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The Fire of Felwing #1
Flicker
Stripped of his magick and exiled to Earth, Solin Felwing vows to redeem himself. He committed a lot of bad for “the greater good” and the only way to make up for it is to give back to those he stole from. Incognito, of course, to avoid being brought to justice by humankind.
Solin volunteers at a soup kitchen, but his redemption is thrown into disarray when his best friend Jemier arrives to profess his love. Sam, Solin’s one-man support group and only human friend, thinks Solin deserves better.
When old enemies resurface, Solin fears his attempt to change is over for good. He could easily wipe his foes from existence—if he had his magick. Saving his friends—and himself—means compromising in new ways, but the temptation to sin remains. Everything could change in a flicker.
Solin volunteers at a soup kitchen, but his redemption is thrown into disarray when his best friend Jemier arrives to profess his love. Sam, Solin’s one-man support group and only human friend, thinks Solin deserves better.
When old enemies resurface, Solin fears his attempt to change is over for good. He could easily wipe his foes from existence—if he had his magick. Saving his friends—and himself—means compromising in new ways, but the temptation to sin remains. Everything could change in a flicker.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published November 2, 2020
3 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Tybush
4 books3 followersFilmmaker, author, actor, musician, digital spelunker
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 12, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Fair warning– for those looking for a romance, this is not it. There are several people for whom Solin expresses attraction and the one romantic relationship given any page time has nothing to do with Jemier. That being said, I like Flicker and think it’s a solid sci-fi/fantasy debut. However, it’s one of those books filled with some really good writing, characters, and narrative elements that is also hampered a bit by its inconsistent use of the writing tools it employs to tell its story. Some elements come together well to create a solid picture, such as the basic structure and history of Drakonian society. However, the political structures Tybush introduces via the Federation, the Shadowfall Alliance, and various political machinations are a bit less solid.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Fair warning– for those looking for a romance, this is not it. There are several people for whom Solin expresses attraction and the one romantic relationship given any page time has nothing to do with Jemier. That being said, I like Flicker and think it’s a solid sci-fi/fantasy debut. However, it’s one of those books filled with some really good writing, characters, and narrative elements that is also hampered a bit by its inconsistent use of the writing tools it employs to tell its story. Some elements come together well to create a solid picture, such as the basic structure and history of Drakonian society. However, the political structures Tybush introduces via the Federation, the Shadowfall Alliance, and various political machinations are a bit less solid.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
Read
November 15, 2020A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5
Solin Felwing has never had an easy life. Second son to the King of the Drankanthropes, Solin was bullied and beaten by his brother, Crown Prince Varin, and learned early that no matter how cruel, depraved, or horrible Varin was, no one would curb the violent tendencies of the next ruler, not even his small group of noble friends. Being a rare illusory mage, studious, and proficient in telekinetic and fire magicks, Solin becomes dependent on his magicks for protection, but this also makes him increasingly different and emotionally isolated from his few friends.
After more than a millennium of life and various bitter betrayals (including false imprisonment), Solin is prickly, distrustful, and self-reliant. When an attempt to invite Earth to join an interplanetary alliance known as The Daerlyvian Federation ends in a bombing and bloodshed, Solin’s friendship with the perpetrator, combined with his less than sterling reputation, paints him a monster. Stripped of his magicks and exiled to Earth, Solin finds himself seeking redemption. With the help of Sam (one of the few humans that know about the reality of magic, otherworldly creatures, and the constantly open portal that allows transportation between Earth and Solin’s home planet, Cydrithenna), Solin finds himself volunteering in a soup kitchen.
If adjusting to a human body and life without the magick that protected and cloaked him most of his life isn’t hard enough to navigate, Solin must also contend with his best friend Jemier’s uncertain feelings and intermittent visits, flirtations, and the ethics of dating under a presumed identity and with unseen enemies trying to kill him.
Fair warning– for those looking for a romance, this is not it. There are several people for whom Solin expresses attraction and the one romantic relationship given any page time has nothing to do with Jemier. That being said, I like Flicker and think it’s a solid sci-fi/fantasy debut. However, it’s one of those books filled with some really good writing, characters, and narrative elements that is also hampered a bit by its inconsistent use of the writing tools it employs to tell its story. Some elements come together well to create a solid picture, such as the basic structure and history of Drakonian society. However, the political structures Tybush introduces via the Federation, the Shadowfall Alliance, and various political machinations are a bit less solid. This lack wouldn’t have been quite so noticeable if much of the dialogue and inner thoughts during conversations didn’t coyly circle around these weaker elements, particularly in regards to what Solin did on Earth five years ago that made him persona non grata. The characters discuss the events in a way that made me feel as if I had missed something, or worse, that I was a rude eavesdropper whose presence is unwelcome so me understanding wasn’t important. This disengaged me from the story, and was compounded by how Flicker uses flashbacks and first-person POV.
When it comes to the various narrative POVs, I’m pretty fluid so long as their execution doesn’t detract or distract from the story; unfortunately, Flicker does just that at times. The main benefit of telling a story in first person is to create a sense of intimacy between reader and narrator; whether it be a sense of companionship, fascinated horror, or the gamut of emotions in between, first person should provide a measure of closeness that helps draw the reader into the narrative. Additionally, it should give insight into the narrator, even the subjectivity inherent in this viewpoint can provide information about the character’s personality, drives, goals, etc. Discovering a character is unreliable can tell the reader as much as if they are honest to a fault. In a few ways, Flicker’s inconsistent use of first-person served more to aggravate and distance me from the story rather than engage me.
On the one hand, the POV successfully portrays Solin as a pretty complex character whose entire existence and motivations are shaped by his upbringing and the ways it forced him to hide and conform, while also complicating his relationships. On the other, Solin often swings from one set of conflicting descriptors to another when thinking about his own history, feelings, and relationships. One moment, Jemier is his dearest friend and the person who knows him best and the next, he’s untrustworthy and never really knew Solin at all. Solin reflects more than once on his and Sam’s mutual contempt and disdain, yet other times his words indicate contrition and a history in which Sam should feel animosity towards Solin, when it’s clear that Sam doesn’t. While some back and forth/emotional swings can indicate growth, emotional confusion, or conflict, etc., the constant shifts of perspective (sometimes from one sentence to the next) became distracting. Solin’s not an unreliable narrator; his characterization is simply inconsistent, which further pulled me out of the story.
This sense of detachment from Solin’s journey isn’t helped by the story’s use of flashbacks. To me, flashbacks tend to be most useful when they are integrated in a way that is consistent and has some connection to the character’s current emotions, circumstances, motivations, i.e. some kind of connective tissue so that they don’t seem jarring or random. While the flashbacks are mostly in temporal order (from youth to adulthood), often there is a disconnect between them and Solin’s present, as well as seemingly no pattern for them.
This highlights one of my main frustrations with the story—the opaqueness regarding the premise’s Inciting Incident. The narrative only sprinkles partial facts and ambiguous clues about this life changing event, while offering advancement of multiple potential love interests, reflections upon the shortcomings of human society, and in-depth exploration of all the other major events in Solin’s life. Given that the only solid conversation Sam and Solin have about The Event and the action described in the blurb doesn’t occur until most of the way through the story, it makes the story and blurb seem structured as sequel bait.
This excerpt exemplifies some of the elements I found great and frustrating:
I could not allow myself to relive the memory of my friend’s death while so many relied upon my work in the kitchen. The seeds of that tragedy had been planted with my brother’s murder, but sometimes when I replayed the years between Varin’s and Dorais’s deaths, I didn’t always find shame. I found moments of intense emotion and glorious destruction that exhilarated me. Things I had done prior to arriving on Gaia that I would do again if given the chance. My rehabilitation could not begin until I viewed these deeds as wrong. Perhaps I’d never had it in me to be truly good. Denying that I took pleasure in some of my sins felt like a lie, and I could not lie to myself. It did not align with my quest.
It is compelling, well-written character motivation and personality development that, frustratingly, isn’t always furthered/supported by the narrative. There are two memories related to Varin’s murder, which are very focused and gives many specifics, context, and clarity to Solin’s relationship with Jemir and other Drakon friends. Yet, there are no flashbacks of the time between Varin and Dorias’s deaths; nothing to show those “moments of intense emotion and glorious destruction.” Moreover, whatever “lot of bad for the greater good” referenced in the blurb is not shown in the flashbacks; Solin makes some questionable choices and has one moment of contemplating something bad to protect someone, but nothing to the extent implied.
Despite some of the unsteady narrative choices and the vague impression that Flicker waspadded structured to make reading the sequel necessary to get the complete story, I still found it an enjoyable sci-fi/fantasy story, and I will probably read some of Tybush’s future work. There are many things to like about the story, including the soup kitchen crew, a handsome barista that make perfect lattes, and a Drakon navigating human norms and the internet. As I can be picky about my SF/fantasy, my expectations were probably a bit too high; had the story been straight fish-out-of-water contemporary, I would have liked it more as these are some of strongest narrative elements.
3.5
Solin Felwing has never had an easy life. Second son to the King of the Drankanthropes, Solin was bullied and beaten by his brother, Crown Prince Varin, and learned early that no matter how cruel, depraved, or horrible Varin was, no one would curb the violent tendencies of the next ruler, not even his small group of noble friends. Being a rare illusory mage, studious, and proficient in telekinetic and fire magicks, Solin becomes dependent on his magicks for protection, but this also makes him increasingly different and emotionally isolated from his few friends.
After more than a millennium of life and various bitter betrayals (including false imprisonment), Solin is prickly, distrustful, and self-reliant. When an attempt to invite Earth to join an interplanetary alliance known as The Daerlyvian Federation ends in a bombing and bloodshed, Solin’s friendship with the perpetrator, combined with his less than sterling reputation, paints him a monster. Stripped of his magicks and exiled to Earth, Solin finds himself seeking redemption. With the help of Sam (one of the few humans that know about the reality of magic, otherworldly creatures, and the constantly open portal that allows transportation between Earth and Solin’s home planet, Cydrithenna), Solin finds himself volunteering in a soup kitchen.
If adjusting to a human body and life without the magick that protected and cloaked him most of his life isn’t hard enough to navigate, Solin must also contend with his best friend Jemier’s uncertain feelings and intermittent visits, flirtations, and the ethics of dating under a presumed identity and with unseen enemies trying to kill him.
Fair warning– for those looking for a romance, this is not it. There are several people for whom Solin expresses attraction and the one romantic relationship given any page time has nothing to do with Jemier. That being said, I like Flicker and think it’s a solid sci-fi/fantasy debut. However, it’s one of those books filled with some really good writing, characters, and narrative elements that is also hampered a bit by its inconsistent use of the writing tools it employs to tell its story. Some elements come together well to create a solid picture, such as the basic structure and history of Drakonian society. However, the political structures Tybush introduces via the Federation, the Shadowfall Alliance, and various political machinations are a bit less solid. This lack wouldn’t have been quite so noticeable if much of the dialogue and inner thoughts during conversations didn’t coyly circle around these weaker elements, particularly in regards to what Solin did on Earth five years ago that made him persona non grata. The characters discuss the events in a way that made me feel as if I had missed something, or worse, that I was a rude eavesdropper whose presence is unwelcome so me understanding wasn’t important. This disengaged me from the story, and was compounded by how Flicker uses flashbacks and first-person POV.
When it comes to the various narrative POVs, I’m pretty fluid so long as their execution doesn’t detract or distract from the story; unfortunately, Flicker does just that at times. The main benefit of telling a story in first person is to create a sense of intimacy between reader and narrator; whether it be a sense of companionship, fascinated horror, or the gamut of emotions in between, first person should provide a measure of closeness that helps draw the reader into the narrative. Additionally, it should give insight into the narrator, even the subjectivity inherent in this viewpoint can provide information about the character’s personality, drives, goals, etc. Discovering a character is unreliable can tell the reader as much as if they are honest to a fault. In a few ways, Flicker’s inconsistent use of first-person served more to aggravate and distance me from the story rather than engage me.
On the one hand, the POV successfully portrays Solin as a pretty complex character whose entire existence and motivations are shaped by his upbringing and the ways it forced him to hide and conform, while also complicating his relationships. On the other, Solin often swings from one set of conflicting descriptors to another when thinking about his own history, feelings, and relationships. One moment, Jemier is his dearest friend and the person who knows him best and the next, he’s untrustworthy and never really knew Solin at all. Solin reflects more than once on his and Sam’s mutual contempt and disdain, yet other times his words indicate contrition and a history in which Sam should feel animosity towards Solin, when it’s clear that Sam doesn’t. While some back and forth/emotional swings can indicate growth, emotional confusion, or conflict, etc., the constant shifts of perspective (sometimes from one sentence to the next) became distracting. Solin’s not an unreliable narrator; his characterization is simply inconsistent, which further pulled me out of the story.
This sense of detachment from Solin’s journey isn’t helped by the story’s use of flashbacks. To me, flashbacks tend to be most useful when they are integrated in a way that is consistent and has some connection to the character’s current emotions, circumstances, motivations, i.e. some kind of connective tissue so that they don’t seem jarring or random. While the flashbacks are mostly in temporal order (from youth to adulthood), often there is a disconnect between them and Solin’s present, as well as seemingly no pattern for them.
This highlights one of my main frustrations with the story—the opaqueness regarding the premise’s Inciting Incident. The narrative only sprinkles partial facts and ambiguous clues about this life changing event, while offering advancement of multiple potential love interests, reflections upon the shortcomings of human society, and in-depth exploration of all the other major events in Solin’s life. Given that the only solid conversation Sam and Solin have about The Event and the action described in the blurb doesn’t occur until most of the way through the story, it makes the story and blurb seem structured as sequel bait.
This excerpt exemplifies some of the elements I found great and frustrating:
I could not allow myself to relive the memory of my friend’s death while so many relied upon my work in the kitchen. The seeds of that tragedy had been planted with my brother’s murder, but sometimes when I replayed the years between Varin’s and Dorais’s deaths, I didn’t always find shame. I found moments of intense emotion and glorious destruction that exhilarated me. Things I had done prior to arriving on Gaia that I would do again if given the chance. My rehabilitation could not begin until I viewed these deeds as wrong. Perhaps I’d never had it in me to be truly good. Denying that I took pleasure in some of my sins felt like a lie, and I could not lie to myself. It did not align with my quest.
It is compelling, well-written character motivation and personality development that, frustratingly, isn’t always furthered/supported by the narrative. There are two memories related to Varin’s murder, which are very focused and gives many specifics, context, and clarity to Solin’s relationship with Jemir and other Drakon friends. Yet, there are no flashbacks of the time between Varin and Dorias’s deaths; nothing to show those “moments of intense emotion and glorious destruction.” Moreover, whatever “lot of bad for the greater good” referenced in the blurb is not shown in the flashbacks; Solin makes some questionable choices and has one moment of contemplating something bad to protect someone, but nothing to the extent implied.
Despite some of the unsteady narrative choices and the vague impression that Flicker was
October 15, 2020
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
The writing was very good and the storyline also compelling. I was expecting more of a romance though, which is why I thought the story of the book would be complete but it isn't. This is a fantasy series that I expect will continue to be centered around Solin. I hoped to have this book about Solin and whoever he ended up with and then the other books about other couples.
This should probably be made clearer in the blurb, which is a little short and could be more accurate.
Overall good first book in a fantasy series.
The writing was very good and the storyline also compelling. I was expecting more of a romance though, which is why I thought the story of the book would be complete but it isn't. This is a fantasy series that I expect will continue to be centered around Solin. I hoped to have this book about Solin and whoever he ended up with and then the other books about other couples.
This should probably be made clearer in the blurb, which is a little short and could be more accurate.
Overall good first book in a fantasy series.
March 31, 2021
4.5*
I debated whether to make this a 4 or a 4.5 all night and I ended up going with 4.5 because once you really get into this story, there’s so much going on. Lies, murder, deception, betrayal, not knowing who to trust and so much more. My issues were that this is a HUGE cliffhanger, and there are some parts to this that are kind of slow at times.
Solin, I have to admit, captured me from the beginning. He didn’t deserve the life he got. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way he did. He was a prince. And he had an older brother who should have been there to protect him and help him, but he tortured him and abused him and the short amount of friends he had. And the sad part is, he couldn’t trust most of the ‘friends’ he had. Just one. But after being falsely accused of something he didn’t do, he now has to make up for things to pay for what he’s taken away. I hated the life he had to live. The things he had to go through. It wasn’t fair that he had to take responsibility for someone else’s actions.
And now, the past is coming back to haunt him, and the friends he truly has made, are in danger as much as he is. And trying to explain things just makes it worse. So I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next. Because he’s being hunted and it’s not a pretty picture. And again, no one seems to want to defend him the way he should have been all along.
It’s a wild ride in this book. So many people you want to hate so bad because of how they act and the things they let happen. But hopefully, Solin will be able to make things better. And soon.
I debated whether to make this a 4 or a 4.5 all night and I ended up going with 4.5 because once you really get into this story, there’s so much going on. Lies, murder, deception, betrayal, not knowing who to trust and so much more. My issues were that this is a HUGE cliffhanger, and there are some parts to this that are kind of slow at times.
Solin, I have to admit, captured me from the beginning. He didn’t deserve the life he got. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way he did. He was a prince. And he had an older brother who should have been there to protect him and help him, but he tortured him and abused him and the short amount of friends he had. And the sad part is, he couldn’t trust most of the ‘friends’ he had. Just one. But after being falsely accused of something he didn’t do, he now has to make up for things to pay for what he’s taken away. I hated the life he had to live. The things he had to go through. It wasn’t fair that he had to take responsibility for someone else’s actions.
And now, the past is coming back to haunt him, and the friends he truly has made, are in danger as much as he is. And trying to explain things just makes it worse. So I’m curious to see what’s going to happen next. Because he’s being hunted and it’s not a pretty picture. And again, no one seems to want to defend him the way he should have been all along.
It’s a wild ride in this book. So many people you want to hate so bad because of how they act and the things they let happen. But hopefully, Solin will be able to make things better. And soon.
May 13, 2022
Unusual Storytelling!
I’m not sure how to rate this review. Solin has been “cursed” his magick was taken from him and he’s been exiled/banished to Gaia/Earth. I’m not sure if I’d classify this as a paranormal or fantasy. The story is off the wall!! Each chapter is a different time frame and a different place. It starts out as a contemporary setting in New York, Gaia, 2017 then the next chapter is in 22984 Year of the Dragon Kings, Heartwing, Cydrinthenna. I never did figure out why he was banished. Also, there is a large group of secondary characters within each timeline. Solin meets Sam on Gaia. Sam is a great character, so helpful even though he’s Solin’s enemy. Their bickering and banter is great. The story had me confused for the first 65% then I kind of figured it out. This is NOT a romance! The story is unconventional, so unusual that I ended up actually liking it. It does leave a lot of questions unanswered which I’m hoping they’ll be explained in the next book, Spark. The story does leave us on a cliffhanger. Definitely makes you want to go into the next story right away.
I’m not sure how to rate this review. Solin has been “cursed” his magick was taken from him and he’s been exiled/banished to Gaia/Earth. I’m not sure if I’d classify this as a paranormal or fantasy. The story is off the wall!! Each chapter is a different time frame and a different place. It starts out as a contemporary setting in New York, Gaia, 2017 then the next chapter is in 22984 Year of the Dragon Kings, Heartwing, Cydrinthenna. I never did figure out why he was banished. Also, there is a large group of secondary characters within each timeline. Solin meets Sam on Gaia. Sam is a great character, so helpful even though he’s Solin’s enemy. Their bickering and banter is great. The story had me confused for the first 65% then I kind of figured it out. This is NOT a romance! The story is unconventional, so unusual that I ended up actually liking it. It does leave a lot of questions unanswered which I’m hoping they’ll be explained in the next book, Spark. The story does leave us on a cliffhanger. Definitely makes you want to go into the next story right away.
May 16, 2022
I both loved and hated this book. The author has created a character in Solin that I want to love. He accepts his sins and is working towards redemption. Like other reviews stated, I really thought there would be more romance in this book, and was surprised that there was almost none whatsoever. She is setting it up for more books to follow, but with the several options set up I have no idea which direction Solin will follow. I think there was a lot of time spent on the character histories and worldbuilding, which were good. I do wish we would have gotten the full story of what happened during his last time on Earth between him and Sam. I also wish there would have been a little more action in the "current" plot. All in all a solid start to a series that I think could have moved a little faster.
November 2, 2020
I thought this was the start of a queer fantasy romance series with each book revolving around a different couple/relationship. Turns out it is queer fantasy series with some romantic elements. It's a small difference but I'm not a massive fantasy fan was mainly buying this for the romance plot.
As far as I can tell this is a well written contemporary fantasy book. The central character of Solin is intriguing and I like the world-building. I just wasn't invested in the plot and struggled to stay engaged. This just isn't the book for me, hence my two-star rating.
As far as I can tell this is a well written contemporary fantasy book. The central character of Solin is intriguing and I like the world-building. I just wasn't invested in the plot and struggled to stay engaged. This just isn't the book for me, hence my two-star rating.
November 3, 2020
Flicker is an engaging read. I was absolutely sucked into Solin's story from the first page. It was hours before I came up for air, and I couldn't believe how much time had passed I was so engrossed in the story. You get to see Solin's life both currently on Earth and before in his home planet, pre-exile. I cannot recommend this enough if you enjoy a but of sci-fi mixed with magic. A need for redemption, and a need to save his friends from those who would end them all, Solin is a hero you'll instantly love. Highly recommend.
December 4, 2020
I spent a lot of this book confused, but I think that may be the point. There were times I thought there must have been a previous book that I missed with the allusions to events that happened before. It could be interesting, but I never really got a full handle on what had happened. Maybe in the next book, but there wasn't enough resolution to any of my questions to earn this book a higher rating.
October 21, 2020
I LOVED this book so much! The writing style, the characters, the story - it was awesome. I was so surprised when it ended, because I was not ready to part with Solin just yet. I hoping and wishing to be able to read the second book soon, since I won't be able to wait. I want to continue this awesome story.
Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley
Thanks for the ARC, Netgalley
October 24, 2020
This was a great start to the series.
I fell in love with the world building and the characters were likeable and interesting.
The author's writing style appealed to me and the world building was unique and engaging.
The overall storyline was compelling and I can't wait for the other characters to get their own books.
I fell in love with the world building and the characters were likeable and interesting.
The author's writing style appealed to me and the world building was unique and engaging.
The overall storyline was compelling and I can't wait for the other characters to get their own books.
December 13, 2020
A great start to what looks to be a fantastic series. The world building was top-notch and Solin was an intriguing protagonist and I really enjoyed following along with him on his redemption journey. I'm already looking forward to reading more if this series.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews