Heart of Flames is a worthy sequel of Crown of Feathers and I would say it's even better than the first. We get more action, relationship building, and progression of a plot! 

To catch you all up: Veronyka has exposed her identity as a girl and is currently apprenticing with the other phoenix riders in the wake of the battle that decimated them. Tristan has become a Master Rider and leader of his patrol, but is still struggling with his relationship with his father, who is still hiding things from him. We finally know Avalkyra's identity as Val, and we follow her as she tries to gain her own phoenix and reunite with Veronyka on her side. In the empire, Sev has enlisted himself as a spy in the empire's army and hopes to help the phoenix riders in the coming conflicts. 

We are following a couple more POVs this time, with Avalkyra and Elliot added in. I don't know if Elliot is really adding much to the story yet by hearing his POV, but I'm sure he'll have more of an impact in the third book. Luckily Sev was a lot more interesting this time around and I did enjoy his POV. Largely though, I was loving the deepening in Veronyka and Tristan's relationship, as well as Veronkya dealing with Val's reveal and what that means for her. 

Plot wise, we are moving much quicker than before and it truly feels like there is a purpose to the character's actions rather than just "training." We have Phoenix battles, scheming on many sides, insider plots, and the building of a second war between the phoenix riders and the empire. The end of this book leaves a cliffhanger and so much happens in the last 50 pages which I loved. It really raised the stakes and provided the catalyst for an epic war in the third. I am excited to get to it!