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

It is an extremely nice anti patriarchy book with really nice revolutionary plots and a really nice queer representation within the book. I just loved it. Even if the first half seemed pretty slow you must continue because especially the second half is so extremely nice written, interesting and emotionally confusing. Furthermore I recommend buying the second part before you finished the first one because the delivery of that one takes quite long (at least in my country) and you really want to continue it as soon as possible. (I wasn’t able to do so until now so I can’t say anything to the second book)

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kibberbl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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alliejm00's review

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hopeful 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? No

4.0

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bookswtheo's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring slow-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

3.75

this book went so slow at first and then suddenly real fast. the voice made it a bit hard for me to stay engaged but MAN that ending!!

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eni_iilorak's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

4.5

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helenferg's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious 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

5.0

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honeyreads1066's review

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adventurous tense fast-paced

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

5.0

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I didn't think I would like it, given the fact that it's YA and I think I've grown out of the genre a little but this is honestly a new favourite. I swear I devoured this book in a way I haven't in a long time. Obviously, I love that it centres on Latinx characters and culture so that was an immediate plus and then it's also queer with an enemies-to-lovers trope. I am honestly obsessed.

The characters themselves felt complicated and 3 dimensional. You could really see the difference between their training and their true feelings. They also felt real in their desperation and/or anger. Their actions did not, therefore, feel out of place and even when I was annoyed with what the characters would do, it was still understandable. ALSO THE TENSION BETWEEN CHARACTERS. Masterful that's all I can say.

The setting is something I hope is explored more in the second book but also I understand how difficult it can be to world build and also have a really complicated plot. THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE. I swear that is my new favourite thing because it was done so well in this.

I guess overall I clearly really enjoyed this, I would recommend it and I really hope that the second book is just as good.

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monicalaurette's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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

4.0

I’ve had my eye on these rainbow books for a while now. The concept sounded so good, and I heard a rumor that it featured a lovely gay storyline between the two many female characters. So one day, after getting a shot and not passing out (I’m afraid of needles okay?) I treated myself to a trip to the bookstore and picked both books up.

Obviously this review is going to be for only the first book, as while I’m writing this I’m reading the second one, but I wanted to get it out as soon as I could.

“You will find a way to make a life you love.”

This story follows Dani, who has forged papers showing she lives on the ‘right’ side of the wall, and those papers have brought her all the way as the top graduate from Medio’s school for Girls. She’s set to marry the man in line to be president, and finally help her family get higher in life than they were before. But more than one wrench comes into play.

The rebellious La Voz knows her secret and blackmails her to spy on her new husband, and now she is married alongside her school-yard enemy who she may or may not have feelings for. What will Dani do? What won’t she do to protect herself and do what is right? But which way is right?

This book was filled with less action than you’d think, but what it does have is the inner turmoil of a woman who is just starting to get to know herself, and the truth of her world. She can’t run from her past, she has to fight for it to matter. Mixed in with Latinx representation, neck-aching twists, and a love story you can’t help but cheer for.

I really liked the way the world was built, it made me nostalgic for like the kind of classic dystopian world where the rich got to be up on the top with cars and guards while the poor lived on the edge of society in squalor, but they also have the fire in their hearts to fight. While this book was a fiction tale, the way the rebellion and the rich interacted, along with the actions of the police force, was very similar to some of the things we see in the world today. Which is sad to say but very interesting to also see in a book written right before it all got really bad, but during a time that this has been happening for a while now.

“Freedom has a price. People who want easy & pretty stay in their cages.”

I also liked the characters in this book because I felt each one was written so well to work on their own and mixed in with others around them.

For this book I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. I loved the intrigue, the story, and the romance within the book and how each one had its own level of danger, all intertwined together for an even more dangerous world for Dani to navigate. I hope that I’m able to get time to finish the next one before the month is up.

Spoiler

the fact that not only was it a forced marriage, but forced polygamy at that was a unique concept; having each wife serve a different purpose also helped to give a level of control over them that neither could connect with the other, just what was the same.

Spoiler

I wanted to punch BOTH Mateo and Sota, I just didn’t like either of them and I don’t trust them

Spoiler

the amount of double-agent-ness between both Carmen & Jasmin was crazy to me because how many more women within the rich and healthy are spies for La Voz?

Spoiler

I straight up thought Dani was going to die at the end, like she’s be able to kiss a girl and feel love and then die by FIRE, I was ready to mourn</spoiler

Spoiler

After when Carmen did, and all the Dani was dragged through, I don’t know if I’d trust ever again or help either side to do anything

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