The Dagger and the Flame: Get obsessed this Christmas with the instant number one bestseller!: Volume 1 (The City of Fantome)

Wonderful book

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This was my book club's pick for the month, and I'm glad it helped me check another book off my physical TBR. It took me a while to get into, mainly because the intense world-building was overwhelming at first. I liked Sera initially, but as the story progressed, her actions became increasingly ridiculous. Ransom, on the other hand, was a standout for me—I think he did his best with the hand fate dealt him. While the story had potential and some revelations were predictable, the ending left me with a headache thanks to a few obviously frustrating characters. As much as I love Cat's work, this one got under my skin toward the end, and I’m unsure if I’ll continue the series.

This is the first time I read Catherine's work and I'm absolutely in love with it! The way she writes, the characters, the story... Everything is so well done that you can't help to fall in love with this book. Sera and Ransom won my heart since chapter 1 and I can't wait for the second book!!!! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Libro bellissimo, ho avuto qualche problema con la spedizione

A fantasy novel. Start of a series. Four hundred and ninety eight pages. Forty eight chapters and a prologue. Three parts. Map at the front and a couple of glossary pages also. Recommended reading age fourteen and up. Mild adult moments and a fair bit of violence. Being the start of a series leaves it with a lot to be resolved come the end of this volume. Two viewpoint characters. Sera. A girl whose mother has just been murdered. She flees to the city of Fantome and takes sanctuary with one of the two dominant orders there. Also Ransome. From the other order. Who is ordered by it's leader to kill her. They might just end up getting closer in the process though. And secrets will come out... A cracking good read. Very readable book from the off. I think Sera is mildly more sympathetic to begin with because Ransom does have more development to go through. But this does some very impressive stuff. In terms of world building you just get to know what you need when you need. So none of that gets in the way of the story. The prose really grabs and brings the setting to life. Plus there's a lot of background detail about this world and the more you find out about it, the more impressed you get as you see how much work has gone into designing it. There's some very good supporting characters also. I liked how Sera's relationship with some of them developed. The fight scenes feel realistic. Nobody is a perfect warrior and injuries don't heal right away. There is also some jeopardy in them. Plus the ending didn't quite go how I would have expected. Which leaves the door open for so much more to come. Really good read. Can't wait for book two. There's a short preview of that at the back.

I’d forgotten how much I love YA fantasies. It’s been an age since I’ve read a good one. The Flame and the Dagger was exactly what I’d hoped it would be and more. I couldn’t tell you what drew me to pick it up my “mood” just went with it and I wasn’t disappointed. -faced-paced -unique twist on the shadows trope (for me anyways) -action packed from start to finish -fantastic yearning -slowish burn -exceptional magic system -An FMC who doesn’t have to constantly “prove” herself she’s doesn’t have the mentality “only I can do it”, she accepts her flaws and knows when to ask for help and it was was quite frankly appealing. I can’t wait to get to the next installment! 5⭐️ 0.25 🌶️

This is really a good book with a fun plot and amazing romance! The book itself came in great condition, highly recommend it.