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A review by codyleigh
The Secret Fire by C.J. Daugherty
5.0
A MAGNIFICENT START TO WHATS SURE TO BE A FANTASTIC POPULAR SERIES!
I don’t have the best relationship with books that have been co-written; I tend to stay away from them, there good just not great. I haven’t read anything by either of these authors but once I read the blurb I just knew I had to request an ARC. I can gladly say that my previous fears for this book being just another average read were completely unnecessary… this was incredible!
Sacha Winters lives in Paris and comes from a family who is cursed: Every first-born son will die on his 18th birthday and not a day before. With only weeks until his birthday Sacha's English teacher urges him to get in touch with a girl from England for some online tutoring. Taylor is a straight A student from England whose dream is to study at Oxford, so when the opportunity came to earn some extra credit by tutoring English to a French boy (which is sure to look great on her Oxford application), she jumps for it. The only problem is Sacha is the worst tutee ever, he’s rude, stubborn but oddly thrilling. Sacha and Taylor's ‘meeting’ was no accident, in fact their fates are intertwined and keeping them apart could be the end of the world.
Sounds great really? You’d be so right! I instantly connected with both characters, Taylor I suppose is your typical smart, perfect heroine and usually these types of MC's annoy me after a while but I loved her until the end. Sacha quickly became my favourite character, he’s so sweet and his interactions with Taylor were epic and I was constantly looking forward to the day they finally meet. It was soo worth the wait! This is such a slow burn romance but the build-up had my heart beating out of my chest, the angst and suspense was killing me. I was originally going to give this book 4 stars because I needed more romance but that wouldn't have been right at all because in the end I actually loved the build up. So book 2, you better have some spectacular romance moments, you hear me?
I think it's best to mention the easiest selling point to this, it's so easy to read; usually when you're introduced to a new series there's lot of info dumping or explanations, especially when it comes to magic and how it should be used/limits etc. Whereas The Secret Fire provides information and insight into past events but they are short, sweet and to the point. The theory behind the magic/science of these new powers is explained and it's easy to understand and follow. It will likely be similar to many other YA series but The Secret Fire to me was able to be different and stand on it's own, the plot and the characters just worked so well together *applause*.
This book was perfectly paced and the lack of info-dumping, love triangles and insta-love made for a perfect start to a new series. Switching from POV’s from England and Paris and following the characters as they go from across countries was a great concept. With the addition of magic, action and adventure this book could really do no wrong in my eyes. There isn't a cliffhanger ending just the promise of lots more to come in the next installment which I’m now anxiously awaiting. I highly recommend this to fellow fantasy lovers who are looking for a brand new world to immerse themselves in, with great characters, a promising romance and a thrilling journey ahead.
Literary-ly Obsessed
I don’t have the best relationship with books that have been co-written; I tend to stay away from them, there good just not great. I haven’t read anything by either of these authors but once I read the blurb I just knew I had to request an ARC. I can gladly say that my previous fears for this book being just another average read were completely unnecessary… this was incredible!
Sacha Winters lives in Paris and comes from a family who is cursed: Every first-born son will die on his 18th birthday and not a day before. With only weeks until his birthday Sacha's English teacher urges him to get in touch with a girl from England for some online tutoring. Taylor is a straight A student from England whose dream is to study at Oxford, so when the opportunity came to earn some extra credit by tutoring English to a French boy (which is sure to look great on her Oxford application), she jumps for it. The only problem is Sacha is the worst tutee ever, he’s rude, stubborn but oddly thrilling. Sacha and Taylor's ‘meeting’ was no accident, in fact their fates are intertwined and keeping them apart could be the end of the world.
Sounds great really? You’d be so right! I instantly connected with both characters, Taylor I suppose is your typical smart, perfect heroine and usually these types of MC's annoy me after a while but I loved her until the end. Sacha quickly became my favourite character, he’s so sweet and his interactions with Taylor were epic and I was constantly looking forward to the day they finally meet. It was soo worth the wait! This is such a slow burn romance but the build-up had my heart beating out of my chest, the angst and suspense was killing me. I was originally going to give this book 4 stars because I needed more romance but that wouldn't have been right at all because in the end I actually loved the build up. So book 2, you better have some spectacular romance moments, you hear me?
I think it's best to mention the easiest selling point to this, it's so easy to read; usually when you're introduced to a new series there's lot of info dumping or explanations, especially when it comes to magic and how it should be used/limits etc. Whereas The Secret Fire provides information and insight into past events but they are short, sweet and to the point. The theory behind the magic/science of these new powers is explained and it's easy to understand and follow. It will likely be similar to many other YA series but The Secret Fire to me was able to be different and stand on it's own, the plot and the characters just worked so well together *applause*.
This book was perfectly paced and the lack of info-dumping, love triangles and insta-love made for a perfect start to a new series. Switching from POV’s from England and Paris and following the characters as they go from across countries was a great concept. With the addition of magic, action and adventure this book could really do no wrong in my eyes. There isn't a cliffhanger ending just the promise of lots more to come in the next installment which I’m now anxiously awaiting. I highly recommend this to fellow fantasy lovers who are looking for a brand new world to immerse themselves in, with great characters, a promising romance and a thrilling journey ahead.
Literary-ly Obsessed