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A review by susannah_h
Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift
5.0
10 out of freaking 10 - I wish I could give it more stars!
Reading this book felt like curling under a favorite blanket, drinking some coffee, watching the sunrise...idk just absolute comfort to the max! The book felt so wonderfully familiar, even though I'd never read it before. Not to make it sound like it was predictable or dull, just a big relaxing sigh. I fell in love with the characters so fast: Adraa is the character so many authors try to write but fail at so hard. She is determined, but she has her insecurities, she has layers, and meaningful relationships with other characters that don't feel shallow. Jatin is the first love interest that I have actually really liked in forever, reading his character made me realize how many other love interests I really just didn't like that much, he simply rose above. Plus he is the biggest SIMP. And we love that for a man. It's a dual pov book (absolute dub) and he just simps so hard for her. I always hate in books when the narrater is like "and he loved her so much" but then like so many of his actions contradict that?? and then it sends off a weird message. The readers get to see the process of Jatin falling in love with Adraa and then transform into a total simp (but like on the down-low, he keeps it cool). Also a man with insecurities??!! Sign me up! We love to see it! So often they aren't presented with any real fears or insecurities, and even if they are, they come off as immature and just not well written.
Both Jatin and Adraa have just normal real teenage fears, insecurities, and anxieties. This is a book for teens, about teens who actually behave like teens (what a novel idea, it's so hard to find in this world).
To me, this book is the closest I've felt to reading a Tamora Pierce book. And she is the master of writing a thoughtful, endearing, well paced, teen novel that actually feels like it is about teenagers.
This is one of those books (one of my favorite types), where the ending of the story almost doesn't matter. I mean, obviously it does, but(!) most of the main story telling and important details and developments, happen way before then. The point of this story to me was the beginning and the middle. I could pick up this book and sop up all the incredible banter, world building, and characters for the first 350 pages and not feel a crazy drive to finish. That sounds really strange written out but I don't know how else to put it and I wouldn't have it any other way.
This is definitely going on my comfort reread rotation and I can't wait to come back to it. I can't recommend this book enough and I am so excited to read the second in the duology.
Reading this book felt like curling under a favorite blanket, drinking some coffee, watching the sunrise...idk just absolute comfort to the max! The book felt so wonderfully familiar, even though I'd never read it before. Not to make it sound like it was predictable or dull, just a big relaxing sigh. I fell in love with the characters so fast: Adraa is the character so many authors try to write but fail at so hard. She is determined, but she has her insecurities, she has layers, and meaningful relationships with other characters that don't feel shallow. Jatin is the first love interest that I have actually really liked in forever, reading his character made me realize how many other love interests I really just didn't like that much, he simply rose above. Plus he is the biggest SIMP. And we love that for a man. It's a dual pov book (absolute dub) and he just simps so hard for her. I always hate in books when the narrater is like "and he loved her so much" but then like so many of his actions contradict that?? and then it sends off a weird message. The readers get to see the process of Jatin falling in love with Adraa and then transform into a total simp (but like on the down-low, he keeps it cool). Also a man with insecurities??!! Sign me up! We love to see it! So often they aren't presented with any real fears or insecurities, and even if they are, they come off as immature and just not well written.
Both Jatin and Adraa have just normal real teenage fears, insecurities, and anxieties. This is a book for teens, about teens who actually behave like teens (what a novel idea, it's so hard to find in this world).
To me, this book is the closest I've felt to reading a Tamora Pierce book. And she is the master of writing a thoughtful, endearing, well paced, teen novel that actually feels like it is about teenagers.
This is one of those books (one of my favorite types), where the ending of the story almost doesn't matter. I mean, obviously it does, but(!) most of the main story telling and important details and developments, happen way before then. The point of this story to me was the beginning and the middle. I could pick up this book and sop up all the incredible banter, world building, and characters for the first 350 pages and not feel a crazy drive to finish. That sounds really strange written out but I don't know how else to put it and I wouldn't have it any other way.
This is definitely going on my comfort reread rotation and I can't wait to come back to it. I can't recommend this book enough and I am so excited to read the second in the duology.