Book 1 of Flame and Thorns

“Because fear is a weapon. It gives other people power over you without them even having to do anything.”
― Marion Blackwood, Empire of Flame and Thorns

This quote was the most compelling thing about Empire of Flame and Thorns — and that’s not entirely a criticism, because it does capture something real about the world Blackwood has built.

As much as I wanted to love it, it reminded me of The Hunger Games and felt quite cookie cutter for fantasy romance.

Selena is a Fae wanting to escape the oppression of the dragon shifters, Draven is the dragon shifter on the other side of that. The enemies to lovers romance comes across more like an awkward high school romance than the slow burn the setup promised.

I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. The plot was there but it lacked that hook that made you want to turn the page. I spent most of the book feeling like I had read it before — and I think that’s because I kept comparing it to The Hunger Games. I’m sure others will say they are nothing alike, but you have the dragon shifters who are District 1 and the Fae who are District 8, forced to compete for their freedom by any means necessary.

The ending gives you reason to continue without pulling you in by force. I haven’t decided if I will yet.