Scan barcode
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
5.0
An astute, well-judged novel, about a young woman who is a Pacific Islander living in a magical version of New Zealand. Canny is a math genius, strong-minded and courageous, and dislocated from the world. When she, her stepbrother, and his girlfriend, travel to the rural Zarene Valley, she discovers a new side of herself. She's always seen 'Extra', patterns of symbols and numbers that no one else can see. In the Valley, she begins to discover what these symbols mean, and how that relates to who she is. The magical elements of the novel are imaginative and logical, and the story is fast-paced, hinging on believable characters and a beautiful, rural world. This is connected to Knox's Dreamhunter novels, but these are not required reading to follow this book: it is a rich, complex world, complete in itself, although the story leaves you wanting more. A delightful reread.
Review from 2016:
Really wonderful novel. Surprised me at every turn. I loved the main character: how difficult she is, how prickly, how resourceful. The magical elements are so well thought-out and fit into the world the author creates, which is based on New Zealand of the 1950s, but is not exactly the same. The plot is well-judged and keeps the reader guessing while also being completely satisfying and works within the internal logic of the story.
Review from 2016:
Really wonderful novel. Surprised me at every turn. I loved the main character: how difficult she is, how prickly, how resourceful. The magical elements are so well thought-out and fit into the world the author creates, which is based on New Zealand of the 1950s, but is not exactly the same. The plot is well-judged and keeps the reader guessing while also being completely satisfying and works within the internal logic of the story.
awall14's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
missprint_'s review against another edition
2.0
Setting this aside because I genuinely can't decide if it's me or the book. I might go back to it. But I probably won't and that's okay.
The Dreamhunter books are two of my favorite titles. Years after reading them, I often find myself still thinking about those stories and Elizabeth Knox's beautiful writing. Needless to say I was excited for Mortal Fire.
I think the main problem with this book is that I went into it wanting more of what I found in Dreamhunter (and Tziga Hame is mentioned in passing reference as a historical figure in the novel) but the time period wasn't as charming, the setting wasn't as charming, and the main characters were not as endearing as those found in Dreamhunter. It may not have been the book's fault and I may yet come back to it. However as of this writing I couldn't get into and, honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to because Canny never quite won me over.
The Dreamhunter books are two of my favorite titles. Years after reading them, I often find myself still thinking about those stories and Elizabeth Knox's beautiful writing. Needless to say I was excited for Mortal Fire.
I think the main problem with this book is that I went into it wanting more of what I found in Dreamhunter (and Tziga Hame is mentioned in passing reference as a historical figure in the novel) but the time period wasn't as charming, the setting wasn't as charming, and the main characters were not as endearing as those found in Dreamhunter. It may not have been the book's fault and I may yet come back to it. However as of this writing I couldn't get into and, honestly, I wasn't sure I wanted to because Canny never quite won me over.
taniplea's review against another edition
5.0
It took me a while to get into it, but the magic and its system were absolutely wonderful.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
I read like an amateur these days (slowly, with lots of distractions). If I find a book that's hard to put down and makes me pick it up even when I'd rather be sleeping, I know I've got something good. I'm having a hard time being articulate about books lately, or analyzing exactly why something works for me, but this one worked. I didn't care that the plot felt non-existent, then meandering, before finally getting gripping. I loved the atmosphere, the world-building, the prickly characters, and the way it all came together in the end. People who read for plot won't feel that way. That's okay - I loved it.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
https://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2020/03/2020-book-46.html
I really liked Knox's Absolute Book and wanted to try one of her other books, and this one was just an interesting! It’s set in a world very similar to our own, and the protagonist is a math genius teen in 1959, daughter of a famously heroic Indigenous mother. Oh yeah, and she can see things no one else does. She’s being sent away with her older stepbrother and his girlfriend, who are off on an academic research trip, but wants to stay behind to keep visiting her best friend, who is in an iron lung (polio). But when they arrive, things start to seem a little odd, and she's determined to solve it all. There's lots of magic and a little romance (which didn’t really work for me but whatever), and just when I thought things were going to be a big bummer, they got awesome. I will definitely be reading more by Knox. A-.
I really liked Knox's Absolute Book and wanted to try one of her other books, and this one was just an interesting! It’s set in a world very similar to our own, and the protagonist is a math genius teen in 1959, daughter of a famously heroic Indigenous mother. Oh yeah, and she can see things no one else does. She’s being sent away with her older stepbrother and his girlfriend, who are off on an academic research trip, but wants to stay behind to keep visiting her best friend, who is in an iron lung (polio). But when they arrive, things start to seem a little odd, and she's determined to solve it all. There's lots of magic and a little romance (which didn’t really work for me but whatever), and just when I thought things were going to be a big bummer, they got awesome. I will definitely be reading more by Knox. A-.
owlishbookish's review against another edition
3.0
This review originally appeared on Book Brats on July 17, 2013.
The plot synopsis of Mortal Fire absolutely fascinated me from the very beginning. The idea of a hidden valley filled with magic is an intriguing one. I also felt attracted to the idea of a mysterious young man being entrapped by a magic spell rather than the damsel in distress that so often accompanies plots of that nature. For the most part, all of that was found the pages of Mortal Fire. What I didn’t expect was the setting I encountered. I was also taken by surprise by the often vague and circuitous turns in the protagonist’s thoughts and the plot itself. Mortal Fire certainly made for an interesting read in more ways than one.
Canny Mochrie was such an enigma to me. On one side, you have an amazingly talented girl with more potential than even she knows. Both a math whiz and a girl with an unexpected knack for an almost forgotten magic, Canny at first gives off the appearance of a golden child. The other side of Canny, however, is slightly more tarnished. This side of Canny holds feelings of suspicion, distrust, anger, and bitterness. Some of it is understandable considering her situation at home. The rest, however, comes from some place else. It is this mysterious aspect of Canny that leads her down roads she is warned against, into actions that perhaps aren’t wise, and into trusting those of dubious nature. All of this makes her a complex protagonist that keeps the reader guessing and unable to fully understand the person Canny is.
The plot is where Mortal Fire very nearly lost me. Consistency is key and when the book in question doesn’t have a consistent pace, it’s very difficult to keep your attention tuned to the overall story. I very nearly missed the complexity of Canny because of it. At times, the pace was riveting and moved along nicely. At others, I found my attention wandering and seriously contemplated putting it down forever. While I am glad that I eventually finished the book, I won’t be dishonest about the difficulty I encountered doing so. The storyline had some brilliant aspects that easily captured my attention. However, there were also bits and pieces that left me feeling as though I was missing something. Re-reading the passages in question did nothing to enlighten me, so I had to go on with the feelings of confusion unabated. Overall, I think the plot could have done with less filler, as that is what I felt a lot of the wording to be. The story was made needlessly complicated by certain word choices and unnecessary pieces of this narrative puzzle.
Mortal Fire had a great deal of potential from what I discerned of the book as a whole. But for the above mentioned problems, it would have been a fantastic book. There were some beautifully written sentences buried within the mired down chapters, which were nearly missed entirely. However, I will say that I found the characters to be more than intriguing. Said characters coupled with the setting are what made this book able to keep my attention. Mortal Fire has some great qualities, but requires a great deal of patience in order to experience all of its potential.
The plot synopsis of Mortal Fire absolutely fascinated me from the very beginning. The idea of a hidden valley filled with magic is an intriguing one. I also felt attracted to the idea of a mysterious young man being entrapped by a magic spell rather than the damsel in distress that so often accompanies plots of that nature. For the most part, all of that was found the pages of Mortal Fire. What I didn’t expect was the setting I encountered. I was also taken by surprise by the often vague and circuitous turns in the protagonist’s thoughts and the plot itself. Mortal Fire certainly made for an interesting read in more ways than one.
Canny Mochrie was such an enigma to me. On one side, you have an amazingly talented girl with more potential than even she knows. Both a math whiz and a girl with an unexpected knack for an almost forgotten magic, Canny at first gives off the appearance of a golden child. The other side of Canny, however, is slightly more tarnished. This side of Canny holds feelings of suspicion, distrust, anger, and bitterness. Some of it is understandable considering her situation at home. The rest, however, comes from some place else. It is this mysterious aspect of Canny that leads her down roads she is warned against, into actions that perhaps aren’t wise, and into trusting those of dubious nature. All of this makes her a complex protagonist that keeps the reader guessing and unable to fully understand the person Canny is.
The plot is where Mortal Fire very nearly lost me. Consistency is key and when the book in question doesn’t have a consistent pace, it’s very difficult to keep your attention tuned to the overall story. I very nearly missed the complexity of Canny because of it. At times, the pace was riveting and moved along nicely. At others, I found my attention wandering and seriously contemplated putting it down forever. While I am glad that I eventually finished the book, I won’t be dishonest about the difficulty I encountered doing so. The storyline had some brilliant aspects that easily captured my attention. However, there were also bits and pieces that left me feeling as though I was missing something. Re-reading the passages in question did nothing to enlighten me, so I had to go on with the feelings of confusion unabated. Overall, I think the plot could have done with less filler, as that is what I felt a lot of the wording to be. The story was made needlessly complicated by certain word choices and unnecessary pieces of this narrative puzzle.
Mortal Fire had a great deal of potential from what I discerned of the book as a whole. But for the above mentioned problems, it would have been a fantastic book. There were some beautifully written sentences buried within the mired down chapters, which were nearly missed entirely. However, I will say that I found the characters to be more than intriguing. Said characters coupled with the setting are what made this book able to keep my attention. Mortal Fire has some great qualities, but requires a great deal of patience in order to experience all of its potential.
sungmemoonstruck's review against another edition
4.0
Canny is a mathematical prodigy who can see something Extra in the world around her. When she goes with her stepbrother and his girlfriend on a trip to the site of an old coal mine disaster, she's plunged into a world of magic and mystery. Like Knox's other books set in Southland, Mortal Fire is full of exquisite detail and a fully developed world and characters. The plot is truly unpredictable, as its twists and turns are never what the reader thinks they'll be. It's challenging, but ultimately rewarding. What kept this book from being 5 stars for me, however, was Canny. She was a complex and intriguing character, but I couldn't like or sympathize with her. Like Laura in the Dreamhunter Duet, she often makes questionable decisions but I couldn't see her side of the story like I could with Laura. Instead I often found myself being tired of her lying and manipulating everyone around her, even if her intentions were honorable. Overall, a book for committed and patient readers who will appreciate the rich world, ideas, and plot.
groundedwanderlust's review against another edition
3.0
I found it hard to rate Mortal Fire. On one hand, the book is fantastic. The writing style is gorgeous. The author picked a very interesting plot to follow and did not get sidetracked. The world building and character development was good as well. On the other hand, the story was horribly convoluted. I found the characters to be unusually cruel to each other one moment and then kind and attentive the next (Sholto and Cyrus being the two main examples). In the end, I just didn't enjoy the book.