Review: The Flames by Kyle Prue

Title: The Flames

Author: Kyle Prue

Series: The Feud Trilogy – Book 2

Page Length: 480

Publication Date: April 25, 2017

Publisher: Cartwright Publishing

Synopsis: To survive incredible odds, one teen may have to trust both his former enemies and his fire-forged destiny…

Neil Vapros is one of the last free warriors of the great city of Altryon. He and his brother’s only chance of staying alive involves trusting an uneasy alliance with their former enemies. But in the world beyond his city’s walls, Neil’s life is much more dangerous than he ever imagined possible…

The Emperor has hired a ruthless madman and a vicious pack of assassins to hunt down the last supernatural survivors. As the allies attempt to hide from their enemies, the leader of a rebellion singles out Neil as the answer to a prophecy. Neil isn’t sure he believes he’s been “chosen,” but he knows one thing for sure: their only chance for survival lies in sticking together. While treachery and pain wait around every corner, Neil and his allies may win the day, but victory without casualties could prove impossible…

The Flames is the second book in the award-winning Epic Feud trilogy of young adult fantasy novels. If you like rich fantasy settings, imaginative supernatural abilities, and tough-as-nails characters, then you’ll love Kyle Prue’s electrifying adventure.

LINKS:     Goodreads     |      Amazon        |  Book Depository

---

My Review:

This is the second book in The Feud series, and it is fantastic! Filled with action, well-developed characters, and a complex and fascinating plot, The Flames is a heart-pounding thrill ride. Now outside the walls of Altryon, Neil, Lily, Darius, and Rhys must work together to defeat the emperor, who has ruthlessly taken over the land. I loved seeing these teens from feuding families put past hostilities aside and slowly become friends.

A rebellion has started outside the walls, and Neil, Lilly, Darius, and Rhys willingly join the resistance. Many see Neil as their savior, the one who will fulfill the prophecy, and Neil feels the weight of this burden. Neil is still trying to find himself and define himself, and I think he goes through the most change in this book. He is the leader of his group, and this, as well as his chosen one status, weighs heavily on him at times. However, his strength, resilience, and determination prove more powerful than his fears and doubts.

Typical of a coming-of-age novel, each of the four protagonists goes through a journey in this story. As they face bigger and bigger obstacles and more fearsome enemies, they learn more about themselves. I loved seeing the characters, especially Neil and Lilly, grow and mature. I also love how they’ve become like a family. They have all suffered losses, and they understand each other. They connect in a deep and profound way, and they care for and look out for each other like family does.

Since Neil, Lilly, Darius, and Rhys are now outside of Altryon, many new characters are introduced. Like the first book, there is a moral greyness to many of the characters, and it is unclear who the teens should trust. It seems as if Neil, Lilly, Darius, and Rhys have antagonists coming at them from every direction. However, the Doctor and his Pack are absolutely terrifying and villainous to the core. Their evilness runs deep, and their capacity for pain and violence is horrifying. Other characters prove just as murderous as the Doctor and his Pack. However, not all villains are so obvious. Prue is a master at creating unpredictable characters and plot-twists, as is evident throughout this book.

And can I just comment on how much I like the Wolf? He is a mentor to the teens, and his words of wisdom are fantastic. A teacher, friend, and fellow rebel, the Wolf is the reason that Neil, Lilly, Darius, and Rhys grow so much. He guides them into learning more about themselves, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and embracing their destinies. Plus, he’s a fierce warrior!

The world is also insurmountably larger and includes many different towns, communities, and situations. I like that, as the story progresses, the world becomes larger, the conflicts become more grave, and even the antagonists become more villainous. I have a feeling that this will all lead to one epic conclusion! Thanks so much to the author and publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

---

Rating:

Favorite Parts:

• The character development

• The world-building

• The powers

Favorite Lines:

We shouldn’t regret it if the people we love choose to give their lives to make our world a better place.

One day the fire inside would dim into an ember, but not yet. There was a nation to shape and it would be forged. Until the day where he could be at peace, the flames would roar inside him, ceaselessly and ever growing.

You two might never have a normal life, but you might still have a life together.

Recommendations:

Before reading this novel, you should read The Sparks, the first book in the series. This is not really a standalone.

Check out my review for The Sparks, the first book in The Feud trilogy!