Book Review: These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

 

These Feathered Flames

Alexandra Overy 
Release date: 13th July 2021
★★★★★

When twin heirs are born in Tourin, their fates are decided at a young age. While Izaveta remained at court to learn the skills she’d need as the future queen, Asya was taken away to train with her aunt, the mysterious Firebird, who ensured magic remained balanced in the realm.

But before Asya’s training is completed, the ancient power blooms inside her, which can mean only one thing: the queen is dead, and a new ruler must be crowned.

As the princesses come to understand everything their roles entail, they’ll discover who they can trust, who they can love—and who killed their mother.

It’s about power, it’s about magic, yes all that but it is so much more about these two sisters who were inseparable for all their childhood and then ripped apart to become something they both come to hate. It is an intricate, interwoven, brilliantly written fantasy. I had this book on my tbr mainly for the f/f enemies to lovers and yes it is there. That and a retelling of an old folktale was all I knew about this and it delivers.

I loved Izaveta. She was excellently written and so clever and manipulative, it was so great to get to know the other characters through her. She has been manipulated her entire life by her mother and she hates it and still continues the cycle. And the way her character develops and deals with this untrusting part of herself who tries to find motive and scheme in every single action was so fascinating to read. In the same way, Asya's fantasy about how everything with her sister will be the same even after the years of separation is really sad. And how she deals with the fact that they’ve grown apart and different and are no longer children with no responsibility is so beautifully written. The sister’s relationship with each other, how they perceive the other, and how they are trying to restore their relationship is the core of the story. The miscommunication between them is a plot point without it becoming frustrating and actively forwards the character arcs. How they are trying to hold themselves together because their sister is and they have a responsibility too. It all comes down to power and responsibility, of two sisters trying to navigate and hold the power and authority that is theirs, in a place they would be thrown out of without a second thought. The other best point after the political intrigue was the worldbuilding. It is so rich and so beautifully done. It is high fantasy at its peak. It is one of my favorite reads of the year and with a cliffhanger ending, I can't wait for the sequel. Especially since this beautiful cover was revealed.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher, Inkyard Press for providing me with an e-arc for an honest review.