Book Review: Firebrand (Green Rider #6) by Kristen Britain

Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy
Length: 816 pages
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Release Date: February 28th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the sixth book in Kristen Britain’s New York Times-bestselling Green Rider epic fantasy series.

Zachary Davriel Hillander, High King of Sacoridia, rues how much he has had to give up to lead his realm, including the freedom to live and love as he chooses. When an embassy from Eletia arrives to propose a joint venture between their realms to seek out an old ally in the north, he is dismayed to learn that the one Sacoridian they have in mind to accompany their guide is the woman he truly loves but cannot have: Green Rider Karigan G’ladheon.

Karigan has only just returned from a dark future where Sacoridia has been conquered and is ruled by a despotic emperor, and she has not recovered in heart or mind. As if that is not enough, the castle ghosts won’t leave her alone. Though Zachary is loath to part from her so soon after her return, he knows she is the best choice to undertake the mission to the north.

Each step on their journey places Karigan and her companions closer to enemy territory and danger, for northward lie the forces of Second Empire, Sacoridia’s longtime foe, and Grandmother, the necromantic leader of Second Empire, has not been idle. She uses her magic to summon a wild elemental spirit to wreak havoc upon Zachary and his wife, Queen Estora.

At first the Sacoridians succeed in fending off the creature, but it so covets Estora that it can’t stay away. It abducts Zachary, assuming his form and his place at Estora’s side–but when it is finally ousted, Zachary is still missing. Estora, alone and heavy with twins, must prepare her realm for the coming conflict from the confines of her bedchamber.

Meanwhile, the danger only deepens for Karigan and her companions as they journey north. When she finds herself caught in the midst of a clash between forces, Karigan must rescue and protect her king before she falls into a trap set by Grandmother–a trap that could give Second Empire the power to control the dead and all the demons of the hells.

VERY MUCH CONFLICTED.

I jumped back into this series on a whim and woooooo boy I am CONFLICTED.

The romantic plot lines of this series will be the end of me. I’m at this point of having invested too much time not to see this through, but also I’m going to be enraged if things don’t follow through for Karigan. She is getting the short end of the stick EVERY DANG TIME. In, seriously, everything. Her moments of peace are few and far between and I feel for her in having to pick herself back up over and over again. I would want to stay down for a bit too.

The action and politicking stayed steady. I liked the flow of action and where The Second Empire drama continued on. There were some characters missing, but the ending led me to believe it’s going to come full circle in the next book? Which makes sense and I will be picking up ASAP.

I am also incredibly conflicted about King Zachary. While a good King, he is a bit wishy washy for me as a man. He wants to make every decision correctly but after deciding does not commit fully and the wake being left behind is hurting my heart. I did love that we got his POV much more in this installment and his understanding and choices at least were easier to understand. I love the multi-POV and the writing style. It is perfect as an audiobook.

Overall audience notes:

Fantasy
Language: very little
Romance: closed door
Violence: high
Trigger/Content Warnings: PTSD (from torture), torture, whipping, near death experiences, cheating/infidelity, loss of loved ones, loss of life