Join Ashline on her journey to uncover her true identity. The Wildefire series presents mythological gods and goddesses from various cultures.
Title: Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Genres: Fantasy > Paranormal > Mythology
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 1,239
Reading Date: 15th October 2024 – 25th October 2024
The reading order – How to Read Wildefire Series by Karsten Knight
- 1 Wildefire
- 2 Embers & Echoes
- 3 Afterglow
Wildefire
Every flame begins with a spark. Blackwood Academy was supposed to be a fresh start for Ashline Wilde. A secluded boarding school deep in the heart of California’s redwood forests, three thousand miles from her old life—it sounded like the new beginning she needed after an act of unspeakable violence left a girl in her hometown dead.
But Blackwood is far from the peaceful haven Ashline was searching for. Because terrifying, supernatural beasts roam the forests around campus. Because the murderer from Ashline’s hometown—her own sister—has followed her across the country. Because a group of reincarnated gods and goddesses has been mysteriously summoned to Blackwood…and Ashline’s one of them.
My thoughts…
Wildefire is the first book in the series. I have a passion for mythology, and even though the title doesn’t hint at it, I was pleasantly surprised by the story. I’ve had this book on my Kindle for eight years, so I hadn’t read the blurb beforehand.
I find it fascinating when mythological deities are resurrected, reimagined, and placed into contemporary contexts. Wildefire offers a delightfully creative story of Polynesian, Zulu, Norse, Egyptian, Japanese, and Greek mythology.
The story is presented from a third-person perspective, which is usually not my favourite. Yet, I found myself enjoying it in this particular case. While reading, I couldn’t help but speculate about the potential villain—whether it was the blue flame, Eve, the investor, or the overall trajectory of the story.
The pacing is superb and maintains a smooth flow, leading to a surprising revelation at the conclusion. Nevertheless, I had my hunches! I am eagerly looking forward to what unfolds next. It’s a pity that some characters met their demise, adding an element of tragedy. I had thought that having Isis around might have changed that!
Embers & Echoes
A teenage Polynesian volcano goddess fires up her search for love and family in this sequel to Wildefire.
Every flame casts a shadow.
Ashline Wilde is about to discover that when you’re the reincarnation of a Polynesian volcano goddess, “new beginnings” are just a myth. Leaving the fiery ruins of her sophomore year behind her, Ash travels to the sizzling beaches of Miami, hot on the trail of the little sister she’s only seen in visions.
But her happy family reunion isn’t all palm trees and paradise. A cult of evil gods-on-earth, known as the Four Seasons, has kidnapped her sister to use in its terrifying new religion. Soon, the streets of Miami erupt in chaos and violence…and Ash gets caught right in the tropical crossfire.
Ash isn’t without help, however. Unexpected romance arrives in the form of Wes, an Aztec god of night with his own vendetta against the Four Seasons.
As memories of Ash’s previous life begin to flicker into her dreams, the boundaries between ally and enemy, life and death, and love and hate all bleed together. And when a mysterious trickster from her past reappears to derail her new quest, Ash must choose between the echoes of a once-forgotten yesterday and the embers of an uncertain future.
Because when old flames return from the dead, even a volcano goddess can get burned.
My thoughts…
So far, the story in Books 1 and 2 have been filled with doom and gloom. Everyone connected to Ashline either walks away from her or reunites with her only to meet a tragic end. This is certainly bleak, yet it effectively tugs at your emotions. I’m curious whether Wes and Ade will appear in book three, and if they do, will they meet a similar fate?
I appreciate the diverse array of mythological gods and goddesses from around the world that are woven into this story. It’s a refreshing rarity, and I really enjoyed the unexpected twists in the second book. The inclusion of flashbacks is a great touch, providing deeper insights into the characters’ previous lives and boosting our connection with them.
At this point in the story, it’s clear that the blue flames are not the true villains; rather, the trickster is. However, we have yet to hear the trickster’s perspective. I’m curious to know whether there are still twists in the story or if it’s already established that he is the deranged deity.
The one thing that’s been bothering me, and that I’m eager to uncover, is the content of Lily and Ade’s scrolls. Will we get to learn about them before the series concludes? I’m very intrigued and can’t wait to read the ending!
Afterglow
- Every flame begins with a spark
- Every flame casts a shadow
- Every flame can be extinguished
In this thrilling conclusion to the Wildefire saga, Ashline must prepare for a final cataclysm between the gods and snuff out a malevolent trickster once and for all–even if it means her own destruction. But she’ll go down in flames before she goes up in smoke.
My thoughts…
Well, here we are in the last instalment of the series, where we encounter more gods and goddesses from around the globe. This exploration of these deities is what I find most appealing about the story.
However, I wish we could learn more in-depth insights into each one of them. Still, I recognize that the focus is primarily on the Polynesian goddess, Pele, and the ongoing fight against the relentless trickster.
One aspect I was less fond of in the story was the numerous deaths throughout the plot. While I understand that these characters will have the chance to be reborn now that the Cloak is permanently gone, leaving no one to control or punish the unruly deities, it still weighed on me.
Although the conclusion was satisfying, I wished for a more definitive resolution, eliminating the hostile deities for good, especially since, as I mentioned earlier, the Cloak is no longer in play.
Additionally, I would have loved to see a reconnection in the epilogue with those who played some role in the final battle or one that’s close to Pele, such as Ade, Rolfe, Raja, and even catch up with baby Saga.
