Reviews

I just finished reading The House is on Fire yesterday and enjoyed the story. One of the biggest things I look for in a good book is whether or not it kept my attention from the start and this one did. I appreciated having 4 different points of view for the same event (Richmond Theatre fire) that affected so many in totally different ways. I found reading about the fire itself and not just the aftermath helped me relate to the storyline which doesn't always happen.

The characters were likable although I felt sorry for Cecily and Gilbert for all they had to experience. I am thankful that Jack was able to work through the incident and move forward. Sally was my favorite character though - she was a shining light in an emotional time.

At the end of the book, Rachel Beanland gave us more insight into the fire and the actual people she based the characters on. This was a great addition and made me want to find out more about the fire plus the people that experienced the fire. The amount of research put into the book helped lend credibility to the story and made it feel all the more "real".

The only wish I have after reading is to know more about what happened to the four characters before the book ended...knowing they all faced turning points at the end made me wonder what happened to them 6 months or a year later. Having the wrap up in the author's note helped, but I still felt like I was left hanging a bit.

Overall, I liked the book - 4 stars - and would recommend it! The thoughts shared here are mine and this review is voluntary. Thanks to NetGalley as well as Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this story!

shannontay's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5. This is a fascinating historical fiction novel that explores the true story of a fire that killed close to 100 people in Richmond, VA in 1811. I loved the characters in the book (several of whom are real people, and several inspired by real people). Again, I’m horrified by our nation’s history of enslaving humans (obviously part of a story in Virginia in the early 1800’s)

julieclair's review against another edition

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informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Fascinating, well-researched historical fiction about a tragic theater fire in Richmond, Virginia in 1811. Told from 4 points of view: a young white orphaned boy working as a stage hand, an enslaved woman who accompanied her mistress as her chaperone, an enslaved man who became a hero, and a well-to-do white woman who was sitting in a box seat. The narrative follows them before, during and after the fire. Excellently drawn main and supporting characters. Sad, but great reading.

Content Warnings

lauriehindman's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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