ARC Review: The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy

THE LAST OF THE FIREDRAKES
Series: The Avalonia Chronicles #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Release Date: August 15th 2015

Book Length: 488 pages
Publisher: Wise Ink Creative Publishing 
Source: ARC, Goodreads 
Review: 3/5 *Full Review Below.

Blurb:
16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.

Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way. Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever.

If I’m completely honest, I’m not 100% sure on how I feel about this book. It should have been an instant favourite of mine, it had everything I love in a fantasy; the best of magical creatures being of course The Fae and The Mages, an orphan heroine who is actually a Princess/Queen, an evil villain, a dark hero who helps those less fortunate, mythical creatures like a Pegasus (not crazy on this) and a Manticore (+10 cool points) and they're all found in a magical world far far away…. Yet I’ve reached the age-old question: 

‘Can you love a book if you’re not loving the heroine?’

Firstly we have Aurora, our sixteen-year-old heroine, she lives with her Uncle and Auntie who despise her and a cousin who makes her life a living hell. That is until one night she is kidnapped by a Mage and taken to a secret world through a magical tapestry, here she discovers that she is the last living heir of Illiador, much to the disappointment of Queen Morgana who seized the throne after Aurora’s parents were murdered. Seeking help from her Mage Granduncle Gabriel, Aurora find finds out that she is no ordinary human but in fact a rare and powerful Fae-Mage, so she must learn to control her new powers and take back her kingdom.

From the very beginning I just couldn’t warm to Aurora, she infuriated me to no end with her stupid decisions. I completely understand feeling like you have a responsibility to do more and not sit on the sit lines like a child but seriously to walk into a life or death situation against the most powerful sorcerers with no plan at all?! Never mind the fact that she has no control of her magic? There was one point in the book in which Aurora was specifically warned about a certain family who would kill her and yet when said family invited her along to an outing she happily obliges and then has the right to be ticked off when she is betrayed? Things could not have been more clear, I genuinely worry for the people who would support this new princess in her rule.

Rafe was your typical love interest, dark, broody, always turning up to save the day and harboring his own secrets. My hopeless romantic heart instantly fell for the mysterious ‘Black Wolf’, and I really did ship him with Aurora but yet again Aurora’s attitude and continuous self-doubt drove me crazy. Oomerbhoy creates a gorgeous world and provides vivid detail into every kingdom, it’s people, traditions, fashion, food everything it’s like you’re really there.. Thank god for the map, this place is huge!! But ultimately these details become somewhat repetitive because for the life of me I couldn’t understand why every older male has Salt & Pepper hair?

Regardless of my opinion it was so so easy to become completely immersed in this magical world and I will definitely be reading the next installment because I feel this series has so much more potential and room to grow. Also after that silly cliffhanger I dread to think where Aurora will end up, I just hope she grows up a little because this could be a series I truly get behind.