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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Dementia, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Fatphobia
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes
Fire was even more amazing than Circle and probably my favorite book of the series. All the things I loved about the first book are here even stronger and better executed.
The plot of the Engelsfors triology becomes stranger with Fire stranger. There’s still the mystery around the chosen ones and the demons. We also start to learn about the politics that are behind the witches, namely The Council which I found interesting. Generally, magic plays a far more important role than in the first book. But another thing is going on in the town: a cult named Positive Engelsfors. As it is the nature of cults, it was so creepy, and I was sure that the cult must be somehow connected to the demons. I found it interesting to see how a cult can change the live in a small town like Engelsfors. The cult also was a perfect depiction of toxic positivity ala saying to people that are depressed that they should just smile more (urgh).
It becomes clear throughout Fire that something bad will happen because of PE, but you’re not sure when it’ll which makes it even more unsettling. But what happened shocked me so much: Elias’ mother who is seemingly the initiator of PE blames Linneá for the apparent suicide of her son, even though she was the only real friend Elias had. This leads to some boys of PE destroying Linnéa’s flat and trying to kill her. This was so terrifying to read and almost too intense for me; I believed I even had a nightmare from this scene. To make things worse, no one believes her. I felt so sorry for Linnéa – she deserves so much better .
The unsettling and dark atmosphere I loved in the first book is here more intense with scenes like the girls opening a grave or summoning ghosts . We also had a body switch which I didn’t expect: It was a bit hard at first to remember who was in the body of who, but this helped them to understand each other better and gave them a different perspective . Especially the ending crept me out with the members of PE being controlled by Olivia and her wanting to kill every single one of them. I liked her as a villain because it was quite unpredictable that it would be her. .
In this book of the series, we finally get to know the chosen ones better that were previously a bit neglected: Ida and Linnéa. We now have their POVs as well which I was hyped to read. Especially Ida has such an amazing character arc that I started to like her – I even felt sorry for her at some points which I wouldn’t have imagined before. Because of this, I was sad that she died, now that I started liking her . Besides Ida, they all had so much character development here.
I also loved to see, just like in Circle, how different the protagonists and their struggles are. Just to name one example, Vanessa is finally free from her cheating boyfriend, she deserves so much better – like Linnéa. This romance is such a good slow burn that’s building up since the first book and is still going on . It’s amazing to see how the girls are slowly becoming friends and are not just working together for the sake of it; it was only a natural reaction for them since everyone is against them.
Not only the main girls get more depth, but the side characters as well which I enjoyed so much. Characters that were only mentioned a few times before play now an important role. We meet them all again, even the seemingly minor ones because Engelsfors is such a small town. There are also some new characters from The Council where I first was not sure what to think about them, but they were interesting later on to me. I love many of the side characters we already know as well, like Adriana, Mona, or Nicolaus.
All in all, I loved everything about Fire and think that it’s a masterpiece for its genre of YA Urban Fantasy. This series is able to connect the elements of young adult and fantasy perfectly and is still as intriguing as it felt at the beginning.
Tāds diezgan OK tipiskais 2. daļas filleris, bet varēja būt plānāks.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
No
This was a really powerful sequel and the second half really shone in its story telling and character development. I can't wait to see how this trilogy ends!!
I'm a hopelessly devoted fan. Developed female teenage characters with believable flaws and interactions and insecurities and strength and growth who continue to be badass. And have magic. And save the world. While struggling with school and parents. The worlds that the authors have created doesn't fail to entertain and the plot is as fast-paced and attention-grabbing as the last one, though the resolution didn't seem to be as well orchestrated as it was in the last instalment and felt a bit tacked on. I also can't believe the actions of the main authority figures because they are so unrealistically strict and violent. I don't think that this would stand.
I would have preferred for the body count to be less high, but the last instalment already showed that the authors aren't going to spare main and recurring characters. This scares me more than a little.
Still, I'm going to start reading part three right after finishing this review, though I hope that they get to do something a little less trite - I have the feeling that witchy heroines with scooby gangs have prevented the Apocalypse so often that they all must have gotten the same campaign manual...
I would have preferred for the body count to be less high
Spoiler
- I was genuinely sad for Ida, whom I didn't like the last time around but who definitely grew into herself and seemed to be growing into an interesting young person. It's sad that she couldn't be saved by an elemental deus ex machina, Linnéa-styleStill, I'm going to start reading part three right after finishing this review, though I hope that they get to do something a little less trite - I have the feeling that witchy heroines with scooby gangs have prevented the Apocalypse so often that they all must have gotten the same campaign manual...
No podían ser menos estrellas. Me encantan los personajes de esta trilogía. Les he cogido tanto cariño y tanto aprecio. Estoy deseando saber algo sobre la tercera parte ya, y espero que finalmente puedan publicar La Llave.
