Book Review: Fireblood

Fireblood (Frostblood Saga #2)

By: Elly Blake

Published By: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 12, 2017

Page Count: 416

Buy it at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound

Source: Purchased by Reviewer

Young Adult - Fantasy

Review of Book #1: Frostblood

This is the second book in a trilogy focusing on people with either fire or ice running through their veins and manifesting in powers. The first book, Frostblood, felt highly original and I found it very gripping; I found Fireblood to be a lot less so. 

 In Fireblood Ruby decides that she needs to visit Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, to find an ancient text that should help her and Brother Thistle figure out what to do about the Minax. Ruby is “rescued” from Arcus’s uptight court by the dashing Fireblood Kai – she and Arcus are fine but struggling to keep their relationship going, and the stick up the rear attitude of the Frostblood courtiers doesn’t help. It was refreshing to send Ruby off on an ocean voyage to far off lands, where she discovers some vital information and ends up training as a Fireblood master. 

 I enjoyed reading the parts where Ruby gained more control over her powers and the trials she undergoes are also great reading, but I became more frustrated with her and her choices as the book carried on. This was a fine middle book for the trilogy but suffered from middle book syndrome for me – no real high stakes or resolution to keep the tension going.

Summary:

All hail the Fire Queen. 

 Against all odds, Ruby has defeated the villainous Frost King and melted his throne of ice. But the bloodthirsty Minax that was trapped inside is now haunting her kingdom and everyone she loves. The answers to its demise may lie to the south in Sudesia, the land of the Firebloods, and a country that holds the secrets to Ruby’s powers and past… 

 Despite warnings from her beloved Arcus, Ruby accompanies a roguish Fireblood named Kai to Sudesia, where she must master her control of fire in a series of trials to gain the trust of the suspicious Fire Queen. Only then can she hope to access the knowledge that could defeat the rampaging Minax—which grows closer every moment. But as sparks fly in her moments alone with Kai, Ruby no longer knows whom to trust. The fates of two kingdoms are now in her hands.