Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - We Set the Dark on Fire

Allow me to start by saying that I do feel a little unfair in rating this book. I read this for a grad school course where I had to finish it; otherwise, I would have DNF'ed a third of the way in. I don't feel that any of my problems with the book are the fault of the story or author necessarily, but as a group member put it, "this is the kind of book I would've loved as a freshman in high school." In that way, I think the book is a fine piece for its intended audience; however, since I read it, I am going to go ahead with a review.

My biggest hurdle was that the book relied so much on two of my least favorite things in YA literature: indecisive teenage angst and the unearned "perfect chosen one" trope. Think of it like a Divergent or an Eragon in that it has a narrator who seems to just be the very best at what she has to do, and she constantly repeats this fact, so it is not lost on the audience. However, also like those texts, all we ever seem to see is the MC messing up, which leaves you confused on how she was ever the "best." It does not help that there is little exposition, so we do not get to see her go through a "training phase" montage.

Furthermore, it feels like much of what is here is underwritten. The novel will go long stretches where tensions are very low while the MC is snooping around only to be ratcheted up with little warning. Meanwhile, our MC is taking part in a same sex love affair with her husband's other wife with little real explanation as to the social politics of such a thing. On top of that, the greater context is lacking nuance, so the reader is unsure whether this is an urban fantasy or a dystopia as there is no sense of temporal and global placement of the events despite modern technology and use of intermittent Latinx culture and the Spanish language.

This book is not bad for what it is supposed to be. Unfortunately, that product is also just not for me.

Content Warnings

averyrembish's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

4.0

Content Warnings

rjstellar's review against another edition

Go to review page

lighthearted mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

longlost's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective 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

5.0

man this was a lot of fun. I wasn't sure I'd like the book considering I wasn't sold on the premise, but the writing style drew me in and I adored reading about Dani & Carmen + the critique of capitalism and societal structures was fantastic.

the ending, however, hurt me </3

Content Warnings

tahsintries's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.75

Content Warnings

More...