Book Tour: The Ones We’re Meant to Find


  • Author: Joan He
  • Genre: Young Adult Sci-fi
  • Page Count: 384
  • Publication Date: May 4th, 2021

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A Brief Description

Perfect for fans of Rick Yancey and Marie Lu, The Ones We’re Meant to Find is a sci-fi fantasy with mind-blowing twists, ready to burst onto the YA scene, from the critically-acclaimed Descendant of the Crane author, Joan He.

Cee awoke on an abandoned island three years ago. With no idea of how she was marooned, she only has a rickety house, an old android, and a single memory: she has a sister, and Cee needs to find her.

STEM prodigy Kasey wants escape from the science and home she once trusted. The Metropolis—Earth’s last unpolluted place—is meant to be sanctuary for those committed to planetary protection, but it’s populated by people willing to do anything for refuge, even lie. Now, she’ll have to decide if she’s ready to use science to help humanity, even though it failed the people who mattered most.

Goodreads || Amazon || B&N || Bookshop.org


Note: I received this book from the author through Xpresso Book Tours. I wanted to thank them for this opportunity! If you click the link below, you can see the full schedule.

Xpresso Tours: Tour Schedule


MY REVIEW

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joan was born and raised in Philadelphia but still will, on occasion, lose her way. At a young age, she received classical instruction in oil painting before discovering that stories were her favorite kind of art. She studied psychology and Chinese history at the University of Pennsylvania and currently writes from a desk overlooking the city
waterfront. Descendant of the Crane is her young adult debut.

For updates, please sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/c5rvdL. For business related inquiries, please contact her literary agent, John Cusick of Folio Lit.

Website || Twitter || Goodreads

Giveaway!

This is an international giveaway for a print copy of the Ones We’re Meant to Find by Joan He. This is open internationally and will end on May 13th! Sign up at the link below.

Click here to join the giveaway!

This has been my stop on the “The Ones We’re Meant to Find” Book Tour! Check out the schedule posted at the beginning of this post to check out more posts by other content creators on this tour!

~Cam

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May TBR

April was very chaotic for me. Work has been chaotic, and then the last month of my undergrad degree, as you can imagine, has also been rather chaotic! But it’s a new month, and I’m now officially a graduate! I have more time to read now, and I couldn’t be happier! Im also very happy that I now have much more free time to read! That being said, here are some of the books I’m planning on reading during the month of May!

What are some of your May reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’m planning on reading? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

April TBR

Ah, a new month, which means a new TBR! I know that with this semester almost being over, I might not have as much time to read anymore, but I’m still looking forward to a lot of these. I hope I’ll be able to read a lot this month, but I won’t be too upset if I read at least one or two of these.

What are some of your April reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’m planning on reading? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

Book Tour: In the Orbit of Sirens


  • Author: T.A Bruno
  • The Song of Kamaria #1
  • Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure
  • Page Count: 502
  • Publication Date: October 4th 2020

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

A Brief Description

THE LAST FRAGMENTS OF THE HUMAN RACE ARE FORCED TO ADAPT TO A DANGEROUS NEW WORLD OR FACE EXTINCTION.

When starship mechanic, Denton Castus, is caught in the destructive path of a devastating war, he abandons his home and seeks refuge on a distant planet. However, this new safe haven has undiscovered threats of its own.

Eliana Veston, a scout preparing the planet for the refugees, struggles with a deadly pandemic that is killing off colonists. The hunt for a cure unleashes a new threat to humanity— the Sirens—mysterious beings with incredible powers and a deep hatred for invaders.

Goodreads || Amazon || B&N || Audible (US)


Note: I received this book from the author through StoryTellers on Tour I wanted to thank them for this opportunity! If you click the link below, you can see the full schedule.

Storytellers on Tour: Tour Schedule


MY REVIEW

This is a story about the last vestiges of humanity escaping a threat (some scary robot aliens), and running into a new one on the planet of Kamaria. It’s told from a few different perspectives. Humans face the threat of extinction in a new world that brings new threats that humans have no idea how to face. It is mainly told from the perspective of Eliana Veston, a doctor trying to save her fellow humans from a pandemic called “lung-lock” that is killing off colonists, and Denton Castus, an engineer who finds a safe haven in Kamaria. The hunt for a cure brings humans face to face with a threat humans have named -the Sirens- and the Sirens are not happy to be sharing their home.

The plot was pretty fast paced and moved really quickly. There were very sparse moments that it moved slowly, but the pacing wasn’t so off that I couldn’t stay focused on it. It was break-neck most of the time, and it hit all of the beats just right and from the first chapter I was hooked.

The world building here was some of the best I’ve seen in a while. The world of Kamaria, which is an Earth-like planet that humans run to after Earth and the entirety of the Sol system is overrun by a scary robot like alien called the Undriel. Kamaria, while having some similiarities to Earth, it is very different and you can tell that T.A. Bruno put a lot of work into his world building. The world of Kamaria features many many different animals and a race of aliens called the auk’nai, which is a race of humanoid telepathic birds. They have their own culture and are very fleshed out. The world building was half the fun since it was so well done.

The characters, Denton, Eliana and the whole cast of side characters were all so unique and different. You can tell that T.A Bruno put a lot of effort into writing them and giving them each a unique voice. I can’t say which one was my favorite because I like them all quite a bit. I loved the interactions between Denton and his family, some of those had me laughing out loud. I also liked the relationships and the way they progress throughout the events of the story.

The writing was great. It wasn’t flowery, which is the type of writing i typically love, but it was also not clinical. The action scenes and they way they were written made me feel like I was watching a movie The descriptions of the world, as stated above were also great. It made me feel like I was on an Earth that was not quite like our home planet. The writing had moments where it felt a little clunky but I feel like I notice these things much more when I’m reading it, knowing I’m going to review it, so that could just be me being overly-nit-picky. I still think that this book is worth the read and I would definitely read the sequel to this to find out where it goes from here.

In short, you should read this. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone who loves adventure stories, and sci-fi stories about strange worlds.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T.A. BRUNO grew up in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. Since then, he has brought stories to life for over a decade as a previsualization artist. At home, he is a proud father of two boys and a husband to a wonderful wife. IN THE ORBIT OF SIRENS is his debut science fiction novel.

Website || Instagram|| Twitter || Goodreads || Facebook || Amazon

Giveaway!

A winners choice of a hardcover, paperback or audiobook version of In the Orbit of Sirens (The Song of Kamaria #1) by T.A Bruno

(This giveaway is only open in the U.S. It starts on March 21st, 2021 at 12:00am EST and runs through March 28th at 11:59pm EST)

Click here to join the giveaway!

This has been my stop on the In the Orbit of Sirens Book Tour! Check out the schedule posted at the beginning of this post to check out more posts by other content creators on this tour!

~Cam

Book Tour: Silver Dawn Afire


  • Author: Sonja J. Breckon
  • The Seventh Age Sage #1
  • Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
  • Page Count: 479
  • Publication Date: March 16th, 2021

Rating: 3 out of 5.

A Brief Description

Myridians are coming, each wielding one of Six Cataclysmic Powers that will lay waste to the world and wake the God of Neutrality. What happens when one refuses to succumb to her myridian nature and sets out to save the world instead?

***

SIDRA ANATOLA will soon die a human death and be reborn as one of the myridian, beings destined to destroy the World of Aetheria. In a desperate attempt to change her dark fate, she flees home and the young man she loves to seek help from a powerful entity who has lived through all the ages. But she may not make it in time before she is killed by hunters—or by the love of her life, also a myridian, who fights every day to hold onto the emotions that made him human.

BRESEIS ERISWEN was expelled from the academy and failed her father who expected her to carry on her late mother’s profession as a myridian hunter. But Breseis never wanted to be a hunter—she refused to kill, and she never believed in myridians, to begin with. She leaves home with big dreams, lacking experience, and a broken heart, to prove that she is more than a failed hunter.

Two contrasting paths converge to become a turbulent one. A mouthy intellect with a colorful personality, and a skilled warrior with a frosty attitude, put their differences aside and travel the rest of the way together, robbing temples, angering false gods, and escaping numerous predicaments with their lives. Amid the chaos, they form a friendship despite a gut feeling that both hide dangerous secrets that can save or destroy the world and each other.

Goodreads || Amazon || B&N || Kobo


Note: I received this book from the author through Xpresso Book Tours. I wanted to thank them for this opportunity! If you click the link below, you can see the full schedule.

Xpresso Book Tours: Tour Schedule


MY REVIEW

This was a story about the end of the world and those who are destined to bring it. It mainly follows two characters, Sidra and Breseis. Sidra is a Myridian, otherwise known as a world ender. She is destined to end the world of Aetheria, and is making a desperate attempt to change her fate, she runs away from home, and from everything she has ever known.. Breseis is the daugther of a Myridian Hunter, leaving home with big dreams, with aspirations to prove that she is more than a failed Hunter.

The characters were very distinct with very different voices. Both characters are very vivid and feel alive. They have their own ambitions and were very fleshed out. I enjoyed going through this world with their very different perspectives. I also love that it was showing these two characters going to the same place for very different reasons and how their perspectives changed throughout this journey. They were also characters who were fallible, they were not perfect, they weren’t these all powerful Gods that fought and won with no effort. These characters made me invested in their story and in where they were going. I can’t wait to see where else they are going to go.

The world-building was pretty great too. The world here is fantastic actually. The world is full of magical and mythical creatures and an interesting and new magic system. I’ve never seen a magic system like this, and I’m loving it. There are also multiple kinds of magic in this world and it is very ingrained into the world building. One thing I’ll say is that sometimes it can be a little hard to see where you are in the world, but part of this is because flipping to the front of the book to see a map in an e-book can be tough for some (me lol). I love a good map, and this map is gorgeous. The world building and the way that Sonja built this world and the different cultures is very well thought out and I can’t wait to

The plot was decent, but there were moments that the plot lagged and the pacing was a little off for me. There were moments where the action was really high-octane, and then moments where it was sloooow. Regardless of that, it kept me engaged, even thought I had to push myself a little bit through the slower parts. I’m really excited to read the second one whenever it is released. I don’t want to give many details about the plot so at to not spoil anyone, but I highly recommend this to anyone who loves fantasy. This is definitely worth a shot.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sonja J. Breckon is a builder of fantasy worlds and not ashamed to admit she lives in them more than in the real world. Besides writing books, she works with various programs to create her own cover art, interior art, design, formatting, and fantasy maps. She loves nature, the universe, coffee, and bookstores. Oh, and chicken potato enchiladas.

Website || Instagram|| Twitter || Goodreads

Giveaway!

5x signed copies of Silver Dawn Afire!

Click here to join the giveaway!

This has been my stop on the Silver Dawn Afire Tour! Check out the schedule posted at the beginning of this post to check out more posts by other content creators on this tour!

~Cam

WWW: 3/3/2021

WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Sam over on Taking on a World of Words.

The idea is pretty simple, every week you dedicate a post to the three W’s:

What are you currently reading?

What have you just finished reading?

What are you going to read next?

So here we go!

What are you currently reading?

Fortuna Sworn- K.J. Sutton

After her brother disappeared 2 years ago, Fortuna is the last of her kind. She searches for him, and then is approached by a powerful faerie with a bargain. In exchange for her, he will reunite her with her brother. She bargains and soon realizes that she may have bargained with her very life. This is a dark fantasy romance and is definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s not a glowy happy romance, but I’m enjoying it so far.

What have you just finished reading?

A Court of Silver Flames- Sarah J. Maas

This is book 5 in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and follows some of the side characters from the previous trilogy, specifically Nesta and Cassian. I loved this book folks. I loved this book so very much. It talks about healing from trauma and the power of friendship. It follows the events of the last book in the original trilogy and the

I loved this book so much.

What are you going to read next?

Persephone Station- Stina Leicht

Persephone Station is a community on the backwater planet of the same name, has been largely ignored by the United Republic of World. It has become the focus of the Serrao-Orlov Corporation due to secrets that the corporation wants to exploit. We follow Rosie, the owner of Monk’s Bar, a bar that caters to criminals and rich Earther tourists that are looking for a thrill and Angel, an ex marine who is the head of an organized band of criminals who have a penchant for doing the honorable thing. Angel is asked to perform a job for Rosie, and they both realize that this will affect Persephone more than they thought, and put Angel and her squad against an army.

Pst: This an an LGBT (with non-binary characters), “gals with guns” space opera with a fast paced plot and a wide diverse cast of characters. It’s one that I’m looking forward to.

What are you currently reading?

~Cam

Book Releases I’m Excited For: March

There are SO many books that I’m anticipating this month, so I’ve included one extra book this month, for a total of 11! There are also some sequels here, so I’ve gone ahead and included if they are the second in the series so if you still want to read the first, you won’t be spoiled by the synopsis. What are some books that you are anticipating this month?

March 2nd

The lost apothecary- Sarah Penner

Goodreads

A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course

Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.

Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive. 

(This is also a Book of the Month Pick for March, so pick it up there if you are interested! Here’s my referral code (link))

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Chain of Iron- CAssandra Clare (The Last hours #2)

Goodreads

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Fire Keeper’s Daughter- Angeline Boulley

Goodreads

Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.

As a biracial, unenrolled tribal member and the product of a scandal, eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. Daunis dreams of studying medicine, but when her family is struck by tragedy, she puts her future on hold to care for her fragile mother.

The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team. Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, certain details don’t add up and she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into the heart of a criminal investigation.

Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, but secretly pursues her own investigation, tracking down the criminals with her knowledge of chemistry and traditional medicine. But the deceptions—and deaths—keep piling up and soon the threat strikes too close to home.

Now, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go to protect her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.

Places to Buy: Amazon || Bookshop


March 4th

A Trial of Sorcerers

Goodreads

Ice is in her blood.

Eighteen-year-old Waterrunner Eira Landan lives her life in the shadows — the shadow of her older brother, of her magic’s whispers, and of the person she accidentally killed. She’s the most unwanted apprentice in the Tower of Sorcerers until the day she decides to step out and compete for a spot in the Tournament of Five Kingdoms.

Pitted against the best sorcerers in the Empire, Eira fights to be one of four champions. Excelling in the trials has its rewards. She’s invited to the royal court with the “Prince of the Tower,” discovers her rare talent for forbidden magic, and at midnight, Eira meets with a handsome elfin ambassador.

But, Eira soon learns, no reward is without risk. As she comes into the spotlight, so too do the skeletons of a past she hadn’t even realized was haunting her.

Eira went into the trials ready for a fight. Ready to win. She wasn’t ready for what it would cost her. No one expected the candidates might not make it out with their lives.

This is the first book in a young adult, epic fantasy that’s a tale of competition, coming of age, distant lands, elemental magic, and romance. It’s perfect for fans of the Legend of Korra, Truthwitch, and A Sorcery of Thorns.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop


March 9th

Sweet & bitter Magic- Adrienne Tooley

Goodreads

Tamsin is the most powerful witch of her generation. But after committing the worst magical sin, she’s exiled by the ruling Coven and cursed with the inability to love. The only way she can get those feelings back—even for just a little while—is to steal love from others.

Wren is a source—a rare kind of person who is made of magic, despite being unable to use it herself. Sources are required to train with the Coven as soon as they discover their abilities, but Wren—the only caretaker to her ailing father—has spent her life hiding her secret.

When a magical plague ravages the queendom, Wren’s father falls victim. To save him, Wren proposes a bargain: if Tamsin will help her catch the dark witch responsible for creating the plague, then Wren will give Tamsin her love for her father.

Of course, love bargains are a tricky thing, and these two have a long, perilous journey ahead of them—that is, if they don’t kill each other first.. 

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop


March 16th

Namesake (Fable #2) – Adrienne Young

Goodreads

Trader. Fighter. Survivor.

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Skyward inn- Aliya whiteley

Goodreads

Skyward Inn, within the high walls of the Western Protectorate, is a place of safety, where people come together to tell stories of the time before the war with Qita. But safety from what?

Qita surrendered without complaint when Earth invaded; Innkeepers Jem and Isley, veterans from either side, have regrets but few scars. Their peace is disturbed when a visitor known to Isley comes to the Inn asking for help, bringing reminders of an unnerving past and triggering an uncertain future.

Did humanity really win the war?

A thoughtful, literary novel about conflict, identity and community; a fresh new perspective in speculative fiction from critically-acclaimed writer Aliya Whiteley. Jamaica Inn by way of Jeff Vandermeer, Ursula Le Guin, Angela Carter and Michel Faber, Skyward Inn is a beautiful story of belonging, identity and regret. 

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The Mirror Season- Anna-Marie Mclemore

CONTENT WARNING: Sexual assault

Goodreads

When two teens discover that they were both sexually assaulted at the same party, they develop a cautious friendship through her family’s possibly-magical pastelería, his secret forest of otherworldly trees, and the swallows returning to their hometown, in Anna-Marie McLemore’s The Mirror Season

Graciela Cristales’ whole world changes after she and a boy she barely knows are assaulted at the same party. She loses her gift for making enchanted pan dulce. Neighborhood trees vanish overnight, while mirrored glass appears, bringing reckless magic with it. And Ciela is haunted by what happened to her, and what happened to the boy whose name she never learned.

But when the boy, Lock, shows up at Ciela’s school, he has no memory of that night, and no clue that a single piece of mirrored glass is taking his life apart. Ciela decides to help him, which means hiding the truth about that night. Because Ciela knows who assaulted her, and him. And she knows that her survival, and his, depend on no one finding out what really happened.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop


March 23rd
Lost in the never woods- Aiden Thomas

Goodreads

When children go missing, people want answers. When children go missing in the small coastal town of Astoria, people look to Wendy for answers.

It’s been five years since Wendy and her two brothers went missing in the woods, but when the town’s children start to disappear, the questions surrounding her brothers’ mysterious circumstances are brought back into light. Attempting to flee her past, Wendy almost runs over an unconscious boy lying in the middle of the road, and gets pulled into the mystery haunting the town.

Peter, a boy she thought lived only in her stories, claims that if they don’t do something, the missing children will meet the same fate as her brothers. In order to find them and rescue the missing kids, Wendy must confront what’s waiting for her in the woods.

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The Unbroken (Magic of the lost #1)- C.L. Clark

Goodreads

Touraine is a soldier. Stolen as a child and raised to kill and die for the empire, her only loyalty is to her fellow conscripts. But now, her company has been sent back to her homeland to stop a rebellion, and the ties of blood may be stronger than she thought.

Luca needs a turncoat. Someone desperate enough to tiptoe the bayonet’s edge between treason and orders. Someone who can sway the rebels toward peace, while Luca focuses on what really matters: getting her uncle off her throne.

Through assassinations and massacres, in bedrooms and war rooms, Touraine and Luca will haggle over the price of a nation. But some things aren’t for sale. 

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

The Ladies of the Secret Circus – Constance Sayers

Goodreads

Paris, 1925: To enter the Secret Circus is to enter a world of wonder-a world where women tame magnificent beasts, carousels take you back in time, and trapeze artists float across the sky. But each daring feat has a cost. Bound to her family’s strange and magical circus, it’s the only world Cecile Cabot knows-until she meets a charismatic young painter and embarks on a passionate love affair that could cost her everything.

Virginia, 2005: Lara Barnes is on top of the world-until her fiancé disappears on their wedding day. Desperate, her search for answers unexpectedly leads to her great-grandmother’s journals and sweeps her into the story of a dark circus and a generational curse that has been claiming payment from the women in her family for generations

Places to Buy: Amazon ||Bookshop

Let’s discuss some of the books that you are excited about in the comments! I’d love to hear what new releases your reading plans for March include!

~Cam

March TBR

Ah, a new month, which means a TBR! I have a few books that I’m really excited to read this month. I am completely expecting March to be chaotic and busy, but I still plan on reading a lot. What are you planning on reading?

What are some of your March reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’m planning on reading? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

February Wrap-uP

The end of the shortest (but always seems to FEEL the LONGEST) month is finally here! That means a wrap up! I read – A LOT- of books in February. I have no idea how I read THIS much this month, since it was so busy for me! I had a good reading month, hopefully this continues into the new month of March. I re-read some favorites and found some new favorites too! (A Court of Silver Flames, The Space Between Worlds and We Set the Dark on Fire are all MUST reads) What did you read this month?

What are some of your February reads? Have you read any of the ones that I’ve read? What were your thoughts?

~Cam

Book Tour: We Are the Fire-Sam Taylor


  • Author: Sam Taylor
  • Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
  • Page Count: 416
  • Publication Date: February 16th, 2021

Rating: 3 out of 5.

A Brief Description

As electrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sam Taylor’s explosive fantasy debut We Are the Fire is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and the legend of Spartacus.

In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure, and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Pran and Oksana―both taken from their homeland at a young age―only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place.

Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both.

When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Pran and Oksana vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves.

Goodreads || Amazon || B&N || iBooks || Kobo


Note: I received this book from the author through Xpresso Book Tours. I wanted to thank them for this opportunity! If you click the link below, you can see the full schedule.

Xpresso Book Tours: Tour Schedule


MY REVIEW

So, it has been quite a bit since I’ve written a review, but I’m back again. Below is my review of We Are the Fire by Sam Taylor. This book was provided to me at no cost through Xpresso Book Tours, in exchange for a review. All thoughts below are my own.

This is a story told from the perspective of Oksana and Pran, two members of the Tuliikoberts army, who were stolen away as young children and transformed into ruthless killers of the Emperor’s army of fire wielders. Pran dreams of freedom, of rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire, while Oksana dreams only of returning home. They uncover secrets about the future of the Emperor’s plans for the army and vow to end the tyranny once and for all.

The world-building in this was good and felt well fleshed out. The magic was interesting, and well thought out as well. The idea of these kids being stolen from their homes and being changed to have this magical fire to fight wars for an evil emperor was incredibly interesting to read about. You could tell that the author put a lot of effort into the magic system and the way that it irrevocably changed things for our characters. I wish that the environment itself, the country of Vesimaa for example, had a little bit more to it. I feel like we didn’t get to see a lot outside of the military fort of the Tuliikoberts. The military was ruthless and also built in a way that felt realistic. There was very tense conflict of those who were forced to undergo this transformation against the Commanders, and the Emperor. The tension felt just right. The fact that the tensions build and that the characters motivations are so different really made me want to keep reading. Their motivations and reactions to the events being so different was realistic and made them so much more complex.

Speaking of the characters, it took me a little bit to get into the individual voices of these characters, as it felt like their voices were very similar at first, but once I got into the book, it was easier to tell them apart. Pran fights hard for what he cares about and you can tell that he cares for Oksana and his friends very much. He’s also ruthless and will stop at nothing to ensure they are safe. Oksana is stubborn and also fights for what she believes in. She is cunning as well. She knows what she wants and will trick those in power to get it if she needs to. The romance was also already there before the book started, and I almost would have liked to see it develop on the backdrop of the revolution, but it was certainly a new thing to read about, as I haven’t read many books that have a romance that has already been established.

The plot was interesting as well. The pacing was a little stilted. I felt like there were some periods where nothing was happening, and those dragged, and then it would pick up to an almost breakneck pace. I think that besides that, the plot was good. There were some unexpected twists that left me with my mouth hanging open. This is a standard YA Fantasy novel that I think many will love. I’m not going to go to deep into this since I don’t want to give any spoilers. I feel like the comparison to Ember in the Ashes is apt. I’d say it’s a mix of Shadow and Bone and an Ember in the Ashes, mixed with the tale of Spartucus. I’d say if you liked any of those stories, you’ll love this one.

Overall I liked this one. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who loved the above mentioned comparisons. Let me know if you read this, and what you think. Don’t forget to sign up for the giveaway below! You can win a print copy of We are the Fire by Sam Taylor! (Pst, it’s also open internationally). What have you been reading lately?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sam Taylor grew up in Arizona’s deserts and now lives among Connecticut’s trees. She spends her days writing, being mom to the world’s cutest boys, whirling through dance workouts, and baking too many cakes. She does not possess fire magic, but does have one fire-colored cat. We Are the Fire is her debut novel.

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This has been my stop on the We Are The Fire Book Tour! Check out the schedule posted at the beginning of this post to check out more posts by other content creators on this tour!

~Cam