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Azalei's Riders (The Fire Rain Chronicles)
“The author blends both the science fiction and fantasy genres together in a way that's honestly breathtaking.”
It’s the early 3000s and for the Southern Countries, there has never been a better time to live in. Technological advances have made the need for roads obsolete and drastically reduced the amount of earth needed to grow crops. As a result, much of the planet has been plunged back into the breathtaking, unknown wilderness it once was; a fact that has, for centuries, been celebrated.
Until now.
With the disappearances – thousands vanishing out of the sky every time a transport leaves one of the cities – it is soon becoming clear that the jungle that now separates the islands of civilization is harboring an enemy. Someone is here, in their forests, on their land, hiding somewhere in the vast, impenetrable space. Someone they can’t see or detect. Someone who is making the cities go dark, one by one.
How do you fight an enemy who slips passed your radars, is undetected by your satellites, and concealed from your scouts?
Turn the tables. Develop your own secret weapon. One just as invisible to them as they are to you.
Only this weapon isn’t made of gears and wires. It’s not moving pieces and a quick plug in to recharge. This one doesn’t have a control panel, a comfortable seat, an air conditioned cockpit.
This weapon breathes.
It’s the early 3000s and for the Southern Countries, there has never been a better time to live in. Technological advances have made the need for roads obsolete and drastically reduced the amount of earth needed to grow crops. As a result, much of the planet has been plunged back into the breathtaking, unknown wilderness it once was; a fact that has, for centuries, been celebrated.
Until now.
With the disappearances – thousands vanishing out of the sky every time a transport leaves one of the cities – it is soon becoming clear that the jungle that now separates the islands of civilization is harboring an enemy. Someone is here, in their forests, on their land, hiding somewhere in the vast, impenetrable space. Someone they can’t see or detect. Someone who is making the cities go dark, one by one.
How do you fight an enemy who slips passed your radars, is undetected by your satellites, and concealed from your scouts?
Turn the tables. Develop your own secret weapon. One just as invisible to them as they are to you.
Only this weapon isn’t made of gears and wires. It’s not moving pieces and a quick plug in to recharge. This one doesn’t have a control panel, a comfortable seat, an air conditioned cockpit.
This weapon breathes.
336 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2018
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Marie
7 books59 followersMiranda Marie is 20 years old and lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She began writing when she was about 10 years old. Because she was dyslexic, reading was very difficult for her. Finding writing easier, she lost herself in worlds of her own making.
In 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare, disabling genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Due to the restraints put on her by her health, most of her time is spent working on her writing/artsy endeavors and talking to her friends and family.
She participates in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every fall, where she wrote and reworked Azalei’s Riders and Azalei's Strategy (published May 10th, 2017). She enjoys the community there, where she met many of her friends.
She has a fascination for turtles, as she believes they are basically mini dragons with built-in armor. She enjoys collecting turtle jewelry and knickknacks.
Learn more on her blog: http://jumpinginpuddles-lookingforsta...
Or connect with her on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Azaleis-Ride...
Twitter - Miranda Marie @AzaleisRiders
Instagram - mirandamarieauthor
Tumblr: The Fire Rain Chronicles
In 2015, she was diagnosed with a rare, disabling genetic syndrome called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Due to the restraints put on her by her health, most of her time is spent working on her writing/artsy endeavors and talking to her friends and family.
She participates in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every fall, where she wrote and reworked Azalei’s Riders and Azalei's Strategy (published May 10th, 2017). She enjoys the community there, where she met many of her friends.
She has a fascination for turtles, as she believes they are basically mini dragons with built-in armor. She enjoys collecting turtle jewelry and knickknacks.
Learn more on her blog: http://jumpinginpuddles-lookingforsta...
Or connect with her on:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Azaleis-Ride...
Twitter - Miranda Marie @AzaleisRiders
Instagram - mirandamarieauthor
Tumblr: The Fire Rain Chronicles
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 16, 2016
Actual rating 4.5.
Let's get something straight - I'm sick of the dystopian genre. Aren't you? The faceless, corrupt governments; the ridiculous, "who do I choose?" female characters; the boneheaded, excessively angry male ones; the trite, horrendously predictable plot lines; and goodness, don't even get me started on the "I thought there was hope but there never was and never will be" vibe that hangs over them like an old, wet, smelly blanket. Ugh.
Hallelujah for Azalei's Riders.
Enter with me into a world where quirky, sarcastic politicians replace faceless governments; where the women are strong and independent as well as kind and good humored; where the men are powerful and protective, as well as humble, shy, and caring; where the myriad of characters, hidden agendas, known and unknown secrets take the plot in twists you'll never see coming; where humor, hope, pain, and determination combine to give color to the otherwise drab future we're so often presented with.
Why did such an interesting genre, with so many opportunities, have to become so hackneyed and predictable? Why does every young-adult novel that so much as mentioned the words "future" have to fall into these pitfalls?
Why does every sci-fi reader have to settle for less?
With compounds and forests, missions and adventures, soldiers and heroes, Azalei's Rider's combines the best of sci-fi and fantasy to bring you fun, engaging characters and a gripping, constantly evolving plot. So tell me, why are you settling for less?
I suggest you saddle your dragon, recruit. The Fire Rain is only beginning.
Let's get something straight - I'm sick of the dystopian genre. Aren't you? The faceless, corrupt governments; the ridiculous, "who do I choose?" female characters; the boneheaded, excessively angry male ones; the trite, horrendously predictable plot lines; and goodness, don't even get me started on the "I thought there was hope but there never was and never will be" vibe that hangs over them like an old, wet, smelly blanket. Ugh.
Hallelujah for Azalei's Riders.
Enter with me into a world where quirky, sarcastic politicians replace faceless governments; where the women are strong and independent as well as kind and good humored; where the men are powerful and protective, as well as humble, shy, and caring; where the myriad of characters, hidden agendas, known and unknown secrets take the plot in twists you'll never see coming; where humor, hope, pain, and determination combine to give color to the otherwise drab future we're so often presented with.
Why did such an interesting genre, with so many opportunities, have to become so hackneyed and predictable? Why does every young-adult novel that so much as mentioned the words "future" have to fall into these pitfalls?
Why does every sci-fi reader have to settle for less?
With compounds and forests, missions and adventures, soldiers and heroes, Azalei's Rider's combines the best of sci-fi and fantasy to bring you fun, engaging characters and a gripping, constantly evolving plot. So tell me, why are you settling for less?
I suggest you saddle your dragon, recruit. The Fire Rain is only beginning.
December 28, 2016
Where to begin? This book is such a fun blend of genres and I absolutely loved it. If you're looking for a dystopian novel that's NOT like all the others out there, you've come to the right place.
This is how dystopias should be done, people. Not a hopeless world whose survival hinges on a hormonal teenager in a love triangle, (*cough* I'm not pointing fingers...) but a brand new society with a cast of characters from all places having their own part in the story's plot. It's like watching a bunch of puzzle pieces come together, not knowing exactly how they all fit, but knowing that somehow, in some way, they will.
And boy, is that 'how' exciting. ;) And shocking. In fact, there's a lot of twists you probably won't see coming and cliches turned on their heads. It's a fantastic and refreshing ride in a genre that has become rather stagnant and cliched in and of itself. But not this book.
Plus, there are dragons. What else can I say? Dragons are awesome, and especially these ones. They're some of the coolest dragons I've ever read about, and that's saying a lot, especially since I write about dragons myself.
If you like sci-fi or fantasy, you'll definitely enjoy this book. (Hmm, scratch that, if you enjoy reading in general, you'll love this book. Psh. ;) You should go buy it now, if you haven't already. You'll thank me later, I promise. )
-Melody Jackson, author of "The Dragon Within" and "Dragons' Bane"
This is how dystopias should be done, people. Not a hopeless world whose survival hinges on a hormonal teenager in a love triangle, (*cough* I'm not pointing fingers...) but a brand new society with a cast of characters from all places having their own part in the story's plot. It's like watching a bunch of puzzle pieces come together, not knowing exactly how they all fit, but knowing that somehow, in some way, they will.
And boy, is that 'how' exciting. ;) And shocking. In fact, there's a lot of twists you probably won't see coming and cliches turned on their heads. It's a fantastic and refreshing ride in a genre that has become rather stagnant and cliched in and of itself. But not this book.
Plus, there are dragons. What else can I say? Dragons are awesome, and especially these ones. They're some of the coolest dragons I've ever read about, and that's saying a lot, especially since I write about dragons myself.
If you like sci-fi or fantasy, you'll definitely enjoy this book. (Hmm, scratch that, if you enjoy reading in general, you'll love this book. Psh. ;) You should go buy it now, if you haven't already. You'll thank me later, I promise. )
-Melody Jackson, author of "The Dragon Within" and "Dragons' Bane"
September 2, 2018
Azaleis Riders by Miranda Marie
Rating: 3,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
The country will soon be conquered if they cannot attack an outpost of the enemies.. But to do so, they need special weapons. And those weapons are especially picky when it comes to their partners. So, soon children are called to help and serve their country.
My thoughts:
I really liked this idea, even though it’s not entirely new. At least they have a plausible explanation, why children have to fight a war. There were some twists I definitely didn’t expect and that kept me on the edge.
I liked the characters, though some were too flat in my opinion. They just didn’t have any background. I can understand why, I still didn’t like it. Azalei is certainly interesting and so is Walter. The dragons are amazing and adorable and I just want to cuddle them all. There were decision which surprised me, though not all.
The Dragons are awesome! Honestly, they’re one of the best ideas of dragons I’ve read about. They’re more than just existing; they have unique gifts and personality. Only a few books have that. The only ones that pop into my mind right away are from Middle earth.
But I have to say that the history of the country and the politics and other advanced technologies was way too short. I wanted to read more about it. What the medicine can do, whether they’re humans on mars or whatever. Sadly, nearly nothing of that was shown. And I did ask myself why the protagonists were so surprised about certain talents of the dragons when they’re supposed to learn everything about them during their lessons?
I liked the style. Especially the thoughts and emotions were shown in a lovely way. Some parts were rather amusing to read, some rather serious. I liked that.
I have to add, that sometimes the punctuation was a bit…flawed. It confused me a few times.
But I’ll give a bonus for that amazing cover and so this novel earns three and a half stars.
Rating: 3,5/5 stars
Synopsis:
The country will soon be conquered if they cannot attack an outpost of the enemies.. But to do so, they need special weapons. And those weapons are especially picky when it comes to their partners. So, soon children are called to help and serve their country.
My thoughts:
I really liked this idea, even though it’s not entirely new. At least they have a plausible explanation, why children have to fight a war. There were some twists I definitely didn’t expect and that kept me on the edge.
I liked the characters, though some were too flat in my opinion. They just didn’t have any background. I can understand why, I still didn’t like it. Azalei is certainly interesting and so is Walter. The dragons are amazing and adorable and I just want to cuddle them all. There were decision which surprised me, though not all.
The Dragons are awesome! Honestly, they’re one of the best ideas of dragons I’ve read about. They’re more than just existing; they have unique gifts and personality. Only a few books have that. The only ones that pop into my mind right away are from Middle earth.
But I have to say that the history of the country and the politics and other advanced technologies was way too short. I wanted to read more about it. What the medicine can do, whether they’re humans on mars or whatever. Sadly, nearly nothing of that was shown. And I did ask myself why the protagonists were so surprised about certain talents of the dragons when they’re supposed to learn everything about them during their lessons?
I liked the style. Especially the thoughts and emotions were shown in a lovely way. Some parts were rather amusing to read, some rather serious. I liked that.
I have to add, that sometimes the punctuation was a bit…flawed. It confused me a few times.
But I’ll give a bonus for that amazing cover and so this novel earns three and a half stars.
June 23, 2018
Full disclosure (I've become quite a fan of this phrase, haven't I): I received a free e-book copy of Azaei's Riders in exchange for an honest review. So here it is :)
First of all, I sense a theme with Miranda and the living weapons thing. I mean, every writer has a Favorite Thing, right? ;)
Ok. Time to be serious.
Basically, Azalei's Riders borrows from How to Train Your Dragon (one of my Favorite Things) and uses it in a sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian setting. Um, yes. Please. Gimme. Genius hackers riding dragons? I'll take ten.
If you've read Echoes, you'll notice that this book is in a completely different style. I actually like the style of this one better, because it's more straightforward. Also, Miranda does a fantastic job of leaving me with so many questions--I need to see how this all plays out in the next book! What's up with the characters who can empathetically communicate with their dragons? (I want a dragonnnnn!)
As usual, Miranda keeps her prose squeaky clean. Books in this genre usually have a nasty, steamy love triangle (*barf*) or something like that. I hate that. I appreciate more than I can even describe that I can pick up one of Miranda's books and just read it without turning on my Kissy Radar. Anyone can read this book! And everyone should! Big-name authors, take notes.
The only real problem I had with my copy of this book was that it had a significant number of typos. They didn't interfere with the story or anything, but I definitely noticed them, and it definitely bothered me. Good news, though! Miranda is getting ready to release these books in print, and they're going through a whole other edit and proofread, so by the time YOU read them in print, the typos will all be fixed! I also had a bit of a hard time keeping track of all the characters (especially among the group of riders) BUT I'm guessing this was my problem, because this book was my before-bed read...don't imitate my bad habits, kids.
Tl;dr: Azalei's Riders is a fantastic and clean book for the entire family that takes all the fun parts of sci-fi and dystopian books and removes all the bad parts! Hooray!
Now go read it!
First of all, I sense a theme with Miranda and the living weapons thing. I mean, every writer has a Favorite Thing, right? ;)
Ok. Time to be serious.
Basically, Azalei's Riders borrows from How to Train Your Dragon (one of my Favorite Things) and uses it in a sci-fi, futuristic, dystopian setting. Um, yes. Please. Gimme. Genius hackers riding dragons? I'll take ten.
If you've read Echoes, you'll notice that this book is in a completely different style. I actually like the style of this one better, because it's more straightforward. Also, Miranda does a fantastic job of leaving me with so many questions--I need to see how this all plays out in the next book! What's up with the characters who can empathetically communicate with their dragons? (I want a dragonnnnn!)
As usual, Miranda keeps her prose squeaky clean. Books in this genre usually have a nasty, steamy love triangle (*barf*) or something like that. I hate that. I appreciate more than I can even describe that I can pick up one of Miranda's books and just read it without turning on my Kissy Radar. Anyone can read this book! And everyone should! Big-name authors, take notes.
The only real problem I had with my copy of this book was that it had a significant number of typos. They didn't interfere with the story or anything, but I definitely noticed them, and it definitely bothered me. Good news, though! Miranda is getting ready to release these books in print, and they're going through a whole other edit and proofread, so by the time YOU read them in print, the typos will all be fixed! I also had a bit of a hard time keeping track of all the characters (especially among the group of riders) BUT I'm guessing this was my problem, because this book was my before-bed read...don't imitate my bad habits, kids.
Tl;dr: Azalei's Riders is a fantastic and clean book for the entire family that takes all the fun parts of sci-fi and dystopian books and removes all the bad parts! Hooray!
Now go read it!
May 14, 2017
4.8 stars! This book was amazing! I absolutely loved it! My only complaint was a bit of confusion between the switching of inner monologue but if you over look that the book is fantastic... it's fast paced and keeps you guessing the entire way through! I can't wait to see more of the characters! Especially Jessica and Nathan! Bring on book 2
August 29, 2018
FIRST!! I need to say how much I adored this story!! I have a few critical things I need to say, so I'll get those out of the way early on. But I also want to note that my nitpicky grammar issues did NOT fully count toward my rating. I understand books by small publishers or independently/self-published books likely aren't edited and proofread the same (amount? Way? I'm not sure) as a larger publisher would do. I don't pretend to know much about publishing or editing, although I'd very much like to learn more! A book would have to completely blow my fucking mind in order to rate it 5 stars with a ton of errors. I'm also massively critical with ratings, so 4 stars is pretty high praise coming from me!!
I've followed this author on Instagram for a while, and interacted with her and she's absolutely lovely. Which, of course, made it terrifying to read her work 😂 I'm not sure where it was said, but I saw something along the lines of her books not being for everyone, and how she's proud to be the author of “odd” books. Those statements might seem slightly apologetic to others, but to me, it's the best endorsement ever and almost guarantees I'll like the book!! Sometimes I think we must all be tired of reading the same ya fantasy books over and over with heavily emphasized romance and the same plot with all the proper names switched out. But no. It seems many people like that sort of repetition. *shrug* Not I, said the pig. This book IS very different, and I loved that about it.
This next bit will not be kind, but I need to say it. And if the author's editors read this, I'm very sorry for including my honesty in an offensive way (I hardly ever apologize for honesty but I think it's needed here). So. The errors. Judging by the ebook cover, I read the revised edition, although it's possible the cover was swapped and this was the first edition. Still, it was published like this. The amount of errors was so high I found it took away from the story. In the end acknowledgements, the author thanks her two editors by their first names, which I took as either a desire to remain a but anonymous or they're personal friends and not people paid to check for errors. Once I noticed it, I kept a tally of times “passed” was used when it should've been “past” (10). I also noted “compliment” which should've been “complement,” “to who” instead of “to whom,” and other things I'm guessing most people wouldn't notice as much as I did. There were also some agreement issues like, “there was more pros than cons,” or things like “it has since began.” Then random ones such as: “He'd would like,” “the 20 and 21st centuries,” and some awkward phrasing like, “all she didn't need was to let her guard down.”
SO. I don't claim to be any sort of grammar genius; most of the time, I know what sounds wrong but I don't know what the error is called, if that makes sense. I'm the type of person who reads things like “3:00 o’clock” as “three o'clock o'clock,” because that's how my brain processes the repetition. I'm mentioning it as something of which to be aware before starting the book (in case that sort of thing distracts you too) as opposed to just saying it to be an asshole. Which might be how it comes across anyway...sigh. Idk. I'm not a professional reviewer or anything, and I don't adhere to any strict grammar rules in my reviews. I like that the author’s note at the beginning mentioned how she also doesn't adhere to strict rules in her writing and is a bit of a rebel. I actually wasn't distracted at all by the use of numbers (4 instead of four), and I think it's wild people would latch onto that but would be fine with a missing period at the end of a sentence/paragraph. More on the use of numbers later!!
OKAY, JESS. ENOUGH.
Some awesome things about this story:
There is a Jessica...AND SHE IS AMAZING!! I don't think I will ever read a book with a Jess/Jessica who felt like a real human. Most of the time, they're the generic mean girl characters or the stupid friend. Just because we have a common name doesn't mean we're all basic bitches. It makes me so damn mad, and so I was fucking overjoyed to read about badass Jessica Samuels. THANK YOU!!
What genre rules?! I think the best books are a blend of genres, and this is a lovely blend. It's a bit dystopian, but it's not just a corrupt government to fight against. It's fantasy because DRAGONS!!, but not a typical, predictable fantasy. It's a bit of a thrilling, adventurous sort of ride, but it's so much more than that. The characters are also really well written, which I guess you could label a contemporary thing. I like how much it feels like she had this story in her head, this world she dreamed up, and she just wrote it down as is instead of trying to squish and edit it into one neat little genre.
This is going to be confusing, but I'll try to explain 🙈 it had a sort of space opera feel, even though it wasn't in space. Maybe because it was multiple perspectives, or there was so much mystery surrounding everyone and everything? Idk how to describe it, but I felt it. So. 😂
Third person past tense is my favorite. I have no idea why so many authors write in first person or (gasp) present tense...but I don't like it. This...I like this. Third person past is my comfort zone. I can just sit back and enjoy a story, free of whiny teenagers.
Not everyone was 16! Hooray. I thought it'd be ya, and I guess 25(ish) year olds fit into young adult as well? But I liked that there was an age range.
The characters!!!! So good. I love them all...even the shady/bad ones. Of course, I adore Jessica. Walter, Azalei, and Autumn are amazing as well! But even secretively shady yet somehow kind Thatcher was lovable. I never knew exactly what To was up to, but I admire her preparation and confidence and effectiveness. Even Nathan grew on me somehow(?!?!!!) I really liked seeing what Carson, Ray, and Evian were up to as well. It makes me want to know what's going on even more!! It's like we're let into the mystery but given the lowest possible clearance level.
DRAGONS!!!! ALL THE DRAGONS!!!! I love them all. I love how they flock to Walter. I love how human and readable their gestures and expressions can be sometimes. I love how important they are - if the dragons were removed, this book couldn't exist. They're crucial to the plot and the missions and everything. I love that they're loyal and obedient but also stubborn and prickly sometimes. These are the kind of dragons I didn't realize I desperately wanted to read. And yes, I've purchased the whole trilogy directly from the author!! Bring on the dragons.
This is definitely a page-turner. I NEED to know what's going on. What will happen next. I was desperate for the line about 75% in when Azalei acknowledged the plan wasn't the real plan and it never had been. YES. I like how it's not really two sides fighting a large battle. It's everyone out for themselves, some people acting as allies when their motives line up. It's everyone fighting for what they think is right. It's so interesting!! Once you realize how many plans are in place, overlapping and contradicting each other, with all the important players def NOT on the same page...it makes the plot so much trickier. So Carson wants to be king of all the land ever, but Azalei broke from him bc she supported uniting everyone in peace, but not everyone questions Carson. Most of our characters are from the country Azalei ran to, and they want to prevent Carson's country (countries?) from taking over. But is anything that black and white? Not really. It's all gray. And I am HERE for gray areas. Hell yes.
Not all the action happened at the very end!! It was dispersed throughout. There's always something happening, which I appreciate as a more plot-driven reader. I like learning about characters! I do! It's just hard to care when they don't DO anything.
The decision to write the numbers instead of words...was tricky at first. I'm not entirely sure I understand her reasoning. Once I got used to it, I noticed how much it added to the fast pace especially in the really frantic moments. It reminded me a bit of the cross-outs and rebellious bits of shatter me, which I really liked (but most others hated 😂). I like when books feel like art the author HAD to create. Because writing is an art form. I like being reminded.
I think that's all I have to say?! I really loved this book. I felt completely immersed in this world and often thought about the characters and the plot when I wasn't reading!! It's also one of those worlds that feel like anything is possible, so it was very hard to guess where things were going or who was on what side or how many sides there are?! I'm a wild theorizing sort of reader, and I LOVE being surprised - I love being wrong even more. I cannot WAIT to read the next two books!!!!
I've followed this author on Instagram for a while, and interacted with her and she's absolutely lovely. Which, of course, made it terrifying to read her work 😂 I'm not sure where it was said, but I saw something along the lines of her books not being for everyone, and how she's proud to be the author of “odd” books. Those statements might seem slightly apologetic to others, but to me, it's the best endorsement ever and almost guarantees I'll like the book!! Sometimes I think we must all be tired of reading the same ya fantasy books over and over with heavily emphasized romance and the same plot with all the proper names switched out. But no. It seems many people like that sort of repetition. *shrug* Not I, said the pig. This book IS very different, and I loved that about it.
This next bit will not be kind, but I need to say it. And if the author's editors read this, I'm very sorry for including my honesty in an offensive way (I hardly ever apologize for honesty but I think it's needed here). So. The errors. Judging by the ebook cover, I read the revised edition, although it's possible the cover was swapped and this was the first edition. Still, it was published like this. The amount of errors was so high I found it took away from the story. In the end acknowledgements, the author thanks her two editors by their first names, which I took as either a desire to remain a but anonymous or they're personal friends and not people paid to check for errors. Once I noticed it, I kept a tally of times “passed” was used when it should've been “past” (10). I also noted “compliment” which should've been “complement,” “to who” instead of “to whom,” and other things I'm guessing most people wouldn't notice as much as I did. There were also some agreement issues like, “there was more pros than cons,” or things like “it has since began.” Then random ones such as: “He'd would like,” “the 20 and 21st centuries,” and some awkward phrasing like, “all she didn't need was to let her guard down.”
SO. I don't claim to be any sort of grammar genius; most of the time, I know what sounds wrong but I don't know what the error is called, if that makes sense. I'm the type of person who reads things like “3:00 o’clock” as “three o'clock o'clock,” because that's how my brain processes the repetition. I'm mentioning it as something of which to be aware before starting the book (in case that sort of thing distracts you too) as opposed to just saying it to be an asshole. Which might be how it comes across anyway...sigh. Idk. I'm not a professional reviewer or anything, and I don't adhere to any strict grammar rules in my reviews. I like that the author’s note at the beginning mentioned how she also doesn't adhere to strict rules in her writing and is a bit of a rebel. I actually wasn't distracted at all by the use of numbers (4 instead of four), and I think it's wild people would latch onto that but would be fine with a missing period at the end of a sentence/paragraph. More on the use of numbers later!!
OKAY, JESS. ENOUGH.
Some awesome things about this story:
There is a Jessica...AND SHE IS AMAZING!! I don't think I will ever read a book with a Jess/Jessica who felt like a real human. Most of the time, they're the generic mean girl characters or the stupid friend. Just because we have a common name doesn't mean we're all basic bitches. It makes me so damn mad, and so I was fucking overjoyed to read about badass Jessica Samuels. THANK YOU!!
What genre rules?! I think the best books are a blend of genres, and this is a lovely blend. It's a bit dystopian, but it's not just a corrupt government to fight against. It's fantasy because DRAGONS!!, but not a typical, predictable fantasy. It's a bit of a thrilling, adventurous sort of ride, but it's so much more than that. The characters are also really well written, which I guess you could label a contemporary thing. I like how much it feels like she had this story in her head, this world she dreamed up, and she just wrote it down as is instead of trying to squish and edit it into one neat little genre.
This is going to be confusing, but I'll try to explain 🙈 it had a sort of space opera feel, even though it wasn't in space. Maybe because it was multiple perspectives, or there was so much mystery surrounding everyone and everything? Idk how to describe it, but I felt it. So. 😂
Third person past tense is my favorite. I have no idea why so many authors write in first person or (gasp) present tense...but I don't like it. This...I like this. Third person past is my comfort zone. I can just sit back and enjoy a story, free of whiny teenagers.
Not everyone was 16! Hooray. I thought it'd be ya, and I guess 25(ish) year olds fit into young adult as well? But I liked that there was an age range.
The characters!!!! So good. I love them all...even the shady/bad ones. Of course, I adore Jessica. Walter, Azalei, and Autumn are amazing as well! But even secretively shady yet somehow kind Thatcher was lovable. I never knew exactly what To was up to, but I admire her preparation and confidence and effectiveness. Even Nathan grew on me somehow(?!?!!!) I really liked seeing what Carson, Ray, and Evian were up to as well. It makes me want to know what's going on even more!! It's like we're let into the mystery but given the lowest possible clearance level.
DRAGONS!!!! ALL THE DRAGONS!!!! I love them all. I love how they flock to Walter. I love how human and readable their gestures and expressions can be sometimes. I love how important they are - if the dragons were removed, this book couldn't exist. They're crucial to the plot and the missions and everything. I love that they're loyal and obedient but also stubborn and prickly sometimes. These are the kind of dragons I didn't realize I desperately wanted to read. And yes, I've purchased the whole trilogy directly from the author!! Bring on the dragons.
This is definitely a page-turner. I NEED to know what's going on. What will happen next. I was desperate for the line about 75% in when Azalei acknowledged the plan wasn't the real plan and it never had been. YES. I like how it's not really two sides fighting a large battle. It's everyone out for themselves, some people acting as allies when their motives line up. It's everyone fighting for what they think is right. It's so interesting!! Once you realize how many plans are in place, overlapping and contradicting each other, with all the important players def NOT on the same page...it makes the plot so much trickier. So Carson wants to be king of all the land ever, but Azalei broke from him bc she supported uniting everyone in peace, but not everyone questions Carson. Most of our characters are from the country Azalei ran to, and they want to prevent Carson's country (countries?) from taking over. But is anything that black and white? Not really. It's all gray. And I am HERE for gray areas. Hell yes.
Not all the action happened at the very end!! It was dispersed throughout. There's always something happening, which I appreciate as a more plot-driven reader. I like learning about characters! I do! It's just hard to care when they don't DO anything.
The decision to write the numbers instead of words...was tricky at first. I'm not entirely sure I understand her reasoning. Once I got used to it, I noticed how much it added to the fast pace especially in the really frantic moments. It reminded me a bit of the cross-outs and rebellious bits of shatter me, which I really liked (but most others hated 😂). I like when books feel like art the author HAD to create. Because writing is an art form. I like being reminded.
I think that's all I have to say?! I really loved this book. I felt completely immersed in this world and often thought about the characters and the plot when I wasn't reading!! It's also one of those worlds that feel like anything is possible, so it was very hard to guess where things were going or who was on what side or how many sides there are?! I'm a wild theorizing sort of reader, and I LOVE being surprised - I love being wrong even more. I cannot WAIT to read the next two books!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2019
I think the different aspects in this book didn't stand out to me as much since this was a reread, so this review might be less in-depth than it might otherwise be, but I'll preface by saying that this is an awesome book.
My absolute favorite thing about this book is the characters. (Do I ever not say that when I'm talking about a book I love?) More specifically, I love the dynamics between them. This is something I did remember from my prior reads of this book. I'm particularly partial to the relationship between Nathan and Jessica; they're so much fun to read. We don't get to see a whole lot of some of the characters in this book, since there are several of them and they can't all have the screen time they perhaps deserve (this is something I'm struggling with in the book I'm writing, as well), but since this is the first of a series I trust that we'll get to know them more and more as the series progresses (and I remember we do, with at least a few of them). All of the characters are really distinct, each one having one or two features or traits that particularly set them apart. Thatcher with his accent and blue eyes (unfortunately he kept ending up English in my head rather than Scottish because my brain has a harder time formulating a Scottish accent), Autumn with her red hair, Azalei with her almost-silent authority, etc. The characters in this book were just really well-done.
I did think that some of the flashbacks were a bit forced. Several of them seemed kind of tossed in there for the sake of plot convenience, to either give us a piece of backstory or tell us more about the plot or to tie the present to the past and I think they could have been executed a little better. I think I would have preferred the memories to be part of the characters' thoughts rather than their own flashback in most instances.
The world is really cool, because while this is a dystopian world and it's clearly a dystopian world, it's incredibly unique and it doesn't really seem all that awful. You know it is, under the surface, but on the surface you have highly advanced tech, people living above the ground so the ground can be lush and green again, vehicles built to look like dragons (how many of you would not love to have a car that looks like a dragon?), and ground-level streets that almost no one uses. (I don't know why, but for some reason that's really fascinating to me. It's super cool to imagine old abandoned roads with greenery growing through cracks in the asphalt and vines wrapping around old shells of cars...)
One thing to note: If you don't like a lot of points-of-view, this book isn't for you. The point-of-view breaks are clear and it's established very early in a scene whose head we're in, but there are a lot of points-of-view in this book. I can think of ten off the top of my head. In most cases it was helpful for giving a deeper sense of the characters and the plot, but in a couple of places it didn't seem incredibly beneficial. It still wasn't particularly off-putting for me, but if multiple points-of-view aren't your thing then this probably isn't the book for you.
Overall this is definitely a five-star book and I highly recommend it. :)
My absolute favorite thing about this book is the characters. (Do I ever not say that when I'm talking about a book I love?) More specifically, I love the dynamics between them. This is something I did remember from my prior reads of this book. I'm particularly partial to the relationship between Nathan and Jessica; they're so much fun to read. We don't get to see a whole lot of some of the characters in this book, since there are several of them and they can't all have the screen time they perhaps deserve (this is something I'm struggling with in the book I'm writing, as well), but since this is the first of a series I trust that we'll get to know them more and more as the series progresses (and I remember we do, with at least a few of them). All of the characters are really distinct, each one having one or two features or traits that particularly set them apart. Thatcher with his accent and blue eyes (unfortunately he kept ending up English in my head rather than Scottish because my brain has a harder time formulating a Scottish accent), Autumn with her red hair, Azalei with her almost-silent authority, etc. The characters in this book were just really well-done.
I did think that some of the flashbacks were a bit forced. Several of them seemed kind of tossed in there for the sake of plot convenience, to either give us a piece of backstory or tell us more about the plot or to tie the present to the past and I think they could have been executed a little better. I think I would have preferred the memories to be part of the characters' thoughts rather than their own flashback in most instances.
The world is really cool, because while this is a dystopian world and it's clearly a dystopian world, it's incredibly unique and it doesn't really seem all that awful. You know it is, under the surface, but on the surface you have highly advanced tech, people living above the ground so the ground can be lush and green again, vehicles built to look like dragons (how many of you would not love to have a car that looks like a dragon?), and ground-level streets that almost no one uses. (I don't know why, but for some reason that's really fascinating to me. It's super cool to imagine old abandoned roads with greenery growing through cracks in the asphalt and vines wrapping around old shells of cars...)
One thing to note: If you don't like a lot of points-of-view, this book isn't for you. The point-of-view breaks are clear and it's established very early in a scene whose head we're in, but there are a lot of points-of-view in this book. I can think of ten off the top of my head. In most cases it was helpful for giving a deeper sense of the characters and the plot, but in a couple of places it didn't seem incredibly beneficial. It still wasn't particularly off-putting for me, but if multiple points-of-view aren't your thing then this probably isn't the book for you.
Overall this is definitely a five-star book and I highly recommend it. :)
February 3, 2019
Every dragon lover needs to have this story in their life!! I do not have adequate words for this gem of a book. Just get your hands on this story!!!
June 20, 2017
Azalei's Riders was a thrill from start to finish. But with dragons, fighters, politicians, hackers, and everything in between, how could it not be?
I really loved this book. I read it in two afternoons, and by the time it was over I basically just wanted to curl up on the couch and pretend I was best friends with most of the characters--several baddies aside.
Azalei and Walter were definitely my favorites. Azalei is SO COOL, and Walter... well, he's Walter. ;D I'm pretty sure we'd be good friends if he were in the real world.
There were a couple of spots where I had to go back and reread to figure out what was going on, but the plot was great and easy to follow for the most part. The action scenes were well-done and suspenseful, the dialogue was WONDERFUL, and the characters feel like real people.
Thank you, Miranda Marie, for sharing this wonderful world and these wonderful people with us! I can't wait to read the next book. =)
I really loved this book. I read it in two afternoons, and by the time it was over I basically just wanted to curl up on the couch and pretend I was best friends with most of the characters--several baddies aside.
Azalei and Walter were definitely my favorites. Azalei is SO COOL, and Walter... well, he's Walter. ;D I'm pretty sure we'd be good friends if he were in the real world.
There were a couple of spots where I had to go back and reread to figure out what was going on, but the plot was great and easy to follow for the most part. The action scenes were well-done and suspenseful, the dialogue was WONDERFUL, and the characters feel like real people.
Thank you, Miranda Marie, for sharing this wonderful world and these wonderful people with us! I can't wait to read the next book. =)
January 2, 2022
Okay, so I am going to say right now that the only reason that it took me, what, five years to finish this book is that I am HORRIBLE at electronic reading. I don't like eBooks, I prefer hard copies and I tend to forget about the books I have online...hee-hee.
But all in all, wow, this was such a good story! Miranda Marie is a GENIUS. To be able to create characters as she did, build sentences, and form an intricate enemy's plot, form a plot against that plot, form a betrayal and somehow keep track of all of that...that is amazing! I cannot wait to read more by Miranda!
I am not usually a lover of the "dystopian" genre, but this was different! It was different than the cliche stereotypes of dystopian...this was amazing! Great job, Miranda! I can't wait for book two!
But all in all, wow, this was such a good story! Miranda Marie is a GENIUS. To be able to create characters as she did, build sentences, and form an intricate enemy's plot, form a plot against that plot, form a betrayal and somehow keep track of all of that...that is amazing! I cannot wait to read more by Miranda!
I am not usually a lover of the "dystopian" genre, but this was different! It was different than the cliche stereotypes of dystopian...this was amazing! Great job, Miranda! I can't wait for book two!
January 2, 2018
Real rating: 4.8
It is worth the 4.5 stars it's received and guess what, I absolutely hate dystopians. I hate them, I can Mae how many I like with one hand. I hate the corrupt governments and for reason societies going backwards rather than forwards (I don't mean in technology). But I struggle to find anything bad about Azalei's Riders. It kind of lags but that's about it. It's sci-fi with dragons, how is not that not cool? It's clean, so family-friendly and it's fresh with epic characters that feel real. Can't wait to finish the sequel.
It is worth the 4.5 stars it's received and guess what, I absolutely hate dystopians. I hate them, I can Mae how many I like with one hand. I hate the corrupt governments and for reason societies going backwards rather than forwards (I don't mean in technology). But I struggle to find anything bad about Azalei's Riders. It kind of lags but that's about it. It's sci-fi with dragons, how is not that not cool? It's clean, so family-friendly and it's fresh with epic characters that feel real. Can't wait to finish the sequel.
December 22, 2017
I would have given this a three star rating because I found that the story lagged, but I couldn't. The ending was just too flippin' GOOD. That plot twist with Ro... I didn't see that coming! The characters were all kick-butt and fun. I love Walter and his dragons, and the scene with Jessica and Nathan when he wrapped her ribs... *heart eyes*
I will be continuing on to the second book just because of that ending. *thumbs up*
I will be continuing on to the second book just because of that ending. *thumbs up*
December 14, 2018
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Note: As a rep, I received a free copy of this e-book from the author, but the review below is my honest opinion.
Azalei's Riders is quite the adventure! First and foremost, DRAGONS!!! But also, it had some really great character development, an insanely exciting plot, and the story flowed well from each point-of-view.
This book is set well into the future where cities are small because technological advancements means less space is required for growing crops. Thus much of the country is natural forest - a fact that is celebrated up until people start disappearing when traveling between cities. The government is working on an operation to figure out why people are disappearing, and enlists the help of five young adults and a genius hacker.
"They were on a catwalk that went all the way around the giant room, and it was so big that she couldn't see the other end, like it just kept going forever. But it was what was down below that took her breath away. 'They're alive?' she finally gasped, to no one in particular."
I was a little worried at first that the story had too many main characters, and that they would feel under-developed by the end. However, that did not turn out to be the case. Each character was well thought out and essential to the story. Some of the connections between characters shocked me (in a good way), and I never saw the twists coming!
A round of applause as well for the diversity of the characters! There is a shy young man, an authoritative woman, a fierce young woman, a bold young man, a sarcastically charming politician, a genius hacker woman, and many more!! It was refreshing to not just have the young female protagonist who struggles to be a leader and somehow always ends up in a love triangle. Don't get me wrong, I love those books too, but it was delightful to see different types of characters that all struggled with something, yet who all developed amazingly by the end of the book. There was witty banter, annoying characters (in the best way possible), and realistic relationships.
"He knew she wasn't the heroic type. She was, by all definitions, a book worm..."
I really enjoyed the plot of this story as well. I've read many dystopian books, as it's one of my favourite genres, but it can either go really right or really wrong. Miranda Marie got this right. The story is captivating and intense, but not so much that you forget what is happening. The writing is detailed enough to make you see the story in your head, but not so much that you feel bogged down by it.
Last, but definitely not least, the dragons! I really liked Marie's take on dragons in this story. It's not really a spoiler, but it's super interesting, so I still won't share specifics - but she comes up with some creative ideas about dragons and how they grow, live, and survive. I was pleasantly surprised by the new ideas and fully believe in them now! Some of the ideas I had heard before, but Marie still managed to make them her own in this book. A testament to her writing!
"I have accomplished great things - things far greater than anything you could have imagined. The only reason you do not call them Great is because they were not in your favor."
This review is from my blog Books and Prosecco, and I'd love it if you checked it out!
*Note: As a rep, I received a free copy of this e-book from the author, but the review below is my honest opinion.
Azalei's Riders is quite the adventure! First and foremost, DRAGONS!!! But also, it had some really great character development, an insanely exciting plot, and the story flowed well from each point-of-view.
This book is set well into the future where cities are small because technological advancements means less space is required for growing crops. Thus much of the country is natural forest - a fact that is celebrated up until people start disappearing when traveling between cities. The government is working on an operation to figure out why people are disappearing, and enlists the help of five young adults and a genius hacker.
"They were on a catwalk that went all the way around the giant room, and it was so big that she couldn't see the other end, like it just kept going forever. But it was what was down below that took her breath away. 'They're alive?' she finally gasped, to no one in particular."
I was a little worried at first that the story had too many main characters, and that they would feel under-developed by the end. However, that did not turn out to be the case. Each character was well thought out and essential to the story. Some of the connections between characters shocked me (in a good way), and I never saw the twists coming!
A round of applause as well for the diversity of the characters! There is a shy young man, an authoritative woman, a fierce young woman, a bold young man, a sarcastically charming politician, a genius hacker woman, and many more!! It was refreshing to not just have the young female protagonist who struggles to be a leader and somehow always ends up in a love triangle. Don't get me wrong, I love those books too, but it was delightful to see different types of characters that all struggled with something, yet who all developed amazingly by the end of the book. There was witty banter, annoying characters (in the best way possible), and realistic relationships.
"He knew she wasn't the heroic type. She was, by all definitions, a book worm..."
I really enjoyed the plot of this story as well. I've read many dystopian books, as it's one of my favourite genres, but it can either go really right or really wrong. Miranda Marie got this right. The story is captivating and intense, but not so much that you forget what is happening. The writing is detailed enough to make you see the story in your head, but not so much that you feel bogged down by it.
Last, but definitely not least, the dragons! I really liked Marie's take on dragons in this story. It's not really a spoiler, but it's super interesting, so I still won't share specifics - but she comes up with some creative ideas about dragons and how they grow, live, and survive. I was pleasantly surprised by the new ideas and fully believe in them now! Some of the ideas I had heard before, but Marie still managed to make them her own in this book. A testament to her writing!
"I have accomplished great things - things far greater than anything you could have imagined. The only reason you do not call them Great is because they were not in your favor."
This review is from my blog Books and Prosecco, and I'd love it if you checked it out!
August 11, 2021
Reread July 2018 for Miranda Marie's Fire Rain book club. Even better the second time around!
***
Super creative book with a diverse cast of characters. Here's a list of some of the things I found notable, because I love lists.
CHARACTERS
» Walter reminds me of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, which is pretty much the best compliment I can give to a character. He's a cinnamon roll. (Plus I just love the name Walter.)
» Autumn is really sweet.
» I was really interested in Ro's character...and then the ending! Ahh.
» Jessica and Nathan have the best snarky exchanges, and Jessica is just about the most capable female character ever, which is really nice to read about.
» And Azalei is super intriguing!
PLOT
» I love the idea of combining genres. After all, why couldn't we discover dragons in the future? That would make me a lot more optimistic about the future, actually.
» The world-building is really well fleshed out.
» DRAGONS. D R A G O N S. (!!!) I never recovered from my How to Train Your Dragon obsession when I was 14. I really wish I could give this book to my younger self, who would have ADORED it.
WRITING
» I would compare this to Marissa Meyer's writing, which of course I was happy about (I love Marissa Meyer). Lovely prose, and in third person, which is my favorite.
» I wasn't a huge fan of how many different viewpoints there were. It took some of the suspense away to hear from the enemy's POV, since then I knew exactly what was going on. That said, there was still a plot twist at the end that caught me completely off guard.
» It's clean, which I really appreciate! Shows that you can absolutely have an exciting, suspenseful book without unnecessary swearing or R-rated romance.
I'd definitely check out the future books in this series. Unlike anything I've read before, which is hard to accomplish in the world of young adult. I'd definitely recommend to my fellow dragon-lovers and anyone looking for a fun read.
***
Super creative book with a diverse cast of characters. Here's a list of some of the things I found notable, because I love lists.
CHARACTERS
» Walter reminds me of Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, which is pretty much the best compliment I can give to a character. He's a cinnamon roll. (Plus I just love the name Walter.)
» Autumn is really sweet.
» I was really interested in Ro's character...and then the ending! Ahh.
» Jessica and Nathan have the best snarky exchanges, and Jessica is just about the most capable female character ever, which is really nice to read about.
» And Azalei is super intriguing!
PLOT
» I love the idea of combining genres. After all, why couldn't we discover dragons in the future? That would make me a lot more optimistic about the future, actually.
» The world-building is really well fleshed out.
» DRAGONS. D R A G O N S. (!!!) I never recovered from my How to Train Your Dragon obsession when I was 14. I really wish I could give this book to my younger self, who would have ADORED it.
WRITING
» I would compare this to Marissa Meyer's writing, which of course I was happy about (I love Marissa Meyer). Lovely prose, and in third person, which is my favorite.
» I wasn't a huge fan of how many different viewpoints there were. It took some of the suspense away to hear from the enemy's POV, since then I knew exactly what was going on. That said, there was still a plot twist at the end that caught me completely off guard.
» It's clean, which I really appreciate! Shows that you can absolutely have an exciting, suspenseful book without unnecessary swearing or R-rated romance.
I'd definitely check out the future books in this series. Unlike anything I've read before, which is hard to accomplish in the world of young adult. I'd definitely recommend to my fellow dragon-lovers and anyone looking for a fun read.
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