Review Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2) by Chris Cannon
6:41 AM
Hey Addicts! I've got a cool one today, a review Bridges Burned (Going Down in Flames #2) by Chris Cannon, from Entangled Teen and a "dream cast" to go with it, provided by the author. I know what you may be thinking: Book 2? Did you do a review for book 1? That answer is a special one. I signed up for the blog tour thinking I'd have to read book 2 first, but Entangled was nice enough to send on the first book of the series: Going Down In Flames as well so that problem solved. That said, I read both books and decided, since I was doing something else in addition to my review for book 2, I'd post my review of book 1 separately. CLICK HERE to see my thoughts and rating for book 1 of this series. Now on to Bridges Burned!
Bridges
Burned (Going Down in Flames #2)
by
Chris Cannon
Summary
from Goodreads:
Since
discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth
birthday
(surprise!),
Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red
dragon
and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with
the
archaic
and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a
not-so popular
affection
for rule-breaking…
But
sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when
he’s
betrothed
to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for
an
added
complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite
the evil
asshat
she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set
things on fire.
Literally.
Because
if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to
change it.
Add to Goodreads
Buy
Links:
MY REVIEW:
We start BRIDGES BURNED with Bryn, our half breed dragon heroine (half blue dragon half red dragon--a big problem for a society that thinks only dragons of the same kind should be together. And that there should never be a half breed child.) As I was saying, Bryn is returning to school with a security detail because of the for mentioned predigests against her and the fact that in the first book of the series, someone was trying to kill her. That's enough to give any girl a major complex, along with the fact that there is still someone out to get her. Then you add into it, her secret boyfriend Zavien--a black dragon and the fact that them being in love is a huge taboo-- and you've got a recipe for an angst filled, over dramatic year ahead.
All the characters from the first book are back! Yeah :) Even better, Jackson is not so much an "asshat" to Bryn this time around. Clint and Ivy-best friends and comic relief IMHO also return; and of course, since I already mentioned him, Zavien is back too. Though he and Jackson seemed to have done a bit of a personality switch for this book; that is something that drives me nuts in books because it throws off my whole perspective and makes the book feel like it wasn't very well thought out or edited.
I'll give you, Zavien is promised to another black dragon, and having to balance that (while trying to find a way out of it) and keeping an insecure girl, Bryn, from going mental while you hide your relationship can put a strain on any character. But this time it just didn't feel right. I felt a little let down by the amount of change.
The character death in this one was a bit of a surprise for me, but I also think it fit really well with the story's plot so I didn't get too upset about it. That said I felt other things were way blown out of proportion, and some things were not developed as much as they could have been. I got annoyed at a few points because I felt Bryn could have done a lot more, been more involved in this "revolution" she was sparking. I mean this is going to directly effect her own life and future.
However, by the end of the book I felt that Bryn had grown a LOT and was much more of a believable character and easier to relate to for me.
There is of course one more character I haven't mentioned: Valmont. He's Bryn's body guard and at points seemed to be thrown into the romantic relationship mix. Between him, Zavien and Jackson it got confusing to figure out who I liked best and to be with Bryn. It all felt forced at a few points (partially because of the over dramatized reactions and already mentioned character personality changes), but at others, it was sweet and hot.
Chris Cannon's world building was just as great as in Going Down In Flames, and though I would have liked more fight scenes, the action and suspense part of the story definitely saved this book for me. Much like with book 1. I think BRIDGES BURNED was better than Going Down In Flames and I would definitely read the third in this series, just to see how things unfold. I say this because unlike GDIF (book 1) this book clearly sets up for at least one more book.
Side note: You could get away with reading BRIDGED BURNED without reading the first book of the series, but I don't recommend it. You would get confused and miss some good references to the first book that helps tie everything together nicely. I have to say, I think if I had just read book 2 I would have been a Bryn/Jackson fan from the start and not a Bryn/Zavien.
If you like adventure and fantasy and dragons I would definitely recommend this series!
We start BRIDGES BURNED with Bryn, our half breed dragon heroine (half blue dragon half red dragon--a big problem for a society that thinks only dragons of the same kind should be together. And that there should never be a half breed child.) As I was saying, Bryn is returning to school with a security detail because of the for mentioned predigests against her and the fact that in the first book of the series, someone was trying to kill her. That's enough to give any girl a major complex, along with the fact that there is still someone out to get her. Then you add into it, her secret boyfriend Zavien--a black dragon and the fact that them being in love is a huge taboo-- and you've got a recipe for an angst filled, over dramatic year ahead.
All the characters from the first book are back! Yeah :) Even better, Jackson is not so much an "asshat" to Bryn this time around. Clint and Ivy-best friends and comic relief IMHO also return; and of course, since I already mentioned him, Zavien is back too. Though he and Jackson seemed to have done a bit of a personality switch for this book; that is something that drives me nuts in books because it throws off my whole perspective and makes the book feel like it wasn't very well thought out or edited.
I'll give you, Zavien is promised to another black dragon, and having to balance that (while trying to find a way out of it) and keeping an insecure girl, Bryn, from going mental while you hide your relationship can put a strain on any character. But this time it just didn't feel right. I felt a little let down by the amount of change.
The character death in this one was a bit of a surprise for me, but I also think it fit really well with the story's plot so I didn't get too upset about it. That said I felt other things were way blown out of proportion, and some things were not developed as much as they could have been. I got annoyed at a few points because I felt Bryn could have done a lot more, been more involved in this "revolution" she was sparking. I mean this is going to directly effect her own life and future.
However, by the end of the book I felt that Bryn had grown a LOT and was much more of a believable character and easier to relate to for me.
There is of course one more character I haven't mentioned: Valmont. He's Bryn's body guard and at points seemed to be thrown into the romantic relationship mix. Between him, Zavien and Jackson it got confusing to figure out who I liked best and to be with Bryn. It all felt forced at a few points (partially because of the over dramatized reactions and already mentioned character personality changes), but at others, it was sweet and hot.
Chris Cannon's world building was just as great as in Going Down In Flames, and though I would have liked more fight scenes, the action and suspense part of the story definitely saved this book for me. Much like with book 1. I think BRIDGES BURNED was better than Going Down In Flames and I would definitely read the third in this series, just to see how things unfold. I say this because unlike GDIF (book 1) this book clearly sets up for at least one more book.
Side note: You could get away with reading BRIDGED BURNED without reading the first book of the series, but I don't recommend it. You would get confused and miss some good references to the first book that helps tie everything together nicely. I have to say, I think if I had just read book 2 I would have been a Bryn/Jackson fan from the start and not a Bryn/Zavien.
If you like adventure and fantasy and dragons I would definitely recommend this series!
Going
Down in Flames
by
Chris Cannon
Summary
from Goodreads:
Finding
out on your sixteenth birthday you’re a shape-shifting dragon is tough to
swallow. Being
hauled
off to an elite boarding school is enough to choke on.
Since
Bryn is the only crossbreed at the Institute for Excellence, all eyes are on
her, but it’s a
particular
black dragon, Zavien, who catches her attention.
Zavien
is tired of the Council’s rules. Segregated clans, being told who to love, and
close-minded
leaders
make freedom of choice almost impossible. The new girl with the striped hair is
a breath
of
fresh air, and with Bryn’s help, they may be able to change the rules.
At
the Institute, old grudges, new crushes, and death threats are all part of a
normal day for
Bryn.
She’ll need to learn to control her dragon powers if she wants to make it
through her first
year
at school. But even focusing on staying alive is difficult when you’re falling
for someone
you
can't have.
Add
to Goodreads
Buy
Links:
About
the Author
I
love reading and writing snarky, kick-butt characters who take on the world and
win.
My
truths: You can never have too many books, shoes, or purses.
Coffee
is the Elixir of Life.
There
should be a National Nerf Bat Day where you are allowed to whack annoying
people
upside
the head.
So what do we think Addicts? Have you found a new addiction? See ya next time :)
~Dynomoon
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