the amulet she wears on her neck (and has had since birth) is the only thing that has protected her from Morgana's grasp all of these years.

Fae, mage, Pegasus, kings, queens, princes and princesses...this book has it all and then some. I did struggle slightly with some of the choices Aurora made - telling her friend/roommate who she was, letting lose her powers at school, leaving school with the Blackwaters, especially when she had been warned. But, then I remembered she is only 16 years old and it all made much more sense. Just trying to fit in and have a little fun at times, and protecting herself at others.

I just loved this book and can't wait to read the next in the series. I am really rooting for Rafe and Aurora, hope that Damian and Letitia get what's coming to them, want Morgan and Lilith to stay apart (although I have a funny feeling that won't happen)...boy, there are all sorts of things that just made me want to read this and keep on going.

Highly recommended!
4 1/2 stars

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy is a rollicking adventure with something for everyone.

The Last of the Firedrakes follows the tale of Aurora Darlington. Aurora is an orphan whose adoptive parents are dead. She has been in the care of their relatives – her not so loving aunt and uncle. Aurora is a pariah at school and at home. A sudden family visit to the country estate of Lord Oblek, sees Aurora betrayed by her aunt and uncle. Here is where the story really begins – Aurora is transported to the land of Avalonia. Once in Avalonia, Aurora’s life is under threat by an evil queen – Morgana. Aurora slowly discovers her heritage and her powers in a series of adventures involving fairies, magic, a pegasus, sword fights, a dashing hero/love interest.

None of what I’ve described sounds unusual in this type of novel – and it’s not. Oomerbhoy has taken a tried and true formula and executed it well. Initially I wished some of her character names had been different – they are unoriginal and a bit twee. However, I then wondered if her usage of the names Aurora and Morgana (and Avalonia – one can’t help thinking of Avalon) was a tribute to stories of the past.

Oomerbhoy's story allows for a great deal of emotional growth in regard Aurora's character -which in light of the target audience is a particularly good thing. Initially I found Aurora to be a naïve protagonist and a passive individual with victim almost stamped on her forehead. At this point she was in dire need of saving – something which made me particularly irritated with her from time to time. Throughout the novel she, fortunately, gains confidence in her own abilities, starts to take an active role in shaping her own destiny and becomes a more interesting heroine.

What strikes me about this book is that while it has many elements that suit a YA audience, I think it could easily suit Tween readers as well (9-12yo). There is nothing overly difficult in the language of the text and there is certainly nothing inappropriate for that age group.

While there were no surprises in the narrative, I wound up enjoying The Last of The Firedrakes. Oomerbhoy writes well - the story is carefully constructed and the pacing excellent. It is a fabulous escape into a well-constructed fantasy world and leaves you wanting to read the next book. There is nothing to complain about with this story and it hits all the marks for its intended audience.

I’ll will be buying the next in the series.

Four stars

One moment you're a plain ordinary girl, struggling to find your place with your deceased adoptive parents family, you're being bullied at home and at school, and no matter what you just can't seem to fit it. The next you have been whisked off against your will through a magical tapestry into a whole new world. A world of magic, Fae, Pegasus, and more. You're being hunted by an evil queen and saved by a handsome outlaw. You discover that your birth parents were killed and that you are so much more than you ever knew and the fate of many rests within your hands.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book. Farah Oomerbhoy creates a beautiful landscape (even the parts that aren't so beautiful) in rich detail allowing the reader to almost feel and taste the world around them. One of my favorite world building passages comes near the beginning of the story when Aurora is brought by Kalen (who I just loved) into his home town of Pixie Bush...

"The rays of the midday sun shone on the forest floor, creating dappled specks of gold that danced about our feet as we walked. I was completely entranced. It was as if I had entered yet another world. This was not the bleak crowded stone castle of Lord Oblek. This was a fairy village, a magical place in the forest. IT was more fantastic than I could ever have imagined it might be. Tiny wooden cottages with thatched roofs covered in vines, and half hidden by foliage, nestled at regular intervals in the very heart of the woods, and small flower-lined paths connected the cottages. It looked like a picture out of a storybook." - Aurora

Farah continually had me as entranced as Aurora as she laid this new world out for me.

Aurora is an interesting character, naive yet incredibly brave. She frequently laments the situations she finds herself in but I love how she doesn't let them drag her down. She finds ways to overcome her challenges, they may not always work out the way she plans or desires, but she doesn't give up or become this weak character that has to be taken care of.

"I had to stop running. I had to turn and face my life head on." - Aurora

It's lovely to watch Aurora begin to come into her own in this story. Yes, she is constantly on the run, but what 16 year old thrown into a world they could only imagine, learning to control a powerful gift, accepting who and what she is, falling a little (maybe a lot) in love, and just trying to stay alive while being hunted by an evil queen wouldn't stay on the run. Yes, she does some things that make you want to roll your eyes and shake her silly, but remember she is a 16 year old girl, thrown into a whole new world (you're singing the song now aren't you? Sorry.), and learning exactly who she is. She is also a girl who has never had any control (power) over her life, but suddenly she has all this ability and no idea how to handle it. I look forward to watching her grow because really she has no where to go but up. We have to remember as well that this is just the first book in the series, we can't have Aurora stand her ground too soon and loose the story. Luckily for us there are so many little plot lines going on beside the major storyline that I think we could stay in this world with Aurora for a long time to come.

I loved Rafe, of course I did. I mean come on. He's a rake, he's an outlaw, he's handsome, he's a rescuer of those in need, he's mysterious, and full of secrets. Like many characters in books you will at times want to give him a good shake, but I have faith that things will work out with him...They have too, he is simply too good of a character for them not to. I am also really hoping that in book two we will get more development of his character, there is just so much there in terms of Rafe and I want to know it all. I think you will likely figure out some of his big secrets before they are revealed but that is often the case with books so I wasn't too bothered with it.

I am really hopeful we will get more of all the characters in this story. Some seemed to slide into the background and the book went on and I can say that I missed them, but we have more books to come so who knows what will happen. Sufficed to say I am really looking forward to the second book in this series!

I think that this book is a fantastic read for any YA fan, particularly those who enjoyed Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia...as I read along I would reflect back to these stories so I know it will be a hit for fans of those series. It is a fairly quick and easy read (things can get a bit confusing when it comes to all the different kingdoms, but thankfully there is a map, yeah maps!) that you will find your self totally immersed in, not coming back into your own world until you are finished and anxious for book two.

Check out this & other reviews at my blog, CallMeSensei.

Note: I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Farah Oomerbhoy’s debut novel, The Last of the Firedrakes, is an impressively woven together fantasy tale reminiscent of Arthurian legend, Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a bit of fairy tale all in one.

Aurora Darlington was adopted at a young age by two of the best parents she could ask for. Her life was all that she needed it to be until one day her adopted parents are gone (though, I don’t remember through what means, if that was ever explained). She is taken in by her adoptive aunt, uncle, and cousin. They are not the nicest of people and don’t seem to really want anything to do with Aurora.

Which explains why her uncle attempts to sell her to a noble from a different world altogether, Avalonia. Avalonia is a confusing place for Aurora, nothing like her home. There are strange creatures, magic, and a precarious political arena she has suddenly found herself in the middle of.

She is the last of the Firedrake dynasty, making her the rightful heir to the Illiador kingdom which has been overthrown by her aunt, Morgana. Her aunt has employed dark magic to kill her parents and keep the kingdom under her control (*cough cough* Arthurian much?). It is because of her aunt that Aurora is drawn into this world.

Aurora is a strong-willed, stubborn, and sometimes foolish young woman struggling to come to terms with her destiny. She meets family she never knew she had, including her uncle who is a powerful mage and Duke. She sometimes rebels against his authority, not really thinking through the consequences of her actions (which did get a little tedious for me but served to move the action right along).

Among her friends, she counts a mysterious outlaw referred to as the Black Wolf, a couple of powerful fae, and a Pegasus. The mysterious Black Wolf is a potential love interest whose real identity is a bit of an interesting plot twist (really, wanting to know more about him kept me pretty hooked).

She finds out that she is nobility, she is sent to a school for those with magical powers (hence the Harry Potter reference), spends some time residing in a palace, and is kidnapped by dark forces.

Every bit of this is a recipe for a fantastic fledgling fantasy series. It is not at all points entirely original, but it is compelling and will keep a reader hooked. I’m hoping to see great things from the next installment of this trilogy.

4 stars.

Aurora was and orphaned child in a home that was not the most loving or kind and a school that did not feel safe. All this falls to the wayside when she gets kidnapped in to a world that holds an even bigger danger than being unloved, unwanted, and unprotected. Now, she’s in a world that needs her. She becomes the one to give the love, provide the need, serve protection. She acquired a few friends and a few more enemies along her journey through Avalonia.

There was fantasy, realism, friendship, heartache, pain, sorry, adventure, action, drama, magic, self-discovery. I read this book as a family read and we loved it. We found adventure to new high with some old legends: Morgana and Avalon. There was a different perspective put on a tale told in different ways over the years. The adventure sucks you in and gives you hope and takes it away then gives it back again. The story was rich and intriguing. It gave the perspective of unwanted children in both home and school and the things they go through. This allowed for open dialogue between myself and the children.

There was rich world development, strong leading character, impressive secondary character (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandmother, friends, and more), engaging banter, alluring strings to various paths. Aurora story was not just straight to the point. It was long drawn out and full of secrets and lies. This tale kept us engaged and ready for the next time we picked-up to continue on with the tale.

We are all looking for the next adventure that Aurora and friends go on.

This is a great fantasy/magic book and the author did a fantastic job building the world of Avalonia for her readers. The first thing that drew me into this book was the amazing cover. It was part of the reason I requested the book from Netgalley, in addition to the description drawing me in. I ended up giving it 4 out of 5 stars. I’d highly recommend you pick up a copy and immerse yourself in this world filled with fae and mage.

The characters were interesting, and the world of Avalonia was exciting to learn about. The different kingdoms were a bit hard to keep track of at first, but by the end of the book, it was easier to remember who lived where. Aurora was a pretty good main character, but I found myself annoyed with her at times. She was a bit too stubborn and reckless for me at times. But I’m willing to be a little lenient on her after everything she endures throughout the novel. I know I couldn’t deal with half the stuff she put up with. Some of my favorite characters were Kalen, Rafe, the Duke of Silverthorne, and Penelope.

I love reading about magic, so this book was a great pick for me. I think the author did a fantastic job with imagery and descriptions throughout her novel. None of the characters felt flat to me. Even with it being almost 500 pages, it was a pretty quick read since there was so much going on.

So Rafe–I loved his character, and then I kind of didn’t once I got to the last approximately 15% of the book; once you read the book, I think you’ll see why I say that. He’s incredibly charming and handsome, he’s a great mage, he’s good with weapons, and the list could go on. But his book boyfriend status was kind of ruined for me after a certain point and I’m sad about that. I’m always hoping to find a new book boyfriend from the books I read to add to my list. But maybe he’ll redeem himself in book two (I sure hope so).

One of my favorite lines was: “…in that moment a flame in my heart ignited and my soul woke up, recognizing its other half for the first time.”

I saw quite a bit of similarities to previous novels I’ve read. Like being mistreated and bullied and pulled into a magical world like Harry Potter. The selfish queen is kind of like Voldemort, especially once you read the book and find out how she became queen. It’s quite a bit like The Orphan Queen too in several ways. I can’t really talk about them though without spoiling both books. But there was a whole section there that was kind of like déjà vu for me. There had to be at least 4-5 things that were so similar it was kind of eerie. But having said that, I loved all the Harry Potter books and The Orphan Queen, so it wasn’t a hardship to have similar elements in this book.

Final note: It was a great book overall. If you’re looking for a fantasy/magic novel, I highly suggest it. I can’t wait for the next book to come out.

The Last of the Firedrakes has a well imagined setting with a good world building and a stubborn and strong heroine.

{ what i like }

the world - Avalonia.
Oomerbhoy created a world made me want to get into. She threw in several magical/mythical creatures into a setting so magical, it's so easy to get sucked in. Despite the number of things she incorporated here, nothing seemed oddly out of place. There're fae, mages, pegasus, and a few more.
There was also enough world building for me to get into Avalonia. Throughout Aurora's journey, the world is slowly being introduced. I like how it didn't overwhelmed me - how Oomerbhoy allowed me to take in every details of the story one at a time (this is a great plus for me since I'm not the biggest high fantasy fan).

Aurora - a stubborn && strong heroine.
Aurora had enough of high school drama so suddenly being sent to a world she's completely unaware of is (sort of) a good escape for her. Her life sucked - she was bullied and her guardians do not like her. When she stepped into Avalonia, while things weren't really good then, she was glad to find people on her side.
Her overwhelmingly strong magic and being the heir to the throne of Illiador made her Avalonia's hope of taking Morgana, a selfish and power hungry ruler, out of her throne. She also has this strong sense of pride. It brought her to trouble but she's young and being the rightful Queen of Illiador, she wants to show how stronger she is than what many plainly think (particularly when she had to hide her real identity from everyone).

the romance!
I like it but I don't really love it. I guess you can say I'm okay with it. I'd LOVE to see them together though - how it could even happen is beyond me now because of the things revealed in the end. Okay, let's briefly talk about Aurora and Rafe - the Black Wolf.
Rafe saved Aurora from the dungeon she was locked in when she was kidnapped from her Earth. This act, I believe became one of her reasons to like him. He saved her and she never was saved by anyone. Ever. Rafe is a nice and strong guy. He's the Black Wolf for a reason - he saves faes from being taken unjustly. He's an outlaw saving those who experience injustice (at least that's what I think). Yet he remains to be a mystery to Aurora. We all know this kinds of mysterious guy.. The moment Aurora found out the mystery behind his cause, his identity, I find myself smiling from ear to ear hoping the two of them to happen. But it looks like things won't really be easy for them.

the twist!
Oh, don't we all love twists? We all look forward to them. I didn't expect The Last of the Firedrakes to have a twist, honestly. So I didn't see this coming. The twist basically changed the game for Aurora. Now I'd love to see what happens next.

{ what i didn't like }

such convenience.
Some things felt a bit convenient. Like doors being left open, and saviors coming at the most convenient time. I don't know. I know I should be happy but at times, I feel that they weren't very reasonable. I'd shout: why in the world?. But you know, it might just be me. You guys might feel differently.

OVERALL, The Last of the Firedrakes is a good high fantasy read. It never felt overwhelming despite the number of things Oomerbhoy incorporated in it. It involves a likable heroine and a ship-worthy romance. It has its twists that somehow caught me off guard. While some things felt a bit convenient for me, they were not enough for me to dislike this. I still greatly enjoyed this and would love to read the next book!

Before I read this, I had heard so many great things about this book and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. When I finally started reading it, I really wanted to love this story but I just couldn’t get into it. I kept thinking if I just pushed myself just a little bit further then I would start liking it again. But no, that did not happen. It’s not that it was bad book, it was a Great book! It just wasn’t for me.

Part of the reason I couldn’t get into it was the way the story was written and, in part, the characters themselves. Don’t get me wrong, Farah Oomerbhoy did a fantastic job with worldbuilding and character creation. The world was slowly developed and explained to us through the people around the protagonist so we were given a chance to learn and understand at the same pace as Aurora. A lot of times authors tend to use “info dumps” where they just throw all this information at the reader at once and the reader is left more confused than when they started. Oomerbhoy didn’t do that and it made it more exciting to learn more about the world of Avalonia. In addition, each character was there for a reason and not just thrown in for plot’s sake, give or take a few minor characters. In that way, the author did an excellent job developing the story.

No, what threw me off was the fact this story is labeled a Young Adult novel when it read more like a Middle Grade novel. I know this seems like a weird reason to not like a story but it was for me. When I go into a YA story, I expect certain things from the world, characters, plot, etc. that differ from a MG story. I love MG stories! I have nothing against them, and maybe if this story was more of a MG I would have liked it more. But I could not get over Aurora as a YA protagonist. I understand that she was dragged from her world and thrust into this new one with no family, no friends, and people are trying to kill her. That would be terrifying for anybody, but you would still expect the main character to buckle down and learn to deal with it. Which I guess Aurora does in a way, but not in what I’ve come to expect from YA protagonists. She was a well-developed character, but I just couldn’t connect with her and if I can’t connect with a main character, then I don’t want to read the book. This is why I’m giving this the score I did. It’s not that the book itself is awful, it’s just that it wasn’t for me.

Overall, the book was well-written and the characters and the world were well-developed and I would still recommend it if you love fantasy.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review. No exchanges of bribes or material goods occurred for my review.

Aurora Firedrake, the last of the Firedrakes, grew up in ‘our world,’ entirely unaware of the magical realm of Avalonia and her past. When she is brought to a faraway land, she must quickly adapt to a new lifestyle, political upheaval, and a cute boy who doesn’t ever seem to stick around long enough.

In her debut novel, Oomerbhoy skillfully puts together a captivating tale with mages, fairies, shape-shifters, and more. We follow the coming-of-age adventure of Aurora as she navigates uncharted territory; both in new lands and boys. Along the way, she forms friendships, attends magic school for mages, makes several bad decisions, has a few awkward conversations with boys, and struggles to do what she thinks is right. Everything you can expect from a teenage girl who has recently discovered a new world.

The book is narrated entirely by Aurora; readers gain insight to her thoughts, feelings, interpretations, and memories. We can experience fancy ball gowns, extravagant meals, and lavish castles through exquisitely detailed descriptions. Readers also enjoy knowing her thoughts on the handsome and mysterious boy that intrigues Aurora.

‘The Last of the Firedrakes’ held my interest and kept me flipping pages to find out what happens next. I found some similarities to the Harry Potter series and some ideas related to King Arthur legends, but those familiar aspects only made me want to read more. Recommended for any YA or fantasy reader.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Read more amazing reviews: http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com/

I facepalm and let out a long-suffering groan. -Its too late- I tell myself. -You'll never get back the time that you wasted trying finish this one-dimensional flop and trying to feel bad for the protagonist-
I close my eyes in despair. -And you will always regret this waste of your one free book a month as well-
Standing up from my depressed heap on the ground, I shake my head to dispel the morbid, pessimistic thoughts.
-No! I can't be like that! The girl was and orphan…twice! And was mistreated, and had no friends, was suffering in school----
-Because she was stupid- Pessimistic Me interrupts.
-That's mean and unwarranted- I say protectively.
Pessimist raises a mental eyebrow. -How do you not remember Aurora's asinine responses and questions? YOU are behind in school, and YOU could figure out all of the things that were too much for that brat--
-No name calling!- Polite Me scolds fiercely
Pess. only scoffs. -The girl's ridiculous temper tantrums were almost enough to revolt our hot-tempered six-year old brother. She knows there are powerful, evil people seeking to girl her, but cries and complains loudly about a simple change of hair color and style, as well as eye color, getting upset because (here Pessimistic Me switches to an annoying high-pitched voice) "Oh no! My beautiful raven-black tresses and my stunning green eyes! Now Rafe will NEVER like me! You simply CAN'T do this to me"- P. Me gags, and even Polite Me shudders at the recollection.

------------

Here I will break off and explain.

Aurora = Absolute Brat (which is the strongest noun I intend to use)

But even worse than that was the flatness of the book. Its just about paper-thin. It took me a couple of chapters to figure out WHY this story was bugging me, until they gave the MC a telepathic Pegasus and the reason practically blew up in my face: NOTHING IS SHOWN

I often panic a little when I read writer's tips and they ALWAYS remind you to show and not tell, but I wasn't if I qualified. And then I read this d all my fears about not showing enough are gone. Despite riding and being saved by, and embracing, and supposedly emotional goodbyes with the mind reading steed, her presence is only noticed when she speaks, since there are no horsy head tosses, trotting hooves, flapping wings, nose flares, ear twitches, and just an overall lack of natural activity. And this happens EVERYTIME Aurora rides, and I kept forgetting that she was on a horse, unless she was talking with Snow (the pegasus) or complaining about being sore. Most of the characters have this problem as well, its just more noticable with the animals.

The world-building was forced, the magic was cheap, the romance was that of a four-year old, and the deus machinas were plentiful.

Stories and characters are supposed to leap from the pages, but this one doesn't even try, only waves from the inside pages of this VERY flat book at the three-dimensional world outside.

The three stars are for the cover art, every other character's bottomless patience for the brat, being brave enoughto kill (SPOILER ALERT) off her Uncle, and for her fae friend, who made the story a BIT more readable.

I received my copy of this eBook free in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! All I can say is WOW! This was a beautiful tale - it started slowly, but by the time it reached its climax I was really pulled into the story. Who hasn't wanted to be the hero? What little girl hasn't wanted to be a princess and a the hero of her own fairy tale? I know that I always did. Aurora spoke to me, called out to me and it was beautiful to find someone that I could identify with on so many levels. I love that she is strong, unable to shy away from danger based solely on an indelible curiosity fuelling her every move.

I hate the love triangle, or maybe, that was entirely the point. It felt ridiculous to have a character who is very much a 'Robin Hood' Rafe be forced in to a marriage with the seeming 'Sheriff of Nottingham' that is Leticia? That's not even the best example, but she is more suited to the evil cousins than she is to Rafe. Kieran is never really a love interest for Aurora, but there's a pseudo triangle mounted there between Rafe, Kieran and Aurora. I have one piece of advice - YA books do not ALL need a love triangle! The Rafe/Leticia romance and the realization that this is not a good match and that Leticia is not what she appears, this is the most that should be there. The attraction between Aurora and Rafe is true - now it's just a case of waiting to see if she can defeat her enemies, save her mother, and marry her Robin Hood.

I hate that I have to wait so long for another book, but once it is out, sign me! 4 stars because of the forced love triangle - which I have no doubt will be quickly swept aside by the author's beautiful prose.

I was really excited to pick this book up as I found people constantly saying that this book felt like Harry Potter – rather inspired by that world. After all, every Harry Potter fan is still suffering from the series hangover and wishing for more. But at the same time, I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive as well. I hear Harry Potter and my expectations go sky high and I have felt let down by few other fantasy series before this because of my own expectations. So, do you want to know whether this book lived up to it or not?

The Last of the Firedrakes introduces us to the fantastical world of Avalonia. Where there are Fae, Mages and mystical beasts. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself here. This is Aurora’s story. She is your average 16 year old girl who was orphaned at a tender age and taken in by her uncle. Mistreated by her adoptive family and bullied at school, she doesn’t have the best life. Yet when she gets kidnapped and taken into a world where everything is new and different only turns things for the worse. However, as Aurora discovers more about Avalonia, she learns more about her heritage, discovers herself and also finds Rafe!

The character development in the book is tremendous. Towards the beginning Aurora did get on my nerves a bit, but then we see her grow throughout the book and by the end of it I kind of started liking her. In her defence though, she didn’t have the best life or people in her life in the beginning. And then to discover the existence of a whole different world – anyone would need time to get back on their feet, let alone to rise to every challenge thrown at them. Then there is Rafe… wouldn’t I like to know all there is to know about that one ;) The world of Avalonia is really beautiful and the author has done a great job of building it up slowly for her readers. I loved the way she has set up everything not only in this book but for the coming books as well. For someone like me, who is always looking for details, this book is ideal as the author has dished out a lot. Her descriptive narration style creates a vivid image of the world and most of the settings in the mind of the readers.

I cannot believe that this is only the author’s debut novel. Her language and narrative is striking and well structured which was another added advantage of the book. And while I did see why people where comparing it to some other epic-fantasies, Last of the Firedrakes has an identity of its own. While I wouldn’t really compare it to Harry Potter myself, I will say that this book is a promising start to the series.

I’m going to start off this review by saying to the author; Well done. Fantasy is a tough genre to write, there are so many rules and, particularly as a debut author, Farah Oomerbhoy has done a pretty good job. I enjoyed ‘The Last of the Firedrakes’ and I look forward to seeing where Aurora’s journey takes her in the next book.

This review will look mostly at some of the issues that I feel Oomerbhoy may have come up against when writing this novel, and how some of these may have slipped through into the final novel. But this is all constructive and I really do want other readers to have a look for themselves and enjoy the book for what it is; a very solid, exciting Young Adult Fantasy novel.

World building is hard in fantasy. It’s not so easy as making a land and moving from one place to another within it. There are so many things involved such as the kingdoms, the politics, the different creatures in each land and particularly the culture. Oomerbhoy brilliantly crafts a land where politics is key, and I really had a feel for the different agendas of the people we met.

There were a few parts that felt a little too out-of-reality for me. I love my fantasy for what it is; make-believe, but I always feel there needs to be an element of it that is believable, especially within the context of this world. For example, on many occassions our characters appear so quickly from one kingdom to another, almost outbeating a magical pegasus, and the explanation given is the old fae secret passages. I felt this was almost too easy, and felt let down that they didn’t have to struggle to get to each place. Imagine if Middle Earth had elven passages beneath Mordor. Frodo’s journey would have been a lot easier, and very much less enjoyable to read.

The magical Pegasus ‘Snow’ as mentioned above, also seemed to appear at the most timely of occassions, particularly when our young heroine was in danger. It seemed to give her an out from some of the battles she no doubt would have faced without her there.

The reason for Aurora being brought into the land of Avalonia also seemed too unlikely for me. Her evil aunt Morgana feared that her neice, who knew nothing of Avalonia, magic, fae or even that she had an aunt, so had her brought through the veil to Avalonia in order to kill her and keep the throne her own? Wouldnt’ it be easier to just leave Aurora unaware in the other land where she can do no harm to Morgana anyway?

Character development, however, was what drove the story on. Rafe is a top book-boyfriend and I loved the array of characters that Aurora meets and befriends throughout the book. The author’s writing style was also so crisp and beautiful!

Overall this book was a enjoyable escape into the magical land of Avalonia. I’m looking forward to seeing where Rafe, Aurora and Kalen go next.

3.5 Stars!

*Review copy provided through Xpresso Book Tours Review Opportunities, in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this! This is a light fantasy filled with magic, romance, and adventure. Aurora starts her story with her horrible adoptive family and being bullied at school. But soon shes taken through a portal to another world and realizes her entire life is about to change.

The world is beautiful and fulled with fantastic creatures including fae, mages, and a pegasus named Snow! Not kidding! Snow is a favorite of mine. All the characters in this story are so much fun and so interesting to learn about. This world has so much you have to learn it can be a lot but it always has you reading for more. And the romance is a slow building one but you can't help but love Rafe. The Black Wolf is hard not to fall in love with. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read but if you haven't and you love fantasy go check it out you won't be sorry. I need the sequel!!

What a brilliant new saga! This is a definitely different magical story that grabs the reader from the very start.

Aurora Darlington is a sixteen year old school girl. She was adopted as a young child and then her adoptive parents were killed in a car crash a few years ago. She is now living with her adoptive aunt, uncle and cousin who seem to be anything but caring. Her cousin and aunt take pride in emotionally abusing her, they’re nasty, manipulative and terrible to her. Initially Aurora has more positive feelings towards her uncle but an unexpected visit to the home of his boss will change Aurora’s life forever as she is kidnapped and taken through a portal into a magical world. It is here that Aurora will set out to learn the truth about her past and reveal a powerful secret that will change her and her life forever.

The author paints a magical world in the imagination of her readers. It is so good that Aurora finally finds friends to help and support her in this new world and it is great to see how her character grows throughout the story. There are a wide range of characters, good and evil, all are superbly portrayed and this dystopian world one it is easy to visualise and feel connected to. The challenges Aurora faces, the relationships which develop, all add to the enthralling nature of this spectacular start to this brilliantly crafted new series. I really enjoyed reading it and hope to fead future stories in this series in the near future - I can’t wait! It is a real page turner and one that I highly recommend to anyone who likes superbly crafted magical tales - if you enjoyed the Harry Potter books give this a read, totally different but similar in genre.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Young Adult Bound Book Tours, too, for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for this, an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ***Contains mild spoilers. This is a unique YA magic filled romance book. We begin the book meeting our friendly relatable heroine Aurora Firedrake. She was first orphaned after her natural parents death at age 2. For twelve years she lived happily with her adoptive parents until they died in a horrific car accident. Orphaned for a second time she is taken in by her adoptive parents uncaring and mean relatives. Now 16 she begins having nightmares involving her mother running as fire licks her heels being chased by a dagger and someone named Morgana. Her life is completely changed after an impromptu family trip to Red Stone Manor. Now magically thrust into the new world of Avalonia, Aurora is set on a path to her destiny learning about her nightmares and past. Aurora continues her path of discovery and learning what magic has been suppressed inside her all of these years while hopefully living up to her name as the last Firedrake. I was hooked from the beginning of this book. I was surprised at how good it was and look forward to the next book very much. The author goes in to great detail immersing you into this magic filled world even describing tasty foods. From the cruel Queen Morgana, trustworthy sidekick Kalen, mysterious Black Wolf, a love interest that is betrothed to another and princes and princesses this book will keep you enthralled Great first book. I highly recommend.

First let me say that I did not like the writing style of this author. She does a lot of telling instead of showing. Also, she constantly has her terrible protagonist, Aurora, repeat herself both aloud and within her own inner dialogue.

When I first started reading I was sympathetic toward Aurora. She's an orphan, her adoptive parents have died and now she's staying with her adoptive parents relatives - who hate her. She has no friends at school, her cousin is making her life hell, and she's barely passing her classes. Well, I found out very soon why she was barely passing. She's dumb. Like she fell out of the stupid tree and hit every single branch on the way down.

So she gets kidnapped. And keeps asking this guy where he's taking her. Even though she overheard him say he's taking her to the queen, and has had him tell her directly that he's taking her to the queen as well. Aurora.. You're going to see a queen. You just went through a magical tapestry.. So do you really think that anything this guy says is going to make sense to you? He could say he's taking you to Sesame Place in Langhorn, PA and it would still mean nothing to you.

And this..
"No, princess, not yet. My mother's house is on the top most branch," he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "It has the best view, you know."

"Please call me Aurora," I said absentmindedly, "all this 'my princess' stuff sounds silly."

This was literally the first time anyone had called her princess, let alone "my princess".. I really had some problems with her by now. Which only intensified more with this..

"Run, Aurora, now!" He said again. His sword glistened in the moonlight as he drew it from its sheath and prepared to meet the Shadow Guard. I was about to turn and run, but I couldn't help watching him for a few seconds more.."

Are you kidding me? You're life is in danger. Every single second counts and you just .. Watch this guy? Because you think he's cute? You're pathetic.

Later, Aurora was sent to learn more about her Mage magic by her Greatuncle Gabriel. And he informs her that since her life is in danger, for her protection, she'll be given a new identity. *insert hissy fit here* She is told to keep her identity a secret, to keep a low profile and never take off her amulet.

And just like she was told not to leave her uncles property without guards.. What does she do? Well she does the very opposite of what she's asked. This is a reoccurring theme.

Don't leave the academy grounds after dark. You'll get expelled and it's not safe. And what does she do? She leaves with people who hate her and her family. And when things go wrong - shocker - she thinks, "how could I have been so stupid?" She asks herself this question throughout the novel. I'm not exaggerating. You'd think she'd learn.

During the 22nd chapter I thought maybe she was finally starting to get herself together. She was studying and practicing physically and magically and get better and stronger. But then she does something so incredibly stupid that I almost threw in the towel on this book for the 100th time. She takes off her amulet during a duel with Damien. And oops now everyone knows who and what she is. And her reaction when it was gone was, "what could I say? My ego got the better of me? I shouldn't have done it but I did?"

By this point I just had no hope left for her character. And I was right not to.

The ending.. Honestly, I was so full of hatred for Aurora by this point that nothing surprised me. But for all you people out there thinking of maybe reading this? Guess what.. You think maybe she's going to be great but then she just messes up. Yeah, screw that dire warning. Great idea. She's unapologetic about it. She freaks out and has a hissy fit. Her uncle explains to her how and why what she's saying isn't logical.. And then she's like screw you guys I'm doing it anyway and sneaks off in the dead of night with her not so lover boy and her fae bud.

I received this book as an advanced reading copy through Netgally from Wise Ink Creative Publishing and before I say anything I would like to say a big thank you to them for allowing me to read this book.

The long asked question of 'what to read after Harry Potter' has been answered, as long as you don't mind a bit of déjà vu. I thoroughly enjoyed Oomerbhoy's masterpiece, from the stunning cover, to the cliff hanger at the end, and all the wonderfulness between. It took me a bit to get going, but once I did I couldn't put it down!

I was initially a little put off by the similarities in the plot to the Harry Potter series, it felt like someone chopped the books into chapter sized hunks, mixed them up and stripped away the details, then put them back together and filled in with a new story. As the book went on, however, the comparisons lessened and it grew in it's own right, blooming into a very compelling story. It still puts you in mind of Dursleys, Hogwarts, and a certain blonde would-be villain, but it has a flavor all it's own.

I was very impressed with Aurora's character. She was flawed, and young, but she was very likable. I don't always love main characters, but she felt very real to me. She was not obnoxiously over confident, but she also did not float about putting herself down so others would praise her. I liked that she has dark hair, and that she loves her dark hair. This stuck with me for some reason, and I started to picture her like princess Jasmine from Disney's Aladdin!

There was a romantic side to this book, and again, I must say it was beautifully written. I am normally left on the outside of romances looking in thinking 'good, she is happy,' or 'they want to be together' but that was not the case here. There is a point in this book, where Aurora and Rafe's inevitable romance just hits me! Not only did I want it to work out, but Oomerbhoy paints such a beautiful picture of longing that it leaks out of the page and you can feel it.

Rafe was probably my favorite, and I couldn't help but picture him as a cross between Flynn Rider, and Aladdin! He put me in mind of a Robin Hood character immediately and I loved the depth his character has! I really feel for him in his current mess he find's himself in, and I can't wait to see how he fixes it!

I think the biggest drawback to this book was that there were places that the plot similarities did become a bit overwhelming, mainly in the beginning of the book, so if you are someone who is bothered by that you may not enjoy this book as much as you should. But the similarities are less as you go, so I have high hopes for the next book. No word on when the next book will be out, but I'll be here waiting when it does!

*3.5 stars*
The Writing:
I like the writing it was clear and easy to read. It has details but not too much to make it hard to concentrate. I kept wanting to know more, to read more.

The Story:
The story is great, the world, the characters my only problem was Aurora,the main character.
You follow Aurora in this crazy journey into a magic world. There are seven kingdoms and one of them is ruled by Morgana, an usurper. And Morgana wants to find Aurora. So she has to escape and lives many different adventures. There will be faes,mages, and a school of mages involved along with dark magic and magic elements. This is a YA story, so we have the enmity, love and personality of a teenager.
I loved this story with lots of action and magic. I don't know why I thought this was a dragon related book. (Yes,I know, WTF?) It has nothing to do with that. It has a start with the classic bad family, I think its a bit like Cinderella but then she goes into this magic world and it has nothing to do with Cinderella.
I don't want to give many details of the story, I don't want to write any spoiler.
I kept wanting to know the identity of a character and then when it comes out I was a bit surprised. I thought about that possibility, but then I said 'no,it can't be' well, yes, it was.
Different twists keep your interest all the way until the last page.

The Characters:
Aurora: God,you are an idiot. I'm sorry, I had to say it. At the beginning I liked her. I mean, she was a sixteen years old girl in a new world, its quite hard. But then, she know the thruth about herself, and HELLO you have a kingdom and many many lifes to save, and you are thinking of a guy?! Really?! Its okay, we got that you like him, its okay, but FOCUS! She was SO frustrating! Then it seems like she might be good again, I liked her a bit. But no, she has to do things people say 'Don't do it, it's dangerous' and she has to go an do it. She doesn't listen others than herself most of the time. If she had other personality, this book could be a 5/5 stars without any doubts. But she frustrated me so much, she made me be angry, mad. I was like 'breath,breath and continue reading'. Maybe this doesn't happen to you,but yeah.
Rafe: I like him. He is not an idiot. But now that I think of it, we don't know much about him, about his personality. Maybe in the next book, High expectations over here.
Viv,Kalen,Penelope,Uncle Gabriel,Aunt Serena: I just will write about them together. They're Aurora's family, they are the people who support her and will help her as much as they can. They are all friendly and nice.

This is a good and easy read. With a fantastic world, faes and mages. With demons, dark magic, mysteries, and obects that can change all. And just a few people to stop a tyrant.

I wanted to love this book--beautiful cover, interesting surmise and a genre I normally can't put down. And although there are many things I enjoyed about Aurora's story, there were other things which simply kept me from getting caught up in it completely. Still, I didn't want to lay this aside either because there was something about it which kept me reading--a spark which wouldn't let go.

Aurora is introduced as a normal teenager...well, except for the fact that she's adopted, her adoptive parents were killed and her new family isn't exactly kind to her. She's bullied at school, has trouble keeping up her grades and feels pretty at the bottom of things. In other words, she's sympathetic right away, and it was easy to dislike the family taking care of her. But I'm not sure why any of this had to happen. Although this explains some background which might be questioned later on, it's unnecessary. We never hear about the family again except slight mentions, and the school and bullying didn't do a thing. Plus, I had trouble getting into the beginning since it felt like things flew by too quickly--the problems are mentioned and shown, and then it's off right into the next one without much time to sink in. And at times, the reactions to things didn't quite fit (a hiccup that continues every now and then through the story).

I kept reading, hoping I'd fall in love with this because there was something about it which still seemed intriguing. And I'm glad I did. Once Aurora gets to her world, things get interesting. Although parts of this book felt a little cliche and already used somewhere else, it'd be wrong to say that this is really a problem. There are so many layers to this story, making it complex and interesting. Aurora's world is not simple, and neither are the lives of the characters around her. The deeper the story goes, the richer it becomes until I did get swallowed up into tale.

There's a romance, one packed with tension and difficulties. It's not an easy 'love at first sight' kind of thing with roses and fairy dust, but the kind which seems like it might never be able to happen. So many obstacles stand in the way--which is great. It had me cheering for Aurora and this man all the more, and has me waiting to see what happens in book two.

One of my biggest problems with this story (except for the beginning), was Aurora herself. She's likable and a wonderful character, but I wanted to slap her in the face at times. At sixteen, it's clear she'll be rebellious and not always be willing to listen to what she's told, but Aurora never learns. At times, she's just stupid. Despite warnings (and even outright being told), she heads out into the world and does things which will bring her into danger. And she does it again and again, never learning from her mistakes. Not even at the end. I really hope she develops in the next book because she's a character that deserves more than this. Her potential is amazing.

Summed up: This is an interesting read with a slightly bumpy path, and little trips and stumbles on the way. Still, this isn't a book to be totally overlooked, and that's why I've given it four stars instead of three. The plot is intriguing, the characters complex and it's a world worth getting lost in. So yes, I do recommend it to fantasy readers and am wondering what will happen to Aurora and the others in book two.

I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last of the Firedrakes, by Farah Oomerbhoy, was not quite what I expected. At first, it seemed somewhat cliche. The princess, thought dead, was found and has to fight to reclaim the throne, or the masked hero rescuing maidens and helping the poor. As I continued to read, however, I found the book to be quite interesting. The characters and the story pulled me in, making me long for the next book's publication. There is a reason, after all, that some themes are overused.

The world the book is set in was fascinating. There were fantastic creatures and several different kinds of people, many of whom inherit one kind of magical power or another. I enjoyed the diversity of the settings within the world, too: from quaint fairy village to a magical university, from a medieval castles to eighteenth century-styled palaces. I can hardly imagine the beauty.

I also enjoyed the characters. Aurora struggled to find her place and accept her identity in the new world just as much as she struggled to control her substantial powers. The bit of forbidden love involved only helped so much, since she could never have the man she grew to love. Which brings me to another of the main characters. This particular young man heroically clung to a deathbed promise spoken out of love, something that I think all readers will still wish he would break, no matter how upright it seems.

The plot, as I have mentioned, could have been done a little better, in my opinion. But I still think the book is well worth the time spent on it. I look forward to the sequels and conclusion of this series, after all, the end left much to be discovered and resolved.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was a bit slow to start but once you start getting into the rhythm of it it's kind of hard to put down. I send a big portion of the book waiting for more action more intrigue, more something. I can't say I really got any of that, except for a small portion towards the end where it heart pounding edge of your seat stuff but I don't really think that took away from the story.

There was so much that I loved about these characters, but then there was so much that I disliked. They were loyal to a fault, & I feel like that was exploited. And while our main character Aurora, is a great one, towards the end specifically in the last chapter it seems like she digresses instead of rose and the childish mentality comes off as really annoying and spoiled. Bearing in mind that she has a great revelation, & a lot on her plate I kind of tried to let it go but she has a history of some pretty bad decisions with horrifying consequences.

I'm really looking forward to meeting the next installment in the series, because I actually feel like this is something new and refreshing but I do hope to see more character growth. On top of the digression of their personalities, I found a lot was predictable and fell a little flat when delivered.

All in all, I really feel like this is a great read and a solid introduction to what I'm hoping is an epic series. It's also worth noting that I think this is a good introduction to this genre for anybody who's been kind of hesitant to pick up a book like this, it has elements of stories that I grew up loving but a completely new take on it. It kind of feels like this is what Harry Potter would have been had the main character been a female, born in a different land.

“I received a free copy of the book from the author/publisher for my honest opinion. I was in no way compensated for this review and all opinions are expressly my own”

The Last of the Firedrakes
The Avalonia Chronicles
Farah Oomerbhoy
Wise Ink Creative Publishing
Minneapolis, MN
ISBN: 978-1-940014-72-2
Hardcover
2015
$ 17.99
488 pages
"My parents were gone, my uncle had just sold me like a slave, and there was no one to help me, no one on my side. I was alone, I was in trouble, and I had absolutely no idea what to do. It was all too much; I couldn't help it; I burst into tears just as Oblek yanked my arm and pulled me into the magical, shimmering tapestry."
Aurora had not led a charmed life. After her parents had died in a tragic automobile accident, she lived with her uncle and his family. She should have been grateful but residing in this household was not enjoyable. Her beautiful cousin who was her age as popular and mean, the opposite of Aurora. Added to that, it was obvious that her aunt and uncle only tolerated her existence. Living in an unloved home was not enjoyable.
All of that changed on her sixteenth birthday. Aurora was delivered into another world, full of magic.
Why? She was the heir to the throne in the kingdom of Illiador. Did she possess any powers? How would her life be different in this mysterious land where special magical are common?
The Last of the Firedrakes is an enthralling novel for teenage girls. How many fifteen-year-old girls have wished they had different parents and to discover that they were of a royal lineage?
With teenagers in mind, everything in this novel is age-appropriate with no unnecessary sexual innuendos, violence, or bad language. Aurora is attracted to the dark, handsome stranger, Rafe, who has many secrets that need to be unveiled.
The Last of the Firedrakes is the debut novel for Farah Oomerbhoy. Her home with her husband and children is in Mumbai, India. From the University of Mumbai she earned her Master's degree in English literature.
The Last of the Firedrakes is the first novel in this series entitled the Avalonia Chronicles. The story has an ending point at the end of the book, but it does not conclude the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel with an intended audience of teenaged girls. It was logical in its organization, possessed vivid characters, fast-paced with action, age-appropriate as a delightful fantasy novel.

Where do I start with this book? It seemed like the action never let up, but the story didn't go too fast that it was hard to keep up. It was the perfect balance! The characters were developed and the settings and descriptions were dreamy.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is, “Everything happens for a reason, and nothing is an accident. It is all part of a much larger divine plan,” Duke Silverthorne said gravely, but in a surprisingly kind voice. “When difficulties come, we must see them as what they are—opportunities and a new path to discover your potential. How will you ever know the magnitude of courage you are capable of if you have never experienced the hopelessness of fear? (Kindle location 1218)” This quote represents what the book is about, overcoming hardship and discovering who you are. Aurora is such a great heroine who is adventurous and brave, and sometimes ends up in crazy situations, but luckily Rafe is there to help her.

Rafe is the hero of the story, and just one in a large cast of characters that help to make this story just so good. I can't wait to see more of him. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in what promises to be a fantastic series!

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy was amazing from beginning to end?
I have been wanting to read this book for a while and I’m so glad I finally had a chance to read it❤ One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book was because it’s a YA, Fantasy book! I have been reading more Contemporary books lately and I have been wanting to read more Fantasy books?And so when I read the synopsis of The Last of the Firedrakes I new it was a must read!??❤

Aurora was an amazing character. She was someone who was scared at the beginning of the story, mostly because she didn’t have a clue of where she was. Avalonia is a dangerous place but as soon as Aurora arrives she discovers a lot of things, like what happened to her real parents and who she really is! She was a very strong character and was determined to learn and to not give up when things got complicated. One of my favorite characters was Kalen, he was the sweetest?❤ and he was always there to help Aurora and Rafe ?❤

While Aurora and Rafe’s relationship was complicated, mostly because of Raffe’s secrets ? I enjoyed reading about them. They are just perfect for each other and I just LOVED how at the end Aurora discovers who he really is… ALL THE SWOONS?❤?

As soon as I started to read this book I knew I was going to to love it. It’s a story full of magical creatures, incredible adventures, amazing characters and romance? Once I started to read it I couldn’t put it down. The world-building of the story was amazing – as well as the food descriptions ?? – Farah’s writing style made me feel like I was part of the story and that’s just one of the things I loved the most about this book.

This book will take you to a world where powerful mages and faes rule. There’s action, lots of secrets and an ending that will make you want to read the second book soon!

this book was a surprise find. i came across it on netgalley and thought it sounded good, what I expected and what I got was completely different. I expect to find a good storyline that I thought would be ok. what I got a brilliant storyline that completely hooked me in and had me struggling to put down.
From the moment I met aurora I felt for her, i was sorry for her situation and the cruel teasing and tongue lashing she would get from her aunt and cousin. I have to admit that although at the start I felt sorry for her by the middle of her journey I actually admired her and her strength.
Aurora is only 16 yet she handles the situation very well yes we see a few times where she acts like a 16 year old e.g. at the end when she won't be told that she's to go to fae and her grandmother she won't accept that and sneaks to do the more dangerous task not prepared ( I'm trying not to give the story away LOL)
her mature moments for example when a certain man is betrothed she tries to keep away from him. when we know a lot of grown ass women don't care about things like that.

this author definitely has a way with words, she has us falling in love with a different world and all the beautiful places that resides there. I think a lot of the descriptions of this world is what makes this book that extra special and I give two stars alone for this.

I have to say Aurora is character you will love and will be routing for along the way with her friends kalen, rafe, Vivian, her cousin Erien and snow this is one journey and adventure I was glad I came across I cannot wait for the next book.
easily a five star book if I could give more I would

"The Last of the Firedrakes" by Farah Oomerbhoy was the start of a great premise for a story. It's a high fantasy young adult journey with easy to understand language, making it nice to read.

Although I did enjoy the start to Oomerbhoy's "Avalonia Chronicles" series, it took me awhile to read. There is over 400 pages, and it's written mostly in exposition where the protagonist is telling the reader what is going on in her head as well as around her. The story centers around 16-year-old Aurora, and is mostly told through her. I wish there was more dialogue and character interaction to help the story move along.

The exposition isn't necessarily a turn off though. Aurora is a likeable character, so it's not a bad thing to be inside her head so much. Throughout the story, Aurora goes from a scared newcomer who knows nothing about the magical world of mages and fae, to someone who takes it upon herself to learn as much as she can and gain confidence in herself.

A lot happened in this book. Aurora's journey is a long and twisted one, and that makes the book always changing and going in new directions. There were some points when I think that the author could have drawn certain scenes out more to give a bit more detail, because sometimes things seemed like there were rushed through.

This wasn't necessarily a quick read, but if you're looking for a story you want to invest in - then it's one I would recommend. I'm intrigued to see where Aurora's journey takes her next, and what the rest of the series has to tell.

ooooowow. So unbelievably bad I could not even get through the third chapter. This book feels as if was written by a fourth grader for fourth graders. I think I've learned after two bad experiences to read the one-star reviews FIRST because they are always the most accurate. Too bad I didn't learn that in time for this one. The writing is childish, and appears not to have been edited at all. Entire paragraphs could have been omitted to make the story better. Show, don't tell. First rule of basic writing! I echo the sentiments other one-star reviewers have written here about the "heroine". I didn't think anyone could be as dumb and whiny as Bella Swan, but she has met her match here.

This book was like a delicious piece of chocolate candy! The only bad thing is that the next book has not been written yet! What am I supposed to do!?!? I hope that Farah Oomerbhoy is busy writing as I type this review. The book had a little Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones all mixed up in to a fun story line. The writing was good. The descriptions were not overly descriptive. I liked the characters and I really want to read the next book in the series!

Part of what appealed to me with this book is that somewhere inside this old body there is a little girl who dreams of being sucked into another world where wonderful things happen with lots of adventure along the way. There were a couple things that were predictable but I did not care because I loved this book.

Thank you, thank you NetGalley and Wise Ink Creative Publishing for the opportunity to read this delightful book. I will (and already have) recommended to fellow readers, librarians, and anyone else who will listen to me rave about this book!

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I did feel like the storyline is a little cliche, a young girl finding out she's a princess and sole heir to a throne being occupied by a corrupt queen. There have been quite a few books along those lines as well.

This one held up well with the world and the characters. I loved the side characters and how they were faeries and mages and a pegasus. The magic system is great as well.

My big issue with the book is the writing. I felt it was very basic and repetitive. Quite a few times I found myself saying "I've read this line three times already." I still enjoyed the story, but felt the writing overall was lacking. I will definitely pick up the next installment and continue with the story.

*This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

There were many things about this book that felt incredibly familiar, however, there was much that felt brand new. The world that the author has created is astounding. I love it and I hope to learn more about it in subsequent books. I love the blending of mages and fae and I can’t wait to see how certain characters progress in their magics as well as in their goal to overpower the evil, but not rightful, queen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters were interesting, especially Aurora. I had to problem believing that she was meant to be something special- but more than that, I like her. She has strengths and flaws that make you want to root for her and not just because she is the heroine of the story.
This was an engaging story- it most definitely made me shout a bit and one of the characters during a particularly tense moment. It was completely involuntary; the story really had me that immersed.
I can’t wait to see what happens next.

The last of the Firedrakes
By Farah Oomerbhoy
4

16 year old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. The only thing she has from her birth parents is a necklace. She has dreams of a cloaked woman holding a dagger to her mother. She lives with her adoptive aunt, uncle, and cousin. They do not like her. She is not popular in school. She is alone. One day her uncle takes the family on a trip to Redstone Manor. To her surprise, she is kidnapped and taken through a portal to another world.

When I started the book, it seemed very formulaic. The unpopular girl at school is being picked on by her classmates. An orphan is unwanted by her adoptive family. It seemed simplistic. Luckily I kept reading and was rewarded by an entertaining story and a strong but realistic lead character. Aurora is flawed and believable even when the unbelievable happens to her. Her character is tested as she meets new people and has to decide who to trust. It is a well paced book. Once you enter the portal, you are in for an entertaining ride. It is a very fun ya fantasy.

Take fae, mages, demons, and mythical creatures then throw in a healthy dose of an awkward outsider discovering she is royalty and a smidge of Robin Hood and you have The Last of the Firedrakes. While the premise sounds intriguing, and definitely like something I would adore, the actual novel is far from that.

I feel like I am the only person to have truly disliked this novel. At one point, I believed it was going to be a DNF. That is how bad it was. The writing initially was abysmal, frequently telling the reader what was happening instead of allowing us to see and discover. Couple that was the most idiotic and self-pitying “heroine” and you have a book that is difficult to swallow. I am going to assume it was written with younger readers in mind, as it read more like a middle school novel that a true YA. I believe my 12-year old self may have loved it. It was juvenile and filled with tons of clichés and tropes, particularly from the Young Adult genre.

• Dark “mysterious” love interest – check
• Comical villains – check
• Plain Jane protagonist – check
• Evil popular girls – Check
• Insta-love – check
• Dead parents – check

Basically everything wrong with the young adult genre was present in this novel. I became so frustrated at points that I had to put the novel down for a minute and breathe. I rolled my eyes so many times I lost count. It became a bit ridiculous at some point for me to even try to read on, although I am glad I did. The last quarter of the novel was a significant improvement from the beginning. The protagonist grew, as well as the writing. While I still believe it is targeted towards the younger side of YA, at least I was able to tolerate the ending.

Characters

Aurora Firedrake

Her name is badass. Other than that, no part of her is awesome. She is whiney, hard headed (and not in a good way), self-pitying, and frequently dependent on others. She is incredibly moldable to anyone’s ideas and is exceptionally naïve. As in, trusts people based off of looks and a “feeling” level naïve. And it happened over and over again. She literally decided if she liked or disliked a person depending on how they appeared. “I instinctively liked Kalen. He talked strangely and extremely fast, but I could tell immediately he was a sincere person,” (p. 43). Lord forbid if a person is unattractive, or overly attractive (unless they are male), they will most definitely be a villain. Every. Single. Time. “First I met Lord Larney, the thing one who looked like a crow. He had oily, black hair, which was thinning at the temples…. The second man, who had not looked up from his food, was Sir Gothero, and I thought that he looked like a far, angry toad…I disliked them both at first sight,” (p. 126). I will give her a little bit of praise in that she grew as the novel progressed. She stopped the self-pitying (thank goodness!) and started accepting responsibilities. However, she continuously made poor decisions. Quite a few times she should have died, except her special snowflake status prevented that. I believe I could have enjoyed this novel infinitely more if the protagonist was not such a twat.

Rafe

Oh how I wanted to love you. I did enjoy the fact that for once the love interest had a happy, somewhat pleasant personality. He was not overly controlling or broody all of the time. He smiled and laughed frequently, a rarity in any novel. However, that was where the enjoyment ended. His character was not well developed at all. While I understand that the author wanted to maintain some mystery, it is possible to do that while giving the reader a complex character. In this case, he felt flat and cookie cutter. He was a hot piece of ass for the MC. Which was unfortunate, because he had the potential to be infinitely more interesting than Aurora. Even the big twist involving him <spoiler>being the prince</spoiler> was easily guessed. I honestly hope for the next novel to be alternating POV with him being one.

Damien

I am pretty sure you could change his name to Draco Malfloy and they would basically be the same character. I kept waiting for him to sneer, “Scared Potter?” but alas it never happened. There were quite a few characters that seemed based off of Harry Potter characters (Professor Dekela comes to mind). He was yet again another underdeveloped character (actually majority were). He was the typical bratty rich boy who casually travels down the path of darkness.

Morgana

Our antagonist of the novel, yet we primarily just hear of her vs witnessing interactions with her. While this has worked in other novels, it fell flat in this one. What happened instead was just basic factual information about her, then brief page time, then gone again. <spoiler>Her fight with Aurora was underwhelming. An incredibly powerful adult mage thwarted by a teen that can barely use her powers. A lot of attacks hitting a shield, then Morgana panicking and running away, then Aurora casually murdering people in anger over her horse dying.</spoiler>

Love Story (light spoilers)

Insta-love abounds! Aurora and Rafe barely spent enough time to become friends, much less develop a relationship. Yet low and behold, they loved each other from the moment they laid eyes on each other! Gag! It was not a plausible relationship development wise. They knew nothing about each other besides official titles and that the other person was attractive. Hell, Rafe is engaged to another woman. But alas, that barely matters. Their souls are connected *rolls eyes. At the end, they are holding out on being together, but I do not see that lasting long.

In general, I had issues with this novel. <spoiler>A main character who feels no guilt after casually killing people bothers me immensely, even if they are the bad guys. She is 16; she should not handle that well.</spoiler> While I may give the sequel a chance (especially to see how the new villain develops) this book was astoundingly underwhelming as a whole, and did not live up to my hopes for it.

*I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I received a free ebook copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review.

"A life was a life, and everyone deserved to be treated the same."

The story follows a sixteen-year-old Aurora, who miserable in our world, goes through a magic portal tapestry into a completely new magical world of Avalonia. In Avalonia she discovers the truth about herself and her heritage and through new adventures she makes new friends.

This book completely blew me away. From the beginning I was totally thrilled with the new world that was painted before my eyes by the great writing style in this book (also there was a map, yaaaaaaaaaay!:)). Multiple times through this book I wished that I could live in Avalonia. In the beginning Aurora seemed like a weak character, who self pities herself and is really unhappy in our normal world. But as the story went on, Aurora became much stronger and in the end she turned out as one of my favorite book heroines. Her character development was under a big influence of finding her lost family and making new friends who supported and encouraged her. In addition to that, I liked that she made mistakes but she accepted them, learned her lesson and tried to be a better person.
I would also like to talk about the Black Wolf or Rafe, who is maybe even my favorite part of the book. He was everything I look for in characters (mysterious, handsome, smart, brave and so on). The only thing I disliked was the development of Auroras' and Rafes' relationship towards the end of the book.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, especially to the Game of Thrones and Harry Potter fans because the book reminded me a little of those two (HP: magic school, Morgana=Voldemort, Aurora=heroine whose parents were killed by the bad guy; GOT: her character reminded me a lot of Daenerys Targaryen with all the rightful heir/princess who tries to get her throne back from the usurper and Snow would be her dragon ;)). But I have to say that it still was new and refreshing and in many ways different than those books. I honestly fell in love with this book and barely can wait for the sequel.

This is a tough review to write. There were some things that I loved about this book, and others not so much.

First off, the world-building is fantastic. The world is huge and I'm pretty sure I missed things because there were just so many details. But the history is wonderful. I enjoyed reading about the fae and the mages and the differences in their magic. And then we have all sorts of magical creatures, including a pegasus. I found the mix of magical lore and Greek mythology strange, but it worked well.

I loved Rafe and Erien. Though I think Rafe will stay my favorite. He's broody and handsome and has a secret identity he doesn't want Aurora to know. As the book goes on, it becomes more and more obvious who he really is. But that's okay. He's still a wonderful character. He's dark, funny, an excellent fighter and I totally shipped him with Aurora from his first appearance.

The one thing that I'm truly on the fence about with The Last of the Firedrakes is Aurora herself. I had so much trouble with the main character. She acted so stupidly at times. Yes, I get it. She's new to this world. But she doesn't listen to others' advice. She waltzes in to situations that she knows are stupid because people keep warning her and is surprised when things turn out badly. I really hope she learns some listening skills by the second book.

I enjoyed this book a good bit. And the ending. That ending leaves me wanting to read the next one pronto.

So what did I think overall?
I think this is certainly a worthwhile read. I will definitely be reading the next book. I think it's a series that has the potential to be excellent so long as Aurora starts to grow up a little.

How will you ever know the magnitude of courage you are capable of if you have never experienced the hopelessness of fear?"

I received this book from LovingDemBooks Booktube Tours in exchange for an honest review.

The Last of the Firedrakes was a fun, fantasy read with many quirky fantasy aspects people who love this genre would enjoy. But, I did have a lot problems with individual aspects of this novel, even though I thought it was okay all together.

First, the main character. I didn't really like the main character that much. Aurora played the role of a naive, selfish teenage girl who didn't think at all before acting. I was constantly getting frustrated with her because not only did she get herself in situations she wouldn't be in if she had listened to others, but she also constantly dragged other people with her. She would never fullt accept the blame of her actions, instead forcing others to go along with her in these idiotic quests. Also, I felt like she was constantly havign to be saved by someone/something else. YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO BE SAVED IF YOU HAD JUST LISTENED GAH. But, I did love her work ethic and though she was a very overpowered MC, I appreciated the fact that she did have to somewhat learn.

There were also a bunch of cliches mixed throughout the novel. We had the abused orphan, insta-love, lost royalty, and almost every steretypical story device ever. This aspect caused the book to be very unsurprising when it came to "big plot twists." Nothing was truly "foreshadowed," but more "thrown at you with a brick."

The other characters and the world were very fun and likeable. I think a big reason why I read parts of this book so fast were because I was just so interested in learning about the world. Though it wasn't the most original of kingdoms, there were still super cool magic systems and unique aspects. The other characters did follow a few stereotypes, but it wasn't nearly as bad at the MC. I enjoyed reading about all of the others' different personalities and their specialties.

The romance was the strongest dose of insta-love I've experienced in a long time and that's saying something since I've been reading a lot of contemporaries recently. I was fairly aggrivated with it because it was like all over insta-loves, I felt that these characters didn't truly know each other before they were falling for the other. And the problem was, this romance played a huge part in the novel. Aurora's decisions and thoughts were constantly based on this insta-love, which made it even more prevalent and irritating.

The writing felt fairly juvenile which I feel weird talking about, but it was a big part of reading for me. I felt that some of the words characters would say would feel unnatural (imagine Star Wars) and awkward. I am aware that the author was attempting a medieval/olden-times vibe, but it just still felt very weird to me. It wasn't only the dialogue, but also the fact that there were tons of cliches in the writing that I just... ARGHH

"He's the most popular boy in school!"

I rest my case.

I wanted to address this more specifically, but the many cliches that this book had irked me. First, we had the fact that they were always eavesdropping? Is there no other way to get information? Really? Then, we have the fact that Aurora would literally butt her head into everyone else's business and get herself into a bunch of unnecessary trouble. Honestly, I just wanted to yell, "STAY IN YOUR LANE!!" throughout the entire novel. Also, even when in the midst of a super serious and important situation, the MC would STILL be thinking about the person she "loves" which made me want to legitimately shake her shoulders and yell at her to listen.

Okay but honestly, I feel like I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if tHE MAIN CHARACTER DIDN'T IRK ME SO

This is a must read!! Think Harry Potter meets Anastasia and they have a baby; this story would be that baby. It pulls you in from the moment that you open the book. I LOVED LOVED LOVED everything about it. It was a rare book that I loved so much and was so engrossed in the book, that my young teen daughter demand to read it along with me. Even she could not put it down! We NEED book two NOW!!

***Semi Spoiler***
I love the way that our heroine finds out who she is. It is very Harry Potter in that way. Raised by people that don't really care about her. Shipped off to some unknown location, to learn about a world/magic that she never knew about.
Then you throw in some Anastasia with a vague story about a king and queen that were killed. But no body ever really knew what happened to the Princess.
If you are a fan of either of these two stories, then this must be your next read. No if's and's or but's.

Excellent young adult fantasy. There are some grammatical errors that are distracting (especially comma usage) but the content is very good. This is the first book of a series and it sets up the characters and story line well for the next book. There is a lot of adventure in this book even though there is no resolution at the end. It is a very clean book with no foul language and only kissing and hugging. There is a lot of violence, but that is to be expected in this type of novel. The violence is not overly graphic. If the grammatical errors are corrected in the next book, this series has the potential to be the next Harry Potter.

*I received a copy of both books through YA Bound Book Tours for review. This does not affect my review.* This review is completely voluntary.

Review: Ah! I'm so glad I got the chance to read these two amazing stories together! So good! I love the fae and world-building in this series! I'll admit, Aurora got on my nerves at the beginning of the series, but she goes through a lot of character growth through-out these two books! Fast-paced, and plenty of action, along with some romance and magic! This is a must-read series for any fans of YA fantasy!

Overall I just didn't really care for this book. It was recommended by a friend and I just couldn't get into it. The story seemed childish, and while I was reading I could almost picture this book as a cartoon. I kept thinking "this would make an awesome cartoon for kids" because I couldn't get past how young it felt. And the first quarter of the book, all the protagonist did was cry. And I get it, she's scared. It's probably what would really happen if some crazy guy kidnapped you and forced you into some really strange magical land. BUT this is supposed to be fantasy. And I like my female protagonist's to be tough and unique. So I guess this book just wasn't my cup of tea.

I have to say this book was a surprise. The storyline reminded me of Sarah Maas's books, which I enjoy. I always enjoy an interesting storyline and well-defined characters, and I think the author of the "Last Firedrake" achieved this. I think that there were lots of twist and turns and the author continued to make her fantasy world fascinating. I am hoping in the next book the author grows even more and develops the characters and fantasy world even more. I like Aurora when she is acting like a strong independent person and I hope the author continues to hone in on that for the character Aurora . I really liked the romance blooming for the two young royals and will be excited to see the next installment of the series.

Aurora is a beautiful girl who isn't living the kindest life. She is bullied and mistreated by those close to her but her world is suddenly flipped upside down she she enters a whole new world.

This book has everything a fantasy nut could want and it is a place that once visited, you could never forget. The setting is a place full of wonderment, beautiful bright colors, and fantastical creatures. It's filled with action and adventure, this book did not disappoint in the least. The author is a fantastic writer who can suck you in and keep you immersed in another world.

I cannot wait for the next installment in the series. I need to know more of Aurora's story,

The Last of the Firedrakes is a wonderful book with a compelling story, diverse characters, and great plot, packed with magic a perfect read for a fantasy lover.

A fast read filled with drama, entertainment and good pacing. Beginning is really great but somewhere in the middle it becomes little loose but author did a great comeback to make overall experience of reading this book well. A lot happened in this book, Aurora's journey is a long and twisted one, and that makes the book always changing and going in new directions. There is romance but not an easy love at first sight but one packed with tension and difficulties which was great, somewhere I found Aurora little too dumb but it was refreshing. Magical world created by author is also quite interesting especially a winged horse which belonged to a magical race known as "pegasus" which was quite cool.

Overall rating for The Last of the Firedrakes is 3 actually 3.5, it is a nicely written book with good plot and characters but somewhere story is pushed a bit more to get the predictable actions which is annoying at times. If you like fantasy you will surely enjoy this one. We are looking forward for next book in the series.

This book is difficult for me to review. After the first few pages I thought it'd be a dnf but after sticking with it I actually found myself sort of enjoying it. This book served as a good reminder to me of how difficult it must be to write a book. There was something about the way this book was written that made it clear it was from an author still developing their writing skills. The phrasing and the word choices frequently took me out of the story. It often felt like the author had gotten out a thesaurus to vary her word selections. The characters were also largely flat. Aurora herself was quite obnoxious- she constantly made bad choices based on what she "felt" like doing despite numerous warnings not to. Despite that, everyone always forgave her and adored her, even when the consequences were such that the whole kingdom could be destroyed. The villains and other characters were fairly predictable and didn't have much depth. That being said, there was some interesting world building (with fairly obvious parallels to other stories). Overall I think this book would be better for a younger reader- one who may not be as bothered by flat characters and angsty love at first sight.

*this book was provided for free by Ebooks for Review in return for an honest review

I try to keep spoilers out of my reviews as much as possible, and warn if there may be one. I gave this novel three stars for various reasons.

The novel itself has a lot of potential to be something great. However, I don’t believe it is quite there yet. The idea of the story itself is wonderful, but it isn’t well executed in my opinion. I believe a lot of this has to do with the style and tone of the writing. At times it came off as very juvenile. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but when you read a story and every sentence begins with “I did this….” “and then I did this…”, and continues, it can be very off-putting. There is a lot more telling than showing happening in this novel unfortunately, and that is another thing that caused me to become disjointed with the story.

Another issue with the story is that there is not enough development or build-up. Sometimes the events will jump around a lot and quickly, not giving enough information in-between. The biggest issue I had was the lack of relationship building between characters. *SLIGHT SPOILER* For example, the main character gains a best friend in the snap of your fingers, and a love interest within a matter of pages. There is hardly any build-up or filler information to show the progression of the characters relationship, and I had an issue with that. There were a few inconsistencies that I had found throughout, but nothing to major.

Some good notes that I want to make are this: the writing noticeably improved as I got further within the book. This helped me become way more engaged into the story and its characters. The author is also very descriptive when setting the scene or describing objects, etc. This helped me picture events, scenes, characters and places much easier in my mind. I plan to continue this series and read the next few books because I am not one to start something and not finish it eventually. Also, I really hope that as each book is written, they become more developed and engaging.

The Last of the Firedrakes is one of my favorite reads this year. The story chronicles 16 year old Aurora's journey as she leaves the mundane world through a magical tapestry (portal) and enters a world of magic. She quickly discovers she is far from ordinary, and that she has powers she never imagined. With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and to learn how to unleash the power within herself.

I loved this story. The characters were endearing, and I rooted for Aurora as struggled to develop her powers and gain confidence. My two other favorite characters were Rafe and Snow, the Pegasus. Rafe is basically that dreamy untouchable guy that you know is interested, but you just don't know how much, so he keeps you guessing. Throughout the story, I was wishing I had a pegasus like Snow.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the vivid descriptions. Much like Harry Potter stories, you can almost taste the delicious foods, strawberries and cream, game pies with gold crusts, fish in citrus sauce, fresh bread - am I making your stomach growl yet? You can also imagine the breathtaking scenery. Her attention to the details are impeccable. One of my favorite scenes is the Midnight Market.

This story is such a fun read. I highly recommend you check it out!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Aurora was an orphan until she was adopted by a loving couple. She had no memory of her birth parents. All she had was a necklace when she went to the orphanage. She believes it's all she has from her parents. Now she is sixteen, her adopted parents died in a car accident and she is living with her adoptive father's brother. Her aunt and cousin hate her, but she thinks her uncle is ok. That all changes when they go to stay at his bosses estate. I will stop there so I don't give anything away. This book is magical and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to fantasy and YA fans.

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review. The concept looked interesting and I was excited to read it however that quickly changed. I don’t want to be mean but this book was not very good at all. The main character was a 16 year old but you never would have been able to tell unless the author mentioned it a few times because it felt like reading about a 8-10 year old’s daydream. She was so immature and childish and the magic used in the story was every cliché magical thing some one that age could think of from fairies to unicorns etc. The love story was weak and of course everything about her character was also so cliché, unoriginal and made me keep thinking of course she would be __________ and ___________ and then face palming and counting the time left to just get it over with. (Blanks to avoid spoilers just in case you read it.) . Elementary students would probably like it, but other than that I would just pass on this book.

This book was very entertaining. The beginning was sort of hard to get into, the author used many short sentences that either could have been combined or expanded upon. Yet the further I got into the story, the less the sentence structure bothered me. The story line was very engrossing, and I really got into the characters, especially Aurora and Rafe, and the setting of Avalonia. All of the names were unique and the world itself that Oomerbhoy created was one of great intrigue. I really started to enjoy Aurora, especially when she accepted her fate and began to adapt to this new world. Yet, near the last 2 or 3 chapters, she began to accept her fate a little too much. I think she should have listened to reason and not have been so stubborn in that last chapter. I know, it makes for a better plot, but she seemed ridiculously stubborn in the end and this really lessened my liking of her. Overall though, this was a very good read and I would definitely read a sequel, just to get more of Avalonia itself. The best part, honestly, was Rafe; he and Aurora took forbidden love to a whole other level *no spoilers* :) This is a unique, enthralling read that anyone who loves a good fantasy book would thoroughly enjoy.

A beautifully well written fantasy novel full of mystery and intrique.Mystical creatures and love and aventure. THis novel has everything.

Oh me oh my so as not to spoil it I cannot tell you what Auroras secret is but boy is it worth reading this novel.

Aurora is such a complex character strong and full of life. But unsure sometimes of if she is doing the right thing. Or if love is what she really wants.

Such strong emotions in this novel. It could bring a person to tears just reading about it.

I do so hope there is more in this series. I really enjoyed it and I love this authors writing style.

4 stars

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

This book left me feeling conflicted. It had a lot of amazing aspects to it. Orphan, Aurora ends up in a magical world after being kidnapped. The world and all the magical beings was really cool. I loved Rafe and hold out hope for him and Aurora. I loved the secondary characters, all of them. Yet I didn't love Aurora. I didn't connect with her and was frustrated with countless silly decisions she kept making. And then it ended on a cliffhanger of another bad decision. I really do want to see where this story goes so I will probably read the next book. I am hoping to see some growth with Aurora because I really want to love this series.

I absolutely loved this story! Once you get past the first chapter and Aurora crosses into an alternate world, the story picks up with adventure, mystery, and even a bit of romance. This had the feel of Princess Bride to me, making me laugh, gasp in surprise, and cheer for the heroine and her friends. Very much looking forward to the next installment!

First of all, let me just say I did not expect myself to LOVE THIS BOOK. I don't usually like reading fantasy, but when I read the synopsis and looked at the cover, I decided to give it a go. It turned out, I loved reading it so much I was sneaking small glances at it between classes. When I finally finished it, and looked at the clock, I was surprised at how quickly time had passed. I was so focused on reading I hadn't realised it had started raining. I can not believe this is Farah Oomerbhoy's debut novel! It could definitely be better in some ways (for example, be longer). I can't wait till the second book comes out.

I could not stay away from this book. I felt like I had to know EVERYTHING about Aurora. She was stubborn, witty and interesting. She had so much backstory she herself did not know about. She definitely was not a flat character. When ever she did something, or said something, it was as if she was doing it right before my eyes. The book was so realistic––and so not realistic––at the same time. It was as if it was a movie (but better). I found my palms sweating, whenever Aurora encountered the Shadow Guards, or whenever Snow was in danger.

I found myself hating Cornelia (although I must admit, I wanted to see more of her in the story and find out how her father––Aurora's adoptive uncle––knew about Lord Oblek and fae), even though she was only in the first few chapters. I found myself frowning whenever I read Leticia's name. I pitied Aurora––being hated by everyone, and having to live a secret.

Thanks to "The Last of the Firedrakes", I'm now into the fantasy genre. Also, to my surprise, I've found out that the author of this book is one of my friends's mom's friend (as confusing as that may sound), I'm proud of my friend's mom for knowing this amazing author. However, I assure you this review is not biased.

-ARC kindly offered by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review-

To say that I liked is an understatement but I can not even say that at times I have disappointed. The fairytail setting and mythological and magical characters were what attracted me the most. The love story is beautiful, the bond of family that Aurora is in Avalonia moved me in the deep but on some things I would have expected better.
Aurora Darlington, after the death of her adoptive parents, goes to live with hateful uncle, aunt and cousin who do nothing but abuse her. Her uncle would sell her to a powerful lord of a magical world called Avalonia, Lord Oblek, and he will lead her there by force with the intent to bring her in front of his queen. Why this kidnapping? And why this queen wants her dead? So Aurora will discover to be the heir to the throne of Illiador. When she was still a baby, his real parents have protected her till the end to save her from the clutches of Morgana, the sister of the father of Aurora. This latter reigns undisturbed on a throne that isn't her own and she tyrannize his people up to the extreme. The return of Aurora could be the salvation of all Avalonia as she is the last of the royal family Firedrake and half magician, half fairy. Her powers are powerful but she must learn to control them if she doesn't want to harm to others. Many will help her discover herself and in dealing with difficult times, including the family of her real uncle, Gabriel, a fae named Kalen, the fascinating and mysterious Rafe and other great people in that new world.
I didn't like the beginning. The first pages show Aurora in the human world and it seemed all too fast. The scene of her high school destroyed by yet despite cousin seems to be put there by chance, both to please the reader and show, though novelettish, her life miserable in the world that are not really a part. Then when she is brought on by Lord Oblek Avalonia, the story begins to take thickness.
The characters I've worshiped most. Kalen and his mother are very funny and make available; Snow, the Pegasus Aurora, who proves to be a faithful friend, as Vivienne, a girl that the protagonist meets at the school of magic. Uncle Gabriel is a gruff man with a golden heart but who goes out of his family and is always friendly to his found niece. There are many people that she met in Avalonia and it will take hour to list all the character but it is a must mention the beautiful Rafe. He is rebellious, loyal and protects Aurora at the cost of his life. His true identity is hidden for most part of the book and when it will find out it will be a real shock to the protagonist. He and Aurora are attracted at first glance, but their love is impossible. The reason I will not tell you because it is a spoilers :P Maybe their situation will be unlocked in the next volume of the series, who knows? However it is the protagonist this I had not liked much until the end. She make trouble on trouble and she is a complete irresponsible. Only in the last pages you can see a glimmer of change. She will become the future queen of Illiador and as such will become aware of many things and have more confidence in herself.
The style of Oomerbhoy is not bad but will have to focus more on the structure and on the beginning of the novel and improve the character of Aurora a bit more. What has demoralized me the most is the big cliffhanger with which ends this first volume. Okay, it's fine to intrigue the reader but the expectation kills a lot. I just have to wait for making me a thousand questions about what will happen next. The question we must answer is: Do I recommend this book? Yes, but be prepared and patience.

VOTE: 3,5/5

First of all I love the cover. It is so beautiful. I also loved this book. It is the type of fantasy I love. It is filled with adventure. It is not dark. It is a lighter fantasy book. I loved the main character Aurora. She is a well developed character. There are are so many things going on. There is a main plot and mini plots. The journeys were fun and dangerous. I loved the twists and terns. It is a very enjoyable book.

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Last of the firedrakes was a whirlwind of adventure to read. As a fan of The Chronicles of Narnia, the Throne Glass series and A Court of Thorns and Roses, this story really appealed to me. A magical coming of age story, about a likeable orphan who is wronged by the only family she knows in the world, and sets of on an adventure that changes her outlook on life. In truth reading this brought me back to my childhood, and for that I am grateful to the author. This is a fun young adult book, for anyone who enjoys some time in a dream world! Four stars!

**Reviewed for Netgalley**

From the moment I saw the cover, I wanted to read this book. I was not disappointed. Last of the Firedrakes refers to Aurora, a just-about-to-turn-17 years old young lady who is mourning her adopted parents' deaths. Her guardian, now, her Uncle, is given an assignment to meet the boss of his bank at his mansion, so they all drive there and are given rooms. Once they settle in, Aurora decides to see if she can find a library in the huge old house and once she finds it, that's when the real adventure begins.
Dragged through a tapestry, locked in a dungeon and rescued by a Black Wolf, Aurora learns she is the daughter of a King and Queen and that both her parents died trying to save her from her father's half-sister Morgana.

I really really loved this book. Aurora is no sleeping beauty. She's thrown into an entire new world and has to find her place in it without revealing just who she is. That's not as easy as it sounds when you're an untrained Mage who also carries Fae blood. Falling in love for the first time and learning control and also how to be a Queen worthy of the name, not just a puppet for well-meaning people. Aurora has her work cut out for her, but with friends like Vivienne, Rafe, Kalen and Erien, as well as family like Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Serena, she has a better chance than most. I love her determination and her stick0to-it-iveness and I can't wait to read the next one. Five stars, HIGHLY recommended for plot and pacing, if you like Harry Potter, you'll like The Last of the Firedrakes, trust me!

*I received a copy of both books through YA Bound Book Tours for review. This does not affect my review.* This review is completely voluntary.

Review: Ah! I'm so glad I got the chance to read these two amazing stories together! So good! I love the fae and world-building in this series! I'll admit, Aurora got on my nerves at the beginning of the series, but she goes through a lot of character growth through-out these two books! Fast-paced, and plenty of action, along with some romance and magic! This is a must-read series for any fans of YA fantasy!

Overall I just didn't really care for this book. It was recommended by a friend and I just couldn't get into it. The story seemed childish, and while I was reading I could almost picture this book as a cartoon. I kept thinking "this would make an awesome cartoon for kids" because I couldn't get past how young it felt. And the first quarter of the book, all the protagonist did was cry. And I get it, she's scared. It's probably what would really happen if some crazy guy kidnapped you and forced you into some really strange magical land. BUT this is supposed to be fantasy. And I like my female protagonist's to be tough and unique. So I guess this book just wasn't my cup of tea.

I have to say this book was a surprise. The storyline reminded me of Sarah Maas's books, which I enjoy. I always enjoy an interesting storyline and well-defined characters, and I think the author of the "Last Firedrake" achieved this. I think that there were lots of twist and turns and the author continued to make her fantasy world fascinating. I am hoping in the next book the author grows even more and develops the characters and fantasy world even more. I like Aurora when she is acting like a strong independent person and I hope the author continues to hone in on that for the character Aurora . I really liked the romance blooming for the two young royals and will be excited to see the next installment of the series.

Aurora is a beautiful girl who isn't living the kindest life. She is bullied and mistreated by those close to her but her world is suddenly flipped upside down she she enters a whole new world.

This book has everything a fantasy nut could want and it is a place that once visited, you could never forget. The setting is a place full of wonderment, beautiful bright colors, and fantastical creatures. It's filled with action and adventure, this book did not disappoint in the least. The author is a fantastic writer who can suck you in and keep you immersed in another world.

I cannot wait for the next installment in the series. I need to know more of Aurora's story,

The Last of the Firedrakes is a wonderful book with a compelling story, diverse characters, and great plot, packed with magic a perfect read for a fantasy lover.

A fast read filled with drama, entertainment and good pacing. Beginning is really great but somewhere in the middle it becomes little loose but author did a great comeback to make overall experience of reading this book well. A lot happened in this book, Aurora's journey is a long and twisted one, and that makes the book always changing and going in new directions. There is romance but not an easy love at first sight but one packed with tension and difficulties which was great, somewhere I found Aurora little too dumb but it was refreshing. Magical world created by author is also quite interesting especially a winged horse which belonged to a magical race known as "pegasus" which was quite cool.

Overall rating for The Last of the Firedrakes is 3 actually 3.5, it is a nicely written book with good plot and characters but somewhere story is pushed a bit more to get the predictable actions which is annoying at times. If you like fantasy you will surely enjoy this one. We are looking forward for next book in the series.

This book is difficult for me to review. After the first few pages I thought it'd be a dnf but after sticking with it I actually found myself sort of enjoying it. This book served as a good reminder to me of how difficult it must be to write a book. There was something about the way this book was written that made it clear it was from an author still developing their writing skills. The phrasing and the word choices frequently took me out of the story. It often felt like the author had gotten out a thesaurus to vary her word selections. The characters were also largely flat. Aurora herself was quite obnoxious- she constantly made bad choices based on what she "felt" like doing despite numerous warnings not to. Despite that, everyone always forgave her and adored her, even when the consequences were such that the whole kingdom could be destroyed. The villains and other characters were fairly predictable and didn't have much depth. That being said, there was some interesting world building (with fairly obvious parallels to other stories). Overall I think this book would be better for a younger reader- one who may not be as bothered by flat characters and angsty love at first sight.

*this book was provided for free by Ebooks for Review in return for an honest review

I try to keep spoilers out of my reviews as much as possible, and warn if there may be one. I gave this novel three stars for various reasons.

The novel itself has a lot of potential to be something great. However, I don’t believe it is quite there yet. The idea of the story itself is wonderful, but it isn’t well executed in my opinion. I believe a lot of this has to do with the style and tone of the writing. At times it came off as very juvenile. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but when you read a story and every sentence begins with “I did this….” “and then I did this…”, and continues, it can be very off-putting. There is a lot more telling than showing happening in this novel unfortunately, and that is another thing that caused me to become disjointed with the story.

Another issue with the story is that there is not enough development or build-up. Sometimes the events will jump around a lot and quickly, not giving enough information in-between. The biggest issue I had was the lack of relationship building between characters. *SLIGHT SPOILER* For example, the main character gains a best friend in the snap of your fingers, and a love interest within a matter of pages. There is hardly any build-up or filler information to show the progression of the characters relationship, and I had an issue with that. There were a few inconsistencies that I had found throughout, but nothing to major.

Some good notes that I want to make are this: the writing noticeably improved as I got further within the book. This helped me become way more engaged into the story and its characters. The author is also very descriptive when setting the scene or describing objects, etc. This helped me picture events, scenes, characters and places much easier in my mind. I plan to continue this series and read the next few books because I am not one to start something and not finish it eventually. Also, I really hope that as each book is written, they become more developed and engaging.

My favorite thing about the book would have to be the world building and political intrigue. Miss Farah’s descriptions were well written, there’s also a pretty map in the book that helped me visualize the world better and I really loved that as well.(book maps are the way to my heart y’all) The fae, mages, and fae-mage concepts were really interesting and I loved seeing Aurora’s journey in developing her abilities.

I can’t wait to read book 2 and find out what happens next!
FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book in exchange for an honest review

The Last of the Firedrakes is one of my favorite reads this year. The story chronicles 16 year old Aurora's journey as she leaves the mundane world through a magical tapestry (portal) and enters a world of magic. She quickly discovers she is far from ordinary, and that she has powers she never imagined. With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and to learn how to unleash the power within herself.

I loved this story. The characters were endearing, and I rooted for Aurora as struggled to develop her powers and gain confidence. My two other favorite characters were Rafe and Snow, the Pegasus. Rafe is basically that dreamy untouchable guy that you know is interested, but you just don't know how much, so he keeps you guessing. Throughout the story, I was wishing I had a pegasus like Snow.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the vivid descriptions. Much like Harry Potter stories, you can almost taste the delicious foods, strawberries and cream, game pies with gold crusts, fish in citrus sauce, fresh bread - am I making your stomach growl yet? You can also imagine the breathtaking scenery. Her attention to the details are impeccable. One of my favorite scenes is the Midnight Market.

This story is such a fun read. I highly recommend you check it out!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. Aurora was an orphan until she was adopted by a loving couple. She had no memory of her birth parents. All she had was a necklace when she went to the orphanage. She believes it's all she has from her parents. Now she is sixteen, her adopted parents died in a car accident and she is living with her adoptive father's brother. Her aunt and cousin hate her, but she thinks her uncle is ok. That all changes when they go to stay at his bosses estate. I will stop there so I don't give anything away. This book is magical and I really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it to fantasy and YA fans.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I'm usually not into stories with magical beings, and there are very few I can remember liking. This is definitely one of them!

The story is well-written. However, at times the vocabulary is a little repetitive. That kind of irked me, but not enough to deduct a star.

I am always disappointed when I read a book and find out that the next in its series has probably not been written yet. I am sad that I will have to wait a while to read the next one.

I definitely recommend reading it, though!

I got this book for free in exchange for an honest review. The concept looked interesting and I was excited to read it however that quickly changed. I don’t want to be mean but this book was not very good at all. The main character was a 16 year old but you never would have been able to tell unless the author mentioned it a few times because it felt like reading about a 8-10 year old’s daydream. She was so immature and childish and the magic used in the story was every cliché magical thing some one that age could think of from fairies to unicorns etc. The love story was weak and of course everything about her character was also so cliché, unoriginal and made me keep thinking of course she would be __________ and ___________ and then face palming and counting the time left to just get it over with. (Blanks to avoid spoilers just in case you read it.) . Elementary students would probably like it, but other than that I would just pass on this book.

This book was very entertaining. The beginning was sort of hard to get into, the author used many short sentences that either could have been combined or expanded upon. Yet the further I got into the story, the less the sentence structure bothered me. The story line was very engrossing, and I really got into the characters, especially Aurora and Rafe, and the setting of Avalonia. All of the names were unique and the world itself that Oomerbhoy created was one of great intrigue. I really started to enjoy Aurora, especially when she accepted her fate and began to adapt to this new world. Yet, near the last 2 or 3 chapters, she began to accept her fate a little too much. I think she should have listened to reason and not have been so stubborn in that last chapter. I know, it makes for a better plot, but she seemed ridiculously stubborn in the end and this really lessened my liking of her. Overall though, this was a very good read and I would definitely read a sequel, just to get more of Avalonia itself. The best part, honestly, was Rafe; he and Aurora took forbidden love to a whole other level *no spoilers* :) This is a unique, enthralling read that anyone who loves a good fantasy book would thoroughly enjoy.

A beautifully well written fantasy novel full of mystery and intrique.Mystical creatures and love and aventure. THis novel has everything.

Oh me oh my so as not to spoil it I cannot tell you what Auroras secret is but boy is it worth reading this novel.

Aurora is such a complex character strong and full of life. But unsure sometimes of if she is doing the right thing. Or if love is what she really wants.

Such strong emotions in this novel. It could bring a person to tears just reading about it.

I do so hope there is more in this series. I really enjoyed it and I love this authors writing style.

4 stars

I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

This book left me feeling conflicted. It had a lot of amazing aspects to it. Orphan, Aurora ends up in a magical world after being kidnapped. The world and all the magical beings was really cool. I loved Rafe and hold out hope for him and Aurora. I loved the secondary characters, all of them. Yet I didn't love Aurora. I didn't connect with her and was frustrated with countless silly decisions she kept making. And then it ended on a cliffhanger of another bad decision. I really do want to see where this story goes so I will probably read the next book. I am hoping to see some growth with Aurora because I really want to love this series.

I absolutely loved this story! Once you get past the first chapter and Aurora crosses into an alternate world, the story picks up with adventure, mystery, and even a bit of romance. This had the feel of Princess Bride to me, making me laugh, gasp in surprise, and cheer for the heroine and her friends. Very much looking forward to the next installment!

Aurora made me want to throw my device across the room. There were times she was awesome and there were times she was so foolish that I wanted to slap her. She was mature and then she would reverse course and act like a child. And Rafe? His last decision at the end of the book? Really? I mean really? I thought he was pretty smart and reasonable and then he had to go and do that. Not that he didn't frustrate me before with the little tug a war he had going on with Auroras feelings, and my own. However overall I liked the book and feel like I could read the next one. However I hope that the characters develop and for goodness sake STAY mature. I know the first book tends to make the characters either immature or mature off the back or show gradual growth. But this back and forth? Come on it's not like we become old then young then old then young again. We age and mature. Or at least the characters are supposed to

First of all, let me just say I did not expect myself to LOVE THIS BOOK. I don't usually like reading fantasy, but when I read the synopsis and looked at the cover, I decided to give it a go. It turned out, I loved reading it so much I was sneaking small glances at it between classes. When I finally finished it, and looked at the clock, I was surprised at how quickly time had passed. I was so focused on reading I hadn't realised it had started raining. I can not believe this is Farah Oomerbhoy's debut novel! It could definitely be better in some ways (for example, be longer). I can't wait till the second book comes out.

I could not stay away from this book. I felt like I had to know EVERYTHING about Aurora. She was stubborn, witty and interesting. She had so much backstory she herself did not know about. She definitely was not a flat character. When ever she did something, or said something, it was as if she was doing it right before my eyes. The book was so realistic––and so not realistic––at the same time. It was as if it was a movie (but better). I found my palms sweating, whenever Aurora encountered the Shadow Guards, or whenever Snow was in danger.

I found myself hating Cornelia (although I must admit, I wanted to see more of her in the story and find out how her father––Aurora's adoptive uncle––knew about Lord Oblek and fae), even though she was only in the first few chapters. I found myself frowning whenever I read Leticia's name. I pitied Aurora––being hated by everyone, and having to live a secret.

Thanks to "The Last of the Firedrakes", I'm now into the fantasy genre. Also, to my surprise, I've found out that the author of this book is one of my friends's mom's friend (as confusing as that may sound), I'm proud of my friend's mom for knowing this amazing author. However, I assure you this review is not biased.

-ARC kindly offered by Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review-

To say that I liked is an understatement but I can not even say that at times I have disappointed. The fairytail setting and mythological and magical characters were what attracted me the most. The love story is beautiful, the bond of family that Aurora is in Avalonia moved me in the deep but on some things I would have expected better.
Aurora Darlington, after the death of her adoptive parents, goes to live with hateful uncle, aunt and cousin who do nothing but abuse her. Her uncle would sell her to a powerful lord of a magical world called Avalonia, Lord Oblek, and he will lead her there by force with the intent to bring her in front of his queen. Why this kidnapping? And why this queen wants her dead? So Aurora will discover to be the heir to the throne of Illiador. When she was still a baby, his real parents have protected her till the end to save her from the clutches of Morgana, the sister of the father of Aurora. This latter reigns undisturbed on a throne that isn't her own and she tyrannize his people up to the extreme. The return of Aurora could be the salvation of all Avalonia as she is the last of the royal family Firedrake and half magician, half fairy. Her powers are powerful but she must learn to control them if she doesn't want to harm to others. Many will help her discover herself and in dealing with difficult times, including the family of her real uncle, Gabriel, a fae named Kalen, the fascinating and mysterious Rafe and other great people in that new world.
I didn't like the beginning. The first pages show Aurora in the human world and it seemed all too fast. The scene of her high school destroyed by yet despite cousin seems to be put there by chance, both to please the reader and show, though novelettish, her life miserable in the world that are not really a part. Then when she is brought on by Lord Oblek Avalonia, the story begins to take thickness.
The characters I've worshiped most. Kalen and his mother are very funny and make available; Snow, the Pegasus Aurora, who proves to be a faithful friend, as Vivienne, a girl that the protagonist meets at the school of magic. Uncle Gabriel is a gruff man with a golden heart but who goes out of his family and is always friendly to his found niece. There are many people that she met in Avalonia and it will take hour to list all the character but it is a must mention the beautiful Rafe. He is rebellious, loyal and protects Aurora at the cost of his life. His true identity is hidden for most part of the book and when it will find out it will be a real shock to the protagonist. He and Aurora are attracted at first glance, but their love is impossible. The reason I will not tell you because it is a spoilers :P Maybe their situation will be unlocked in the next volume of the series, who knows? However it is the protagonist this I had not liked much until the end. She make trouble on trouble and she is a complete irresponsible. Only in the last pages you can see a glimmer of change. She will become the future queen of Illiador and as such will become aware of many things and have more confidence in herself.
The style of Oomerbhoy is not bad but will have to focus more on the structure and on the beginning of the novel and improve the character of Aurora a bit more. What has demoralized me the most is the big cliffhanger with which ends this first volume. Okay, it's fine to intrigue the reader but the expectation kills a lot. I just have to wait for making me a thousand questions about what will happen next. The question we must answer is: Do I recommend this book? Yes, but be prepared and patience.

VOTE: 3,5/5

Didn’t finish it. Couldn’t finish it. It was too silly. I know it’s YA. However, I’ve read many YA novels where the protagonist had a modicum of maturity. This 16 year old acted like a she was six. This one wasn’t for me.

(Free copy in exchange for review)

I have mixed feelings about this one. It started off well enough - a young 16-year-old, Aurora, is an orphan living with her aunt, uncle and cousin who despise her. Her uncle sells her to a mysterious man from another world where she discovers her true identity. But it goes very, very slowly downhill from there. Enter many clichés and you get what I’m talking about - silly fairy names, a magical school, the fact that there has never been anyone more powerful than Aurora, mysterious, handsome stranger that she falls in love with instantly. It really is a shame because Oomerbhoy builds a fantastic world to have an adventure in.

The worst, however, is the heroine’s stupidity and inane questions. I remember being 16 but surely she could have connected the dots for SOME of this stuff, and her stubbornness to not plan ahead and to just run off into danger, regardless of consequences, over and over and over and over… she’s supposed to be a QUEEN?!

Will I read book 2? Maybe. If I have nothing else to read. Otherwise, Avalonia stops here for me.

Farah Oomerbhoy may very well be India's next Tolkien. THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES is a glorious enchanting read. Not only is the world building stunning, but her captivating descriptions are reminiscent of other great classics, such as The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings, and the Harry Potter Series. If you are looking for a fantastic fantasy filled with mages, fairies, magic, orphans, and wonderful mythology, look no further, Farah's debut novel is for you!

In an Oyster Shell – This was a fantastical read that sucked me in from beginning to end, I’m anxiously awaiting for the next book.

The Pearls – The concept of the book was interesting and was executed well. I was hooked on this book the minute the fantasy world came into play. It was so interesting.

This book was exactly the type I wanted to read. It was almost reminiscent of Harry Potter in some ways but with different elements of course and most importantly, a likeable and relatable female lead. I am very much looking forward to continuing the store of Aurora and learning more about her skills, and her future.

I am somewhat new to the genre, just starting to read more YA books especially fantasy and dystopian. This book makes me want to continue in the genre.

This book is a wonderful, fast paced magical adventure. It is full of fantastical creatures such as magicians, the Fae, a Pegasus, and a Manticore. I was fully engaged in the story from beginning to end. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be released. The heroine starts out as a timid, unsure person who evolved into a strong, self-assured girl. She knows what is right, and what she has to do to make things right. There is an intriguing love interest that I can’t wait to see what happens. Do they get together, or will the obstacles be unsurmountable?

A good but not incredible story, I feel that the world the author created it wasn’t well develop and the characters needed to be more memorable, I enjoyed it and it is a book with a lot of potential, I hope it'll improve with the next one.

I received this book in exchange for my review.

The Last of the Firedrakes has a lot of positives but I feel like it missed the mark a bit. Everything seemed just a little bit rushed. The plot was not allowed to develop slowly - it seemed like things progressed too quickly and resolved themselves without allowing enough build up. I did like the premise, sort of a Harry Potter story with a female protagonist. I just wish the author would have added a few more pages to fill in some more details. Note that I am a fan of long, epic tales, so if you prefer quick resolutions, you will certainly enjoy this story.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

Ah, how do I put this lightly. This book was cheesy, to say the least. Think Harry Potter meets Twilight with dashes of medieval times. Needless to say, I felt like the author was trying too hard with this one. Ask anyone, Harry Potter and Twilight don't mix.

First, I would like to comment on the cover of the book. I really liked it. It was part of what inspired me to read this book. That and the summary. It captures the story perfectly and was just the right kind of cover to capture the eye of readers as well.

So let's start with aspects I didn't like. There was too much telling and not enough showing. The author would just say that something was and everyone (characters) would automatically believe it. But then later, she would show something that completely negated what she had said earlier on.

I felt like a lot of times the story line got way too cheesy for my taste. Like "Oh! Rafe!" was a bit too much for me. And while I'm all for a knight in shining armor, Rafe's character definitely felt too good to be true. And - for the record - I called him on being the crown prince like a long time ago.

Another problem I had was the naming. Now, I'm a huge supporter of weird names. I like the unusual and always have. However, there were some names in this story that I couldn't shake. Two, in particular, kind of sat wrong with me because all I could think about was Disney. 1) Aurora. Now this one didn't bother me too much because they called her "Rory" for the majority of the story, but all I could think about was Sleeping Beauty. The other Disney flashback was 2) Morgana. First, she was playing the villain and with a distinctive name like Morgana, all I could think about was Ursula's evil sister from The Little Mermaid II. Like, I literally was waiting for some underwater ice cave to pop up out of nowhere. Other than that, some of the names were just really hard to pronounce and I kept getting tripped up on them, but that's nothing new for me. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm pronouncing "Cassia" right (and yes Ally Condie and I'm looking at you).

Now, every person in this book just seemed to go along with the crazy. Aurora would explain something to them and they would be like "Oh, yeah, you totally have my trust." I kept waiting for one of them to turn on her (besides the obvious like Damien and Leticia). But no, everyone was so cool with everything, even once they found at she had like fae-mage powers.

And that brings me to the parallel between Harry Potter and Twilight. Obviously the mage aspect of the story with a special mage school just screamed Harry Potter to me, but in a definite cheesy voice, because it didn't fit right in this world. The fae part reminds me of Twilight because I've learned that fae seem to be the new vampires. Like Stephanie Meyer who altered the vicious version of vampires into these sparkly fairies (yes, pun intended), the author chose to ignore the more vicious side of the fae that I've kind of gotten used to, and made them happy powerful people. It took me a long time to warm up to fae in my beloved novels. But as long as they like killing people, I'm totally good with it.

(I would like to make a note that I do not hate Stephanie Meyer or her vampires or Twilight! That is the book that got me reading again and I owe my gratitude to that woman!)

As if the magical folk in this book couldn't get even more outlandish, the author has this pegasus. I like flying horses as much as the next eight year old, but in a YA novel, I expected more from the horse. Like, why couldn't it spit fire? While Snow, the pegasus, was probably one of the more badass characters in this story, when she talked, all I could hear was this majestic lady voice that was even more prestigious sounding than the dragon in Eragon and that dragon was a badass.

Literally, this book reminded me of drunk college girls on a very basic level. It was like, if one person said, "Hey! I'm a fae-mage!" Everyone else would shout, "I totally support you!" in a high pitched squeal that would have everyone sober within a five-mile radius covering their ears.

However, the story at its bones was good. I liked the concept of a strange new world with a girl who discovers she's heir to a throne and has all these powers she has to control, plus that forbidden romance blooming. It's the bones of most YA books, which is why I appreciate it. There definitely could have been more done to it to enhance the book. The meaty part was lacking. The execution of the storyline could have been better. Maybe all it needed was the right eye to look at it and help the author, because I feel like this story definitely had potential.

The Last of the Firedrakes is the first installment in this series, and I will probably read the rest just because I want to know how this story ends and it was a quick read. I also look forward to seeing how this author's writing grows the more she writes and the more books she puts out.

Writing is a process, I know, and I hate judging books when I realize how much effort an author has put in to this story. I appreciate that. I didn't fill those pages, the author did. But I promise honest reviews and I would be betraying that promise if I sugar-coated everything I wrote.

And that is all I have to say on The Last of the Firedrakes. I hope you like what I discovered, as I read this book from cover to cover!

Check out my blog covertocoverreviews.blogspot.com for more honest reviews!

I was sent this book for an honest review.

I was excited for this book. Sixteen year old, Aurora, is an orphan being raised by an aunt and uncle who doesn't love her. She is then kidnapped and brought into a world of magic; a world where she is originally from. This had so many parallels to the Harry Potter series. I WAS READY FOR IT. Unfortunately, the similarities between the two series did not allow me to enjoy this one.

All the characters seemed to be one dimensional stereotypes. I admit, a couple of times it made me laugh. However, more often than not, it frustrated the heck out of me. Especially, Aurora. She seemed to be a silly girl that had no concept of consequences. It was refreshing to see a naive character, rather than a cold, hardened protagonist that readers usually see. She also experienced some character development, but it wasn't enough for me to take her seriously. This is a first book in a series and I'm not even remotely curious to read the next book. It's honestly a shame.

I very much enjoyed this book - i found the characters engaging and loved that it incorporated pieces of fairy tales into this unique story. It took a bit to get started and understand the direction, but after the story took flight into Avalonia it was a fun and quick read. There were parts that were pretty predictable, yet the twists and turns that happened after my predictions made this a good read. I look forward to the next book!

I really enjoyed reading The Last of the Firedrakes. This book is the first book in the series entitled the Avalonia Chronicles, and is written by Farah Oomberbhoy. I received this book as an advanced reader's copy through NetGalley, and I have to say I was not disappointed. The Last of the Firedrakes is a story about orphaned 16 year old Aurora. She has a tough time fitting in and school and is mistreated by her adopted family. One evening, she finds herself kidnapped, and dragged through a painting into a magic but dangerous world called Avalonia which is filled with fairies, mages, and evil queens. While there, Aurora learns the truth about her parents, and must fight for her future and the future of all Avalonia.
Overall, I thought this novel was great. I thought that Farah did a good job creating the characters and developing their stories throughout the book. The main character, Aurora, was such a strong protagonist. She showed incredible bravery and power, yet she also had moments of weakness and self-doubt. I was hooked from the beginning, and to be honest, I could not put this book down until I was finished with it. It was intriguing and I just had to know what would happen. Plus, there was a bit of romance mixed in that was filled with mystery and secrets, which makes the reader want to know what is going to happen as well. I simply cannot wait to read the next installment. I give this book 8.5 out of 10, and would definitely recommend this book to lovers of young adult fantasy and magical stories.

Note: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley.

This book is amazing! This is honestly one of the best fantasy books I've ever read in my entire life!!! I read it digitally, so I'm hoping to get it in a physical book form soon! If you love fantasy, this is the PERFECT book for you!

Terrible writing. Needed an editor to guide this author to "show, don't tell," avoid cliches, and to develop characters. Obviously a Master's in English Lit does not equal a Master's in Creative Writing. Don't waste your money or your time on this.

**Reviewed for Netgalley**

From the moment I saw the cover, I wanted to read this book. I was not disappointed. Last of the Firedrakes refers to Aurora, a just-about-to-turn-17 years old young lady who is mourning her adopted parents' deaths. Her guardian, now, her Uncle, is given an assignment to meet the boss of his bank at his mansion, so they all drive there and are given rooms. Once they settle in, Aurora decides to see if she can find a library in the huge old house and once she finds it, that's when the real adventure begins.
Dragged through a tapestry, locked in a dungeon and rescued by a Black Wolf, Aurora learns she is the daughter of a King and Queen and that both her parents died trying to save her from her father's half-sister Morgana.

I really really loved this book. Aurora is no sleeping beauty. She's thrown into an entire new world and has to find her place in it without revealing just who she is. That's not as easy as it sounds when you're an untrained Mage who also carries Fae blood. Falling in love for the first time and learning control and also how to be a Queen worthy of the name, not just a puppet for well-meaning people. Aurora has her work cut out for her, but with friends like Vivienne, Rafe, Kalen and Erien, as well as family like Uncle Gabriel and Aunt Serena, she has a better chance than most. I love her determination and her stick0to-it-iveness and I can't wait to read the next one. Five stars, HIGHLY recommended for plot and pacing, if you like Harry Potter, you'll like The Last of the Firedrakes, trust me!

It just wasn't for me. I expected something different, I guess. Some of the writing was mediocre which I think detracted too much from the book for me. If it had been well edited, I might have liked it more.

Aurora Darlington has lived with her adopted Aunt and Uncle since the death of adopted parents. Aurora has always known that she was adopted and has always wondered who her real parents were and who she is never expecting to ever find out. Until the day she is betrayed by her adopted Uncle sells her to a Lord from another realm filled with Faes and fairies and other magical creatures.

In this real Aurora learns who she is and what happened to her mother and father and what they did to protect her. She meets her Granduncle who takes her in and tries to keep her safe from the Queen who killed her mother and father all those years ago so she could be the Queen.

The Queen is not such a nice person and is very evil and she wants nothing more than to find Aurora. But with the help of her Granduncle and the new friends that she has made in this new realm they are all working very hard to keep Aurora hidden. In order to save her kingdom Aurora must tap into and find her magic and learn to control it so she can beat the Queen and save the people.

Aurora is a very strong person who will do anything even put herself in danger to save the people that she loves and cares about. She is way more powerful than she can even imagine.

The world that the author has created for The Last of the Firedrakes is out of this world amazing. I loved the fae and the Pegasus, the lands that Aurora traveled during her journey from one place to another and the magic that she can wield. Oh and did I mention the dreamy, handsome Black Wolf? He was one hot tamale. I can’t wait to check out the next book The Rise of the Dawnstar.

If you like to read about magic, fae and a good fantasy then you are going to love The Last of the Firedrakes.

This book has such incredible characters and places. I only wish that it had been more fleshed out. It is probably considered a YA book, and it is written as though by a teenage author. It seems rushed, and the rare fully descriptive scenery seems borrowed from more mature books. The word "beautiful" and "beautifully" was written four times in a paragraph to describe surroundings which is a bit unimaginative. While that may seem a bit harsh for such an entertaining book, I would say that I stick with my original wish. If this book was fleshed out enough to allow your imagination to fully develop around what could be an incredible fictional world instead of rushed and jumping from scene to scene, it would be 1000 times better.

Although I don't read enough YA these days, my heart still beats for them! The Last of the Firedrakes was just the YA book I needed to bring that magic back. Not only was it an amazing story but it also had tons of magic, a magical Pegasus, a cold-hearted queen, and the main character that I loved.

Let’s start with the story itself. I must admit that the book at first was a little slow for me, but once the third paragraph rolled in: DAMN GIRL!! From there on I was glued to the story and threw a tantrum every time I had to put the book down. The last of the Firedrakes has a unique story that manages to give us a ton of information and still keep It light to read and always super fun.

Aurora was in a tough situation when the book first started, and I felt so bad for her! I instantly bonded with her because she’s such a likable character that despite her situation throughout the book, she overcomes it like a BOSS! I loved watching that evolution, it only made me love her even more. We all know that sometimes a 16-year-old in a book can be a little overwhelming, but Aurora was super mature and courageous.

This is the first book I ever read from this author and I must say I’m impressed. Not only can she describe magical worlds that made me feel like I actually live there, but the overall book is wonderfully well written. It doesn’t have any slow moments, it kept me interested until the very end, it has tons of secrets to discover and characters that were truly unique.

The last of the Firedrakes was a wonderful journey that I can’t wait to carry on with on the second book. If you love fantasy stories filled with secrets, magic, loyal friends and an amazing main character, then this book is for you!

I had been trying to run from my destiny. I had to stop running. I had to turn and face my life head on. It wasn’t enough being like everyone else; I had to be the best, and I was going to show everyone what I was truly made of. I was done with being a terrified princess, constantly waiting to be saved”

Aurora Darlington is an orphan raised by her uncle and his family. She’s just a kid, trying to grow up. Then someone appears from out of nowhere and kills her uncle....and her whole life, her whole world changes as she gets taken through the portal by the killer on a quest to bring her to the Ruler of Avalonia. Life may never be the same once she discovers who and what she is. Will she will also find everything that she has been looking for?

I was literally blown away with this book. In my life I have become a big fantasy reader, I shelve this book with Harry Potter and other strong series. I read it in two sittings (and it would have been one but I fell asleep). I could not put it down it was that good. Watch for Oomerbhoy’s work, and enjoy! Highly recommended. 5/5

The whole premise of The Last of the Firedrakes intrigued me. Who doesn’t want to find out that they’re a princess and go on a magical adventure in a new and strange land? I know that I would!

And while there were many things I like about this one. One thing I need to mention is language. I normally read “clean” books. This one, while being written for young adults, is one I considered not finishing due to language. I don’t want to be a prude, and I pretty much overlook farmer words. There were a few of those in this one. One thing I don’t like is when a woman is referred to as the b-word. And that’s what happened in this book. And I really felt that where that was located in the story, it didn’t fit any way. In a different land that seems old and proper, you’re not going to hear anyone called our swear words. They may have their own however.

Anyway…I liked Aurora as a character. She’s a 16 year-old. She’s lost two sets of parents. Her “aunt and uncle” aren’t overly kind to her. And one evening, she finds herself sold by her uncle to a scary monster from another world. This is where things get interesting! She’s taken to another world, a world of magic and mythical creatures. A world where she stands out like a sore thumb. But a world where she actually does belong. I loved that she discovers that she’s truly a princess, every little girl’s dream. And that she most likely possesses magic that she’s going to need to control.

Her time at school reminded me a little bit of Harry Potter. School was where she was going to learn to control her magic. All while being disguised so no one knows she’s a princess. Aurora or Rory as she’s known at school is constantly getting herself into trouble though. She doesn’t know enough about who to avoid and she’s a bit naive about what people’s motives are. I liked that she has a dear friend, Vivienne. There’s also Rafe, the Black Wolf, who has saved Aurora more times than she can count. And Kalen the fay.

This one has an interesting plot and cast of characters. If you can overlook a few words, it’s really a great story!

This story was such a pleasant surprise. It captured my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting more of Aurora's story at the end.

Farah Oomerbhoy wove a brilliant story between our world and that of magical beings. She has such a way with words that the reader is able to submerse themselves completely into the world of Avalonia. Oomerbhoy builds and teaches the reader, as well as Aurora, the way of Avalonia and those that live within. The descriptions in which Oomerbhoy uses to develop the world is part of what makes this book so magical. The reader can truly envision the different kingdoms and dwellings of Avalonia. From the tree houses of the Fae, to the dark and dangerous dungeons of Balek's castle, everything is beautifully descriptive.

The story follows the trials and triumphs of Aurora. The reader immediately falls in love with the main character, hurting with her as she is psychologically abused by the relatives that took her in after the death of her adoptive parents. Aurora feels alone and suffers, only to be abandoned by yet another set of "parents" into a dangerous and unknown world. She triumphs over these bitter circumstances and grows to accept the life she was meant to have. She beings to embrace the new world wholeheartedly and slowly builds friendships with those around her.

Not only is Oomerbhoy a master at world building, she develops characters fully. The reader feels as though they are truly getting to know the characters within this story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, magical worlds, and roguish men. It was exactly what I was looking for!

Aurora thinks she's just another normal orphan living with her hateful family and bullied at school until one day she's knidnapped and taken through a magical portal into a fairy tail word and finding out it's even worse than her old life.
She soon discovers she's in Avalonia, a magical land where those who possess magic reign and whose queen is a vile human being that will take down everything that stands between her and her goals and thirst for power.
Aurora soon finds that the key to her past lies deep in Avalonia and she will need the help of the friends she made along the way to find out who she is and to take her place in the world again.
While reading this book you'll notice two things: one is that Avalonia is like if you grabbed all your fairy tale "land" ideas and had smashed them all into only one and the other thing is that you'll never want to put this book down!
The storyline and the characthers in this book are so well developed that you'll really feel transported to Avalonia and you'll fell that you're Aurora and that you're doing the things she's doing and that, my friends, is one of the greatest things an author can do, in my humble opinion.
Everything in this story is well thought and beautifully acomplished! There are details that you'll find in one part of the story that will only be used a little ahead and you're only given a little bit of information at a time so when the main characther wonders what is it that the others are hiding you feel exactly what she feels!
I loved the way that the author used references from Arthurian Legends, fairy legends and even, I think, of real life and putted it all in one concise story, that way you feel a little familiar with the story but even then the story is completely different from what you'll expect.
If you love everything that has to do with Disney or love history, adventure, magic, love honor and friendship you should really read this book since it will satisfy your thirst for good stories.
I'm really anticipating the next book!

http://thebewitchedreader.blogspot.pt/2015/07/the-last-of-firedrakes-avalonia.html

*thank you to Kate Tilton’s Author Services, Farah Oomerbhoy, and Wise Ink Creative Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

So the story opens with our girl, Aurora, being teased by her cousin. Aside from the obvious name similarity with Sleeping Beauty, I think we’re in a Disney retelling here....Cinderella maybe?

Ha ha ha, just kidding, not Cinderella at all! I am quite pleasantly surprised. Aurora’s been captured by the evil Oblek (a name that makes me think of the slime you made as a child called oobleck) and he’s planning to turn her over to evil Queen Morgana. But she escapes with the help of the Black Wolf, a mysterious man who seems to constantly evade death. He takes her to her uncle who informs her that she is a rare breed of person, a cross between two magical species and must be protected at all costs for she is the true heir to the throne of Avalonia.

After a few run-ins with bandits and various other bad guys, Aurora is sent to the local school for mages so she can learn how to harness her powers. While at school, Aurora finds herself getting in and out of trouble. It seems like everything goes well for this girl and she doesn’t suffer any consequences for breaking school rules or just being generally unlearned in the ways of Avalonia.

Aurora meets some people who I think j will be quite helpful as she quests to become stronger and overthrow her tyrannous aunt.

Ms. Oomerbhoy has a way with words! She knows how to lead the reader on with breadcrumbs just to drop a bombshell into their lap on the next page! I really enjoyed this book, I can’t wait to see what Aurora’s journey brings her as far as learning magic, learning about herself, and yes, love.

This book is one of those fantasies you want to live in simply because the characters and pace of the story are so very compelling. I fell in love with Aurora and with her plight to understand the circumstances surrounding her parents' deaths and the visions she'd recently begun having.

One of Oomerbhoy's biggest strengths is her captivating descriptions. Sometimes I just had to sit back and say "wow" after she'd described the adornments of a castle, or the seediness of a tavern, or the pure delightfulness of a treehouse. Her descriptions were always evocative without ever being overdone. This is an enviable skill, to say the least.

There is well-placed tension, both in terms of the plot (high stakes: an evil queen is out to kill Aurora) and between the characters (a handsome but mysterious young man helps Aurora, but he has his own well-guarded secrets).

This story was completely enjoyable, and engaged me from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a classic fantasy.

The Last of the Firedrakes reminded me of the Harry Potter universe. Full of magic and mysticism and possibilities, this was one engaging and quick read for me.

And yes, it has a map! If you've seen my Instagram , you'll know how much I love bookish maps. I haven't been a fan of fairies, fae and related creatures, to be honest. But the fantastical world of Avalonia sucked me in. I'm looking for more 'fae' books to add to my already overflowing TBR on Goodreads now.

The character development and world building are what impressed me most in this book. It did take a little while, but I actually started to care about Rafe, and I had no idea how and when he snuck up and grew on me. Aurora though, did not have the same effect. Annoying at times, sort of 'meh' at others, I couldn't really connect with her as well as Rafe.

To sum it up, if you are a fantasy geek, give The Last of the Firedrakes a try. Would I read the sequel? Yes, definitely, I'm rather looking forward to it!

My favorite thing about the book would have to be the world building and political intrigue. Miss Farah’s descriptions were well written, there’s also a pretty map in the book that helped me visualize the world better and I really loved that as well.(book maps are the way to my heart y’all) The fae, mages, and fae-mage concepts were really interesting and I loved seeing Aurora’s journey in developing her abilities.

I can’t wait to read book 2 and find out what happens next!
FTC DISCLAIMER: I received this book in exchange for an honest review

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! I'm usually not into stories with magical beings, and there are very few I can remember liking. This is definitely one of them!

The story is well-written. However, at times the vocabulary is a little repetitive. That kind of irked me, but not enough to deduct a star.

I am always disappointed when I read a book and find out that the next in its series has probably not been written yet. I am sad that I will have to wait a while to read the next one.

I definitely recommend reading it, though!

Terrible writing. Needed an editor to guide this author to "show, don't tell," avoid cliches, and to develop characters. Obviously a Master's in English Lit does not equal a Master's in Creative Writing. Don't waste your money or your time on this.

It just wasn't for me. I expected something different, I guess. Some of the writing was mediocre which I think detracted too much from the book for me. If it had been well edited, I might have liked it more.