Unique approach to an Elemental Magic System

I liked this series. I completed the five books currently on Audible in about 4, or 5 days. There has to be more volumes coming out, because of all of the loose ends, and because of how the last book ended. The novels have a steady pace until book 3, when the pace really increases. The thing I like the most about the series was the unique approach to an Elemental Magic System. The thing I disliked the most about the series is that the books are too short, and had to have been the minimum word count to fit the definition of a novel, and not a short story. Btw...the last 30 minutes of each novel is the first 30 minutes of the next book. The narrator did a great job, although he talks fast, and every now and then I had to go back a minute, or more to catch what he said. There is also a love story in the series, but it isn't gushy and there are only a few stolen kisses in it, which is a plus for me. Overall, even with my few complaints, I give the series and the narator 4 Stars overall.

The reading order for the series is:
Chased by Fire
Bound by Fire
Changed by Fire
Fortress of Fire
Forged in Fire

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9 people found this helpful

The story unexpectedly hooked me.

I've been searching for some Fantasy novels I could get into. I took a chance on this novel but I was very pleasantly surprised. By the time I was half way through I was hooked. I will definitely have to get the next book in the series. I really enjoyed it and the story really drew me in and I was left wanting to continue the next installment as soon as possible!

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1 person found this helpful

protect me.

protect me protect me protect me protect me protect me protect me protect me protect me.


okay, with that out of the way. the characters felt flat, the story was just alot of traipsing about in the woods. I can imagine the other books have improvement, but, I don't want to take that risk.

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interesting world, crappy characters

world was interesting, but the characters were annoying and lacking depth. the author doesn't write a believable relationship (whether it is mother/son, friendship, or lovers). The main character constantly narrates about his affection for another character being a major motivator, but you don't actually see it in the interactions between the two.

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1 person found this helpful

enjoyable

i enjoyed the story... however it is very detailed & sometimes too much so... but the premise of the story was a good one... “boy coming of age” learning who he truly is & where he comes from (in the fantasy world)

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Very repetitive!

I enjoyed the story but the book is very repetitive, it is as if the author needed to reach a word count.

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4 people found this helpful

Enjoyable

Any additional comments?

The story is enjoyable. Its in a series of books(which audible has not tagged as of yet), so the end of the story leaves a bit hanging. My only nitpick, and this is from having listened to the second book in the series before writing this, is that the main character's self doubt slowly begins to wear on the listener. In the first book, however, the self doubt feels justified.

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1 person found this helpful

Fascinating world and idea, poor execution

After all the critical reviews, I almost didn't read this book. 


The narrator is reasonably skilled. He has a adequate selection of voices and dynamic changes to tempo and good vocal inflections. 


The writing is skillful and well edited. The magic system seems interesting, and the idea behind the plot seems interesting. 


However, in execution this reads like a masterclass in creating absurdly formulaic YA fiction. Like he was just checking boxes on a YA trope list:


☑️ Angsty teen protagonist who is inexplicably (and contradictorily) both selfish and altruistic

☑️ The Chosen One

☑️ Wants the opposite of his main authority figure for his life

☑️ A missing/tragically lost parent 

☑️ Has magical talent but denies it

☑️ Struggles against a bully 

☑️ Immediate love interest

☑️ Meets an older mentor almost right away

☑️ All he knows is taken away, thrusting him into the plot

☑️ There's an ancient artifact that must be found of the world will end

☑️ He rescues his love interest after she's captured by the enemy

☑️ Only the protagonist has any real depth

☑️ Totally obvious revelation about the love interest that was clearly meant to be shocking

☑️ And of course, the Deus Ex Machina survival of a situation which should have killed him. 


The ending was pretty disappointing. There was very little the protagonist actually did on his own, he had help if not being completely saved at almost every step. 


In the end, I will almost certainly try another series by Holmberg, but I'm done with this one. 

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Very good

I would have given it a rating of 5 but it took me awhile to get into the story. Once I did I loved it. I will read or listen to he next one. I also thought the narrator could have been better, to me he seemed bored with it.

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Writers! Please read this so you know what not to do

I'll keep this short. The author needs to learn to 'show' more and be more descriptive, and the 'he turned' 'she turned' 'it turned' is SO repetitive. The story itself is meh.

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3 people found this helpful