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cinn_vida's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Cancer
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Much like Die For Me and Blood and Chocolate, I really like Firelight and I don’t have a particularly good reason as to why. They’re all part of the same genre of tangled love triangles and young paranormal romance and messy YA fantasy which I usually hate but not always. It’s a tricky balance and general speaking, these are the types of books I slot into my “guilty pleasures” reading list.
Firelight is about Jacinda, a young draki, who is forcibly removed from her pride and into a desert town where her mother and sister encourage her to “be happy” and “stopping selfish” as the heat and isolation slowly kill the draki side of her. I think one of the reasons I stick with Firelight is because I genuinely like Jacinda and feel for her. The way she responds to things and her mix of anger and determination remind me of the person I was at her age. The people around her are overbearing and constantly trying to define her identity and it leads to her feeling trapped and unhappy for herself, but guilty about what she is doing to others, akin to gaslighting. It’s an uncomfortable place to be in, but I don’t feel Jordan has ever suggested it is “okay”.
I want Jacinda to win. I really do. I want her to find that third path that will let her pick her own destiny rather than be broken into a shape that others find pleasing. That’s why I like Firelight. I’m invested in this character. She deserves a win.
The romance itself is tacky and unbelievable. The relationships form way too quickly, the teenagers get away with a bunch of stuff, and the parents are fairly uninvolved. The “love story” borders on obsession. As Jordan is a successful historical romance writer, this swing makes sense coming from her, even if it’s a bit ridiculous. To me, the romance isn’t the plot. Jacinda’s future and identity is the plot. Other readers may disagree.
I enjoyed the draki as mythological creatures and I really want to know more about them. The closest I can describe them are dragon-shapeshifters, but Jacinda herself shuts down the word “dragon”. The mythological aspects of the world building are interesting to me even though the contemporary aspects are stereotypical and dull. The story behind the draki and the hunters rolls out slowly throughout the book, so it’s easy to see that Jordan is still presenting her world rather than info-dumping too much at the beginning, which I can appreciate.
Can I recommend Firelight as a good book everyone should read? No, absolutely not. I can recommend Firelight as an easy ready that’s a bit cheesy but has enough character and development to be enjoyable to the right reader. I like it, but I am fully aware it is no masterpiece. If you want something indulgent and quick, it’s not a bad read at all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol and Stalking
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