Harlequin Winter Reads Book Review: These Feathered Flames by Alexandra Overy

Three Dark Crowns meets Wicked Saints in this queer #ownvoices retelling of “The Firebird,” a Russian folktale, by debut author Alexandra Overy.

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.

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The prey wasn’t meant to be a child.

When Asya had smelled the sharp tang of magic—strong even before she emerged from the tree line—that possibil­ity hadn’t so much as fluttered across her mind. It was never meant to be a child.

But the scent of magic was undeniable. That indistinguish­able combination of damp overturned earth and the metallic copper of blood, cut through with the acrid burn of power. It was overlaid with the cloying sweetness of waterose, as if someone had tried to mask it.

A futile attempt.

And Asya was sure this time. The person they were look­ing for had to be here.

The comfort of the forest stood at her back, the dark can­opy of trees stretching behind her in every direction. The fading sunlight could not break through the writhing tan­gle of branches, so in the shadow of the trunks, it was dark as twilight.

Read the rest of the excerpt here→ https://bit.ly/32GKBLE

I typically keep my expectations in check when it comes to YA Fantasy. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The premise was certainly unique. A queer Russian folktale retelling? Well, dang. I'm sold. Side note, thank you to HarperCollins for my advanced reader's copy. Ms. Overy certainly has a way with world-building. The core of the story is about a pair of twin sisters who are separated to fulfill separate familial duties. Asya was sent away to live with her aunt, a.k.a. the Firebird, to live and train to become her aunt's future replacement. The other twin, Izaveta, is raised by their mother, the Queen of Tourin, as her heir. Life for both girls is filled with harsh lessons. While Izaveta was the one who kept them, her life is hardly a walk in the park. She spends her days learning the nuances of politics and shuts herself off emotionally. Asya struggles to discover who she is while dealing with her newfound powers. The girls are reunited following their mother's death. I should have known that I was in for an emotional rollercoaster. >.< Sideplot involves an F/F enemies-to-lovers relationship and I am here for it. The relationship was nicely woven into the story without it being overly gratuitous or stereotypical. Ms. Overy's use of different POVs was skillfully done. Combined with court intrigue, high tension, a fast-paced plot, and fantastic character development, These Feathered Flames was a wonderful read. The ending leaves the door open for a sequel with some questions left unanswered. I am definitely looking forward to what Ms. Overy has in store. 

4 stars!

About the Author

Photo Credit & Copyright: Sam Hardy

ALEXANDRA OVERY was born in London, England. Ever since she was little she has loved being able to escape into another world through books. She currently lives in Los Angeles, and is completing her MFA in Screenwriting at UCLA. When she's not working on a new manuscript or procrastinating on doing homework, she can be found obsessing over Netflix shows or eating all the ice cream she can.

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