A desperate princess, a magical traveler, and a watch that binds them together with the fate of a dying world.Vi Solaris is the heir to an Empire she’s barely seen. Her parents sacrificed a life with her to quell a rebellion and secure peace with a political alliance. Now, three years past when her wardship should’ve ended, Vi will do anything to be reunited with her family.The Empire is … faltering beneath the burden of political infighting and a deadly plague. Yet, Vi can’t help but wonder if her inability to control her magic is the true reason her parents haven’t brought her home. Suspicion becomes reality when she unleashes powers she’s not supposed to have. Powers that might well cost her the throne.As Vi fights to get her magic under control, a mysterious stranger appears from across the world. He holds the keys to unlocking her full potential, but the knowledge has an unspeakable price – some truths, once seen, cannot be ignored.All eyes are on her and Vi must make the hardest choice of her life: Play by the rules and claim her throne. Or, break them and save the world.
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Was there even a page in this when something incredible wasn’t happening?
My head is still spinning, and like Vi, I want to know more, right now! I love Vi, who is so much her mother’s daughter, with her strength, intelligence, and curiosity. And the story itself is just so compelling and emotional – and the cliffhangers. Yes, there’s more than one hanging out there, and I am sure that like me, everyone who reads VV will want to know exactly when we can expect the next installment in this worthy successor to Air Awakens (which is one of my very favorite series).
The world created in Vortex Visions is unique and very interesting. There seems to be so much to explore and discover. I’m excited to do just that with Vi Solaris and her friends.
Vi is a young girl coming into herself. She has a great amount of power that she is just beginning to understand. She also has a connection with a man that she has never met but their destinies are intertwined. I really enjoyed watching their connection grow and evolve into something more.
Vi’s friends are wonderful. They are supportive and protective of her but I’m wondering if Vi will have to continue her quest without them.
It was a pleasure to begin this journey with Vi and her friends. I can not wait to find out what magical, thrilling and death-defying adventures lay ahead for everyone.
A great start to a new series, in a world we already know. Can’t wait to see where Vi goes from here.
The story is a really great read. The story kept me intrigued for start to finish. However I don’t recommend the audio version. The narrator had a very nasally voice that drove me nuts.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to give a voluntary honest review. This review contains only my own thoughts and opinions of this book. First and foremost, thank you Elise Kova for the opportunity and generosity, and of course for a thrilling read.
Vortex Visions was not what I expected it to be, which is for both the better and the worse. I am actually not sure exactly what I expected, but being in love with Vhalla and Aldrik as well as their amazingly epic adventure in the Air Awakens series, I just new I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read this series featuring their daughter. Especially after that ending in Crystal Crowned (spoilers if you have not finished the first series) knowing their firstborn would become a bargaining chip and be sent away to grow up without them in the North.
While I expected the story to start in the North I really thought it would be a bit more adventurous later on with Vi leaving for home finally, meeting the rest of the world, her family and struggles taking place along the way. Instead the staging for the entire first book is exactly where it started. Surprisingly I am not disappointed. Mainly because with the same environment the book took opportunity to explore deeper into what was not answered or only lightly graced upon in Air Awakens instead. Specifically what lay beyond the world they knew and the magic contained there. It put the world that Elise Kova created in the first series in a whole new light and really evolved it and its complexity further. It showed great imagination and cleverness to say the least.
Sadly everything has a downside and for me the biggest downside (spoilers again) was that throughout the book Vi never met her mother, father or brother. I was so excited for that even way before I started reading the book and more so throughout reading as it was amped up with her missing them and being promised a reunion come spring. I would have loved to see an older version of Vhalla and Aldrik as parents and experience the relationship between them. Since Vi had never met Romulin I was extra excited for them to meet. I also felt that along with not meeting them there was a missed opportunity in the book. Vi was sent away while her twin got to stay with his parents and have a loving upbringing. I found it a bit unsatisfying that Vi didn’t show any resentment either towards her brother or her parents for that. While she isn’t happy or even okay with that lot in life she seemed to hold no anger for it either. It was a bit unrealistic to me, since her parents basically choose her brother over her, even if it was a forced choice with the deal they made. I’m not saying she should have hated them or anything since she knew why it had to be that way but it would have been much more relatable and natural if she at least held some sort of grudge towards them.
The relationships between family that I missed out on was however beautifully compensated for with great friendships instead. Ellene, Jax, Jayme and even Andru brought a lot of defining personalities and fond moments to the table. I especially liked Jax and Andru, Jax being the loving and amusing Uncle who raised her, and Andru getting of from a bad start but grows on Vi (and me) with his slight awkwardness and hints of his importance to a certain family member. Ellene, though not my favorite brought lightness and her own romance to the story. However the more interesting I think is Jayme, since I got the feeling that she is either hiding something big or is not the friend she portrays she is. That is just my own speculation though. Best of all however, was Taavin. While I think he has a lot more personality to offer I really liked the unique way and circumstance that he and Vi go to know each other. There is still a lot of secrecy surrounding him (which is way I am also so intrigued by him) and a lot more to explore with the romance, it being a bit of a slow burn. However it makes me just so much more excited for the next installment.
There is actually a lot that makes me eager to keep reading. The romance, the mystery behind Taavin and Vi’s destiny as well as their powers. Most of all though, I need to know that Aldrik is okay considering what happened and that he and the rest of the Solaris family actually finally become one family. I wouldn’t go so far as to saying I’m let down, since I believe the reunion will happen in one of the later books. I am just impatient. As the saying goes though, distance makes the heart grow fonder, so I really am expecting a satisfying family meet and greet in the future for Vi.
This is a wonderful and imaginative story! There are so many things I enjoyed about listening to this book! The world they live has so many neat animals/customs and her environment has me wishing I lived there too. The characters are simply amazingly done! Every time a new one was introduced I couldn’t wait to get to know him/her. They all have attractive qualities that I loved learning about. Each one whether good or bad really garnered my interest. The story is just out of this world. We have a princess who has been raised in another place (for her own safety). Just as she is getting ready to be able to go home and join her family all heck breaks loose. She learns stuff about herself that she never knew before. The white plague is moving across the countries. Oh and let’s not forget someone is trying to kill her. And she keeps talking to a man made of light. Interested yet? You should be! Paranormal or Fantasy readers would love this!
This is a new to me author. Now I can’t wait to see where everyone goes and what is going to happen in the next book. Will Vi end up being the Champion or the the Crown Princess? Will she get to actually see the real Taven? I can’t wait!
I did listen to this on audio and Sarah Sampino did an amazing job with the various voices.
Another Intricately Executed Tale!!
I was so excited to dive back into this world! Vi is just as intriguing and her story is just as spellbinding as Vhalla’s. I would reccomend that you first seek out the Pronunciation guide located in the back of the book. It’s noted that there are no wrong ways to pronounce the names, but I find that I enjoy knowing the proper way to address the characters. It was absolutely brilliant to see things being connected from Vhalla’s time to Vi’s. All of these intricately crafted details kinda hold you hostage as you cannot stop reading this! From start to finish I so very eagerly devoured these words. The exceptional world building continues on and the things we knew as fact are slowly changing! There was a moment or two when I felt like my world was no longer spinning… but I am placing my trust in the phenomenal Ms. Kova to show us what happens next and gift us with a brilliant explanation. Book two cannot be released soon enough!
I really enjoyed the beginning of this sequel series to the Air Awakens series by Elise Kova! A return to the world of Air Awakens but the story continues with the next generation. I love how she expands the world and the magic in this–I’m launching straight into book 2. Great read!
Wow this is a fantastic read. This read grabs you right from the first page. Amd has you on the edge of your seat. Vi to me is a heroine, The Author has really brought the character out, and the scenes I love how vivid I can see them in my mind as I read. And the book cover is fantastic as well. This is definitely a must read. Especially if you love Magic and an Epic read.
Shauna Joesten
While Air Awakens took the whole first book to hook me, this series starter is much more exciting. It took awhile to get going, but once it did, there was plenty of conflict.
The world of Air Awakens is being explored much more in this series already, with elves and a much bigger world outside of the few kingdoms we spend time in in the original series.
And to add to that, Vi is almost as interesting as Vhalla yet has almost a complete opposite personality.
Another thing that I loved was the lack (mostly) of any romance. Romance is where Air Awakens was strongest, but a somewhat similar story in the same world can also carry a plot without that element.
Vortex Visions got off to a slow start for me, which isn’t uncommon for me when it comes to her writing. The book didn’t draw me in quite as quickly as Air Awakens did, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Elise takes the time that she needs to set up the people and places for a new series. By about mid way through I was hitting the “don’t want to put it down” phase, but I have to feed the kids, so I didn’t have a choice 🙂
Elise has a wonderful ability to craft such vibrant and deep characters and worlds. Her stories are complex and her magic well thought through. I’ve really enjoyed everything of hers that I’ve read, and Vortex Visions was no exception. Another thing I love about Elise’s writing is that you’re not waiting a year or two for the next book in the series. Can’t wait to continue the story on May 1st.!!!!!