Rise of the Flame: Book One of the Eura Chronicles

I can truthfully say "Rise of the Flame" is a fantasy novel I finished at a much faster pace than I would have thought possible for a book that is more than 500 pages in length. Author K. N. Lee is skilled with the use of what makes fiction come alive for a reader: heroic characters who courageously face harrowing challenges, such as protagonists Lilae and Liam, formidable villains like Wexcyn and Dragnar, dialogue which flows as credibly as any given conversation in daily life, and, of course, enough compelling action sequences to keep the pages turning far into the wee hours of another morning's dawn. Indeed, there were more than a few times I really only meant to read a chapter or two because of how many post-work hours had already slipped by, yet I actually read six or seven--on a weekday's night.

While "Rise of the Flame" belongs in an entirely different genre than other excellent novels I've read of Lee's ("The Chronicles of Koa" books) I enjoyed this story immensely, and, for those whose eyes were caught by that "international bestseller" designation, I can say "Rise of the Flame" has earned that distinction with every ounce of sincerity I possess.

Get this book, read it, and commence buying copies for your family/friends who are avid readers. Those fortunate people will thank you, and you will thank yourself. I can guarantee it.

*I received a free copy of this ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

The first half of this book dragged a lot for me. The world building wasn't executed very well, with info dumps in the form of teaching characters who already should have known the info or having them repeat aloud things they had previously learned. I found the story to be a little boring at first. Had I not felt obligated to finish it and provide a review, I likely would have abandoned it.

Things improved about halfway through once most of the introductory stuff was out of the way. I started to care about Lilae (17/18) and Liam (25) more. But parts of the dialogue and the story itself still felt kind of stilted, unnatural, forced. And there are things that were never explained, like Rowe's vow--he and Liam referenced it several times, but it was never explained what it was or why he made it.

I know I'm supposed to cheer for Kavien (24/25), but I don't really want to. At least not when it comes to Lilae. I hated Sona right from the start, though I recognize that she is a formidable warrior.

I suspected the true natures of two characters that I suspect were supposed to surprise me. I'm not sure how I want things to turn out with one of them, though.

I didn't love the book, but I ended up caring enough that I'd finish the series if I could. Unfortunately, me library doesn't have any of the books, and they're no longer on NetGalley. So I guess it's just too bad.

Note: Some swearing. Violence. Almost rape. Mild sex. A creepy, sadistic Shadow Elf.

Sometimes a story comes along that pulls you away from your everyday life, it consumes your time and thoughts (even weeks after you've finished reading it). This is one of those stories. The author does a fantastic job building a captivating world you feel you're part of, while pulling you into an adventure you won't want to end. It's thrilling, heart wrenching, and will leave you breathless. I spent many nights pacing, trying to absorb all that I had just read. The nonstop action is intoxicating! To say that I'm looking forward to reading the books to come would be an understatement, I'm FEENING FOR IT!

BEST fantasy book I read this year!

Really enjoyed this fantasy offering. The world setting reminded me of Lord of the Rings or the Wheel of Time. I skipped over the world info at the beginning, but it was nice to have it to refer back to as characters were introduced. The book starts with a rather simple premise, the two heroes Lilae and Liam are both likable and tragic at the same time. They are both traveling on a path that should bring them together, but the story just takes off from there. The author really puts Lilae and Liam through some excruciating trials. So many of the characters have dual purposes and the reveals just keep coming as the plot thickens. There's not much closure at the end of this book, but I liked that there was a first chapter for book 2 at the end!

I found the plot a bit hard to follow along,, I will try reading it again

Excellent book, the author really does a good job of putting you into her world. Plenty of action, adventure, and suspense. Once I started reading I could hardly put it down, and by the end I wanted more! That's a sign of a good story, one that leaves you wanting more, keep it up Ms. Lee, you've got a fan here!