A review by hannchilada
Firefight by Brandon Sanderson
5.0
This book was a perfectly cooked and seasoned sunny-side up egg.
Because it was everything you could have asked for in a book, it was peppery in all the right places, it was salty, and the texture was extremely on point.
And then, the deeper you get into this egg, the runny part comes out combined with the fleshy part and soaks everything in its deliciousness.
You know what, I'm not actually as good at poor metaphors as David.
Firstly, we're going to talk about tone. I don't know what it was in this book, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it made every picture in my head tinted darker. So, kudos, because it really brought the world to life for me.
This also is related to the character of David. David was mainly static throughout this book, but over the series his overarching issues with Epics and who is to blame for their issues is beautiful. His characterization and cute little metaphors were constant. I can't tell you how many novels I've read in which a character is given a personality, and then in worldbuilding and plot punting the character fades into the hollow shell you use as a point of view. I found David. extremely realistic in his thought processes and emotions. For example:
Aww, look at that. Characters with actual emotions. How cute.
Other characters: Prof makes me happy. Prof makes me sad. Prof makes me want to jump off a burning building while singing and also sobbing b/c cute. His hero struggle is fascinating and fresh and new and very much alive. Jonathan Phaedrus's character got me attached. And anytime a writer can do that, it's gold.
Mizzy is adorable. Mizzy is me. Mizzy is a female novel character that is human and has emotions and isn't all that cliche.
But, she could have been explored a lot more. She was the most developed, but all the other background characters (Exel, Tia, and Val) were so underdeveloped it made me upset. There had to be something between that Sam guy and Val, right? One word: more.
Also, Dawnslight: Fab. But like, more.
Megan is a hot mess. And I guess emphasis on hot, because I adore her. I'm only going to say this once because it makes me sound like a psychopath:
Her emotional turmoil brings me a lot of joy.
But, like, in not a creepy way. Her character is very in-depth and is female, but not like Amazon warrior.
Come on, you know what I mean. I'm referring to the common idea in modern literature that for a female to be worth something she has to hate men and only kick people's butts.
That.
Speaking of turmoil, the moral ambiguity is strong with this one. Who's good? Is it the Reckoners? I mean, they're murdering people, but...Who's bad? Is it the Epics? I mean, they also murder people, but they can't really help it, right? Is it the giant man with fairy wings flaming up a storm there on the moon or something? Most likely! Maybe not! Am I evil? Who knows!
So, the plot as a whole was very enticing. Easy to read, suspenseful, and it's not often I find a book that literally makes me want to not put it down when it's two in the morning.
This time, it was the villain's motives that drove the story, which was a fun little guessing game, and let me tell you, the villain's motives were fabulous. A successor? What! Didn't see that coming. I also enjoyed Obliteration's character. The crazed religious maniac card is usually always enjoyable.
Speaking of: Plot twists got me like
Yeah. Those of you who've read this, you feel me. It was intense. It was fun. Unexpected, all of that jazz.
Speaking of plot points, though: WHAT THE SLAPAROONY IS WITH DAVID REJECTING POWERS?
-How
-What
-???
-He can have powers?
-Who is this child?
-I guess I know why he did it but
-HOW???
If this is not answered in the next book I will stage a formal protest. There will be signs and everything. Contact Hannah Johnson for more details.
Next point of discussion: the setting was kind of fun and interesting but downright hard to call up an image for me because it was kind of so out there. Not the worldbuilding, worldbuilding is fab, but the cityBabilar. It was...interesting. How did people get the ropes? How did they connect them? Riddle me that Batman! HUh! hUH!
Overall, this book was an all-time fave. No book is without flaws, but these flaws were pretty menial. I adored it.
Lastly, THE SIMILE SCENE. Thank you for that. Bless your soul, Brandon Sanderson. I had been actually planning on writing the fact that almost all his metaphors are similes in this review, but you saved me the trouble. Adorable.
I am anxiously anticipating Calamity. (Not an actual calamity, that would be psychopathic of...nevermind. You get it.)
Because it was everything you could have asked for in a book, it was peppery in all the right places, it was salty, and the texture was extremely on point.
And then, the deeper you get into this egg, the runny part comes out combined with the fleshy part and soaks everything in its deliciousness.
You know what, I'm not actually as good at poor metaphors as David.
Firstly, we're going to talk about tone. I don't know what it was in this book, I couldn't put my finger on it, but it made every picture in my head tinted darker. So, kudos, because it really brought the world to life for me.
This also is related to the character of David. David was mainly static throughout this book, but over the series his overarching issues with Epics and who is to blame for their issues is beautiful. His characterization and cute little metaphors were constant. I can't tell you how many novels I've read in which a character is given a personality, and then in worldbuilding and plot punting the character fades into the hollow shell you use as a point of view. I found David. extremely realistic in his thought processes and emotions. For example:
I thought about my part in all of this, and whether I'd pushed Prof too hard to become a hero. How much of this was my fault? Did it matter?
Aww, look at that. Characters with actual emotions. How cute.
Other characters: Prof makes me happy. Prof makes me sad. Prof makes me want to jump off a burning building while singing and also sobbing b/c cute. His hero struggle is fascinating and fresh and new and very much alive. Jonathan Phaedrus's character got me attached. And anytime a writer can do that, it's gold.
Mizzy is adorable. Mizzy is me. Mizzy is a female novel character that is human and has emotions and isn't all that cliche.
But, she could have been explored a lot more. She was the most developed, but all the other background characters (Exel, Tia, and Val) were so underdeveloped it made me upset. There had to be something between that Sam guy and Val, right? One word: more.
Also, Dawnslight: Fab. But like, more.
Megan is a hot mess. And I guess emphasis on hot, because I adore her. I'm only going to say this once because it makes me sound like a psychopath:
Her emotional turmoil brings me a lot of joy.
But, like, in not a creepy way. Her character is very in-depth and is female, but not like Amazon warrior.
Come on, you know what I mean. I'm referring to the common idea in modern literature that for a female to be worth something she has to hate men and only kick people's butts.
That.
Speaking of turmoil, the moral ambiguity is strong with this one. Who's good? Is it the Reckoners? I mean, they're murdering people, but...Who's bad? Is it the Epics? I mean, they also murder people, but they can't really help it, right? Is it the giant man with fairy wings flaming up a storm there on the moon or something? Most likely! Maybe not! Am I evil? Who knows!
So, the plot as a whole was very enticing. Easy to read, suspenseful, and it's not often I find a book that literally makes me want to not put it down when it's two in the morning.
This time, it was the villain's motives that drove the story, which was a fun little guessing game, and let me tell you, the villain's motives were fabulous. A successor? What! Didn't see that coming. I also enjoyed Obliteration's character. The crazed religious maniac card is usually always enjoyable.
Speaking of: Plot twists got me like
Yeah. Those of you who've read this, you feel me. It was intense. It was fun. Unexpected, all of that jazz.
Speaking of plot points, though: WHAT THE SLAPAROONY IS WITH DAVID REJECTING POWERS?
-How
-What
-???
-He can have powers?
-Who is this child?
-I guess I know why he did it but
-HOW???
If this is not answered in the next book I will stage a formal protest. There will be signs and everything. Contact Hannah Johnson for more details.
Next point of discussion: the setting was kind of fun and interesting but downright hard to call up an image for me because it was kind of so out there. Not the worldbuilding, worldbuilding is fab, but the cityBabilar. It was...interesting. How did people get the ropes? How did they connect them? Riddle me that Batman! HUh! hUH!
Overall, this book was an all-time fave. No book is without flaws, but these flaws were pretty menial. I adored it.
Lastly, THE SIMILE SCENE. Thank you for that. Bless your soul, Brandon Sanderson. I had been actually planning on writing the fact that almost all his metaphors are similes in this review, but you saved me the trouble. Adorable.
I am anxiously anticipating Calamity. (Not an actual calamity, that would be psychopathic of...nevermind. You get it.)