Review: Rise of the Arcane Fire

 

Series: The Secret Order #2
Release date: February 4th 2014
Publisher: Simon Pulse

PURCHASE: Amazon https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13597740-rise-of-the-arcane-fire?ac=1

SYNOPSIS: 
After her parents died in a fire and her grandfather disappeared, Meg Whitlock thought her life had come to a standstill. But when she learned that the pocket watch her grandfather left her was really an intricate key, Meg, with the help of a stable hand named Will, uncovered the Amusementists: members of an elite secret society dedicated to discovery and shrouded in mystery. Now the Amusementists are convening in London, and Meg is determined to join their ranks. But being the first girl in the Order has its difficulties, and with Will away in Scotland Meg fears she can’t trust anyone but herself. Her worries are only supported by the sabotage happening at the academy, with each altered invention being more harmful than the last. With threats lurking around every corner, and while trying to prove her worth as the first female Amusementist, Meg must uncover the identity of the academy’s saboteur before the botched devices become deadly. And after she finds evidence of a sinister and forbidden invention, Meg must stop it - or risk the entire future of the Amusementists.

REVIEW:

Rise of the Arcane Fire was great! It far surpassed Legacy of the Clockwork Key, the first book in the The Secret Order series.

    Kristen Baiely easily draws you into Meg's tale and keeps you turning page after page long into the night. While Legacy of the Clockwork Key was somewhat slow Rise of the Arcane Fire was fast paced. The story flowed well and read quickly because the tale was so intoxicating. 

    In Legacy of the Clockwork Key we saw Meg begin to bloom into a daring and headstrong young woman, with Rise of the Arcane Fire we see her fully embrace who she is and is meant to be. We really get to see Meg's brilliance and cunning which is spectacular. She faces new challenges and problems with vigor and for the most part on her own. Bailey has truly created a strong female role model any parent would be proud to have their child look up to. Her curiosity, pursuit of knowledge and caring for others is admirable.

    Bailey does a marvelous job of referencing classic literature and mythology which is sure to put a smile on any bibliophiles face. Her characters and secret society seem to fit well within the time period that the novel is set. I would like to imagine that a similar society, devoted to such marvels of technology and engineering, might have existed within our own history.

    I was sad to see the end of Rise of the Arcane Fire come so soon and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment in The Secret Order series. If Kristen Bailey keeps this up her next book is sure to be even better!

RATING: 4/5

ABOUT THE AUTHOR :

 

Kristin Bailey grew up in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley in California. As a kid she enjoyed visiting the beach, camping and skiing with her two brothers. Now she is a military wife and mother of two young children. She is also terrible about spoiling her pets. She has one fluffy mutt, two cats who think they own the world, and a fish tank with a quartet of fat fish, and two secretive striped ninja-assassin snails. In the course of her adventures, she has worked as a zookeeper, balloon artist, and substitute teacher. Now she enjoys writing books for teens who enjoy mystery and adventure as much as she does. www.kristinbailey.com | twitter.com/KBaileyBooks

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