Scan barcode
elliott_the_clementine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
gemstonejasper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved how this book also tackled a lot of different themes very well. There are multiple times throughout the book where Nick's dad or another adult comments on how the main characters are still children. This is understandable considering that they are still minors. But it also works in the idea that adults aren't always right. Nick's dad, especially, is a flawed character. Nick is faced with this reality. How can this sweet, loving father whom he loves more than anything be the same person who did these other horrible things? I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the next one.
I also just want to give some credit to Michael Lesley, the man who read the audiobooks for this series. He is a master narrator. I can't imagine the story being read any other way and I truly believe that he adds something to the story that isn't there in the plain text. I don't have the words to describe how well he does in these books.
There is one content warning that isn't listed:
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, Police brutality, Violence, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Bullying, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Cursing, Confinement, and Child abuse
starsnstitchin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
evelynyle_88's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Ableism, Violence, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content, Racism, and Child abuse
sealbrecht's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Moderate: Police brutality
Minor: Murder, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Ableism
unsighted_reader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Racism, and Homophobia
victoriousbookworm's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Graphic: Ableism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Moderate: Police brutality, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content
theoldestbennetsister's review against another edition
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Hate crime, and Grief
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
asipofcozy's review
- 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
4.0
"We can't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but if we spend all our time focusing on what might happen, we could end up missing what does happen."
Going into Flash Fire, I had nothing but the highest expectations, and I was not disappointed. Klune pulled out all the stops on this one constant funny dialogue, excellent character development, more heroes and villains, and a romance that makes you swoon and cringe at the same time. I swear I was laughing so hard at some points - cackling like a hyena - that my partner honestly thought I had gone insane. Maybe I did.
"We stand together," Nick reminded him, "so we don't have to struggle apart."
What impressed me most with Flash Fire was Nicky's character development. I thought he made exceptional character growth in The Extraordinaries. I was wrong; I believe Nicky made his most significant development moves in this book. Nicky has a lot he needs to learn, and the one lesson Nicky learned most in Flash Fire is he can not make life-changing decisions about someone else and not even talk to them. There were so many moments where Nicky does this at the beginning of Flash Fire, and all you want to do is knock some sense into the kid. Throughout the book, Nicky continues to face this issue of wanting to be a part of something extraordinary yet having to come to terms with not everyone wanting his dream. I was very impressed by the end of the book to see how far Nick indeed has come. What makes this great is he still has a lot to learn, and I can see that character growth genuinely taking off in the last book.
"You want some of the Nick Experience?"
Seth gaped at him.
Nick winced. "That sounded a lot better in my head."
"Did it?" Seth asked. "Did it really?"
Then Klune brings in social justice issues that hit close to home for many - the police force, police brutality, and the unjustness of those in power. It's not only Nicky who has to go through hurdles to learn from his mistakes. Aaron (Nicks's dad) - a police officer himself - has made choices in his career that show a white man with a badge can get away with a lot. These choices come back and strike him—choices that hurt those around him, which any other person would never have gotten away with.
Another theme that Klune brings in, and I think people, especially parents, need to understand, is that respect needs to be earned both ways from parent to child. So many times, we hear, "you are the parent. Your child has to respect you, has to trust you". I do not believe this. A child is a separate entity from the parent, and the parent, like any other person, needs to gain that trust and respect. If a parent hurts a child, they have to earn that respect and confidence back. Klune does a beautiful job showing this when Nicky's dad keeps secrets that end up hurting him and understands that he has to gain that trust back from Nicky. He has to work for it and can't demand Nicky trust him because he is the parent.
I can not wait for Heat Wave. It will be an epic conclusion to such a wonderful trilogy thus far. I already have high expectations, and I don't think I will be disappointed with the conclusion. I already have a lot of theories for the final book in this series.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Ableism
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Police brutality
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Racism