pinkhydroflask's review against another edition
4.0
I thought the book was quite interesting in terms of plot development and concept. The whole thing about elemental magic was pretty basic, but I enjoyed the part with the Granters quite a lot. In my opinion the main character was fleshed out pretty well, but I would have liked to have seen more character development for people like Jana, Elise, Gem and Taj.
The ending was lowkey cliché, as these books sometimes are. I felt that the book could have ended better if the ending wasn't such a predictable one.
I give this book 4 stars because i thought the ending killed off my vibe. I thought certain action scenes could be more developed, and I would liked the book more if it had more visual description. Overall an interesting read, worth your time!
The ending was lowkey cliché, as these books sometimes are. I felt that the book could have ended better if the ending wasn't such a predictable one.
I give this book 4 stars because i thought the ending killed off my vibe. I thought certain action scenes could be more developed, and I would liked the book more if it had more visual description. Overall an interesting read, worth your time!
selinamarcille's review against another edition
1.0
I feel awful giving any book a one star review, but this book completely lost me about halfway through. It opens with an interesting premise, but said interesting premise becomes so unbelievable once Aria moves to NY.
I could buy into the granters, but the whole wish granting from Taj and being in love with him was so rushed and convoluted. We never learn much about Taj or see any character depth apart from how handsome he is. Don't get me wrong- I love me some hot handsome boys in YA fiction, but to have nothing to go on apart from his looks was not enough for me to buy into their relationship.
The ending seemed rushed and some of the solutions (like with her father) were just too much.
I could buy into the granters, but the whole wish granting from Taj and being in love with him was so rushed and convoluted. We never learn much about Taj or see any character depth apart from how handsome he is. Don't get me wrong- I love me some hot handsome boys in YA fiction, but to have nothing to go on apart from his looks was not enough for me to buy into their relationship.
The ending seemed rushed and some of the solutions (like with her father) were just too much.
hannahsophialin's review against another edition
5.0
The cover and the synopsis for The Fire Artist looked so pretty, I had cover fever for a few seconds while trying to decide between 5 plus other books (I planned on walking away with 3 books for 4 weeks, not 100 books).
And the fact it was one of the newest residents at the library and when you own nearly zilch books (two), getting your hands on a shiny copy of a book is a wondrous feeling and a rarity.
The Fire Artist gets straight to the point from the very beginning – there's really no stalling going on here. Whitney reveals early on that Aria has problems as a fire artist, and that it needs to be replenished often if she wants to keep her control and not face her father's wrath. But then Aria is recruited by the M.E. Leagues, the highest honor an elemental artist can get, and she has to find another way to continue keeping her fire powers.
The world building here is amazing – the peace in the Middle East isn't just "there" simply because someone in a prestigious family did something while everyone else went down to rock bottom, said someone succeeded and as a result, everyone respects the person and bows down to them. The history of how the Middle East came to be – in accordance to the book – seems to be based off current events in the Middle East, making the book seem a little realistic rather than utmost fantasy. The granters Whitney portrays throughout The Fire Artist aren't just "there" (though they are just "there") for everyone's beck and call – the granters seemed to be unified with rules and whatnot rather than each granter working individually on their own.
The romance between Taj and Aria also isn't one that rushes quickly – it's slowly developing as the book progresses and it doesn't overshadow the overall plot (a huge peeve of mine). The conversations between the two are entertaining enough that despite the fact Aria takes her time in making her wish, I personally don't mind because I'm too busy enjoying the book to even care.
I do, however, have a little peeve against Aria for stalking the dude before they even met. Surely that never goes well if the dude actually finds out.
Though to be honest, if Aria had made her wish too early in the book instead of stalling awhile, the book would have ended much too quickly. The world building and character development would have been terrible – no one (aside from the author) would ever know precisely how the peace in the Middle East really came to be (oh, so everyone just whipped up a treaty?) or gotten the chance to really know Aria and Taj as characters.
There are no regrets in reading this – The Fire Artist is as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
And the fact it was one of the newest residents at the library and when you own nearly zilch books (two), getting your hands on a shiny copy of a book is a wondrous feeling and a rarity.
The Fire Artist gets straight to the point from the very beginning – there's really no stalling going on here. Whitney reveals early on that Aria has problems as a fire artist, and that it needs to be replenished often if she wants to keep her control and not face her father's wrath. But then Aria is recruited by the M.E. Leagues, the highest honor an elemental artist can get, and she has to find another way to continue keeping her fire powers.
The world building here is amazing – the peace in the Middle East isn't just "there" simply because someone in a prestigious family did something while everyone else went down to rock bottom, said someone succeeded and as a result, everyone respects the person and bows down to them. The history of how the Middle East came to be – in accordance to the book – seems to be based off current events in the Middle East, making the book seem a little realistic rather than utmost fantasy. The granters Whitney portrays throughout The Fire Artist aren't just "there" (though they are just "there") for everyone's beck and call – the granters seemed to be unified with rules and whatnot rather than each granter working individually on their own.
The romance between Taj and Aria also isn't one that rushes quickly – it's slowly developing as the book progresses and it doesn't overshadow the overall plot (a huge peeve of mine). The conversations between the two are entertaining enough that despite the fact Aria takes her time in making her wish, I personally don't mind because I'm too busy enjoying the book to even care.
I do, however, have a little peeve against Aria for stalking the dude before they even met. Surely that never goes well if the dude actually finds out.
Though to be honest, if Aria had made her wish too early in the book instead of stalling awhile, the book would have ended much too quickly. The world building and character development would have been terrible – no one (aside from the author) would ever know precisely how the peace in the Middle East really came to be (oh, so everyone just whipped up a treaty?) or gotten the chance to really know Aria and Taj as characters.
There are no regrets in reading this – The Fire Artist is as pretty on the inside as it is on the outside.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Mandy W.
Cover Story: Fiery Big Face
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: You Reap What You Sow
Bonus Factors: Elemental Arts Leagues, Granters
Anti-Bonus Factor: The Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Chance Encounter
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Fiery Big Face
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Talky Talk: You Reap What You Sow
Bonus Factors: Elemental Arts Leagues, Granters
Anti-Bonus Factor: The Patty Chase Award for Awful Parenting
Relationship Status: Chance Encounter
Read the full book report here.
lumatere's review against another edition
1.0
Thank you Bloomsbury and Netgalley for sending me this copy for review.
DNF at 45%.
When I read a fantasy book, I expect more than vague references to magic and an attempt at making the protagonist seem well-developed by hinting at some horrible event in the past. Sorry, that won't make me empathize with her. But what made me really decide to set the book aside was the douche-y guy who, based on Aria's description, would be a love interest later on.
No thanks.
DNF at 45%.
When I read a fantasy book, I expect more than vague references to magic and an attempt at making the protagonist seem well-developed by hinting at some horrible event in the past. Sorry, that won't make me empathize with her. But what made me really decide to set the book aside was the douche-y guy who, based on Aria's description, would be a love interest later on.
No thanks.
whiteraven191's review against another edition
2.0
The world-building in this book is stupid as hell. These magic shows (which sound more like glorified Cirque de Soleil shows than anything) have become more popular than the entire sports industry? To the point that Yankee Stadium is primarily used for magic shows and when it is used for baseball, most of the seats go unused? No way. That's not believable at all.
And then there was the romance. At first I thought it was actually going to do something clever and subvert the whole "We've only known each other for a few days, but we're totally in true love with each other!" thing a lot of YA falls victim to. The MC gives herself up so that her love-interest doesn't have to be a granter anymore, and then he acts all "Ha ha! I was just using you to escape, dumbass." But then it turns out it was just a ruse to fool the higher-ups so he could find her again and free her. Because they really were in true love after like a week of knowing each other. Gag. Also, the romance starts when she's his Master and he can't really say no to what she wants. So it's not even an entirely consensual relationship. I don't know why the novel went out of its way to point out the consent issues and then didn't bother doing anything about them.
The reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one star is that I actually genuinely liked the section where the MC was working as a granter. It was fascinating seeing what people wished for and what they had to give up for it. If the author wrote another book, or even just a short story, with a granter as the main character I'd happily read it.
And then there was the romance. At first I thought it was actually going to do something clever and subvert the whole "We've only known each other for a few days, but we're totally in true love with each other!" thing a lot of YA falls victim to. The MC gives herself up so that her love-interest doesn't have to be a granter anymore, and then he acts all "Ha ha! I was just using you to escape, dumbass." But then it turns out it was just a ruse to fool the higher-ups so he could find her again and free her. Because they really were in true love after like a week of knowing each other. Gag. Also, the romance starts when she's his Master and he can't really say no to what she wants. So it's not even an entirely consensual relationship. I don't know why the novel went out of its way to point out the consent issues and then didn't bother doing anything about them.
The reason I'm giving this two stars instead of one star is that I actually genuinely liked the section where the MC was working as a granter. It was fascinating seeing what people wished for and what they had to give up for it. If the author wrote another book, or even just a short story, with a granter as the main character I'd happily read it.
whatthefridge's review against another edition
2.0
What starts off as a very promising story devolves into hand-waving, plot holes, and deus ex machinas due to poor world-building. Characters fall flat, and there is no magic in the romance. I wish there were no genies.
Aria's backstory is poignant: an abusive father, criminal brother, and illness-stricken mother. I like the darkness and Aria's tenaciousness. She is a character I can get behind. But then her conflict gets distorted by the presence of genies, or "granters," and her needing fire is side-lined by magic and wish-granting. The climax comes down to Aria not using fire, which could have been an awesome moment considering Aria's fixation on fire is from a toxic relationship with her father BUT that isn't the reason at all, making the climax very... hollow. The lack of character development, combined with Aria being sharp but not sharp enough when it matters, made the journey unfulfilling.
When Taj is introduced, the story gets loaded with exposition. I can't tell you how many things made me roll my eyes, like there is an actual category of granters called Jackass, aka the ones who grant wishes literally. Taj is a "standard" granter, called mastered, which feels redundant when it's drilled to the reader that granters have no free will. Except Taj... somehow... because romance. And what bugged me was how Aria and Taj go through all the lovey-dovey motions but never attempt to talk through a wish that could benefit them both. I mean, not like communication is integral to chemistry or whatever. Then we're treated to Aria's clumsy attempt to save them both herself, which leads to more Genie 101 and me yelling Plot Hole (because, fuck you, that wish fixed the thing that then caused the problem the genies were being anal about, which means Aria's plan should have worked).
And while I can suspend my disbelief for a world that has elemental powers somehow embedded in DNA (though it's hinted that, no, not really), I can't get over the whole genie bit tying in with real world conflicts. You expect me to believe that the entire Middle East crisis was magically resolved by all the leaders coming together to make a wish for peace. How nice. If only religion didn't play a huge part in the actual conflict. Both Judaism and Islam condemn the use of magic, which would make this magical agreement highly unfavorable to the very people these leaders represent. Basically, this book touches upon politics that are too big for it to swallow.
I'm sighing so hard because this is a ripe example of magic ruining a premise. Aria's story was meant to go to a dark place, a place where she'd have to get over her fear of her father without the aid of crutches. We could have been shown creativity; instead we get more "scramble to do anything to survive, whoops, problems solved by convenience." I'm so over it.
{Check out this review at Entropy Alarm Reviews}
Aria's backstory is poignant: an abusive father, criminal brother, and illness-stricken mother. I like the darkness and Aria's tenaciousness. She is a character I can get behind. But then her conflict gets distorted by the presence of genies, or "granters," and her needing fire is side-lined by magic and wish-granting. The climax comes down to Aria not using fire, which could have been an awesome moment considering Aria's fixation on fire is from a toxic relationship with her father BUT that isn't the reason at all, making the climax very... hollow. The lack of character development, combined with Aria being sharp but not sharp enough when it matters, made the journey unfulfilling.
When Taj is introduced, the story gets loaded with exposition. I can't tell you how many things made me roll my eyes, like there is an actual category of granters called Jackass, aka the ones who grant wishes literally. Taj is a "standard" granter, called mastered, which feels redundant when it's drilled to the reader that granters have no free will. Except Taj... somehow... because romance. And what bugged me was how Aria and Taj go through all the lovey-dovey motions but never attempt to talk through a wish that could benefit them both. I mean, not like communication is integral to chemistry or whatever. Then we're treated to Aria's clumsy attempt to save them both herself, which leads to more Genie 101 and me yelling Plot Hole (because, fuck you, that wish fixed the thing that then caused the problem the genies were being anal about, which means Aria's plan should have worked).
And while I can suspend my disbelief for a world that has elemental powers somehow embedded in DNA (though it's hinted that, no, not really), I can't get over the whole genie bit tying in with real world conflicts. You expect me to believe that the entire Middle East crisis was magically resolved by all the leaders coming together to make a wish for peace. How nice. If only religion didn't play a huge part in the actual conflict. Both Judaism and Islam condemn the use of magic, which would make this magical agreement highly unfavorable to the very people these leaders represent. Basically, this book touches upon politics that are too big for it to swallow.
I'm sighing so hard because this is a ripe example of magic ruining a premise. Aria's story was meant to go to a dark place, a place where she'd have to get over her fear of her father without the aid of crutches. We could have been shown creativity; instead we get more "scramble to do anything to survive, whoops, problems solved by convenience." I'm so over it.
{Check out this review at Entropy Alarm Reviews}
scarletnerded25's review
5.0
LOVED LOVED LOVED this book! It was a great alternate universe/fantasy story. Aria is a girl that many girls can relate to. She is just trying to take care of her family. I highly recommend this book!
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