Emberhawk

I am completely in love with this book! I don't want to spoil anything because I went in with no idea of what this book was about and I loved it. The dynamics between the two main characters was incredible, and I was able to genuinely relax and just enjoy the narrative flow. The twists were well written and genuinely surprised me (which is rare) and I was very satisfied with the events. Jamie Foley can write one hell of a fight scene, and I am in awe. READ THIS BOOK!!!

Kira is protecting her farm from a fox that was killing her chickens when she accidentally shoots a young man leaving the woods. His capture sets of a chain of events that changes her life, and her families lives. Waring nations, politics, and belief systems rule in this young adult fantasy.

I loved the different cultures and religions that the author created. I dislike reading a book where everyone has the same religion and believes the same thing across the realm. This book had a diverse cast from different regions with different cultures that moved the plot along.

The only issues I had were with the language at times. The author created this great world and created different names, magic and gods but had current slang words and language that took me out of the story. The Imperial Princess Vylia was an interesting character that only had a couple of chapters. I would have liked to have had more from her.

I can't wait to read the next book when it comes out and I am going to look into the authors other books.

A fresh, diverse world. A heroine resourceful enough to be strong, even without any supernatural power. An intriguing hero with a golden heart. Emberhawk is not your typical fantasy story and so worth to read! I was captivated from page one, and the story didn't let me go again until the last page.

There are three main characters in this book, although Vylia, the Malaano princess, doesn't get a big portion in this first installment. The story is more focused on Kira and Ryon, whose paths crossed and merged since Kira shot Ryon when he was stealing food in her ranch. After an event that left them both injured in a dangerous forest, they had to work together to keep each other alive. Their tentative alliance is sprinkled with humor, cute interactions and attraction to each other. But of course, greater danger than monsters lurks in their journey.

5 balembas.

And let me go hunting for more books by Jamie Foley.

Kiralau lives on her family's ranch in the Malaano Empire. Trapping to provide for her sick mother and younger brother, she accidentally shoots Ryon while he is trespassing on her property.

Ryon is a scout for the Jade Witch, gathering important information for the Alliance. After he escapes capture, Kira chases him into d'hakka infested territory and there is no turning back.

I loved this fast paced, magical action packed read! The banter between characters was witty and super relatable, I was able to follow the magic political system in place and cannot wait to see where this series takes these characters!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the read.

I really enjoyed this, there were some flaws in execution and world building, but there was just something about this book that really entertained me and got me past that. I think I loved the characters and their interactions. I loved Kira, she was a great independent, strong and feminist lead, no magic or powers, just a strong female. I loved the humour and banter. The story is fast paced and addictive to read, an original and fresh fantasy read.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

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.

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 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! 🙂

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.

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.

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!

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.

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)

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.

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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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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!