This is book 2 of The Fireborn Epic and the series should be read in order. This book does give some background info that is pertinent to the overarching theme of fighting against the evil empire to regain their nation of Soldonia but reading the first book will give you all the nuances to the main characters and the subplots.

Ceridwen continues to grow as a leader and a warrior and I quite enjoyed the themes of bravery, courage, and leadership portrayed through her character. Rafi embraces his calling and bonding and I loved how he rises up to conquer his fear at every challenge. Jakim is such an opposite to the other two characters embroiled in war and his path and bonding are quite refreshing. Though he’s a secondary character, I loved Finnian and his steadfast support of Ceridwen. I found Sahak’s chapter at the end of both books interesting; a glimpse into the mind of one of the villains always brings a new perspective.

There is plenty of action, battle scenes, betrayal, and surprises waiting for you in this epic fantasy. The world is well-crafted and fascinating and the characters are lovable. The book is long but those who enjoy this genre will definitely enjoy this book and series. The series is not finished yet though - there is book 3 coming, which should be centered around Jakim.

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own. ( )

Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams is a young adult epic fantasy. It is the second book in The Fireborn series. The First book in the series is Of Fire and Ash. Gillian Bronte Adams does an excellent job building on the initial book’s storyline and richly developing the characters.

Cerdwen grows into her role and develops more of a servant-leadership mindset. The magical horses add an exciting dimension to this series. Rafi finds himself filled with guilt and remorse that he lived and his brother died. But, the author develops and grows his character through the pages of this book. I enjoyed reading about these two characters and the other characters in the book.

While you could possibly read this book independently, I strongly recommend reading both books in order. This way, you get to know the characters and enjoy the storyline. Also, this second book sets the reader up to read the next book in the series.

So, if you are looking for a young adult epic fantasy, check out Of Sea and Smoke by Gillian Bronte Adams.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

I remember how much I liked the first book in this series, so I was excited to find out that the author had published a new book. Right away I loved the bond between Rafi and Delmar. They are brothers who look out for each other, walking together, fighting battles together and surviving together.

The story opens with the brothers escaping captivity. They won’t soon forget the horrible conditions they lived in and the long, lonely days thinking about their parents and little sister they lost. Rafi is having trouble trying to remember his family at times. I think it is because the pain of their loss is to great for him.

Everything changed in a blink of an eye when Delmar lets go of Rafi’s arm. Why did he not hold on to Rafi? The confusion starts to make sense when Rafi realizes the sacrifice his brother has made. Now he must go on and fight against the enemy. It will be a journey that will challenge him and test his ability to trust. I loved feeling like I was able to know Rafi on a more personal level and see his emotional side.

There are several others characters in the book which Rafi starts to depend on. With intense moments in the story where his faith is tested we see a vulnerable side to him. The story has a great message and oh my the ending was unexpected and a cliff hanger. I have to say I’m happy to know I have another book in this series to look forward to.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )