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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
This was a good YA novel. The protagonist was kind of boring and made a lot of mistakes. We follow her so closely that I felt the story itself was a little boring, too, but I liked the setting and general message. Throughout the book I kept being reminded how much I do not like 1st person present. Not sure if that was because of the narration or the writing. Would not recommend the audiobook.
Great fantasy with well-developed characters and interesting magic: 7.9/10!
This is the first book by Z. Córdova I've read, and I'm happy to be introduced to her work. Incendiary started as a "good enough" book for me, then the scheming picks up, you start to realize things might not be quite as they seem, and by the end, I was hooked. Give me book two now, please. lol
There were a few logical issues throughout this which bothered me a little, from small things that should have been picked up in editing such as describing the weather as cloudy and right after talking about the glittering stars, or the night being so dark Ren couldn't see the other person, then without further explanation, there's a half-moon and she can observe him clearly... little, let's say, continuity errors. Then there are bigger issues with the plot, like what exactly the limitations to the magics are, or
Characters - 10/10
Atmosphere - 7/10
Writing style - 7/10
Plot - 9/10
Intrigue - 8/10
Logic - 6/10
Enjoyment - 8/10
This is the first book by Z. Córdova I've read, and I'm happy to be introduced to her work. Incendiary started as a "good enough" book for me, then the scheming picks up, you start to realize things might not be quite as they seem, and by the end, I was hooked. Give me book two now, please. lol
There were a few logical issues throughout this which bothered me a little, from small things that should have been picked up in editing such as describing the weather as cloudy and right after talking about the glittering stars, or the night being so dark Ren couldn't see the other person, then without further explanation, there's a half-moon and she can observe him clearly... little, let's say, continuity errors. Then there are bigger issues with the plot, like what exactly the limitations to the magics are, or
Spoiler
breaking into the most secure prison in the country super easily because "there are (conveniently) fewer guards than expected", or somehow fitting 3 dozen Moria into a single carriage, but nothing that really took away from the plot, which is ingenious and mixes fantasy, political drama, intrigue and people who surprise you - my favorite combination. I can't wait to read more of Ren's adventures!Characters - 10/10
Atmosphere - 7/10
Writing style - 7/10
Plot - 9/10
Intrigue - 8/10
Logic - 6/10
Enjoyment - 8/10
DNF/page 80
After reading ⅔ of the “Brooklyn Brujas” series I wanted to love this book, too. So I’m all the more disappointed with it. I was bored, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t find anything in there that would convince me to continue this journey. I’ll give this author another chance with other books, but this one was clearly not for me.
After reading ⅔ of the “Brooklyn Brujas” series I wanted to love this book, too. So I’m all the more disappointed with it. I was bored, I didn’t connect with any of the characters. I didn’t find anything in there that would convince me to continue this journey. I’ll give this author another chance with other books, but this one was clearly not for me.
Was really struggling to absorb the story. Too many names and factions thrown in right from the beginning.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
a lot of it was boring and i skimmed it but the ending... interesting
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-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
Content warnings: Death of a loved one, grief, genocide, war
Renata has a kind of magic that allows her to take memories from people. Not that she can see their memories, but she will literally take them and the person will no longer remember them. However, she lives in a world where having magic is persecuted and you will be killed if someone finds out. Renata works for the Whispers, who are a group of rebels fighting against the crown. When a plan goes awry because of Renata’s powers she goes undercover at the palace to try to fix everything.
This book does not give you room to breathe from the word “go”. I absolutely love when books just hit the ground running, and Incendiary is one of those books. You get thrown in the action and the world-building happens throughout said action. The pacing on this just doesn’t let you rest and I absolutely loved it. I read it in such a short space of time.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.com/2020/04/29/incendiary-by-zoraida-cordova-review/
Renata has a kind of magic that allows her to take memories from people. Not that she can see their memories, but she will literally take them and the person will no longer remember them. However, she lives in a world where having magic is persecuted and you will be killed if someone finds out. Renata works for the Whispers, who are a group of rebels fighting against the crown. When a plan goes awry because of Renata’s powers she goes undercover at the palace to try to fix everything.
This book does not give you room to breathe from the word “go”. I absolutely love when books just hit the ground running, and Incendiary is one of those books. You get thrown in the action and the world-building happens throughout said action. The pacing on this just doesn’t let you rest and I absolutely loved it. I read it in such a short space of time.
Continue my review here: https://kirstyreadsblog.com/2020/04/29/incendiary-by-zoraida-cordova-review/
Title Incendiary
Author Zoraida Córdova
Release Date April 28, 2020
Description from Amazon
I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.
Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King’s Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King’s Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.
Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred-or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace.
When Dez, the commander of her unit-and the boy she’s grown to love – is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to Andalucia and complete Dez’s top secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.
But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom-and end the war that has cost her everything.
Initial Thoughts
I’ve seen a lot of hype around this release so I was excited to get my hands on an ARC via NetGalley. Claire Legrand, one of my favorite authors, recommended it quite highly and that was a major selling point for me.
Some Things I Liked
Spanish references. I loved the references to Spain, Spanish as a language, and Spanish history.
Magic system. It was a very unique element to make all of the magic focused on the mind. I thought this made the fighting more dynamic (as no one has elemental or superhuman abilities).
Leo. He was a fantastic character. You didn’t quite trust him, but you didn’t totally distrust him either. I enjoyed all of the scenes with Leo and hope to see more of him in future sequels.
Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
I wasn’t a fan of the title. I think there were more fitting titles that could have been chosen for this book.
Transparency in the plot. I won’t lie, I saw through the entire plot twist, less than 100 pages into the book. I didn’t love how predictable the story was.
Series Value
I’d continue with this series. The world is well designed, the magic is interesting, and there is a lot left unresolved with the characters. I’m invested and I’d keep reading.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. There were many well done aspects but I had to knock an entire star off of my rating for predictability. That’s this books major flaw. However, despite being obvious to me, I was happy with the direction it took. I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton – both of these stories gave me similar vibes. Smoke and Key is the story of a girl trying to recover her memories, as they are the key to saving her. Like Ren in Incendiary, Key needs to harness the power of memories and use gifts that only she possesses.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy – if you enjoyed the idea of memory stealing magic, try this standalone by Lauren Mansy.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – this is another amazing story of a semi-futuristic/dystopian world where memories are traded/collected. Both have amazing strong female leads.
Author Zoraida Córdova
Release Date April 28, 2020
Description from Amazon
I am Renata Convida.
I have lived a hundred stolen lives.
Now I live my own.
Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King’s Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King’s Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.
Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred-or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace.
When Dez, the commander of her unit-and the boy she’s grown to love – is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to Andalucia and complete Dez’s top secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it.
But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom-and end the war that has cost her everything.
Initial Thoughts
I’ve seen a lot of hype around this release so I was excited to get my hands on an ARC via NetGalley. Claire Legrand, one of my favorite authors, recommended it quite highly and that was a major selling point for me.
Some Things I Liked
Spanish references. I loved the references to Spain, Spanish as a language, and Spanish history.
Magic system. It was a very unique element to make all of the magic focused on the mind. I thought this made the fighting more dynamic (as no one has elemental or superhuman abilities).
Leo. He was a fantastic character. You didn’t quite trust him, but you didn’t totally distrust him either. I enjoyed all of the scenes with Leo and hope to see more of him in future sequels.
Some Things I Wasn’t Crazy About
I wasn’t a fan of the title. I think there were more fitting titles that could have been chosen for this book.
Transparency in the plot. I won’t lie, I saw through the entire plot twist, less than 100 pages into the book. I didn’t love how predictable the story was.
Series Value
I’d continue with this series. The world is well designed, the magic is interesting, and there is a lot left unresolved with the characters. I’m invested and I’d keep reading.
Final Thoughts
I enjoyed this book. There were many well done aspects but I had to knock an entire star off of my rating for predictability. That’s this books major flaw. However, despite being obvious to me, I was happy with the direction it took. I wouldn’t have wanted it to go any other way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐
Recommendations for Further Reading
Smoke and Key by Kelsey Sutton – both of these stories gave me similar vibes. Smoke and Key is the story of a girl trying to recover her memories, as they are the key to saving her. Like Ren in Incendiary, Key needs to harness the power of memories and use gifts that only she possesses.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy – if you enjoyed the idea of memory stealing magic, try this standalone by Lauren Mansy.
Four Dead Queens by Astrid Scholte – this is another amazing story of a semi-futuristic/dystopian world where memories are traded/collected. Both have amazing strong female leads.