"16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.
Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.
With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever."
NetGalley. Thanks for a copy.
I'm not a fan of The Last of the Firedrakes. It is YA Fantasy, and the narrator is a girl named Aurora Darlington. There is a romance between her and a certain character (who is hot). Aurora is kidnapped by an evil lord who drags her to a magical world (where there is no plumbing system), and she finds out a whole bunch of secrets that simply makes her the most wanted girl in the kingdoms. An evil queen is hellbent on making sure Aurora is dead. More than dead.
Aurora says "Oh, my" too many times, but that isn't the only thing ticking me off. Sometimes, I figure things out way before she has and it simply frustrates me. I'm tapping my finger, waiting for her to get it. Some of it isn't her fault (darn those characters who like to hold onto their secrets way longer than they should), but still, it is annoying. She is powerful, and she has a rough past. The beginning is the best part for Aurora and me, because I still have sympathy and I feel really bad for her.
The plot is okay. It is more action-crazy in the beginning, more dialogue-strong in the middle, and then... I have no idea what happened in the ending (more on that in the next, next paragraph). But I never felt a moment of boredom, and the book is entertaining, yes. It won't make readers bored but just frustrated and annoyed. After all, information shouldn't be withhold (especially when it is crucial to the character and the plot).
The romance is actually not too bad. Rafe and Aurora have a strong chemistry together, and Rafe has a lot of interesting (and hot) moments. He is the guardian who is set out to protect Aurora, and he has a few secrets to hide in his shoebox. Still, it doesn't stop him from getting close to her and... Well, that would be spoilers if I say anymore.
The ending is perhaps the weirdest part in the book. I'm still spinning around and shocked from the many new revelations. First of all, I'm annoyed by the lack of information and how ignorant Aurora remains. Second, I really dislike how the book ends. The Last of the Firedrakes leaves the book wide open for the sequel, but am I going to read it?
(The answer is no. And I will say Rafe is an idiot.)
In conclusion, The Last of the Firedrakes is an engaging book with a couple of cliches and tropes that makes me roll my eyes. The flow of information is greatly constricted like California's highway during rush hour. The plot is (too) predictable. I'm not a fan. Other people might find it enjoyable, but not me.
Rating: One out of Five
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