Review: Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon

23867175Bridges Burned
(Going Down in Flames, #2)
By: Chris Cannon
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: January 19, 2015
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating:
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Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn’t a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.

 

1thoughtsBryn has not had a great start at her new life as a dragon. She’s been attacked, poisoned, and treated with disdain since she set foot in the dragon society. However, she was able to get through that with her boyfriend and two friends. Things are changing though and Bryn soon finds herself making new friends and losing those she cares about the most.

This book was completely different than the first. There’s a lot of heartache, a lot of confusion, and destruction at every turn. The majority of the story isn’t just about Bryn at school. There’s a huge portion where Bryn is staying with her Grandparent’s. She learns that her grandmother isn’t as prickly as she once thought. Bryn also learns the difference between the dragon clans. While others show affection and are generally more kinder of a clan, the blue’s are a proud, in-control sort. They don’t show fear, hurt, or really give away any emotion at all. So what Bryn thought was once disdain towards her and others, is really just their way. You really see it with Bryn’s grandmother. The lady is gentler around Bryn when they are alone but when in front of others, she dons her mask and aloof persona.

I liked that even though new characters aren’t really introduced, other characters start to share the spotlight with Bryn. Due to events in the last book, Bryn is now on friendlier terms with Jaxon, who was not one of the good guys before. His mother takes an interest in Bryn and she is always popping up with Jaxon in toe to spend time with Bryn. I must admit that Jaxon and Bryn’s interaction with each other was pretty amusing. They are not friends by any means but they now have this common understanding of each other and Jaxon is no longer the bad guy. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t needle each other relentlessly throughout the story. However, there were times where Jaxon was there for Bryn when she needed someone. Even if all she needed was someone to tell her the harsh truth.

There’s a lot of destruction in this one since there are dragons out there who are attacking the Directorate (leaders) and their families. I think one of the more gruesome, yet needed, parts of the book was after an attack happened and Bryn comes across limbs and wings on the ground. The author doesn’t really go into detail, but having Bryn come across that really brought the emotions to the forefront rather than it being just another attack and then moving on to the next scene like nothing happened. It really made it seem more real, for both Bryn and the reader.

This is a great series so far. Considering that the two books have taken two different turns, bringing forth two sets of characters and situations, I have to say that I’ve no idea where the author is going next. A lot happens in this book. There are characters lost, characters in question, and new bonds being formed. Bryn is now in a whole new world with being acknowledged by her grandparents and living with them. Not to mention that the attacks are never resolved in this book and there’s talk about war. I just hope that if/when the war happens, the author makes sure to add some of those gruesome details in instead of fluffing over it. Those few scenes in this one really stood out for me and made the scene that much more powerful.

I would recommend this series to anyone looking for a fantasy coming-of-age young adult story. Bryn’s already changed and adapted to her new surroundings and I can’t wait to see how else she grows in the stifling society of the blue dragon clan.

 

1favequote“When the waiter asked which she would like, she said tea. Although if there ever was an occasion to start drinking alcohol, sitting in a ballroom here the friendliest dace she’d see all night would be Jaxon’s definitely qualified.”

 

Previous reviews from Going Down in Flames
Going Down in Flames
 
kRISTIN

6 Thoughts on “Review: Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon

  1. I’m visiting as part of Parajunkee’s blog challenge, and I’m glad I stopped by. Thank you for putting this on my book radar! If you’d like to check out my blog, you can visit it directly at From the Shadows or get a condensed version on my blog’s shiny new Facebook Page. Hope to see you there!

  2. I didn’t grab this one from NG because Entangled Teen has been hit and miss for me and I’m trying to cut back on requesting so many books that I can’t ever get to. Then I find out one is good… I may have to go see if it’s still available. I do love dragons. 🙂 Thanks for the review, Kristin!

    • You will definitely need to read the first book before reading Bridges Burned. There’s a lot that happens in the second book that pertains to the first. I hope you’re able to get the first book and get a review copy of the second.

  3. I own the first book, and I keep meaning to read this series. The covers are definitely pretty!

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