Consuming Worlds: Embracing the Flames Blog Tour {Review, Dream Cast & Giveaway}

Book Info-

Title- Born in Flames

Series-Born in Flames Trilogy Book #1

By-Candace Knoebel

Publication Date-September 6, 2012

Blurb-

Red mirrored scales race up my arms as the haze of pain blurs my vision. My bones crack, breaking to realign. I scream. It is then that the realization of my unavoidable fate sinks in; I am of a dying race. I am dragon.

Aurora Megalos, orphaned and teetering on the edge of adulthood, thought finding her past would curb the sting of being an outcast. Having no memories of the time before she awoke on her foster mother’s doorstep, she yearns for the emptiness inside her to be filled. With her fellow orphaned best friend, Fenn, by her side, she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. But something powerful stirred within her that she couldn’t explain. Something wanted out.

In the dark of night, a crazed Seer, dubbed Mr.Creepy, erases everything she’s ever known with an impending prophecy. She now faces two paths. Return to her true home to protect a dying race against a growing evil, or stay hidden in the safety of our realm with a shot at a true love. With a vengeful Arch Enemy stopping at nothing to see her dead, she’s running out of time; a decision must be made. What would you choose?

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review

*Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Info-

Title-Embracing the Flames

Series-Born in Flames Book #2

By Candace Knoebel

Expected Publication Date-June 17th

Blurb-

The Stone of Immortality has always been kept under the watch of the Draconta. That is, until the betrayal of a Fate. Now everything is about to change.

Aurora Megalos accepted her destiny without blinking-even if it meant succumbing to her dragon side. Deemed the Progeny, she left the ordinary life she knew and has done everything in her power to learn the ways of her new realm and what it means to be part dragon. But when her mentor, Astral, suddenly disappears, she is forced to take the reins.

With war on the brink, she sets out on an epic journey to not only find her mentor, but to stop her Arch Enemy, Zordon, from obtaining the Stone of Immortality. But what she discovers about him along the way is far worse than she could’ve ever imagined. She will be tested and pushed to the limit. Lives will be lost, love will be questioned, and a battle will begin.

Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

My Review

When we last left Aurora and Fenn in Born in Flames, they had just returned to their true home and were reunited with long last family. And Embracing the Flames starts pretty close to where we left off, picking up with Aurora and Fenn training for the fight of their lives.

In Embracing the Flames Candace Knoebel gives us lots more magic, lots more dragon and a lot more heat. The magic that Candace Knoebel used was faintly reminiscent of Harry Potter as the mage had to literally vocalize spells in order to wield their magic. It was also nice to get to see Aurora use her dragon side more and finally become at peace with her dragon.

Throughout Embracing the Flames we are given a greater glimpse into the world that Aurora and Fenn left behind when they were forced into hiding on Earth. We are also introduced to a ton of new characters. Some good and some bad. And Candace Knoebel delivers more than a few surprises throughout the story and delivers us more than our fair share of excitement, thrills, suspense, laughter, love and sadness. Giving the reader the full range of emotions as they finish Embracing the Flames.

As I read through Embracing the Flames there was only one thing that bothered me. I love stories with love and stories that deal with a person being deemed the protector of another, but in Embracing the Flames I couldn't help but feel that Fenn sort of fell short of being the all great protector that he is prophesied to be. When in danger or facing a battle it always seemed to be Fenn relying on Aurora to save him instead of the other way around. But that being said I love the relationship between Fenn and Aurora. The feelings they share seem genuine and they have the kind of love that I can't help but root for. I just wish that Fenn would get his chance to be the powerful mage I know he can be. Perhaps he will get his chance in the last installment of this trilogy.

Embracing the Flames is a wonderful read that will give the reader the opportunity to venture to other worlds, visit dragons, fight as a dragon, fight as a mage and love as soul mates. It is a story that I think everyone should read and I can't wait to see how all the surprises that Candace Knoebel gave us play out in the final installment.

Now I will turn the time over to Candace Knoebel so that she can tell us who her dream cast for the trilogy would be.

Hayley Williams from Paramore as Aurora

Chris Evans as Fenn

Jeff Bridges as Astral

Amber Heard as Alexis

Wonderful choices if I do say so myself! Now make sure you get out and read this series so that you can be prepared for the final installment in this trilogy!

About the Author-

Candace Knoebel had dreamed of being a dancer ever since she could remember. With a love of all things art, she saw herself moving to New York and pursuing her passion as an artist. But all that changed on October 10th, 2002 when she met the love of her life. Her dreams diverged and after marrying her high school sweetheart and having two beautiful children, she realized she missed her creative side.
Growing up alongside the Harry Potter series, Candace found herself missing the epicosity of a story that pulls you in and won’t let you go. In 2009, she began dreaming up characters that would mold her first novel. Through lunch breaks and late nights, after putting her kids to bed, she built a world where she could escape the ever-pressing days of an eight to five Purgatory. She found her calling in life and knew this was more than dancing could’ve ever meant to her.
Once complete in 2010, she began the grueling process of finding a publisher. With relentless determination, she was finally able to realize her dream in December of 2011 when 48fourteen offered her a publishing contract. With a HUGE yes and a happy dance, she continues her Trilogy.