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A War of Hearts and Fire
A Dangerous Secret.
A Deadly Betrayal
A Brewing War.
Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, A War of Hearts and Fire is a high-stakes fantasy filled with hidden powers, morally gray love interests, and epic battles.
In the country of Pruburn, people are born Powerful or Powerless. They live separate but equal. Sixteen-year old Elara is Powerless. She hates it. Her best friend, Luca, is a Powerful, and she lives in his shadow of popularity and opportunities.
When a deadly explosion strikes Pruburn, Elara and Luca are at the center of it. However, moments before it happens, Elara has an unusual premonition to save a stranger, a frail boy named Everest. Unscathed, they all survive, only to understand the attack was just the beginning.
A group of people called the Resentfuls are determined to wipe out all of the Powerless. Elara and Luca find themselves in the midst of a brewing war, joining a secret organization in Pruburn that is allying to fight against the enemy.
As tensions rise in the country and tensions rise between Luca and Everest. Elara discovers a deadly secret about herself. A secret that could change the tide of the war or kill everyone she’s ever loved.
A Deadly Betrayal
A Brewing War.
Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, A War of Hearts and Fire is a high-stakes fantasy filled with hidden powers, morally gray love interests, and epic battles.
In the country of Pruburn, people are born Powerful or Powerless. They live separate but equal. Sixteen-year old Elara is Powerless. She hates it. Her best friend, Luca, is a Powerful, and she lives in his shadow of popularity and opportunities.
When a deadly explosion strikes Pruburn, Elara and Luca are at the center of it. However, moments before it happens, Elara has an unusual premonition to save a stranger, a frail boy named Everest. Unscathed, they all survive, only to understand the attack was just the beginning.
A group of people called the Resentfuls are determined to wipe out all of the Powerless. Elara and Luca find themselves in the midst of a brewing war, joining a secret organization in Pruburn that is allying to fight against the enemy.
As tensions rise in the country and tensions rise between Luca and Everest. Elara discovers a deadly secret about herself. A secret that could change the tide of the war or kill everyone she’s ever loved.
324 pages, Paperback
Published April 11, 2025
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Denise Bird
1 book4 followersDenise Bird crafts tales brimming with magic. With a love for the epic and the dramatic, Bird's work often delves into a theme of good vs. evil, while also weaving together high-stakes battles, otherworldly quests, and memorable characters. Bird enjoys writing stories with intense emotion, coming-of-age struggles, and unexpected twists.
Denise Bird holds a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She hails from Southern California, where she can be found building new worlds and stories. When she's not writing, she's with her two cats or drinking coffee. Usually doing both.
Denise Bird holds a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. She hails from Southern California, where she can be found building new worlds and stories. When she's not writing, she's with her two cats or drinking coffee. Usually doing both.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 1, 2025
This book was Red Queen meets Dramione, but make it X-Men. The romantic arc was no spice first/young love, which I thought was perfect for the ages of the characters. Overall, I found the story interesting and refreshing.
For a young adult novel, this book dealt out some heavy themes. There is a love triangle element, but it didn't annoy me. The last quarter of the book could have been fleshed out a bit more, but I still enjoyed the storyline and plot concepts.
Content: death of loved ones, violence, more death, grief, manipulation, societal prejudice, attempted su*cide
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
For a young adult novel, this book dealt out some heavy themes. There is a love triangle element, but it didn't annoy me. The last quarter of the book could have been fleshed out a bit more, but I still enjoyed the storyline and plot concepts.
Content: death of loved ones, violence, more death, grief, manipulation, societal prejudice, attempted su*cide
Thank you to Book Sirens and the author for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
April 11, 2025
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review… I truly felt that this book has so much potential. It has a solid story with strong and well formed main characters. The plot had a few holes but none that were truly overly bothersome, however the one thing that caused me to bring this book down a one star rating was the writing for me felt a tad repetitive. there was a lot covered within this book but half of it was almost a rephrase and repeat of a previous point. I don’t think this is a dealbreaker in this book at all because it is a YA book that can be marketed towards a younger audience who will probably appreciate this more comprehensive style of writing.
I truly found this book to be an enjoyable read overall and think it grapples with a lot of important subjects in society and in personal mental health. This is done in a mature and easy to understand way that supplements the story without making it the entire point of the plot, which I really liked. I’m excited to see where the author may take her writing from here and am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this one early.
I truly found this book to be an enjoyable read overall and think it grapples with a lot of important subjects in society and in personal mental health. This is done in a mature and easy to understand way that supplements the story without making it the entire point of the plot, which I really liked. I’m excited to see where the author may take her writing from here and am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to read this one early.
April 11, 2025
ARC Review
I am grateful to Book Sirens and Denise Bird for providing this ARC.
This is a tough one for me. I absolutely ate up the beginning 50% of this book. It starts out so strong and is such an interesting concept. This is honestly probably a 3.5 rating.
The world building is great, I was easily able to picture everything, and you are easily drawn in. The structure of society and even pertinent bits of history for this society are well laid out. The structure of the society was unique, which was so refreshing to read.
The pacing for the first 50% of the book is perfection. You really are drawn into the lives of these characters. Past that 50% mark is when the entire feel of the book becomes rushed. I would have been entirely happy if this book had 300 more pages or even was a duology, which it could have pulled off so well. The concepts that concluded this book were fantastic, just I felt like we weren't given the time to really delve into them and to connect with some of the new characters introduced. Because we didn't reach deeply into those events or people, I just wasn't affected by anything that happened the way I should have been. Which is a shame because those things should have elicited powerful emotions.
The characters were interesting and the power system even more so. And I am not going to harp on it, but it's the same thing here as I mentioned above. We needed things slowed down to develop the connections with these characters. There were a couple of characters who, at halfway through the book, acted in a way that felt out of character for them, and that was jarring. Every other character seemed to be consistent throughout the book, so while I was trying not to put out spoilers, this part did bother me.
My nitpicking thing I noticed as I read was the weird use of words in sentences, where the word was being used to convey one meaning that it didn't actually mean. Like saying the "the view was eloquent" or "jeered out of the way" or that a person "hoisted away from someone." Meaning was still easily inferred to what was happening, just another solid round of editing would have helped here.
Overall, I love this author's refreshing creativity and how unique this story is. I absolutely love the beginning of this book. I unfortunately don't feel like this was the story for me. I am interested in what she might come up with in the future, though.
I am grateful to Book Sirens and Denise Bird for providing this ARC.
This is a tough one for me. I absolutely ate up the beginning 50% of this book. It starts out so strong and is such an interesting concept. This is honestly probably a 3.5 rating.
The world building is great, I was easily able to picture everything, and you are easily drawn in. The structure of society and even pertinent bits of history for this society are well laid out. The structure of the society was unique, which was so refreshing to read.
The pacing for the first 50% of the book is perfection. You really are drawn into the lives of these characters. Past that 50% mark is when the entire feel of the book becomes rushed. I would have been entirely happy if this book had 300 more pages or even was a duology, which it could have pulled off so well. The concepts that concluded this book were fantastic, just I felt like we weren't given the time to really delve into them and to connect with some of the new characters introduced. Because we didn't reach deeply into those events or people, I just wasn't affected by anything that happened the way I should have been. Which is a shame because those things should have elicited powerful emotions.
The characters were interesting and the power system even more so. And I am not going to harp on it, but it's the same thing here as I mentioned above. We needed things slowed down to develop the connections with these characters. There were a couple of characters who, at halfway through the book, acted in a way that felt out of character for them, and that was jarring. Every other character seemed to be consistent throughout the book, so while I was trying not to put out spoilers, this part did bother me.
My nitpicking thing I noticed as I read was the weird use of words in sentences, where the word was being used to convey one meaning that it didn't actually mean. Like saying the "the view was eloquent" or "jeered out of the way" or that a person "hoisted away from someone." Meaning was still easily inferred to what was happening, just another solid round of editing would have helped here.
Overall, I love this author's refreshing creativity and how unique this story is. I absolutely love the beginning of this book. I unfortunately don't feel like this was the story for me. I am interested in what she might come up with in the future, though.
February 27, 2025
*3.5⭐️
Thank you so much to BookSirens for this ARC! 🔥
A War of Hearts and Fire was a solid debut! When I started reading it, I felt transported to the dystopian phase of the 2010's (in the best possible way, just to be clear!). The first half of the book was very engaging and the world building was easy to follow. Elara really had that MC energy, even if she annoyed me at times. But she acted like the teenager she was, flaws and all, and I appreciated that. I felt the reader was very well placed in the early chapters, which made the experience flow smoothly.
On the other hand, the last 50 pages had me glued to the screen. It was very action-packed, which brings me to what I think is the novel's distinguishing feature: the ending. I'm sure it's been done before (even though I haven't read it), but I still think it was brave and risky to do what the author did - It was so bittersweet and yet fresh! Especially in a debut novel! I was actually shocked by the curse of the last events. I've been thinking about it a lot over the last 24 hours. And yes, I had to sit down and think about what I had read. In a way, the clues were there, and I can't say I was surprised who the traitor was, but I was still aghast at the whole development. So I hope the author takes that lasting impression as something that will inspire her to keep writing.
However, I think there was a clear division between the first and second half of this book, which left me with some doubts about the cohesion of this novel. The first part was slower paced, not as dark and felt very YA. And I think it was the part I enjoyed more, I was immersed in the Pruburn universe. But in the second part I was bombarded with information left and right. The pace was a lot faster, even rushed, and the tone got really dark very quickly, I think. What I'm trying to say is that I think the author could have given us more exploration (either with the world building or the characters) to make this transition harmonious. More pages would actually be welcome.
This is also the perfect segway to my next remark: More objectively, I think the trio's feelings could have taken up more of the first half, which wasn't as action-packed, and not been mixed in with the action-packed second half. I think it would have balanced out the plot a bit more.
Overall, I can see the potential of the author, although I think the book could have used a bit more revision . Even so, I admire Bird for taking the step and risking herself in the publishing world, and my wish for her is that she blossoms into the writer I think she can be 💪
P.S. Oh, and this cover? 🤌🤌🤌 Incredible, a true breath of fresh air with what is going on in the publishing world!
Thank you so much to BookSirens for this ARC! 🔥
A War of Hearts and Fire was a solid debut! When I started reading it, I felt transported to the dystopian phase of the 2010's (in the best possible way, just to be clear!). The first half of the book was very engaging and the world building was easy to follow. Elara really had that MC energy, even if she annoyed me at times. But she acted like the teenager she was, flaws and all, and I appreciated that. I felt the reader was very well placed in the early chapters, which made the experience flow smoothly.
On the other hand, the last 50 pages had me glued to the screen. It was very action-packed, which brings me to what I think is the novel's distinguishing feature: the ending. I'm sure it's been done before (even though I haven't read it), but I still think it was brave and risky to do what the author did - It was so bittersweet and yet fresh! Especially in a debut novel! I was actually shocked by the curse of the last events. I've been thinking about it a lot over the last 24 hours. And yes, I had to sit down and think about what I had read. In a way, the clues were there, and I can't say I was surprised who the traitor was, but I was still aghast at the whole development. So I hope the author takes that lasting impression as something that will inspire her to keep writing.
However, I think there was a clear division between the first and second half of this book, which left me with some doubts about the cohesion of this novel. The first part was slower paced, not as dark and felt very YA. And I think it was the part I enjoyed more, I was immersed in the Pruburn universe. But in the second part I was bombarded with information left and right. The pace was a lot faster, even rushed, and the tone got really dark very quickly, I think. What I'm trying to say is that I think the author could have given us more exploration (either with the world building or the characters) to make this transition harmonious. More pages would actually be welcome.
This is also the perfect segway to my next remark: More objectively, I think the trio's feelings could have taken up more of the first half, which wasn't as action-packed, and not been mixed in with the action-packed second half. I think it would have balanced out the plot a bit more.
Overall, I can see the potential of the author, although I think the book could have used a bit more revision . Even so, I admire Bird for taking the step and risking herself in the publishing world, and my wish for her is that she blossoms into the writer I think she can be 💪
P.S. Oh, and this cover? 🤌🤌🤌 Incredible, a true breath of fresh air with what is going on in the publishing world!
Read
March 18, 2025
Readers need not wait too long for the action; the very first chapter tosses you headfirst into the dynamic storytelling pace set by the author. New revelations are layered on chapter by chapter, regularly partitioned by brief yet necessary pauses where both characters and readers alike can recoup and contemplate the events to come before quickly wading right back into the thick of it.
While the speed of plot advancement serves the purpose of maintaining the charged energy required by the type of storytelling that the author hopes to achieve, it does come with a flipside which has unfortunately peeked through.
Getting tripped up by the more technical aspects of writing can loose frustration from the readers as they’re discordantly extracted from the immersive experience by a miscalculated fault on the page. Be it the awkwardness of a phrase when spoken by their inner reading voice or even aloud, the inappropriate use of a word when an alternative one would’ve fit in a little bit smoother or the inclusion of an event introduced in a rushed manner as if its correct position along the sequence of events has been misplaced, the core of the story—the plot—suffers for it.
None of this stems from a lack of skill as the author is beyond capable of crafting captivating pieces of writing, with the body of evidence lying in this very book. Pages 226 to 228 (to list the most notably satisfying run of pages based on my own personal tastes of writing techniques). The revelations of certain characters’ identities or motivations, the welding together of a variety of sought after YA tropes, show the author’s literary skill, creativity and thoughtfulness. Fortunately, the slipups are minor and amendable.
Speaking with the opinion of a former YA devotee, I could’ve seen this being passed around my teenaged friend group back in the day, each one patiently waiting their turn to receive, then demolish this read in a day or three before passing it along.
Reviewed By Chantal
April 10, 2025
This was my very first ARC from Book Sirens, so I was super excited to dive into it—and honestly, I still think that's the coolest part! Getting an early peek at a new YA fantasy? Count me in.
Right from the start, I could tell the author was going for that Hunger Games meets Powerless vibe—there were definitely familiar elements with the rebellion, the government resistance, and a love triangle with some history baked in. I totally get what Denise Bird was trying to do, and I was rooting for it to hit... but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
Elara, our main character, is bold, determined, and full of fire—which I loved. But even though she’s supposed to be sixteen, her voice and attitude sometimes felt younger than that. Still, I appreciated how confident she was and how strongly she stood by her beliefs. She really wanted to change the world, and I admired that about her.
The guys in her life though? Kinda flat, sadly. You can tell there was an attempt at a Katniss-Gale-Peeta type of triangle with Elara, Luca, and Everest, but it lacked the intensity and emotional pull I was hoping for. I wasn’t expecting it to be a romance-heavy book, but even a little more spark or tension would’ve helped me get more invested in their relationships.
The political set-up and world-building were solid, and I liked that aspect a lot. It gave the story a nice backdrop of real stakes. That said, the action scenes could’ve used more detail and punch—I wanted to feel the fights, not just read through them. And the ending? Big twist, totally didn’t expect it… but then everything wrapped up super fast. It felt a bit too neat and tidy, especially for something as messy as political unrest. I would’ve liked a bit more messiness, more aftermath, more questions.
Overall, it was a decent read with good bones. I didn’t love it, but I see the potential—and I’m still so happy I got to read it early! I’ll definitely keep an eye on what Denise Bird puts out next.
Right from the start, I could tell the author was going for that Hunger Games meets Powerless vibe—there were definitely familiar elements with the rebellion, the government resistance, and a love triangle with some history baked in. I totally get what Denise Bird was trying to do, and I was rooting for it to hit... but it just didn’t quite get there for me.
Elara, our main character, is bold, determined, and full of fire—which I loved. But even though she’s supposed to be sixteen, her voice and attitude sometimes felt younger than that. Still, I appreciated how confident she was and how strongly she stood by her beliefs. She really wanted to change the world, and I admired that about her.
The guys in her life though? Kinda flat, sadly. You can tell there was an attempt at a Katniss-Gale-Peeta type of triangle with Elara, Luca, and Everest, but it lacked the intensity and emotional pull I was hoping for. I wasn’t expecting it to be a romance-heavy book, but even a little more spark or tension would’ve helped me get more invested in their relationships.
The political set-up and world-building were solid, and I liked that aspect a lot. It gave the story a nice backdrop of real stakes. That said, the action scenes could’ve used more detail and punch—I wanted to feel the fights, not just read through them. And the ending? Big twist, totally didn’t expect it… but then everything wrapped up super fast. It felt a bit too neat and tidy, especially for something as messy as political unrest. I would’ve liked a bit more messiness, more aftermath, more questions.
Overall, it was a decent read with good bones. I didn’t love it, but I see the potential—and I’m still so happy I got to read it early! I’ll definitely keep an eye on what Denise Bird puts out next.
February 13, 2025
Thank you to Book Sirens and Denise Bird for the ARC.
Plot 4.5/5
Characters 4.25/5
Ending 4.75/5
Interest 4.5/5
Overall 4.5/5
-This book was really interesting. So many elements contributed to the fact I read it in a day, the fact that it wasn’t very long but it still felt very complete. The dystopian type society with the fantasy elements were amazing and I liked the magic system where for once the two sides are still alive and not one being illegal (until the attacks). There was also some foreshadowing about some elements of the ending. I was just really intrigued by the whole thing.
-I really liked the characters individually. They sometimes irritated me but then I remember that they’re still really young and they actually act their age instead of them being aged up or down dramatically. The love triangle at first felt unnecessary because I really liked both boys (I was leaning towards Luca still) but eventually things made sense as to why.
-The ending was epic, to say the least. So much happened but I was still able to follow very well. Some things I disliked because they happened to fast but then attention was brought back to it so essentially it was alright. It truly was an amazing ending that I didn’t expect at all.
SPOILERS: I new that someone would be a traitor but Everest? I never would have guessed and the fact that he didn’t believe himself to be evil and just in love made things all the more intriguing and amazing. I do wish that Luca didn’t die but he needed to for the rest of the ending to unfold and my oh my was it amazing.
Plot 4.5/5
Characters 4.25/5
Ending 4.75/5
Interest 4.5/5
Overall 4.5/5
-This book was really interesting. So many elements contributed to the fact I read it in a day, the fact that it wasn’t very long but it still felt very complete. The dystopian type society with the fantasy elements were amazing and I liked the magic system where for once the two sides are still alive and not one being illegal (until the attacks). There was also some foreshadowing about some elements of the ending. I was just really intrigued by the whole thing.
-I really liked the characters individually. They sometimes irritated me but then I remember that they’re still really young and they actually act their age instead of them being aged up or down dramatically. The love triangle at first felt unnecessary because I really liked both boys (I was leaning towards Luca still) but eventually things made sense as to why.
-The ending was epic, to say the least. So much happened but I was still able to follow very well. Some things I disliked because they happened to fast but then attention was brought back to it so essentially it was alright. It truly was an amazing ending that I didn’t expect at all.
SPOILERS: I new that someone would be a traitor but Everest? I never would have guessed and the fact that he didn’t believe himself to be evil and just in love made things all the more intriguing and amazing. I do wish that Luca didn’t die but he needed to for the rest of the ending to unfold and my oh my was it amazing.
May 21, 2025
If you are in search of an action-packed dystopian YA book, this one will pull you right in! From the very beginning, you enter an immersive world of the Powerful and the Powerless, with excellent magical and fantasy elements.
Without any spoilers, Elara is a strong willed FMC, despite being amongst her family of Powerful. Her journey can be so relatable to many who feel they don't quite fit in and can learn alongside her what your other strengths are. Luca will STEAL your heart and I need everyone to love him as much as I do!!
The world-building and "politics" are so well written. There is such a clear "why and how" to the plot and I really admired the author for this. I did however feel as though the first half of the book was extremely well-paced while the rest was quite rushed. I almost wished the book were a bit longer to have spread out the second half and allow for more relationship and character building.
Nothing could have prepared me for the END! The plot twist was hinted towards, of course, but the end of the book and the epilogue really pulled it all together. The first half was so engaging and I was lost a bit in the second half, but it felt full circle by the end. I also thought this was such a unique decision by the author.
Overall, I would give this book 3.75 out of 5 stars, as I really enjoyed it but would have loved for more even pacing and more character/relationship development. I am so thankful for this arc opportunity and can't wait for others to give this book a try!
Without any spoilers, Elara is a strong willed FMC, despite being amongst her family of Powerful. Her journey can be so relatable to many who feel they don't quite fit in and can learn alongside her what your other strengths are. Luca will STEAL your heart and I need everyone to love him as much as I do!!
The world-building and "politics" are so well written. There is such a clear "why and how" to the plot and I really admired the author for this. I did however feel as though the first half of the book was extremely well-paced while the rest was quite rushed. I almost wished the book were a bit longer to have spread out the second half and allow for more relationship and character building.
Nothing could have prepared me for the END! The plot twist was hinted towards, of course, but the end of the book and the epilogue really pulled it all together. The first half was so engaging and I was lost a bit in the second half, but it felt full circle by the end. I also thought this was such a unique decision by the author.
Overall, I would give this book 3.75 out of 5 stars, as I really enjoyed it but would have loved for more even pacing and more character/relationship development. I am so thankful for this arc opportunity and can't wait for others to give this book a try!
June 22, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had such an amazing time reading this book.
I really really liked it. Perhaps my biggest issue was that I felt that things, especially during the last part of the book, were happening a bit too fast.
It's a debut novel, and I really think I'll read any other books the author publishes.
It was a special YA. At first it seemed really typical: a girl with no powers (that might be more special than she thinks), a rebellion, a love triangle...
But it got quite dark and quite heavy really soon, and soon it was so much more than I expected. I really liked how it dealt with those topics, like grief.
I didn't expect that ending and that resolution to the love triangle. I don't think I had ever read anything like it and it caught me by surprise. It made sense though, too much sense, and it hurt.
At the same time, it's also very funny in the midst of the darkness (it was an interesting contrast). And I loved the protagonist. She was funny and impulsive and so brave. And she was such an idealist, she really believed in change... and she was just so YOUNG. Her questionable decisions, her indecisiveness, her idealism and her anger, her impulsiveness, her way of seeing love, her thinking of herself as old enough to deal with war...All of that just made me believe how young Elara really was. And she grows a lot. She has to.
The ending was bittersweet but really fitting with the story. It got me holding my heart in my hands.
I had such an amazing time reading this book.
I really really liked it. Perhaps my biggest issue was that I felt that things, especially during the last part of the book, were happening a bit too fast.
It's a debut novel, and I really think I'll read any other books the author publishes.
It was a special YA. At first it seemed really typical: a girl with no powers (that might be more special than she thinks), a rebellion, a love triangle...
But it got quite dark and quite heavy really soon, and soon it was so much more than I expected. I really liked how it dealt with those topics, like grief.
I didn't expect that ending and that resolution to the love triangle. I don't think I had ever read anything like it and it caught me by surprise. It made sense though, too much sense, and it hurt.
At the same time, it's also very funny in the midst of the darkness (it was an interesting contrast). And I loved the protagonist. She was funny and impulsive and so brave. And she was such an idealist, she really believed in change... and she was just so YOUNG. Her questionable decisions, her indecisiveness, her idealism and her anger, her impulsiveness, her way of seeing love, her thinking of herself as old enough to deal with war...All of that just made me believe how young Elara really was. And she grows a lot. She has to.
The ending was bittersweet but really fitting with the story. It got me holding my heart in my hands.
March 11, 2025
Rating 3.5 / 5 ⭐
Spice Level: 🚫
Following an attack at Pruburn, Elara and her best friend Luca are determined to make a difference. As they realize a full blown war is on the horizon, they find themselves connected to a secret organization in more ways than they imagined.
”I was what I wanted to be my entire life and now I resented it.”
Elara is sixteen (very much acts it), sassy and incredibly driven to follow her sense of justice. Although more cautious, Luca will follow her into most everything to keep her safe. For me, unfortunately Luca’s lack of background story (while plot driven) also led to him having a lack of depth. The other side characters were more fleshed out overall, but I wanted more from Luca as part of the main trio.
The first half of the book was riveting and quite literally started with a bang. I did find that about halfway through it felt rushed and some plot elements didn’t quite land properly. The book resolution was jarring and while bordering on the unexpected. I had an idea of what would happen but not the exact how or why.
As a whole, I enjoyed this book but it could have been fleshed out more to develop both plot and characters in my opinion. Readers be warned, this book is a little more gut-wrenching than the cover art may lead you to believe.
Thank you to Densie Bird and BookSirens for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Spice Level: 🚫
Following an attack at Pruburn, Elara and her best friend Luca are determined to make a difference. As they realize a full blown war is on the horizon, they find themselves connected to a secret organization in more ways than they imagined.
”I was what I wanted to be my entire life and now I resented it.”
Elara is sixteen (very much acts it), sassy and incredibly driven to follow her sense of justice. Although more cautious, Luca will follow her into most everything to keep her safe. For me, unfortunately Luca’s lack of background story (while plot driven) also led to him having a lack of depth. The other side characters were more fleshed out overall, but I wanted more from Luca as part of the main trio.
The first half of the book was riveting and quite literally started with a bang. I did find that about halfway through it felt rushed and some plot elements didn’t quite land properly. The book resolution was jarring and while bordering on the unexpected. I had an idea of what would happen but not the exact how or why.
As a whole, I enjoyed this book but it could have been fleshed out more to develop both plot and characters in my opinion. Readers be warned, this book is a little more gut-wrenching than the cover art may lead you to believe.
Thank you to Densie Bird and BookSirens for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 17, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
ARC READ- Oh boy- I wanted to love this book so badly. The idea behind the book was awesome. The snippet that we were given by the ARC team, TikTok, sounded amazing. This read dragged at best. It desperately needed an additional round or two with a team of grammar/structure editors, or at very least, a ton of honest BETA readers. Example: “ Blood was splattered, and entails were scattered.” The misuse of words, both in definition and context, was driving me insane. This use of disheveled for example…”Those three words would’ve disheveled me, but he was gone up the hill as quickly as it all happened.”
Grammar wasn’t where I wanted or expected it to be for a book about to release to the public. I think this might be the first time where I have ever seen a writer obviously use a thesaurus and not look up the meaning of the word before plugging it in the spot. Example: “Not seeing Hawthorne, where he should’ve been next to Maz, had me sulking inward, loosening my position.”
I’m giving the Plot the highest praise because it’s like 60% there. I am deeply sorry, but it’s pretty much not ready for the general market. People are being extremely kind here and I wish I had more positives to say, but sometimes, honesty is the best policy.
ARC READ- Oh boy- I wanted to love this book so badly. The idea behind the book was awesome. The snippet that we were given by the ARC team, TikTok, sounded amazing. This read dragged at best. It desperately needed an additional round or two with a team of grammar/structure editors, or at very least, a ton of honest BETA readers. Example: “ Blood was splattered, and entails were scattered.” The misuse of words, both in definition and context, was driving me insane. This use of disheveled for example…”Those three words would’ve disheveled me, but he was gone up the hill as quickly as it all happened.”
Grammar wasn’t where I wanted or expected it to be for a book about to release to the public. I think this might be the first time where I have ever seen a writer obviously use a thesaurus and not look up the meaning of the word before plugging it in the spot. Example: “Not seeing Hawthorne, where he should’ve been next to Maz, had me sulking inward, loosening my position.”
I’m giving the Plot the highest praise because it’s like 60% there. I am deeply sorry, but it’s pretty much not ready for the general market. People are being extremely kind here and I wish I had more positives to say, but sometimes, honesty is the best policy.
March 28, 2025
I was excited to read this book because of the beautiful cover. After reading the book, I think there are two things that stand out well with the book: it's clear to me what direction the author wanted the story to go and the magic system was easily understood and well-established in the novel.
A few things didn't follow through for me however. Another review has mentioned this but the use of "jeer" is used incorrectly a few times and there are other examples of incorrect word use. Another issue that really popped out to me is how quickly the plot moved without dwelling on anything. While this meant we had a very fast-paced story, but a lot was left to be desired in terms of character development and logical reasoning. Without spoiling, I felt that Elara's parents development left me quite confused. I think this author would have really benefitted from maybe 50-60 more pages of time where Elara can develop as a character. This way, I would've felt that the development flowed more naturally and realistically. In the end, I couldn't find myself invested in the characters because their decisions felt frustrating in a way that couldn't be explained by them being teenagers in my opinion.
I received an ARC of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
A few things didn't follow through for me however. Another review has mentioned this but the use of "jeer" is used incorrectly a few times and there are other examples of incorrect word use. Another issue that really popped out to me is how quickly the plot moved without dwelling on anything. While this meant we had a very fast-paced story, but a lot was left to be desired in terms of character development and logical reasoning. Without spoiling, I felt that Elara's parents development left me quite confused. I think this author would have really benefitted from maybe 50-60 more pages of time where Elara can develop as a character. This way, I would've felt that the development flowed more naturally and realistically. In the end, I couldn't find myself invested in the characters because their decisions felt frustrating in a way that couldn't be explained by them being teenagers in my opinion.
I received an ARC of this book through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2025
A War of Hearts and Fire follows Elara as she struggles with being Powerless in and a Powerful-valued society, navigating a love triangle with a twist, and joining a secret war that threatens to ends civilization as she knows it.
Elara’s character is a true representation of a headstrong teen girl — although at times this made her frustrating, I appreciate Bird’s dedication to keeping her authentic. Like other readers, I agree that the first half of the book really shone through with the world building and leadup to the conflict.
Though I wish the ending was given more runway to explore further character development and relationship building, the narrative choices were bold and unexpected, setting this book apart from many others in the genre. Some readers mention the final ending as the most impactful, but I found Chapter 21 to be the most gut-wrenching revelation in the novel. “They never made it to Lestle.”
Thank you to Denise Bird for providing an ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed your debut and can’t wait for more.
Elara’s character is a true representation of a headstrong teen girl — although at times this made her frustrating, I appreciate Bird’s dedication to keeping her authentic. Like other readers, I agree that the first half of the book really shone through with the world building and leadup to the conflict.
Though I wish the ending was given more runway to explore further character development and relationship building, the narrative choices were bold and unexpected, setting this book apart from many others in the genre. Some readers mention the final ending as the most impactful, but I found Chapter 21 to be the most gut-wrenching revelation in the novel. “They never made it to Lestle.”
Thank you to Denise Bird for providing an ARC! I thoroughly enjoyed your debut and can’t wait for more.
April 1, 2025
A War of Hearts and Fire, a debut self-published novel by Denise Bird, follows Elara as she struggles with being Powerless in a Powerful-valued society, navigating a love triangle with a twist, and joining a secret war that threatens to end civilization as she knows it. Elara is powerless and in a family of influential parents. She is 16 and wants to change the world desperately, but how do you do that when you are seen as less than? The magic system in this debut is to follow; the love triangle is messy as one is a boy she has known her whole life, while the other she mysteriously meets when her town is attacked and she thrust very quickly into the battle. The story is very fast-paced, and I devoured the last hour of this novel as all the plot twists came pouring out. I hope this is meant to be a series cause that ending was soul-crushing in so many ways. Denise Bird will be one to watch as she builds this series.
July 1, 2025
I don’t normally reach for YA fantasy books, but after reading Denise Bird’s debut novel, I will most definitely be reading more!
Elara is a bold and fearless protagonist with a fire inside her, especially when it comes to protecting the people that she loves. She shares a deep friendship with Luca (one of my favorite characters!), and the chemistry they share is pure and captivating.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the book was driven by supernatural, yet utterly human moments — it made for a magical and immersive read that was still rooted in deep and impactful themes. The plot itself was also gripping, with witty dialogue, well-paced and dynamic action scenes, vivid world-building, and plot threads that kept me on the edge of my seat.
And SPOILER: The ending absolutely destroyed me. I was a puddle of tears... and am still recovering.
I can’t wait to see what else Denise Bird has in store!
Elara is a bold and fearless protagonist with a fire inside her, especially when it comes to protecting the people that she loves. She shares a deep friendship with Luca (one of my favorite characters!), and the chemistry they share is pure and captivating.
I thoroughly enjoyed how the book was driven by supernatural, yet utterly human moments — it made for a magical and immersive read that was still rooted in deep and impactful themes. The plot itself was also gripping, with witty dialogue, well-paced and dynamic action scenes, vivid world-building, and plot threads that kept me on the edge of my seat.
And SPOILER: The ending absolutely destroyed me. I was a puddle of tears... and am still recovering.
I can’t wait to see what else Denise Bird has in store!
April 11, 2025
This was a really good debut novel, it felt familiar yet unique at the same time. This is a dystopian, romantacy that is clean, kissing only. I really liked all the characters and am a little sad this doesn’t seem to be a trilogy. Well, it is possible it could be if the author wants to get creative. I’m sure she could find a way to do it. I like that the book has a diverse cast of characters and features an interracial romance. I thought the characters were created well, and very much seemed like real teenagers. Elara is a little headstrong and reckless at times. I like that she isn’t perfect because it makes her seem more real. Not a spoiler, but I do recommend tissues for this one if you are a more emotional reader. This is a good YA book that adults can enjoy as well.
I received this as an ARC. My review is my own honest opinion and is voluntary.
I received this as an ARC. My review is my own honest opinion and is voluntary.
May 10, 2025
Author Denise Bird, narrates her new book (I don’t know if it will be a series) I receive this book for an honest review, my first one in for Booksirens.
I chose this book because I thought it would be like an academy romance like Harry Potter, but it was better than expected.
The book in my opinion was more like a dystopian one but the new generation of reader, with a triangle romance, a new world to explore and a lot of trauma for the main character.
The structure of the world didn’t felt repetitive like in other books and I was more interested in how the world worked more than the drama. It’s a book I would recommend to any public and special because the romance has no spicy and I enjoyed more because it showed true love in a pure way.
The uniqueness of the book was what cause me to eat the book almost.
I chose this book because I thought it would be like an academy romance like Harry Potter, but it was better than expected.
The book in my opinion was more like a dystopian one but the new generation of reader, with a triangle romance, a new world to explore and a lot of trauma for the main character.
The structure of the world didn’t felt repetitive like in other books and I was more interested in how the world worked more than the drama. It’s a book I would recommend to any public and special because the romance has no spicy and I enjoyed more because it showed true love in a pure way.
The uniqueness of the book was what cause me to eat the book almost.
February 26, 2025
The beginning was off to a great start, descriptive small lives within a Kingdoms faction, mystery building filled with action, adventure, danger, and young love. After a few chapters it slowed down too much for me, although building onto the characters, their part in the plot and the war on the horizon, it just fell flat for me, sadly to say. After I managed through it, it picked up again with more intensity, traitors in the midst and exposing the characters individually giving them more balance and purpose. As it all wound down although not a cliffhanger there was characters with dropped endings that left me with unanswered questions, falling a little short. The ending was a shocking twist, not expected at all, as it all unraveled but still well written.
March 7, 2025
This book follows Elara as she has to find her path in a world that has powered and non-powered people. She has to decide what she stands for and most importantly what she is willing to fight for. She has to do this while trying to understand her own feelings for those in her life. She is relentless, head-strong and action oriented young woman. I enjoyed this book. It did not have the ending that I thought it would but it worked out well.
I would have liked to have seen more character development with Elara. She had a one tracked mind at times that to me seemed one dimensional and narrowed her depth. If that makes sense.
I think this book is worth a read if you’re looking for an adventure!
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I would have liked to have seen more character development with Elara. She had a one tracked mind at times that to me seemed one dimensional and narrowed her depth. If that makes sense.
I think this book is worth a read if you’re looking for an adventure!
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 18, 2025
Since there’s no half rating I rounded up to a 4 but I would give it a 3.5/5. This book is on the younger side of young adult. I think it’s a little too young for my age range but 16 year old me would’ve gone crazy for this book. Elara has some of the worst parents, they’re not abusive but they definitely do not like or want her. Chapter 26 was my favorite, very intense and emotional. Some of the writing and dialogue is clunky and hard to read. I wish there was more connection to the characters, especially with the love interests. Both characters appear in almost every scene but I still didn’t feel like they were fully developed people in the world as much as Charlotte was. Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book.
March 25, 2025
There’s Powerful & Powerless. There’s war old & new. Resentfuls & Parity. Opposing & battling for power.
This was a YA story, perfect for young readers. That being said, it did seem a little too YA for me. I like a lot of YA books but this one definitely seems aimed more for Teens.
Regardless, I thought it had a fun storyline and the characters were likeable. Elara was the hero she never thought she would become and endures a lot throughout the story. Luca was everything you’d want in a childhood best friend and was loyal to Elara down to the very end. The book ended with a little twist that I suspected would happen & had an epilogue to wrap it up well.
This was a YA story, perfect for young readers. That being said, it did seem a little too YA for me. I like a lot of YA books but this one definitely seems aimed more for Teens.
Regardless, I thought it had a fun storyline and the characters were likeable. Elara was the hero she never thought she would become and endures a lot throughout the story. Luca was everything you’d want in a childhood best friend and was loyal to Elara down to the very end. The book ended with a little twist that I suspected would happen & had an epilogue to wrap it up well.
February 17, 2025
This was everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed from the fantasy genre. I was hooked from the first page and enjoyed getting to know the characters and was invested in the war. It was everything that was promised in this universe and the battles worked well overall. I hope there is more in this world and characters as this was really well done. Denise Bird has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 12, 2025
The thoughts and ideas behind this book were unique and solid. However, it felt rushed and almost contrived in a few points. As this is the author's first official book, I'm sure that pacing and such will come with time.
Elara is Powerless in a world where being Powerful offers opportunity. While out one day with her best friend, someone sets off an explosive and she saves a stranger, which leads to her become part of a rebellion.
With more time and a slightly slower pacing, this book could have been phenomenal. As it is, it is definitely a decent little read that has unique elements.
Elara is Powerless in a world where being Powerful offers opportunity. While out one day with her best friend, someone sets off an explosive and she saves a stranger, which leads to her become part of a rebellion.
With more time and a slightly slower pacing, this book could have been phenomenal. As it is, it is definitely a decent little read that has unique elements.
April 21, 2025
Thank you to Booksirens for this free ARC! All opinions here are my own.
I loved the premise of this book, and I was not disappointed! The main character is amazingly well-written and feels a wide array of conflicting emotions when joining the revolution (maybe becoming the chosen one wink wink), as opposed to the usual fantasy MC who readily accepts the responsibilities way too fast, in my opinion. I loved how she became a nuanced character and that her mistakes were not inconceivable since she was only 16.
Also, I loooooove a good plot twist in a love triangle!
I loved the premise of this book, and I was not disappointed! The main character is amazingly well-written and feels a wide array of conflicting emotions when joining the revolution (maybe becoming the chosen one wink wink), as opposed to the usual fantasy MC who readily accepts the responsibilities way too fast, in my opinion. I loved how she became a nuanced character and that her mistakes were not inconceivable since she was only 16.
Also, I loooooove a good plot twist in a love triangle!
April 1, 2025
*arc review* at first i really loved this book along with the interactions with everest but as we got towards the end i feel like everests character took a turn for the absolute worst. i feel like lucas and everests death were all for nothing, leaving her with nobody after all she’s been through. i loved the magic system within this book and it was very easy to understand. i really enjoyed the storyline but i think it would of been better if the ending was different. thank you for this arc!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2025
In a country where people are split into powerful and powerless life is not all it seems. An explosion will rock her world as she get a vision that she must help a frail boy. Just when she thought it was over it appears there is more to come. How is it all going to go? See by reading
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I was pulled into the story
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and I was pulled into the story
March 5, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It was a relatively smooth read with fun characters. I liked the character development and the progression of the story.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2025
Elara is such a great FMC. She makes a lot of annoying mistakes, but what 16 year old is perfect? I love the drama in this book. Elara holds up pretty well as her life goes up in flames. Some parts are predictable in this book, but it is still a great read!
April 9, 2025
Betrayals, sadness, and strength.
I dont know. Honestly, what to say about this book. To me, it was a fabulous read! It was definitely an amazing change from the smut I read normally! If you haven't read a war of hearts and fire. Then what are you waiting for?
I dont know. Honestly, what to say about this book. To me, it was a fabulous read! It was definitely an amazing change from the smut I read normally! If you haven't read a war of hearts and fire. Then what are you waiting for?
April 19, 2025
Definitely a fun book. It was more a YA book, kind of reminded me of the Divergent in writing which is definitely a good thing. The characters were all fun and their interactions were exciting and kept me on my toes. It was a good read.
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