Review - Afterglow (Wildefire #3) by Karsten Knight

Title: Afterflow

Author: Karsten Knight

Series: 3rd (Wildefire, Embers & Echoes)

Pages: 336

Published: November 12th 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

ISBN:  9781442450370

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: In this conclusion to the Wildefire trilogy, teen volcano goddess Ashline Wilde learns her former love, Colt Halliday, has an evil plan to kill the Cloak, benevolent beings who oversee the gods. Also, he wants to merge Ash and her two sisters back into a single, too-powerful goddess, Pele. Ash must stop her trickster-god ex-boyfriend once and for all, by feeding a few flames.

I Give This ...

One thing I remember specifically thinking the first book in the series was lacking was information.  You know the back story.  I understood that Ashline couldn't remember her previous lives, so in all honesty is made sense that we don't get the story.  It just bugged me a little.  In this book we get it all.  And I loved every minute of it.

Ashline seems to get all her memories back in this book.  We finally get to see when she first meets Colt and what caused the the whole disruption.  I was curious as to what could have occurred that would lead to the idea that the best possible course of action was to rip Pele into three separate identities.   I almost would have liked to read the other God's side of the story because Pele was definitely interesting.    

Through all this information, I was surprised that I could dislike Colt even more.  He's a special kind of delusional, never once taking into consideration that Pele did not want to put back together.  He's playing everyone though and something's got to give.  

For a good portion of this book, I was afraid that Colt might actually be able to put Pele back together.  I didn't want that to happen because I kind of like them separate.  He's able to accomplish way to many of his tasks with ease.  In the end, I wasn't sure that anybody could stop him.  His abilities stack the odds against those who wish to defy his wishes.  

The story really pushes the limits on good vs evil.  But I loved the ending! 

Review - Embers and Echoes (Wildefire #2) by Karsten Knight

Title: Embers and Echoes

Author: Karsten Knight

Series: 2nd (Wildefire)

Pages: 480

Published:  August 28th 2012 by Simon & Schuster 

ISBN:  9781442450301

Source: Personal Copy

Description: Ashline Wilde may have needed school to learn that she is actually a reincarnated goddess, but she’s ready to move beyond books. She leaves her California boarding school behind and makes for Miami, where she meets a new group of deities and desperately seeks her sister Rose, the goddess of war. But she’s also looking for love—because even though her romance with Cole had to be snuffed, Ash is a volcano goddess—and she doesn’t get burned. 

I Give This ...

I was a little nervous to start this.  It's been 2 years (maybe 2 1/2) years since I read the first book in the series.  I always meant to pick this one up, but I didn't.   So, I when I finally did I hoped that I would remember enough of the first book to understand this one.

I'm thinking this one starts really close to were the last one left off, but I'm not positive on that.  However, it does start off with a bang.  Ash knows she needs to leave Cole behind.  He's reasoning behind needed to be with Ash aren't entirely pure and she's not about to be used for reasons she doesn't understand.  Not to mention her dreams of her sister Rose are getting stronger.   The only clue she can gleam from them is Miami...so that's were she goes.

It doesn't take her long to get mixed up with the local deities, some good but a lot of them seem to be on the other side.  Some of the local gods want to go public on a grand scale.  They want to be worshiped and feared just like they use to be.  And they want to use Ash's little sister to do it.  As innocent and she may seem...she's still the Goddess of War.  

Ash is still kickass in this book.  She's willing to do anything to get Eve back, even go into the Netherworld.  But those who know Ash tend to fall into the wrong hands and that's no exception here.  Ash has to witness some horrific things in this installment and there's absolutely nothing she can do about it.

I felt things were explained a little more this time around.  Plus, there's a lot that happens at the end of this one that has me anxious to read the next one.  It's a good thing I already have it ready to go!

  

 

Review: Wildefire (Wildefire #1) by Karsten Knight

Title: Wildefire

Author: Karsten Knight

Series: 1st in Wildefire series

Pages: 400

Published: July 26, 2011 by Simon Schuster

ISBN: 9781442421172

Source: Galley Grab

 

Description:  Every flame begins with a spark. Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

I Give This ...

 

I'm not really sure were to start with this book.  I was really hoping to enjoy it.  It even started out well.  But, it sort of fizzled in the middle and I'm not sure it every regained the ground it lost.

I was pulled into the beginning of this book.  Ash was totally kick ass.  I loved the whole parking lot of fight that was basically over a boy.  While it seems juvenile, it was just fun to watch a girl get her butt kicked for not knowing when to stop.  My thoughts on Ash never really changed.  I loved her personality, her sarcasm, her devotion to her friends, and her relationship with her sister.  I liked watching her realize what her powers were and what it might mean.  

I was equally intrigued by Eve.  Her powers are intense are so is her personality.  She does as she pleases and manages to warp.  She swoops in and out of Ash's life causing pain and destruction every time she does.  She's seems to think she's has some sort of pull over Ash and gets angry when Ash finally stands her ground.  

So what fizzled for me?  Mainly it was all about the mythology.  I didn't feel it was explained very well.  Why was this group of teenagers called?  I didn't really understand what Eve had to do with it?  What exactly are the Cloaks?  And what does Blink have to do with the entire thing?  I felt like too much was done in this book and not nearly enough was explained.  Too many elements working against each other.  The story felt choppy at times as well.

I am willing to read the next one though.  There is a glimmer of a storyline and really do like Ash's character.  I want to know what the purpose is.