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talya_'s review against another edition
Wow. Before reading, I honestly thought this book might be good.
It wasn't.
The writing was unbearably simple and entirely dull. I'm a firm believer that fantasy books should be well written and have exceptional world building. This book has neither. As if that isn't bad enough, we have the two most cliche main characters ever. Our female MC is your typical goody-goody perfect student who's obsessed with her grades. She also happens to he incredibly pretty, though she doesn't think so, and has crazy curly hair that she dislikes because apparently blondes are only supposed to have straight hair. Really?
The male MC is dull and "dangerous" and his personality seems to flip around like the author couldn't make up her mind. I honestly can't even bear to go on anymore. DNF.
It wasn't.
The writing was unbearably simple and entirely dull. I'm a firm believer that fantasy books should be well written and have exceptional world building. This book has neither. As if that isn't bad enough, we have the two most cliche main characters ever. Our female MC is your typical goody-goody perfect student who's obsessed with her grades. She also happens to he incredibly pretty, though she doesn't think so, and has crazy curly hair that she dislikes because apparently blondes are only supposed to have straight hair. Really?
The male MC is dull and "dangerous" and his personality seems to flip around like the author couldn't make up her mind. I honestly can't even bear to go on anymore. DNF.
pewterwolf's review against another edition
4.0
Nearly 4.5 stars. More addictive than CJ's Night School series.
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf
Taylor is a girl from England. Sacha is the boy from Paris. They have nothing in common nor do they know each other. Until Taylor's French teacher and Sacha's English teacher force them together for online tutoring. But there's more to it than that. Both Taylor's and Sacha's fates are entwined by a curse. A curse that must be lifted before Sacha's next birthday - which is in around eight weeks time.
But first, they have to meet...
Ok, I am going to say this now. I really liked the Night School series. But this is better.
I sense that the legion of Night School fans are marching to my house with pitchforks and lit torches. But hear me out.
I like slow burning thrillers. Night School slowly burned with foreshadowing and twists. The Secret Fire, on the other hand, grabs you by the neck and you have to run with it. There is no time to foreshadowing in this book. And because of this pacing (because of the short timeframe of the curse and the fact this is a duology), you find yourself speeding through the pages. I read a few pages on and off for a few days, before I sat down and read this book for a few hours. I found, within three hours, I had read nearly three quarters of the book. This is rare that I speed through a book, so the fact I did is always a good thing.
I like the fact that we have an English author and a French author writing this series together. While the story is in English, there is a feel that both CJ and Carina know what they are doing and what they are talking about.
If I had to pick one fault, it's the fact I wish we go some more background on some characters, which I sense is going to be quite important in the next book. For example, while I'm not the biggest fan of Louisa, but we got (what I felt was) very little info on her and I think she's going to be huge in book 2.
But I had such a fun addictive time reading this. Can't wait for book 2!
Review Taken from The Pewter Wolf
Taylor is a girl from England. Sacha is the boy from Paris. They have nothing in common nor do they know each other. Until Taylor's French teacher and Sacha's English teacher force them together for online tutoring. But there's more to it than that. Both Taylor's and Sacha's fates are entwined by a curse. A curse that must be lifted before Sacha's next birthday - which is in around eight weeks time.
But first, they have to meet...
Ok, I am going to say this now. I really liked the Night School series. But this is better.
I sense that the legion of Night School fans are marching to my house with pitchforks and lit torches. But hear me out.
I like slow burning thrillers. Night School slowly burned with foreshadowing and twists. The Secret Fire, on the other hand, grabs you by the neck and you have to run with it. There is no time to foreshadowing in this book. And because of this pacing (because of the short timeframe of the curse and the fact this is a duology), you find yourself speeding through the pages. I read a few pages on and off for a few days, before I sat down and read this book for a few hours. I found, within three hours, I had read nearly three quarters of the book. This is rare that I speed through a book, so the fact I did is always a good thing.
I like the fact that we have an English author and a French author writing this series together. While the story is in English, there is a feel that both CJ and Carina know what they are doing and what they are talking about.
If I had to pick one fault, it's the fact I wish we go some more background on some characters, which I sense is going to be quite important in the next book. For example, while I'm not the biggest fan of Louisa, but we got (what I felt was) very little info on her and I think she's going to be huge in book 2.
But I had such a fun addictive time reading this. Can't wait for book 2!
beyondevak's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! Hands down, it is a winner. Aces!!!
amethystbookwyrm's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for giving this book to review.
French teenager Sacha cannot die, until he turns 18, which will trigger his death and an apocalyptic event. Taylor is a straight A student who believes she is normal until she discovers that she can short out lights with her brain. They discover that Taylor is the only one who can save Sacha but they live in different countries and deadly forces are trying to stop them. Will they be able to break this curse in time?
The Secret Fire is a paranormal novel which is fast paced and has a hint of romance. I liked that this book was set in a different place than USA, as I feel that quite a lot them are set there, I especially enjoyed the parts that were in the UK as I could relate to it.
Taylor is likeable but too perfect and good at everything, as she is responsible, considerate and hard-working. I preferred Sacha as he is wounded, sarcastic and comes across as rude and distant but this is a defence mechanism which hides how kind and lonely he is.
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book, The Secret City. I would recommend The Secret Fire to fans of the Ceruleans series by Megan Tayte and The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
French teenager Sacha cannot die, until he turns 18, which will trigger his death and an apocalyptic event. Taylor is a straight A student who believes she is normal until she discovers that she can short out lights with her brain. They discover that Taylor is the only one who can save Sacha but they live in different countries and deadly forces are trying to stop them. Will they be able to break this curse in time?
The Secret Fire is a paranormal novel which is fast paced and has a hint of romance. I liked that this book was set in a different place than USA, as I feel that quite a lot them are set there, I especially enjoyed the parts that were in the UK as I could relate to it.
Taylor is likeable but too perfect and good at everything, as she is responsible, considerate and hard-working. I preferred Sacha as he is wounded, sarcastic and comes across as rude and distant but this is a defence mechanism which hides how kind and lonely he is.
I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the next book, The Secret City. I would recommend The Secret Fire to fans of the Ceruleans series by Megan Tayte and The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
duartepatri's review against another edition
4.0
I think it is a great first book but I felt there were two halves though...the first one that had more romance which included Paris!!! and the second part in which they barely had any contact and had more action against the demons (or whatever they are)....both combined were good but I would have liked a bit more of that love throughout the whole story.
It was a quick read, I practically inhaled the first half...then again, the second one felt a bit slow and not really that engaging.
I will definitely read the next one as soon as it is available.
It was a quick read, I practically inhaled the first half...then again, the second one felt a bit slow and not really that engaging.
I will definitely read the next one as soon as it is available.
lenamarie_wind's review against another edition
2.0
2,5* für dieses Buch
Die Idee hat mir wirklich gefallen und während des Lesens kamen noch mehr gute Ideen auf, aber die Umsetzung war mir zu einfach und fad. Vielleicht eher für jüngere Leser geeignet
Die Idee hat mir wirklich gefallen und während des Lesens kamen noch mehr gute Ideen auf, aber die Umsetzung war mir zu einfach und fad. Vielleicht eher für jüngere Leser geeignet
chiara_2024's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 Sterne! Ich finde, dass die Geschichte gut geschrieben ist und die Charaktere auch gut dargestellt sind. Wo es meiner Meinung nach gescheitert ist, ist schlussendlich die Umsetzung.
clairereviews's review against another edition
5.0
Review: The Secret Fire (The Alchemist Chronicles #1) by C.J. Daugherty & Carina Rozenfeld Publisher: Bookouture (September 3rd, 2015)
ISBN: 978-0349002194
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Taylor Montclair is a regular girl from the quiet backwater of Woodbury, England.
Sacha Winters is a darkly mysterious boy from the City of Lights - Paris, France.
While Taylor's focussed on her dream of attending Oxford University, school couldn't be further from Sacha's mind . . .
Sacha knows exactly when he's going to die. Because he's done it before.
On the appointed day, Sacha's time will run out. And his death will fulfil an ancient destiny that could unleash chaos and catastrophe.
Taylor is the only person who can save him.
Neither of them knows that yet.
Because they haven't even met.
Hundreds of miles and a body of water separate them.
Deadly forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart.
They have eight weeks to find each other and unravel an ancient web of mystery and danger.
The clock starts NOW.
Review:
I was drawn in from the very first page and kept on reading until the very end. The Secret Fire is an utterly compelling read - I just couldn't put it down.
I found Taylor and Sacha to be likeable and believable and the fantasy/alchemy elements are well written. I've read books before in which the characters have magical powers or similar and some can feel a little silly and predictable, but not so with Taylor's or Sacha's.
Their struggles to discover the secrets of their destinies, how they are tied up within history, and their need to meet each other makes fascinating reading. The authors clearly have great talent for storytelling and being able to weave a spell around the reader - I was helpless to resist.
Although The Secret Fire is aimed at the Young Adult market, adult readers will enjoy it too as it has maturity that I did not expect from this type of novel. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in The Alchemist Chronicles series.
I'm really glad I decided to read it, and I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for sending me an advanced reader's copy for review.
ISBN: 978-0349002194
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
Taylor Montclair is a regular girl from the quiet backwater of Woodbury, England.
Sacha Winters is a darkly mysterious boy from the City of Lights - Paris, France.
While Taylor's focussed on her dream of attending Oxford University, school couldn't be further from Sacha's mind . . .
Sacha knows exactly when he's going to die. Because he's done it before.
On the appointed day, Sacha's time will run out. And his death will fulfil an ancient destiny that could unleash chaos and catastrophe.
Taylor is the only person who can save him.
Neither of them knows that yet.
Because they haven't even met.
Hundreds of miles and a body of water separate them.
Deadly forces will stop at nothing to keep them apart.
They have eight weeks to find each other and unravel an ancient web of mystery and danger.
The clock starts NOW.
Review:
I was drawn in from the very first page and kept on reading until the very end. The Secret Fire is an utterly compelling read - I just couldn't put it down.
I found Taylor and Sacha to be likeable and believable and the fantasy/alchemy elements are well written. I've read books before in which the characters have magical powers or similar and some can feel a little silly and predictable, but not so with Taylor's or Sacha's.
Their struggles to discover the secrets of their destinies, how they are tied up within history, and their need to meet each other makes fascinating reading. The authors clearly have great talent for storytelling and being able to weave a spell around the reader - I was helpless to resist.
Although The Secret Fire is aimed at the Young Adult market, adult readers will enjoy it too as it has maturity that I did not expect from this type of novel. I'll be eagerly awaiting the next book in The Alchemist Chronicles series.
I'm really glad I decided to read it, and I'd like to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for sending me an advanced reader's copy for review.