Chaos & Flame

This story certainly was interesting and kept me hooked for the whole book, despite its flaws. I think the houses were cool, especially back in the day when their crests were actual beings all due to the power of Chaos. It was hard to decide whether Caspian was actually mad ( I would love to see his paintings) or just very devious in all his plans that included the other Chaos touched person, Darling (odd name and it threw me a bit). The insta love between her and Talon was a bit much but it did show that Talon was a decent guy and I hope things turn out alright between him and Darling, especially after that cliff hanger. I had my suspicions about Caspian in what he was up to and I am glad I was right. The next book should be super exciting with that twist. So this book was good, not the best but it was building up to the next book I think. I still had fun reading it.

Chaos and Flame is set in a fantasy world of warring houses, ancient history and mythological creatures. The book alternates between the points of view of Talon, war prince from House Dragon and Darling, adopted daughter of House Kraken, both warriors ready for peace after years of conflict. They start as enemies but come to realize that they can't resist each other. Caspian, the high prince, and Talon's older brother, is the most intriguing character with his (perhaps intentionally) unhinged behavior and mysterious motives. I enjoyed the setting, characters and political intrigue, but the story would have benefited had there been more focus on the magic system and world building instead of so much on the romance. Chaos and Flame could have really used a map, since the book is set over the course of a journey. I liked that there were characters who were queer and POC. The cliff-hanger ending was unique and astounding. I wish it had gone on longer because now I have so many questions and must have the second book. Now.

Cassian Goldhoard has visions of the future—almost exclusively featuring a girl that he paints with no eyes. As the High Prince Regent of House Dragon, his mercurial moods put him in danger of being proclaimed mad and removed from the throne. His brother, Talon, the War Prince, does everything in his power to protect his brother and his House. Darling Seabreak is an assassin for her adopted House, Kraken. She was adopted by the House Regent after House Dragon murdered her entire House, Sphinx. She spent years living in the sewers, which damaged her eyesight, requiring her to wear special goggles. After Darling is captured by Talon during an attempted rescue of her adopted father, Cassian presents an enigmatic solution for peace between the Houses. Together, Cassian, Talon, and Darling work toward trusting each other and peace for their country. I enjoyed this book tremendously. The characters, though immature, were believable and interesting. The immaturity worked, though, because the book is YA fiction. I enjoyed that the ending of the book wasn’t immediately evident to me either, despite Cassian leaving clues as to what he was plotting. The romance between Talon and Darling was enjoyable but it felt a little rushed. But, again, as they were teenagers, I think the immaturity of the romance works. I also think that it is something that will be further developed in book 2. I think that this is a great addition to the YA diaspora. Gratton and Ireland did a great job of encapsulating everything essential to a good YA book. The strong, female protagonist and the enemies-to-lovers romance are classic YA tropes—for good reason—that were very well employed in this store. I think that teenagers will relate to Darling and fall for Talon. Adults looking for a fun and easy read, will also love this book, but anyone looking for more mature and intricate characters and relationships will be disappointed with it. Overall, I’m so happy that I read this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good YA fantasy. I’m really looking forward to finding out what happens to Darling, Talon, and Cassian in book 2!