Surprise! I really had no intentions of posting today…this week has already been pretty post heavy, but I just finished this book and instantly sat down to write the review, so why wait!

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Title: Vortex Visions (Air Awakens: Vortex Chronicles #1)

Author: Elise Kova

Pub. Date: February 4, 2019

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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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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This will be spoiler free review!

Oh, where do I begin?

I’ll start with quickly berating myself for waiting so long to read this…okay, two months isn’t that long, but I should have read it the moment it came out! I am now fully caught up on everything Air Awakens and it’s a great feeling. Just in time for Chosen Champion.

I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this book, but I wasn’t disappointed. Even though it was a new set of characters – with some familiar faces – and a new location, it still felt like coming home, and so easy to visualize. I’m such a huge fan of Elise’s writing and her stories. Her ability to craft these fantastic places and make them feel real and alive. I’m going to be honest, I feared that I might compare Vortex Visions too much, too closely to the original series, and I didn’t want to spend the whole book doing that. Thankfully, I didn’t and it ended up not being a problem at all.

The pacing of this book was really good, make for an easy read. I was dedicated and knocked it out in about three-ish hours – which is probably why I reacted to viscerally to a certain scene and then procrastinated finishing the book because my emotions were so everywhere. The little twists and turns that happened keep you engaged and interested and again, they really bring the story to life.

As for the characters –

Vi – to be honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about her. Like I mentioned briefly before, I was scared that I was going to be spending the whole book comparing her to Vhalla. It wasn’t, and I really like Vi. She’s the best of both her parents, and I could see bits of Vhalla and Aldrik coming through in her actions. I found her to be really likeable and interesting and I can’t wait to see how her story unfolds.

Taavin – he grew on me so quickly. I feel like he needs all the hugs, mister lonely boy. We don’t know much about him yet, but I’m eagerly anticipating getting to know him better. I really like his relationship with Vi, and the dynamic between them.

As for both of them together, they kind of reminded me of the early days between Vhalla and Aldrik when he was her Shadow.

Jax – oh Jax, you haven’t change at all. Maybe you’re a bit more mature, but you’re still you. I love just how much he cares for Vi.

Andru – I was super wary of him at first, but he redeems himself. He’s another character that I can’t wait to get to know better!

Ellene & Jayme – I have some reservations about Jayme, but I think she’s loyal. And for Ellene, I loved her and Vi’s relationship! Both of these women are influential in Vi’s life and are her friends. Honestly, I’m hoping they have somewhat bigger roles in the next books. They were just primarily her friends and often just used as comfort – not that, that’s a bad thing.

There was a moment in this book – I alluded to it briefly earlier in this review. If it hadn’t been 1:30 in the morning, I would have actually yelled. But since I read at weird late hours, I had to deal with whisper yelling. I literally whispered yelled “WHAT NO” at a certain scene towards the end of the book and walked away. I left the book on the couch and walked away. Then I proceeded to procrastinate finishing the last forty-ish pages of the book due to heart break.

Why I was shocked, I’m not sure. In the past, Elise has made me cry, broken my heart and made me rage and laugh with and for her characters. I should have been expecting something like this.

Anyways, upon finishing, I might have jumped the gun just a bit. It made me that much more excited for Chosen Champion – thank goodness I don’t have to wait that long.

This book was very much the starting point for what I anticipate being another amazing series from Elise Kova, full of action, magic and romance. So much happened, but most of what did, was introduction, world building, setting up the plot. I’m really excited to see what she has in store for these new characters as well as the old ones. I think the story is really going to pick up in book two.

I do wish we could have seen more of the old cast – well remaining old cast – but I have a feeling that they’ll make a physical appearance soon. I’m excited to see Vi reunited with her family, and to see how everything falls into place.

Keep an eye out for Chosen Champion out May 1, 2019. You aren’t going to want to miss it!

And if you haven’t, and if you want to see how the story started, you should check out Air Awakens!

You don’t have to read the series in order, meaning, you could start with Vortex Visions and then read the original series, but I would recommend reading the original series, then the Golden Guard Trilogy and then Vortex Visions!

Sorry if this review is a little, incoherent or rambling – I probably should have waited a day or two to write the review, but I got excited!

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Who is your favorite Elise Kova character?

I think mine might actually be Baldair. I recently read the three Golden Guard books and loved them! So much information in three small books.