The Flame Never Dies

Loving this series. The first one was brilliantly addictive and The Flame Never Dies was even better with lots of lovely little twists and turns, the characters becoming more focused and then that Rachel Vincent put ANOTHER damned fine ending onto things which means I'm going to NEED the next book with the kind of book need every real reader can relate to.

So in this instalment our gang are out in the badlands, away from the Church but in no less danger for that. Her sister Mellie's baby will die without a soul and Nina has plans to ensure that does not happen even if it means sacrificing herself - but there are other devious plots afoot from a completely separate set of supernatural demonic forces and Nina and the others will end up having to make impossible choices.

I love the premise for this, which the above soundbite kind of covers but I'll leave you to discover the detail for yourself - if you love a good urban fantasy/supernatural YA series (which by gosh I do) then you most definitely should NOT miss this one. Its like Buffy with exorcists instead of slayers. Very cool concept executed in dramatically addictive style.

Great writing, great story, great characters. You can't ask for more than that really. Fast paced but with plenty of emotional depth "The Flame Never Dies" showed no signs of suffering from book 2 syndrome, if anything it just upped the ante and well, no pressure Ms Vincent but I can't wait to see what you do next. Oh and nobody is safe by the way. This author is not afraid to kill her darlings and that just makes it all the more terrifyingly beautifully unpredictable. I'm a fan.

Highly Recommended.

The Flame Never Dies is the second book in Vincent’s addictive YA series. Although I was enjoying the opening chapters, I had the sneaking suspicion that I was missing out on some things. I felt like Vincent had jumped straight into the action, only giving so much backstory, and I was left feeling like I was missing entire chunks of information. Well, that’s because I was.

Yup, that’s right, I read the sequel before the first book.

With my own stupidity aside – and without letting it affect my review of this book – I really enjoyed The Flame Never Dies. Sequels can be less exciting, less well-received than the first book in a series. But I felt that this held up brilliantly.

The Stars Never Rise, the first book in the series, sets out our heroine Nina Kane’s backstory, and how she and her sister Melanie ended up living in the badlands with a group of rebels. I’m going to assume that anyone reading this review has read the first book, unlike myself, but without giving too much away, Nina Kane is another strong female character that literature, YA in particular, really needs. She’s another Katniss, or Tris, or Sarah Connor, but she’s also much more. The usual love interest that plagues this genre does get on my nerves somewhat, but it’s nowhere near as bad as others I’ve read. Nina is strong and brave and awesome, and, as far as I can tell, a great role model for young readers.

I’m currently reading The Stars Never Rise, and, although I know what happens to some of the characters, I’m loving it. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment, and whatever else Vincent comes out with.

The Flame Never Dies is the second book in Rachel Vincent’s Well of Souls series. Unfortunately Rachel has already confirmed that this will only ever be a duology which is just heart breaking! What a waste of some amazing kick ass characters and the best dystopian future series I’ve had the pleasure of reading. Check out The Stars Never Rise first if you are thinking about reading this series. There will be spoilers below if you haven’t read the first book.

This installment begins about five months after the first book ends. Our band of renegades – Anathema – have survived in the Badlands by targeting Church supply convoys in transit between cities and have started to learn their own survival skills. Mellie is now seven months pregnant and Nina is dedicated to protecting her and the unborn niece or nephew. Finn is still “wearing” the body of Carter, the kidnapped guard. This has meant that he has been able to have a more normal relationship with Nina. Grayson is starting to come into her exorcist powers and much like Nina in the first book she seems to be drawing every demon in the vicinity to wherever she is.

It just occurred to me this afternoon that this feels like Buffy the Vampire Slayer re-imagined as a demon slayer who exorcises their demonic souls. It has that same element of camaraderie and the diverse bunch of unconventional pairings. It also shares a wonderful humour and lightness that similar dystopian universes simply don’t have.

Finding allies in a band of freedom fighters they begin to make their way across the Badlands to safer ground when they realise that they have attracted the attention of Kaspar and the demonic city of Pandemonia. Even with this threat on the horizon it still isn’t enough to divert Nina from her most immediate issue. If the baby is born and there is no soul for it Mellie’s child won’t survive the hour. Is it time for Nina to make the ultimate sacrifice?

You know that you are in safe hands when you pick up a Rachel Vincent book. She is just so good at creating real and vibrant characters that are totally absorbing and make you feel like you are part of the action. This is a fast paced thriller with a smattering of romance but is essentially a celebration of friendship and family.

UK Publication date: 16 Aug 2016. 352 pages.

Supplied by MIRA Ink and Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.