Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz – BLOG TOUR

I am so excited to be on this blog tour, hosted by Caffeine Blog Tours! This was such a fun YA read, and I’m really looking forward to its sequel!

Blazewrath Games (Blazewrath Games, #1)

by Amparo Ortiz

Published September 6, 2020 by Page Street Publishing
Series: Blazewrath Games
ISBN: 1645670791

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Data from Goodreads

Experience the World Cup with dragons in this debut fantasy, set in an alternate contemporary world, in which riders and their steeds compete in an international sports tournament.

 

Lana Torres has always preferred dragons to people. In a few weeks, sixteen countries will compete in the Blazewrath World Cup, a tournament where dragons and their riders fight for glory in a dangerous relay. Lana longs to represent her native Puerto Rico in their first ever World Cup appearance, and when Puerto Rico’s Runner—the only player without a dragon steed—is kicked off the team, she’s given the chance.

 

But when she discovers that a former Blazewrath superstar has teamed up with the Sire—a legendary dragon who’s cursed into human form—the safety of the Cup is jeopardized. The pair are burning down dragon sanctuaries around the world and refuse to stop unless the Cup gets cancelled. All Lana wanted was to represent her country. Now, to do that, she’ll have to navigate an international conspiracy that’s deadlier than her beloved sport.

My Review: Quidditch meets How to Train Your Dragon

Rep: LGBTQIA+, disability, Latinx

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but draw parallels to How to Train Your Dragon and Harry Potter  – but with more diversity!

• I loved how much diversity there was with the characters! Since the games are international, we really got to see characters from all over the world. The author also ensured that there were queer characters, and there was even one with a disability! This was definitely something that was a highlight of the book for me!
• The story has a fast pace and keeps readers on their toes! There is always something happening, which makes for a fun read. I also liked the inclusion of some plot twists.
• I was really happy to see that there wasn’t a romance here. It allowed me to focus on the main character and the story more, which is always a good thing.
• The world building was really great and well explained! Everything was easy to follow and interesting to read about.
• The characters also grow a lot as the story progresses. I love character development so this really worked for me!

Favourite Quotes

• “We can make the choice to do good in this world, and no matter how impossible it seems, that’s the right choice.”
• “As if it wasn’t already hard to abandon my country against my will, in this new one I have to endure condescending remarks from someone who shares my blood.”
• “The dragon had not intended to disrupt the status quo of the magical community. It had wished to ask that Regular a different question: ‘Are you ready to soar?’ ” 

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and I would recommend it to fans of dragons, Quidditch, and Latinx culture! Make sure to check out the other stops on this blog tour: