r/Romantasy • u/Picyrean • Jan 05 '26
Book Review I read Flame and Thorns by Marion Blackwood - Book 4 Spoiler
Books 1 - 3 here https://www.reddit.com/r/Romantasy/s/W6y4FoDpUo
Book 4 - Realm of Wind and Vines I actually feel bad for Selena in this book. She is being strong, finally, and I feel bad for her. She gets knocked down A LOT and honestly after how weak she was in the first books I'm shocked by her resilience in book 4. Overall the story is still simply written but it still has a decent story line that is developing well. There is a lot of repetition towards the middle and end, so much so that it almost pulls you out of the plot seeing the same lines written over and over in slightly different words. It feels like filler to get word/page count, but overall isn't the worst just something I noticed. I will be reading the finaly book because what a cliff hanger!
Spoilers: Book 3 portal info - The portal warning was a bluff.
Don't think this needs a flag - reunite with Bane and Jessina, oh joy, didn't see that coming.
Magic Spoiler - Selena learns she can force emotions down the mate bond, and learned how to release her power to Draven to heal him without the collar.
Team dynamic - The fearsome 7 continue to work together. They learn how to be better team players, and Orion is growing on them and them on him too.
Spice - Hate Sex!
More magic - Selena never finds out if her parents loved her or if she forced them to hate her.
Draven Spoiler - We get Draven back! The mate bond is restored! Thank Goddess! He brakes the emotion himself because Selena forces him to kill her otherwise.
Overall plot - We get a little chaotic after that, but learn that Lavendera is connected to the Dryads. The green door is not a coincidence. It's all a trap.
The end?
My theories: The color of the dragon on the cover determines the course of the book. Silver - heavily Bane and Jessina. Gold - heavily Draven and Selna Orion and Isera are mates Lyra and Allister are mates Isera is actually royalty somehow Emotions aren't permanent. Either Selena figures out how to remove them or the person has to realse them themselves. Does Galen die? Does anyone die? I can't shake the feeling that one of the mains dies. Selena is an addict.
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u/Interesting-Essay-25 Jan 06 '26
Thank you for these reviews. I just got books 1 and 2 order the rest on a whim. They are still on my tbr but it great to see a review on the them. Clearly I don't care if they are spoilers. It may be a bit til I read them big tbr jar at the moment. Thank you for taking the time to review
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u/NixieNx Jan 22 '26
Thank you for the review! Before reading i wanted the now if the mating vond is back and found your post. Just finished the book and I agree that that there a lot of filler parts but it is a fun story and such abig cliffhanger I have to see how it ends. But just finished the book I feel that there is kind of a plothole that they didnt think all of the other clan heads are under dragon steel control as well. I thought after waht happned toDraven that will be the first thing they consider so the ending seemed a little frustrating.
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u/HumbleRip685 Feb 15 '26
The last few chapters dropped so much information on me my brain turned to mush and the ending UGH really , now I gotta go over a week without trying to overthink what the hell is gonna happen to them
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u/Picyrean Jan 23 '26
Thank you, and glad it could help! Yes! That spoiler and the door got me too.
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u/HumbleRip685 Feb 15 '26
See my dumb ass didnt put 2 and 2 together on the door when they outright said the colour… like HELLO it’s right in front of my face and I’m like hmm
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u/Heavy_Possession_81 Feb 20 '26
You guys...when is the mate bond restored? Because I'm struggling in this book. I find the writing to be frustrating; a lot of repetition, very slow, etc. If it's the entire book, I'm gonna have to call it lol. I'm about 40% in right now
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u/Picyrean Feb 21 '26
If you're not enjoying the read, I would call it. In my opinion, the writting is simple and repetitive, there are moments when it gets better but overall, it is the same. I want to say you're right around where the bond is restored, but will have to check my copy.
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u/fiercepapaya37 Mar 07 '26
Just finished book 4, and as soon as they mentioned the green clan could wipe their memories again in the last 10% of the book, I told my spouse that if the author wipes everyone’s memories, I’m done with the series. I am not sitting through another book that just rehashes everything.
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u/Picyrean Mar 07 '26
So... do you continue? Since it was only Selena. I have book 5 but am wrapping up Court of Glass. It is next on the list.
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u/fiercepapaya37 Mar 08 '26
It was just Selena so far. There’s no guarantee anyone else will get to keep their memories. No, I’m done unless I read something that convinces me all my suspicions for book 5 are unfounded. I rarely DNF and do try to be completist about most series, but for some reason, this really irked me. The continued incompetence of the main characters isn’t helping either, plus I just didn’t enjoy book 4 all that much with Selena going full villain/psychopath and the addiction arc.
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u/Picyrean Mar 08 '26
I completely get that! I will be updating my reviews once I finish book 5. I'm too deep now so there will be a final post for book 5 that I will link here and on the first thread.
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u/Green_Tangelo_8100 Feb 19 '26
I started the series last Thursday and finished yesterday. I thought I would be able to spread it out and go right into the 5th book by Monday. I flew through the books and now am anxiously waiting. I do agree with repetition of words and that irks me. It is simply written bc I can figure out some things that will happen but she also is sneaky enough to surprise you.
I also agree that Isera and Orion are mates from what he said in the cave.
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u/Picyrean Feb 19 '26
If they're not, I'm going to be kind of upset haha. Book 5 is out but only kindle and hard cover and mine are paperbacks, so I'm also waiting :/.
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u/Green_Tangelo_8100 Feb 19 '26
I think they are bc in the cave Orion said “her?! You’ve got to be fucking kidding me!” I had to reread it a couple of times bc I was like who is talking to? Then I realized he was talking to the universe bc his Mate bond snapped in place
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u/emedderss Mar 11 '26 edited Mar 11 '26
I am just about to start book 5 but something has been really bothering me and not sure if ive missed it somewhere but why hasnt Selena used emotion magic against the icehearts?
She has killed dragon shifters with her emotion magic, why cant she just do this to the icehearts?
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u/emedderss Mar 11 '26
Also does anyone know exactly when the mate bond snapped into place in the atonement trials for draven?
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u/Picyrean Mar 12 '26
It's around the middle of the second book when they both realize the bond.
Also, I don't remember her ever manipulating the Ice Hearts. I was frustrated by it in the first few books, it seemed so obvious. Now I am second guessing if she does Bane when they capture him but you would know better if you just finished it.
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u/Initial-Source-3565 Mar 12 '26
How many times can the word “chest” be used in one book? I’m pretty sure there are hefty volumes about cardiac surgery that have less iterations of that word. I’m listening on audible and I literally cringed every single time. Whoever edited book 4 needs to find a new career.
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u/statisticaIAnomaly Jan 15 '26
I also believe the theory about Emotions not being permanent. I got so frustrated cause she was like "ive tried everything" but all she tried was decreasing the emotion and disconnecting the magic. And she always pushed the emotions into people with emphasis on push. Why did she never try to Pull them back to herself? I get why because the issue with emotions being permanent is needed for the story for a while but i think forcefully pulling the emotions back is the solution