Thursday, April 25, 2013

(Update) Review + Giveaway: Born in Flames by Candace Knoebel {Blog Tour}


Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

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My Review

Aurora never knew who her parents were and neither does her best friend, Fenn, who is also an orphan. Determined to gain some insight into their pasts and get some answers as to who they really are they decide to head out and find answers, but before they can even leave Aurora is told a startling tale. She is the only savior of a race she didn't even know existed and now has to decide between staying in a world she has always known and adventuring to a new world, where she will have to risk her life to save those that she has never met. 

First, I loved the idea of the main character not knowing who they really were, I love finding out about the character as they do. I think it adds a certain mystery and suspense to the story and with Born in Flames it was no different. And instantly I took a liking to Fenn and Aurora. Their connection and often times brother and sister relationship made me laugh throughout the story as they often bickered like family, with Fenn taking on the responsible role while Aurora was the teenager who still needed a parent to hold her hand through things. And at times this drove me crazy, and I found myself wanting to grab Aurora and tell her to just grow up already. 

As I read through Born in Flames I was happy to see that Aurora did grow up. When faced with the fact that there was more to her than meets the eye and that the fate of another race rested on her shoulders, Aurora didn't run and hide. But rather she straightened back her shoulders, held her chin high and became determined to meet the challenges that were sure to come. 

Of course she had her bumps along the way, but I would have loved to have seen more. It seemed like every time there was a struggle an answer would suddenly appear. And though I loved how Candace Knoebel slowly unraveled the truth of who Aurora really was I felt that caused the rest of the story to be rushed. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Born in Flames and think that Candace Knoebel did a great job of bringing the magic in this book to life. I think that it is a good start to what I hope will be a great trilogy! I can't wait to find out what comes next for Aurora as she faces her destiny and enemies head on. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for that next great fantasy to escape into.





"I need you to keep going. Giving up would have been a mistake. Everything makes sense now, and it will for you soon." (kindle, loc. 2694).

Of course, I had many favorite moments, and like always I can't share those with you here as they reveal way too much of the story. But this little snippet above shows just a small glimpse into the kind of character that Fenn is and is just one small reason why he is my favorite.



About the Author


About the Author-Candace Knoebel had dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side. Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her. Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she  continues her Trilogy.

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