foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
An astute, well-judged novel, about a young woman who is a Pacific Islander living in a magical version of New Zealand. Canny is a math genius, strong-minded and courageous, and dislocated from the world. When she, her stepbrother, and his girlfriend, travel to the rural Zarene Valley, she discovers a new side of herself. She's always seen 'Extra', patterns of symbols and numbers that no one else can see. In the Valley, she begins to discover what these symbols mean, and how that relates to who she is. The magical elements of the novel are imaginative and logical, and the story is fast-paced, hinging on believable characters and a beautiful, rural world. This is connected to Knox's Dreamhunter novels, but these are not required reading to follow this book: it is a rich, complex world, complete in itself, although the story leaves you wanting more. A delightful reread.
Review from 2016:
Really wonderful novel. Surprised me at every turn. I loved the main character: how difficult she is, how prickly, how resourceful. The magical elements are so well thought-out and fit into the world the author creates, which is based on New Zealand of the 1950s, but is not exactly the same. The plot is well-judged and keeps the reader guessing while also being completely satisfying and works within the internal logic of the story.
Review from 2016:
Really wonderful novel. Surprised me at every turn. I loved the main character: how difficult she is, how prickly, how resourceful. The magical elements are so well thought-out and fit into the world the author creates, which is based on New Zealand of the 1950s, but is not exactly the same. The plot is well-judged and keeps the reader guessing while also being completely satisfying and works within the internal logic of the story.
the_lady_reads's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars
It's extremely hard to give this an accurate rating because there are some parts of Mortal Fire that I felt deserved five stars and others than deserved two. Reading this book reminds me of being on a roller coaster. There were times when I was so engaged in the story that it ended up being two am before I could put the book down. Then there were other scenes that almost bored me to tears.
Canny is being sent with her step-brother, Sholto, and his girlfriend, Susan, on a research trip. As her Sholto interviews survivors of a mine explosion that killed many from the main town, Canny goes off and explores the tiny valley she comes across. Every nook and cranny seems to hold a magical secret. As she unravels the hidden secrets of the valley and its residents, she also begins to unravel secrets of her past--ones that will change everything she thought she knew.
The characters in this book seemed almost… impersonal, I guess is the word I'm looking for. Most scenes felt very sterile because for me, the characters never put forth their emotions. They grew on me over time, but I didn't know what to make of them in the beginning. Canny's curiosity and intelligence, Ghislain's horrific past, Sholto's confusion and Susan's hard-headedness--each of these characters brought something to the table to intrigue the reader and help the book capture hearts. It's weird that I ended up liking these characters as much as I did because I still don't fully understand their growth and backgrounds. The relationship between Canny and Ghislain is a bit bizarre, but I love them together. The relationships between the main characters is one thing that I really liked about this story.
The plot on the other hand moved very, very, very slowly. I almost put the book in my "DNF" pile (which is extremely small as I hate not finishing things) because it just seemed to drag on forever. It took too long for minor details to be sorted out--like how Canny has three different names, but the author waited 160 pages to explain why. Maybe if the plot hadn't moved as languidly as it did, the setup that the author had wouldn't have bothered me so much. I'm not sure, but that was just one of my pet peeves within the novel.
Mortal Fire is very unusual. From the writing style, to the plot, to the characters, this is so different from mainstream young adult fiction that it some people may find it difficult to read. I must say that I am one of those people. It's not that this is a bad book. In fact, it's very powerful and will evoke a lot of emotion. Even I, someone who was not attached until the last third of the novel, cried towards the end. The author handles the darker themes in a way that will hit its audience in the heart. Ms. Knox plays those grittier parts out wonderfully, but it's getting to those points that gave me a struggle.
The writing is very, as my Classical Mythology professor would call it, "flowery." It's detail-oriented, dense and is meant to paint a scene. It succeeded some of the time, but at other points in the story, I would think, "Could you just get to the point already?" There were several times where it just felt like the author was trying too hard to keep up her language. I think that this more "flowery" prose does work well for Mortal Fire though. Had I been prepared and had an idea of what to expect while reading, I believe that I would've enjoyed the book a lot more.
The ending of this novel leaves some room for a sequel, which I'm sure many, including myself, would appreciate. Mortal Fire and I had a very rocky start, but a second book would be high on my list of to-reads. The last third of this book was when it really got good for me and I couldn't put the book down. That's when all the real action occurred, the romance bloomed and the mystery started to unravel. The story gets so intense, and strange that it's absolutely addicting to read as it all unfolds. I must hand it to the author, this is a unique tale that will leave readers wanting more! It's definitely worth a shot reading. Many of my friends adored this book, and many more fans will join them. I plan to give the book a reread in the near future and see if my outlook changes now that I know what to expect. I will also definitely be trying out more of this author's work!
This review can be seen on my blog as well.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
It's extremely hard to give this an accurate rating because there are some parts of Mortal Fire that I felt deserved five stars and others than deserved two. Reading this book reminds me of being on a roller coaster. There were times when I was so engaged in the story that it ended up being two am before I could put the book down. Then there were other scenes that almost bored me to tears.
Canny is being sent with her step-brother, Sholto, and his girlfriend, Susan, on a research trip. As her Sholto interviews survivors of a mine explosion that killed many from the main town, Canny goes off and explores the tiny valley she comes across. Every nook and cranny seems to hold a magical secret. As she unravels the hidden secrets of the valley and its residents, she also begins to unravel secrets of her past--ones that will change everything she thought she knew.
The characters in this book seemed almost… impersonal, I guess is the word I'm looking for. Most scenes felt very sterile because for me, the characters never put forth their emotions. They grew on me over time, but I didn't know what to make of them in the beginning. Canny's curiosity and intelligence, Ghislain's horrific past, Sholto's confusion and Susan's hard-headedness--each of these characters brought something to the table to intrigue the reader and help the book capture hearts. It's weird that I ended up liking these characters as much as I did because I still don't fully understand their growth and backgrounds. The relationship between Canny and Ghislain is a bit bizarre, but I love them together. The relationships between the main characters is one thing that I really liked about this story.
The plot on the other hand moved very, very, very slowly. I almost put the book in my "DNF" pile (which is extremely small as I hate not finishing things) because it just seemed to drag on forever. It took too long for minor details to be sorted out--like how Canny has three different names, but the author waited 160 pages to explain why. Maybe if the plot hadn't moved as languidly as it did, the setup that the author had wouldn't have bothered me so much. I'm not sure, but that was just one of my pet peeves within the novel.
Mortal Fire is very unusual. From the writing style, to the plot, to the characters, this is so different from mainstream young adult fiction that it some people may find it difficult to read. I must say that I am one of those people. It's not that this is a bad book. In fact, it's very powerful and will evoke a lot of emotion. Even I, someone who was not attached until the last third of the novel, cried towards the end. The author handles the darker themes in a way that will hit its audience in the heart. Ms. Knox plays those grittier parts out wonderfully, but it's getting to those points that gave me a struggle.
The writing is very, as my Classical Mythology professor would call it, "flowery." It's detail-oriented, dense and is meant to paint a scene. It succeeded some of the time, but at other points in the story, I would think, "Could you just get to the point already?" There were several times where it just felt like the author was trying too hard to keep up her language. I think that this more "flowery" prose does work well for Mortal Fire though. Had I been prepared and had an idea of what to expect while reading, I believe that I would've enjoyed the book a lot more.
The ending of this novel leaves some room for a sequel, which I'm sure many, including myself, would appreciate. Mortal Fire and I had a very rocky start, but a second book would be high on my list of to-reads. The last third of this book was when it really got good for me and I couldn't put the book down. That's when all the real action occurred, the romance bloomed and the mystery started to unravel. The story gets so intense, and strange that it's absolutely addicting to read as it all unfolds. I must hand it to the author, this is a unique tale that will leave readers wanting more! It's definitely worth a shot reading. Many of my friends adored this book, and many more fans will join them. I plan to give the book a reread in the near future and see if my outlook changes now that I know what to expect. I will also definitely be trying out more of this author's work!
This review can be seen on my blog as well.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.
awall14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
Setting this aside because I genuinely can't decide if it's me or the book. I might go back to it. But I probably won't and that's okay.
The Dreamhunter books are two of my favorite titles. Years after reading them, I often find myself still thinking about those stories and Elizabeth Knox's beautiful writing. Needless to say I was excited for Mortal Fire.
I think the main problem with this book is that I went into it wanting more of what I found in Dreamhunter (and Tziga Hame is mentioned in passing reference as a historical figure in the novel) but the time period wasn't as charming, the setting wasn't as charming, and the main characters were not as endearing as those found in Dreamhunter. It may not have been the book's fault and I may yet come back to it. However as of this writing I couldn't get into and, honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to because Canny never quite won me over.
The Dreamhunter books are two of my favorite titles. Years after reading them, I often find myself still thinking about those stories and Elizabeth Knox's beautiful writing. Needless to say I was excited for Mortal Fire.
I think the main problem with this book is that I went into it wanting more of what I found in Dreamhunter (and Tziga Hame is mentioned in passing reference as a historical figure in the novel) but the time period wasn't as charming, the setting wasn't as charming, and the main characters were not as endearing as those found in Dreamhunter. It may not have been the book's fault and I may yet come back to it. However as of this writing I couldn't get into and, honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to because Canny never quite won me over.
taniplea's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a while to get into it, but the magic and its system were absolutely wonderful.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
I read like an amateur these days (slowly, with lots of distractions). If I find a book that's hard to put down and makes me pick it up even when I'd rather be sleeping, I know I've got something good. I'm having a hard time being articulate about books lately, or analyzing exactly why something works for me, but this one worked. I didn't care that the plot felt non-existent, then meandering, before finally getting gripping. I loved the atmosphere, the world-building, the prickly characters, and the way it all came together in the end. People who read for plot won't feel that way. That's okay - I loved it.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2020/03/2020-book-46.html
I really liked Knox's Absolute Book and wanted to try one of her other books, and this one was just an interesting! It’s set in a world very similar to our own, and the protagonist is a math genius teen in 1959, daughter of a famously heroic Indigenous mother. Oh yeah, and she can see things no one else does. She’s being sent away with her older stepbrother and his girlfriend, who are off on an academic research trip, but wants to stay behind to keep visiting her best friend, who is in an iron lung (polio). But when they arrive, things start to seem a little odd, and she's determined to solve it all. There's lots of magic and a little romance (which didn’t really work for me but whatever), and just when I thought things were going to be a big bummer, they got awesome. I will definitely be reading more by Knox. A-.
I really liked Knox's Absolute Book and wanted to try one of her other books, and this one was just an interesting! It’s set in a world very similar to our own, and the protagonist is a math genius teen in 1959, daughter of a famously heroic Indigenous mother. Oh yeah, and she can see things no one else does. She’s being sent away with her older stepbrother and his girlfriend, who are off on an academic research trip, but wants to stay behind to keep visiting her best friend, who is in an iron lung (polio). But when they arrive, things start to seem a little odd, and she's determined to solve it all. There's lots of magic and a little romance (which didn’t really work for me but whatever), and just when I thought things were going to be a big bummer, they got awesome. I will definitely be reading more by Knox. A-.
owlishbookish's review against another edition
3.0
This review originally appeared on Book Brats on July 17, 2013.
The plot synopsis of Mortal Fire absolutely fascinated me from the very beginning. The idea of a hidden valley filled with magic is an intriguing one. I also felt attracted to the idea of a mysterious young man being entrapped by a magic spell rather than the damsel in distress that so often accompanies plots of that nature. For the most part, all of that was found the pages of Mortal Fire. What I didn’t expect was the setting I encountered. I was also taken by surprise by the often vague and circuitous turns in the protagonist’s thoughts and the plot itself. Mortal Fire certainly made for an interesting read in more ways than one.
Canny Mochrie was such an enigma to me. On one side, you have an amazingly talented girl with more potential than even she knows. Both a math whiz and a girl with an unexpected knack for an almost forgotten magic, Canny at first gives off the appearance of a golden child. The other side of Canny, however, is slightly more tarnished. This side of Canny holds feelings of suspicion, distrust, anger, and bitterness. Some of it is understandable considering her situation at home. The rest, however, comes from some place else. It is this mysterious aspect of Canny that leads her down roads she is warned against, into actions that perhaps aren’t wise, and into trusting those of dubious nature. All of this makes her a complex protagonist that keeps the reader guessing and unable to fully understand the person Canny is.
The plot is where Mortal Fire very nearly lost me. Consistency is key and when the book in question doesn’t have a consistent pace, it’s very difficult to keep your attention tuned to the overall story. I very nearly missed the complexity of Canny because of it. At times, the pace was riveting and moved along nicely. At others, I found my attention wandering and seriously contemplated putting it down forever. While I am glad that I eventually finished the book, I won’t be dishonest about the difficulty I encountered doing so. The storyline had some brilliant aspects that easily captured my attention. However, there were also bits and pieces that left me feeling as though I was missing something. Re-reading the passages in question did nothing to enlighten me, so I had to go on with the feelings of confusion unabated. Overall, I think the plot could have done with less filler, as that is what I felt a lot of the wording to be. The story was made needlessly complicated by certain word choices and unnecessary pieces of this narrative puzzle.
Mortal Fire had a great deal of potential from what I discerned of the book as a whole. But for the above mentioned problems, it would have been a fantastic book. There were some beautifully written sentences buried within the mired down chapters, which were nearly missed entirely. However, I will say that I found the characters to be more than intriguing. Said characters coupled with the setting are what made this book able to keep my attention. Mortal Fire has some great qualities, but requires a great deal of patience in order to experience all of its potential.
The plot synopsis of Mortal Fire absolutely fascinated me from the very beginning. The idea of a hidden valley filled with magic is an intriguing one. I also felt attracted to the idea of a mysterious young man being entrapped by a magic spell rather than the damsel in distress that so often accompanies plots of that nature. For the most part, all of that was found the pages of Mortal Fire. What I didn’t expect was the setting I encountered. I was also taken by surprise by the often vague and circuitous turns in the protagonist’s thoughts and the plot itself. Mortal Fire certainly made for an interesting read in more ways than one.
Canny Mochrie was such an enigma to me. On one side, you have an amazingly talented girl with more potential than even she knows. Both a math whiz and a girl with an unexpected knack for an almost forgotten magic, Canny at first gives off the appearance of a golden child. The other side of Canny, however, is slightly more tarnished. This side of Canny holds feelings of suspicion, distrust, anger, and bitterness. Some of it is understandable considering her situation at home. The rest, however, comes from some place else. It is this mysterious aspect of Canny that leads her down roads she is warned against, into actions that perhaps aren’t wise, and into trusting those of dubious nature. All of this makes her a complex protagonist that keeps the reader guessing and unable to fully understand the person Canny is.
The plot is where Mortal Fire very nearly lost me. Consistency is key and when the book in question doesn’t have a consistent pace, it’s very difficult to keep your attention tuned to the overall story. I very nearly missed the complexity of Canny because of it. At times, the pace was riveting and moved along nicely. At others, I found my attention wandering and seriously contemplated putting it down forever. While I am glad that I eventually finished the book, I won’t be dishonest about the difficulty I encountered doing so. The storyline had some brilliant aspects that easily captured my attention. However, there were also bits and pieces that left me feeling as though I was missing something. Re-reading the passages in question did nothing to enlighten me, so I had to go on with the feelings of confusion unabated. Overall, I think the plot could have done with less filler, as that is what I felt a lot of the wording to be. The story was made needlessly complicated by certain word choices and unnecessary pieces of this narrative puzzle.
Mortal Fire had a great deal of potential from what I discerned of the book as a whole. But for the above mentioned problems, it would have been a fantastic book. There were some beautifully written sentences buried within the mired down chapters, which were nearly missed entirely. However, I will say that I found the characters to be more than intriguing. Said characters coupled with the setting are what made this book able to keep my attention. Mortal Fire has some great qualities, but requires a great deal of patience in order to experience all of its potential.
sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition
4.0
Canny is a mathematical prodigy who can see something Extra in the world around her. When she goes with her stepbrother and his girlfriend on a trip to the site of an old coal mine disaster, she's plunged into a world of magic and mystery. Like Knox's other books set in Southland, Mortal Fire is full of exquisite detail and a fully developed world and characters. The plot is truly unpredictable, as its twists and turns are never what the reader thinks they'll be. It's challenging, but ultimately rewarding. What kept this book from being 5 stars for me, however, was Canny. She was a complex and intriguing character, but I couldn't like or sympathize with her. Like Laura in the Dreamhunter Duet, she often makes questionable decisions but I couldn't see her side of the story like I could with Laura. Instead I often found myself being tired of her lying and manipulating everyone around her, even if her intentions were honorable. Overall, a book for committed and patient readers who will appreciate the rich world, ideas, and plot.