A review by persephonexxvi
The Fires by Sigríður Hagalín Björnsdóttir

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

I actually found the volcanology interesting and loved the Icelandic setting but I just couldn't get along with the characters. The great love story seemed to come out of nowhere and I didn't really buy into it. The end was predictably maudlin (I saw it coming) but also seemed completely unrealistic.

I don't know if it's a translation issue or the author's choice but the lack of quotation marks for all dialogue was really grating after a while.

I picked 2.25 stars because it definitely was "it was ok" and 2 isn't a bad rating, but I think it's something where the blurb has so much fascinating promise but didn't quite get there for me.