Reviews

We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia

sashahc's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Today is Taylor Kay Mejía’s YA “We Set The Dark on Fire.”  Dani’s parents forged her identification papers to send her to an exclusive school training wives for Medio’s elite.  After graduating as one of the two wives of the assumed next president, she is immediately and unwillingly conscripted as a spy by a resistance organization that intends to bring down the government however it can.  This threatens to upend the life she’s fought for and that her family is relying on.  It’s got thriller spy vibes, deeply abolitionist and anti-border roots, tarot cards, and enemies-to-lovers queer longing. 

womenbikesdogs's review

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

akkarin's review against another edition

adventurous reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

goodbooksgreatgoats's review

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

asahome's review against another edition

4.0

 In a society where women are bought and sold, the poor are treated unfairly by their government ::gasp::. Turns out you can’t classify people as emotional or logical and expect them to always fulfill that role. 

This was classified as a book I could read around Dia de los Muertos. It had nothing to do with that and I'm not sure why they marketed it as such.

annorabrady's review against another edition

adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A strong parallel with current events. 

I enjoyed this story a lot and have very quickly moved on to the sequel. 

georgiap101's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

melissaslibraryy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Death, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Violence, and War

rrogers's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

year23's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Reading this during a time of open occupation and genocide was difficult - but I'm grateful for stories that can bring more empathy and insight into the terror of living in extreme oppression. 

I don't typically read fantasy series but immediately picked up the next one. The writing style is accessible, easy to read, and the plotting/construction keeps you turning to the next chapter. Well done.