Magic, dragons, and competitions? Does that sound like something you’d love to watch? Then make sure you pick up Blazewrath Games! I will read practically anything with dragons, so you know that this book was on the top of my October TBR! Keep reading this book review to see if the dragons lived up to my expectations!
Summary
Lana Torres has always preferred dragons to people. In a few weeks, sixteen countries will compete in the Blazewrath World Cup, a tournament where dragons and their riders fight for glory in a dangerous relay. Lana longs to represent her native Puerto Rico in their first ever World Cup appearance, and when Puerto Rico’s Runner—the only player without a dragon steed—is kicked off the team, she’s given the chance.
But when she discovers that a former Blazewrath superstar has teamed up with the Sire—a legendary dragon who’s cursed into human form—the safety of the Cup is jeopardized. The pair are burning down dragon sanctuaries around the world and refuse to stop unless the Cup gets cancelled. All Lana wanted was to represent her country. Now, to do that, she’ll have to navigate an international conspiracy that’s deadlier than her beloved sport.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
From the beginning I fell in love with Blazewrath Games. I adored this wizards and witches meets dragons meets magical sports competition. Blazewrath Games delivers non-stop action and adventure from the beginning. To say that I was swept away in the action packed scenes of dragon fire, or the training montages for the games, is an understatement. But what I ended up falling in love with was the ways Blazewrath Games navigates diaspora identity and found family.
There’s nothing Lana wants more than to compete in the Blazewrath Games for Puerto Rico. In a series of events full of accidents, a little too much fire, and secrets Lana gets her wish. But as soon as she joins her teammates, the fact that Lana hasn’t seen Puerto Rico in years is brought up. Throughout Blazewrath Games, Lana has to navigate her feelings regarding not only Puerto Rico, but her feelings of being an imposter on her team for having grown up away from her island.
At the same time, Lana is biracial and the ways her family treats her differently because of her Puerto Rican father is another issue for Lana. These questions of belonging and identity is closely connected to this struggle is the theme of found family in the story. When the people we love end up disappointing us, where else can we find a sense of community and family? For those who feel excluded from pieces of their identity, how do they reconcile this fractured feeling?
Overall,
Blazewrath Games is a fantastic high action debut. It delivers a fast paced story of sacrifice and magic. You’ll find yourself snuggling in to read this story before you know it. Find Blazewrath Games on Goodreads, Amazon, Indiebound, Bookshop.org & The Book Depository.