Firebreak

Castaways #2

by Craig Schaefer

When Amy Nettle was whisked from her dead-end small town life to the Saunders Academy, a brooding Gothic fortress in the heart of an endless storm-tossed ocean, she was promised an education in witchcraft. She got more than she bargained for. Beyond the brutal lessons that pushed her to her mental and physical limits, there were leviathans and killer mermaids in the water, lethal magic in the air, and an invader determined to make sure none of the new students survived long enough to see their graduation day.

Then there was Vail, a freckled tomboy with a knack for pyromancy and a lasso wrapped around Amy’s heart. Together with their fellow castaways, a band of misfits from a handful of parallel realities, they exposed the plot against the school and sent its architects on the run. The enemy is still out there, though, in the wilds of Firebreak Island, and the Academy is battening down the hatches and going on a manhunt.

There’s danger in the woods, but even more inside the fortress walls. When warring rivals drive a wedge between Amy and Vail, their loyalty is put to the test. Worse, there’s no denying the one of the students is a traitor, trying to destroy the Academy from within. Their second year of occult education has just begun, and if the castaways can’t uncover the truth in time, there won’t be a third.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Urban Fantasy

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 19, 2025

About the author

Craig Schaefer's books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow (the Daniel Faust series), to a world torn by war, poison and witchcraft (the Revanche Cycle), and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies (the Harmony Black series).

Despite this, people say he's strangely normal. Suspiciously normal, in fact. His home on the Web is www.craigschaeferbooks.com.

Reviews

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I nearly DNFed a Craig Schaefer book. Life will never be the same.



Please Heather, believe me when I say I tried to love this book. I TRIED SO BLOODY SHRIMPING HARD. But I just can't with the teenage angst. And the teenage relationship crap stuff. And the teenage drama. It's just too much teenage everything for me, okay?!

The story was alright, but it was pretty slow-paced and uneventful, and didn't pull me in the way Castaways did. Such a failure I am.



➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): if your tolerance for teenagers is higher than mine (there's a good chance it is, given how low mine is 😬), you should definitely read this series. Because it's a very refreshing take on the school of magic sub-genre/trope, because it's dark, because the characters are beautifully diverse, and because Schaefer's multiverse is EVERYTHING.

P.S. I did pick up some precious information about the Network while I was reading the book (gotta love transdimensional organized crime!) and it will be added to my Schaeferverse Bible database pronto, so yay for that.
P.P.S. In case you were wondering, yes, I am full of fish. Had this book not been written by Craig Schaefer I would have given it a 2-star rating. But it was, so I didn't. Ha.

· Book 1: Castaways ★★★★

[Lukasz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

Firebreak is a strong sequel that does everything right. It deepens the world and characters , and ups the stakes significantly. Things do get darker, but it still has lots of humor, a strong found family dynamic, and a few coming-of-age arcs.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

[Gilli Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first one and this sequel was somehow even better. I spent last week being annoyed by a book being the first in a series, but here I'm just pleased it's a planned quintet so I get more time to spend with these characters.

[Dani]

I distinctly liked this sequel less than I exptected to, but I loved being back in this world so much that I'm shamelessly going to overlook the (petty) grievances I had this time around.
Also, it must be said that Firebreak made me feel my (ripe old) age so much more than happened with Castaways. Really, the teenage angst is off the charts in this one and that's not my cup of tea so much as it used to be. So I cannot really tell if the pace of the story was truly off, or if it was just me being unreasonably impatient...
The stellar cliffhanger ending had a redeeming effect for me, however and I cannot wait until I can get my hands on the third installment of this overall great series up to now.
In the meantime, I'm soon going to pick up another sequel of Schaefer's that's been long overdue, because this man may very well end up being added to my list of favourite authors.

[Terry Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to be amazed at the vast tapestry that Craig Schaefer is able to weave with his novels. This series is yet another amazing addition to the multiverse he has created. I absolutely loved this book - it had twists, turns and surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat! But it also had several truly touching moments that helped to set the tone and round out the characters. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

[Yamile Marrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome exciting thrilling adventure from start to finish

This adventure eclipses the first book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Our band of castaways skills rise to a new level. Their dedication to each other is unparalleled.

[Dayanara Ryelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not surprised one of the Castaways joined the Blades.

I am surprised it was Vail.

[Mel Horne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmmm, I found this one slow going , it was ok but a bit dull .

[Saara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Rosie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ideal holiday book

This book involves you from the first page. The story continues from book one and you feel like you are living the story. The students unite to do the right thing even at risk if being expelled. Highly recommended.