Reviewed by layawaydragon on
Like you don't even ask your sister WTF was going on with talking in tongues, fainting, and all of a sudden coming down with the flu? And suddenly knowing how to fight? You say she's been acting weird lately but I'm pretty sure not THAT weird. I expected more grilling, more probing, more reaction. Of all the times to ask if someone is on drugs...
Given what I find out about Alex later, it makes more sense her being presumptuous and silent. However, it doesn't sit right nor make a good first impression.
There was several other things like that which stuck out. Like when Dude and Portia meet on the banks of the river. Who finds someone babbling about shit that doesn't make sense, things that your language doesn't even have words for and take them to their old nurse for treatment in the middle of the night? Portia herself takes a while to clue in that she's not in Kansas anymore. Denial is a powerful thing, but damn was it annoying.
Once our trio get settled into Egypt and wondering briefly how it's so easy and natural for them, it got better and easier to just enjoy the ride. I love the priestesses and the daily life we see in Egypt.
Magic is present from the beginning but doesn't play a larger part until around halfway through. Once the princess pops up and the Scorpions come out to play, it really gets rolling. Sneaking in and out of temples, magical cats, and oh my, is that a flirty attractive guy? Yes, yes, and oh yeah.
Girl power is mightily present but Portia, Alex, and Selene aren't the three musketeers yet. There's problems from the present and past that they need to excavate and that's coming next. The Blazing Star is all set-up. The players are introduced, romance sparked, and the arch is ready to be followed now.
Which means there isn't character progression and it's plot driven. If you're looking for something deeper, you'll have to put in the time for the next book or come back to The Blazing Star when you want what it has to offer.
The explanations that come later soothe the problems in the past and opens up new questions. Alex raises some good questions, and the response she receives speak volumes: it doesn't matter. At least, not now.
They've got someone to save, a war to fight, evil to defeat, and another royal wedding to plan. The exact hows and whys of how this time-travel magical set up worked is inconsequential to the action-adventure paranormal romance story in ancient Egypt.
The Blazing Star makes Portia appreciate being in the moment and moving forward without trying to hide or being someone she's not, which is the way I think it should be read.
I enjoyed reading Nemesis more in general, but The Blazing Star does Egypt with their mythology and magic better and I think it'll really pay off as the series continues. If you can make it past the rough start and enjoy exploring Egypt, you should definitely pick it up. Plus, the twinning dynamic is really interesting and I want to find out what's going on with them. Not to mention how the freshman ties into it and the sweethearts.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 29 November, 2016: Finished reading
- 29 November, 2016: Reviewed