The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
sarag19's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 out of 5 Stars
***ARC received from Swoon Reads/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***
I’m going to be perfectly honest here, the whole reason I wanted to read this is because of the title. I have no shame in admitting a beautiful cover will always get me. Sometimes it will burn me when the book inside doesn’t match the beauty of the cover but thankfully that is not at all the case in debut author Sam Taylor’s We Are the Fire.
The story follows Pran and Oksana, taken from their homes as young children forced into an army of other mostly children taken from different areas and engineered to become soldiers that control fire. Not everyone survives this and Pran has injuries that can cause debilitating issues that follow him throughout the book. Its refreshing to see that Pran struggles throughout the book but that his injuries do not stop him from fighting to break free from the empire that has controlled and used him and the people that he cares about the most. These aren’t super soldiers, these are kids raised into a cause most don’t even believe about, they are broken and just trying to help themselves.
Pran and Oksana both has the same cause, freedom even if they are going about it a little bit differently. Oksana wants to freedom to return home while Pran has a little bigger aspirations to free everyone that Oksana is not fully on board with. This is a set up that could generate a lot of forced unnecessary tension to drive two characters apart but nothing felt forced to me. When they do butt heads it feels natural and comes from a place of love and concern for each other and the people around them then something that was manufactured to create tension the book doesn’t need. Especially considering that their relationship is the core part of this story. They have an already established relationship that we get hints of throughout the book with how they came to be a couple and how it motivates their drive to be free. There are a few secondary characters that have different levels of development that are there to support/antagonize Pran and Oksana. Rootare is definitely the most interesting in terms of being an antagonist. I liked that the reasons for what he is doing, I can’t really talk about it without fully spoiling it, aren’t as straight forward as what it may seem. It doesn’t make him a good person but his reasons are not as simply as they would have been presented.
This is theme I found through the book, characters cast as antagonists are not what they fully appear. There is a scene at the end of the book with the commander that I’m not sure if we are meant to feel sorry for them, there is nothing from the characters that they are sorry for them but I felt that way. Yes they are horrible people but they are that way and have been created that way for a reason and once I found that out I can understand their twisted resentment toward those beneath them, not that I agree with it just that I understood it. Not everything is as straight forward as it seems.
There is final giant battle, despite the abilities that the characters have and it is refreshing to see. Not every book needs a battle, this book did well without it.
World building is okay, I felt that it couldn’t have been built up a little better particularly with the layout and spacing of the city. I felt at times people got everywhere very quickly when places felt like they might be more spread out. Maybe a city map would have helped to get the layout of areas but that could also just be me. Despite these few issues this was still a really strong debut book that I really liked.
***ARC received from Swoon Reads/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***
I’m going to be perfectly honest here, the whole reason I wanted to read this is because of the title. I have no shame in admitting a beautiful cover will always get me. Sometimes it will burn me when the book inside doesn’t match the beauty of the cover but thankfully that is not at all the case in debut author Sam Taylor’s We Are the Fire.
The story follows Pran and Oksana, taken from their homes as young children forced into an army of other mostly children taken from different areas and engineered to become soldiers that control fire. Not everyone survives this and Pran has injuries that can cause debilitating issues that follow him throughout the book. Its refreshing to see that Pran struggles throughout the book but that his injuries do not stop him from fighting to break free from the empire that has controlled and used him and the people that he cares about the most. These aren’t super soldiers, these are kids raised into a cause most don’t even believe about, they are broken and just trying to help themselves.
Pran and Oksana both has the same cause, freedom even if they are going about it a little bit differently. Oksana wants to freedom to return home while Pran has a little bigger aspirations to free everyone that Oksana is not fully on board with. This is a set up that could generate a lot of forced unnecessary tension to drive two characters apart but nothing felt forced to me. When they do butt heads it feels natural and comes from a place of love and concern for each other and the people around them then something that was manufactured to create tension the book doesn’t need. Especially considering that their relationship is the core part of this story. They have an already established relationship that we get hints of throughout the book with how they came to be a couple and how it motivates their drive to be free. There are a few secondary characters that have different levels of development that are there to support/antagonize Pran and Oksana. Rootare is definitely the most interesting in terms of being an antagonist. I liked that the reasons for what he is doing, I can’t really talk about it without fully spoiling it, aren’t as straight forward as what it may seem. It doesn’t make him a good person but his reasons are not as simply as they would have been presented.
This is theme I found through the book, characters cast as antagonists are not what they fully appear. There is a scene at the end of the book with the commander that I’m not sure if we are meant to feel sorry for them, there is nothing from the characters that they are sorry for them but I felt that way. Yes they are horrible people but they are that way and have been created that way for a reason and once I found that out I can understand their twisted resentment toward those beneath them, not that I agree with it just that I understood it. Not everything is as straight forward as it seems.
There is final giant battle, despite the abilities that the characters have and it is refreshing to see. Not every book needs a battle, this book did well without it.
World building is okay, I felt that it couldn’t have been built up a little better particularly with the layout and spacing of the city. I felt at times people got everywhere very quickly when places felt like they might be more spread out. Maybe a city map would have helped to get the layout of areas but that could also just be me. Despite these few issues this was still a really strong debut book that I really liked.
emmabussolotta's review against another edition
4.0
The second half of this book was definitely the highlight. It was a really fast-paced read, which I really enjoyed. I liked all the characters and their relationships.
A really good debut and I'm excited to read more by Sam Taylor.
A really good debut and I'm excited to read more by Sam Taylor.
nightc0urt's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with an ARC from Fierce Reads to review!
I’d be lying if I said the epilogue didn’t make me tear up. That’s when you know it was a good read for me!
We are the Fire by Sam Taylor had such a unique kind of fantasy twist to it, that I just couldn’t seem to put it down. Following Oksana and Pran, just two of many children stolen from their families, they were forced at a young age to be chemically mutated to be part of a fire wielding elite army for the sovereign of their lands. For years, they looked after each other until they discovered an even more sinister plan that would be happening to their kind. Now, they plan for rebellion but what happens when their ideas and morals are on different levels?
This has been one of the most fast paced fantasy reads I’ve read in a long while. The entire book felt like it just kept moving on for me and never once did it drag and the best part? These characters truly felt like flesh and bone. They suffer so many dilemmas, heartaches and most definitely mistakes but all of that is what made them feel REAL.
The ending also left me satisfied, especially after that epilogue (which I’m still tearing up thinking about lol).
Perfect for fans of flushed out characters, who refuse to give up but are definitely flawed. We are the Fire is action packed and full of nasty characters, fierce characters, loving and loyal characters and everything in between.
I’d be lying if I said the epilogue didn’t make me tear up. That’s when you know it was a good read for me!
We are the Fire by Sam Taylor had such a unique kind of fantasy twist to it, that I just couldn’t seem to put it down. Following Oksana and Pran, just two of many children stolen from their families, they were forced at a young age to be chemically mutated to be part of a fire wielding elite army for the sovereign of their lands. For years, they looked after each other until they discovered an even more sinister plan that would be happening to their kind. Now, they plan for rebellion but what happens when their ideas and morals are on different levels?
This has been one of the most fast paced fantasy reads I’ve read in a long while. The entire book felt like it just kept moving on for me and never once did it drag and the best part? These characters truly felt like flesh and bone. They suffer so many dilemmas, heartaches and most definitely mistakes but all of that is what made them feel REAL.
The ending also left me satisfied, especially after that epilogue (which I’m still tearing up thinking about lol).
Perfect for fans of flushed out characters, who refuse to give up but are definitely flawed. We are the Fire is action packed and full of nasty characters, fierce characters, loving and loyal characters and everything in between.
toloveisdestroy's review against another edition
2.0
One of my biggest frustrations in novels is when you’re shoved into a plot line with very little backstory or introduction at the beginning. I felt lost throughout the majority of the novel, didn’t find the characters to be very emotionally drawing, and ultimately felt like I was dragged over a bed of nails. The writing is rich and deserves better than this plot. Two stars for the writing style.
raccoonsinatrenchcoat's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
books_over_everything's review against another edition
4.0
Initial Thoughts
I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I did an ARC tour on Instagram about a month ago and really wanted to read this book so I’m so glad I was given the chance to read and review it!
Some Things I Liked
Epic fantasy in a standalone. I loved that this book packed such a punch for being a single book series. I really connected with the characters and wanted to learn more about them. It’s hard to attain this with only one book to grab my attention but Sam Taylor did that here.
Dual POVs. Again, I really loved this. I’m always a fan of multiple POVs and it was done so well here. I loved that Oksana and Pran had different opinions on things and that was highlighted through their POV chapters.
Romance from the jump. Again, something different for me. Usually, YA romance stories follow the hero or heroine finding someone to love or realizing they love a childhood friend. Pran and Oksana start out in love and we get to see how their relationship changed over time. I really enjoyed that and thought it was unique for a YA novel.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Names and world building. Unfortunately, when you write a standalone novel, the world building has to all be done more quickly than in a series. Therefore, I struggled with some of the names and concepts in this book. I think if I read it again, I’d be fine but I had moments of confusion during this read.
Series Value
I liked that this was a standalone. I do, however, think that it easily could have stretched into more. This is a fascinating world and I’d love to see more stories set here.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one sitting and could easily see myself reading it again. It’s not often that I find a standalone fantasy book that I like and this one really hit the mark.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – if you enjoyed the dual POVs and action in this story, definitely try this series by Sabaa Tahir.
Blood and Honor by Miranda Lyn – if you enjoyed the magic and world building, give this upper YA / NA series a try.
I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I did an ARC tour on Instagram about a month ago and really wanted to read this book so I’m so glad I was given the chance to read and review it!
Some Things I Liked
Epic fantasy in a standalone. I loved that this book packed such a punch for being a single book series. I really connected with the characters and wanted to learn more about them. It’s hard to attain this with only one book to grab my attention but Sam Taylor did that here.
Dual POVs. Again, I really loved this. I’m always a fan of multiple POVs and it was done so well here. I loved that Oksana and Pran had different opinions on things and that was highlighted through their POV chapters.
Romance from the jump. Again, something different for me. Usually, YA romance stories follow the hero or heroine finding someone to love or realizing they love a childhood friend. Pran and Oksana start out in love and we get to see how their relationship changed over time. I really enjoyed that and thought it was unique for a YA novel.
One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About
Names and world building. Unfortunately, when you write a standalone novel, the world building has to all be done more quickly than in a series. Therefore, I struggled with some of the names and concepts in this book. I think if I read it again, I’d be fine but I had moments of confusion during this read.
Series Value
I liked that this was a standalone. I do, however, think that it easily could have stretched into more. This is a fascinating world and I’d love to see more stories set here.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one sitting and could easily see myself reading it again. It’s not often that I find a standalone fantasy book that I like and this one really hit the mark.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – if you enjoyed the dual POVs and action in this story, definitely try this series by Sabaa Tahir.
Blood and Honor by Miranda Lyn – if you enjoyed the magic and world building, give this upper YA / NA series a try.
cecilia_cr's review against another edition
2.0
No sé por qué, pero es que no he sido capaz de conectar ni con los personajes ni con la trama en ningún momento. Puede que no fuese el momento para mi para leer esta novela o que simplemente la novela no es para mí. No quiero decir que sea mala, porque no hay nada malo en ella, es solo que no he podido encontrar el punto de interés
auburnedge's review against another edition
3.0
I think I might have had too high of hopes for this one. It was alright.
cam356's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
bookishends's review against another edition
2.5
I attempted to read this book before it came out but stopped 20% in because it was so uninteresting. With a second try two years later, I’m here to report that my feelings slightly changed. Although I wanted to stop reading after the first chapter this time, I pushed myself through and am happy to report that the book actually became entertaining 50% in. I don’t have a great explanation for why this book wasn’t doing anything for me, but the best I can come up with is because of the writing style and the fact that I didn’t care about the characters for a long time. I also wasn’t too invested in Pran and Oksana’s relationship, which might be because they were already together when the book began. I did think the author did a good job at highlighting Pran and Oksana’s flaws throughout the book while also giving them space to figure things out and be redeemed. The ending chapters were some of my favorite and partially made up for the slow beginning. Overall, this book wasn’t for me, but I can understand why people enjoyed it and would recommend it for people who are fans of slower fantasy and rebellion.
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own*
*Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own*