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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I liked the combination of politics and magic, and the book had strong LGBT+ representation. Definitely a YA book, but with much less annoying characters/decisions than a lot of YA.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book…was subpar. I didn’t have high expectations, but I was hoping for a good YA fantasy which was where I was disappointed in. The MC was not likable, not even intriguing to excuse it. The side characters were boring and uninteresting. The only saving grace for this book was the queer representation, especially having a queer-platonic relationship. I have never seen a QPR depicted in a novel before. However the queer rep could not save this book. Besides the characters, the plot was not interesting at all. I was looking forward to political intrigue but got surface-level ideas. The world was uninteresting. I could not care about the magic either. The writing was…bland mostly but had a few interesting lines regarding the QPR. Other than that, I do not recommend this book unless you come in with very little expectations for YA fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Misogyny, Classism
Minor: Transphobia
This book was incredibly boring for literally 3/4 of the book. I hate to say it, but it’s true. Through that 3/4s the only characters I really liked were Alex and Gwendolyn, and Gwendolyn didn’t have nearly enough page time. This makes me sad to say because the queer rep in this book is great. We have MULTIPLE aromantic-spec characters—that NEVER happens. We have a NB trans masc character, who literally saved the show as I was about to DNF the book. We have Queer platonic partnerships! However, great queer rep can’t save a book when the plot is boring and the characters are mostly uninteresting. What saves this book is the last 1/4. The end of the book was seriously GREAT. The scene with Alex and Ingrid was literally me and my own QPP. And just for that it gets 3 stars instead of the 2 it probably deserves. That ending was WONDERFUL, it was. But this isn’t a four star book, no matter how hard my queer rep loving soul tries to say otherwise.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fire Becomes Her is the story of Ingrid Ellis. A girl living in a world where magic is power, and without it you can't get very far. It's also the story of Ingrid learning who she truly is, and what she really wants out of life, instead of what she thinks she wants.
~
I guess I forgot to read the general description of the book past the fact the main character is aromatic asexual, and that there's queer characters in it. The basic description of it is lavish fantasy fiction with a Jazz Age spark, and usually fantasy is a genre I avoid for the most part because of how much you have to suspend your disbelief.
~
Despite my reservations upon starting this book yesterday, I found myself enthralled in the fantasy. The queer characters weren't the forefront, or rather, their being queer wasn't. it was refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ book where that isn't made the full focus, and more a background thread.
~
"The flutter in her veins was a little bit friendship, a little bit family, and a little bit future, and she knew this feeling was more powerful than any magic."
Something I've found with a lot of books with LGBTQ+ representation is that they also come with the found family trope more often than not. And this one was no exception. Ingrid goes from someone from very humble origins, who wanted nothing more than to rise through the ranks, even if she didn't have friends around her. To Ingrid Ellis, someone part of a political campaign, and someone who found her home and her true family.
~
I guess I forgot to read the general description of the book past the fact the main character is aromatic asexual, and that there's queer characters in it. The basic description of it is lavish fantasy fiction with a Jazz Age spark, and usually fantasy is a genre I avoid for the most part because of how much you have to suspend your disbelief.
~
Despite my reservations upon starting this book yesterday, I found myself enthralled in the fantasy. The queer characters weren't the forefront, or rather, their being queer wasn't. it was refreshing to see an LGBTQ+ book where that isn't made the full focus, and more a background thread.
~
"The flutter in her veins was a little bit friendship, a little bit family, and a little bit future, and she knew this feeling was more powerful than any magic."
Something I've found with a lot of books with LGBTQ+ representation is that they also come with the found family trope more often than not. And this one was no exception. Ingrid goes from someone from very humble origins, who wanted nothing more than to rise through the ranks, even if she didn't have friends around her. To Ingrid Ellis, someone part of a political campaign, and someone who found her home and her true family.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Thor's writing is spectacular and elegant and will have you desperately turning the pages. Ingrid is the full meal deal of heroin-dom and the supporting cast is so delightful, I wanted to adopt them all. There is so much to love about this story and it captured me heart and soul. But it has, hands down, some of the BEST QUEER REP I've read in fiction. It offers various interpretations of queer identities--because, guess what? All queer people are different! There's no monolith! I was delighted to see the ace rep and trans rep and lesbians and gays and...look, it's magnificent and is gay af and you should all read it.
Furthermore, perhaps my favorite aspect is the focus on platonic love and demi/ace love. As a demi, I would have loved to see this on the shelf as a teen--need more books like this. Just like there are all types of queers, there are all kinds of love and platonic love with on emphasis on developing deep emotional and mental bonds is something I would love to see more of in books. Fire Becomes Her delivers on this aspect and is another reason it's so flare-tastic!
Also, it's a fantastic socio-political allegory and is filled with hilarious puns.
14/10 would recommend.
Furthermore, perhaps my favorite aspect is the focus on platonic love and demi/ace love. As a demi, I would have loved to see this on the shelf as a teen--need more books like this. Just like there are all types of queers, there are all kinds of love and platonic love with on emphasis on developing deep emotional and mental bonds is something I would love to see more of in books. Fire Becomes Her delivers on this aspect and is another reason it's so flare-tastic!
Also, it's a fantastic socio-political allegory and is filled with hilarious puns.
14/10 would recommend.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Unfortunately dnf :( I was excited for the ace rep but the main character is a bit unlikable and the plot is very slow and politically oriented, not my cup of tea