A review by vinsmokerosie
Fireborn by Aisling Fowler

5.0

oh my freaking goodness!
5 stars but i would rate this even higher if possible!!

i knew absolutely nothing about this book. i saw it randomly in my local waterstones and i got it because the edition that was there was simply too stunning to pass up. the gorgeous sprayed edges? i have a lot of pretty books but this one was truly love at first sight. since it’s a middle grade fantasy (for ages 9-12 i believe) i knew it would be a easy read and a good break from the usual stuff but i didn’t expect it to be just as good as it is.

favourite read of the year as a matter of fact.

first of all the banter and dynamics between all the characters are so entertaining. since the characters are young they have that kind of immature kids humour that’s super entertaining. i say this because if i see teenagers or adults act this way i would roll my eyes. i laugh so much at these little interactions when it happens but also on top of that the characters are really complex with their own pasts and even their names that they are forbidden to share. they lose all their identities to train to be hunters. some of the characters are not who they seem and they are a lot more than meets the eye. when i re-read this book i’ll definitely be annotating it and underlining so much of the meaningful messages.

the plot was so good, a complete page turner. the environments, the world building are very easy to get lost in and to understand. the drawn illustrations throughout the story are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS and such a beautiful touch.

the main character twelve is just so human, they all are. they are written in such a way that readers can understand and empathise with. i cried a few times while reading because of how emotional it is, i did not expect this from a children’s book and i didn’t prepare for any of the twists either! usually i’m almost too good at guessing things like this but not this time. it’s so well done and i love the underlying message behind it. it’s such a beautiful book for anyone of any age. there’s no cliffhangers to worry about and the ending is satisfying, please read it!