Rogue by Julie Kagawa Series: Talon #2
Published by Harlequin Teen (4.28.2015)
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eARC, 348 pages
Source: From Publisher
Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.
Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.
A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?
My thoughts
This was just as amazing as I knew it was going to be! I mean, it’s Julie. Obviously I’m going to love it. (Also I was totally geeking out because I got the eARC before anyone else…before Julie even got her author copies. Like, what?! I FEEL SO SPESHUL, GUYS.) What blows me away each and every time about Julie’s storytelling is that it feels so real. Her imagery is very vivid and it’s so easy to picture everything like I was seeing it in a movie! (Sooo can’t wait for the Talon movie!!!!) Also, she can sell anything. ANYTHING, I TELL YOU. She even makes toting around a talking dragon in the back of a van sound legit. Julie always brings her world and characters to life with her beautiful storytelling!
And THE ACTION. You guys, this one is packed with it! I remember seeing comments about Talon complaining that there weren’t enough dragon scenes. Oh, you’ll get dragons in this one. There’s plenty of ass kicking dragon fights, don’t you worry!
So, the love triangle. Anyone who knows me knows that I abhor love triangles. Usually, anyway. But with this one, it works. It so works. Because Ember is dragon and human, to the point of it almost being two separate entities, it made sense. Her human side wants a human. Her dragon side wants a dragon. Logical, yes? Yes. So don’t listen to the complainers crying about another love triangle. This is not your everyday love triangle. (And it’s one of only about 3 that I can stand!)
Let me just say something super important real quick….TEAM COBALT FTW. (See, important.) I mean, don’t get me wrong. I still like Garrett. I’d honestly be happy to see Ember end up with either of them, but Cobalt just makes more sense! Plus he’s kinda snarky. So obviously I love him!
View Spoiler » I cannot WAIT for book 3!!!
Overall Assessment
Plot: 4.5/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing Style: 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Feels: 4.5/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Previous Book
OOooh great review! I got this one to read this week as well! Though I might not get to it right away as I’m about to attend an author signing next week and want to read one of the books first. But AFTER that! It’s ROGUE all the way!! EEP! Soooo excited because I pretty much LOVE everything Julie writes! I read Talon as an ARC, like super early, so I can’t remember everything…but I do remember I was feeling more Team Garrett! Guess we’ll see if I warm up to Cobalt more in this one! Great review, Jessi!
Oooh, I love dragons. I haven’t read Talon, it hasn’t even really been on my radar… It is now though! I just moved it from “to read” to “must read soon” LOL. Have you read Naomi Novik before? I’ve read part of her series Tremeraire series and I enjoyed it (although it was like 7 years ago…). It’s got a historical fiction feel to it because it’s set during the Napoleonic Wars except there are also fighting dragons. Badass!!