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marieintheraw's review
3.0
Overall, I am interested in where this story could head.
Spoiler-free Review: ~Coming Soon~
I received a review copy of this through the author in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiler-free Review: ~Coming Soon~
I received a review copy of this through the author in exchange for an honest review.
debbie_likes_to_read_books's review
First DNF of 2022, I was just burnt out and unmotivated to read sorry Ana, I will pick it up however bc I see potential in this book and Ana was so kind to reachout to me. Until I have my strength to continue I will pick it up once I am better. Until then, I will have to DNF this book
piasbookshelf's review
2.0
I would like to thank the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is completely voluntary and honest.
I truly feel bad for rating this book low, especially since the author was kind enough to send this to me in exchange for an honest review. However, this book was not for me and I ended up DNFing it at 22%.
The writing style is personal preference for each reader, so I am only speaking on it when it comes to my own preference. The writing itself was not for me and I also didn’t enjoy that sound effects were written out throughout the story. It did throw me off a little bit.
I also found it difficult to connect with the characters which was why I wasn’t hooked on the book as I read it.
However, if you’re looking for a quick read about a superhero type of story, this may be a read for you!
I truly feel bad for rating this book low, especially since the author was kind enough to send this to me in exchange for an honest review. However, this book was not for me and I ended up DNFing it at 22%.
The writing style is personal preference for each reader, so I am only speaking on it when it comes to my own preference. The writing itself was not for me and I also didn’t enjoy that sound effects were written out throughout the story. It did throw me off a little bit.
I also found it difficult to connect with the characters which was why I wasn’t hooked on the book as I read it.
However, if you’re looking for a quick read about a superhero type of story, this may be a read for you!
kayemcie's review
4.0
Thank you so much to Ana for reaching out to me and sending a copy of Fire Wave for an honest review.
Fire Wave is a fun, fast paced novel centered around Aiyana, a young woman looking to be a hero. There is an evil afoot on Earth and she can't help but stick her nose in places she shouldn't.
While the book is on the shorter side, and in some ways very simplistic, Aiyana is still a relatable character. She's got a normal job, some friends, but doesn't know her true purpose in life. She wants to feel important.
This was the first book I've read in a while that is purely plot driven. The world isn't extensively expanded upon, but offers enough to imagine that it could be just like every other major city on Earth. I think this was a very enjoyable read and loved all the fights scenes, as they were easy to follow along.
Fire Wave is a fun, fast paced novel centered around Aiyana, a young woman looking to be a hero. There is an evil afoot on Earth and she can't help but stick her nose in places she shouldn't.
While the book is on the shorter side, and in some ways very simplistic, Aiyana is still a relatable character. She's got a normal job, some friends, but doesn't know her true purpose in life. She wants to feel important.
This was the first book I've read in a while that is purely plot driven. The world isn't extensively expanded upon, but offers enough to imagine that it could be just like every other major city on Earth. I think this was a very enjoyable read and loved all the fights scenes, as they were easy to follow along.
haileyylibrary's review
3.0
➝3 stars
This book wasn't bad, I definitely think I would have liked it more if it had been more developed and mature, but it seemed more of a middle grade book. It started off a little too fast paced for me, with the main characters deciding to break into a crime scene and 'investigate' 10 pgs into the book. The dialogue and characters were a little bland, and I would've loved to know more about the mc at the beginning or any character in general.
Despite all this, I did love the idea of the book, with aliens, superpowers, and such. I loved the plot and surprises throughout this book, and really enjoyed the fight scenes and how well and descriptive they were written. I would recommend this for middle graders and/or people who love superhero stories :)
- Thanks to the author for sending me a free e-copy!
This book wasn't bad, I definitely think I would have liked it more if it had been more developed and mature, but it seemed more of a middle grade book. It started off a little too fast paced for me, with the main characters deciding to break into a crime scene and 'investigate' 10 pgs into the book. The dialogue and characters were a little bland, and I would've loved to know more about the mc at the beginning or any character in general.
Despite all this, I did love the idea of the book, with aliens, superpowers, and such. I loved the plot and surprises throughout this book, and really enjoyed the fight scenes and how well and descriptive they were written. I would recommend this for middle graders and/or people who love superhero stories :)
- Thanks to the author for sending me a free e-copy!
marybeebooks's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
The author of Fire Wave reached out to me and sent me a PDF in exchange for a review. This book reminds me a lot of Gentleman’s Club, by N.T. Herrgott. This is a fun read that could definitely be read in one sitting. There are a few things to note such as the story jumping from different characters without noting whose perspective we are in. I feel like if maybe each section started with the characters name, it would be a little easier on the reader. There were also lots of sound noises such as BAM, CLANK, etc. I feel like a lot of this could be taken out and not affect the story. Reading a few took me out of the story a bit. There is an unexpected twist with the hero/villain pair at the end which I enjoyed. Lots of questions I had through the story are somewhat answered at the end as well. This story sets up the future of the characters very well. While this wasn’t my favorite read, I did enjoy it.
bookish_realms's review
3.0
Fire Wave by Ana Stanojevic
_________________________________
Full disclosure, I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
So that being stated, let’s get into it. Very, very minor spoilers (nothing plot relevant.)
FireWave is a fast paced book where (super?)heroes meet aliens. Being YA, this book has a lot of action to it. That being said, the book felt it jumped from action scene to action scene, leaving little to explore or allowing the reader to get to know the character (not plural because the side characters are VERY side, and essentially have no effect on the story.) I also felt the villain could have been explored more the they were. They were a bad guy for the sake of needing a bad guy. Also easily 50% into the story and the side characters seem so background that they are equivalent to the people the MC passes on the street at this point.
I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars simply for the fact that it needs a lot more fleshing out. I need to get to know the characters to be able to root for them and be invested in their growth. Also, some of the concepts for the hero weren’t well explained. For example, she uses chains similar to Spider-Man’s web slingers, a baton, and throwing stars… which she all made in a tiny apartment (granted, she already had the baton.) She specifically mentions her lack of access to resources but somehow has retractable chain slingers and throwing stars that are fully functional on the first use. Also as someone who has taken self defense classes, I don’t see someone who took someone casual self defense classes being on the same level as Robin/Spider-Man/etc.
The other reason for the lower end of the review is while the writing is simplistic, I think it would have flowed better if there weren’t so many “sound” lines, such a “thwack!” or “thwang!” The reason I say this is that when I would become invested in a scene, this would immediately take me out and I’d have to get reoriented for what was going on.
I think with being more fleshed out and having more investment in the character rather than the action, the book has a lot of potential. There are some editing/grammatical errors, but nothing entirely major and those can be fixed with a decent editor. Everything seems to come super easy for the MC so besides the alien, there isn’t much conflict with the lack of side characters and everything seeming to go routinely well for the MC.
I will say I wish there was something actually making the hero “super” rather than a normal every day person who gets curious and dons some tights. Given that, the story has a lot of potential to develop the main character more and add in some side characters that existed for more than a couple pages.
_________________________________
Full disclosure, I was given a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.
So that being stated, let’s get into it. Very, very minor spoilers (nothing plot relevant.)
FireWave is a fast paced book where (super?)heroes meet aliens. Being YA, this book has a lot of action to it. That being said, the book felt it jumped from action scene to action scene, leaving little to explore or allowing the reader to get to know the character (not plural because the side characters are VERY side, and essentially have no effect on the story.) I also felt the villain could have been explored more the they were. They were a bad guy for the sake of needing a bad guy. Also easily 50% into the story and the side characters seem so background that they are equivalent to the people the MC passes on the street at this point.
I give this book 2.5 out of 5 stars simply for the fact that it needs a lot more fleshing out. I need to get to know the characters to be able to root for them and be invested in their growth. Also, some of the concepts for the hero weren’t well explained. For example, she uses chains similar to Spider-Man’s web slingers, a baton, and throwing stars… which she all made in a tiny apartment (granted, she already had the baton.) She specifically mentions her lack of access to resources but somehow has retractable chain slingers and throwing stars that are fully functional on the first use. Also as someone who has taken self defense classes, I don’t see someone who took someone casual self defense classes being on the same level as Robin/Spider-Man/etc.
The other reason for the lower end of the review is while the writing is simplistic, I think it would have flowed better if there weren’t so many “sound” lines, such a “thwack!” or “thwang!” The reason I say this is that when I would become invested in a scene, this would immediately take me out and I’d have to get reoriented for what was going on.
I think with being more fleshed out and having more investment in the character rather than the action, the book has a lot of potential. There are some editing/grammatical errors, but nothing entirely major and those can be fixed with a decent editor. Everything seems to come super easy for the MC so besides the alien, there isn’t much conflict with the lack of side characters and everything seeming to go routinely well for the MC.
I will say I wish there was something actually making the hero “super” rather than a normal every day person who gets curious and dons some tights. Given that, the story has a lot of potential to develop the main character more and add in some side characters that existed for more than a couple pages.
booktasticallyamazing's review
3.0
Special thanks to the author for a digital copy in exchange for a review!
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brightbeautifulthings's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
When her workplace, Ihode Labs, is the second chemical company to be attacked in Iron City, Aiyana decides to take the investigation into her own hands. What begins as snooping around in a mask quickly develops into a full-on superhero persona that she calls Fire Wave. As Fire Wave, Aiyana discovers that something ancient, powerful, and other-worldly is threatening planet Earth–and she might be in way over her head. I received a free e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Trigger warnings: death, body horror, fire/explosions, injury, threats, ableism.
This is a fast-paced and action-packed superhero origin story, and I would recommend it for fans of books that are heavily plot-centered. The novel opens on Aiyana first deciding to investigate an attack on her own, and nearly every one after shows her learning the ropes of her new superhero persona, investigating, or fighting off villains. While she doesn’t have any super powers (à la Batwoman), her technology and weapons are creative and interesting, and there are several fun, well-described fight scenes between her and the book’s major villain where Aiyana has to be smarter in order to survive against someone with actual super powers.
The book is weaker in character though. While I really enjoyed Stanojevic’s sassy female villain, Opsidia, and her commitment to evil, we know almost nothing about Aiyana. She has no history, no friends or significant connections, and almost no conversations with anyone outside of Opsidia or the police force, and it shows. I had no idea why she suddenly decided to investigate something in her city or what personal motivations drove her to become Fire Wave. Had she been established more effectively, I think some of the later plot points would have gone over more smoothly.
The writing is also a bit clunky at times, with too many adverbs (”smiling slyly,” “chuckled deviously”) and not enough genuine descriptions or insights into characters, and occasionally cheesy dialogue. There’s also a direct repeat of a scene from the beginning chapters that’s wholly unnecessary. However, it’s a first novel and an indie-pub at that, and the series shows a lot of room for improvement. I like the world-building that’s set up with Opsidia’s home planet and their planned takeover of Earth, and I’m interested in their true agenda and the mysterious shadowy figure that accompanies her. I also like the tentative rapport that’s established between Aiyana and Opsidia, and I feel like there’s a lot of room to explore that later in the trilogy.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
This is a fast-paced and action-packed superhero origin story, and I would recommend it for fans of books that are heavily plot-centered. The novel opens on Aiyana first deciding to investigate an attack on her own, and nearly every one after shows her learning the ropes of her new superhero persona, investigating, or fighting off villains. While she doesn’t have any super powers (à la Batwoman), her technology and weapons are creative and interesting, and there are several fun, well-described fight scenes between her and the book’s major villain where Aiyana has to be smarter in order to survive against someone with actual super powers.
The book is weaker in character though. While I really enjoyed Stanojevic’s sassy female villain, Opsidia, and her commitment to evil, we know almost nothing about Aiyana. She has no history, no friends or significant connections, and almost no conversations with anyone outside of Opsidia or the police force, and it shows. I had no idea why she suddenly decided to investigate something in her city or what personal motivations drove her to become Fire Wave. Had she been established more effectively, I think some of the later plot points would have gone over more smoothly.
The writing is also a bit clunky at times, with too many adverbs (”smiling slyly,” “chuckled deviously”) and not enough genuine descriptions or insights into characters, and occasionally cheesy dialogue. There’s also a direct repeat of a scene from the beginning chapters that’s wholly unnecessary. However, it’s a first novel and an indie-pub at that, and the series shows a lot of room for improvement. I like the world-building that’s set up with Opsidia’s home planet and their planned takeover of Earth, and I’m interested in their true agenda and the mysterious shadowy figure that accompanies her. I also like the tentative rapport that’s established between Aiyana and Opsidia, and I feel like there’s a lot of room to explore that later in the trilogy.
I review regularly at brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.