The Burning Sky (Elemental Trilogy, 1) Paperback – September 16, 2014

I read the premise of The Burning Sky and knew instantly I had to read it. Even though the cover is gorgeous enough to turn heads, the description is what really did it for me. A girl pretending to be a boy in an all boys school and is an elemental mage?!?! Yes, I definitely must know more.For me, knowing less about the plot of a book going into it is ideal. I check to see how my friends on Goodreads rated it, see if there are a good number of four and five star reviews, skim the longer reviews and finally dive in. That’s why on RBR, I do everything I can to avoid spoilers and even too much plot detail…because where’s the fun in that for you? If I tell you everything that happens, why would you pick up the book then? Derailed…ok…The Burning Sky is simply fantastic. Isolanthe, alias Archer Fairfax, lives a simple existence with her negligent mentor. Her life completely turns upside down when she meets Titus, prince of the realm. AH! I’ll stop there.Here’s what you really need to know about this book: every scene is vivid and colorful. Extraordinary events take place that create a truly magical atmosphere that you can imagine very easily. I loved that Sherry Thomas really went for the big, epic scenes that shocked and awed me. It makes for a great balance of drama and suspense.I’m loving strong heroines lately. Isolanthe is both vulnerable and worldy. She’s experienced little of politics and fighting, but when she does face it she handles it with dignity and strength. Plus, she’s a spitfire. And not in an obnoxious, look-at-me way. She does it with winks and flair. I adored her character so much!As I really tried to pinpoint what made The Burning Sky such a standout book, I realized it was because I felt so much while reading it. When a book can make you rage and cry and rejoice, you know you’ve got something special. The worst feeling ever is finishing a book and genuinely feeling like you don’t care what happens in the next book. No so with this novel: I have all the feels for Isolanthe, Titus and the world of Elberon.There is no doubt in my mind that the sequel will have even more surprises and twists. The Burning Sky leaves just enough questions unanswered to leave readers wondering what could possibly happen next while not totally leave us hanging. I can tell that there’s a plan for Isolanthe and Titus, and it’s Harry Potter-esque. A storm is brewing and it’s going to be CRAZY HUGE once it peaks.I think there’s something so interesting about pretending to be something you’re not. In literature there’s always that moment of discovery and the subsequent fallout. Not only with Isolanthe pretending to be a boy, but her true abilities and what that means for her new-found friends.OVERALL:I could not get enough of this book. I wanted to reread it as soon as I’d finished. The Burning Sky is an original YA fantasy that combines a world where fire, water, earth and air can do some serious damage. The characters are believable, but more than anything The Burning Sky made me feel strongly about the story.

I remember when I first learned about The Burning Sky nearly a year ago. A blog tour company that I was with at the time was searching for bloggers to read and review it for a tour, of course, and I applied, but because I was still so new, I wasn't accepted. But I did end up purchasing the book for my Nook and I kept it on the back burner for awhile.The Burning Sky got a lot of hype -- it was being compared to Harry Potter in really great ways and I was excited by a story that could captivate me that completely and that could also, possibly, captivate my family that way. We are HUGE book lovers and if we weren't deeply Scottish with a family crest that dates back to the 1400s hanging on our wall, I'm pretty sure my dad would already have adopted the Gryffindor crest as our own. (Even though I'm totally a Ravenclaw.)Anyhow, it was one of those books that unfortunately, I just kind of forgot I had and that got lost in the shuffle between treatment and then suddenly being requested for lots of other reviews and tours. But while I was in NYC, its sequel, The Perilous Sea, came up for review on Edelweiss, which I was auto-approved for, so I decided to download it and started in on The Burning Sky in mid-June.I want to start about by saying that I liked The Burning Sky very much. I think it's a really fun, entertaining, great read. And I'll get to all the phenomenal parts about it soon, but I can't get to them without delving into a few of the faults I found.This is going to sound like a downer review at first -- but I promise it isn't. I've given the book four hearts! And you'll see why. But here are the few little downer tidbits first.(Please note -- this review is a little spoilery! Not a lot, just a little.)First, I felt like the comparisons to Harry Potter were spot on, but not because it is similar in nature, deals with a similar subject matter, or evokes the same kinds of emotions. The comparisons were accurate because so much of the beginning reminded me of Harry Potter.The main character, Iolanthe, is a girl who is orphaned and who her caretaker has taken great pains to hide. She is what is considered to be an Elemental Mage, in that she can manipulate the elements (earth, water, and fire, specifically, when the book begins). This makes her rare and coveted -- it is unheard of for Elemental Mages to be gifted in that many elements. There was also a prophecy told that was in regards to her and her possibilities.In the very beginning of the book, we are introduced to a concept called "vaulting" which is essentially the transfer of one's person to another location by magic -- essentially apparition, though it seems it takes time to master it and too much of it can make an inexperienced mage sick.There are also some characters that bring to mind some Harry Potter counterparts. For example, there is an Inquisitor who reeks of Dolores Umbridge (and her title certainly lends to that). And there's a woman by the last name Dawlish, a perhaps unintentional allusion to the auror Dawlish.The way the world is constructed is similar, too. Some people consider this to be a high fantasy book, in the leagues with the Graceling Trilogy or the Grisha Trilogy. I do not. Those books have established a world and that resembles nothing of the world we live in, where Iolanthe, Titus, and the cast of characters live is a world within our world. Hidden, just barely, by mages who are really running the world's show and just allowing those non-magical humans to believe that they have control.None of this was done badly -- it was ALL well-written. But I wasn't as fresh as I'd hoped -- at least not at first.But despite all this, I kept reading because I just had a feeling that even though all these things were so similar at the beginning and didn't feel very unique, I really like Iolanthe, the elemental mage, and I thought she was very compelling, interesting, and easy to relate to. I found her fascinating. And I loved the world that was slowly being crafted by Sherry Thomas.And I'm SO glad I did.Really, despite my initial concerns and misgivings, Sherry Thomas really came through with The Burning Sky. It was very interesting, the plot kept me on the edge of my seat, there was a lot of mystery to it, and I realy loved all the characters.I think that one my favorite parts is that for a time, Iolanthe has to disguise herself as a boy so she can blend into at the boys' boarding school that Prince Titus attends and so he can protect her. She plays a very convincing and charming guy, and I loved Titus's reactions to her.At the beginning of the book, I felt Iolanthe was a little whiny and also was a little annoying. But I watched her evolve immensely throughout this story. I loved seeing that change in her. Sherry really depicted her growth well. And I loved seeing Iolante embrace her power as opposed to being afraid of it. Because of this, she eventually learns to master the other element that hat alluded her -- air.Another favorite part of this book for me is The Citadel, a device that allows Titus and Iolante to transfer into what is essentially a land of multiple fairy tales that can be used for practicing fighting, creative problem solving, and figuring out riddles. It was so unique. And it brought an added element of fairy tale retelling to the story, which is one of my favorite things when done well -- and Sherry Thomas did it so, so well. I loved that there were these stories within a story. And that it could also be used as a transport device. It was so, so unique. It fused so many things that I loved together.(4/5 HEARTS on www.heatherheartsbooks.com)So for all the little similarities I took notes of at the beginning, they really didn't matter. Because a couple of chapters in, I totally forgot about them -- I even forgot to take notes about the rest of the book because I was so engrossed and loved it so much.The Burning Sky was a great read and if you do enjoy books with magic, then you'll love this. And commit to it for more than just a few chapters. It's so worth it and the story is just so fun and awesome.The second book, The Perilous Sea, releases on September 16 and I will have the review here September 15.

I Really enjoyed this book but...the Situation at The beginning was Not convincing. It I thought too much about it , it even seems ridiculous! But the chemistry and banter between the two Protagonists was such fun..

I've read all the books she has written. Her characters have depth, her story lines are fresh her books have heart and humour. This is a departure from her usual subject but it is still a good book for the simple reason that she is a great and engaging writer. She could write a phone book and that would be an entertaining read. In conclusion I will buy book II and book III of this trilogy. In fact I wish she could write them faster. Fantastic fantasy novels are not my usual fare, In fact I will not read another one after the Elemental Trilogy ... unless Sherry writes it, of course.

One of the most amazing books I've read in a long time, this book held me riveted till the end. Plot, prose, flow, drama, pathos and more were crafted so smoothly and cleverly to create such an outstanding book that it genuinely deserves a treasured spot on everyone's bookshelf or reading device. Readers are bound to love our hero and heroine so much, they`d need to keep revisiting and re-reading about them. I know because I already do. Congratulations to the author for this impressive piece of masterful work. I look forward to the next instalment in this fantastic series.

I first read this when I borrowed it from my library. After reading I didn't think much of it, to be honest. I thought it was just a very average YA fantasy book. However after I put it down I realised I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and what would happen next, so I ordered a copy for myself and also ordered the other two books in the series so I can binge read them all.PLOT: Duel perspective. We follow our two main characters, Iolanthe and Titus. Iolanthe has been told she is the greatest mage of her generation, that she will change everything. She is tasked to defeat the Bane (the villain). After everything is set in motion, we are introduced to Prince Titus. He is the one to guide Iolanthe and help her defeat the Bane after his mother prophesied it.The plot is slow moving in some places and there is definitely not enough romance for me yet (hopefully that will be in the later books). There is nothing really that special or different about this book but I enjoyed it and I can't wait to read the rest!Overall I would definitely recommend giving this series a go.

"The Burning Sky" the first book in the Elemental Trilogy is a thrilling and addictive fantasy that begins in Little-Grind-On-Woe where the Atlantean Inquisitor has taken sixteen year old Iolanthe Seabourne's guardian hostage after she escapes through a portal in an old trunk. Prophesied to be the greatest elemental mage in decades Iolanthe has to stay out of the clutches of Bane, Atlantis's most powerful mage if she is going to fulfill her destiny and free the Domain from his tyrannical rule.Helped by Titus VII Master of the Domain to break out of a trunk in the attic of the Wintervale home when she lands, Iolanthe is quickly swept up in a game of cat and mouse as Bane, the Inquisitor and their spies frantically search for the elemental mage who can call down bolts of lightning, Challenged to protect her and to guide her training Titus has Iolanthe masquerade as Archer Fairfax, a cocky, athletic student who easily makes friends at the all boys school. What the Prince and Iolanthe don't expect as sparks fly in their clash of wills is to fall in love, each willing to sacrifice their life to save the other.The plot is set in the Domain a realm subjugated to the will of Bane a mighty mage and ruler of Atlantis. The Master of the Domain Titus VII of the House of Elberon has no authority, his Uncle Alectus the regent until he comes of age. Having to obey Bane who has delegated authority to his emissary the Inquisitor, Titus yearns for freedom and vengeance for the death of his mother after the January Uprising. In an atmosphere of uncertainty and discontent he has been sent away to the nonmage school of Eton to be educated, but in secret has developed his magic. It is here that Iolanthe takes up residence as Archer Fairfax, the Prince's best friend and confidant.The plot is fast-paced, quickly heating up after Iolanthe and Titus pledge a blood oath to someday fight Bane and to free her guardian from imprisonment. With her fluid writing style Sherry Thomas brings life and believability to a fantastical land where there's a natural connection between Iolanthe and the four elements-fire, earth, air and water - and Titus induces magical spells with a flick of his wand. In a story where they face wyverns and cockatrices in training, use a transmognification spell to change Iolanthe into a canary, and are guided by Lady Ariadne's visions that appear on the blank pages of her diary when needed, the action never stops as intrigue and suspense escalate. Absorbing from beginning to end, the plot culminates in a cliff-hanger that begs for another book.The characters are unforgettable, realistic and complex with all their faults and flaws; especially Prince Titus who appears capricious, shallow and self-absorbed. He hides his vulnerability, loneliness, any kindness, resourcefulness or generosity of spirit behind lies, manipulation and deception, distancing himself from his servants and guards in the castle and at school from other students until he loses his heart to Iolanthe. In her disguise as Archer Fairfax Iolanthe's brash, arrogant yet amiable, easily making friends at Eton but privately she harbours a lot of fear and insecurity, reluctant to join Titus's fight and yearning to set her guardian free. When they meet Titus and Iolanthe are drawn to each other, their chemistry fuelling their attraction although both try to avoid their feelings. Of all the characters that add intensity, depth and dimension to the story the Inquisitor is by far the most vicious and heartless; Lady Callista the most devious and underhanded; and Bane calculating and determined.I enjoyed "The Burning Sky" which I found on Goodreads/First Reads and highly recommend it. This fantasy is intriguing from the first page to the last and I can't wait to read the next book in the trilogy.