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lizlbarrett's review
3.0
This one was not as good as the last one, the teaching plot line felt underdeveloped and I didn’t really get Daja as a character here other than ‘large and stoic.’ The main plot was kind of impressively dark for a preteen book, but I wished there was more tie in to the other plots and more payoff at the end
moondom's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
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? No
4.25
jothaniel's review
5.0
Mrs. Pierce just keeps putting out hit after hit. I wish there was a little more mystery to this one is my only complaint. I think it would have served the novel a little better if the reveal or the arsonist came a little later. But it still does a beautiful job as is. Daja you are my queen!
nbhatta's review
5.0
I really liked this one. I enjoyed the descriptions of life up north. I enjoyed the description of pyromania. It has a good villain. And I really enjoyed seeing how advanced Daja had gotten with her blacksmithing.
kes7706's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, Child death, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
bookishpapercuts's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hoosgracie's review
4.0
Daja has been traveling with Frostpine and they are spending the winter in Namorn with his friends. When she discovers the twins in the family have magic, she must find them teachers and teach them meditation herself. Meanwhile, because the city is built of wood, fire is a problem. She meets Bennat Ladradun, a local businessman who lost his family in a fire and is now a firefighter. When someone starts setting fires, they work together to stop them.Excellent book in the series.
anneb42's review
4.0
Okay. Whoa. This whole series is a lot darker and grittier than the Magic Circle series, but this book takes the cake so far. It's also the first one I've read instead of listening to in a long time, so my interpretation might be somewhat colored by that.
It's unusual in fiction, much less J/YA fiction, to be given a character you build trust in only to find that they're monstrous. Pierce doesn't stop there, though - the villain in this book offers point-of-view reflection, and the reader is given full access to his emotions and motivations. He's made a sympathetic character, even in the unquestionably horrible things he does, in that you understand why (not that you actually support him). Even as an adult reader, I feel weirdly betrayed and unsettled by this; it really is masterful.
There are also some great moments in the book - Daja is one of my favorites, and Frostpine is overall amazing.
It's unusual in fiction, much less J/YA fiction, to be given a character you build trust in only to find that they're monstrous. Pierce doesn't stop there, though - the villain in this book offers point-of-view reflection, and the reader is given full access to his emotions and motivations. He's made a sympathetic character, even in the unquestionably horrible things he does, in that you understand why (not that you actually support him). Even as an adult reader, I feel weirdly betrayed and unsettled by this; it really is masterful.
There are also some great moments in the book - Daja is one of my favorites, and Frostpine is overall amazing.
sbauer378's review
3.0
3.5 stars. Overall, I enjoy this book. I love the descriptions of the city and the layout of it. It sounds like a gorgeous place that I'd love to visit if it was real. Though, some of the descriptions are a bit nonsensical. An accent sounding like a tasty bit of cheese, what?
I dislike Daja's characterization in this book, she's very self-deprecating, especially when it comes to her magic. She's always been so confident before and it felt strange to me. She also has a few new magical abilities which seem like bullshit. I can kind of get behind her being able to see things that happened when she touches some metal, the idea that inanimate objects can hold memories. But not her being to feel what Ben feels while touching it, she's not an empath, it makes no sense.
I dislike Daja's characterization in this book, she's very self-deprecating, especially when it comes to her magic. She's always been so confident before and it felt strange to me. She also has a few new magical abilities which seem like bullshit. I can kind of get behind her being able to see things that happened when she touches some metal, the idea that inanimate objects can hold memories. But not her being to feel what Ben feels while touching it, she's not an empath, it makes no sense.