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Scorched #3
Smoked
Once upon a time the world burned.
Until a girl and her dragon smothered the flame.
But the spark that ignited the apocalypse never went out.
And the Scorch is about to begin.
When Team Dragon rescues Emmy from the government lab, they think the future is finally safe. But they soon discover that Emmy has a secret--a secret so dangerous it could trigger the very apocalypse Connor and Caleb were sent back in time to prevent.
As a dragon hunter, Connor has committed his life to saving the world. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to complete his mission� even if it meant betraying his brother and losing Trinity’s heart. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable. But a desperate choice meant to prevent The Scorch, may become the spark that sets the world aflame once more.
Until a girl and her dragon smothered the flame.
But the spark that ignited the apocalypse never went out.
And the Scorch is about to begin.
When Team Dragon rescues Emmy from the government lab, they think the future is finally safe. But they soon discover that Emmy has a secret--a secret so dangerous it could trigger the very apocalypse Connor and Caleb were sent back in time to prevent.
As a dragon hunter, Connor has committed his life to saving the world. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do to complete his mission� even if it meant betraying his brother and losing Trinity’s heart. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable. But a desperate choice meant to prevent The Scorch, may become the spark that sets the world aflame once more.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
79 people are currently reading
1,590 people want to read
About the author
Mari Mancusi
64books2,222followersMari Mancusi grew up where the north wind meets the sea (otherwise known as Massachusetts), but has since made her home in the great state of Texas, mostly due to her love of summer. (And tacos.) A former Emmy Award winning TV news producer, today she is the author of more than two-dozen books for kids, teens, and adults, mostly of the sci-fi/fantasy variety. In addition to writing, Mari loves traveling, video games, and cosplaying. She is also Mom to an eight year old Frozen superfan who, when recently asked by her teacher to describe her hero answered: “My Mom!� (Okay, fine, she said Kristin Bell.)
You can find Mari online at . She knows several Samanthas.
You can find Mari online at . She knows several Samanthas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 2, 2022
Smoked by Mari Mancusi
Book 3 and conclusion to the Scorched trilogy. YA fantasy. Needs to be read in series order.
Trinity, Connor, Caleb and Scarlett continue the adventures of vs. the world. Can they prevent the world from going down in flames again?
A fun adventure with twists and two different time frames that need to be considered. If they save Emmy now, will that prevent the future devastation from occurring? That’s the question.
Intriguing time questions in fantasy form. A few reveals that are shocking in defining humanity.
A tight and satisfying wrap.
Book 3 and conclusion to the Scorched trilogy. YA fantasy. Needs to be read in series order.
Trinity, Connor, Caleb and Scarlett continue the adventures of vs. the world. Can they prevent the world from going down in flames again?
A fun adventure with twists and two different time frames that need to be considered. If they save Emmy now, will that prevent the future devastation from occurring? That’s the question.
Intriguing time questions in fantasy form. A few reveals that are shocking in defining humanity.
A tight and satisfying wrap.
May 20, 2015
Nothing less than explosive! SMOKED was easily my most beloved book in the series, and left me eager for anything Mancusi writes next.
September 17, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3-3.5
*My Thoughts*
Smoked is the final installment in the Scorched Trilogy. For Trinity Foxx and Team Dragon (which includes Connor Jacks, the Potentials, and the Dracken), it has been six long months since Emberlyn (Emmy) was captured by government agents along with Scarlet and taken away to a place where nobody could find them. As if that weren't a challenge enough, Caleb Jacks lies in a coma after being stuck in the Nether, and nobody knows whether or not he will ever wake up.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
*Recvd via NetGalley 05/07/2015* Published: September 1st 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire
*Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal
*Rating* 3-3.5
*My Thoughts*
Smoked is the final installment in the Scorched Trilogy. For Trinity Foxx and Team Dragon (which includes Connor Jacks, the Potentials, and the Dracken), it has been six long months since Emberlyn (Emmy) was captured by government agents along with Scarlet and taken away to a place where nobody could find them. As if that weren't a challenge enough, Caleb Jacks lies in a coma after being stuck in the Nether, and nobody knows whether or not he will ever wake up.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
*Recvd via NetGalley 05/07/2015* Published: September 1st 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire
November 27, 2015
Book Review:
A totally great conclusion to what was a great trilogy. It was exciting, thrilling, surprising, filled with some amazing twists. Plus there were some new developments about what has happened or how we believe that events unfolded. So many great things about this book.
Emmy and Scarlet, Trinity
Emmy, Scarlet and Trinity each have things that they need to wrestle with in this book. There is a new dynamic to all three of these characters and the dragon. I feel like Trinity feels jealous in a lot of way and you can see why as you are reading. Plus Trinity and Scarlet’s relationship with each other and Emmy is complicated as each of them has a lot of things that they are wrestling with. Plus the trauma that Emmy has endured. So no one is ever free from their traumas and issues.
MORE DRAGONS
What I totally loved about this book is that there were a lot more dragons. I think that the fact that the government decided to make more dragons both hybrids and purebred dragons was a great and interesting twist. I also found that Emmy being a mother was kind of good and bad. Emmy didn’t exactly treat her kids with much love. You kind of knew that something bad happened. We learn that nothing is ever easy for the Dragons. Her kids Zoe and Xavier definitely have personalities and much more to contribute. Scarlet has some decisions when it comes to how to deal with baby dragons. Other things happen with the dragons as well. We also learn later on in the book, that the government decided to create more.
The TWO ROMANCES-Trinity/Connor, Scarlet/Caleb
There were two romances in this book. I like how there wasn’t really a triangle anymore. I totally found that the romances worked at times. Plus not every relationship is smooth or easy. These four characters are all wrestling with so many issues, yet they find that they need each other. Not to mention that these four characters are growing in ways that it’s amazing to see where they have come from. Scarlet and Caleb really do seem like they have a rougher start as a couple. The chemistry was great between these four characters.
Twists and Turns, Scorch, and Twists Galore with the Time Travel
There were so many twists and turns through out the book. I like how we got some background about what happened to both Connor and Caleb in the Scorch, which is a possible future if they don’t stop the apocalypse. I also like the twists that happened with the dragons and everything else. Time Travel does play a major role here as does everything else. We also learn that this is not the first time that these characters have time traveled. So every time these characters have tried, they have screwed it up even worse. I totally love how Trinity and company make some very different decisions than anyone expects, even Darius is stunned. I like that they don’t kill him. The Dragons find another time to go to, to live happily ever after.
This book was just a wonderful conclusion to what has become one of my favorite dragon trilogies.
Rating:
4.5 Hearts
A totally great conclusion to what was a great trilogy. It was exciting, thrilling, surprising, filled with some amazing twists. Plus there were some new developments about what has happened or how we believe that events unfolded. So many great things about this book.
Emmy and Scarlet, Trinity
Emmy, Scarlet and Trinity each have things that they need to wrestle with in this book. There is a new dynamic to all three of these characters and the dragon. I feel like Trinity feels jealous in a lot of way and you can see why as you are reading. Plus Trinity and Scarlet’s relationship with each other and Emmy is complicated as each of them has a lot of things that they are wrestling with. Plus the trauma that Emmy has endured. So no one is ever free from their traumas and issues.
MORE DRAGONS
What I totally loved about this book is that there were a lot more dragons. I think that the fact that the government decided to make more dragons both hybrids and purebred dragons was a great and interesting twist. I also found that Emmy being a mother was kind of good and bad. Emmy didn’t exactly treat her kids with much love. You kind of knew that something bad happened. We learn that nothing is ever easy for the Dragons. Her kids Zoe and Xavier definitely have personalities and much more to contribute. Scarlet has some decisions when it comes to how to deal with baby dragons. Other things happen with the dragons as well. We also learn later on in the book, that the government decided to create more.
The TWO ROMANCES-Trinity/Connor, Scarlet/Caleb
There were two romances in this book. I like how there wasn’t really a triangle anymore. I totally found that the romances worked at times. Plus not every relationship is smooth or easy. These four characters are all wrestling with so many issues, yet they find that they need each other. Not to mention that these four characters are growing in ways that it’s amazing to see where they have come from. Scarlet and Caleb really do seem like they have a rougher start as a couple. The chemistry was great between these four characters.
Twists and Turns, Scorch, and Twists Galore with the Time Travel
There were so many twists and turns through out the book. I like how we got some background about what happened to both Connor and Caleb in the Scorch, which is a possible future if they don’t stop the apocalypse. I also like the twists that happened with the dragons and everything else. Time Travel does play a major role here as does everything else. We also learn that this is not the first time that these characters have time traveled. So every time these characters have tried, they have screwed it up even worse. I totally love how Trinity and company make some very different decisions than anyone expects, even Darius is stunned. I like that they don’t kill him. The Dragons find another time to go to, to live happily ever after.
This book was just a wonderful conclusion to what has become one of my favorite dragon trilogies.
Rating:
4.5 Hearts
Read
December 22, 2019There are parts of this book that are absolutely no fun to read. And they are parts that aren’t so bad.
This story didn’t need a villain because they were all their own worst enemies. Scarlet was consistently a dumbass—like that was her entire role in the story. There were moments when she was almost redeemed and then she’d fly off again ruining it. Trinity wasn’t bad unless everything wasn’t going her way and then she was just petty and mean to everyone. Connor was supposed to be the hero but he was obtusely close-minded. And Caleb actually wasn’t bad for the most part and yet he’s the one everyone kept tearing down.
And when you get to the end I almost put this book down half a dozen times except it was the third book in the series and I wanted to finish it. If it had been the first book I’d have dnf’d in a heartbeat. Because the characters and the story are aggravating more than anything else.
And it’s a bummer because the world has the potential for so much more. The spark is interesting and underused in later books. The characters wouldn’t be bad if they listened a little and didn’t all try to control everything. The idea with dragons and a touch of time travel could be fun. Except that it’s not.
But I’m done with the series more so, there’s that.
This story didn’t need a villain because they were all their own worst enemies. Scarlet was consistently a dumbass—like that was her entire role in the story. There were moments when she was almost redeemed and then she’d fly off again ruining it. Trinity wasn’t bad unless everything wasn’t going her way and then she was just petty and mean to everyone. Connor was supposed to be the hero but he was obtusely close-minded. And Caleb actually wasn’t bad for the most part and yet he’s the one everyone kept tearing down.
And when you get to the end I almost put this book down half a dozen times except it was the third book in the series and I wanted to finish it. If it had been the first book I’d have dnf’d in a heartbeat. Because the characters and the story are aggravating more than anything else.
And it’s a bummer because the world has the potential for so much more. The spark is interesting and underused in later books. The characters wouldn’t be bad if they listened a little and didn’t all try to control everything. The idea with dragons and a touch of time travel could be fun. Except that it’s not.
But I’m done with the series more so, there’s that.
August 4, 2015
Thanks to Netgalley and SourceBooks Fire for giving me this book to review.
After almost 6 months of trying to find Emmy, Team Dragon rescue her and Scarlet from the government labs. However, Emmy is not the same dragon she was before and she has a dangerous secret that could trigger the apocalypse they want to prevent. With everyone, including Trinity, Connor, Caleb and Scarlet having their own secrets and agendas they are all to stop The Scorch but will anything stop the spark that will destroy the world.
Smoked is the really enjoyable third and final book in the Scorched series. It is very fast paced and I could not put it down and it felt more emotional than the previous books. It was action packed but it did have less romance, however, this was not a bad thing as it would have altered the tone of the book.
I didn’t like Trinity much in this book as she seemed very selfish, especially towards Scarlet who she was not very nice to considering Scarlet was held captive to help Trinity. While I liked all the other characters they all had little things which irritated me.
I did enjoy the ending of this series but it was a bit predictable, and I do look forward to reading other books by Mancusi. I would recommend Smoked to fans of the first two books in this series.
This and my other reviews can be found at
After almost 6 months of trying to find Emmy, Team Dragon rescue her and Scarlet from the government labs. However, Emmy is not the same dragon she was before and she has a dangerous secret that could trigger the apocalypse they want to prevent. With everyone, including Trinity, Connor, Caleb and Scarlet having their own secrets and agendas they are all to stop The Scorch but will anything stop the spark that will destroy the world.
Smoked is the really enjoyable third and final book in the Scorched series. It is very fast paced and I could not put it down and it felt more emotional than the previous books. It was action packed but it did have less romance, however, this was not a bad thing as it would have altered the tone of the book.
I didn’t like Trinity much in this book as she seemed very selfish, especially towards Scarlet who she was not very nice to considering Scarlet was held captive to help Trinity. While I liked all the other characters they all had little things which irritated me.
I did enjoy the ending of this series but it was a bit predictable, and I do look forward to reading other books by Mancusi. I would recommend Smoked to fans of the first two books in this series.
This and my other reviews can be found at
October 24, 2021
This is the third book in this series, and while it is not my favorite, I was happy with the ending. There is a lot going on this book. Adventures, danger, miscommunication, lies and some very bad decsions, from my perspective. I guess I don't remember what being a teenage girl is like. Trinity just got on my nerves. Again, the ending came quickly and was well done.
October 1, 2024
I felt like this book wrapped up the series well. I have no idea what I really wanted out of it, so the way the author chose to close it worked for me. I enjoyed the world and the characters and wish I could peak back in on them in a few years!
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: September 1st 2015 by Sourcebooks Fire
original title Smoked
ISBN 1402284640 (ISBN13: 9781402284649)
edition language English
series Scorched #3
other editions (4)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
Amazon
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Once upon a time the world burned.
Until a girl and her dragon smothered the flame.
But the spark that ignited the apocalypse never went out.
And the scorch is about to begin�
When Team Dragon rescues Emmy from the government lab, they think the future is finally safe. But they soon discover that Emmy has a secret-a secret so dangerous it could trigger the very apocalypse Connor and Caleb were sent back in time to prevent.
As a dragon hunter, Connor has committed his life to saving the world. There's nothing he wouldn't do to complete his mission...even if it meant betraying his brother and losing Trinity's heart. Even if it meant doing the unthinkable.
But a desperate choice meant to prevent The Scorch, may be the spark that sets the world aflame once more.
The epic conclusion to the genre-bending Scorched series, which Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of the Blue Bloods series, called "A heart-pounding, twisty, time-travel fantasy."
My Thoughts
Surprise we are done, and there are a few twists in this one that shook things up too!
I love stories that feature dragons as one of the main characters, these stories are no exception and in this final chapter you will cheer Emmy on as she fights for her freedom, as she makes a heartbreaking decision and at the end when she finds herself doing her best for Trinity while still trying to stay true to her promise to never let her down.
This was an awesome, action filled ride with some unexpected twists that only added to the tension level for readers, some of the twists were foreshadowed and some were not but all of them led to an ending that was well worth waiting for.
I especially appreciated the short epilogue as it ties things up nicely rather than leaving one wondering what happened
The fact that the conflicts between Connor and Caleb escalated was dealt with beautifully, the way in which they both were able to finally manage to become key components to the success of stopping the actual ”Sǰ� from happening allowed them both to utilize their skills to the best of their abilities.
Trinity and Scarlet finally come to an understanding as well.
Sadly the series is over but happily it ended on a very positive note for all concerned, cannot ask for better than that.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
January 31, 2019
Wow...one, because this was a good book, and two, because I just realized how quickly I read it. (Shattered did not take me long, either.) I spoiled a bit of the book for myself when I read the publisher's summary in the front i.e. it explains Emmy's secret. But I just never knew what to expect for anything else! Emmy has children. Emmy wants them dead. They still want to meet her. Zoe is killed by Connor. (At this point, I was so grateful for the Nether, because her soul could live on!) Connor takes Zoe's place! Zavier dies.... Darius still wants the Scorch. I loved the bit about how many times this has been done before!! Over and over, and Darius keeps dying a richer man. I loved on page 348 (chapter 49) about him deciding to add the twins this time and create a love-triangle. The story yanks you around as you realize nothing can stop the scorch after all--until Trin's dad reminds us of the time machine. Then you think they will set Trin's and Emmy's story on a new path again, but Darius would still win, in the end. So instead all the dragons go back in time, except for Zoe who returns to the Nether to let Connor live. And although we know the dragons are all dead now, we also know that they will live immortally in the Nether. Breath-taking! Each of the last ten chapters was like a new story each time, with no certain course of completion! I love the bit about Trin's new family at the end as well, and the calming realization that she can finally just be normal. Her final visit to the Nether brings it all full circle, pulling together every theme of the trilogy. An excellent conclusion to a great series!!
When I bought Scorched last year (at a Scholastic school book fair, so it came full circle when I read Mari's thank you to Scholastic), I was really interested in the series. It was perfect when I read the thank you in book one to Mari's parents for reading her countless Choose Your Own Adventure novels, because in my co-op that same semester, I was in charge of editing a publishing a student-written Choose Your Own Adventure novel, so I knew it was a sign that I had picked just the right series!
I had tears in my eyes as I finished, but that may have been because I hadn't blinked in the hour I spent reading the last 90 pages!!!!!!
When I bought Scorched last year (at a Scholastic school book fair, so it came full circle when I read Mari's thank you to Scholastic), I was really interested in the series. It was perfect when I read the thank you in book one to Mari's parents for reading her countless Choose Your Own Adventure novels, because in my co-op that same semester, I was in charge of editing a publishing a student-written Choose Your Own Adventure novel, so I knew it was a sign that I had picked just the right series!
I had tears in my eyes as I finished, but that may have been because I hadn't blinked in the hour I spent reading the last 90 pages!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
I had some issues with the first two books from this trilogy. I didn't like the first book, Scorched, but I did feel that this had the potential to bloom into so much more. I do feel that it needed to up its game in book two otherwise I would have stopped there. Thankfully, the second book, Shattered, was an improvement to its predecessor. While I still had some qualms about Trinity's character, the story had enough spice to let me see it through.
Enter the series finale, Smoked. I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. Pacing was a little weird. I'm not sure how to feel about the sudden stillness in the story after such a thrilling scene. I don't want to pick on each scenario that I didn't like so I'll just leave it at that. Overall though it was a fun read. And the ending was fitting for the story, it's probably the only time I actually liked Trinity.
Enter the series finale, Smoked. I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. Pacing was a little weird. I'm not sure how to feel about the sudden stillness in the story after such a thrilling scene. I don't want to pick on each scenario that I didn't like so I'll just leave it at that. Overall though it was a fun read. And the ending was fitting for the story, it's probably the only time I actually liked Trinity.
January 23, 2016
SPOILER FREE REVIEW-just general stuff, may give away the gist of the plot though
This book was ridiculously anticlimactic, especially for being the third book in a trilogy. every time there was an epic scene it was just: flash into the thick of it, say the important things, and then flash out into something completely different. There was like 3 of these in the ending part of the book and i was just really disappointed in the character development and the epilogue, because there was a ton of setup and this series could have really been fabulous if the author had aced the ending, but that didn't happen.
This book was ridiculously anticlimactic, especially for being the third book in a trilogy. every time there was an epic scene it was just: flash into the thick of it, say the important things, and then flash out into something completely different. There was like 3 of these in the ending part of the book and i was just really disappointed in the character development and the epilogue, because there was a ton of setup and this series could have really been fabulous if the author had aced the ending, but that didn't happen.
November 1, 2015
NOTE TO FUTURE READERS: NEVER READ IN A PUBLIC AREA UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE STARED AT FOR DROWNING IN TEARS. I absolutely love this book, and could not put it down. Mari Mancusi develops this intense world that seems life like. And if that's not good enough, the character development is even better. And now after finishing the book, I am flailing in the feeeeelz. If it was good or bad feels, well that's for you to figure out!
October 26, 2015
Smoked is a great young adult book, for boys and girls, alike. Action, relationships, suspense. This trilogy is a winner. Thanks to Goodread for Smoked. Get this series in your school/classroom libraries, now. Students of all reading abilities will enjoy it.
October 6, 2015
Amazing ending to a fabulous series
September 26, 2015
One thing I like about Mari’s writing is that it’s very easy to read. Engaging and draws you right into the story, it’s hard to come back out again once you’re in it. SMOKED was no different than the rest of the SCORCHED series in that regard. There was fire and horror and angst and pain and no one was really spared from her sword-like pen in the series finale. And with time travel, it addressed the aspect of it that’s been niggling at the back of my mind from the beginning and, like all time travel stories, as long as you don’t think about it for too long you’ll want to clap and applaud the book’s awareness of it’s major flaw.
And that it certainly is, aware I mean. It’s one of the reasons why Mari and I click so well on an author/reader level. We have very similar ideas of how heroines should act so when I’m reading along with Trinity she’s doing things that make total sense in my head (except her reactions to Scarlet, more of that in a minute) and it makes me connect with her as a character almost immediately. On top of that the story itself is very aware of its own flaws. Often Mari pokes fun at her own story by pointing out a stereotype or cliche that just ends up crumbling to dust in her hands and I love that. It works and I synch with that in my soul. The words, they burrow deep.
Now that I sit here and think about it, thinking back on how the flashbacks in the books are laid out they’re all in chronological order if you just take those pieces out and read them as their own individual story. The flashbacks in SMOKED focused on the moments leading directly to the time warp that they all went through, where Connor goes from a hero to a shamed man, where he sees cracks in his society’s facade but is too involved in his own redemption to really think on any of it, where Caleb went to incredible extremes for a cause that turned out to not give a damn about him. Everything is lined up succinctly and it matched the present day story quite finely.
Despite everything that did work, I’d really had enough of Trinity’s attitude toward Scarlet. I really did. It was drawn out and I think wholly unnecessary and it really put other female relationships that Trinity had into perspective for me. I thought back on the quote from book one, I think it was, where Trinity says that this princess can save herself. But the way she interacts with the other women in this story it’s almost as if Trinity can be the only princess in this story. It really started to raise my feminism hackles a little because as far as I can remember Trin is antagonistic with pretty much every woman who can be deemed in competition with her. Her best friend was bumped out of the way halfway through book 2, I think? Her mom was killed and we only saw her in the Nether, if I remember that correctly. Then there was the Drakken lady who was untrustworthy, Rashida who was pegged as a bitch because she constantly butt heads with Trinity, and then Scarlet, who was also a bitch because she wedged herself between Trin and Emmy and had the audacity to fall for Caleb whom she still claimed secret dibs to. The only people with whom she got along were men and I really disliked that. Eventually the women became useful but ultimately no loved lost, and the rest of the girls were too young to care about beyond charges or, again, useful but nothing more than that (the hackers in this book). It was disappointing. The message of girl power tends to lose itself when only one girl can have the power. I wanted Trinity to have strong female support, not just boys who fawned over her and an absent dad who finally made his way back into her life. That watered it all down for me. Rashida did come around but it was only in a useful tool sort of way and it wasn’t enough for me. Scarlet, too, where the two finally got over their crap but that only happened in the last couple of chapters. Too late to me.
That’s not to say I didn’t shed a tear or two toward the end when the poop started hitting the fan. There were sad moments and the story itself ended on an upswing. A sad one, but still a solid, finite ending that, again, you can’t think to much about because time travel tends to never work when you do but all that aside I applaud the ending. Personally I would have liked a little more fire but that’s just my blackened heart talking. For all the endings it could have had, it really was warm and fuzzy and rounded out the series nicely.
As for the time travel? The story pointed out its own flaw without pointing out its own flaw. I don’t want to spoil the ending so I won’t go into details but the story was aware and disregarded itself at the same time. And even if that element were truly a wrench in the spokes the ripple effect of what they did, assuming it was the first time it happened, would have been catastrophic, but it couldn’t possibly have been the first time because nothing in the present changes as a result of that action. But it cancels itself out but isn’t aware of that. If you haven’t read the book I’m sure that made no sense whatsoever. You know how to fix that? Just read the book.
Because it is a good book and a good series. It’s non-stop action and excitement and fire and dragons with a plot and characters that (mostly) make a huge ton of sense in how they act and react and problem-solve and just the REALITY of something so fantastical grounds it for me and I’m like YES. THIS IS HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN. Because dragons are real somewhere. It’s filled with Mari’s signature tone that’s light-hearted, intelligent, witty, and full of pop culture references. It does make me worry that it may date her books down the line but a lot of the references she makes are older references anyway that are firmly entrenched in our world and have been for a while now so I think that care would help it along. It’s not a dense dragon story and it certainly isn’t a slog but for something that’s lighter in tone but still steeped in emotion ranging from love to horror, SMOKED and the SCORCHED series has it all. It’s not to be missed.
4
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
And that it certainly is, aware I mean. It’s one of the reasons why Mari and I click so well on an author/reader level. We have very similar ideas of how heroines should act so when I’m reading along with Trinity she’s doing things that make total sense in my head (except her reactions to Scarlet, more of that in a minute) and it makes me connect with her as a character almost immediately. On top of that the story itself is very aware of its own flaws. Often Mari pokes fun at her own story by pointing out a stereotype or cliche that just ends up crumbling to dust in her hands and I love that. It works and I synch with that in my soul. The words, they burrow deep.
Now that I sit here and think about it, thinking back on how the flashbacks in the books are laid out they’re all in chronological order if you just take those pieces out and read them as their own individual story. The flashbacks in SMOKED focused on the moments leading directly to the time warp that they all went through, where Connor goes from a hero to a shamed man, where he sees cracks in his society’s facade but is too involved in his own redemption to really think on any of it, where Caleb went to incredible extremes for a cause that turned out to not give a damn about him. Everything is lined up succinctly and it matched the present day story quite finely.
Despite everything that did work, I’d really had enough of Trinity’s attitude toward Scarlet. I really did. It was drawn out and I think wholly unnecessary and it really put other female relationships that Trinity had into perspective for me. I thought back on the quote from book one, I think it was, where Trinity says that this princess can save herself. But the way she interacts with the other women in this story it’s almost as if Trinity can be the only princess in this story. It really started to raise my feminism hackles a little because as far as I can remember Trin is antagonistic with pretty much every woman who can be deemed in competition with her. Her best friend was bumped out of the way halfway through book 2, I think? Her mom was killed and we only saw her in the Nether, if I remember that correctly. Then there was the Drakken lady who was untrustworthy, Rashida who was pegged as a bitch because she constantly butt heads with Trinity, and then Scarlet, who was also a bitch because she wedged herself between Trin and Emmy and had the audacity to fall for Caleb whom she still claimed secret dibs to. The only people with whom she got along were men and I really disliked that. Eventually the women became useful but ultimately no loved lost, and the rest of the girls were too young to care about beyond charges or, again, useful but nothing more than that (the hackers in this book). It was disappointing. The message of girl power tends to lose itself when only one girl can have the power. I wanted Trinity to have strong female support, not just boys who fawned over her and an absent dad who finally made his way back into her life. That watered it all down for me. Rashida did come around but it was only in a useful tool sort of way and it wasn’t enough for me. Scarlet, too, where the two finally got over their crap but that only happened in the last couple of chapters. Too late to me.
That’s not to say I didn’t shed a tear or two toward the end when the poop started hitting the fan. There were sad moments and the story itself ended on an upswing. A sad one, but still a solid, finite ending that, again, you can’t think to much about because time travel tends to never work when you do but all that aside I applaud the ending. Personally I would have liked a little more fire but that’s just my blackened heart talking. For all the endings it could have had, it really was warm and fuzzy and rounded out the series nicely.
As for the time travel? The story pointed out its own flaw without pointing out its own flaw. I don’t want to spoil the ending so I won’t go into details but the story was aware and disregarded itself at the same time. And even if that element were truly a wrench in the spokes the ripple effect of what they did, assuming it was the first time it happened, would have been catastrophic, but it couldn’t possibly have been the first time because nothing in the present changes as a result of that action. But it cancels itself out but isn’t aware of that. If you haven’t read the book I’m sure that made no sense whatsoever. You know how to fix that? Just read the book.
Because it is a good book and a good series. It’s non-stop action and excitement and fire and dragons with a plot and characters that (mostly) make a huge ton of sense in how they act and react and problem-solve and just the REALITY of something so fantastical grounds it for me and I’m like YES. THIS IS HOW IT WOULD HAPPEN. Because dragons are real somewhere. It’s filled with Mari’s signature tone that’s light-hearted, intelligent, witty, and full of pop culture references. It does make me worry that it may date her books down the line but a lot of the references she makes are older references anyway that are firmly entrenched in our world and have been for a while now so I think that care would help it along. It’s not a dense dragon story and it certainly isn’t a slog but for something that’s lighter in tone but still steeped in emotion ranging from love to horror, SMOKED and the SCORCHED series has it all. It’s not to be missed.
4
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
May 24, 2020
Overall, I really enjoyed the plot of this story. I however, just didn't connect to any of the characters except for Emmy. I just felt like the entire trilogy, every character wanted revenge on some other character and it was just annoying to me. There were just some other small things that annoyed me such as the author saying the phrase "she bit her lower lip" 19 times. Yes, I counted. I really enjoyed the bond between Trin and Emmy and was happy we finally got that real dragon to human relationship in this book. I wasn't too keen on the romance in these books, but I never like romance, so that could be why. All in all, this story was a great concept and I really enjoyed all the ups and down of the plot and how hard the characters had to work to save the world. Towards the beginning and end there were some great suspense/action scenes that were fun! :D
August 2, 2015
Four stars: An exciting and satisfying conclusion to a series that brought us dragons, time travelers, action, danger and romance.
Trinity takes a deep breath and squashes down the anxiety building inside of her. It has been six months since Emmy was taken by the government. In that time, Trinity and Connor, along with the help of the rest of Team Dragon, have bene trying to rescue Scarlet and Emmy. Meanwhile, Caleb lies comatose, a victim of the Nether. If they don't succeed in saving Emmy, the world may very well stand to burn again, because Trinity and Connor know that the scientists will do all sorts of nasty experiments and attempt to breed Emmy. Will they be able to stop the dragon apocalypse?
What I Liked:
*The Scorched Trilogy is more than meets the eye. It isn't just a tale about a girl and a dragon. Instead it is a complicated story that involves dragons, time travelers, and an impending dragon apocalypse that will burn the world, unless it is stopped. I was surprised by all the story lines, especially those regarding the time travel, and in the end, this proved to be an entertaining and exciting YA series.
*This final book is all about growth and transformation. We see Trinity making some tough choices, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness to save her dragon and the world. Meanwhile, Connor and Caleb, the two twin brothers, who have been at odds for years, end up on the same team, and they both vow to support Trinity and Emmy, but they are still at war with each other. I was pleased to finally see some maturity and changes in the brother's relationship. All in all, I enjoyed the growth and transformation of the characters.
*The romance ended up being a surprise. In the first book, things were set up for a love triangle as Trinity found herself entangled with both Connor and Caleb, however, by the second book, she seemed to make her choice, but she still wavered at times with her feelings for both boys. I liked that she even poked fun at herself for being in a love triangle. In this book, she is still a bit conflicted, but thankfully the triangle is over. This isn't a series with a true love triangle since it is clear who Trinity chooses early on, but there are still some conflicts along the way. Still overall, the romance isn't a huge part of the story, and what little romance is left is satisfactory. Rest assured, this ins't a romance that takes over the story. There is also a secondary romance that takes root in this one, which I thought was a nice way to completely diffuse the love triangle.
*The world building continues to be solid. I like that you have glimpses into the future where you see a world ravaged and burned by hostile dragons. I am also fascinated by the concept of the Nether, which is a place where dragons exist before they are born and after they die. A type of heaven or Nirvana where anything is possible, but it isn't without its dangers. All in all, the world building is interesting and well done.
*This final book has a lot going on. You have flashes from the future, showing what the world was like after the dragons scorched it, and then you have the current time where Trinity, Connor and the rest of the gang are working to save Emmy and prevent the dragon apocalypse. There are many factions involved, those from the current time as well as those who came back from the future. You have to be on your toes to keep up with everyone, but that makes for an exciting story with lots of developments. I especially enjoyed some of the twists at the end.
*The ending, though a bit predictable from early on in the book, it still played out to a nice, satisfactory conclusion. I was pleased at the way it all worked out, and I was happy that I wasn't left with nagging questions and unfinished story lines.
And The Not So Much:
*In all honesty, I could have done without the romance. Even though I liked that it took a back seat in this installment and that it got rid of the love triangle early on, I never felt invested in it. The romance almost felt thrown in this time around, and it lacked depth and feeling in this final book. I think the story would have worked fine without a romance.
*This isn't a series that can be read out of order or without having read the other books, you will be hopelessly lost. There are a lot of people and characters to keep track of. You have to juggle the Dracken in the current time, who are the good guys, vs. the Dracken from the future, the bad guys. You also have to keep track of who is from the future and who is good and bad. I am glad I read the second book recently so everything was fresh in my mind.
*I was a bit disappointed that it was revealed early on what the likely outcome of the book was going to be. I didn't like knowing ahead of time how everything was most likely going to play out. It ended up being predictable.
Smoked is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to a series that brought us dragons, time travel and plenty of action and danger as well as a bit of romance. I enjoyed the solid world building, the interesting story lines, the time travel and the dragons. This is a YA series that is a bit different, and I especially appreciated that it avoided some of the well worn story lines. If you are a reader who loves dragons and you want to blend it with some time travel, this is a good series to try. I had fun with it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@.
Trinity takes a deep breath and squashes down the anxiety building inside of her. It has been six months since Emmy was taken by the government. In that time, Trinity and Connor, along with the help of the rest of Team Dragon, have bene trying to rescue Scarlet and Emmy. Meanwhile, Caleb lies comatose, a victim of the Nether. If they don't succeed in saving Emmy, the world may very well stand to burn again, because Trinity and Connor know that the scientists will do all sorts of nasty experiments and attempt to breed Emmy. Will they be able to stop the dragon apocalypse?
What I Liked:
*The Scorched Trilogy is more than meets the eye. It isn't just a tale about a girl and a dragon. Instead it is a complicated story that involves dragons, time travelers, and an impending dragon apocalypse that will burn the world, unless it is stopped. I was surprised by all the story lines, especially those regarding the time travel, and in the end, this proved to be an entertaining and exciting YA series.
*This final book is all about growth and transformation. We see Trinity making some tough choices, even if it means sacrificing her own happiness to save her dragon and the world. Meanwhile, Connor and Caleb, the two twin brothers, who have been at odds for years, end up on the same team, and they both vow to support Trinity and Emmy, but they are still at war with each other. I was pleased to finally see some maturity and changes in the brother's relationship. All in all, I enjoyed the growth and transformation of the characters.
*The romance ended up being a surprise. In the first book, things were set up for a love triangle as Trinity found herself entangled with both Connor and Caleb, however, by the second book, she seemed to make her choice, but she still wavered at times with her feelings for both boys. I liked that she even poked fun at herself for being in a love triangle. In this book, she is still a bit conflicted, but thankfully the triangle is over. This isn't a series with a true love triangle since it is clear who Trinity chooses early on, but there are still some conflicts along the way. Still overall, the romance isn't a huge part of the story, and what little romance is left is satisfactory. Rest assured, this ins't a romance that takes over the story. There is also a secondary romance that takes root in this one, which I thought was a nice way to completely diffuse the love triangle.
*The world building continues to be solid. I like that you have glimpses into the future where you see a world ravaged and burned by hostile dragons. I am also fascinated by the concept of the Nether, which is a place where dragons exist before they are born and after they die. A type of heaven or Nirvana where anything is possible, but it isn't without its dangers. All in all, the world building is interesting and well done.
*This final book has a lot going on. You have flashes from the future, showing what the world was like after the dragons scorched it, and then you have the current time where Trinity, Connor and the rest of the gang are working to save Emmy and prevent the dragon apocalypse. There are many factions involved, those from the current time as well as those who came back from the future. You have to be on your toes to keep up with everyone, but that makes for an exciting story with lots of developments. I especially enjoyed some of the twists at the end.
*The ending, though a bit predictable from early on in the book, it still played out to a nice, satisfactory conclusion. I was pleased at the way it all worked out, and I was happy that I wasn't left with nagging questions and unfinished story lines.
And The Not So Much:
*In all honesty, I could have done without the romance. Even though I liked that it took a back seat in this installment and that it got rid of the love triangle early on, I never felt invested in it. The romance almost felt thrown in this time around, and it lacked depth and feeling in this final book. I think the story would have worked fine without a romance.
*This isn't a series that can be read out of order or without having read the other books, you will be hopelessly lost. There are a lot of people and characters to keep track of. You have to juggle the Dracken in the current time, who are the good guys, vs. the Dracken from the future, the bad guys. You also have to keep track of who is from the future and who is good and bad. I am glad I read the second book recently so everything was fresh in my mind.
*I was a bit disappointed that it was revealed early on what the likely outcome of the book was going to be. I didn't like knowing ahead of time how everything was most likely going to play out. It ended up being predictable.
Smoked is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to a series that brought us dragons, time travel and plenty of action and danger as well as a bit of romance. I enjoyed the solid world building, the interesting story lines, the time travel and the dragons. This is a YA series that is a bit different, and I especially appreciated that it avoided some of the well worn story lines. If you are a reader who loves dragons and you want to blend it with some time travel, this is a good series to try. I had fun with it.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@.
April 1, 2020
I ADORED it! Trinity is a well-made character, and I think it's great that she doesn't change her beliefs, no matter what Connor says. Emmy is still the same dragon, and she doesn't change immensely. I think it's awesome that the characters change, but only in the smallest ways. On the downside is one word. Scarlet. She just sucks, honestly. She doesn't care about the fate of the world, as long as she's special, which makes her an attention-seeking person. The author tries to make her better, I guess, by giving her abusive parenting, but honestly, it just makes her seem like a person who wants a pity party. I hate that she changed Caleb into a person who is more like her, and the ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE BOOK, I prayed for her death.
September 20, 2019
From the beginning, there was no other way that this story could have possibly ended. The road, especially in this final installment, was full of chaos meant to challenge the strength, wisdom, instinct, and morals of everyone involved. I did not always like their choices. However, without those very consequential mistakes, would the characters be moved to make the hard choices? It would have been a very different book if they had. And while I was stressed out for the majority of Smoked, like I said, it ended exactly as it should have.
May 8, 2017
I quite like reading about dragons and missions to save the world from impending apocalypses. For the most part I really enjoyed this story. what got me is that the resolution seemed to tie up just a little too quick for my taste. I still like how Mari ended it. I think it's very logical and fitting, but I would have liked to hear more about the cycles and maybe see the different reactions of the characters. But, it was a nice read.
September 2, 2019
I hated Connor when I got to 60% of the story. He's such an ungrateful human being. I couldn't believe I routed for him to be with Trinity. For me, that's the cruellest moment in this story. Anyway, I have a mixed feeling about the ending. Considering all the challenges journey they'd faced, I was expecting a much more complicated way to end it all.
July 12, 2022
This was an interesting series� The first two books had a lot of build up and I was preparing for an exciting ending but I have to say I was disappointed. I’m not saying it was a bad book but my personal preference lends itself towards some thing with a little bit more of a dynamic and happy ending. This fizzled out for me.
February 12, 2025
Excellent trilogy
I devoured the three books in record time (Kindle + mostly audio). I loved the mythology of dragons combined with time traveling and the apocalypse. It's a roller coaster of emotions, action, and twists. Even when the target audience is YA, anyone of any age can enjoy the journey of Emmy, Trinity, and the twins Caleb and Connor.
I devoured the three books in record time (Kindle + mostly audio). I loved the mythology of dragons combined with time traveling and the apocalypse. It's a roller coaster of emotions, action, and twists. Even when the target audience is YA, anyone of any age can enjoy the journey of Emmy, Trinity, and the twins Caleb and Connor.
December 5, 2017
Interesting book. Wrap up to the series with a disappointing denouement. Lots of action and intrigue and struggle, and then there's a bit of a twisty revelation and a magic box and all of the struggle doesn't really matter.
March 14, 2022
I shouldn't have waited so long to finish the series, by the end I was REALLY sick of teenage hormones, and everyone inability to communicate despite "mental or telepathic" connections. That said, the end was nice, I liked how it wrapped up.
April 10, 2025
Scorched take 3
Still a good storyline. But waiting until the last couple of chapters to blow my mind was crazy.
I'm just lost for words about this series. Though I have recommended it to my friends.
Still a good storyline. But waiting until the last couple of chapters to blow my mind was crazy.
I'm just lost for words about this series. Though I have recommended it to my friends.
June 15, 2017
Nice ending to the trilogy
September 4, 2017
Go Team Dragon
I think it's awesome. I wanted to know what my daughter's teacher was having her read. I wasn't expecting to get hooked.
I think it's awesome. I wanted to know what my daughter's teacher was having her read. I wasn't expecting to get hooked.
March 30, 2018
*sigh* This series is done. It was a really good series too.
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