It was kind of interesting with the right amount of drama. But the romance between the main characters felt a bit odd to me, like it did not fit. It did not take them too long from being enemies to falling for each other.

Emberhawk was a pleasant surprise! With interesting worldbuilding and lovably humorous characters, I think this is one many people can enjoy. The only downside for me is that it read perhaps a little young. Can’t wait for the next books in the series!

Unfortunately, I lost this copy and can't read it. I'll rate it high due to that I feel like this can be a new favorite of mine.

Okay first...let me just point out that cover! It's gorgeous! Paired with an exciting summary, and I couldn't wait to pick this one up! I'm thrilled to announce, I wasn't let down, in fact I found this story to be beautiful inside and out, and loved reading it! I loved the characters, found the world-building to be detailed enough to picture, without overtaking the story, the plot was complex and easily kept me reading into the night, with surprises and twists that thrill (and actually did surprise me!) and interesting elemental wielders and original lore to match? Um...yes! I loved reading this, and Jamie Foley easily checked all the boxes I look for in this type of story, while also doing each so well! The characters are enjoyable, with interesting personality, a nice suggestion of backstories, and as a reader that emotional connection to characters that I seek is definitely there! The rest of the story is well written and thought out, further adding to the character's history and journey as they are forced to grow and adapt to fight the oppressors. As absolutely stunning story inside and out!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Emberhawk. What a ride!

With its epic fantasy setting and enticing writing, I couldn't help but enjoy myself whilst reading this book. I enjoyed the three perspective story telling and the banter between Ryon and Kira, I thought they were well rounded and strong characters written with good dialogue and interpersonal relations.

With those points being what I enjoyed about the book, there were a few things that I disliked which really dampened my rating score. My issue really came with the plot, some perspectives, details and characterisation. I hope that in the future books, the world–which definitely had potential– would be explored further. Especially with the elemental magic system.

Although I did pick up a majority of the information presented in the glossary at the start of the book, there were some details with the magic that were a bit confusing such as the extent of power on the basis of social status, location etc. It was clear there was a differentiation but no further detail was provided as to what this entailed.

Unfortunately this wasn't my only issue. I found that the plot was extremely loose. Although there was talk of a brewing war (which I know for a fact will end up being at the forefront of the next two books) there really was no reason for Princess Vylia's perspective. I was trying to work out throughout the book where she fit into the plot. Although her role as a mediator was obviously related to this overarching story of war, in this particular novel I found myself questioning her involvement in the telling of Emberhawk as a novel by itself. This comes back to the plot, yet again which, as I said was loose. If you asked me what Emberhawk (not the series but rather this book in particular) was about plot wise, I'll struggle to explain it all too well and the reason behind that is simple. The characters both had reasons for being in town however, there was no reason that I could deduct for them to go on this journey. I was trying to find some reasoning behind it however, I failed in this regard. It was like:

-Guy ends up being kidnapped by girl
-Guy escapes and is wounded in the process
-Girl finds him (also wounded) and they end up continuing forward rather than returning home

And yes, I do realise that they were trying to find medicine, I think, for Kira's mother but that goal was muddled in somewhere and at times, I completely forgot what the whole point of their quest in the first place actually was.

But plot aside, I did like Ryon. He was my favourite character. I didn't mind Kira... until I did. It was halfway through the book that I found her to be really annoying and at times extremely naive. There was one part in the book where Ryon and Kira had to lie for their own safety and Kira was very slow and questioning Ryon at terrible times. I understand this was obviously because she was in a completely new environment with strange and difficult circumstances but her naivety really annoyed me and at times I found myself even eyerolling at some of her dialogue or actions.

All in all, this seems to be a very promising series but if I was rating this based on a standalone, there were a few things that fell flat when it could've been amazing. That being said, there definitely is room for improvement!

ACTUAL RATING: 3.4 STARS

Astonishing world building. Kira is the heroine we all need in our lives. She is such a badass. It is hard to build one's own religion and weave it so seamlessly into the plot. Can't wait to read the next installment.

Humourous, fast-paced, and deadly, this story demands attention. The threats Kiralau faces are terrifying, none more so than her own doubts and beliefs.

DNF at 20%

I am so sad I couldn't get through the book, but I was just so confused, felt like I was almost picking up the pieces while going. And I wasn't hooked up enough from the very beginning to go on. And the main character came off to me as whiney, or a little bit annoying.
I tried giving it multiple chances but just couldn't.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc!

I requested a copy of this a while back and finally got around to reading it. This is a simple storyline in the fantasy genre with some standard tropes and some not-so-standard ones. That said, it felt like it was for a younger audience than I initially expected, and with that and my recent experiences with fantasy, it was not wholly for me.

That does not mean the book is in any way bad. We have a spunky young leading lady, who has her family’s best interests at heart and exceptional skill at hunting. The magic of the world was interestingly put, and the introductions to the politics of the world was steadily improved throughout the book. Overall, this comes in a good package. The different ‘country’ people spoke in a slightly different way with mildly varying mannerisms but enough to be used as distinguishing factors in the future. The man/boy who is trapped on the wrong side of the border has a lot of things going badly for him, some which he does not even suspect at the very beginning. There is an action-packed journey through hostile territory, fast-paced action and sibling/familial bonding that was heartening to see. I think it is an excellent way to introduce teens to the genre.

⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experiences.

In this amazing book by Jamie Foley we are presented with a singular world, a planet called Alani, full of dangerous animals and even more dangerous people.
It's in this world that we met a young Navakovrae named Kira.
A young tracer that lives with her family in the family's ranch at the border of the Malaano Empire. While trying to hunt the animal that's killing the family chickens, she gets a more dangerous prey.
Ryon is a scout for the Tribal Alliance and, by mistake, he ends as Kira's prey. Hurt by an arrow, captured by the enemy, he tries to escape, but he doesn't count with Kira persistence.
While trying to survive in the Katrosi Forests, Kira and Ryon find a enemy in common and so the story begins.

---

This is one of the best YA fantasy/distopy that I've read since Throne of Glass and Red Queen. Seriously. An well created world, good writting, amazing characters. This book got me hooked more than I expected. The plot is breathtaking and you keep reading because you need to know more. And I definitly need more! Absolutely loved this book. Now I need it in portuguese!

Emberhawk by Jamie Foley is an incredible novel because it does what it sets out to do. You want elementals walking the world playing with all the pathetic humans? You got it. You want a potential war between different groups? You bet it is in here. You want a diverse cast with characters that struggle and have their moral compasses challenged? Right here. Girl shoots boy who winds up being an enemy solider with her dad's arrows? It is so here.
This book I cannot sing its praises enough because it is refreshing that the blurb is what actually happens in the book. The world-building was effortless and I finished it in three days and regretted when I got to the last page.
I have already bought the first book and preordered the second book. I will not say much about it except that this a book I would recommend reading to understand what I mean about it being a breath of fresh air.
5 out of 5 stars (500 out of 5 stars)

Emberhawk by Jamie Foley is an incredibly interesting young adult fantasy, it is captivating and I didn't want this book to end, I can't wait for more books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a really enjoyable read! The characters, the world-building and the writing were so interesting. It gave me AVATAR TLA vibes and I absolutely adored Ryon! The romance made me swoon and the complex system of this world was explained so well it didn't overwhelm me! Overall I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adventurous and exciting read!

That was absolutely amazing!

When I first started this book, I had no idea what to expect- and in a few short chapters these characters absolutely blew me away!

The vivid descriptions, the stunning characters and not to mention the world itself?! I couldn't read fast enough, I was so invested.

Kira and Ryon were both such fun characters to follow, (and I LIVED for their witty interactions)!
I'm so excited to (hopefully) see more romance between them in the rest of the series.

The idea of elemental powers was really interesting to learn about as the story progressed and I also appreciated the different representations given.

I will definitely be coming back to this series in the future and I highly recommend it if you're looking for a high-fantasy romance with amazing world-building and plot!


Rating: 4/5 ⭐

~I was gifted an eARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.
All opinions are my own.

Two things attracted me to this novel: the cover and the synopsis.
The cover is very well designed and the different features were something that caught my eye; the synopsis reminded me of the Something Dark and Holy series by Emily A. Duncan, which I very much enjoyed the concept of.

Emberhawk’s opening chapter is fast paced and got me hyped.
The thrill of the chase (quite literally) threw me into the world right with the characters.

The world building – oh my! – is absolutely outstandingly beautiful.
I have to be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve read something as detailed and in depth as the world of Emberhawk. Filled to the absolute brim of diverse culture, unique folklore and malicious creatures that are always hunting for their next prey.

Intricate politcs play a big role.
Just like our society, there's politcs - and they're certainly... complex. It was quite a bit to digest upon first getting into the story, and to be honest, I still don't know/didn't take in some of it. I know somethings (the things that were mentioned consistently) like the stereotypes and some of which tribes are at war with each other and who are allies -- it's all kind of hazy.

On the other hand, racism is included.
Of course racism, despite exisiting today, should be banished from our society altogether as there is literally no need to demean people due to the skin and/or heritage. I will not be including these terms in this review however I thought best to mention this topic as a forewarning to others who may be sensitive to this subject. Though what I will say is that the racism is mainly aimed towards Kira. Personally, it made me prouder of Kira when she overcame the obstacles when comments like these were made towards her; but I understand that racism can be a sensitve topic to some.

I had no idea what to expect when I began reading this book. A few authors I follow had recommended it, so I figured it had to be pretty good. Honestly, it was better than pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Emberhawk.
The author crafted a spectacular world, filled with remarkable characters caught up in a story of intrigue, survival, and heart. Her religious/magic system was so interesting and so intricate that I was almost immediately pulled into the world of the Katrosi Revolution. After diving in, this was a riptide of a story that I was happily swept away with. Of course, I wouldn’t want to find myself trapped in a tree-scorpion nest!
I would highly recommend you grab a copy of Emberhawk and get lost in Jamie Foley’s world. Just watch out for trace cats. 😉
Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the e-copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my very own! 🙂

I have to be honest, I wasn't sure what to think of Emberhawk when I first started the book. The begin with, the book opens with a glossary of terms that explains the strange words in the book and a little about the history of the world it takes place in. This is something that is normally a big turn off for me, as I don't want to have to learn a load of phrases before I've even started to read anything. So, I skipped this and jumped straight into the story; and you know, I didn't feel like I was struggling with anything for having not read it.

The story is set in the world of Alani, a place where ancient elemental beings have passed into legend and have become worshipped as gods. Thanks to centuries of conflict, and mistrust, nations sit on the verge of conflict, with all sides setting secret plans into motion.

Kiralau, or Kira for short, lives on a farmstead on the border between the Malaano Empire and the lands of the Tribal Alliance, and her family is struggling to survive the harsh summer, in part because her older brothers and father have been drafted into the Imperial military. Kira begins to journey into the forests of the Tribal Alliance in order to trap animals just to keep the family surviving. Unfortunately, these traps seem to have caught the attention of a scout from the Tribal Alliance, Ryon. When Kira mistakes Ryon's elemental abilities for a Trace Cat, she shoots him with an arrow, injuring the young man and allowing him to be captured.

When Ryon escapes from Imperial forces and Kira is injured chasing after him the two of them begin a dangerous trek through the dangerous forests of the Tribal Alliance in order for them both to return home. But as they learn more about each other and become closer during their journey, they also learn that there are darker forces at work int he world, forces that wish to plunge their countries into war.

Because of the world of Emberhawk seemed to take inspiration from non-western culture and mythology, and because of the cast of characters made up of people of colour, I began the book thinking that it reminded me somewhat of Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi. I adored that book so much, and I think because of that I may have begun to think of Emberhawk somewhat negatively, expecting something similar that wouldn't be as good quality. I couldn't have been more wrong.

Before I knew it I'd been dragged into the story of Ryon and Kira, and begun to care about what happened to them on their journey. They weren't heroes setting out on a quest to change the world, or trying to do something that could save millions; they were just two people who didn't really like each other, trying to survive in a hostile place.

They became engaging, and it was sometimes a lot of fun to see two characters not completely different almost forcing themselves to not like each other. Kira hated Ryon because he was 'an enemy spy' who she assumed would turn on her at the drop of a hat, and Ryon didn't trust Kira because she'd shot him and kept accusing him of being a villain. Both characters weren't exactly in the wrong for thinking these things, as this is what circumstances led them to believe, but as they came to know each other more, began to see that they were actually both good people, people who didn't want war and conflict and just wanted to protect their families, they of course grow close.

This being a Young Adult fantasy book it was almost guaranteed that Kira and Ryon would develop feelings for each other. It's something that writers seem to feel needs to happen. In some cases this can feel forced, coming almost out of nowhere as two enemies fall madly in love almost overnight (again, I'm looking at you Children of Blood and Bone) but this wasn't the case here. Jamie Foley doesn't force the romance down the readers throat, and the evolution from begrudging respect, to friendship, and eventually romantic feelings between the leads feels very natural. It also helped that the romance was never given centre stage over their journey, and the bigger story that the two of them found themselves involved in.

I don't want to give too much away about the big confrontation that happens towards the end of the book, but it was what won me over completely and give the book an easy five stars on Goodreads. During the final act the book really embraces its fantasy setting, and gives readers a big, explosive fight in a visually stunning set piece, with big mythical monsters thrown into the mix too. It showed me that this wasn't just a small story about two people falling in love, but was also the start of a fantasy epic that would continue on into another book.

Emberhawk is a book that drew me in and made me fall in love with the characters without realising it. It made me concentrate on Kira and Ryon and their journey that I didn't expect anything bigger or grander to happen, and when it did I was so pleasantly surprised. I became invested in the world and the story that Jamie Foley was telling to the point where I'm eager to read the next book, even if Kira and Ryon don't end up returning. One of the better fantasy books that I've read in a while, and an instant favourite.

I love a fierce heroine and Kira is a thrill to read and you cannot help but root for her to always come up shining.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

Emberhawk is an light and enjoyable read, with a cast of interesting and diverse characters, magical creatures and a good storyline which flowed along nicely and keeps you engaged. The story is told from the three POVs of Ryon, Kira and Vylia.

I really loved the setting, it is vibrant and exciting, from barren homeland to forest adventure, and I enjoyed learning about the cultural and religious issues in this world. There are some wonderful creatures, from little branch runners to the evil D’hakka, spider-like tree dwelling scorpions, who are not to be messed with.

Ryon and Kira’s characterisations are likeable and engaging and I adore the sweet little slow burn romance. The banter between the two is amusing and there are some really loveable moments. However, Felix is definitely my favourite character, an elemental god in the form of a fox. He is witty and humorous and he made me chuckle with some of his fabulous little one-liners.

Vylia’s character seemed a bit detached from everything else going on in the story and I’ll admit to skim reading some of her chapters. She does not have a pivotal part to play in this story and I have the feeling she is being set up for more to come in subsequent novels. I’m fairly certain there will be a sequel, there has to be.

This is a beautifully drawn fantasy world which is easy to follow and perfect for younger YA readers. I hope in any subsequent books we will see the development of Vylia’s character and the intersection of all three main characters which is missing from this book. It’s all in there though……a thrilling forest adventure, elemental gods, magical creatures, action-packed scenes and a romance, all this and more and with a final explosive battle scene.

Books that have new and refreshing ideas should be celebrated. This book had different gods/religions, interesting politics, and likable characters. It is not a very challenging read, but the world-building is very well done. The main characters Ryon and Kira were good. I found Kira at times to be a bit annoying but I felt like the author did a good job of explaining why she was acting that way. The alternating perspectives allowed for the reader to see things from both character's views, which was enjoyable. I wish the Princess' story line was explored more but I see that it will play a large part in the sequel.