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“You have a fire inside of you.”

Hunter Harrison desperately hopes her guardian Joshua is joking when he confesses – very solemnly – that she is pyrokinetic. Hunter would normally laugh in his face, if it didn’t explain all the spontaneous fires that happen only when she’s nearby. Still, the logic is a little hard for a smart, socially isolated eighteen-year-old to comprehend. That is, until Joshua explains the truth behind her parent’s death.

Spun into a new life filled with cold truth, terrifying wonder and a mountain of responsibility, Hunter faces the flames dwelling inside her. But the fire is more deadly than Hunter can comprehend. It explodes when she’s angry. It erupts when she’s afraid. And, worst of all, it threatens the life of her boyfriend Eli, who is innocently unaware of her abilities.

So how does an extraordinary teenager juggle dealing with superpowers between work, graduating and keeping her hormones in check?

Simple. By fighting fire with fire.

293 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2013

11 people are currently reading
3723 people want to read

About the author

Isabella Modra

3 books82 followers
Hi, my name is Isabella.

I'm obsessed with superhero pop culture. I travel the world and I write intricate, epic novels. My dream is to someday have a house in the woods where I can immerse myself in another world and never be interrupted. I am determined to marry a Navy SEAL, a cowboy or a re-incarnation of Gilbert Blythe from L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

I frequent Wattpad, so head over to https://www.wattpad.com/user/Isabella... and you can check out my other un-published novels.

Thanks for stopping by!

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
Profile Image for Aditi.
920 reviews1,453 followers
August 27, 2014
A girl with superpowers!! Now that sounds something really interesting after such a long time of cheesy chick-lit.

Well 'Rouge' was sent to me by the author, Isabella Modra.

I must say though this was her first novel, she has done an amazing job by giving this novel a really exciting and power-packed plot which is bound to keep the readers on their toes. We have come across with so many superpowers-super human-beings novels, but I bet this one is quite unique as well as thoroughly gripping.

Hunter Harrisson is not any regular, normal teenage girl with high-school problems, she has a superpower-fire inside her. But when she is made aware of her superpower abilities by her guardian, Joshua, she laughs it off on his face. But when he tells her the truth behind her parent's death, she accepts the hardcore fact that she really has fire inside her, well not the anger, real fire, she can make things burn. Unfortunately she has no control over her burning power, it grows with her every emotions. She gets scared that it might cause harm to her new boyfriend, Eli. So when an explosion happens in the science lab, Hunter faces a life and death situation and this changes her fate but the question lies can she ever be able to control her power?

First of all, the author has created a really strong and powerful superhero, Hunter. Reading this book will make you fall in love with Hunter and also it'll make you wonder "Wish I was like her"!

In the first half of the book, we are introduced to another great character, Liz, Hunter's mom. The author has given us a thorough insight into the past of Hunter, i.e. her parent's story. And the best thing about this book is that the author has provided us with valid logical scientific explanations behind Hunter's superpower abilities. It might be her sheer imagination, but the author has managed to turn her imagination into reality.

Eli is a sweet character, a nerdy, goofy guy who's not aware of his girl's fire power. He sees right through her. Their relationship is like having a sundae on your gloomy days.

Joshua, Hunter's guardian since her birth, is a very over-protective man. All throughout the book, he acts too strict with Hunter which will make the readers hate him more, but slowly, it'll make us realize that there's a reason behind his strict attitude towards Hunter. There is quite a bit of chemistry between these two characters which is actually quite fascinating.

This novel is bound to deserve a 5star rating, with so many suspense and twists and turns, it becomes an instant page turner after a first few chapters. And definitely a must read for all the YA lovers out there.

Looking forward to read this novel's next sequel 'Embers & Ice', which I've already won in the good reads giveaway.(yeah I do like to brag about winning good reads giveaway!)



Profile Image for chucklesthescot.
3,000 reviews134 followers
March 18, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

As a debut novel, it was nice to see that good editing was employed throughout, with only a couple of small typos which can happen in any book. It was also nice to get a real background to the story as we follow what happened to Liz and Joshua in real time before Hunter was born. As well as giving you insight into the origin of the fire gift, it means that huge info dumps can be avoided later when we join Hunter. The author made a good choice here in showing us the past, not just telling us about it. For for a young debut author, I thought that the writing was polished, well presented and easy to follow. The story flowed smoothly and in an uncomplicated manner, which I liked.

I also liked the characters. Joshua is that mix of cold scientist and a guardian who finds it hard to show his emotions, making him a fascinating character. Hunter's tantrums did get a bit weary sometimes when I felt she was getting mad for no good reason and being unfair, but you can't really complain when it was a deliberate plot device! She wasn't the smartest person in the world and is reckless about hiding her powers, which was frustrating sometimes, but I did like her, which is vital. Eli was very sweet-how come I never met guys like him when I was at school??!! He was just the right calming influence on our fiery heroine. Jack interested me and I'd have liked to have seen a bit more of him in the book, as with Miss Smart but I understand that the author wanted to concentrate more on the three main players. There are hints given in the early part of the book which lead you to the big reveals, and if you are paying attention, you'll see them. Guessing what was coming doesn't spoil anything though.

"I can make fire out of nothing because my mother was infested by a Swedish drug and a supernatural lava creature"

The plot was nicely put together with the lava rock that can think for itself, the dangerous drug, and the superhero powers. This showed good imagination and the author wove it all together nicely without blinding us with science. The science bits were done simply so that the reader can understand what is happening without a degree in physics! I liked the final section of the book best as this is when the plot really takes off, especially the warehouse scene. I also liked the humour when Hunter was debating her superhero outfit and name.

For me, I did find it a bit too slow in places. That is not the fault of the author, that is just my preference for action packed urban fantasy. I cannot fault the storytelling in any way and I did enjoy reading it. The one thing I did take issue with was the unsafe sex sequence. I'm by no means a prude but I do feel that books aimed at the YA market should be careful on this issue. I don't mark down for things like that but other people out there might.
(*NB This scene has been changed now by the author*)

The book will appeal to fans of YA and adult paranormal and fantasy fans. There was a little sexual content but not too graphic. My feeling is that this could well be an author to keep an eye on.

Profile Image for Marzena.
1,376 reviews57 followers
July 23, 2016
The problem with people who write book reviews for a living/ARC readers is that they're never honest. I am.

Now, the story had a potential. Only it's tiny and lost among the pages. In fact, I find the story to be so undeveloped it needs some serious editing. And rewriting, possibly.



Wow. I really found it to be ridiculous and even though it had potential, I can help but think it's pathetic. I'm no writer, but I do use my own imagination in a better way.
Profile Image for John Hennessy.
Author 34 books234 followers
November 13, 2016
Super-heroes. Fantasy. What's not to like? Full review to come!

Okay, so this is absolutely true - I knew Hunter Harrison.

Confession - not the Hunter in this story, but someone from a very distant job I had in the past.

This is the last 'full' novel I read and it goes all the way back to June. It was a compelling read that I completed in one go, I'm delighted to say.

It's a delight to see a young author with such a command of her writing universe and a wonderful grip of her characters and their motivations. There is a generous homage to X-Men in this story although it manages to distinguish itself from that series by having a wonderful heroine in Hunter.

There's wonderful humour laced throughout the book, and there's a particular scene which reminded me of Kick-Ass a bit when Hunter is choosing her super-name and looking at outfits to wear.

I haven't read urban fantasy in a while and this book jumped out at me because of a giveaway for the sequel - Embers and Ice. I entered the giveaway but didn't win. However I ordered the paperback version of Embers and Ice - this review is for the Kindle version of Rouge (#1).

It's clear that Isabella Modra, the author, grows with authority as the book progresses. I understand and accept the pace of the book, everything is well described and builds beautifully towards the final act.

Put simply, there's a lot of fantasy out there that could be considered a little samey. Rouge - and it's sequel, stand out because the author knows the story she wants to tell, and tells it wonderfully. Both books (I hasten to add I have only started book two and am resting my eyes at the moment from heavy computer use!) could sit well on the big screen and you'll be rooting for Hunter, Joshua and the others.

Where the writing is most clever is the focus on a select band of characters, rather than introducing too many. In a book just shy of 300 pages, perhaps it was important to do that.

Are there any faults? Not for me and I'll admit I don't look for them when reading books, I just enjoy the ride. Life's too short to nit-pick!

The books moves well, great characters, and everything is brilliantly described. This is a wonderful standard for a debut novel, and I'm seriously impressed. I don't believe I could have written something as well as this when I was 19.

Anyway, I rate this book very highly - a wonderful, inventive fantasy that takes the super-hero theme and ups it a notch. Christopher Nolan needs to pay attention to this author if he is looking for a follow-up to the Dark Knight Trilogy.
Profile Image for Merril Anil.
930 reviews78 followers
July 17, 2014
There is something different about it

First of all thank you Aditi Saha for recommending this book.

Rouge was one of those books that i ended up finishing in one go and in my case it is a big deal because there have not been very many books that had the same fate so i guess it means something.

Rouge is stuffed with your usual young adult/paranormal stuffs.The elements are all the same but in spite of that it sill appealed to me so much. I actually had fun reading it in spite of the fact that major chunk of it was repetitive of what i have seen in all other paranormal romances.But i think its the beauty of the language or its simplicity that made me keep reading it.I love how even with the usual elements the story had so much twists and turns making it same and yet different as the same time.The plot angles were superb in my opinion and it kept the book alive.

I loved how the book starts in a particular way and changes its direction completely to proceed to yet another track. So in short, the plot keeps a good hold of your attention.

The book in spite of being the usual young adult/paranormal romance, somehow has a plot that is brilliant and different with its flow and nail biters. Its like even if you know how this is going to end up,there is still something that pops out completely unpredictable making it an interesting read. I think the best part is the narration and language of the book that kind of helps you immerse thoroughly in the book, at least it did it for me and that is how i ended up finishing the book in one day.

How was it
Profile Image for Caity.
5 reviews13 followers
July 23, 2013
Superpowers? First love? Hero vs. villain? Captivating characters? What more do you want?

Rouge is very well written and has some incredible characters, within the first few chapters I was already hooked. You get to briefly meet Liz, whose character I really loved. You also meet Joshua who isn't trying to be cold on purpose but gets too wrapped up within his own mind, but also with protecting the leading lady and protagonist Hunter.

I enjoyed that Hunter is a realistic character, she is ostracized at school and can't wait to leave even though she doesn't know what she wants to do after senior year. And through alighting the fire inside her soul Hunter has to discover herself. Rouge is a coming of age story of sorts.

I enjoyed how the book flowed, sometimes I find things move to quickly or that you don't feel the time properly but with Rouge it worked well and Hunter grows throughout the story.

With Rouge being the first novel in this trilogy, we learn a lot about the characters, how Hunter needed the time to grow into herself and to decide on if she wants to be the hero of the story. And when you have heroes, villains are sure to follow?

Some of the other key characters are Eli who is Hunters boyfriend. He's not the typical heart-throb, he's a sweet nerd who likes to save animals and she falls for him because he sees behind the image she portrays of herself. He's goofy but loveable and Hunter can't resist him. Then there’s Jack who is Eli's best friend, who is quite chatty type (probably due to the fact he’s a lonely person). He starts to like Hunter towards the end because he knows about her powers.

The ending of Rouge was my favourite part of the novel with a lot of action and of course suspense. So I can't wait to read the next book and see where this takes Hunter.

Rouge is intended as a YA novel but it I would consider it as one for the more mature persons. It does get a bit steamy in a few sections ;) Can I also just mention how much I love the book cover as well, it's just smouldering.

I give this book 4.5 stars :) Isabella your an amazing author and I wish you all the best :D
Profile Image for Jessie.
270 reviews3 followers
July 7, 2014
When a fire starts in her apartment, Hunter's mother discovers she's immune to the flames. Her husband dies in the blaze, and she seeks out his friend, Joshua, for comfort and help. She discovers she's pregnant (the child was conceived the night of the fire), and she and Joshua spend her pregnancy in a secluded location. She dies giving birth to a beautiful baby girl named Hunter, who is also immune to fire. But what other abilities did she inherit from her departed mother?

Rouge was a good story and gave another spin to the superhero theme. Hunter seems more like an average teenager than the typical superheros we're used to reading about. The novel had romance, suspense, and was action-packed.

There were a few things that bothered me about the story, though. Hunter's mother (whose name I cannot remember right now) hit on what happened to her without anything leading up to the epiphany. And it wasn't even an Ah-ha! moment. It was more of a sarcastic comment about what happened to her, and it just happened to be the very thing that occurred. It was accepted as fact by Joshua, who later recounts to Hunter what happened. But he wasn't there to witness it and there weren't any clues about it. So how do they know this is what took place? They don't, but yet they "know." I didn't like that at all.

That was a minor flaw in the novel, though, and I think it's worth reading for anyone who likes science fiction and superheroes.
Profile Image for Skaistė Girtienė.
813 reviews128 followers
August 9, 2014
Not in every book I can find a first sentence that is powerful enough to make me interested in the story, to create emotions and elicit thoughts. In this one I did.

Details made me curious to know the truth behind the events. I quickly became interested in the story and characters. I liked them, I started to care about them. As story went on bits of new information came and I wondered what's behind them. I wondered what's the explanation about the powers of Hunter and about the stone. It was interesting to read about her finding her powers and dealing with it. I enjoyed to learn what's behind the secrets along with Hunter and at the same time to see a life in school of a girl who's kind of a loner. The story got more and more tense and I hurried through the pages eager to know what happens next. I was wondering who might be hiding secrets and what are they, who is friend and who is enemy. I couldn't put this book away and didn't go to sleep till I finished it.

I loved it. It was easy to read, tense, thrilling, and there were parts what made me smile. And the ending was shocking. I'm eager to read second book in the series, to know what would happen next, how Hunter would deal with challenges, and what secrets would be revealed.

I have received the book free from the David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite! group and the author in exchange for a honest review.
Author 11 books55 followers
January 3, 2015
I really liked this book. It is a girl's "superhero" story, not that I don't think guys will like it as well. There is some swearing, and some sexual content, so I recommend for ages 17 and up. I am looking forward to the second book. This one pretty much lays the foundation of where the "superpower" comes from and who the enemy is. Great characters, only I have to admit I wasn't thrilled with the love interest, he was a little to weak for me. But the door is left open to some interesting relationships in the series. I give it 4 stars. Would have gotten a 5 without the swearing and the sex. So if that kind of thing doesn't bother you, then add a star.
14 reviews
March 16, 2014
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

This book was very well written. I really liked the main plot of the story. The characters were very well built and Joshua and Hunter were very clearly described. The suspense of the story and the supernatural power of fire for Hunter and ice for Joshua was an interesting combination. The chemistry between Eli and Hunter was developed very well and it looked fascinating. The suspense in the end is very interesting and I cannot help but ponder about the next book! I'm awaiting it.
Profile Image for Bookish.
3 reviews
October 1, 2013
Loved this book. Cover was gorgeous and I'm a sucker for supernatural storylines. Characters were also engaging, and the book was really well written overall! Recommended.
Profile Image for Lillian.
1,085 reviews68 followers
July 22, 2014
Rouge by Isabella Modra is book one of this new sci-fi series about a young girl who develops has a rather unusual power. Hunter Harrison is 18 and believes that all she has to worry about is finishing high school and going to college, but she's wrong. After a freak fire at school and home, Hunter learns she not only has the power to withstand burns but she can create fire as well. Her guardian Joshua changes before her eyes. No longer is he the awkward science nerd she grew up with, but there's a darkness to him, a darkness that frightens Hunter. Joshua wants to protect her, but at what costs?



Where do I even start?! There is so much I loved about this book, but also things that I didn't care for. Let's break it down.

The Characters:

Hunter is a very opinionated, smart, young woman, but she's also hurting. She's an orphan. Her parents died in a fire when she was little and she's been raised by their best friend Joshua. Hunter knows Joshua tries, but he's not exactly the best parent or guardian. He's cold, awkward, and not very touchy-feely if you know what I mean. So Hunter feels like she has lacked love in her life.

Joshua is a mystery in and of himself. At the beginning of the story I loved him. Here's this awkward, OCD, professor/scientist who loves his friends and when they die he loves their daughter, though he doesn't know how to show it. Then some weird things happen. He's cold, harsh, and has a temper that is just downright scary. So I'm on-the-fence with him.

Eli is the romantic interest for Hunter and well....I just didn't care for him. He's a rich kid who has daddy issues. Daddy ignores him, parents are divorced, he cowers to Daddy's every whim. He's a vegetarian and avid animal right's activist. He's also the nerd at school and the one the bully picks on. To Hunter, he's handsome and driven and all these other things....



Anyways, he's just not my favorite character. Hunter idealizes him too much. At least that's my opinion.

One treat the author does that I truly enjoyed is getting the POV of different characters throughout the story, though she does stick with Hunter and Joshua mostly. I love this little insight into the characters' thinking.

The Plot:

The story revolves around the origin of Hunter's powers, her discovering her powers, and her becoming a woman in general. It's a true coming-of-age story with an awesome sci-fi element! However it moves slowly. Like I mean really slow. The book is divided into 5 parts, and each part is almost like a novella and has a complete story in and of itself, but they all tie together nicely. Part one is the origin story and moves quickly. In fact it takes place prior to Hunter's birth and tells the story of her mom and how Joshua became her guardian. It hooked me! And I must say I wasn't prepared for how it moved into part two (but no spoilers ;) ).
The story really didn't pick back up until Hunter discovers her powers. There's some arguing and some training with Joshua then it slows down again and takes a very big detour into romance with Eli. And I'm not even kidding. It's a huge distraction, or at least it was for me, maybe because of my feelings for the character.

FYI there are several scenes that are for the 18+ crowd and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone younger. I was not expecting that at all!!! In fact after reading the synopsis I was expecting a YA coming-of-age sci-fi. Well I was part right, it's just not for the YA crowd. Sorry guys!

Conclusion:

Overall I enjoyed the story, slow parts and all. I definitely recommend that it is for mature audiences due to sexual content and violence! Otherwise if you enjoy coming-of-age stories or a good sci-fi story, then I highly recommend you check it out. I don't think it will disappoint you. In fact, I've already read book two of this series and loved it!!! Be warned though this book is slowly addictive and ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you begging for more.

I received a copy of this ebook from the author via Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Life is wasted on the living [Elena].
19 reviews40 followers
July 6, 2014
4 brilliant stars for Rouge!

I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
‘ONLY PASSIONS, GREAT PASSIONS, CAN ELEVATE THE SOUL TO GREAT THINGS.’ 
- DENIS DIDEROT


This book definitely surprised me.
The summary promised a nice, easy read from a new author that might does or does not have an interesting plot and some relatable characters.
I did not realize I won't be able to stop reading until the very end.

Nineteen years ago, a patient died in the ER. The doctor Elizabeth was a little bit puzzled about his death but brushed it off as an uncommon epileptic attack combined with a special drug stimulant, Feucotetanus.
Liz didn't know that the scratch the patient gave her, combined with a special volcanic rock her husband Leo brought from his trip would change her life forever, kill her own husband, and in the very end kill her too, as she gives birth to a little girl named Hunter.
And this was just the beginning.
Now, Hunter is an eighteen year old with a seemingly ordinary life. She lives with her guardian Joshua, a distant, lonely man that is sworn to protect her. And by that he means with every mean necessary.
Because, contrary to the belief, nothing about Hunter is actually ordinary. She is a girl conceived in fire which she carries in her core, and there are people who want her powers. No one can be trusted.

Friendship presents danger. Love presents liability.
So what is the way out?

Be a fighter Hunter, and no matter the pain this curse causes you, know that you are stronger. Your soul controls you. Use it.
I am sorry for Joshua. I had no control over him. If there is a way I could take it all back, I would. But sometimes we don’t get second chances. That’s why we need to make the right choices now, when it counts. So make it count. Let yourself love and have a happy life, a normal life. But never forget who you are. This curse within you might not be a curse, but a shield. If you learn to grasp it, it will lead you to greatness.
Be strong, Hunter. Never lose faith in yourself, for when there is nothing else, there is always faith to cling onto.
-Mom.




The writing itself wasn't perfect and the plot, though it was well-thought of and really interesting, lacked some of the details from regular life, like the question of the fire in the apartment and the police, Hunter's school, Joshua's endless stream of money etc.
But I must admit there were a few things I loved, especially one:
The Hunter-Joshua relation.

The two of them always had a somewhat awkward relationship, but the reader can see that even though Joshua is twisted and a cold-hearted scientist-- he does love Hunter, mainly because of Liz. And Hunter loves him back, since admitting it or not, he is the only family she has.
And the fight between them was just EPIC.

“You’re much stronger than I realized Hunter,” he snarled, no longer his confident self but rather more manic, if it were possible. “But weren’t you listening before? We can’t kill each other!” He threw out his hands and cackled. “We’re fire and ice, baby!”
She screamed in fury and twisted her hands together, forming a ball of
flames that she threw at him with all her might. The fire would have hit him, too, had he not lifted his hands and shot a jet of water from them, drowning the fire.
“But Professor,” she smiled, watching his lip curl at the name. “I was
listening. Cold does not exist. You said that cold is merely the absence of heat,” Hunter inhaled and breathed out hard.
“Well heat is back,” she snarled, “and they call her Rouge.”


Overall, Rouge was great and I can't wait to read through the next book. A big thank you to the author for giving the books to me to read.
Your work is amazing.

907 reviews29 followers
December 24, 2013
Hunter Harrison is not like other people. From the moment of her conception she has been different, marked, set apart. Hunter has special powers and abilities thanks to a combination of unique circumstances: a geologist-vulcanologist father who brought home a mysterious rock that seems to contain a life form and a doctor mother who became infected with an engineered disease known as Feucotetanus. These unfortunate circumstances lead to the sudden and violent deaths of her parents while endowing Hunter with an inner, living fire that renders her invulnerable to heat and capable of producing fire at will or when she loses control. Hunter is raised by Joshua, a coolly calculating geologist who was her father Leo's best friend and cared for Hunter's mother, Liz, after Leo's was killed. Liz died in childbirth, begging Joshua to care for and protect her child, and Joshua has devoted his life to carry out that promise.

Shortly after Hunter turns eighteen, she loses her temper during an argument with Joshua. As her temper rages, Hunter feels a fire rising and burning within her, and suddenly, the kitchen stove behind Joshua explodes in a fireball. Joshua realizes he must tell Hunter the truth about herself. He reveals the fiery circumstances of her conception, birth, and her very being, explaining that her father died because one of the mysterious rocks he brought home from a volcano has broken open, releasing a lava-like creature that started the fire that killed her father and melded with the Feucotetanus in her mother's blood. The combination made Liz impervious to fire and also united with the newly-formed embryo Liz had conceived to make Hunter impervious to fire like her mother but also give her special powers over fire. He explains that they must work together to master her powers and keep them secret from others.

Hunter meets a classmate, Eli, at a party and for the first time finds someone who likes her for herself. As she grows closer to Eli, she finds herself more and more at odds with Joshua and more determined to make her own choices about her life and her powers. She realizes her abilities can be both a curse and a gift, depending upon how she chooses to use them. An explosion in a school science lab presents Hunter with a life and death situation which alters the course of her life forever.

This first novel offers an original concept that will appeal to superhero and comic fans. Give a beautiful young heroine a nice but normal boyfriend; an over-protective, slightly maniacal guardian; and fire abilities that put Smaug to shame, and you have sure-fire teen appeal. The manuscript does, however, contain several mechanical errors that should be corrected by a good editor before the book appears in print. Sex scenes, although not graphic, make this book better suited to high school collections rather than middle school.

This novel was provided in digital format by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for  Marla.
2,354 reviews140 followers
January 15, 2016
Started so typically and then it was a totally different book. It was a lot darker than I expected, but it was an interesting tale and had a comic book feel to it. The story didn't feel like a cliffhanger, so much as a "to be continued" story.

Likes:
* Liz loving her geologist husband, Leo so much


Dislikes:
* Joshua is kind of an odd duck, now, he is starting to scare me


With-reservations:
murder, running away, attempted rape, sex, some language, violence, torture, human experimentation, kidnapping, shacking up

For-review:
Received a free review copy from author for [David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite!] R&R #44 and [We ♥ YA Books!] ARR #149.
Profile Image for Sibella.
126 reviews11 followers
August 13, 2013
Also posted here: www.reviewsofyabooks.blogspot.ca




Introduction
When Hunter's guardian Joshua tells her that she has inherited pyrokinesis from her long dead mother, it seems impossible, but it does make sense. When Hunter is experiencing very strong emotions, things seem to spontaneously catch on fire. But really? Pyrokinesis? It's a little hard to grasp. Then Joshua explains another long hidden secret: What really happened the night of her parents death. Now burdened with all these hidden secrets, plus a new power that she has to learn to control, while also keeping it a secret. Hunter is struggling to hold on to the little bit of normalcy that she had before her life started spinning out of control.

Hunter
Sometimes, I wanted to run up to Hunter and give her a hi-five, other times I wanted to scream at her. For example, in the beginning of the book before she learned of all this crazy stuff, she met Eli while at a university benefit party for Joshua. After Joshua received his award for his efforts, Hunter thought it would be the best idea ever to leave with Eli and go get a coffee. What?! Why would you even consider leaving? You were at the benefit to support Joshua, and so you leave. Anyway, I liked Hunter...most of the time.

Cover
Is this not the coolest cover that you have ever seen? It's one of the coolest I've ever seen.

The Fire Talks!
Yes. The fire talks. It was a really cool addition to the story. The fire does't have an actual voice or anything. It talks to Hunter inside her mind. It was awesome. Sometimes it will comment on things that Hunter has done in her daily life. Things like,

"That was dumb Hunter."

"Hunter, calm down."

Ending
I knew it. Not that the ending was predictable, but within the book it hints at what the ending could be, and I just happened to put everything together before Hunter had officially figured it out. Even then, it still had a few twists that I wasn't expecting. I was very happy with the ending.

Sequel?
How many pretties do I have to put before please for you to publish a sequel? Even though this book is still technically not even released yet...

Conclusion
This book was amazing. I loved this book so much that I am considering even buying a physical copy of the book when it is released. Trust me, for me to read a book twice, it has to be pretty amazing. So, CONGRATULATIONS ISABELLA. You have written a book awesome enough for me to read it twice.

Profile Image for Gennifer Eccles.
614 reviews52 followers
November 4, 2015
First off, I'd like to personally thank the author of Rouge, Isabella Modra, for sending me this book! I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for the second one, Embers & Ice. I cannot wait to see what happens next!

Rouge is the first in a series with the second one just out! It follows Hunter, a high school girl who has no idea what she truly is. What she actually is has been kept a secret hidden from her by her guardian, Joshua. Early into the book, it is revealed that Hunter is not only immune to fire, but she can also control it. In fact, the fire lives inside her. This book is a mix of Sci-Fi, Supernatural, and Romance all into one young adult novel. I didn't think I would like this book as much as I did and am very pleasantly surprised!

One of the things I loved was how real of a high school girl Hunter is. I could really relate to her, even if I don't have supernatural powers! With her issues that occur due to her power come realistic high school drama and teenage problems girls face every day. I found it really refreshing that Hunter was still herself and never changed, except for the better. She was still the same person and grew so much just in this first book, yet still remained likeable. Also, I loved Hunter's 'superhero' name!

The only thing I had a qualm about was the first part of the book. Rouge, which is divided into five parts, confused me at first because it followed the story of a woman named Liz. When I started reading, I was so perplexed! I actually thought I picked up a different book and started to think I read the summary of another book thinking it was Rouge. However, Liz has a connection to the story of Hunter and her part in the book made me much less confused! If it wasn't there, I'm pretty sure I'd be lost the whole entire book. With an intro like it, I never got confused on HOW Hunter got her powers or WHY she had them, two questions I always need answered.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The romance annoyed me a bit in the beginning but it grew on me and I adored Hunter and her love interests' relationship. While there are countless superhero books out there, this one striked me as original. I did, however, guess who the mystery antagonist was long before it was revealed, but nonetheless Rouge is a page turner I couldn't put down. I definitely recommend it and can't wait to get my hands on the next installment.
Profile Image for Lauren  (TheBookishTwins) .
546 reviews215 followers
June 30, 2014
I received a free e-book copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

"She might be able to walk through fire and use her power as a weapon against villains that might challenge her, but in the end she would always be put on a pedestal and either celebrated and worshipped of mocked for her mistakes."

Rouge begins in the past, giving us a nice and concise narrative of the past so it avoids the dreaded 'info-dump'. It tells of how Hunter's parents died and how she inherited the ability to control fire. The fire within her reacts to her emotions, and Hunter finds this difficult to control, especially when with her boyfriend Eli, or arguing with her over-protective guardian, Joshua. When Hunter has a choice to be a hero or walk away, she choose to put aside her fears and use her powers for good, but it sets off a tidal wave of difficult decisions.

I liked the plot, and I really liked seeing Hunter grow into her powers. It lost me a little in the middle, which is why this didn't gain a 4 star from me, but picked up quickly towards the end with a real action packed finale with a few shock twists that leaves you eager for the next (which I will be picking up very soon, thanks to the author who also gifted me with the second e-book). Also, at times it's a bit cheesy, but not overwhelmingly so, so I didn't bother me too much. For Isabella Modra's first novel, this is a promising piece of work.

I also liked the characters, particularly Hunter. Whilst at times she was a bit of a brat, generally I thought she was a fierce and strong female lead. I also like Eli as well because he was such a sweet and well rounded character. I would have preferred a bit more of a development between the two of them before they dated, because it was a little 'insta-love', but I still enjoyed their relationship.

Overall, a generally good and well-written urban fantasy/paranormal and I think fans of those genre's will enjoy.

Profile Image for Sarah-Jayne Briggs.
Author 1 book47 followers
July 24, 2014
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).

(This review may contain spoilers).

Having entered the giveaways to win a copy of both this book and its sequel, I was really happy when they were both offered on one of the groups I'm a member of.

I was a bit confused at first by the characters who seemed completely different to the ones in the blurb, but once I got past that, I felt that the first part worked really well as a kind of introduction to the story.

The plot of this story was a really intriguing one and as I read the book, it definitely lived up to my expectations.

I did like Hunter. I felt she came across as a realistic person and her relationship with Eli came across as very easy and natural, rather than forced and superficial.

I had some very mixed feelings about Joshua. I felt sympathetic towards him at times, but absolutely hated him at others.

One of the things that wasn't really explained to my satisfaction was why people at her school had such a problem with Hunter. That was something I kind of struggled to understand.

Hunter's abilities were described really well and I found it interesting that the fire had its own voice. I would have liked to see more of the origin of the rock and the powers.

I liked some of the supporting characters and really disliked others. Jack was one of those I would have liked to see more of.

On the whole, I found this book really well-written and entertaining to read. I recommend giving it a try and I'm going to be reading the sequel in the next few days.
Profile Image for Shirley.
67 reviews4 followers
July 29, 2016
I like the book, maybe because a have something with the fire controlling stuff or maybe because the general idea of the book was original and a little refresing. But there are things don't like me...

Well, starting with the good points, there is the scientific part:
-Ms. Modra used and explained terms like they were general knowledge, which make you feel like a scientist or maybe is only my love for chemistry.
-Joshua, I think he was better described and clear cut than Hunter.
-The linear narrative; with Hunter behavior, in my opinion, it's the best kind of narration for that story.
-The fire whispers, were a interesting add.
-And the cover, I completely love it!!

The not-so-good ones:
-The Hunter's dramatic behavior; I understand she has discover something socking about her life, but it isn't an excuse for the way she acts with Joshua. The part when he refers to her like his daughter and she got angry, really pissed me off, she was SO ungrateful!!!! And also, she runs away at any trouble, she needs a big courage injection, she has to face the things not only when she is worry about for her boyfriend.
-The Eli's "perfection"; he needs to be sometimes a little more selfish.
-And the Joshua's secret was a little predictable.

In general, I liked the book and I'm expecting the next one.

Thanks to Ms. Modra for the oportunity of read & review her book.
Profile Image for Amber Myers.
125 reviews2 followers
November 19, 2013
http://amberleannbookreviews.blogspot...

I received a free copy of this for a read and review, and I felt it was a really good book.
Hunter, the main character, was very strong and I loved her personality.
The evil guy or villain is someone who even before you know who it truly is, is someone who is easy to dislike.
The love story is beautiful. I absolutely loved Eli and Hunter!!! They had a cute relationship.
I really liked how the story starts out too by following Hunter's mom Liz. It really gives a good back round story and helps things out a lot. It was really interesting too, cause I have never read another book so far were the author has done something like that.
I also enjoyed the ending of this book, it brought some big shocks too it and it was hard to believe some of it. Even some of the things that you knew were coming.

I have some ideas of what may happen in the next book but I'm hoping I'm totally wrong cause I would be sad if they came true. I have a feeling I won't be wrong in some cases though this book left lots of little hints.
Anyways this was a really good book I enjoyed it a lot and can't wait to get my hands on the second one.

A special Thanks to Isabella Modra for the copy!
Profile Image for Trutze.
144 reviews20 followers
June 23, 2015
*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

First of all: Many thanks to Isabella Modra for giving me the chance to read her book!

When i started the book i first loved then disliked the characteres.
But i just bought the 2nd and 3rd and gave this a 4star rating, so it's kind of obvious how I felt in the end ;)

So i didn't have the best start into the book. The beginning was great, when the story changed into the present I wasn't getting warm with Hunter and Joshua.
I thought they reacted weird while interacting, escpaiclly given their backstory. I thought Hunter was a little whinny.
Looking back i might have been a bit harsh on her, she is a teenager after all.
After 33% i stoped reading for a while and turned to other books. But it still icked me to knoow how the story develops further and after all i had promised to give a review.

Afer 45% I was so glad I had picked it up again because it became very entertaining and it became hard to lay it down.

The last 20% or so cleared a lot of things up that had bugged me while reading and it kinda made sense.

There are still some situations in which i think the characters react in a weird way,
but all in all I am in love with Hunter and looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Leylan.
127 reviews
November 24, 2013
The ending to this book was amazing. However, it did take me a while to warm up to Hunter and the storyline. It seems that the first half of the story dragged on a bit. Yet, as you read on the plot line morphs into an amazing tale full of deception, intrigue, action and great character development. Hunter herself grows up into a well rounded character from her, in my opinion, terribly annoying teen persona. Which makes sense in order to see her development. There are about four characters aside from Hunter that make up the action sequence in the latter part of the book.
My favorite part, without giving anything away was the scene I'm the hospital with Ms. Smart. It was absolutely terrifying to me. I am very intrigued as to see what happens in the sequel as the reader is left with one heck of a cliffhanger.
To be given this book in turn of an honest review, I read the second half to it in one sitting. Just push through the first couple of chapters, you won't be disappointed. I would also recommend it to those who like comic books as there seems to be some correlation there. Happy reading!
Profile Image for Cheryl Duval.
466 reviews14 followers
July 27, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I was engrossed in this book. I thought that the premise was original and interesting. The subject matter was so intriguing that is pulled me right in. There was a great mix of action, suspense, romance and some emotionally gut wrenching secrets, all of the elements I love in a book.

I liked Hunter's character. She is strong but she is emotionally flawed because of what she finds out about herself. Eli was very likeable with strong convictions but very little self assurance. They made a wonderful couple. I wasn't sure about Jack, I kept wondering what his deal was and I was a little surprised when I learned more about him. I finally came to like him.

Now for Joshua.....that man is evil, sinister, crazy and he needs some serious help. He is the type of character that you love to hate, and hate him I do.

The events at the end of the book were shocking and surprising, to say the least!! This is a great story and I can't wait to get into the next book.
Profile Image for Melissa Wlasniewski.
21 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2013
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I read the first chapter of this book and was completely confused. I remember the description said something about a girl who had powers but I was reading about a married couple who were going at it and I was all sorts of lost. But then I put two and two together and realized that was the back story. I normally will finish a book this length in a couple of days but this took me 2 weeks. I had trouble getting into a groove after the first few chapters. I did enjoy it after I found my groove. I wish there were more people in their world who had powers. It just being a couple people made it seem too far fetched. I was super mad towards the end but wont say why due to spoilers but my anger was shortly stopped after reading until the end. This was an enjoyable book and look forward to the sequel. Thank you Isabella Modra for this opportunity.
Profile Image for Cat.
1,499 reviews14 followers
June 30, 2014
This is a long book. Or maybe it felt really long because I wasn't a big fan of heroine Hunter, or that there wasn't enough action to keep the plot moving. Either way, it made this kind of tedious to read.

Hunter is stubborn and selfish and doesn't really think things through. That works out because it's realistic and frankly she's a teenager. Anyway, her behavior is repetitive and that made it even more irritating. She's wishy-washy and helpless but still cocky.

The biggest problem for me - and this might seem trivial - but a reference to Back to the Future is made and the author spelled the car (company) "Dilorian." Seriously, just Google it! It's spelled DeLorean! Had to take off a star just for that.
2 reviews
August 4, 2014
This book suprised me. It was a great read about a female superhero. Good character development and great story. A little cliché but I don't care what anyone says I Love Clichés. The character has a few weak moments but doesn't do that pathetic girl thing may other authors do.
My only negative (and why I gave it 4 stars) is that almost all her female interactions are negative and the few female characters are displayed in a negative light. Otherwise a great read and worth the buy.
I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for Lauren.
3 reviews
December 12, 2015
I read this book on Wattpad, and it was seriously amazing. I should have been studying for my major yearly exams, but noooo, I was too caught up in this awesome book! I read both Rouge and Embers and Ice in less than 24 hours. I woke up this morning and spent hours finishing the second. Last night I read the first. Honestly, I am dying for the third book to come out, but will probably cry when I read it, cause I don't want it to end.
I must get my hands on a paperback copy, then I will believe this book to be real.
Profile Image for Jaspavan.
29 reviews
September 13, 2015
I loved this book. The cover is amazing and it's about SUPERHEROES. I don't really read many superhero books but I LITERALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

What's there to like?

Characters. (They're so easy to like and root for and identify with)

Plot. (It's really well developed.)

Writing style. (It's really well written with simple but powerful language)

Literally everything. (It's amazing read it)


-Jas
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