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Air Awakens #2.5
Tales from the Front
12 stories told from different perspectives that have to be read between book 2, Fire Falling, and book 3, Earth's End.
The order of point of views are:
* Fritz
* Aldrik
* Elecia
* Aldrik
* Fritz
* Reale
* Emperor Solaris
* Jax
* Daniel
* Baldair
* Tim
* Erion
The order of point of views are:
* Fritz
* Aldrik
* Elecia
* Aldrik
* Fritz
* Reale
* Emperor Solaris
* Jax
* Daniel
* Baldair
* Tim
* Erion
42 pages, ebook
First published February 10, 2016
34 people are currently reading
8828 people want to read
About the author
Elise Kova
54 books17.5k followersJoin Elise's mailing list to never miss a giveaway, release, sale, and more: https://elisekova.com/subscribe/
ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
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ELISE KOVA is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys telling stories of fantasy worlds filled with magic and deep emotions. She lives in Florida and, when not writing, can be found playing video games, drawing, chatting with readers on social media, or daydreaming about her next story.
Say Hello!
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
October 9, 2020
This novella tells us the story from different POVs. It's a nice to have (read) but to be read between book 2 and 3 I thought it was kinda confusing. Specially after book 2 ended with such a cliffhanger that makes us run to get the next book, if you just go and read this one it kinda spoils things.
In addition, for me some POVs were kinda useless. Sometimes I didn't even know who was narrating as the characters would be only formally introduced in the next book. So sometimes, whatever they were talking, I couldn't care less.
Other characters just made me dislike them a little bit... More...
Still, it was a good insight of their minds. But I couldn't help myself. Sorry.
"The girl is surrounded by fire. You're setting yourself up to get burned."
I really hope you keep that in mind Sir.
In addition, for me some POVs were kinda useless. Sometimes I didn't even know who was narrating as the characters would be only formally introduced in the next book. So sometimes, whatever they were talking, I couldn't care less.
Other characters just made me dislike them a little bit... More...
Still, it was a good insight of their minds. But I couldn't help myself. Sorry.
"The girl is surrounded by fire. You're setting yourself up to get burned."
I really hope you keep that in mind Sir.
Read
January 30, 2019For anyone wondering how to get Tales from the Front... It's a free exclusive for my newsletter subscribers! Learn more about my newsletter and grab it here: http://elisekova.com/subscribe/
Happy Reading :)
Happy Reading :)
February 11, 2016
4.5 Stars!
If you're about to start Earth's End by Elise Kova... STOP!!! Read this book first, it's meant to be read in between Fire Falling and Earth's End. And trust me it isn't one of those novellas you could've done without because this definitely does ADD to the story. This story takes place just before the imminent incident that shall not be named. It's basically the POV of all the key characters in Fire Falling and a sneak peak into what is going to take place in Earth's End. Quite frankly I don't know what to think right now! If you read the blurb for Water's Wrath then you're probably going through the same amount of WTF#ckery I am going through right now. I've turned that blurb upside down trying to read in between the lines. I've got a love/hate relationship with the ending for Earth's End. I know I'm going to angry cry.
You can download the story for free from the author's website over here --> http://bit.ly/1Sk4xKz
Yes you do have to subscribe to her newsletter, but seriously she sends out 1 letter a month, I'm trying to help you.
He should hate himself for the blood on her hands. But, for perhaps the first time in is life, hate could come later. he'd relish in the queen who led his people opposite him. The light to his darkness, the counterweight to all he was, the woman his dreams assured him would rise at his side to sit with him upon a golden throne.
If you're about to start Earth's End by Elise Kova... STOP!!! Read this book first, it's meant to be read in between Fire Falling and Earth's End. And trust me it isn't one of those novellas you could've done without because this definitely does ADD to the story. This story takes place just before the imminent incident that shall not be named. It's basically the POV of all the key characters in Fire Falling and a sneak peak into what is going to take place in Earth's End. Quite frankly I don't know what to think right now! If you read the blurb for Water's Wrath then you're probably going through the same amount of WTF#ckery I am going through right now. I've turned that blurb upside down trying to read in between the lines. I've got a love/hate relationship with the ending for Earth's End. I know I'm going to angry cry.
You can download the story for free from the author's website over here --> http://bit.ly/1Sk4xKz
Yes you do have to subscribe to her newsletter, but seriously she sends out 1 letter a month, I'm trying to help you.
He should hate himself for the blood on her hands. But, for perhaps the first time in is life, hate could come later. he'd relish in the queen who led his people opposite him. The light to his darkness, the counterweight to all he was, the woman his dreams assured him would rise at his side to sit with him upon a golden throne.
February 18, 2016
Final rating: 3/5 stars
Thank you, Elise Kova, for these alternative POVs. I'm glad to see these stories, especially Fritz ones - the best. Whenever I read books with only one character having POV, I start to wonder what it would be like to see the things from the someone else's perspective.
Definitely read between book 2 and 3. It's a material you might want to read because it gives more insight into things in between.
Also, Aldrik's POV. Enough said.
And Baldair's.
And Daniel's.
◈ Air Awakens (Air Awakens, #1)
◈ Fire Falling (Air Awakens, #2)
Thank you, Elise Kova, for these alternative POVs. I'm glad to see these stories, especially Fritz ones - the best. Whenever I read books with only one character having POV, I start to wonder what it would be like to see the things from the someone else's perspective.
Definitely read between book 2 and 3. It's a material you might want to read because it gives more insight into things in between.
Also, Aldrik's POV. Enough said.
And Baldair's.
And Daniel's.
► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:
◈ Air Awakens (Air Awakens, #1)
◈ Fire Falling (Air Awakens, #2)
April 21, 2017
Such an interesting snippet of stories. It's always interesting to get perspectives bar the main character!
August 6, 2024
This novella is free if you sign up to the author's newsletter here.
It was nice to see some events that happened during the second book in other characters’ POVs, but some chapters felt quite useless, and sometimes I was not even sure if I remembered the character or not (it's also been a while since I read this series so maybe it is my fault).
This novella is a grouping of very short stories that happened during Fire Falling, when Vhalla and Aldrik are traveling to the front, and we also have an insight into what happens at the very beginning of Earth's End.
I am happy to be able to see a little more of Aldrik, but we honestly don’t see that much of him in this novella. I was expecting longer scenes from his POVs instead of 12 short stories (even though it is written in the description that this book contains 12 short stories, again, that’s on me I guess). Still, I really ship him and Vhalla together so I am happy to have read this book if only for the few moments where we can see Aldrik’s strong feelings for Vhalla.
I also missed Jax’s humor. That’s also one good thing about this novella. That and some chapters in Baldair’s POV.
Overall this is a very short and quick read, but I don’t think that it adds much to the story or the characters. It is nice to see more of this world, but I was expecting more after loving the rest of the series so much.
1. Air Awakens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Fire Falling ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It was nice to see some events that happened during the second book in other characters’ POVs, but some chapters felt quite useless, and sometimes I was not even sure if I remembered the character or not (it's also been a while since I read this series so maybe it is my fault).
This novella is a grouping of very short stories that happened during Fire Falling, when Vhalla and Aldrik are traveling to the front, and we also have an insight into what happens at the very beginning of Earth's End.
The next time he had his Vhalla in arm’s reach he was going to strangle his infuriating woman after kissing her senseless
I am happy to be able to see a little more of Aldrik, but we honestly don’t see that much of him in this novella. I was expecting longer scenes from his POVs instead of 12 short stories (even though it is written in the description that this book contains 12 short stories, again, that’s on me I guess). Still, I really ship him and Vhalla together so I am happy to have read this book if only for the few moments where we can see Aldrik’s strong feelings for Vhalla.
“Do you actually have eyes in the back of your head?” Erion asked from where he leaned against the post supporting the lean-to that kept the supplies moderately dry. Well, nothing was ever really dry in the jungle. “Why do you think I wear my hair in a bun? It helps hide them so people don’t freak out even more when they see me,” Jax quipped.
I also missed Jax’s humor. That’s also one good thing about this novella. That and some chapters in Baldair’s POV.
Overall this is a very short and quick read, but I don’t think that it adds much to the story or the characters. It is nice to see more of this world, but I was expecting more after loving the rest of the series so much.
1. Air Awakens ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Fire Falling ⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 12, 2016
2.5
My feelings towards this novels are nonexistent.
It was so boring that I simply don't care.
It wasn't bad, I just wasn't hooked or interested.
I started reading it, then I just skimmed the rest of it.
There were approximately 10 characters, and to each one, no more than five or six pages were dedicated. Most times not even five or six pages. They were each so short and nothing exciting happened within them to fill the space between the second and third books of this series.
They were the types of narratives that gave away no secrets. The series is from Vhalla's perspective, told in the third person.
The sections dedicated to each character in this novella displayed personalities and thought processes that we already figured out from Vhalla's observations.
Seeing from their minds was nothing new, so I don't feel like it added any significant dimension to the series.
Meh.
My feelings towards this novels are nonexistent.
It was so boring that I simply don't care.
It wasn't bad, I just wasn't hooked or interested.
I started reading it, then I just skimmed the rest of it.
There were approximately 10 characters, and to each one, no more than five or six pages were dedicated. Most times not even five or six pages. They were each so short and nothing exciting happened within them to fill the space between the second and third books of this series.
They were the types of narratives that gave away no secrets. The series is from Vhalla's perspective, told in the third person.
The sections dedicated to each character in this novella displayed personalities and thought processes that we already figured out from Vhalla's observations.
Seeing from their minds was nothing new, so I don't feel like it added any significant dimension to the series.
Meh.
February 11, 2016
Used this to pass the time until book 3 came out, loved it!
One of these short stories totally changed my opinion on one of the characters which I think just shows you how amazing Elise Kova is!
One of these short stories totally changed my opinion on one of the characters which I think just shows you how amazing Elise Kova is!
April 28, 2022
Estas historias cortas nos muestran el punto de vista de varios de los personajes antes de la ultima pelea, por eso podemos entender un poco mas porque el Principe estaba luchando donde estaba y que paso despues de la caida, asi que me imagino que mas que unas historias cortas es una especie de Prologo para el 3er libro.
Asi que ahora hay que ver que paso con el principe y con Vallah, y si la conexion entre ellos sirve de algo y como van a ganar la guerra que tanto quiere el Rey.
Asi que ahora hay que ver que paso con el principe y con Vallah, y si la conexion entre ellos sirve de algo y como van a ganar la guerra que tanto quiere el Rey.
December 7, 2022
This novella has short POVs from different characters from the end of Fire Falling through the beginning of Earth's End.
I wouldn't say you need to read this in order to enjoy the series, but I loved reading Aldrik be a pining mess, thanks.
I wouldn't say you need to read this in order to enjoy the series, but I loved reading Aldrik be a pining mess, thanks.
December 3, 2019
So... that was kind of confusing. When I was looking this up online, they made it sound like you needed to read this before the next book in the series, but you really don't. Since they were actually a blog post at the beginning, they were not edited as well and kind of confusing. You basically where getting snippets of what was going to happen in the next book. It made more sense to read after the third, if you wanted to see a few other viewpoints.
April 29, 2016
This very short novella gives several different pov's between books 2 and 3 of the series. It's available only off the authors website.
It was short, so that's good. I say that because I don't know if it was 'necessary' to read. Gave us some behind the scenes stuff, but stuff that didn't seem to have any major impact. Anyways, doesn't even matter! Because book 3, here I come!!
It was short, so that's good. I say that because I don't know if it was 'necessary' to read. Gave us some behind the scenes stuff, but stuff that didn't seem to have any major impact. Anyways, doesn't even matter! Because book 3, here I come!!
January 11, 2023
eh...?
January 18, 2025
Welp, now we know why Elise Kova didn't write the Air Awakens series from multiple points of view -- she's not terribly good at it.
That just left me confused...so we're going to move on and pretend this one didn't happen...
That just left me confused...so we're going to move on and pretend this one didn't happen...
January 14, 2020
01/20/2019: Reread.
01/14/2020: Reread.
01/14/2020: Reread.
April 19, 2017
Aldrik's pov breaks my heart a little, Reale's story broke my heart a lot, Emperor is still a bastard and world's biggest douche, Jax and Erion are baes, Baldair is precious <3
March 10, 2020
Actual Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
April 16, 2025
These stories are fine, but they feel mostly like filler. You really don’t need to read them to continue on with the series. I do appreciate, however, that we read from lots of POVs that we don’t get in the books.
May 27, 2020
An interesting—albeit short—collection, that gives a few interesting details about what we can call secondary and some even tertiary characters. I would recommend to read this after Fire Falling, but also after the first chapter of Earth's End, otherwise you might receive a couple of unintended spoilers.
The stories provide another take on some scenes we already read in previous book, only seeing them from the point of view of a character different from our ubiquitous Vhalla.
Here follows the list of characters involved, and a few of these—the most inconspicuous especially— I'm sure will be somewhat useful during book 3, since I am only at 1/3 at present and I can already sense that something has been foreshadowed here.
• Fritz — he has nit taken well what happened in Book 2 and now is grieving, especially since he doesn't have his Vhal around. He also has a hard time understanding how Vhalla can love someone like Aldrik...until he starts to truly see him. Then he can understand how they do not stand "on opposite sides of a ring as opponents, but are on the same team", and start helping him in whatever illusion he is creating to keep his friend safe. From him we also get the disquieting feeling that there is something wrong within the Imperial Army (this haunting feeling will return in other stories too): why did they think the North was weakened when, in truth, they seem all but losing? Why was their intel always wrong? This questions I'm sure will come back in EE. His faith in Vhalla has no limits and he is sure she will stop at nothing to save her prince .
• Aldrik — we finally see his love for the Windwalker more closely and, if anyone had any doubts on its depth before, after reading the first story about him, they will have none. We also read something about a certain Inad...who is this mystery woman, only mentioned as an afterthought? Mmm...something needs to be explained about this and I hope the next book will deliver. We can see how he has a "darker side" that makes him like playing mental games with people until the give up and run, but this does not taint the image I have of his character, not in the least. It makes him feel more real and less the "perfect prince". His take on the events that are known as "the cliffhanger ending of Book 2" sheds some light on the nature of the Bond: Aldrik's sorcery calls out to Vhalla like his heart, even though, as a side effect, he also might draw magic from her like a leech trough the Channel of the Bond itself.
She is his opposite, the light to his darkness, the counterweight to all that he is.
• Elecia — I hoped I would "like" her more reading these pages and, in a certain way, I did. She is unblinkingly devout to her cousin, who is to her "the paragon of noble grace and poise" even when filthy and exhausted. She is smart and resourceful, and a powerful Groundbreaker—she learned magic from her mother in the jungles—and also a healer who can read the weakened bodies like a book. Thanks to her PoV we also come in contact for the first time with Major Schnurr, who "created a number of rifts in the Western Court over the years" and I'm sure will be a pain in the back in the next book. From her, we can see how Aldrik is "sharp and precise as a surgeon's knife", "unrelenting and ever calculating", that for those reasons he is "never wrong " and for that people hated him and she loved and admired him. She does not trust Vhalla, not in the least.
• Emperor Tiberum Solaris, the conqueror — He looks at pretty much everyone with an air of contempt (Elecia herself is not strange to feeling, he would never allow her to feel like a "Western princess") and hate three things above anything else: insubordination, loss of control and anything that called into question his authority. Vhalla was all three personified. In his mind, there is no doubt she is both necessary to win his war and dangerous, and all he wants to do with her is kill her, the sooner the better. Sadly, he has a quick and calculating mind, always ready to exploit others to gain intel he wants.
• Major Jax — we finally meet the Head Major of the Black Legion, a long-haired Westerner with his hair always tied up in a bun, who "may be a fallen lord and a dog of the crown", but still and forever a member of the Tower. He likes unpredictability, but when he meets Vhalla she thinks that might be a stretch. He considers Aldrik "his mentor, role model, and brother" and would do anything to save him, but we understand there is some dark "daily truth to his existence". Baldair does "a well enough job of crafting the illusion of freedom", but it was just that, an illusion. What is his backstory? Call me intrigued.
For the rest, we also read more about Daniel —I'm liking him less and less as I go on reading, because I'm afraid some romance triangle hell will be raised here; prince Baldair (whose inside little voice tells him when things are not right, and now is working overtime), who seems to have changed him mind about Vhalla and truly care for her; Tim, one of Vhalla's doppelgängers who has developed a fascination for magic and an interest for Aldrik (I HAVE BAD FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TOO); lord Erion Le'Dan, who wants to keep his family relevant no matter the changes that might occur on the power board; and Major Reale Quarn is also put a little more under the spotlight and, given what happens, she truly deserves it. "If the Tower won't look after its own, no one will".
It was good to see Elecia and Baldair's take on events we witnessed from another perspective, and to meet Jax, Tim and Erion before they become more relevant in Earth's End, even though my gut tell me one of these will turn out to be more bad than good. I would have also liked to read more about the Emperor and his PoV regarding the messy situation our dearly beloved V&A find themselves into and so on and so forth...but I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
The stories provide another take on some scenes we already read in previous book, only seeing them from the point of view of a character different from our ubiquitous Vhalla.
Here follows the list of characters involved, and a few of these—the most inconspicuous especially— I'm sure will be somewhat useful during book 3, since I am only at 1/3 at present and I can already sense that something has been foreshadowed here.
• Fritz — he has nit taken well what happened in Book 2 and now is grieving, especially since he doesn't have his Vhal around. He also has a hard time understanding how Vhalla can love someone like Aldrik...until he starts to truly see him. Then he can understand how they do not stand "on opposite sides of a ring as opponents, but are on the same team", and start helping him in whatever illusion he is creating to keep his friend safe. From him we also get the disquieting feeling that there is something wrong within the Imperial Army (this haunting feeling will return in other stories too): why did they think the North was weakened when, in truth, they seem all but losing? Why was their intel always wrong? This questions I'm sure will come back in EE. His faith in Vhalla has no limits and he is sure she will stop at nothing to save her prince .
• Aldrik — we finally see his love for the Windwalker more closely and, if anyone had any doubts on its depth before, after reading the first story about him, they will have none. We also read something about a certain Inad...who is this mystery woman, only mentioned as an afterthought? Mmm...something needs to be explained about this and I hope the next book will deliver. We can see how he has a "darker side" that makes him like playing mental games with people until the give up and run, but this does not taint the image I have of his character, not in the least. It makes him feel more real and less the "perfect prince". His take on the events that are known as "the cliffhanger ending of Book 2" sheds some light on the nature of the Bond: Aldrik's sorcery calls out to Vhalla like his heart, even though, as a side effect, he also might draw magic from her like a leech trough the Channel of the Bond itself.
She is his opposite, the light to his darkness, the counterweight to all that he is.
• Elecia — I hoped I would "like" her more reading these pages and, in a certain way, I did. She is unblinkingly devout to her cousin, who is to her "the paragon of noble grace and poise" even when filthy and exhausted. She is smart and resourceful, and a powerful Groundbreaker—she learned magic from her mother in the jungles—and also a healer who can read the weakened bodies like a book. Thanks to her PoV we also come in contact for the first time with Major Schnurr, who "created a number of rifts in the Western Court over the years" and I'm sure will be a pain in the back in the next book. From her, we can see how Aldrik is "sharp and precise as a surgeon's knife", "unrelenting and ever calculating", that for those reasons he is "never wrong " and for that people hated him and she loved and admired him. She does not trust Vhalla, not in the least.
• Emperor Tiberum Solaris, the conqueror — He looks at pretty much everyone with an air of contempt (Elecia herself is not strange to feeling, he would never allow her to feel like a "Western princess") and hate three things above anything else: insubordination, loss of control and anything that called into question his authority. Vhalla was all three personified. In his mind, there is no doubt she is both necessary to win his war and dangerous, and all he wants to do with her is kill her, the sooner the better. Sadly, he has a quick and calculating mind, always ready to exploit others to gain intel he wants.
• Major Jax — we finally meet the Head Major of the Black Legion, a long-haired Westerner with his hair always tied up in a bun, who "may be a fallen lord and a dog of the crown", but still and forever a member of the Tower. He likes unpredictability, but when he meets Vhalla she thinks that might be a stretch. He considers Aldrik "his mentor, role model, and brother" and would do anything to save him, but we understand there is some dark "daily truth to his existence". Baldair does "a well enough job of crafting the illusion of freedom", but it was just that, an illusion. What is his backstory? Call me intrigued.
For the rest, we also read more about Daniel —I'm liking him less and less as I go on reading, because I'm afraid some romance triangle hell will be raised here; prince Baldair (whose inside little voice tells him when things are not right, and now is working overtime), who seems to have changed him mind about Vhalla and truly care for her; Tim, one of Vhalla's doppelgängers who has developed a fascination for magic and an interest for Aldrik (I HAVE BAD FEELINGS ABOUT THIS TOO); lord Erion Le'Dan, who wants to keep his family relevant no matter the changes that might occur on the power board; and Major Reale Quarn is also put a little more under the spotlight and, given what happens, she truly deserves it. "If the Tower won't look after its own, no one will".
It was good to see Elecia and Baldair's take on events we witnessed from another perspective, and to meet Jax, Tim and Erion before they become more relevant in Earth's End, even though my gut tell me one of these will turn out to be more bad than good. I would have also liked to read more about the Emperor and his PoV regarding the messy situation our dearly beloved V&A find themselves into and so on and so forth...but I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
January 7, 2019
3.5* If you want to avoid spoilers do not read between book 2 & 3. Not only are there spoilers but it will be completely confusing as you meet characters you don’t meet until book 3. I read this after book 3 and I’m glad I did. Book 2 ends on an almighty cliff hanger so i would have been upset to read this first.
February 13, 2016
It was a little boring, but that's what you get for short stories. If anything, these short stories made me dislike Aldrik a little.
February 20, 2016
Reading this in chronological order, everything makes a lot more sense. *nods* Yes, yes. *nods*
Read
February 20, 2016Kindaaaaaa pointless, they should have just been added to the actual books but wtv it was nice reading from other characters POV
September 11, 2016
at 40 pages it's hard to rate it higher than that, but the differing POVs gave a brief insight into various characters, particularly Daniel, Baldair and Erion.
April 30, 2018
My questions still need answers
April 20, 2022
Freebie from Elise Kova for signing up to her newsletter
January 3, 2018
Nice short little story with multiple POVs of people Vhalla has met throughout the book. It was said that this book needed to be read in between book 2 and 3 and that is 100% true.
January 24, 2022
This is even better on a reread
May 12, 2024
As stated at the beginning of this novella, having more POVs than just Vhalla’s definitely gives more depth to this fictional world. I do think if you’re a first time reader, this might come across as confusing because it’s meant to be read before Earth’s End but there are characters and events that are better explained in the actual book. Regardless, it’s a quick read and interesting insight into everything happening currently in the series timeline.
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