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A review by heabooknerd
Ignite by Nora Phoenix
5.0
I really wasn't sure what I was going to get with IGNITE but it caught my attention from the start and I blazed through it because I fell completely for the characters. I'm a sucker for a post-apocalyptic romance and the feeling of being on the run and fighting for survival just really ramps up the emotions and tension in a story. We jump right into the action and much of it continues throughout most of the book. This is definitely a hard world to live in and tough choices have to be made sometimes. I liked that Nora Phoenix really showed how hard circumstances can change a person and force them to do things they would normally never do to survive. Tan in particular has suffered a great deal in the camps and he's done whatever it takes to not be a victim again even if it means alienating the other campers and hurting himself in the process.
Ultimately, the characters really made the story because I enjoyed reading about them and watching them circle each other with their growing emotions. Austin was clearly a strong leader and he's the kind of guy that takes care of others. He's incredibly close with Tan and one of the only people Tan trusts to not hurt him. The way Austin acted as a safe harbor for Tan was really sweet, especially as we got more hints about Tan's experience in the camps and we began to understand how damaged he's become. In contrast to Austin's strength, Tan was softer and more vulnerable. He knows he can't fight and he's not good at protecting himself but he provides a compassionate heart to those he considers friend. I'm really looking forward to seeing more development from Tan's character.
Mack starts as the odd man out who doesn't know Austin and Tan and was new to the reintegration camp when the invasion happened. Mack is incredibly sheltered but knows all about survival thanks to his off-the-grid upbringing. However, Mack has a lot of incorrect ideas and assumptions about gay men and gay relationships thanks to his religious zealot father. Mack knows he's gay and he doesn't have a problem with that but he has all kinds of misconceptions he's working through. Austin and Tan spend a lot of time correcting Mack's assumptions and helping him to better understand who he is.
Together they make a great group, all contributing different strengths and balancing each other's weaknesses. My only complaint for IGNITE is that it was a bit unclear for a while how old the characters were and this was confusing because their voices "felt" very young. We know Mack is 22 and I believe Austin and Tan are supposed to be around 23/24 but it was never completely clear.
Content Warning: Homophobic language and abuse; threats of rape; Tan was raped while at the camp
Ultimately, the characters really made the story because I enjoyed reading about them and watching them circle each other with their growing emotions. Austin was clearly a strong leader and he's the kind of guy that takes care of others. He's incredibly close with Tan and one of the only people Tan trusts to not hurt him. The way Austin acted as a safe harbor for Tan was really sweet, especially as we got more hints about Tan's experience in the camps and we began to understand how damaged he's become. In contrast to Austin's strength, Tan was softer and more vulnerable. He knows he can't fight and he's not good at protecting himself but he provides a compassionate heart to those he considers friend. I'm really looking forward to seeing more development from Tan's character.
Mack starts as the odd man out who doesn't know Austin and Tan and was new to the reintegration camp when the invasion happened. Mack is incredibly sheltered but knows all about survival thanks to his off-the-grid upbringing. However, Mack has a lot of incorrect ideas and assumptions about gay men and gay relationships thanks to his religious zealot father. Mack knows he's gay and he doesn't have a problem with that but he has all kinds of misconceptions he's working through. Austin and Tan spend a lot of time correcting Mack's assumptions and helping him to better understand who he is.
Together they make a great group, all contributing different strengths and balancing each other's weaknesses. My only complaint for IGNITE is that it was a bit unclear for a while how old the characters were and this was confusing because their voices "felt" very young. We know Mack is 22 and I believe Austin and Tan are supposed to be around 23/24 but it was never completely clear.
Content Warning: Homophobic language and abuse; threats of rape; Tan was raped while at the camp