sapphicsoilscientist's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book is Harry Potter meets Hunger Games meets My Immortal (probably).
The main character is terribly annoying for the first half of the book and not at all lovable, but the side characters are decent. The magic system could use a few more details, and the book overall could have used another round of editing. (Seriously, are YA authors not given editors or enough time to edit? But at the same time, this was published by Temeraire Ltd, which is Novak's own company so there shouldn't have been a rush.) If you can get through the first 60% of the book it picks up significantly.The sequel audiobook doesn't have any wait time, so I'm going to listen to it, but I probably wouldn't bother if there was, if that helps at all. EDIT: Lol absolutely not. She's annoying annoying me again and all that hard earned character development just went down the drain.
The main character is terribly annoying for the first half of the book and not at all lovable, but the side characters are decent. The magic system could use a few more details, and the book overall could have used another round of editing. (Seriously, are YA authors not given editors or enough time to edit? But at the same time, this was published by Temeraire Ltd, which is Novak's own company so there shouldn't have been a rush.) If you can get through the first 60% of the book it picks up significantly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Murder
Minor: Death of parent, Vomit, and Animal death
allisnbc's review
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Suicide
mycology's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall this was a fantastic read. I really had fun with it and it was a great choice for getting back into the habit of reading.
Positives:
- El is a well rounded character who is easy for the reader to like despite her being disliked by other characters.
- The premise and plot is enjoyable and easy to get hooked into.
- The worldbuilding is fantastic. It’s woven into the text so well it never feels like slogging through pages and pages of lore.
- It’s funny at times without taking away from the atmosphere.
- A great stepping point between YA and adult fantasy
Negatives (nit-picking here, the book was great)
- I dislike El’s relationship with Orion towards the end.
Spoiler
It feels forced to me that she’s starting to have feelings for him already. Or, at all for that matter. They just don’t seem compatible to me. Also, small point, but El mentions wanting kids badly at one point, which feels so out of character for her. Maybe later depending on how she’s developed, but it just didn’t seem right to me.<\spoiler> - I desperately wish there was any queer rep at all
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Body horror, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Murder, and Vomit
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Drug use, and Grief
blackheart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book was so good. I thoroughly enjoyed the sassy and dark humor. The magic world of this story is incredible and unlike anything I've read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Vomit
econsidine's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5
A fun summer read.
Reads like a more sophisticated-ly written kind of Cassandra Clare teen urban fantasy, right down to the calling non-magical people "mundanes." But bonus points for a clear, logical magic system, fun characters, and a great main character arc (that fits really well with the magic system) about learning to not see all relationships as transactional, even if you've been raised in and rely on a society shaped around strict transactions. If that sounds at all familiar to, idk, real life, then you've basically got it.
Reads like a more sophisticated-ly written kind of Cassandra Clare teen urban fantasy, right down to the calling non-magical people "mundanes." But bonus points for a clear, logical magic system, fun characters, and a great main character arc (that fits really well with the magic system) about learning to not see all relationships as transactional, even if you've been raised in and rely on a society shaped around strict transactions. If that sounds at all familiar to, idk, real life, then you've basically got it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Vomit
eule's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Fire book. Dark, tense and somehow completely different from any other magic school story. It instantly grabbed my attention and I devoured it. Just imagine a combination of Hogwarts and Hunger Games with eerie monsters and a school without teachers that wants to kill its students. El is a badass and snarky female lead and her powers are immensely cool. Furthermore, I love the magic system in this world (think about learning languages but in exiting and for the purpose of casting spells) and the world itself (not the world building though). Consequently, I really look forward purchasing and, of course, reading the next two books of this trilogy.
What was a little off? The nearly constant inner monologue with sometimes too much details (info dumping about unnecessary politics and background stuff)? Her personality was somehow too careless in my opinion…?
What was a little off? The nearly constant inner monologue with sometimes too much details (info dumping about unnecessary politics and background stuff)? Her personality was somehow too careless in my opinion…?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
applezing's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Grief, Abandonment, Bullying, Murder, Pregnancy, Animal death, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Child death, Classism, Death of parent, Drug use, and Violence
laurajeangrace's review
adventurous
dark
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
Minor: Vomit
squinnittowinit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A very charming story that was both witty and suspenseful, alternating between detailed world building, dry humor, and well-timed dramatic reveals. Magic weaves with science to create a very unique setting that acts as a character unto itself.
Naomi Novik's story makes poignant remarks on prevalent real-world topics such as classism and privilege, through the lense of a magical society controlled by a fortunate (and greedy) few. She delivers genuine complex emotion as her characters grapple with their anger, their uncertainty, and at the end of the day, their humanity.
4.5 stars because I'm not sure if the author hired a sensitivity consultant or not; there were a couple small moments I didn't feel great about. Additionally, I wasn't sold on the design of the school in this book. Not the literal design, but more the way it was designed and how it's been handled since.
Naomi Novik's story makes poignant remarks on prevalent real-world topics such as classism and privilege, through the lense of a magical society controlled by a fortunate (and greedy) few. She delivers genuine complex emotion as her characters grapple with their anger, their uncertainty, and at the end of the day, their humanity.
4.5 stars because I'm not sure if the author hired a sensitivity consultant or not; there were a couple small moments I didn't feel great about. Additionally, I wasn't sold on the design of the school in this book. Not the literal design, but more the way it was designed and how it's been handled since.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, and Blood
Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Classism, Genocide, Racism, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Vomit
leahfoko's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this book, I have only read Uprooted as the other Naomi Novik book and I think I liked this one more because it moved a bit faster in my opinion and I found the relationship to be a lot less problematic and I really enjoyed their dynamic of Orion just being an oblivious himbo and Galadriel starting to kind of like him but refusing to admit it. Also the end of chapter 12 had me absolutely cracking up. When you read it you’ll know. I really thoroughly enjoyed Orion and just the dynamic between him and Galadriel throughout the book was so gosh darn entertaining to me. Big fan. Wonderful variation to the enemies to lovers idea. That was my favorite part of the book by far was those two.
That said, one line about dreadlocks really is god awful and should not have been written. Yikes. Just completely unnecessary. But the rest of the book I personally didn’t find to be as racist and problematic as some people have said. I am white however and therefore don’t feel I can speak on the topic, it’s not my place to say whether this book is harmful when I am not the affected party. I had to take off at least 0.5 stars for that problematic section though for sure.
I really appreciated the world building once again. The whole world is super elaborate and interesting and I really felt like I was placed into the school. That said, a lot of the time this book felt kind of bogged down with descriptions of things that has happened in the world. I think it was necessary to make this world as rich and interesting as it was, but it sometimes slowed down the story. I think the future books might be better pace wise because hopefully there will be less of that world building slog. Another 0.5 stars off from me for the long explanations.
The reviews that I saw that described this book/world as Hogwarts but actively trying to kill you felt veryyy accurate to me. A great description so if you are intrigued by that I say read this book. I will definitely be reading the second one when it comes from the library. 4 stars.
That said, one line about dreadlocks really is god awful and should not have been written. Yikes. Just completely unnecessary. But the rest of the book I personally didn’t find to be as racist and problematic as some people have said. I am white however and therefore don’t feel I can speak on the topic, it’s not my place to say whether this book is harmful when I am not the affected party. I had to take off at least 0.5 stars for that problematic section though for sure.
I really appreciated the world building once again. The whole world is super elaborate and interesting and I really felt like I was placed into the school. That said, a lot of the time this book felt kind of bogged down with descriptions of things that has happened in the world. I think it was necessary to make this world as rich and interesting as it was, but it sometimes slowed down the story. I think the future books might be better pace wise because hopefully there will be less of that world building slog. Another 0.5 stars off from me for the long explanations.
The reviews that I saw that described this book/world as Hogwarts but actively trying to kill you felt veryyy accurate to me. A great description so if you are intrigued by that I say read this book. I will definitely be reading the second one when it comes from the library. 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Vomit, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder