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Empire of Ash and Song #1
To Bind Fire
A powerful imposter. A land torn by war. Their only hope-a child born in innocence. And Iris has killed him.
Iris is a frightened girl thrust into a foreign world by her own terrible mistake.
Besaun is Crown Prince of the Fire Empire who would rather tinker than assume the throne.
Both are fated to save the world.
Iris knows little of her past and less of her heritage, but she knows Fire. It whispers to her, leaping at her urging, delighting her eyes.
But then, fire takes everything from her, and she learns her bloodline’s terrible secret.
Her terrible secret.
Because of her, the world is dying.
But there is hope for them all, if she can face her deepest fear.
If she can master the fire.
To Bind Fire is book one of Empire of Ash and Song series! Perfect for fans of the faith themes of the Chronicles of Narnia, the powerful writing style of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the clean sweet romance of Caraval!
Iris is a frightened girl thrust into a foreign world by her own terrible mistake.
Besaun is Crown Prince of the Fire Empire who would rather tinker than assume the throne.
Both are fated to save the world.
Iris knows little of her past and less of her heritage, but she knows Fire. It whispers to her, leaping at her urging, delighting her eyes.
But then, fire takes everything from her, and she learns her bloodline’s terrible secret.
Her terrible secret.
Because of her, the world is dying.
But there is hope for them all, if she can face her deepest fear.
If she can master the fire.
To Bind Fire is book one of Empire of Ash and Song series! Perfect for fans of the faith themes of the Chronicles of Narnia, the powerful writing style of A Court of Thorns and Roses, and the clean sweet romance of Caraval!
460 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
256 people are currently reading
2080 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
June 8, 2024
Clean Fantasy
3.5 Stars ✨
“We all have a choice. What will you choose?”
A clean fantasy with faith themes… and dragons - count me in. Here’s the thing- I loved the idea of this book. It was mostly good, and I enjoyed it, but it felt like a lot of nothing happened. The characters were just ok. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed some aspects of it, but there were holes. Hopefully in the next book things will make a little more sense.
Faith content was excellent- and one of my favorite parts of the book.
Magic system- kinda confusing for me personally. I need answers to this song business. What does it even mean?
Characters- The main character Iris, who has the fire power was just so bland. She didn’t start to really have a personality until the very end of the book. Tabin the male main character (and love interest) was kinda immature and overbearing, I really liked his sister though. Then there is a whole other subplot pov from a character named Besaun… honestly, I still don’t understand what is going on in that particular story line. There wasn’t a whole lot of information and it never really got fleshed out enough in my opinion.
Finally - there is Jacin. He is why I will be reading the next book. We don’t get much from him or about him, but he was the most interesting character in the whole book. I couldn’t stand him at first… then things happened and he got super mysterious and I ate that up with a spoon. Towards the end of the book, it’s what drove me to keep going- I had, no I needed, to know more about him.
Overall- it may sound like I didn’t like it from this review, but that’s not the case- it was interesting and has all the potential to redeem itself in the next installment. I could definitely feel all the inspiration for this story coming out through the pages of the book. There are glimpses of Narnia, LOTR, and other faith based allegories. I just needed more of something that I can’t put my finger on. Regardless, I’m hopeful that the holes get filled in the next book. I applaud and respect this author for her debut, and ability to weave the faith elements into a fantasy story of this caliber. Despite my issues with the plot, I am excited to read the next one in the series.
3.5 Stars ✨
“We all have a choice. What will you choose?”
A clean fantasy with faith themes… and dragons - count me in. Here’s the thing- I loved the idea of this book. It was mostly good, and I enjoyed it, but it felt like a lot of nothing happened. The characters were just ok. The plot was interesting and I enjoyed some aspects of it, but there were holes. Hopefully in the next book things will make a little more sense.
Faith content was excellent- and one of my favorite parts of the book.
Magic system- kinda confusing for me personally. I need answers to this song business. What does it even mean?
Characters- The main character Iris, who has the fire power was just so bland. She didn’t start to really have a personality until the very end of the book. Tabin the male main character (and love interest) was kinda immature and overbearing, I really liked his sister though. Then there is a whole other subplot pov from a character named Besaun… honestly, I still don’t understand what is going on in that particular story line. There wasn’t a whole lot of information and it never really got fleshed out enough in my opinion.
Finally - there is Jacin. He is why I will be reading the next book. We don’t get much from him or about him, but he was the most interesting character in the whole book. I couldn’t stand him at first… then things happened and he got super mysterious and I ate that up with a spoon. Towards the end of the book, it’s what drove me to keep going- I had, no I needed, to know more about him.
Overall- it may sound like I didn’t like it from this review, but that’s not the case- it was interesting and has all the potential to redeem itself in the next installment. I could definitely feel all the inspiration for this story coming out through the pages of the book. There are glimpses of Narnia, LOTR, and other faith based allegories. I just needed more of something that I can’t put my finger on. Regardless, I’m hopeful that the holes get filled in the next book. I applaud and respect this author for her debut, and ability to weave the faith elements into a fantasy story of this caliber. Despite my issues with the plot, I am excited to read the next one in the series.
September 14, 2023
I signed up for D.E. Carlson’s ARC team on a whim, not expecting to be chosen, and I’m so glad I did! I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading this book.
The elemental world-building reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender (which is always a good thing), but expanded and more sophisticated. The main character grew up in isolation, so she learns about how her world works at the same time as us readers. I really appreciated the gentle introductions to the intricacies of the world, since such things are usually dumped all at once.
The enemies-to-lovers is light, *for now*. This book focused more on the main character learning who she is, where her place in her world will be, and what she doesn’t want from a partner. That’s not to say that the enemies-to-lovers isn’t there though: I could feel the tension simmering under the surface, slowly building into awareness as the book went on. This romance is going to be a slow burn for the ages, and I can’t wait to watch it develop over the course of the series.
Another thing I appreciated about this book is that despite the high stakes plot, it still felt cozy. The characters were like real people, and their stories as individuals never felt overshadowed by the plot. Rather, the two existed hand in hand.
This book made me laugh, kept me biting my nails to know what happened next, and even made me tear up at one point. (No, I can’t tell you when! That would be spoilers! It was really good though.) Overall, I would definitely recommend it to other readers, and I can’t wait to devour the companion novella!
The elemental world-building reminded me of Avatar: The Last Airbender (which is always a good thing), but expanded and more sophisticated. The main character grew up in isolation, so she learns about how her world works at the same time as us readers. I really appreciated the gentle introductions to the intricacies of the world, since such things are usually dumped all at once.
The enemies-to-lovers is light, *for now*. This book focused more on the main character learning who she is, where her place in her world will be, and what she doesn’t want from a partner. That’s not to say that the enemies-to-lovers isn’t there though: I could feel the tension simmering under the surface, slowly building into awareness as the book went on. This romance is going to be a slow burn for the ages, and I can’t wait to watch it develop over the course of the series.
Another thing I appreciated about this book is that despite the high stakes plot, it still felt cozy. The characters were like real people, and their stories as individuals never felt overshadowed by the plot. Rather, the two existed hand in hand.
This book made me laugh, kept me biting my nails to know what happened next, and even made me tear up at one point. (No, I can’t tell you when! That would be spoilers! It was really good though.) Overall, I would definitely recommend it to other readers, and I can’t wait to devour the companion novella!
September 10, 2023
An excellent epic fantasy novel. I won't spoil it, but the perspective characters are well done. Their inner conflicts are well developed. Their external conflicts are intriguing. The side characters are a wonderful mix of good, conflicted, and evil, and you don't always know which is which until it is too late. Overall, I didn't want to put it down. The Christian themes are subtle enough to not be noticeable to someone who doesn't share the faith, but deep enough to speak to a believer's soul.
September 13, 2023
Cover? Stunning. Story? EVEN MORE SO. Fantasy anything is a favorite and this was AMAZING. The characters and their conflicts, the world building, and the pacing throughout.. never a dull moment or lull.
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/opinions above are my own!
May 27, 2025
4.5 stars
May 6, 2024
If you asked me what the theme of this book was, I couldn’t tell you. At least not yet.
Let’s start from the beginning. I had high expectations for this book, hearing that it was epic fantasy with Christian allegory of sorts, swoony romance, complex characters—everything desirable in a fantasy novel for me.
But this book didn’t quite reach that. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but not quite as good as I hoped.
The plot was interesting, if a little dull sometimes, but it had lots of potential. Not epic, in the term I was envisioning, but still cool.
The romance was hardly there, which was disappointing. There seemed to be somewhat a love triangle, but never quite sure if that was actually going to happen.
Coming to the characters, Iris was fine. She annoyed me sometimes, but mostly was okay. Tabin was a nice character, but I can’t see him as the one she will end up with.
Besaun was…there.
Jacin…welll…..my favorite part of the whole book and why I will be reading book two (that and the faith content) he was great
Plot was cool, and I’m interested in seeing where the author takes it.
Faith content was interestingly done, with an allegory, and I appreciated the scenes with Iris meeting El.
Content:
Kissing, mentions of kissing or attraction, “touching intimately”
Violence and blood
Let’s start from the beginning. I had high expectations for this book, hearing that it was epic fantasy with Christian allegory of sorts, swoony romance, complex characters—everything desirable in a fantasy novel for me.
But this book didn’t quite reach that. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but not quite as good as I hoped.
The plot was interesting, if a little dull sometimes, but it had lots of potential. Not epic, in the term I was envisioning, but still cool.
The romance was hardly there, which was disappointing. There seemed to be somewhat a love triangle, but never quite sure if that was actually going to happen.
Coming to the characters, Iris was fine. She annoyed me sometimes, but mostly was okay. Tabin was a nice character, but I can’t see him as the one she will end up with.
Besaun was…there.
Jacin…welll…..my favorite part of the whole book and why I will be reading book two (that and the faith content) he was great
Plot was cool, and I’m interested in seeing where the author takes it.
Faith content was interestingly done, with an allegory, and I appreciated the scenes with Iris meeting El.
Content:
Kissing, mentions of kissing or attraction, “touching intimately”
Violence and blood
July 1, 2024
⭐️1.5 I hate giving bad reviews… I wanted to like this book. I really did, but I just could not get into it. Not once in the 450ish pages could I make myself care about the plot or the characters. So, let’s break this down…
My biggest problem with this book? I was so confused. It took me about 100 pages to even slightly understand what was happening. I kept waiting for all the tiny pieces I was getting to click. They did not.
I know a lot of people loved this book which is one of the reasons I was so excited to read it, but I could not understand any of it for the life of me. Maybe it was the writing style, because I’m normally one of the first people to piece a plot together.
Overall, I felt like a lot of vital pieces of Iris’s story were missing. I entirely understand that not all questions will be answered in the first book, in fact, I want to be left with questions to bring into the next book. But, I feel like a lot of questions that should’ve been answered, at least in Iris’s mind, were not.
The characters: Iris is not a baddie fmc and that doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I think we need to see more feminine main characters in books. I just feel like Iris was too helpless. I get that she’s a child raised in innocence or whatever, but no one can be that innocent. Her innocence and excessive fear were just annoying. For me—or anyone for that matter—to love a book, I want to fall in love with its characters and feel the need for them succeed. I want to laugh and cry with them, but honestly, if any of these characters dropped down dead, I don’t know that I would really care all that much. I just didn’t connect with any of them which made me just that much more uninterested in their story. Also, why is Beaus—I forgot how to spell his name 😬—why was his pov apart of the story? I guess he’s probably important in the next book, but his pov just felt a little out of place.
The plot: I honestly don’t even know how to rate the plot because I’m still a little confused on what the plot actually was. I know there’s a prophecy and a ton of different people groups, and the Fire empire is bad, but what was it exactly that Iris was supposed and to do about it? I’m sure that it was covered at some point, but I was just skimming pages, trying to find a point—any point— to grab my attention, making me miss information. Needless to say that I never found that point. The plot just never grabbed my attention, and reading felt more like a chore than an escape.
The romance: Honesty, if a plot doesn’t excite me, I look to the romance to carry the story. There wasn’t much of one in this book. Which is totally fine, but when the romance needs to carry and isn’t there… let’s just say that I came close to dnfing this one. While this was a clean romance, it was the only time I felt Iris. He made me uncomfortable too, girl. 😅 This book was marketed as enemies to lovers, and that was not definitely not the case in book one. Maybe it will be in book two??
I did love the Christian themes! As a Christian myself, that might have been this books biggest selling point, that and the dragon on the cover. Spoiler alert: there’s sadly not a lot of dragon content in this one.
Wow, this got a little longer than I meant it to, and while there’s still more I could say, I’m going to leave at this: I personally did not enjoy this book, but based on the testimonies of others, I might still recommend it to the right reader. I can safely say that I will not be continuing this series, simply because I’m not sure it would get any better for me personally. No hate to the author, or even the book, it just was clearly not written for me.
My biggest problem with this book? I was so confused. It took me about 100 pages to even slightly understand what was happening. I kept waiting for all the tiny pieces I was getting to click. They did not.
I know a lot of people loved this book which is one of the reasons I was so excited to read it, but I could not understand any of it for the life of me. Maybe it was the writing style, because I’m normally one of the first people to piece a plot together.
Overall, I felt like a lot of vital pieces of Iris’s story were missing. I entirely understand that not all questions will be answered in the first book, in fact, I want to be left with questions to bring into the next book. But, I feel like a lot of questions that should’ve been answered, at least in Iris’s mind, were not.
The characters: Iris is not a baddie fmc and that doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, I think we need to see more feminine main characters in books. I just feel like Iris was too helpless. I get that she’s a child raised in innocence or whatever, but no one can be that innocent. Her innocence and excessive fear were just annoying. For me—or anyone for that matter—to love a book, I want to fall in love with its characters and feel the need for them succeed. I want to laugh and cry with them, but honestly, if any of these characters dropped down dead, I don’t know that I would really care all that much. I just didn’t connect with any of them which made me just that much more uninterested in their story. Also, why is Beaus—I forgot how to spell his name 😬—why was his pov apart of the story? I guess he’s probably important in the next book, but his pov just felt a little out of place.
The plot: I honestly don’t even know how to rate the plot because I’m still a little confused on what the plot actually was. I know there’s a prophecy and a ton of different people groups, and the Fire empire is bad, but what was it exactly that Iris was supposed and to do about it? I’m sure that it was covered at some point, but I was just skimming pages, trying to find a point—any point— to grab my attention, making me miss information. Needless to say that I never found that point. The plot just never grabbed my attention, and reading felt more like a chore than an escape.
The romance: Honesty, if a plot doesn’t excite me, I look to the romance to carry the story. There wasn’t much of one in this book. Which is totally fine, but when the romance needs to carry and isn’t there… let’s just say that I came close to dnfing this one. While this was a clean romance, it was the only time I felt Iris. He made me uncomfortable too, girl. 😅 This book was marketed as enemies to lovers, and that was not definitely not the case in book one. Maybe it will be in book two??
I did love the Christian themes! As a Christian myself, that might have been this books biggest selling point, that and the dragon on the cover. Spoiler alert: there’s sadly not a lot of dragon content in this one.
Wow, this got a little longer than I meant it to, and while there’s still more I could say, I’m going to leave at this: I personally did not enjoy this book, but based on the testimonies of others, I might still recommend it to the right reader. I can safely say that I will not be continuing this series, simply because I’m not sure it would get any better for me personally. No hate to the author, or even the book, it just was clearly not written for me.
September 22, 2023
I was lucky to receive an ARC copy of To Bind Fire, in exchange for an honest review. I’m very grateful to the author for this!
If I could give this a 3.25 rating, I would. It didn’t quite reach a 4 star read status for me, so in the spirit of honesty, I have to rate it a 3 star. To sum up my thoughts:
Pros:
-Immersive and well-explained world-building: This was my favorite part of the book, and what kept me reading at times when my interest flagged. Another reviewer compared the world to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I have to agree! The author adds even more elements to this though that I think made for a very interesting world. I liked how we were learning about the world dynamics right along with the main character; that was very well done.
-Interesting cast of characters: There is a whole cast of characters that keep you hooked, and I enjoyed the point of view switches.
-Subtle yet powerful faith themes: As a Christian myself, I’ve read plenty faith-themed fantasy books that are a touch on the cringe-worthy side. I thought the way the faith themes were presented here were subtle enough that a non-Christian won’t feel overpowered, but powerful enough that a Christian will identify with it.
Cons:
-Pacing: I don’t quite know how to explain this other than that at times, it felt like a lot was going on, yet nothing happened at all. There were quite a few scenes that I skimmed quickly through, yet never felt l missed anything.
-Character development: Tying into the pacing, I felt as though the main characters went through what should have been quite a bit of development, yet they didn’t quite feel fully fleshed out to me by the end. I hope that their development continues in book two, because there’s definitely potential for them!
If I could give this a 3.25 rating, I would. It didn’t quite reach a 4 star read status for me, so in the spirit of honesty, I have to rate it a 3 star. To sum up my thoughts:
Pros:
-Immersive and well-explained world-building: This was my favorite part of the book, and what kept me reading at times when my interest flagged. Another reviewer compared the world to Avatar: The Last Airbender, and I have to agree! The author adds even more elements to this though that I think made for a very interesting world. I liked how we were learning about the world dynamics right along with the main character; that was very well done.
-Interesting cast of characters: There is a whole cast of characters that keep you hooked, and I enjoyed the point of view switches.
-Subtle yet powerful faith themes: As a Christian myself, I’ve read plenty faith-themed fantasy books that are a touch on the cringe-worthy side. I thought the way the faith themes were presented here were subtle enough that a non-Christian won’t feel overpowered, but powerful enough that a Christian will identify with it.
Cons:
-Pacing: I don’t quite know how to explain this other than that at times, it felt like a lot was going on, yet nothing happened at all. There were quite a few scenes that I skimmed quickly through, yet never felt l missed anything.
-Character development: Tying into the pacing, I felt as though the main characters went through what should have been quite a bit of development, yet they didn’t quite feel fully fleshed out to me by the end. I hope that their development continues in book two, because there’s definitely potential for them!
September 12, 2023
A surprisingly touching and gripping tale that I can't wait to continue! Our leading lady is beautifully flawed as she struggles to come to terms with life-shaking things like identity, loss, destiny, and power.
There are distinct religious tones to the premise of the story, which get pretty heavy at times, but the story had me so hooked that I really didn't mind so much. It's got all the best things; a young woman finding her own strength, learning to stand on her own two feet. A young prince who chafes at the weight of his position. Magic, mystery, conflict, and more!
There are distinct religious tones to the premise of the story, which get pretty heavy at times, but the story had me so hooked that I really didn't mind so much. It's got all the best things; a young woman finding her own strength, learning to stand on her own two feet. A young prince who chafes at the weight of his position. Magic, mystery, conflict, and more!
December 11, 2023
Honest ARC REVIEW.
5 STAAARSSSS!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I ABSOLUTELY LOOOVED this book. It gave me MAJOR Narñia and Throne of Glass vibes for sure! It was refreshing reading a straight fantasy book for a change! Dragons in there as well! There was a bit of romance but it is a YA Christian fantasy and it was well written! I tend to lean more to fantasy with dark romance and this was a great addition to my list of books I love! ❤️🥺
5 STAAARSSSS!!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I ABSOLUTELY LOOOVED this book. It gave me MAJOR Narñia and Throne of Glass vibes for sure! It was refreshing reading a straight fantasy book for a change! Dragons in there as well! There was a bit of romance but it is a YA Christian fantasy and it was well written! I tend to lean more to fantasy with dark romance and this was a great addition to my list of books I love! ❤️🥺
January 7, 2024
First off, I was immediately sucked in by the characters’ internal conflicts. The struggles they had between choosing what is represented as God’s side and the Devil’s side was so well written it was like I was actually there!
And just like with her novella, D.E. Carlson’s worldbuilding is phenomenal! All the different regions she created were unique yet reminded me of some of my favorite places or times to read about. And needless to say, I was definitely smiling when certain cities and villages were described.
The tension was excellent! My heart stopped with a few chapters as the suspense had me wanting to see how the characters fared. Sometimes it was a bit intense but there were also many lighthearted scenes that were a joy to read!
As for the romance, this is probably about as much of it as I can read at once when it’s paired with so much tension. But I’m cheering for certain characters (definitely hoping for two of them specifically!!) and I think readers will enjoy choosing their favorites!
Overall, I loved this book for its powerful allegories throughout and await to see how the second book’s plot will continue them!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And just like with her novella, D.E. Carlson’s worldbuilding is phenomenal! All the different regions she created were unique yet reminded me of some of my favorite places or times to read about. And needless to say, I was definitely smiling when certain cities and villages were described.
The tension was excellent! My heart stopped with a few chapters as the suspense had me wanting to see how the characters fared. Sometimes it was a bit intense but there were also many lighthearted scenes that were a joy to read!
As for the romance, this is probably about as much of it as I can read at once when it’s paired with so much tension. But I’m cheering for certain characters (definitely hoping for two of them specifically!!) and I think readers will enjoy choosing their favorites!
Overall, I loved this book for its powerful allegories throughout and await to see how the second book’s plot will continue them!
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2023
I’m finished! And I’m sad. Sad that I have to wait to read more.
The world building, the character development, it was fantastic. I was pulled into this book and didn’t want to put it down and I really didn’t want it to end.
Carlson has written a beautiful story. One that captures the imagination and brings characters to life.
The world building, the character development, it was fantastic. I was pulled into this book and didn’t want to put it down and I really didn’t want it to end.
Carlson has written a beautiful story. One that captures the imagination and brings characters to life.
June 13, 2025
This was a new to me Author. I really enjoyed this clean fantasy! It had some faith themes throughout, light romance, and found family. I feel as if this book was really watching Iris figure out who she is and what her purpose will be. She struggled so much opening up to Tabin with her secrets - but also accepting that she is the one that they need to restore harmony. I liked Jacin’s mysterious side and I feel like we will be seeing more of him. Also, Besaun’s story was very interesting to read as well. I am excited to read more about him in book 2!
D.E. Carlson wrote such a unique, complex story!
Quote -
Her throat tightened at the memory. Long ago, and yet not so very long ago, she had believed the mountain was all there was to the world. Now she was running from a whispering demon and the Fire Empire, who both seemed to want her, into the night of a world she was somehow supposed to save.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Violence/blood
Death
Grief
D.E. Carlson wrote such a unique, complex story!
Quote -
Her throat tightened at the memory. Long ago, and yet not so very long ago, she had believed the mountain was all there was to the world. Now she was running from a whispering demon and the Fire Empire, who both seemed to want her, into the night of a world she was somehow supposed to save.
Content -
No foul language
Kissing only
Violence/blood
Death
Grief
October 18, 2023
Hello. ARC reader here!
First, content. Clean language. A couple instances of gore in the violence: a gushing belly wound and animal entrails. One instance of a major character’s gleeful use of violence. Romance happens pretty well right away and goes no further than kisses… until one boy gets handsy and a couple sleeps side-by-side. A couple of baddies are indicated as having had many mates. If you’re looking for Christian parallels, you can’t miss them; they’re more than just a single, shoehorned token bit, and they don’t come across as a foreign entity.
Second, a compliment: My favourite element of the book was Carlson's descriptive word pictures, particularly when it came to the environmental settings.
Third: This wasn’t for me. I wanted it to be, based on the blurb, but…
Neither of the characters named in the blurb were compelling. I got very little idea of who Iris was, despite the hopes I had from the first chapter. She's passive, has no strong character arc (and thus lacks motive), and her role in the plot finally rolled around at the halfway point (except that everything that follows is, at best, setup for her role going forward). As such, my connection to her was hamstrung from the beginning, and I ended up increasingly frustrated with her in the second half especially. And that’s apart from her personality not jiving with me.
Besaun got the even shorter end of the stick: I wondered why we were watching him at all.
Often when I struggle to connect to main characters, I look to the auxiliary characters. Unfortunately, I got rather little there as well, apart from waiting for one person’s Hidden Depths to make appearances.
Being a reader who generally prioritizes characterization and themes, I wanted more. A lot more.
The first half lacked a sense of movement, both in character development and especially in plot progression. Same goes for worldbuilding: to an extent, it works, considering how much Iris has to learn, but there was information she should have received sooner than she did.
The second half had movement, but lacked direction. Characters increasingly made decisions that didn’t make sense with the information presented – that is, maybe there’s an explanation for some of it, but I didn’t see it. There didn’t seem to be any climax, nor did any story threads resolve.
Romantic interests (especially Besaun's) take a running leap based on not-much. I prefer to see actual relationships build before romantic notions arise from them. Not always true to life, I understand, but I find romances much more compelling when I have a reason to invest in them.
The magic system feels like there’s holes in it -- not in the sense of mystery that will be satisfied, but in that information suddenly appears.
Mileage will vary, regarding the Christian elements. I liked the general gist of it, but some of the specifics strayed or at least didn’t seem to make sense, in my opinion.
That said, what doesn't work for me is often not a hindrance to others. If that's the case for you, check out To Bind Fire, and happy reading.
First, content. Clean language. A couple instances of gore in the violence: a gushing belly wound and animal entrails. One instance of a major character’s gleeful use of violence. Romance happens pretty well right away and goes no further than kisses… until one boy gets handsy and a couple sleeps side-by-side. A couple of baddies are indicated as having had many mates. If you’re looking for Christian parallels, you can’t miss them; they’re more than just a single, shoehorned token bit, and they don’t come across as a foreign entity.
Second, a compliment: My favourite element of the book was Carlson's descriptive word pictures, particularly when it came to the environmental settings.
Third: This wasn’t for me. I wanted it to be, based on the blurb, but…
Neither of the characters named in the blurb were compelling. I got very little idea of who Iris was, despite the hopes I had from the first chapter. She's passive, has no strong character arc (and thus lacks motive), and her role in the plot finally rolled around at the halfway point (except that everything that follows is, at best, setup for her role going forward). As such, my connection to her was hamstrung from the beginning, and I ended up increasingly frustrated with her in the second half especially. And that’s apart from her personality not jiving with me.
Besaun got the even shorter end of the stick: I wondered why we were watching him at all.
Often when I struggle to connect to main characters, I look to the auxiliary characters. Unfortunately, I got rather little there as well, apart from waiting for one person’s Hidden Depths to make appearances.
Being a reader who generally prioritizes characterization and themes, I wanted more. A lot more.
The first half lacked a sense of movement, both in character development and especially in plot progression. Same goes for worldbuilding: to an extent, it works, considering how much Iris has to learn, but there was information she should have received sooner than she did.
The second half had movement, but lacked direction. Characters increasingly made decisions that didn’t make sense with the information presented – that is, maybe there’s an explanation for some of it, but I didn’t see it. There didn’t seem to be any climax, nor did any story threads resolve.
Romantic interests (especially Besaun's) take a running leap based on not-much. I prefer to see actual relationships build before romantic notions arise from them. Not always true to life, I understand, but I find romances much more compelling when I have a reason to invest in them.
The magic system feels like there’s holes in it -- not in the sense of mystery that will be satisfied, but in that information suddenly appears.
Mileage will vary, regarding the Christian elements. I liked the general gist of it, but some of the specifics strayed or at least didn’t seem to make sense, in my opinion.
That said, what doesn't work for me is often not a hindrance to others. If that's the case for you, check out To Bind Fire, and happy reading.
October 17, 2023
With a stunning cover and intriguing synopsis that drew me in immediately, I knew I was in for a fun ride! This is the author’s debut novel and indie published, both things making me hesitant. I admit I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this book had me hooked from the very first sentence! I laughed, I carried, I screamed, I felt every emotion known to mankind!
If you were looking for a gripping,, clean, action packed fantasy that will immediately skyrocket to the top of your favorites list, then this is the book for you!
If you were looking for a gripping,, clean, action packed fantasy that will immediately skyrocket to the top of your favorites list, then this is the book for you!
November 21, 2023
I had no expectations going into this novel. The premise sounded intriguing, and I was excited by the fact that it was marketed as Christian Fantasy. Beyond that I had no expectations going into this book.
However, when I opened the first page I was hooked. The writing is beautiful and immediately pulls you head first into the world of Iris and the fire that disrupts life.
The story begins when Iris’s life as she knows it is burned with her cottage on the mountain that she grew up in. Lost with no where to go she travels down the mountain where she is discovered by a boy who takes her into his family and life… and there adventure begins as Iris learns about a magic she wants nothing to do, and the world she knows nothing about.
This story is beautiful, intriguing, action-packed, heartbreaking, and just everything. I couldn’t put it down, and was enthralled. For a reader who has been battling a reading slump for the last few months, this book was a breath of fresh air. I wanted to read it, which I hadn’t felt for a book in a long time.
The characters of this novel were where this book shined the most. Don’t get me wrong, the world is awesome and I love learning about it, and the plot was far from boring. However, the characters will make you love them even when they make mistakes. I especially loved the bond and found-family component of Tabin, Mika, and Iris. They made me grin like a fool more than once.
This book brought me back to childhood obsession over characters and worlds. This is the kind of love 9-year-old Abi had for The Land of Stories, and 12-year-old Abi had for The Keeper of the Lost Cities. I will be thinking about this book for a long time, and I cannot, CANNOT wait for book 2. This book is superb. I can’t recommend it enough.
However, when I opened the first page I was hooked. The writing is beautiful and immediately pulls you head first into the world of Iris and the fire that disrupts life.
The story begins when Iris’s life as she knows it is burned with her cottage on the mountain that she grew up in. Lost with no where to go she travels down the mountain where she is discovered by a boy who takes her into his family and life… and there adventure begins as Iris learns about a magic she wants nothing to do, and the world she knows nothing about.
This story is beautiful, intriguing, action-packed, heartbreaking, and just everything. I couldn’t put it down, and was enthralled. For a reader who has been battling a reading slump for the last few months, this book was a breath of fresh air. I wanted to read it, which I hadn’t felt for a book in a long time.
The characters of this novel were where this book shined the most. Don’t get me wrong, the world is awesome and I love learning about it, and the plot was far from boring. However, the characters will make you love them even when they make mistakes. I especially loved the bond and found-family component of Tabin, Mika, and Iris. They made me grin like a fool more than once.
This book brought me back to childhood obsession over characters and worlds. This is the kind of love 9-year-old Abi had for The Land of Stories, and 12-year-old Abi had for The Keeper of the Lost Cities. I will be thinking about this book for a long time, and I cannot, CANNOT wait for book 2. This book is superb. I can’t recommend it enough.
September 19, 2023
I stumbled across this book online at a time when the author was recruiting for her ARC Team, and I am SO incredibly glad that I did! I am writing this review after having recieved and read an ARC Copy of this novel.
"To Bind Fire" itself binds intricate world-building with powerful characters that--if you are like me-- will leave you anxiously anticipating the sequel. The pacing of this story takes its time, but such pacing serves a purpose. The world that Carlson has crafted is intricate and detailed, and as such, the pacing (for me) ensured that I understood the facets of her universe throughly as the story progressed without it being info-dumped on the reader. In this sense, "To Bind Fire" is not a rapidly-paced story, but the way that the author crafted the tale ensured that it did not feel slow to me while reading it. When I reached the meat of the action, I felt that I understood the details of what was going on and why, which can be difficult to accomplish when building a new and unique world.
There are religious overtones in this story, but I knew that going in. The author has been very forthcoming with the fact that this is written as a Christianity-inspired fantasy. I personally did not find these religious roots to be preachy and felt that the themes were well-integrated when woven into the tale. I would compare these themes to the way that C.S. Lewis used similar inspirations in The Chronicles of Narnia.
I really enjoyed the characters. I felt for Iris for many reasons, and I was entertained by Tabin and Mila even as I was intrigued by the character of Jacin. The characters of Casandra and Besaun also had an interesting storyline. Carlson ties up their arcs in this book in such a way that I am already excited about the continuation of their storylines.
I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be an ARC Reader for this piece, and I can't wait to dive into this world again in the sequel!
"To Bind Fire" itself binds intricate world-building with powerful characters that--if you are like me-- will leave you anxiously anticipating the sequel. The pacing of this story takes its time, but such pacing serves a purpose. The world that Carlson has crafted is intricate and detailed, and as such, the pacing (for me) ensured that I understood the facets of her universe throughly as the story progressed without it being info-dumped on the reader. In this sense, "To Bind Fire" is not a rapidly-paced story, but the way that the author crafted the tale ensured that it did not feel slow to me while reading it. When I reached the meat of the action, I felt that I understood the details of what was going on and why, which can be difficult to accomplish when building a new and unique world.
There are religious overtones in this story, but I knew that going in. The author has been very forthcoming with the fact that this is written as a Christianity-inspired fantasy. I personally did not find these religious roots to be preachy and felt that the themes were well-integrated when woven into the tale. I would compare these themes to the way that C.S. Lewis used similar inspirations in The Chronicles of Narnia.
I really enjoyed the characters. I felt for Iris for many reasons, and I was entertained by Tabin and Mila even as I was intrigued by the character of Jacin. The characters of Casandra and Besaun also had an interesting storyline. Carlson ties up their arcs in this book in such a way that I am already excited about the continuation of their storylines.
I am thankful to have had the opportunity to be an ARC Reader for this piece, and I can't wait to dive into this world again in the sequel!
February 24, 2025
I don't even know where to begin with this one! Such an amazing ride and story! Like from the beginning, I was invested in the MC, Iris, and it starts off with a tragedy which gets the story rolling quickly and never lets go. Literally one thing after another in this book, I love it!
I really liked the pacing, it wasn't necessarily fast or slow, it was perfect, it gave build up for the plot, it gave me time to get to know all the characters, kept me engaged the entire time, and tons of action and suspense throughout.
This is dual POV but focuses mostly on Iris, the other character is the fire prince, Besaun. Iris is a sheltered, naive 15 yr old who knows nothing of the world but has a troubled past, and struggles within herself. I feel like she's really relatable and that she does have some character growth, but yet as in real life it's not quick or easy. She gets more confident throughout and her relationship with others grows in multiple different ways, as she learns the way the world works. And a lot is thrown at her in a short amount of time, so even though she is scared, unsure, and has no idea what to do, she also has a strength to get through it and learns and grows. I felt like it showed a spiritual warfare theme in her. She accepts El, as God is called in the book, and communes with him, but at the same time struggles with a fire demon trying to control her and is constantly talking to her in her head, which represents the devil and his evil ways and trying to draw us away from God. She doesn't want to hurt people and she leans on El at multiple points, but that doesn't mean things are easy. There's even a form of Bible which I've never seen in a fantasy before, so that was fun. Though it's not the same and more relates to the fictional world as do the other references to biblical truth, it fits the story and is more metaphorical.
She also has questions and doubts, and she does recieve some answers, that gave me some amazing quotes and truths from the Bible.
She also faces a lot of hate and prejudice which makes me hurt for her because it's all for something she has no control over. Though she does make mistakes, and constantly blames herself for everything that goes wrong. And at times embraces her fire which has bad results, but she would hate herself for it, which also makes her relatable in the sense that we all have regrets. But she also wants to be protective and stand up for those she cares for her and she does so well. She is definitely a feisty FMC with a lot of power and strength!
Besaun, I feel bad for him, he seems so sweet and lives a sad life. Where he isn't free to do what he wants or be himself. He didn't have many chapters but I'm excited to see what part he'll play later on
Now the action! So many things happened, it was insane! It was exciting and scary, there was some definite heart pounding moments, and I was scared for the characters. FYI many side characters which are lovable, some hateable, and some I don't know what to think. Even some of them have some change and growth some good, some it's yet to be seen if it'll be good or bad lol. So many layers to this, many people with half truths, secrets, and mysteries. And I can't wait to find out more. I can only imagine it's about to get a lot crazier, especially with the cliffhanger!
Overall an amazing fantasy story, with some great faith messages. And I will probably recommend to everyone now I loved it a lot!!
Content: No-Spice/kisses only, no swearing, death, burning of people(only briefly described not graphic), bloody wounds, talk of skeletons/dead bodies(only briefly described), some boys attack a girl, talk of a fire demon
I really liked the pacing, it wasn't necessarily fast or slow, it was perfect, it gave build up for the plot, it gave me time to get to know all the characters, kept me engaged the entire time, and tons of action and suspense throughout.
This is dual POV but focuses mostly on Iris, the other character is the fire prince, Besaun. Iris is a sheltered, naive 15 yr old who knows nothing of the world but has a troubled past, and struggles within herself. I feel like she's really relatable and that she does have some character growth, but yet as in real life it's not quick or easy. She gets more confident throughout and her relationship with others grows in multiple different ways, as she learns the way the world works. And a lot is thrown at her in a short amount of time, so even though she is scared, unsure, and has no idea what to do, she also has a strength to get through it and learns and grows. I felt like it showed a spiritual warfare theme in her. She accepts El, as God is called in the book, and communes with him, but at the same time struggles with a fire demon trying to control her and is constantly talking to her in her head, which represents the devil and his evil ways and trying to draw us away from God. She doesn't want to hurt people and she leans on El at multiple points, but that doesn't mean things are easy. There's even a form of Bible which I've never seen in a fantasy before, so that was fun. Though it's not the same and more relates to the fictional world as do the other references to biblical truth, it fits the story and is more metaphorical.
She also has questions and doubts, and she does recieve some answers, that gave me some amazing quotes and truths from the Bible.
She also faces a lot of hate and prejudice which makes me hurt for her because it's all for something she has no control over. Though she does make mistakes, and constantly blames herself for everything that goes wrong. And at times embraces her fire which has bad results, but she would hate herself for it, which also makes her relatable in the sense that we all have regrets. But she also wants to be protective and stand up for those she cares for her and she does so well. She is definitely a feisty FMC with a lot of power and strength!
Besaun, I feel bad for him, he seems so sweet and lives a sad life. Where he isn't free to do what he wants or be himself. He didn't have many chapters but I'm excited to see what part he'll play later on
Now the action! So many things happened, it was insane! It was exciting and scary, there was some definite heart pounding moments, and I was scared for the characters. FYI many side characters which are lovable, some hateable, and some I don't know what to think. Even some of them have some change and growth some good, some it's yet to be seen if it'll be good or bad lol. So many layers to this, many people with half truths, secrets, and mysteries. And I can't wait to find out more. I can only imagine it's about to get a lot crazier, especially with the cliffhanger!
Overall an amazing fantasy story, with some great faith messages. And I will probably recommend to everyone now I loved it a lot!!
Content: No-Spice/kisses only, no swearing, death, burning of people(only briefly described not graphic), bloody wounds, talk of skeletons/dead bodies(only briefly described), some boys attack a girl, talk of a fire demon
October 18, 2023
I refeived an ARC from the author in exhange of an honest review. Very grateful for this.
To say I enjoyed this would be a lie. I absolutely loved it! Read in such a short time, I kept wanting more and can’t wait to continue this series. The way this was written reminded me so much of when I first read Narnia when I was younger and fell in love with the books.
You don’t always need smut or spice to enjoy fantasy books when you get older and this was exactly that, and I couldn’t be more happier. This also makes it a very good YA book when young adults are not yet ready for the spice in books. The Christian theme was subtle yet strong, that as not so Christian I didn’t feel overpowered.
The world-building was stunning, you could picture the scenery in your mind while reading, which makes reading so much easier (for me at least) and I was crying at one point. Because the stories of the different characters existed side-by-side so well, you forgot they weren’t together in the story.
The ending made me want more, to know more, to see more of the story and where it takes the characters
To say I enjoyed this would be a lie. I absolutely loved it! Read in such a short time, I kept wanting more and can’t wait to continue this series. The way this was written reminded me so much of when I first read Narnia when I was younger and fell in love with the books.
You don’t always need smut or spice to enjoy fantasy books when you get older and this was exactly that, and I couldn’t be more happier. This also makes it a very good YA book when young adults are not yet ready for the spice in books. The Christian theme was subtle yet strong, that as not so Christian I didn’t feel overpowered.
The world-building was stunning, you could picture the scenery in your mind while reading, which makes reading so much easier (for me at least) and I was crying at one point. Because the stories of the different characters existed side-by-side so well, you forgot they weren’t together in the story.
The ending made me want more, to know more, to see more of the story and where it takes the characters
December 27, 2023
Here we are, 50/50 books this year for me - and what a great book to finish my goal on. I was given the amazing opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book, and it did not disappoint. I’ve already pre-ordered my physical copy of the book. This story has two points of view: Iris and Besaunc; and by the first paragraph I was hooked.
Iris is a girl who has magic powers that help her control fire, but she is unaware of her own abilities in the beginning of the book. Although Iris has a strength within her most of us with wish we could have, she’s not confident and does not trust herself - making her a dynamic and interesting character to follow.
Besaun is the sheltered, but kind grandson to the Fire King. Based upon what the other characters tell you about the King, and other people with the ability to harness fire, you think you are going to hate Besaun - but within a few pages you learn he is just as unaware as the reader. Besaun never asked to be king one day, and just longs to be free. But despite this, he is willing to take his place as ruler, in order to help people. He has no idea what’s really happening behind closed doors, which makes the reader feel as if they want to help the young prince, and protect him all at once.
Although this story does have religious imagery and allusion, and perfect for a reader who loved the Narnia series, it is also subtle enough that anyone could read the story and still enjoy it. I highly recommend it and I plan on reading the second when it comes out.
Iris is a girl who has magic powers that help her control fire, but she is unaware of her own abilities in the beginning of the book. Although Iris has a strength within her most of us with wish we could have, she’s not confident and does not trust herself - making her a dynamic and interesting character to follow.
Besaun is the sheltered, but kind grandson to the Fire King. Based upon what the other characters tell you about the King, and other people with the ability to harness fire, you think you are going to hate Besaun - but within a few pages you learn he is just as unaware as the reader. Besaun never asked to be king one day, and just longs to be free. But despite this, he is willing to take his place as ruler, in order to help people. He has no idea what’s really happening behind closed doors, which makes the reader feel as if they want to help the young prince, and protect him all at once.
Although this story does have religious imagery and allusion, and perfect for a reader who loved the Narnia series, it is also subtle enough that anyone could read the story and still enjoy it. I highly recommend it and I plan on reading the second when it comes out.
May 3, 2024
This book was amazing! I am an ARC reader and I still have yet to read “To Bind The Court”
I love how D.E. Carlson did the character’s inner conflict’s it was so well described and when reading those parts you feel the feelings with the character’s. I also love how no one in this book is “perfect” because in real life everyone has flaws and things that they are not proud of. “To Bind Fire” reminds me of “The Chronicles of Narnia” and that is so cool cause I don’t find many books that are like Narnia and that is one of my favorite book series.
This book series seriously needs to get a Lord of the Rings 2001 level movie ASAP! I highly recommend picking this book up and I loved it so much! D.E. Carlson is an inspiration and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
I love how D.E. Carlson did the character’s inner conflict’s it was so well described and when reading those parts you feel the feelings with the character’s. I also love how no one in this book is “perfect” because in real life everyone has flaws and things that they are not proud of. “To Bind Fire” reminds me of “The Chronicles of Narnia” and that is so cool cause I don’t find many books that are like Narnia and that is one of my favorite book series.
This book series seriously needs to get a Lord of the Rings 2001 level movie ASAP! I highly recommend picking this book up and I loved it so much! D.E. Carlson is an inspiration and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.
May 1, 2024
Oh. My. Goodness. Tabin and Besaun are going through the hormones and I wish I could get Cassandra’s POV for most of her scenes with Besaun… like… Trav… I could have sworn that she and Trav were going to end up together in the end of the series… but now I’m doubting… SHE KISSED THE PRINCE!!!!! And Tabin was the typical guy, only after one thing… cool down and wait to be married my guy, you’re fine. I honestly wanna know if Mila holds any anger towards Iris or if it’s just Tabin…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2023
I originally heard about this book on TikTok. Later, I was chosen to be on D.E. Carlson’s ARC team to read it in exchange for an honest review. I am extremely glad that I had the opportunity to read this story! Especially since I am broke and cannot afford to buy any new books right now. HAHA!
“We all have a choice. What will you choose?” This is the overall theme of the book, and it is brilliantly shown throughout Iris’s journey in the mystical land of Jondria. My heart immediately went out to Iris as she struggled with understanding the world around her, trying to protect those she loves, conflicting voices inside and outside her head, and the truth of who she is. All of the characters in the book were all well-developed in personalities without being confusing or overwhelming. The characters' personalities showed in how they handled conflict as the story progressed. I never knew what to expect as every crisis occurred, and every chapter left me wanting more! Honestly, if it were not for extenuating circumstances, I probably would have read this book in a day! HAHA!
I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the biblical themes and how they were naturally embedded in the book. As a Christian, I immediately recognized the similarities between the Bible and certain scenes in the story. I do not believe they are easily noticeable to the nonbeliever unless they are familiar with the Bible or Christian religion. In fact, "To Bind Fire" reminded me somewhat of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" series. Those famous books have biblical undertones that are easily recognized by authentic Christians but not by unbelievers. Therefore, "To Bind Fire" is an immensely enjoyable story no matter what religious affiliation the reader may be personally.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean fantasy book! I am already hoping that D.E. Carlson will allow me to be a part of her ARC team for her next book! HAHA!
“We all have a choice. What will you choose?” This is the overall theme of the book, and it is brilliantly shown throughout Iris’s journey in the mystical land of Jondria. My heart immediately went out to Iris as she struggled with understanding the world around her, trying to protect those she loves, conflicting voices inside and outside her head, and the truth of who she is. All of the characters in the book were all well-developed in personalities without being confusing or overwhelming. The characters' personalities showed in how they handled conflict as the story progressed. I never knew what to expect as every crisis occurred, and every chapter left me wanting more! Honestly, if it were not for extenuating circumstances, I probably would have read this book in a day! HAHA!
I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by the biblical themes and how they were naturally embedded in the book. As a Christian, I immediately recognized the similarities between the Bible and certain scenes in the story. I do not believe they are easily noticeable to the nonbeliever unless they are familiar with the Bible or Christian religion. In fact, "To Bind Fire" reminded me somewhat of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" and C.S. Lewis' "Narnia" series. Those famous books have biblical undertones that are easily recognized by authentic Christians but not by unbelievers. Therefore, "To Bind Fire" is an immensely enjoyable story no matter what religious affiliation the reader may be personally.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a clean fantasy book! I am already hoping that D.E. Carlson will allow me to be a part of her ARC team for her next book! HAHA!
September 16, 2023
Growing up, I hardly read because I never found it interesting enough. Now as an adult, I am excited to have found my new favorite series.
To Bind Fire is filled with such complex characters. They are all so uniquely different, but done in such a beautiful way. As if they really were real people.
Iris is a young woman who finds herself broken and alone until the Traders find her and take her in as if she was one of them. But she's different.
Reading this book, I was surprised to see so much growth and real talk as well as incredible adventure and stunning amounts of vulnerability.
It did come as a shock, though, with the amount of "gore" which wasn't really all that much, just something I know why I didn't expect. It wasn't too much, which is why I was still able to enjoy it, just enough to tell the reader that there are things that are happening that are not good. It was done well. However, I would say for younger readers, to be aware. But for readers who enjoy a little bit of serious action, this book is for you.
By the end of it, I felt satisfied. I won't spoil it, but D. E. Carlson ended it in such a way that will leave you excited for future books as well as content with where you're at right now.
I'm a pretty emotional person, so I did cry a few times and I laughed. I enjoyed this book immensely. There are some things that book one does not answer, but that is okay. I'm sure we will be seeing the rest in due time.
If you enjoy friends, family bonds, exciting adventures, the fight against good and evil, and sweet genuine love, you will enjoy this book.
To Bind Fire is filled with such complex characters. They are all so uniquely different, but done in such a beautiful way. As if they really were real people.
Iris is a young woman who finds herself broken and alone until the Traders find her and take her in as if she was one of them. But she's different.
Reading this book, I was surprised to see so much growth and real talk as well as incredible adventure and stunning amounts of vulnerability.
It did come as a shock, though, with the amount of "gore" which wasn't really all that much, just something I know why I didn't expect. It wasn't too much, which is why I was still able to enjoy it, just enough to tell the reader that there are things that are happening that are not good. It was done well. However, I would say for younger readers, to be aware. But for readers who enjoy a little bit of serious action, this book is for you.
By the end of it, I felt satisfied. I won't spoil it, but D. E. Carlson ended it in such a way that will leave you excited for future books as well as content with where you're at right now.
I'm a pretty emotional person, so I did cry a few times and I laughed. I enjoyed this book immensely. There are some things that book one does not answer, but that is okay. I'm sure we will be seeing the rest in due time.
If you enjoy friends, family bonds, exciting adventures, the fight against good and evil, and sweet genuine love, you will enjoy this book.
March 29, 2024
4.5🌟
Wow. What just happened...
I need to gather my thoughts. Okay, here they come.
This world is fantastic. The fantasy elements are amazing. The politics, the dis-Harmony, the Khaoss, the Fire Emporer, the cultures of the different people groups, the internal struggles of the characters - fantabulous.
Read this review and many more on my Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/14...
I really loved the individual characters. They were so interesting, so complex, and so important to the story for different reasons. Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion, but Jacin is my favorite so far. I love his mysteriousness and I really hope he is in the later books. Tabin is fun - I love his energy and I want to know more about him. He had a moment with over-imbibing that I was really not impressed with and thought was unnecessary, but I suppose the characters are allowed some weaknesses.
Iris, our main girl, I started out really relating to. She was confused about who she was and she was trying to fit in with the Traders by hiding, only to eventually realize hiding made her stand out more. I loved her moment of acceptance into the group while they were under the stars, only for the world to turn upside down after that perfect scene. Her struggle towards the end was confusing - I really hope she gets her act together and that she isn't so extreme with her emotions as she matures.
So the world was fantastic, the story and plot points were completely immersive, but I had to take a half star off for the teenager-ness of the characters. If you've read my reviews, you know I like my YA characters to be slightly more mature than their age and much slower on the physical attraction. This book was kind of in the middle that way - the characters were realistic but there was too much kissing before communicating and declarations of love before truly knowing the person. To be fair, there were some consequences that resulted from these immature ways of relating, but they still make me feel icky about the romance themes.
I have to mention that I absolutely loved that songs are an important part of the world-building. I don't know why I love it, but the characters each have a song that they sing to enact the use of their element or skill. And they can share their songs with each other and El (the God of the world) shares His song as well. That is so beautiful and my favorite part. I'm looking forward to the next book!
Wow. What just happened...
I need to gather my thoughts. Okay, here they come.
This world is fantastic. The fantasy elements are amazing. The politics, the dis-Harmony, the Khaoss, the Fire Emporer, the cultures of the different people groups, the internal struggles of the characters - fantabulous.
Read this review and many more on my Substack: https://momsmusings.substack.com/i/14...
I really loved the individual characters. They were so interesting, so complex, and so important to the story for different reasons. Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion, but Jacin is my favorite so far. I love his mysteriousness and I really hope he is in the later books. Tabin is fun - I love his energy and I want to know more about him. He had a moment with over-imbibing that I was really not impressed with and thought was unnecessary, but I suppose the characters are allowed some weaknesses.
Iris, our main girl, I started out really relating to. She was confused about who she was and she was trying to fit in with the Traders by hiding, only to eventually realize hiding made her stand out more. I loved her moment of acceptance into the group while they were under the stars, only for the world to turn upside down after that perfect scene. Her struggle towards the end was confusing - I really hope she gets her act together and that she isn't so extreme with her emotions as she matures.
So the world was fantastic, the story and plot points were completely immersive, but I had to take a half star off for the teenager-ness of the characters. If you've read my reviews, you know I like my YA characters to be slightly more mature than their age and much slower on the physical attraction. This book was kind of in the middle that way - the characters were realistic but there was too much kissing before communicating and declarations of love before truly knowing the person. To be fair, there were some consequences that resulted from these immature ways of relating, but they still make me feel icky about the romance themes.
I have to mention that I absolutely loved that songs are an important part of the world-building. I don't know why I love it, but the characters each have a song that they sing to enact the use of their element or skill. And they can share their songs with each other and El (the God of the world) shares His song as well. That is so beautiful and my favorite part. I'm looking forward to the next book!
October 6, 2023
Wow!! This book was amazing. I was so fortunate and thankful to receive an ARC. This book made me laugh and cry. The world building was so beautiful. I loved traveling from place to place and each place was like a little world in and of itself. There was a lot of good action and the story kept moving.
I very much enjoyed experiencing this world with Iris. As she came into her character and opened up we see her start to face her fears and gain some courage with the help of Tabin and his sister Mila. I felt so sad as Iris was judged by their people. I enjoyed the young love that Tabin and Iris experienced together but as the story progressed their love was just that very young and inexperienced. At first I liked Tabin and Iris together but Tabin started to become almost possessive and entitled to Iris. Also I started to like the Jacin character and am hopefully to see more of him and Iris interact. I wept when Iris encountered El. It was such a beautiful and heartfelt scene. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
I also really loved the Fire empire and hearing about life there. It was suspenseful when the Fire emperor was around. I can’t wait to see how he plays into the story. The innocence of Besaun is endearing. The characters are young and young in maturity, but I loved how all have their own characteristics and room to grow and mature. DE Carlson lays the ground work for an epic story.
I very much enjoyed experiencing this world with Iris. As she came into her character and opened up we see her start to face her fears and gain some courage with the help of Tabin and his sister Mila. I felt so sad as Iris was judged by their people. I enjoyed the young love that Tabin and Iris experienced together but as the story progressed their love was just that very young and inexperienced. At first I liked Tabin and Iris together but Tabin started to become almost possessive and entitled to Iris. Also I started to like the Jacin character and am hopefully to see more of him and Iris interact. I wept when Iris encountered El. It was such a beautiful and heartfelt scene. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
I also really loved the Fire empire and hearing about life there. It was suspenseful when the Fire emperor was around. I can’t wait to see how he plays into the story. The innocence of Besaun is endearing. The characters are young and young in maturity, but I loved how all have their own characteristics and room to grow and mature. DE Carlson lays the ground work for an epic story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2023
This book threw me into a whirlwind of emotions, from tears to laughter. The writing was so powerful and each character felt so real and genuine. They had strong personalities and stayed consistent with the character, even characters who seemed unimportant! The world building was spectacular, it didn’t feel like I was flooded with it but I was learning with the main character. The best part? It illustrated Christianity in a beautiful and real way that it didn’t feel forced. The Christian themes were essential to the world itself, the characters, and story! I cannot wait for the next book, even though I have a feeling I have awhile to wait 😂
I received an ARC for an honest review, the thoughts/opinions above are 100% my own.
I received an ARC for an honest review, the thoughts/opinions above are 100% my own.
September 23, 2023
To Bind Fire was a pretty good book. I walked into this book expecting it to be very obviously Christian, and I did end up feeling a bit let down when that was not the case. It had strong Christian themes, however, and I could tell that this wasn't like the fantasy that I usually read.
I struggled a bit when I started reading this, as I felt very confused about what was happening. There didn't seem to be much explanation (or perhaps I was dull and didn't understand what was happening), but after a while things began to make sense. There were times that I felt very overwhelmed by what was happening, I felt like I had to set the book down or reread passages just to process what was going on, but in the end, I did enjoy the book.
I was reminded of Avatar the Last Airbender quite frequently while reading this book, so I feel that if you liked that show, or you have younger teens who like that show, this book would probably be something that they like.
I did feel that Besaun wasn't really fit to have the story told from his POV. He kind of just existed, and I didn't enjoy reading his chapters.
All in all, this book isn't for me, but the writing was wonderful, I liked Iris, and the Christian themes were very refreshing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I struggled a bit when I started reading this, as I felt very confused about what was happening. There didn't seem to be much explanation (or perhaps I was dull and didn't understand what was happening), but after a while things began to make sense. There were times that I felt very overwhelmed by what was happening, I felt like I had to set the book down or reread passages just to process what was going on, but in the end, I did enjoy the book.
I was reminded of Avatar the Last Airbender quite frequently while reading this book, so I feel that if you liked that show, or you have younger teens who like that show, this book would probably be something that they like.
I did feel that Besaun wasn't really fit to have the story told from his POV. He kind of just existed, and I didn't enjoy reading his chapters.
All in all, this book isn't for me, but the writing was wonderful, I liked Iris, and the Christian themes were very refreshing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 16, 2023
I am so grateful to have been chosen to read an advanced copy of this book by the author, D. E. Carlson. And I promised an honest review, so here it goes.
I wanted so much to fall in love with this book. Christian fantasy is a genre that is not full of literature and I was so excited to see how this world would be built. When I began reading, the biggest issue came forward and stuck with me throughout the book. I felt that the story was being be thrown at me rather than letting me discover the story. Especially regarding Iris’ backstory. I wish that this situation that brought trauma and fear from her past had be revealed throughout the story rather than given to me upfront. As I kept reading, I couldn’t fully immerse myself into the story because every time I would be left wanting details, they would be given to me the next page. These details are what engages readers to keep reading, in my opinion. I hope I explained that well.
Another issue is that I felt the characters lacked depth and complexity. They each, Iris included, were missing a spark of life or will or justification for their actions and beliefs. I couldn’t tell what drove anyone and nobody in the story seemed to have anything to truly reveal. Additionally, the world seemed to be lacking something. I’ve read praises of the world building and I believe that it was a great start. But even with the immense amount of descriptions and details, I still felt the world fall a little flat.
Another small note, the Christian themes presented seemed to be on-the-nose and obvious. While I did appreciate some aspects, there was still room for more world building and weaving to come into play. To unite the fantasy world to Christian ideologies.
Lastly, and this is just my personal opinion, I didn’t understand how the “song” aspect of it all wove in. This might just be me, but I couldn’t tell if the song was literal singing or figurative inner song. And Tabin “giving his song” to Iris didn’t make sense. I could see where it was meant to be placed into the world-building, but it simply wasn’t fleshed out enough.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. But I had to push myself to finish the story rather than counting down the hours for me to pick it back up. I sincerely wanted to fall in love with this and I just didn’t. I do plan on reading the rest of the series in hopes that I just expected too much too fast. Maybe it will hook me in the second book.
I wanted so much to fall in love with this book. Christian fantasy is a genre that is not full of literature and I was so excited to see how this world would be built. When I began reading, the biggest issue came forward and stuck with me throughout the book. I felt that the story was being be thrown at me rather than letting me discover the story. Especially regarding Iris’ backstory. I wish that this situation that brought trauma and fear from her past had be revealed throughout the story rather than given to me upfront. As I kept reading, I couldn’t fully immerse myself into the story because every time I would be left wanting details, they would be given to me the next page. These details are what engages readers to keep reading, in my opinion. I hope I explained that well.
Another issue is that I felt the characters lacked depth and complexity. They each, Iris included, were missing a spark of life or will or justification for their actions and beliefs. I couldn’t tell what drove anyone and nobody in the story seemed to have anything to truly reveal. Additionally, the world seemed to be lacking something. I’ve read praises of the world building and I believe that it was a great start. But even with the immense amount of descriptions and details, I still felt the world fall a little flat.
Another small note, the Christian themes presented seemed to be on-the-nose and obvious. While I did appreciate some aspects, there was still room for more world building and weaving to come into play. To unite the fantasy world to Christian ideologies.
Lastly, and this is just my personal opinion, I didn’t understand how the “song” aspect of it all wove in. This might just be me, but I couldn’t tell if the song was literal singing or figurative inner song. And Tabin “giving his song” to Iris didn’t make sense. I could see where it was meant to be placed into the world-building, but it simply wasn’t fleshed out enough.
Overall, I did enjoy the book. But I had to push myself to finish the story rather than counting down the hours for me to pick it back up. I sincerely wanted to fall in love with this and I just didn’t. I do plan on reading the rest of the series in hopes that I just expected too much too fast. Maybe it will hook me in the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2025
The first chapter quickly pulls you into the story. Somehow, I'm already attached to the main character, and Im worried what is in store for her next. I love that she isn't perfect. She struggles with her own demons like we all do. The author leaves just enough questions that you quickly dive into the following chapters.
Surprisingly, there were actually great life relatable moments as she questions...(I will let you find that out on your own 😉). This is just the beginning of what I anticipate to be an ongoing excitement filled fantasy series. They are so many aspects that I feel will come together in the following books that I am ready for the next book already. This book is no spice. Which is great! I can pass it along to my teenage daughter to read. I did receive this as an ARC, and I already purchased a hard copy for myself. So I think that gives you an idea how amazing this book and author are.
I received this ARC for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.
Surprisingly, there were actually great life relatable moments as she questions...(I will let you find that out on your own 😉). This is just the beginning of what I anticipate to be an ongoing excitement filled fantasy series. They are so many aspects that I feel will come together in the following books that I am ready for the next book already. This book is no spice. Which is great! I can pass it along to my teenage daughter to read. I did receive this as an ARC, and I already purchased a hard copy for myself. So I think that gives you an idea how amazing this book and author are.
I received this ARC for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions above are my own.
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