Review: Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins

Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There are 5 sisters: Bluebell, Ash, Rose, Willow, and Ivy. Each is facing a challenge in their lives. The overall unifying challenge though is Bluebell's. She has heard that one of her sisters has a sword that has been magicked to kill her - a kinslayer. So, Bluebell goes around looking for her sisters and questioning if they have the sword and in turn gets caught up in their challenges.

The one thing that really stood out to me right away, was that I had forgotten how much I disliked the sister named Willow. She is a religious fanatic and mentally unstable. My favorite sisters are Ash and Bluebell. Bluebell is a warrior. Ash is a magic user of sorts. Rose is nice, but doesn't draw me as strongly as the other two. And Ivy is dangerously self-centered. I liked Rowan, Rose's daughter, as well and I'm hoping there will be more about her in the third book. And I liked the character of Snowy, Rowan's foster father. He is both kind and capable.

The book moves along at a good pace. The actions of the sisters keep the plot moving. In the end, there is plenty of conflict of different sorts to bring the book to a climax. Only one sister was really left as a loose end. All the others had their plots tied up more or less. I'm wondering where book three will go - what new conflicts will arise and what might carry over from this book to the next.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It has interesting characters. It moves along at a good pace. And the conflicts and challenges are interesting. I liked that the ending wasn't really a cliffhanger, but was still left open to what will happen next. If you enjoyed book one, you will like this one as well. If you enjoy Norse based fantasy, you will enjoy this series, but I recommend starting with book one.

Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins was published Janurary 8th, 2019 by Del Rey.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.



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Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #253: Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

In a Norse-flavored fantasy series that follows the lives of five sisters: the warrior, the magician, the lover, the zealot, the gossip--an old enemy threatens the fragile peace they have built.

Four years have passed since the five sisters--daughters of the ruling king--worked together to restore their father to health and to the throne, while fracturing the bonds between themselves almost irreparably. Only Bluebell is still at home, dutifully serving as heir to her father's kingdom. Rose has been cast aside by her former husband and hides in exile with her aunt, separated forever from her beloved daughter, Rowan. Ash wanders the distant wastes with her teacher, learning magic and hunting dragons, determined that the dread fate she has foreseen for herself and her loved ones never comes to pass. Ivy rules over a prosperous seaport, married to an aged husband she hates, yet finding delight in her two young sons and the handsome captain of the guard. And as for Willow, she hides the most dangerous secret of all--one that could destroy all that the sisters once sought to save!

Sisters of the Fire by Kim Wilkins is due to be released February 5th, 2019 from Del Rey.

Why am I waiting on this one? This is book two in the Blood and Gold series. I read book one and enjoyed it. I'd like to see what's going on with the sisters. They are all so different; that's part of the attraction. There are different story arcs that will most likely culminate coming together. I gave the first book 4 out of 5 stars. I expect and hope this one will be at least as good as the first one.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Review: Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins

The King falls ill seemingly with a brain illness. He has fits of raving and then long deep sleeps. The sleeps become longer and more frequent. His wife, the daughters' step-mother sends for her son. The daughters come to his side as well. There are 5 girls, each so different from the other. Bluebell, the eldest, is a warrior and next in line for the throne. Rose was married off to a neighboring kingdom to help maintain a peace and loves her daughter dearly and another man. Ash is gifted or cursed with magic. She has been sent to learn to be a healer. The youngest of the girls, the twins Ivy and Willow, couldn't be more different. Ivy is all about boys. And Willow is aiming to be pious, but to the trimartyr god and not to, as she puts it, the heathen gods her sisters believe in.

The five daughters come together to take their father away from whatever might be making him sick. Then, they seek a way to heal him. Each weathers the journey differently. And each of the daughters faces challenges. How they deal with the challenges is so very human and not always as successfully as they would like. 

I thought in the beginning that 5 daughters would be too much for one book. But, Kim Wilkins makes it work. It's easy to tell when the point of view changes from one to the other because they are so very different from each other. And there is variety. So, for example, if you don't much like Ivy, you don't have to read about her too long before the point of view changes to another daughter. 

While a little slow in places, overall the plot moves along at a decent rate. When it seems slow, it's really setting things up for a future occurrence. 

I think this could mostly be read as a stand-alone, but there are enough loose ends to make someone want to read the next book. I'm wondering where the second book will go.

I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, it's well-written with interesting characters and events. If you enjoy a good fantasy read, then you will probably enjoy this book.

Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins is expected to be released from Del Rey books March 6, 2018.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions herein are my own and freely given.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #214: Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't-Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings. 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Five very different sisters team up against their stepbrother to save their kingdom in this Norse-flavored fantasy epic--the start of a new series in the tradition of Naomi Novik, Peter V. Brett, and Robin Hobb.

FIVE ROYAL SISTERS. ONE CROWN.

They are the daughters of a king. Though they share the same royal blood, they could not be more different. Bluebell is a proud warrior, stronger than any man and with an ironclad heart to match. Rose's heart is all too passionate: She is the queen of a neighboring kingdom, who is risking everything for a forbidden love. The twins: vain Ivy, who lives for admiration, and zealous Willow, who lives for the gods. And Ash, who is discovering a dangerous talent for magic that might be a gift--or a curse.

But when their father is stricken by a mysterious ailment, they must come together on a desperate journey to save him and prevent their treacherous stepbrother from seizing the throne. Their mission: find the powerful witch who can cure the king. But to succeed on their quest, they must overcome their differences and hope that the secrets they hide from one another and the world are never brought to light. Because if this royal family breaks, it could destroy the kingdom.

Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins is due to be released March 6, 2018 by Del Rey Books.

Why am I waiting on this one? I'm intrigued by the comparison to the published writers. And I'm interested in reading a "Norse-flavored fantasy epic." Wondering how much will be pulled from folklore, mythology, and culture. It has potential.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!