The Rise of the Dawnstar

The Avalonia Chronicles #2

by Farah Oomerbhoy

The seven kingdoms of Avalonia are crumbling and evil is spreading across the land like a plague. Queen Morgana is close to finding a way to open The Book of Abraxas and it’s only a matter of time until she uses the power trapped inside its pages to enslave the entire world.

With Avalonia growing more dangerous by the day, Aurora must travel through war-torn lands and deep into the heart of the fae kingdom of Elfi. Her goal is to find a legendary weapon infused with the last of the realm’s ancient magic—the only weapon in the world powerful enough to stop the queen.

Aurora might have survived her first battle against Queen Morgana, but the true fight to save her kingdom and restore her throne has only just begun…

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Magic, Romance, Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy, Mythology

ebook

First published April 24, 2017

About the author

Farah Oomerbhoy is the international bestselling author of The Avalonia Chronicles. Her first book, The Last of the Firedrakes, was originally published on Wattpad where it gained over two million reads and a Watty Award. Since publication, The Last of the Firedrakes and book two The Rise of the Dawnstar have gone on to win numerous awards, including matching silver medals in IBPA’s Benjamin Franklin Awards. Wielding her master’s degree in English literature and her love of the fantastical, Farah spends her creative time crafting magical worlds for young adults. She lives with her family in Mumbai, India but can often be found checking closets for magic portals to Narnia.

Reviews

[Irene Sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an arc from the author via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second book of the series is definitely an improvement comparing to the first one. Don't get me wrong, Aurora is still as annoying, naive and short-sighted as the beginning but the plot has topped the level of intrigue and excitement.

Mrs Oomerbhoy can definitely create complicated plot lines, political schemes, back-stubbings, secrets, turns and twists, that managed to make me overlook her heroine's faults and failures. The second half of the book, from the moment that Aurora reached Iris, the land of Elfie, kept my interest intact and captivated me with the world building, the magic, the creatures and I was amazed.

I can't lie, I had no interest for this story when I first started reading it and if I hadn't got it as an arc and felt compelled to write a review, I wouldn't have bothered. But I'm glad I did because this book was so much better than the first and now I can't wait to read the next one. From what is announced it'll probably be releashed in a year make that two years and I really hope I won't die of curiosity till then.

[sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy.freakin.crap.



*WARNING*
DO NOT READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW IF U HAVEN'T READ THIS BOOK OF PURE AWESOMENESS








okay im just gonna list out the stuff I loved about this book.

-> The plot twists
-> Aurora being the dawnstar and heir to the house of eos-eirendil
-> Abraxas =) ( like...he has a weird sense of humor + he's a dragon...what more could you want?)
-> Tristan!!!! ( I mean night court...duh!)

Anyone else on team tristan? =D
The way this book ended..oh my gods. I kinda liked it better than book one and book one was my favorite book of 2016. Is it possible to love a book so much that you could die of it?...lol. Definitely one of my favorite books this year. I just keep getting sucked in by Farah's writing...how does she do it?! She makes me feel stuff I never feel(well almost never). Idk why I took this long to finish this book...especially since it was one of my most anticipated releases for 2017. I still enjoyed it and obviously give it a massive freakin 5 stars!

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted @ Miranda's Book Blog



I just read the very last page, what can I say? I absolutely adored The Rise of the Dawnstar! There are so many emotions I am feeling right now, shock being the most prominent of them all! Don't worry, it's a good shock but my goodness, THAT ENDING!

That being said, let's get into why I loved this book...

1. All the fantastical plot twist! Throughout the story, all of these beautiful twists would just pop up out of nowhere that were completely unguessable!! What can I say, THE PLOT WAS FANTASTIC!

2. The Worldbuilding- From the moment I read the first book, The Last of the Firedrakes I was in love with the world of Avalonia. But I must say, delving into this sequel was even more magical! I loved the wonderful journey into Elfi!

3. The Writing- Farah has a lovely way with words, this story will jump out at you and pull you in! The descriptive writing had me so immersed in the story and I didn't want to stop reading leave!

4. The Romance- Pretty much every book that I pick up has romance, it's my favorite thing about a story. The romance within this book was heart-pounding, heartbreaking and swoon-worthy! I will warn you that there is a *slight* love triangle. If you are a follower of my blog you know I practically detest triangles, but I LOVED THIS ONE! Either I'm changing as a reader or Farah just has oh-so-incredible talent! I'm going with the incredible talent!

All-in-All: A wonderful sequel that will have you immersed in an incredible world full of fantasy, amazing plot twist and swoon-worthy romance!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the long awaited, fast-paced, action packed fantasy and enthralling sequel to the brilliant ‘The Last of the Firedrakes‘, which I originally read and reviewed back in 2015. It continues the story of Aurora Firedrake as the teenager strives to save both her mother and the seven kingdoms whilst also thwarting the plans of the evil Queen Morgana. Aurora has to journey through war ravaged lands to recover a legendary weapon which is purported to be the only weapon strong enough to stop the Queen. She has learnt not to be quite so naive but who can she trust? There are dangers all around her and even those she does trust may have other motives and double cross her. The first battle may have been won, but there are many more battles to be fought before this war will be over . . . .

The second book in a series often struggles to achieve the same standards as the first but that is not so in this case. The author has created a mythical world with great intrigue and characters, all of whom are brought vividly to life within the pages of this story. The challenges which Aurora faces, the dilemmas and unexpected twists and turns keep the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the story. Even the ending has such a twist, one that left me really wanting to know what happens in the next part of this series – I can’t wait to read it!

If you enjoy stories permeated with ancient magical forces, royal intrigues and double crossing betrayals, look no further. This is a superbly crafted series that I have no hesitation in highly recommending – I just hope we don’t need to wait two years for the sequel!

[Emma L.]

OMG WE HAVE A COVER AND IT'S SUCH A BEAUTY. I LIKE IT EVEN MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE *grabby hands* AND THAT TITLE THOU. WE ALSO HAVE A RELEASE DATE APRIL 2017 YASSS THAT'S NOT TOO LONG. PROBABLY WILL HAVE TO REREAD THE FIRST ONE BEFORE I READ THIS ONE. GHSSUSDFFFFGHHFGAA EXCITED.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆ARC review from NetGalley☆

****SPOILER ALERT****




It's 4am. My phone beeps in warning: battery level @ 18%.

I'm staring at the Acknowledgements page.

Staring.

Trying to gauge how I feel.

WTF?

Then it hits me: im in a state of angst. It hurts. I go back a page, reading the last few paragraphs and sure enough, the knife twists.

Now Im kinda pissed.

Why for the love of all things holy, did I go and read this now!? So early in the game? With book 3 probably another 2 years away??

Because I liked it. I really really did.

Farah does an excellent job with her story building, captivating you into her little world. I literally found myself spell bound, completely enthrallled, wondeing where the last 2 hours had gone.

So yeah, the final page hurt. Im still #TeamRafe

*sigh*

[Creatyvebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

BUY THIS BOOK! READ THIS SERIES! Seriously, guys I don’t know how much of this will be a review instead of me just fangirling over how refreshing and well written The Rise of the Dawnstar is. The second book in The Avalonia Chronicles. Once again author Farrah Oomerbhoy has done the unthinkable. Captivating me with her beautiful words and exciting story.  Dare I say it’s better than book one? Yes. Yes it is. In The Last of the Firedrakes which happens to be one of my fave breakout books of 2015 and a surprising hit for me, was rather predictable in some aspects, yet enjoyable at the same time. Yet it reminded me too much of Harry Potter.

Here in The Rise of the Dawnstar, every part of this book kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s just as magical and charming as the first. The world building is top notch and writing is just as poetic. My emotions were all over the place reading about this complex world. Going through the motion as Aurora faces betrayal, prepare for battle and try to find happiness with a developing romance. This book is everything you want it to be. It will leave you breathless. Have you laughing and definitely fill you with a load of frustration because book 3 won’t be out for a while. Like I need to know what going to happen right this second.

Beyond that, Farrah Oomerbhoy’s The Rise of the Dawnstar is just an all-around good book. It has a heroine you can get behind. Yes Aurora makes mistakes and at times she can come off childish but she’s such a great developing character. It’s fascinating to read as Aurora comes into her own. To see that maturity come forth. To see Aurora strive to be the Queen and leader she is meant to be and become.

So if you’re looking for a fast-paced, spellbinding, thrilling ride, I suggest you hop on this rollercoaster and plunge into the world of Avalonia. You won’t be disappointed. Along the way meet new characters and fall in love with old ones. The Rise of the Dawnstar is sure to be one of your top favorites of 2017.

*Thank you netgalley and Farrah Oomerbhoy. I received a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own

[Divya Agrawal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believe it! I read this book in just one sitting.

I was going through a roller-coaster ride while reading this book. I would say this book is so much better in every aspect than the last of firedrakes even though it's a sequel.

The world, mystery, suspense and most of all the magic that author created was phenomenal. Though I was cursing at a character from the first book in series and now I just want that character to be happy somehow. I got to know at the ending that the character was a kind soul.

Overall this book is a great read for a fantasy lover like myself!

[Jazzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

READ FULL REVIEW HERE: https://thrivinghope.blogspot.com/201...

Some things:

besides the cliche-ness of the plot, there was enough action and tension built to keep me reading. There were a lot of questions that led to more questions, which led to even more questions... and even if the big answer wasn't exactly the most spectacular, I did enjoy the excitement that was built through all the rabbit trails.

Aurora was gorgeous and everybody had a crush on her... except her guy's ex. But like, that's to be expected, haha. Seriously, why are these female protagonists so stinkin' perfect in the physical aspect?! I mean, sure she's like named after Sleeping Beauty, but still. Can't we just get some average, even homely females to shake things up? Almost every guy in the entire book flirted with Aurora because duhhhh she's the most naturally beautiful girl in the kingdom naturally. Ugh, please. We don't need more of these leads, authors. Take note, please? Her despairingly perfect beauty aside, she was... I don't know. She was kind of lukewarm. I didn't hate her but didn't love her. She wasn't bad enough for me to be like, "Can I burn you?" but she wasn't awesome enough to be like, "let me protect you, my dear child." IT WAS AN AWKWARD IN BETWEEN. KIND OF LIKE PICKLES. I LIKE THEM BUT I DON'T LOVE THEM AND SOMETIMES I HATE THEM BUT OTHER TIMES I LIKE THEM AND IT'S COMPLICATED AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MY EMOTIONS CUZ THEY'RE A WRECK. You know the feeling, I'm sure.

Disney was mentioned, and I was a little confused........

the world building wasn't amazing, it was like any other fantasy/fairy tale kind of vibed book. But I mean, it was trollishly BAD. At least.

OH. OH. OH. GET THIS YOU GUYS. If the cliche plot wasn't enough... you're gonna die from this. There are like, a bajillion love triangles in this book. What is a reader to do with so many?! ONE LOVE TRIANGLE IS ENOUGH. Please don't throw in ex's and jealous crushes and blah blah blah. It was so cringy. My toes are cringing. My toesss you guys. THINGS ARE SERIOUS. Not only did the author threw in a love triangle for all the leads... but she ships the ship that I don't ship. Maybe because I just missed things since this is not the first book, but like... I shipped the ship and she shipped the other ship and now I just want them all to go down and drown. Because I don't know if I would be able to live if her ship sailed. It shouldn't. Because reasons.

Tristan and the other Fae people were cool but almost too cool. Like, they were right on the brink of being way too awesome to be convincing. But the point was THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TOO AWESOME which made sense because they were the ones that had to make Aurora realize that she wasn't Ms. Perfect Hair. She was a mess compared to them, which I appreciate. Because they were jerks about it, but then they became nice jerks and her closest allies. Which is pretty cool cuz they're so cool. Can I be Fae? kthx.

There's actually a lot of food. Aurora, bless her heart, was a foodie. I can relate, so #approved.
I love Tristan, you guys. It's weird, but I can't help it if he reminds me of Kieran from the Sword of Lyric. D':

And then there's a Pegasus

A REAL PEGASUS

THAT TALKS THROUGH TELEPATHY

AND IT'S PRETTY COOL

just like the fae warriors

okay I'm done

On a more serious note, there are some yuckies. Some innuendo, some characters drink, and some language (which actually weirded me out, because it's not really the genre or style that you really excpect language, yknow?)

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic and a strong heroine mix together for an exciting, fast-paced fantasy.

Aurora is on the run. Not only does she need to find a way to get her kingdom back, but she wants to free her mother who is now stuck inside the magical dagger. With the evil queen's forces on her heels and so much still to learn about herself and her powers, Aurora has a long, hard journey ahead.

I read the first book in this series and recommend reading it before tackling this book, since the books build on each other. In other words, this is not a stand-alone.

It took me a couple of pages to get into this, mostly because it'd been awhile since I'd read the first book and needed to remember what was going on. But as soon as I did, this book swept me away.

Aurora is a strong heroine through and through. She's determined, ready to take risks and gets her hands dirty to get the task at hand done. Despite her amazing magical skills and ability to fight, there's a side of her which stays hesitant and feminine. She makes mistakes, is embarrassed by them, and wants to live up to others expectations. It's easy to like her and root for her.

The world building sucks in and brings the magic to life. The different kingdoms are vibrant with various customs, and every setting Aurora finds herself in becomes vivid. There's never a boring moment as she travels, and this isn't only because of the intrigue and action, but illustrated in the various people and surroundings she visits.

There are a variety of side characters, and each one has their own distinct personalities and traits. Some are only visited for a few pages, but they still added needed spice to the story and plot. There seemed to be a heavy does on males who were drawn to Aurora (all good looking, of course), but as the plot thickens, this slides into place and fits in with the layers of mystery and manipulation she faces later on.

There is romance, but it never comes into main focus rides along to the side of the main plot.
Although it seemed clear in the last book where the love interests and hearts might go, this book adds some twists and makes it clear that even love doesn't run on a smooth, direct course.

I loved getting lost in these pages and can't wait to see where Aurora's adventures take her next.

I received a complimentary copy and loved it so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.

[Sheila G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Release date 04/24/2017! I'm posting this review a bit late, so I apologize!

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Aurora Darlington was gone. Nothing in the world was going to change that. I was Aurora Firedrake, and I was born to be a queen. The people of Illiador needed me, my people needed me, and this time I would not fail them.

As Avalonia continues to be plagued by the evil queen Morgana, Aurora Firedrake, a powerful Fae-Mage, must decide how to defeat her and reclaim her rightful throne. Fleeing from the refuge of her allies, Aurora sets off with Kalen and Rafe to traverse the hostile regions of Avalonia in order to find her mother and free her.

But as the war wages, deception and betrayal arising at every turn, and new obstacles present themselves, her quest for her mother, and few strategies for defeating Morgana quickly fall apart.

All but one; a legend of an ancient weapon, with ancient magic. Having faced the evil queen once and miraculously surviving, will she finally be able to defeat the queen once and for all if the legendary Dawnstar truly exists? Now, it is their only hope.

------------------------------------

Holy smokes, guys. I've found a new favorite series. This book was amazing! Just when I thought I started to figure out the twists, new elements were thrown in and totally took me by surprise. Not to mention, there is just so much going on in these books! It's like having the best of all worlds mixed together in one voluptuous series!

Now that the essentials of world building were fulfilled almost fully by the first book, it cleared the path for an action-packed, topsy-turvy plot line to blossom and overflow with such richness in detail, depth, and engagement. The writing is exquisite, the pacing is non-stop, and yet again, the world building is phenomenal. (I think I've said that before?)

As I say in majority of my reviews, I don't like to discuss too much so I don't spoil the plot for anyone who may want to read this book and hasn't yet. But, if you haven't yet, you really should give The Avalonia Chronicles a try. I hope I've made myself clear. *grins*

Now that my inner fan-girl has had a moment to shine, let's get down to this review:

The story starts off from where it left off in book one, which I appreciated. I think it would have worked for some time to pass between the stories of the two books, but it definitely wasn't necessary.

Character Breakdown:

There are many characters in this book, but I am only going to discuss a select few here.

Aurora grew up quite a bit from The Last of the Firedrakes and was much more tolerable. Frankly, this is the sole reason why The Last of the Firedrakes received a full star less. There were still a few instances where Auroroa acted rather juvenile, (but it has to do with boy-issues, and that happens to everyone.) Also, she's just seventeen, so it's to be expected to a point. I was so glad that her inner-monologue was much more...fruitful, rather that frivolous. Rather than focusing on her own plight, she stepped into her role and adjusted accordingly.

Rafe: This passage concludes my hypotheses from my review of The Last of the Firedrakes:

"No, Aurora. That was an excuse to spend more time around you and not look like a complete fool when you questioned my motives for always turning up when you needed me. I didn't want you to think I was a stalker."
I smiled at this. "And were you?"
"What?"
"Stalking me?" I teased.
Rafe shrugged, but I could see the mischievous gleam in his eyes. "I wouldn't call it stalking."

Is it OK to think some forms of stalking are cute? Or does that also qualify me as a stalker?

Tristan: At first, I really didn't know what to think of him. His outright cruelness towards Aurora was in my mind, completely uncalled for. Especially when considering the fact that she is royalty. His own, and the blatant racism of the High Fae in general towards Fae-mage Aurora was excruciating at times. I was glad when he finally came around. Once the reader understood a bit of Tristan's history, it makes some sense why his initial reaction toward Aurora was that way. As the plot unfolds, I found myself liking him more and more. I did find this change in character to be almost too abrupt to be realistic though.

I'd like to warn those who loath love triangles now that one does present itself. However, the issues surrounding this geometric relationship made me hardly mind its existence...until the very end of the book. My heart hurts. I truly feel bad for those who must concede their feelings for that of duty. I daresay that it would take much gall to be the ruler of a kingdom and put foremost its success rather than your own happiness.

With all that said and unsaid, I can't wait to see what will happen next. The story, characters, and overall feeling of this book were devastatingly magical.

5 stars - but I think you already guessed that.

Faith is the greatest magic of all. It can lift the world out of the darkness and bring it into the light. Be the Star of the Morning, the light that fills the world with magic. Be the Lightbringer, the Breaker of Shadows. Believe in yourself, Aurora Firedrake; believe in the Dawnstar. For if you have faith, anything is possible.

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

This review can also be viewed on my blog: She's Going Book Crazy

[Rida Fatima]

This book is love ❤️ I'm just waiting for the next and the last book and I hope it comes out sooner than possible.
Such an amazing trilogy
💕

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to firstly thank netgalley and the publisher for an early release copy.

*NO Spoilers, though I'm dying to share everything*

After reading the first installment of this series I was eager to find out what happened next and I was not disappointed.

In this, the second book of the series, we get to go to new places, meet new people and get so many questions answered.

In this elaborate woven tale we follow Aurora and her friends and some foes, as she embarks upon a journey so many people face. To find her true self. Who she is and what she is capable of.

There is so much to love about this story so far and I can only see it getting better. It follows in the footsteps of some of my favourite stories and authors and I highly recommend reading this series if you, like me, want to immerse yourself in a tale of magic, love, discovery and adventure.

[Dreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 magical stars

In ‘The Last of the Firedrakes,’ we saw main character Aurora as she became aware of the magical realm of Avalonia, and all the fairies, mages, and other mythical creatures that exist. She was thrust into a foreign world with political upheaval, a complicated family history, and had her first flirtation with a boy.

In ‘Rise of the Dawnstar,’ we follow Aurora as she meets new allies, new boys, and learns more about her Fae abilities.

The Avalonia Chronicles are page-turners through and through, and their slight similarities to the Harry Potter series and King Arthur legends only made me want to keep reading. Recommended for any YA or fantasy reader.

‘The Rise of the Dawnstar’ will be available on April 24, 2017.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blog | Twitter | Instagram

As a note, a review copy of this novel was provided in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. Thank you! Also posted to BOOKEDJ.


Wow, wow, wow! Farah Oomerbhoy's The Avalonia Chronicles continues with a new, spellbinding installment--The Rise of the Dawnstar. And I'll be honest: I was pretty skeptical of the series at first with the previous release, despite the luscious writing and world-building that Oomerbhoy portrays during every chapter. All of that skepticism was pretty much destroyed by the final pages of The Rise of the Dawnstar.



Far more expansive than its predecessor, this next chapter of Avalonia is full of so much more life and plot twists. What I loved most about this one was that it kept me on my toes a lot more than the previous had managed. I knew instantly that Oomerbhoy was an author to look out for and now, with all that descriptive writing and complexities, I can finally saw I'm captivated. When an author can combine complexities of kingdoms, the sting of betrayal and everything in between, you know you've picked up a severe talent. In The Rise of the Dawnstar, so many of my initial complaints from the first book were banished--not all of them, but most--and at the core of this story was a whole lot of magic, fun and pain.



I was so looking forward to more growth on Aurora's part. When you look back to where the series began, you can see just how much she has developed and Farah put forth a lot of time into that. It's what saved the previous book for me. Sadly, we had a few bumps (in my opinion) during this go around and most of that had to do with the romance aspects of the novel. Aurora is still very much so coming of age; trying to find her way, to train, to embrace her destiny. I felt like, while I don't hate Rafe, there was a lot to their relationship in this book that put me off a bit.



Some moments felt a bit like... Aurora had taken a step backwards. But. BUT! I still enjoyed the love stories that developed and the love triangle that takes center stage. Further, I loved the development we got to witness with other characters and new locations. Honestly, The Rise of the Dawnstar puts The Last of the Firedrakes to complete shame and I love it for that reason.



Overall, sequels can be very tricky to navigate but Farah Oomerbhoy proves she was VERY up to the task and is only getting better. Everything readers loved and hated about The Last of the Firedrakes will be blown out of the water with this sizzling second installment and--without sarcasm--I can't wait for more from Oomerbhoy and The Avalonia Chronicles in the future.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazed & Dazzled

Omg, this book is amazing! I'm in awe.

The storyline is witty, smart, and makes you crave more and more. I'm addicted and can't wait for more!!!!

[Abena ~gurlwiththebook~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every reader has that one AMAZING yet understated series. The one where we don't understand why it isn't more popular. This is that series.
WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS?
I honestly have no idea because this series is spectacular. *insert heart eyes*

I love this progression of Aurora's story. She's finally coming into her abilities and is truly learning how to completely use her powers and not let them use her. And boy, was I glad to see the "real" Aurora Firedrake aka Aurora Shadowbreaker.
But darn if there weren't twists and turns around every bend in this book! What did I learn? Trust no one. But I think Aurora still needs a little more time for that lesson to sink in....

The worldbuilding was definitely A+. Kingdoms, griffins, a pegasus, fae, mages, Drakaar, and the infamous fae warriors of Elfi equals me adding Avalonia to the list of fantasy worlds I would live in.
And let's not forget the romance.

Rafe, sweet deadly Rafe.

Though I loved him through and through with the same kind of young, first love naivete as Aurora in The Last of the Firedrakes my eyes have opened slightly more than her have. He seemed to eager to protect her i.e, keep her from harm's way rather than trust her and let her use her gifts. Plus there was the little matter of Rafe "courting" her while he was engaged to that lying, backstabbing, snobby Leticia.

Tristan. The Prince of the Night Court *shout out to my ACOTAR homies*
Gee, I do not know how I feel about Tristan. I am very seriously conflicted. On one hand, he was the perfect jerk in the beginning with his Mage hate toward Aurora. On another hand, there was definitely no coddling on his part. He pushed her to be her best and do her best..and she did indeed become even better than she was before. It also doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes.....
I didn't like the ending with them, though! I know how both Tristan and Aurora feel but I can't wait to see how it continues!

4.5/5 stars

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Bunny theshybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I enjoyed this book even more than the first one! You got to see so much more character growth and the story really started to take off. Therefore, I am giving this book 4.5 stars! I can’t give it a full five stars because I had some issues with the romance of the story but overall, I am so excited about where the story is going!
Let’s talk about what made this series (book 1-2) so good (my opinion). Seeing the main character, Aurora, grow into the queen she is meant to be. I loved watching her learn, grow into her powers and I can’t wait for the third book because she is going to be so bada$$! I was so happy to learn more about the fae courts and kingdom in the 2nd book because we didn’t learn a lot about them in the first one.
In my opinion, the romance…it was a little cheesy but lucky it isn’t the main plot of this story just a subplot. Although…I will say that the romance is heart-winching at times. I am so excited for the next book. I know it will blow me away and if you are looking for a fantasy series that is easy to read with a cute romance this series is for you.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 5 out of 5]

From time to time a reader finds out that book that must be read on fast forward. Not because he/she wants to finish it quickly, but because wants to know what’s next. The Rise of the Dawnstar was that kind of book for me. The alert rhythm and all the action in it was no help for an eventual slowdown.

When I start reading the book, I had no idea that it was the second book of the series. Some comparisons with elements from our real world made me wonder if I’m missing something and so I discovered the first book. Having no time at the moment to start the series properly, I continued to read The Rise of the Dawnstar. But doing that I had the very nice pleasure to see that the author manage to concentrate the information you need, with no repetitive or continuous boring, annoying re-evocations of what happened in the first book. But more important, F.O. achieves to convey to the “new” readers, that are unaware of their history, the feelings between the main characters. The maturation of the main character takes place fast during many trials, but she still preserves that good innocence that any young should have.

Otherwise, what else can I say? The story has all of what a great epic fantasy story needs: a lot of action, dangers, twists and turns, beautiful warriors to fall in love with and a lot of fairytale creatures, swords and magic, trust and betrayal, half-truths and secret plans, hidden agenda and broken hearts.

In a world that is still under the Lord of the Rings spell, The Rise of Dawnstar has its own originality and freshness. I read it with great pleasure even if I’m way over the age of dreaming fairy tales. Now I’m leaving you because I have to read the first volume.

Enjoy!

https://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/201...

[Cat Imb || The Reading Cat || · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Farah Oomerbhoy!

I am speechless right now. This book was so much better than the first - and I don't say that often. It was action-packed, drama-filled, and fantastically epic. Yes, I just wrote all of that in one sentence, and am not ashamed.

Although some parts of the story were predictable, there were still multiple twists and turns in the story that I had not seen coming. The reason why the predictible-ness (yes I just made up a word) at some instances did not bother me, is because the writing and the storytelling was so well executed. I was completely entranced and read the last 75% of the book with hardly any breaks. I would will the bus to go slower so that I wouldn't have to stop reading.

There were so many interesting characters introduces in this installment, and I've got to say, I'm team Tristan (you can now cyber-stone me). There were also the introduction of more creatures and legends which enriched the world. Oomerbhoy did all this in a magical way that didn't make the story over-complicated, in the sense that, the additions to the story were well paced, not overwhelming to the reader, and they all had a purpose. It wasn't like: "Hey, let me add a mermaid, because they're super cool and pretty, but will not add anything to the story".

I may have rambled a little on this one, and for that I am sorry, but all this to say that I definitely recommend this book!

[Maud · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I got an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review*

I did not think that Aurora could become even more of a special snowflake. I.WAS.SO.WRONG! Actually, I don't think I can call her a special snowflake anymore. She is too special to be called just a special snowflake. We need a new word to describe her. Everyone falls in love with Aurora, they are even willing to change their whole character for it. That is how special she is!

Other than that, the world was still interesting but man this book suffered from 'second-book-in-a-series' syndrome. Not a lot happens, things mostly get set-up for the next book and Aurora gets even more special. Also, the author still (tries to) describe things in a poetic way that just fills half a page with boring things about moonlight and flowing stars and stuff...

So basically, my feelings are not much different from the first book. The whole special snowflake thing and 'poetic' description is so bad that it is funny. It makes me sad though that this is a serious book and not a parody of all the tropes that you can find in a bad YA book. Because that is what this is.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, the ending!!! I liked the first one in this series but this one was far better!! The ending was amazing. I think there will be another and I can't wait!! I need it now, right now!!!

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much! It deserves a lot more attention in my opinion.
The sequel was amazing and I loved every second of it. I loved all the characters, both the old and new ones. Once again, the writng was really good. This is just such a fun fantasy series to read.
I'm really excited to see how the story is going to continue, because I'm in love with it. ♥

[LAWonder10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book of The Avalonia Chronicles is every bit as exciting as the first, yet, in a different way. It is a cross genre and the characters are gallant, deceitful, creepy, humorous, irritating and endearing.
Orphaed and "outsider" Aurora's safety can no longer be assured, due to her own stubbornness and arrogance. When will she ever learn to listen!
She still is unsure of who she can trust.. she even has some doubts about Rafe. However, there is one she knows is trustworthy, but is stuck in a dungeon and may not survive.
She escapes to Elphi only to find it was not as she expected. She is determined to train hard, and come to know who she really is. She will push herself t the limit. She must discover the ancient secret of the Dawnstar so she can somehow fix some of the havoc she has created.
This is a more emotional tale than the first was, yet still maintains the action and suspense created in the first book.
The characters are equally diversified and so real, the reader can feel he/she really knows them. The Book Cover and Title is very "fitting".
The ending is rather shocking.
The reader will be more than anxious to read the nest book of the series. It will be a shame if a producer does not recognize the outstanding movie series this would be.

[Vintage · Rating 5 out of 5]

More fun stuff with Aurora Firedrake. Farah Oomerbhoy knows her fantasy.

It’s such a creative adventure I a just going to touch on a few points. As with many second act, it’s better than the first (Empire Strikes Back, Godfather II).

Aurora finally makes it to the Kingdome of Elfi and her grandmother Izadora, but not before meeting a Pirate Prince and getting saved by Rafe again, a still engaged Rafe.

Grams has all the warmth and love for her granddaughter as Medea for her sons. Between the reception from her cold as ice queenly grandmother and random fae calling her half-breed, Elfi isn’t much fun for Aurora. But she’s a plucky girl, and takes to the warrior training her grandmother demands before she can even think of leading an army.

Farah Oomerbhoy, which is one of the best names ever for a writer, again combines elements from the best of fantasy and fairy tales: magic, fae, fire fae warriors, centaurs, griffins, sword fighting, betrayal, and dragons. There is even a nod to Marvel’sEndgame, and a broody fae warrior that gives some on page competition for who should be the hero to Aurora’s heroine status.

Fiona Hardingham is an excellent narrator for the book.

[Kelsey Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book, but oh my! this book was even more amazing and now I definitely need this whole series forever. I just got to gush about this ending real quick though! Oh my! The feels, I have all the feels, so many!!! Heartbreak,Shock, Happiness! I don’t know what to feel! All I know is that I need the third book now!!! Oh the betrayal! I got to stop now and actually review this whole book and not just the ending. But Farah Oomerbhoy has written the best final paragraph of a book I ever read! I felt it! I saw it! *tear*

Aurora has grown so much from the last book even though it’s only a few months between. I’m so proud of her. She’s really learning to control her magic and is becoming extremely powerful.
But while she is worried about freeing her mother meanwhile Rafe’s kingdom is getting taken over by evil no one saw coming, so he must go back and Aurora is left with people she doesn’t know if she can trust or not.

“I started sleeping with a dagger under my pillow, and was ready to use it if I needed to.”

In this first book you probably fell in love with Rafe,(I know I did)well Farah Oomerbhoy definitely wants to confuse your little heart in this one. She throws in a new tall,dark and handsome guy. He’s not just any guy though he’s a Fae Knight and that’s not all a Prince. Who am I suppose to love now! Who is Aurora suppose to love!

There is so many twists and betrayals you’ll never see coming it’s amazing. Farah Oomerbhoy does such a wonderful job of building and expanding on this world she created. She has some of the best descriptive writing I have ever read. I love it! There is also a lot more battles in this book and it is all so very exciting!

Aurora really becomes a badass!

“Aurora Firedrake had awoken.”

I absolutely can’t wait for the third book and I neeeeeed it now! I neeeed to know what is going to happen next! I love this world and characters so much I could read about them forever.

https://criticuncriticalbookwormblog....

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to be posted after my stop on 'The Rise of the Dawnstar' Blog Tour on May 9th: http://www.oldvictorianquill.wordpres...


Wow! What a stunning follow-up to the wonderful ‘The Last of the Firedrakes’. I’d been eagerly awaiting this book since the second I put down the first and boy was I not disappointed.

Farah Oomerbhoy has developed so much as a writer and in this instalment I felt even more at home in the world of Avalonia, and loved how the world-building had strengthened so much. Traveling alongside Aurora through the war-torn kingdoms, we get to see more of more of the Kingdoms of Avalonia, and the dangers that behold our princess.

I loved the development of her character and the strength of her resolve to face the worst, even whilst at times still acting like a typical teenager, which made me so happy to see. We see developments in her love-life as well, but you’ll just have to read that yourself – no spoilers from me. Only to say, there is a new player in the game we call love!

Oomerbhoy has the most beautiful writing style which twists and flows, taking you along in the story with ease. I read for hours before realising that it was late at night, because I was so immersed. The sign of a great storyteller.

4 Stars!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to know exactly what I thought? Check out my blog on Monday morning for my full review!

Of all the books I've loved before...

I will cross post here Monday or Tuesday evening, but if you want to see the best parts you should head there for sure!

[Brenda Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breath taking

Can not wAit for the next book. I want to know where this is going. Will she stay with Trishtan or will she find her way back to Rafe????

[Alreem · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5