Fire Falling (Air Awakens Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Okay, okay. I know I fan girl over this series a lot (since I moderate the GR Fan Club group as Baldair's One and Only and am a member of the Street Team), but honestly: SO GOOD. This is high fantasy at it's peak, on par with the likes of Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes.Here's just a general thing I dislike about young adult novels: they never seem to have high stakes -- the main character always makes it out alive and so does literally everyone else, except maybe the bad guy. But not here. Kova takes it up a notch and makes you realize that literally anyone could go at any time. This is war people, and she's not afraid to show what the repercussions of this are. And you can even tell through Vhalla's inner monologue how much she is struggling with the aftermath of the Night of Fire and Wind. She isn't just all sunshine and rainbows, she feels horrible and guilty for what she had to do to survive. Which is SO IMPORTANT to me. A lot of the problems I have with YA books that have death and destruction (especially in fantasy) is that there is no fallout or descriptions of the fallout -- the characters seem to be able to go on living life as is with a couple of kills under their belt. But that's not realistic. This is real, this is raw, this is war. (Also, want to torment yourself? Once you read this book, listen to this song and try to place the characters from this series into each of the categories. Elise told me to do that MONTHS ago and I still obsess over it.)Aldrik shows even more of this guilt than Vhalla does. He is weighted by it not only for the people he himself has killed but also for those that Vhalla had to. He cares so deeply for Vhalla, even if he does not fully realize that for himself right away. I am becoming more okay with their relationship because it is obvious they love one another. I think there is still so much more to learn about Aldrik though and that is what makes me hesitate before throwing caution to the wind and saying that it doesn't matter what happens or has happened, these two are my OTP.The side characters were fleshed out a lot more -- and a lot better -- in this one. We learned more about Larel and Fritz, and Daniel and Craig were back this time too. Plus we were introduced to Elecia, who was by far my favourite out of the side characters. I think as we start to get deeper into the series, there will be even more to learn about these characters as they have to face even more death and difficult tasks ahead. And the characters were all distinct and had such great personalities. I really enjoyed reading about them. They became like friends to me. They are my friends. I need them to be safe.The world building is immaculate. There are so many different places and things to see in this one. I can only imagine that as we go farther into this world, there will be even more to know and learn about the Solaris Empire and beyond. I think one of the best parts of high, epic fantasies is the world building and Kova's world is up there with the likes of GRRM for me tbh. There is so much more than what we are seeing happening here. I can feel it in my bones. And that makes me want to read and reread these books so that I get an extra layer of that rich, vast world and pick up on things I didn't recognize the first time around.One thing I feel the need to mention is pacing. For those of you that have read epic fantasies (such as AsoIaF by GRRM and The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan), you will know that Fire Falling (and Air Awakens for that matters) follows the typical high fantasy pacing. Things don't happen all at once, you have to travel to get to different places and things happen during the course of this travelling. There were still some huge plot points that occurred during this book and you needed the little bit of extra travel and training time to have them feel believable and not rushed. It does *feel* a little slow, but where Kova excels is that her writing doesn't feel bogged down with the travelling -- you can tell that the characters are moving along and making good pace, but they still have to travel to get there.I thought that the magic in this world was so well developed. Like kudos to Kova for creating a magical system I can actually believe. Because of the Bond and the Joining, it is believable that Vhalla's magic and fighting abilities progressed that quickly. I like that there was more to the Bond than what we were told in Air Awakens. I think since Vhalla is constantly learning about what she can and cannot do, the reader doesn't feel as though there is too much information thrown at us all at once -- as Vhalla learns to do something new, we are seeing something *new*. It makes the story flow and allows Vhalla to develop without the reader feeling as though she is catching up to where we have her abilities placed in our mind.Another really big thing to me that I want to mention is that while there is romance in this novel, the story and the plot don't move forward based on this romance. There is (much) more to the plot than whether or not Vhalla loves Aldrik or is starting to make eyes at Daniel. Because while this still does happen, it is easy enough to not focus on this aspect because there is literally a war happening. The characters decision about whether or not to be with one person or the other isn't the central plot here. Just thought I'd let you know, friends!I have a lot more I could say about this one, but this review is already really long. So I am going to end it here. Just know that if you like epic fantasies in which there is always something more happening behind the scenes than what even the main character knows and can see, then this is the book series for you.

This review can be found on my blog, Reader Rayna, as well as Goodreads.I gave this book 4.5/5 starsThis book was a fantastic sequel and it furthered the progression of Vhalla and how she has become the crown's property.As this is the second book, this review may contain spoilers.In this book the plot became much more intricate not only in how the war itself would progress, but it also showed the progression of romance and love - of multiple kinds of love - as well as bloodshed, loss, and heartbreak. I had so many emotions reading this book from excitement to anger to sadness. Honestly, I think this was better than the first.Vhalla has become a bit stronger in this book physically and emotionally, learning not only from Aldrik, but also from Larel, Fritz, and others. She makes deep connections with Larel and a soldier, Daniel, who is from the East like she is, and I think that those relationships really helped to shape and mold her more as this book progressed. She relied heavily on Larel for emotional support, even when she felt ashamed for it, but I think that how Larel loved Vhalla unconditionally like a sister was so important and so beautiful. Not only that, but she learned more about her friends and who they are as people, and I think most important was that she learned a lot more about Aldrik and his past and thoughts.Though at times I was confused by her emotions, I understood the rawness of them in the moments that they happened: when she felt sad or heartbroken or confused or lost. It was hard for her to overcome a lot of those harder emotions, but when she did is when I think she shined the most.Also, when she trained she showed that not only is she definitely the Windwalker, but she's also a solider and I know that's definitely because of Aldrik. The Bond they have with one another really fuels Vhalla's magic and I think that didn't take away from her as a character, but enhances her because she didn't understand magic and didn't want to at one point, and now she's able to draw from a very strong source.As time progressed through the book I really felt that Vhalla grew more as a character, slowly but surely. She understands her place in the world, even if she's down about it a lot. I'm really interested to see where she is in the next book.Aldrik was ever an enigma at the beginning and such a toddler with his temper tantrums. I didn't understand why he'd storm off sometimes or ignore Vhalla other times or be sweet to her even other times. No sense! But I think as he opened up more to Vhalla and we got to see more of his past that I understood why he was the way he was. I was very skeptical of his feelings toward her throughout large portions of this book because of that, but once a certain scene happened I was like, "Well, never mind then!" I think that his protectiveness over Vhalla didn't come from a place of greed but rather from a place of love, and I think that that's a strong attribute for him to have given his characteristics of a stoic, brooding, very-easy-to-piss-off self.I think that Aldrik really proved himself to Vhalla as someone who does care, but he also proved himself as a soldier and wielder of fire because wow, I really enjoyed reading about the magic powers in this one.As for the plot there was so much that happened from start to finish that I don't even know where to begin! There was bloodshed, nightmares, backstory, romance, feelings, fighting - so much! I think that the story progressed in a natural way and it had me wanting to turn the page over and over again. We got more of a look into the political side of this world through dreams that Vhalla had, which I think were key parts to remember. Not only that, but there were also times where I was unsure of what would happen next. I think it was executed well.The romance! Oh man, the romance set my heart all pitter-pattering and I loved it. It was sweet and beautiful and it gave just enough to be enough, but to also want more. I think that this was handled greatly and that it was well worth the tension, for sure.I thought that there were going to be triangles forming, or quadrangles, or something, but I'm not entirely sure that they will. It honestly didn't bother me too much because I saw the natural progression of it and the fact that no one really acted upon it.Oh! One thing I highly enjoyed when it came to any form of romance or something along those lines: there were consensual questions asked every time. No one forced anything upon anyone and I think that that was SO important in this book. Thank you, Elise Kova, for not forcing something upon a character because wow, I found myself loving that so much.There were so many feels and heartbreaking moments in this book in particular I almost cried at the end. I feel like I'm becoming more attached to these characters as I go and I need to know what happens next. I'm untrusting of the Emperor, I'm confused as to where I stand with Prince Bladair, and I want to see more of Daniel and Craig and Fritz, for sure. Even Elicia, who was a mystery for a lot of the book before we were told her identity.My only gripe with this book was that there were A LOT more typos than the last. I don't get how so much was missed, but it didn't really take away from the story; it was a minor distraction that I was able to quickly remedy in my mind to continue forward. Other than that, I highly enjoyed this book.Overall, I highly recommend this book if you've read the first.

This is going to be a short review, because I really need to read the next book now. Wow what a cliffhanger ending!I loved the book, I love the way that Vhalla is growing and changing as person, the way her powers are developing and the new things she is discovering she can do. I don't think we have seen her full potential yet and I think that she is really going to blow our socks off in the next book.I love Aldrik, he is a complex character, but I do always seem to find myself more attracted to those who have a dark side. I really hope that there is a happy end f ok r him and Vhalla, but I'm really not sure that there can be.Baldair is growing on me and I hope he still has a big part to play in the rest of the books, I also like Daniel too but the Emperor I despise and do not trust.It was a great second book, really kept the action up as sometimes second books in a series can fall a bit flat, but there was none of that with Fire Falling. I'm so glad I don't have to wait to read the next book in the series, Earth's End as I don't think my nerves could take it. I'm now off to read that whilst hopefully you read this one and enjoy as much as I did.

I loved the first book and couldn't wait for the next book. I enjoy having a heroine but also a sting make character who can give her a run fir her money, which this book dies deliver. However I didn't give this 5 stars because the heroine git one my nerves in thus book, where she declares her undying love and devotion to one make and then finds herself in the arms of another (or slipping between the sheets!) Leaving 2nd male waiting fir her to make her mind up! Really!! Frustration apart, the story is good with (if you can ignore the heroine) and if you've read the first, well you need to know how the plot pans out.

I really enjoyed this book. The characterisations are brilliant- complex characters and relationships with depth. Alot of these books can be formulaic but, while this series so far does have some of the tropes, the execution elevates it- and it is hard to predict what happens next; not because of chracters acting randomly, but because there are so many layers. Also, an important point for these books, the relationships are touching and sweep me up with them. Dying to see the 3rd installment.

I love this series so much! After waiting ages for this book to come out after reading the first one, I read it too fast and really wished I`d savoured it for longer because it ends on such a cliffhanger... Be warned but read it, its amazing

Amazing series with great character development and a believable romance. No tstl moments or insta-love and good world building and secondary character development. This doesn't happen often but the second book in the series is arguably even better than the first! Cannot wait to find out what happens next