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Why We Play With Fire
"Full of action, godly hijinks, and magical artifacts, Giselle Vriesen's WHY WE PLAY WITH FIRE is an adventure from the very first page." — Kendare Blake, #1 NYT Bestselling author of Champion of Fate
In a thrilling journey of self-discovery and magical intrigue, Thea finds herself transported to a house for the children of gods, where she must retrieve lost keys while navigating secrets, rival schools, and her own doubts, all before the shadow creatures catch up to her.
Embark on a spellbinding odyssey of self-discovery, where Thea's extraordinary journey unfolds within a realm of enchantment and peril. Desperate to escape encroaching darkness, Thea is propelled through a mystical well by her mother and grandmother, left only with a cryptic mission to "retrieve the keys."
However, her destination defies all expectations as she arrives at an extraordinary haven—a house known as Malachite. Within the hallowed halls of Malachite, Thea unveils a world far beyond her wildest imagination. Amidst an intricate tapestry of training and elusive artifacts, she discovers a mysterious box safeguarded by the students' within the home.
But when the three keys that allow access to the box disappear, Thea's mixed-race ancestry and connection to two gods launch her on an all-consuming quest that awakens her to her divine lineage and an awe-inspiring destiny.
Thea becomes determined to reclaim the keys before the approaching Winter Solstice, navigating treacherous rivalries and evading the clutches of the morally ambiguous Arcana—a competing school with nefarious intentions.
When her comrades fall into captivity, and two keys remain lost, Thea must gain confidence in her new abilities and leadership role to see this through. Amidst the crumbling facade of deceit and the allure of Zero, the enigmatic Arcana prodigy, she must maintain focus, for time is dwindling, and the shadow creatures draw ever closer.
As her parentage unravels and her nascent abilities blossom, Thea grapples with inner doubt and anxieties that threaten to shackle her potential. Will she rally her friends and harness her newfound powers to secure the keys' safe return? Or will her wavering confidence consign her to failure, succumbing to the clutches of the encroaching shadows?
Join Thea on an electrifying adventure where the boundaries of magic and self-belief intertwine, and the fate of worlds rests upon her resilient shoulders.
In a thrilling journey of self-discovery and magical intrigue, Thea finds herself transported to a house for the children of gods, where she must retrieve lost keys while navigating secrets, rival schools, and her own doubts, all before the shadow creatures catch up to her.
Embark on a spellbinding odyssey of self-discovery, where Thea's extraordinary journey unfolds within a realm of enchantment and peril. Desperate to escape encroaching darkness, Thea is propelled through a mystical well by her mother and grandmother, left only with a cryptic mission to "retrieve the keys."
However, her destination defies all expectations as she arrives at an extraordinary haven—a house known as Malachite. Within the hallowed halls of Malachite, Thea unveils a world far beyond her wildest imagination. Amidst an intricate tapestry of training and elusive artifacts, she discovers a mysterious box safeguarded by the students' within the home.
But when the three keys that allow access to the box disappear, Thea's mixed-race ancestry and connection to two gods launch her on an all-consuming quest that awakens her to her divine lineage and an awe-inspiring destiny.
Thea becomes determined to reclaim the keys before the approaching Winter Solstice, navigating treacherous rivalries and evading the clutches of the morally ambiguous Arcana—a competing school with nefarious intentions.
When her comrades fall into captivity, and two keys remain lost, Thea must gain confidence in her new abilities and leadership role to see this through. Amidst the crumbling facade of deceit and the allure of Zero, the enigmatic Arcana prodigy, she must maintain focus, for time is dwindling, and the shadow creatures draw ever closer.
As her parentage unravels and her nascent abilities blossom, Thea grapples with inner doubt and anxieties that threaten to shackle her potential. Will she rally her friends and harness her newfound powers to secure the keys' safe return? Or will her wavering confidence consign her to failure, succumbing to the clutches of the encroaching shadows?
Join Thea on an electrifying adventure where the boundaries of magic and self-belief intertwine, and the fate of worlds rests upon her resilient shoulders.
340 pages, Paperback
Published February 6, 2024
13 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 11, 2024
WHY WE PLAY WITH FIRE
Well silly me.. there I was looking at book covers and fell in love with this one's bright and colorful face. Unfortunately for me, the inside was not my cup of tea, and had I even bothered to read the blurp I probably would have passed it up.
So if you LOVE action, hijinks, and magic with a bunch of witches.. then this is going to be a big winner in your reading life. I on the other hand do not like any of those things and so offer the warning.... and the excuse for the rating.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
Well silly me.. there I was looking at book covers and fell in love with this one's bright and colorful face. Unfortunately for me, the inside was not my cup of tea, and had I even bothered to read the blurp I probably would have passed it up.
So if you LOVE action, hijinks, and magic with a bunch of witches.. then this is going to be a big winner in your reading life. I on the other hand do not like any of those things and so offer the warning.... and the excuse for the rating.
2 stars
Happy Reading!
March 16, 2024
!!!!!!!
July 3, 2024
Fell flat but I appreciate what it set out to do.
April 2, 2025
The start was giving percy jackson and that pmo
January 17, 2025
This young adult novel had a surprising amount of world building and really neat concept. I didn't expect it to be filled with so much depth and elements of adult fantasy stories while still feeling fresh and appropriate for young readers. There is one scene where the characters say they feel like they are on hallucinogenic drugs, but it makes sense in the context of the story and isn't glorified.
Narrator Thea struggles to fit in. She is a mixed race girl who lives with her mom and grandma and has one friend. As her mother's memory begins to fade, Thea is having a harder time understanding her identity. Circumstances thrust her into a magical house for the children of gods where she meets true friends and goes on a quest to save their society. The twist is these descendants from gods come from ancestries and mythologies from all over the world. Most descendants have to choose one identity and accept their powers and a rival society collects the artefacts from these descendants for "safekeeping". The book explores a lot of interesting takes on being mixed, who determines your identity, and cultural appropriation.
There's tons of strong female characters, a non-binary character, and a touch of romance. If you're a popular fantasy reader, you'll recognise a lot of the elements you love aged down and simplified. If you're not a fantasy reader, it may seem like a lot, but it's a good introduction to the genre for young readers. I listened to the audiobook and thought it was quite good if that's an option for you!
Narrator Thea struggles to fit in. She is a mixed race girl who lives with her mom and grandma and has one friend. As her mother's memory begins to fade, Thea is having a harder time understanding her identity. Circumstances thrust her into a magical house for the children of gods where she meets true friends and goes on a quest to save their society. The twist is these descendants from gods come from ancestries and mythologies from all over the world. Most descendants have to choose one identity and accept their powers and a rival society collects the artefacts from these descendants for "safekeeping". The book explores a lot of interesting takes on being mixed, who determines your identity, and cultural appropriation.
There's tons of strong female characters, a non-binary character, and a touch of romance. If you're a popular fantasy reader, you'll recognise a lot of the elements you love aged down and simplified. If you're not a fantasy reader, it may seem like a lot, but it's a good introduction to the genre for young readers. I listened to the audiobook and thought it was quite good if that's an option for you!
September 26, 2025
I liked the whole of everything happening but the comparison to Percy Jackson at the beginning threw me off and I didn’t enjoy the book. And with that, a lot is usually great but I felt there was to much happening in this book and I should have dnf’ed it.
I liked how it explored social issues at the beginning but then they faded away and the entire book changed which can be good but I gathered the author was going to explore more.
I’m not sure if I was too old for this book, I like the themes in it, just it was not for me.
I liked how it explored social issues at the beginning but then they faded away and the entire book changed which can be good but I gathered the author was going to explore more.
I’m not sure if I was too old for this book, I like the themes in it, just it was not for me.
February 9, 2024
dnf @ 52%
i really tried to give this book a chance, it looked pretty good but i just can't. is dreadful.
it had a lot of potential, but is not well executed and honestly, it would have been better to just put a character that did know about the world they were in.
it doesn't always work to put a character that know nothing about what they are getting into, and this is one of those cases.
it would have much much better to start this quest with someone that was already on this world. or even thea- but her mom telling her everything she needed to know. literally there was no reason for secretism, and thea's confusion just makes everything awful to read.
also the fact that thea is just.... so powerful, and had two awakenings in such little time? or doesn't get affected by things that should be affecting her? the plot armor and power she has is insane and just makes the experience really tedious.
as a narrator she isn't the greatest either, i couldn't get myself to care about her issues along the journey. because thea herself nor anything on the book made me care about her journey, tiana or teal made more appealing characters if I'm being honest.
also the dialogue in all the book is just awful and uninteresting. and somehow it feels forced.
something similar happens with the scenes, it doesn't feel fluid or natural how everything happens. it just feels like everything is happening because there's a script they must follow, not like there's really a story.
in general it had potential but is not well executed at all, and the characters are not really appealing. i think that the author just needs more experience and polish more their skills, i thinks this could be a great story, is not boring at all and is pretty interesting. but the way is executed and told is not appealing and feels poorly done.
i really tried to give this book a chance, it looked pretty good but i just can't. is dreadful.
it had a lot of potential, but is not well executed and honestly, it would have been better to just put a character that did know about the world they were in.
it doesn't always work to put a character that know nothing about what they are getting into, and this is one of those cases.
it would have much much better to start this quest with someone that was already on this world. or even thea- but her mom telling her everything she needed to know. literally there was no reason for secretism, and thea's confusion just makes everything awful to read.
also the fact that thea is just.... so powerful, and had two awakenings in such little time? or doesn't get affected by things that should be affecting her? the plot armor and power she has is insane and just makes the experience really tedious.
as a narrator she isn't the greatest either, i couldn't get myself to care about her issues along the journey. because thea herself nor anything on the book made me care about her journey, tiana or teal made more appealing characters if I'm being honest.
also the dialogue in all the book is just awful and uninteresting. and somehow it feels forced.
something similar happens with the scenes, it doesn't feel fluid or natural how everything happens. it just feels like everything is happening because there's a script they must follow, not like there's really a story.
in general it had potential but is not well executed at all, and the characters are not really appealing. i think that the author just needs more experience and polish more their skills, i thinks this could be a great story, is not boring at all and is pretty interesting. but the way is executed and told is not appealing and feels poorly done.
July 9, 2025
Oh boy, this was a struggle for me. I started to listen to the audiobook of Why We Play With Fire and made it about 20% done before I had to stop. I was lost, didn't care, and not enjoying it. After listening to a different book for a few days, I was able to come back, but decided to start over. (Ugh. If it wasn't a MYRCA book, I would have DNFed this for sure!) I struggled to give it a bit more attention so I could follow the overly complicated and fantastical storyline better. I managed to get through it.
I know that I don't generally love fantasy novels and the young readers that do, will enjoy Why We Play With Fire a lot more than I did, but I still think it falls short. There are dramatic plot points that are simply explained away by introducing a new magical bit or a "historical" explanation, which usually involved introducing yet another character! I suspect the young audience (and I'm not entirely sure what age to suggest) may get lost in the layers, as I did.
Why We Play With Fire is a 2026 MYRCA Northern Lights nominee.
And, it also needs to be said, this was hands down the WORST audiobook I have ever listened to! It was hard to not have the poor quality of the audiobook impact my feelings toward this book. The narrator's voice changed repeatedly, like a poorly redone edit, spliced in, often mid-sentence. There were an incredible number of mispronounced words as well, including one of the made up fantasy words being pronounced two different ways throughout the book! Every time the audio flubbed the words, it was jarring and incredibly annoying. I've never produced an audiobook, but am convinced I could do it better! (And, did nobody listen to it before they released it?!?!?)
I know that I don't generally love fantasy novels and the young readers that do, will enjoy Why We Play With Fire a lot more than I did, but I still think it falls short. There are dramatic plot points that are simply explained away by introducing a new magical bit or a "historical" explanation, which usually involved introducing yet another character! I suspect the young audience (and I'm not entirely sure what age to suggest) may get lost in the layers, as I did.
Why We Play With Fire is a 2026 MYRCA Northern Lights nominee.
And, it also needs to be said, this was hands down the WORST audiobook I have ever listened to! It was hard to not have the poor quality of the audiobook impact my feelings toward this book. The narrator's voice changed repeatedly, like a poorly redone edit, spliced in, often mid-sentence. There were an incredible number of mispronounced words as well, including one of the made up fantasy words being pronounced two different ways throughout the book! Every time the audio flubbed the words, it was jarring and incredibly annoying. I've never produced an audiobook, but am convinced I could do it better! (And, did nobody listen to it before they released it?!?!?)
February 9, 2024
Thank you @rowhousepub for the opportunity to read Why We Play with Fire by Giselle Vriesen! It’s a story of magic, belonging, and finding your path that tugged at my heart through the whole book. On her socials, @gisellevriesen has talked about writing parts of her identity into the story — wishing for characters that reflected her diverse background and perspective. If you know me, you know that’s been my journey too as a reader, writer, and teacher, so I knew I’d feel connected to the narrative.
From the beginning of the novel, Thea describes her experience feeling ostracized and disconnected, with the exception of one best friend. Suddenly, a dark magic attack takes over their home and Thea is separated from her mother and nana, the only caretakers she knows. Pushed in a direction by her mother, she ends up in a hidden, magical home of the Malachite, a space where young people who carry the lineage of gods from different traditions learn about their destinies and their powers. But Thea doesn’t get the chance to settle in, as another attack that threatens the safety of this sacred place pulls her into a quest that demands she does the learning along the way.
Vriesen is a vivid and detailed writer, keeping us immersed in detail while building beautiful worlds in this book. As Thea and friends move between magical spaces, I felt grounded in each reality and attuned to Thea’s emotional / social development along the way. Gifted with a hypersensitivity to emotion (feeling like a nod to Butler’s Lauren from Parable), Thea’s journey to self discovery feels dynamic and deeply connected to those around her.
From that living between cultures perspective, there’s also something really important & affecting about the way lineage is talked about in this novel, particularly in the acceptance/ rejection of lineage, choosing connecting with ancestors, and the sense and purpose within those identities. I’ll be thinking about this for a while, with gratitude
From the beginning of the novel, Thea describes her experience feeling ostracized and disconnected, with the exception of one best friend. Suddenly, a dark magic attack takes over their home and Thea is separated from her mother and nana, the only caretakers she knows. Pushed in a direction by her mother, she ends up in a hidden, magical home of the Malachite, a space where young people who carry the lineage of gods from different traditions learn about their destinies and their powers. But Thea doesn’t get the chance to settle in, as another attack that threatens the safety of this sacred place pulls her into a quest that demands she does the learning along the way.
Vriesen is a vivid and detailed writer, keeping us immersed in detail while building beautiful worlds in this book. As Thea and friends move between magical spaces, I felt grounded in each reality and attuned to Thea’s emotional / social development along the way. Gifted with a hypersensitivity to emotion (feeling like a nod to Butler’s Lauren from Parable), Thea’s journey to self discovery feels dynamic and deeply connected to those around her.
From that living between cultures perspective, there’s also something really important & affecting about the way lineage is talked about in this novel, particularly in the acceptance/ rejection of lineage, choosing connecting with ancestors, and the sense and purpose within those identities. I’ll be thinking about this for a while, with gratitude
December 20, 2024
I love this cover 😍
The author is of Jamaican, Chinese and European descent. She works some of these into the story and it gives the story so much more depth than one gets from most books trying to create universal religious systems that make sense for our world today. The author focuses on the story and what the main character is experiencing versus explaining the system. We never really learn much about the Chinese goddess she is connected to, but she still is connected to her.
I agree with the reviewer who mentioned Butler's. Lauren from the parable the Sower. Thea definitely reminded me of her. She's someone you want as a friend. She's the one who checks up on you when you're in the hospital. She brings you food after you've had surgery or a baby. She's the kind of friend everyone needs.
No sex or language (except d*mn and sh*t once or twice). One character talks about being on drugs when they are in a magical realm and are hallucinating because only gods are supposed to be there and it's designed to keep mortals out. A magical bird rescues stuff. MC's mom and grandma die pretty early on, nasty demon like creatures are after them, some rituals that are used to take the power of the main character and her friends, lots of BIPOC representation, one homosexual couple with one of them dying part way through and one she + they couple (Teal). I
felt like Teal was a male character until the very end when they wore a skirt and made bread and the picture kinda looks that way too, so be aware.
The author is of Jamaican, Chinese and European descent. She works some of these into the story and it gives the story so much more depth than one gets from most books trying to create universal religious systems that make sense for our world today. The author focuses on the story and what the main character is experiencing versus explaining the system. We never really learn much about the Chinese goddess she is connected to, but she still is connected to her.
I agree with the reviewer who mentioned Butler's. Lauren from the parable the Sower. Thea definitely reminded me of her. She's someone you want as a friend. She's the one who checks up on you when you're in the hospital. She brings you food after you've had surgery or a baby. She's the kind of friend everyone needs.
No sex or language (except d*mn and sh*t once or twice). One character talks about being on drugs when they are in a magical realm and are hallucinating because only gods are supposed to be there and it's designed to keep mortals out. A magical bird rescues stuff. MC's mom and grandma die pretty early on, nasty demon like creatures are after them, some rituals that are used to take the power of the main character and her friends, lots of BIPOC representation, one homosexual couple with one of them dying part way through and one she + they couple (Teal). I
felt like Teal was a male character until the very end when they wore a skirt and made bread and the picture kinda looks that way too, so be aware.
February 8, 2024
5 stars tldr: promising debut author, fun world building, diverse characters, great for YA
Why We Play with Fire is a newly released YA fantasy packed with adventure, self-discovery, a diverse cast of characters, and so much fun. We meet Thea, who finds herself falling into a mystical well with one mission: “retrieve the keys”. What happens next is the adventure and introduction into a magical realm my younger self dreamed of.
The characters in this book are all descendants of gods and goddesses. However, the twist here is the characters are related to higher beings from all different myths and legends around the world. I thought this concept was so cool and loved how the book wove myths from all different cultures into the story. And clearly it is so well researched!
I recommend this for anyone looking for a fun escape and those who can get this into the hands of young people who may not always see themselves in fantasy. As a young reader, I often dreamed of one day slipping into a magical realm, and I know a younger me would have really loved this!
Thank you to @gisellevriesen for the ARC!
Why We Play with Fire is a newly released YA fantasy packed with adventure, self-discovery, a diverse cast of characters, and so much fun. We meet Thea, who finds herself falling into a mystical well with one mission: “retrieve the keys”. What happens next is the adventure and introduction into a magical realm my younger self dreamed of.
The characters in this book are all descendants of gods and goddesses. However, the twist here is the characters are related to higher beings from all different myths and legends around the world. I thought this concept was so cool and loved how the book wove myths from all different cultures into the story. And clearly it is so well researched!
I recommend this for anyone looking for a fun escape and those who can get this into the hands of young people who may not always see themselves in fantasy. As a young reader, I often dreamed of one day slipping into a magical realm, and I know a younger me would have really loved this!
Thank you to @gisellevriesen for the ARC!
February 5, 2024
It's been a while since I enjoyed a book so completely. Once I got started reading this I had a hard time putting it down. There is so much to love within these pages:
Mythology ✔️
Magic ✔️
Good vs. Evil ✔️
Enemies to Friends ✔️
Strong Female Characters ✔️
Amazing Writing ✔️
Thea is such a great character, and is so relatable. Paired with Teal, Tiana, the Malachites and yes, even Zero, it makes for an adventure worth getting lost in.
I am desperately hoping there is a follow up to Why We Play With Fire. With that ending..there are so many possibilities and I am here for them all. This is definitely one for fans of YA Fantasy, Mythology, and Magic. Go. Grab. This.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Mythology ✔️
Magic ✔️
Good vs. Evil ✔️
Enemies to Friends ✔️
Strong Female Characters ✔️
Amazing Writing ✔️
Thea is such a great character, and is so relatable. Paired with Teal, Tiana, the Malachites and yes, even Zero, it makes for an adventure worth getting lost in.
I am desperately hoping there is a follow up to Why We Play With Fire. With that ending..there are so many possibilities and I am here for them all. This is definitely one for fans of YA Fantasy, Mythology, and Magic. Go. Grab. This.
I sincerely appreciate the author for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
January 9, 2025
Despite being a Young Adult book, the storyline attempts to be intricate but falls short. The writing is easy to follow, but the plot line is not well-developed. The character development was flat and the relationships between the characters were unclear, which made me rather uninterested in their success.
The identity search and "finding yourself" approach is a great topic for Young Adults, however due to the unrealistic developments of the protagonist's quest for her "powers," the reader is not able to make a connection to the characters. Ultimately, in the new world that Thea enters, everything comes naturally to her, and she no longer needs to try - which is not a great take-away message.
The identity search and "finding yourself" approach is a great topic for Young Adults, however due to the unrealistic developments of the protagonist's quest for her "powers," the reader is not able to make a connection to the characters. Ultimately, in the new world that Thea enters, everything comes naturally to her, and she no longer needs to try - which is not a great take-away message.
August 16, 2024
I wanted to like this book. I really did. The concept was so promising, but lacked follow through. I didn't love Thea as a main character, and found I would have much rather read about other characters. And why do all three main characters have names that start with T? I also found the stakes were lacking? I felt no real sense of urgency or importance to finishing their quest and it almost seemed like nothing would happen if they failed. The events felt slow and disconnected or too much all at once with no break between except for pointless narration or romance that didn't need to be there at all. The side characters were the best part of this book.
January 18, 2024
Rare does a book excite my imagination so deeply that I hermit in my bed for two days devouring the book cover to cover. This book was that for me! Giselle's storytelling is spell binding, unique, and so richly decorated with adventure that it completely takes you into another world. The other world that Giselle creates is one with relatable characters, intriguing magical plot lines, and myths that are familiar but spun with an edge of brilliance and creativity. Why We Play With Fire is excitement at its finest! Its a story for young and old alike. I can't wait for the sequel!
February 7, 2024
There was a lot of action and mythological layers to the story, I just never found myself truly enveloped by Thea’s journey. I know a HUGE part of that is because I’m not the biggest fantasy reader & I try my best to branch out every once in a while. So with that please take my review with a grain of salt.
The research in her writing and the strength in her details to capture what is happening in the Malachite world is incredible. I foresee those who love deep fantasy and world building, they will eat WHY WE PLAY WITH FIRE up.
The research in her writing and the strength in her details to capture what is happening in the Malachite world is incredible. I foresee those who love deep fantasy and world building, they will eat WHY WE PLAY WITH FIRE up.
February 18, 2024
In the Malachite home, Thea feels out of place among others who know their powers well. She must quickly learn to control her own abilities to protect this new home from danger. Along the way, she finds friends and faces challenges that help her grow and understand her place in the world. The journey is tough, but it teaches Thea about bravery, friendship, and her own unique strengths.
June 6, 2024
'Why We Play with Fire' is a dazzling debut that fantasy readers will be captivated by! I enjoyed journeying along with Thea as she steps into the fullness of her inherited gifts and the generational wisdom of her elders. The added layers of mythology and mysterious rivals made this story a page turner as we accompany Thea on her quest and self-discovery journey.
February 16, 2024
What a diverse and original take on mythology! A Percy Jackson-esque series that manages to do something completely different and fresh that I enjoyed every second of. The characters are interesting and inclusive, the plot is engaging, and I’m so excited for more of this series!
February 21, 2025
What an amazing cover! This was my first Forest of Reading book. It isn't my favourite genre but I still enjoyed it especially the diverse characters. Thea was an awesome main character. I would have given it 5 stars but I wasn't a huge fan of the ending.
February 19, 2024
Delightful and endearing. For fans of Percy Jackson and Ms. Peregrine's Home
February 19, 2024
This book started strong but then just got boring, honestly. Dragging on. I really loved the diversity in the characters.
February 21, 2024
Just finished, and am eager for more from this author. Great fantasy and world-building. Loved the characters.
March 4, 2024
This was a really exciting book! I'm only mad I've finished it and the next one isn't out yet. 😂 you can't leave me hanging like that!!!
April 8, 2024
This was such a fun read! Very fast-paced and action-packed, with some mystery elements! I also loved the mix of different mythology!
September 18, 2024
help I need book 2 STAT
November 27, 2024
Self discovery and the realization that you are more than you thought. Mythology and magical diversity all come together.
January 26, 2025
Solid early young adult fantasy. Good for Rick Riordan fans. The tor got a little convoluted at times and the world building wasn’t stellar but the characters were good. 2025 Red Maple nominee.
March 3, 2025
Pretty good storie that is magical and fantasy. Personally this should have been a novel instead.
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