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A review by isabellarobinson7
Mortal Fire by Elizabeth Knox
2.0
**I read this book for a 2020/21 library challenge, so it is not necessarily be my taste and I may be harsh because it's not my personal preference. Or it could be a total surprise and I ended up really enjoying it.
Rating: 2 stars
If you can't be bothered reading this whole review, (and I don't blame you) I'll save you the trouble and just say all I do is complain about the YA-ness of this book (if you are immature like me, say "YA-ness" aloud, as in the letters not the words they stand for, and you will get a good chuckle). But if you're sticking around, enjoy... I guess.
The magic system, while rather unique for the age range (from what I've read of it), isn't all that new to me. It kind of felt like a mesh of the magic in Elantris and actually ancient Egyptian mythology, as well as a bunch of movies. Basically, it has Special Alphabet and Special People say the Special Words. And of course the main character is Super Special and can walk in on these magic people at 16 and miraculously understand this. The words "you're a prodigy" were even mentioned once. (I'm holding the rant in. I can do it. Hold it in.)
Fortunately the romance doesn't start developing until about half way (though it begins weirdly, with the characters referring to each other as "the man" and "the girl" in their own respective thoughts), but when it does start, well I don't like to use the word cringey, but it's hella cringey.
The amount of cringe this elicits in me is astounding.
And the last chapter was just the biggest info dump I have ever read. The only reason I am not giving this one star is because the author is from NZ. Maybe over time this won't matter to me anymore and I will downgrade my rating.
Rating: 2 stars
If you can't be bothered reading this whole review, (and I don't blame you) I'll save you the trouble and just say all I do is complain about the YA-ness of this book (if you are immature like me, say "YA-ness" aloud, as in the letters not the words they stand for, and you will get a good chuckle). But if you're sticking around, enjoy... I guess.
The magic system, while rather unique for the age range (from what I've read of it), isn't all that new to me. It kind of felt like a mesh of the magic in Elantris and actually ancient Egyptian mythology, as well as a bunch of movies. Basically, it has Special Alphabet and Special People say the Special Words. And of course the main character is Super Special and can walk in on these magic people at 16 and miraculously understand this. The words "you're a prodigy" were even mentioned once. (I'm holding the rant in. I can do it. Hold it in.)
Fortunately the romance doesn't start developing until about half way (though it begins weirdly, with the characters referring to each other as "the man" and "the girl" in their own respective thoughts), but when it does start, well I don't like to use the word cringey, but it's hella cringey.
" 'Can't you see me?'
He squinted in her direction. 'I can't look at you. That's how it works.'
She put a tentative hand on his arm. 'Here I am.'
'There you are,' he said. Then, 'Don't go.' "
The amount of cringe this elicits in me is astounding.
And the last chapter was just the biggest info dump I have ever read. The only reason I am not giving this one star is because the author is from NZ. Maybe over time this won't matter to me anymore and I will downgrade my rating.