Review: Fate of Flames

Author Sarah Raughley

Format e-ARC

Print Length 368 pages

Publisher Simon Pulse

Published Nov. 22, 2016

Four girls with the power to control the elements and save the world from a terrible evil must come together in the first epic novel in a brand-new series.

When Phantoms—massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness—suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement.

But now, with technologies in place to protect the world’s major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and, instead, have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms.

Until the day that New York City’s protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy.

Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But with the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn’t much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together.

Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?

My Opinion

Maia and her twin June have fan girled over the Effigies all of their lives. In fact that is what helps Maia get through life without June. So color her surprised when she wakes up as one- the only way you become one is when another dies. For days she keeps her secret, even when her city is attacked. Yet, the Sect (secret organization that controls the Effigies) has a way of finding the Effigies and they find her at the worst possible time.

Maia needs to go through some training, and so off to London she goes. Along with the other Effigies (the first time some of them have actually all been together). Maia becomes the glue that brings the girl’s together. Which is weird since she is so new to the game. The other Effigies have very strong opinions about each other. Opinions that were not so nice.

Maia was a bit umm clueless for me- yeah she knew everything about the other Effigies. When it came to her own powers though she had no idea. She also wasn’t all about learning either. She wanted to know what happened to the person she replaced but how to safe people’s life and not get herself killed she was more trail by error. 

My favorite character was Rhys, a Sect solider tasked with protecting Maia until she comes into her powers. Half-way through the book though he pulls away from Maia and that was that. He showed up every couple of chapters with a line or two but nothing significant. The other two characters that were more interesting than Maia was Lake the Barbie Effigy and Vasily another Sect solider. His story is one that has me guessing.

Fate of Flames is based on an interesting concept that fell a little short of expectations for me. It was hard to connect with Maia as she really didn’t do anything for the majority of the book. Yeah, there is a learning curve for becoming a superhero- she just didn’t go to class either. The side characters were more interesting than the main. Hopefully the sequel will fix this.

My Rating 3 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “A media circus is pretty inevitable.”

Other People

Rhys- Sect solider

Belle- ice Effigy

Chae Rin- earth Effigy

Lake- air Effigy

Sibyl- in charge of the Effigy missions