Shifting Flames by Aleeza Nelson

Review by: Samantha M. Siciliano

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Quick Summary:

Shifting Flames sets us in Orchar City, where the Traiver crime family is running the show- businesses, politics, and… illegal things. Jafar, his family, and his crew of powerhouse women aren’t your typical old school mob- they have special powers thanks to a very elusive, rare flower. Now some outsiders are trying to muscle their way in, to Orchar City, their secretive island where the flowers flourish, and their (ahem) business. To top it off, an old rival gang is back for payback. Can the Traivers keep their home and island turfs, or will these new players take them down? Guess you’ll have to read to find out! 

The Review:

Within the first few pages, I had to ask myself- have I actually read a book cover-to-cover about crime families? Nope. Sure, I grew up on Shavehead Lake in Michigan where Al Capone had a house and frequented with many other hideaways around Southwest Michigan. I’ve also read the book Al Capone Does My Shirts, but let’s be real, a kid’s historical fiction book definitely doesn’t make me a crime family expert! So, I concluded I would just have to roll with the punches and see where the Traivers and their enemies would take me. 

I have really enjoyed engaging with both Aleeza Nelson and Seven Nelson’s works. Like their other books, Blank 12 and Till Freedom Do Us Part, the main characters have impressive super abilities. Unlike many superheroes the masses are familiar with on today’s big screen (ahem… Marvel, Batman, Wonder Woman), these powers are fresh, fun, and most of the time require teamwork, which creates an interesting dynamic. Additionally, the leveling up of the character’s abilities was unique and interesting, particularly to see how they would wield these improved powers.  

Around page150, I was getting suspicious- where was this story headed with only a couple of hundred more pages that needed to be analyzed? When the Coret’s special weapon showed up, though, suddenly, I knew that our protagonists were going to have more on their plate than doing away with the Corets. 

Maybe I’ve been reading too many books with wild twists, because I kept waiting for someone to betray the Traivers- Raffiel, Quiesha, or even someone within the Traiver family. The story’s vibe was laid- back, perfect for a leisurely read to turn the mind off. Sure, there were some grammatical errors throughout, but it didn’t truly distract me from the story. Maybe working in a school system for years has made it easy to simply enjoy the work and not be critical of every mistake. I would say that unfortunately, I didn’t connect to these characters as much as I did in Aleeza’s other works. And that’s okay, not everything is going to be for everyone. There were also moments I wished there had been a family tree at the beginning to see how everyone was related in the Traiver family. 

I did have some ponderings after I had finished reading. For example, what if Quantel is actually going to find Grandpa after all because of the increase in his ability? What if Grandpa was actually behind the creation of the group that had “discovered” the island and was a part of the process to create the new weapons? And my personal favorite, “WHO SAID VIDEO GAMES AREN’T EDUCATIONAL?! Finally, is there going to be a sequel?! If so, where and how does Nelson add to this family saga? I would love to see the author grow her work!

Shifting Flames was a perfect diversion from the very dark and heavy read I had just finished. It was enjoyable, easy to dive into, and fast-paced. I’m giving it a 3.6 out of 5. If you have a hankering for crime mixed with superpowers, do yourself a favor and READ THE FRACKING BOOK!

I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book will be released in February 2026.

Up Next: Iron Gold by Pierce Brown