What do you think?
Rate this book
The Book of Fire #1
Book Of Fire
Life outside the domes is not possible. At least that's what Insiders are told. Twins Eli and Talia shouldn't exist. They're Outsiders.
Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret.
An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.
She'll stop at nothing to save her family but will she sacrifice her heart in the process?
The Fire Sermon meets Gladiator in this brilliant YA debut.
Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret.
An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.
She'll stop at nothing to save her family but will she sacrifice her heart in the process?
The Fire Sermon meets Gladiator in this brilliant YA debut.
ebook
First published August 27, 2017
27 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Kenney
5 books55 followersI’m a firm believer in magic, and that ancient doorways to other worlds can still be found if we look hard enough. I’m also a hopeless scribbleaholic and, when left to my own devices, likes nothing better than to dream up new fantasy worlds in the back of a dog-eared notebook. Doctors say they're unlikely to find a cure any time soon.
In between scribbling, I love reading, running, attempting to play bluegrass and beach treasure-hunting with my small people (dreamers-in-training).
Somehow, I have an LLB (hons) degree, an APD in Public Relations and I’m an Accredited Practitioner with the CIPR. But I’m definitely happiest curled up against a rainy window, with my nose in a book!
I’m represented by Northbank Talent Management, and love chatting all things book-related at https://www.facebook.com/BookofFireMK Twitter: @mkenneypr and Instagram: @mich_kenneyauthor
Book of Fire is the first in a YAFantasy Trilogy published by HarperCollins HQ. City of Dust, Book 2, was published October 2018 (digital) and December 2018 (paperback), and Storm of Ash, the final instalment was published in December 2019 (Digital) and February 2020 (Paperback)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 15, 2017
4☆ Beautifully Written, Imaginative, Dystopian Fantasy.
Book of Fire is an imaginative play on your senses and literally transports you into a world of Fantasy, danger, wonderful creatures.
In a way it kind of reminds me of the TV series The 100 which I am hooked on.
Two worlds, one inside the Dome and one outside the Dome.
After a war that has filled the area of Nuclear poison. Those inside the Dome have never been outside in fear they will not survive. Or have they been outside??
The Insiders must never find out or meet the Outsiders as bad things will happen.
Twins Talia and Eli and their family live outside in a secret village called Arafel. Even though nature is slowly recovering after the war there is still a way to go.
Those who are safe in the Dome believe that outside is dangerous and no one survived.
So when Talia' s Grandfather and her brother Eli get captured and taken to the Dome. Talia has no option but to try and rescue them. However what she discovers inside is shocking and dangerous and a little bit disturbing.
Inside the Dome are many wonderful creatures that have been created inside the Dome.
Talia is to become the keeper of the Book of Fire after her Grandfather passes it onto her to protect at all costs.
But what is the Book of Fire??
I guess you will just have to read it to find out.
I really did enjoy reading this book. It was different to books I have been reading lately. It has something to please everyone, a romance, fantasy, creatures, science, Dystopian, mythology.
The characters were well written. I particularly liked Talia she was very strong and had a sheer determination and loyalty to her family. Not to mention how extremely brave she was to enter the lions den, the unknown (The dome).
I'm really hoping this isn't the only book and there is more to come.
Perfect read for lovers of YA, Fantasy, Dystopian, Sci Fi.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
Book of Fire is an imaginative play on your senses and literally transports you into a world of Fantasy, danger, wonderful creatures.
In a way it kind of reminds me of the TV series The 100 which I am hooked on.
Two worlds, one inside the Dome and one outside the Dome.
After a war that has filled the area of Nuclear poison. Those inside the Dome have never been outside in fear they will not survive. Or have they been outside??
The Insiders must never find out or meet the Outsiders as bad things will happen.
Twins Talia and Eli and their family live outside in a secret village called Arafel. Even though nature is slowly recovering after the war there is still a way to go.
Those who are safe in the Dome believe that outside is dangerous and no one survived.
So when Talia' s Grandfather and her brother Eli get captured and taken to the Dome. Talia has no option but to try and rescue them. However what she discovers inside is shocking and dangerous and a little bit disturbing.
Inside the Dome are many wonderful creatures that have been created inside the Dome.
Talia is to become the keeper of the Book of Fire after her Grandfather passes it onto her to protect at all costs.
But what is the Book of Fire??
I guess you will just have to read it to find out.
I really did enjoy reading this book. It was different to books I have been reading lately. It has something to please everyone, a romance, fantasy, creatures, science, Dystopian, mythology.
The characters were well written. I particularly liked Talia she was very strong and had a sheer determination and loyalty to her family. Not to mention how extremely brave she was to enter the lions den, the unknown (The dome).
I'm really hoping this isn't the only book and there is more to come.
Perfect read for lovers of YA, Fantasy, Dystopian, Sci Fi.
I received this book from the Publisher for free via Netgalley, in which I voluntarily reviewed.
My Review is also on my blog website:
http://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2017/09...
July 17, 2020
17/07/2020
thank you Netgalley, for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review
TW: loss of a loved one, (attempted-, and talk where there are hints of) rape
4,5 stars
Excuse me but this was so good??
Welcome to the dystopian world after the Great world destroyed civilization as we know it. Humans have moved into lifedomes, except for a few called the outsiders. One of these outsiders (Talia) is the protector of a very important book, a book that could change the world again if it falls into the wrong hands. In this case in the hands of the people who rule the Lifedomes.
I loved this! I didn't expect a world where mythical Roman creatures were brought back to life, and I was very pleasantly surprised by that fact. It made me love the story even more. The characters are interesting and feel very real. I also enjoyed that Eli couldn't talk, but that they, in an so called -uncivilized- society they found a way around that. Talia, August and Aelia were nicely fleshed out characters, and I found myself feeling sad when something bad was about to happen that could hurt them. That's always a good sign
The way the Lifedomes operated was frightening, but it also felt probable (maybe minus the making of mythical creatures in a lab). The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me was the romance aspect.
I can't wait to see what the next book in this series brings, although this ending satisfied me as well. It's open, but it also wrapped up very nicely on it's own without the need for a sequel in my opinion. But that might have just been me
thank you Netgalley, for the e-copy in exchange for an honest review
TW: loss of a loved one, (attempted-, and talk where there are hints of) rape
4,5 stars
Excuse me but this was so good??
Welcome to the dystopian world after the Great world destroyed civilization as we know it. Humans have moved into lifedomes, except for a few called the outsiders. One of these outsiders (Talia) is the protector of a very important book, a book that could change the world again if it falls into the wrong hands. In this case in the hands of the people who rule the Lifedomes.
I loved this! I didn't expect a world where mythical Roman creatures were brought back to life, and I was very pleasantly surprised by that fact. It made me love the story even more. The characters are interesting and feel very real. I also enjoyed that Eli couldn't talk, but that they, in an so called -uncivilized- society they found a way around that. Talia, August and Aelia were nicely fleshed out characters, and I found myself feeling sad when something bad was about to happen that could hurt them. That's always a good sign
The way the Lifedomes operated was frightening, but it also felt probable (maybe minus the making of mythical creatures in a lab). The only reason this wasn't a 5 star for me was the romance aspect.
I can't wait to see what the next book in this series brings, although this ending satisfied me as well. It's open, but it also wrapped up very nicely on it's own without the need for a sequel in my opinion. But that might have just been me
April 1, 2020
Book of Fire is dystopian with a difference: a technologically advanced, totalitarian regime based on Ancient Rome and crawling with genetically recreated mythological creatures, versus a human forest settlement founded on respect for nature, both bound together by a real life medieval manuscript. This was such an exciting read, told from the perspective of brave, determined 19 yr old Talia and full of other wonderful characters. I'm looking forward to book 2, City of Dust.
July 12, 2021
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Book of Fire was the book I didn’t know I needed! A fast paced, enthralling ya dystopian that I highly recommend.
This story takes place after there’s been a nuclear war. Talia lives with her family in a village of treehouses as an Outsider. There are also Insiders, those who live inside the Lifedome, which was designed to protect people from the after effects of the bombs. The Insiders have been told that life outside of the dome is not possible, and Outsiders shouldn’t exist. The Outsiders home and lives are supposed to be a secret. An unexpected forest raid forces Talia on a precarious mission to save her family from the Insiders, while also protecting the book of Arafel from those who could potentially use it as a weapon. As Talia and her best friend Max enter the dome, she makes some completely unexpected discoveries, as well as some allies, including the mysterious Insider August, that will change her life forever.
I absolutely loved all the surprises in this book when it came to mythology, history and science! The world that Kenney created is so intriguing. There’s an unforgettable cast of characters, and a few stole a piece of my heart. Unus, here’s looking at you!
A great start to a series that I am excited to continue! If you like a fierce heroine, action, adventure, and some romance, I think you will enjoy this one.
Book of Fire was the book I didn’t know I needed! A fast paced, enthralling ya dystopian that I highly recommend.
This story takes place after there’s been a nuclear war. Talia lives with her family in a village of treehouses as an Outsider. There are also Insiders, those who live inside the Lifedome, which was designed to protect people from the after effects of the bombs. The Insiders have been told that life outside of the dome is not possible, and Outsiders shouldn’t exist. The Outsiders home and lives are supposed to be a secret. An unexpected forest raid forces Talia on a precarious mission to save her family from the Insiders, while also protecting the book of Arafel from those who could potentially use it as a weapon. As Talia and her best friend Max enter the dome, she makes some completely unexpected discoveries, as well as some allies, including the mysterious Insider August, that will change her life forever.
I absolutely loved all the surprises in this book when it came to mythology, history and science! The world that Kenney created is so intriguing. There’s an unforgettable cast of characters, and a few stole a piece of my heart. Unus, here’s looking at you!
A great start to a series that I am excited to continue! If you like a fierce heroine, action, adventure, and some romance, I think you will enjoy this one.
October 21, 2017
Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles
This is a vivid and wonderfully written dystopian fantasy. The one thing that I really adored about Book of Fire is the imaginative setting and exciting plot. After a nuclear war, only those who live inside the dome are supposed to exist, but Talia and her family exist on the outside, and they thrive in the natural environment. When part of her family are captured, Thalia has to venture into the dome to save the ones she love. But all is not as it seems inside the domes, and she has some tough choices to make in order to survive and find her way out. I really loved the idea for this book. On one side the outsiders, those living in harmony with nature, living in treehouses and working with the land. On the other those that used technology to live an advanced and clinical life.
Book of Fire is a really interesting read, and it puts forth some really interesting questions about the way we live and the advancements of technology – just because we can doesn’t mean we should. The plot was well paced, with plenty of mystery and action to keep the reader intrigued. There were a few times when I just couldn’t put the book down, so desperate was I to know what was coming next. The world building is also superb, laying down the foundations and ideas well, without dumping all the information on the reader.
The characters in Book of Fire were also fantastically written. Thalia who will stop at nothing to get her family back, her wise caring grandfather and my personal favourite is definitely the mysterious August, he’s part of the elite inside the dome but he isn’t all that he seems. I thought the characters felt very human, the make mistakes and stupid decisions, they aren’t perfect all rounded people. These excellent characters are really what made the book for me and I was rooting for them almost from the get go. Book of Fire is a fantastic read and I really can’t wait to find out what’s next in store.
This is a vivid and wonderfully written dystopian fantasy. The one thing that I really adored about Book of Fire is the imaginative setting and exciting plot. After a nuclear war, only those who live inside the dome are supposed to exist, but Talia and her family exist on the outside, and they thrive in the natural environment. When part of her family are captured, Thalia has to venture into the dome to save the ones she love. But all is not as it seems inside the domes, and she has some tough choices to make in order to survive and find her way out. I really loved the idea for this book. On one side the outsiders, those living in harmony with nature, living in treehouses and working with the land. On the other those that used technology to live an advanced and clinical life.
Book of Fire is a really interesting read, and it puts forth some really interesting questions about the way we live and the advancements of technology – just because we can doesn’t mean we should. The plot was well paced, with plenty of mystery and action to keep the reader intrigued. There were a few times when I just couldn’t put the book down, so desperate was I to know what was coming next. The world building is also superb, laying down the foundations and ideas well, without dumping all the information on the reader.
The characters in Book of Fire were also fantastically written. Thalia who will stop at nothing to get her family back, her wise caring grandfather and my personal favourite is definitely the mysterious August, he’s part of the elite inside the dome but he isn’t all that he seems. I thought the characters felt very human, the make mistakes and stupid decisions, they aren’t perfect all rounded people. These excellent characters are really what made the book for me and I was rooting for them almost from the get go. Book of Fire is a fantastic read and I really can’t wait to find out what’s next in store.
November 4, 2017
In quite a big change to regular content, this review is focussing on a book that is currently on available as an ebook - though I hold my hopes that HQ Digital will eventually release the trilogy as paperbacks. Luckily for me, HQ gave me a printed copy of the manuscript to read as my strange little brain cannot seem to handle ebooks.
The Book of Fire is the first in a trilogy of dystopian novels from Michelle Kenney. Inspired by the wealth of Roman history around her home in the South West of England, Kenney has created a rich historically inspired novel set in the future shortly after nuclear war.
In the aftermath of nuclear war, humans have retreated to living inside protective domed cities, except for a small group of Outsiders. When their forest home is attacked, Talia is set on a course to rescue her grandfather and twin brother Eli, protect the sacred Book of Arafel and protect their home from the interests of the Insiders. Entering this new world, Talia's understanding of the world she lives in is challenged by the scientific advancements before her. Aided by mysterious knight August and lifelong friend Max, Talia battles the cruel realities of the dome and its vicious despot, Octavia.
Kenney convincingly creates a world built from a need to simultaneously look forward to a new future and back to the great blueprints of the past. Not only is this a novel rooted in real world history, but it also weaves in a number of scientific concepts not usually seen in YA. Taking a number of cues from The Island of Doctor Moreau, Book of Fire has some quite gruesome moments. I must admit, I didn't see a lot of it coming.
The comparisons to Hunger Games are not without merit, and fans of Suzanne Collins' famous trilogy will find a lot to like here. I'm really interested to see how the story progresses through the second and third novel, especially as Book of Fire itself wraps up quite neatly - but Kenney's world is ripe for exploration.
The Book of Fire is the first in a trilogy of dystopian novels from Michelle Kenney. Inspired by the wealth of Roman history around her home in the South West of England, Kenney has created a rich historically inspired novel set in the future shortly after nuclear war.
In the aftermath of nuclear war, humans have retreated to living inside protective domed cities, except for a small group of Outsiders. When their forest home is attacked, Talia is set on a course to rescue her grandfather and twin brother Eli, protect the sacred Book of Arafel and protect their home from the interests of the Insiders. Entering this new world, Talia's understanding of the world she lives in is challenged by the scientific advancements before her. Aided by mysterious knight August and lifelong friend Max, Talia battles the cruel realities of the dome and its vicious despot, Octavia.
Kenney convincingly creates a world built from a need to simultaneously look forward to a new future and back to the great blueprints of the past. Not only is this a novel rooted in real world history, but it also weaves in a number of scientific concepts not usually seen in YA. Taking a number of cues from The Island of Doctor Moreau, Book of Fire has some quite gruesome moments. I must admit, I didn't see a lot of it coming.
The comparisons to Hunger Games are not without merit, and fans of Suzanne Collins' famous trilogy will find a lot to like here. I'm really interested to see how the story progresses through the second and third novel, especially as Book of Fire itself wraps up quite neatly - but Kenney's world is ripe for exploration.
November 21, 2019
Reread #2: Huh I didn't realise I'd already reread because you keep picking up on things that you didn't the first few times and it's still as amazing as before, bring on book #2 and then book #3!
Reread: I felt like I wanted to re-read this book before I started on book two and it was just as good as I remembered. I really can't wait to see what's in store for Talia and August.
I loved this book. I got this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Talia, the main character, was one of my favourites, she stays strong throughout the book even when she has to explore a whole new world inside the Dome to try and save two of her family members, while also keeping her home village a secret.
I just loved how the author imagined the world inside of the Dome, and all the weird and wonderful creatures you can find hidden throughout this book, courtesy of genetic modification (special shoutout to the fluorescent cat that was only mentioned once).
Definitely one to read, and I'm so glad this will be continued in a trilogy of books. I would definitely recommend this book to people who like SciFi.
My full review will be found soon on my blog at Rachels-readings.blogspot.co.uk
Reread: I felt like I wanted to re-read this book before I started on book two and it was just as good as I remembered. I really can't wait to see what's in store for Talia and August.
I loved this book. I got this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Talia, the main character, was one of my favourites, she stays strong throughout the book even when she has to explore a whole new world inside the Dome to try and save two of her family members, while also keeping her home village a secret.
I just loved how the author imagined the world inside of the Dome, and all the weird and wonderful creatures you can find hidden throughout this book, courtesy of genetic modification (special shoutout to the fluorescent cat that was only mentioned once).
Definitely one to read, and I'm so glad this will be continued in a trilogy of books. I would definitely recommend this book to people who like SciFi.
My full review will be found soon on my blog at Rachels-readings.blogspot.co.uk
October 11, 2017
Book of Fire is a fast paced and action packed debut that dystopian fans will not want to miss. It’s set in a world divided: those who live inside the Dome and those who live outside of the Dome. Those inside the Dome think they safe after the nuclear war and aren’t aware that the outside world is habitable. Those outside of the Dome live out in the wilderness were they’ve made their home for many generations. However they live in fear of the people inside the Dome, as soldiers will come into the forest and kidnap their friends and family who are never seen again.
The book starts with main character Talia and her family out in the forest. Her Grandfather was one of the original people who inhabited the forest and made it the home they have today but with his responsibility for his people he’s been hiding many secrets. Talia discovers she’s to be the next guardian of the book of Arafal, a book that in the wrong hands could be used as a weapon. Suddenly soldiers from inside the Dome attack Talia’s home and take her twin brother and Grandfather as prisoners, leaving Talia determined to rescue them.
Talia is a fierce heroine from the very beginning; she’s impulsive and reckless in her beliefs and decisions and will stop at nothing to save her family. Talia and her best friend Max aren’t prepared for what they finds inside the Dome and to be honest I wasn’t either, it was like something out of my nightmares. Think Sarah J. Maas’ Under the Mountain meet Susan Ee’s Alcatraz.
Under the Dome Talia forms an unlikely alliance with Insider August, an elite soldier charged with the task of finding the book. August’s character is shrouded in mystery as he works directly under Octavia, leader of the dome and villain of the story but also takes risks to help Talia rescue her family leaving you guessing as to who’s side he’s really on and where his loyalties lie.
Talia and August's relationship is slow to progress but one I truly savoured, there’s obvious distrust as their both on opposite sides and the tentative and gradual progression to something that looks a lot like friends, though Talia would never call it that! I would love to see more development between Talia and August because I am all for the slow burn forbidden romance. I can definitely see a potential love triangle as poor Max didn't really get a lot of time to Talia how he feels as she's generally being a badass and trying to save the world and he's such a sweet character but for me there's only one winner and I am #TeamAugust all the way. No need for a love triangle, choice made!
Book of Fire is a unique and interesting start to a new dystopian series. Kenney wonderfully weaves mythology, history and science together creating a thrilling and gripping read filled with myths and monsters. It’s fast paced, full of action and heart. I’m looking forward to finding out a bit more about the world and to getting some much needed answers to some questions I have.
Literary-ly Obsessed (Blog) | Twitter | Instagram
The book starts with main character Talia and her family out in the forest. Her Grandfather was one of the original people who inhabited the forest and made it the home they have today but with his responsibility for his people he’s been hiding many secrets. Talia discovers she’s to be the next guardian of the book of Arafal, a book that in the wrong hands could be used as a weapon. Suddenly soldiers from inside the Dome attack Talia’s home and take her twin brother and Grandfather as prisoners, leaving Talia determined to rescue them.
Talia is a fierce heroine from the very beginning; she’s impulsive and reckless in her beliefs and decisions and will stop at nothing to save her family. Talia and her best friend Max aren’t prepared for what they finds inside the Dome and to be honest I wasn’t either, it was like something out of my nightmares. Think Sarah J. Maas’ Under the Mountain meet Susan Ee’s Alcatraz.
Under the Dome Talia forms an unlikely alliance with Insider August, an elite soldier charged with the task of finding the book. August’s character is shrouded in mystery as he works directly under Octavia, leader of the dome and villain of the story but also takes risks to help Talia rescue her family leaving you guessing as to who’s side he’s really on and where his loyalties lie.
Talia and August's relationship is slow to progress but one I truly savoured, there’s obvious distrust as their both on opposite sides and the tentative and gradual progression to something that looks a lot like friends, though Talia would never call it that! I would love to see more development between Talia and August because I am all for the slow burn forbidden romance. I can definitely see a potential love triangle as poor Max didn't really get a lot of time to Talia how he feels as she's generally being a badass and trying to save the world and he's such a sweet character but for me there's only one winner and I am #TeamAugust all the way. No need for a love triangle, choice made!
Book of Fire is a unique and interesting start to a new dystopian series. Kenney wonderfully weaves mythology, history and science together creating a thrilling and gripping read filled with myths and monsters. It’s fast paced, full of action and heart. I’m looking forward to finding out a bit more about the world and to getting some much needed answers to some questions I have.
Literary-ly Obsessed (Blog) | Twitter | Instagram
August 6, 2017
Book of Fire is Michelle Kennedy debut young adult novel.
The book is set in a world after a nuclear war, where two groups of people live, the insiders and the outsiders. The insiders believe that no one can survive outside their dome, that what they have been told. But Talia and her twin brother Eli provide that incorrect, they are outsiders living in a hidden village called Arafel they live in secret as if caught by an insider they disappear. An unexpected raid forces Talia and her best friend Max to break into the dome and rescue her family, while keeping the book of Arafel safe as it in pages lies the code for an unimaginable weapon. While in the dome she finds an unexpected ally in August a Knight of the dome, now Talia has to decide does she just focus on saving her family or help save the people Dome from its dictatorship.
It took me a little to get into the story but after the raid I was sucked in. I finished the book that night as I needed to know what happened next. As the story continues the more fast pasted it becomes the stakes become higher, you just hold you breath and go along with the ride.
I really enjoyed Talia as a character she is intelligent firecracker of a character, a lot smarter than the insiders give her credit for. She is trying to save her family but she is having to deal with confusing feeling towards Max and August, this makes her more realistic as emotions make us human.
I am a big fan of history and mythology and Michelle has woven elements into the story beautifully, she has brought history and the future together in one book.
I hope that this isn't a one-off story.
I give this book 3.9 out of 5
🤓🤓🤓
👓👓👓👓👓👓👓👓👓
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ digital for a chance to read and review.
The book is set in a world after a nuclear war, where two groups of people live, the insiders and the outsiders. The insiders believe that no one can survive outside their dome, that what they have been told. But Talia and her twin brother Eli provide that incorrect, they are outsiders living in a hidden village called Arafel they live in secret as if caught by an insider they disappear. An unexpected raid forces Talia and her best friend Max to break into the dome and rescue her family, while keeping the book of Arafel safe as it in pages lies the code for an unimaginable weapon. While in the dome she finds an unexpected ally in August a Knight of the dome, now Talia has to decide does she just focus on saving her family or help save the people Dome from its dictatorship.
It took me a little to get into the story but after the raid I was sucked in. I finished the book that night as I needed to know what happened next. As the story continues the more fast pasted it becomes the stakes become higher, you just hold you breath and go along with the ride.
I really enjoyed Talia as a character she is intelligent firecracker of a character, a lot smarter than the insiders give her credit for. She is trying to save her family but she is having to deal with confusing feeling towards Max and August, this makes her more realistic as emotions make us human.
I am a big fan of history and mythology and Michelle has woven elements into the story beautifully, she has brought history and the future together in one book.
I hope that this isn't a one-off story.
I give this book 3.9 out of 5
🤓🤓🤓
👓👓👓👓👓👓👓👓👓
Thank you to Netgalley and HQ digital for a chance to read and review.
September 28, 2017
I loved ‘Book of Fire’! A rollercoaster ride of action & emotion, Michelle Kenney cleverly weaves together a heady mix of dystopia history, science, romance and mythology. Two societies, one in harmony with nature and living amongst the trees. The other, where science is trying to control nature, creating horror, cruelty and an unfair society. The main characters are complex, flawed and loveable. The tension and adventure, mixed with the complicated relationships and romance, makes this a page turning read that leaves me impatient to read book two. It also leaves me wishing I could manage tree running, have a Cyclops as a best friend and fly on the back of a griffin. A unique and thrilling recommended read!
September 15, 2017
I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
DNF at 50%
I tried, I really tried. Normally I will DNF a book much sooner than the halfway mark because I don't like wasting my time on a book that I'm not really enjoying, but as this one is an arc, that I requested myself, and it wasn't bad I figured I owed it a little extra time. But it just wasn't for me.
The concept of Book of Fire was interesting enough. The world as we know it has come to an end. People who have lived in the dome for generations since the Great War are led to believe that outside of it the world is inhabitable. Which, of course, they're wrong.
Our protagonist is Talia, a 'feral cat' of a girl. She's grown up on the outside, living in a modern day Eden, Arafel. Where humans are taught to love and respect nature, the Insiders of the Dome are a constant threat to their way of life. When the Insiders get a hold of two members of the Outsiders Talia goes on a rescue mission to get them back.
The story reminded me a lot of The 100 except no one technically left Earth. The Dome is all high tech and pushing the boundaries of nature while the Outsiders have reverted back in time much like the Grounders in The 100. So reading this I felt like I had kind of been here before but from the opposite perspective than I've already seen through.
I like Talia as a character, I thought she was fun and passionate and feisty. I liked Eli, a character who lives in silence and has a deep connection with animals. I like how protective he was of his sister Talia and vice versa. I enjoyed August the wayward Insider trying to help Outsiders, he was interesting but no one was interesting enough for me to care all that much about what was going to happen and who survived.
For lovers of dystopian novels, I think this would be an entertaining book as can be seen by the many positive reviews Book of Fire has, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
DNF at 50%
I tried, I really tried. Normally I will DNF a book much sooner than the halfway mark because I don't like wasting my time on a book that I'm not really enjoying, but as this one is an arc, that I requested myself, and it wasn't bad I figured I owed it a little extra time. But it just wasn't for me.
The concept of Book of Fire was interesting enough. The world as we know it has come to an end. People who have lived in the dome for generations since the Great War are led to believe that outside of it the world is inhabitable. Which, of course, they're wrong.
Our protagonist is Talia, a 'feral cat' of a girl. She's grown up on the outside, living in a modern day Eden, Arafel. Where humans are taught to love and respect nature, the Insiders of the Dome are a constant threat to their way of life. When the Insiders get a hold of two members of the Outsiders Talia goes on a rescue mission to get them back.
The story reminded me a lot of The 100 except no one technically left Earth. The Dome is all high tech and pushing the boundaries of nature while the Outsiders have reverted back in time much like the Grounders in The 100. So reading this I felt like I had kind of been here before but from the opposite perspective than I've already seen through.
I like Talia as a character, I thought she was fun and passionate and feisty. I liked Eli, a character who lives in silence and has a deep connection with animals. I like how protective he was of his sister Talia and vice versa. I enjoyed August the wayward Insider trying to help Outsiders, he was interesting but no one was interesting enough for me to care all that much about what was going to happen and who survived.
For lovers of dystopian novels, I think this would be an entertaining book as can be seen by the many positive reviews Book of Fire has, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
January 18, 2018
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley*
Talia and her twin brother Eli live in a forest community in a future England that has been affected by nuclear war.
They live in fear of their home being discovered by the dome-dwelling Insiders who have been led to believe that life outside the domes is impossible.
When some of Talia's family are taken by the Insiders, she will do anything to get them back. Even if it means going into the domes.
Why does the leader of the Insiders want the Book of Arafel - a book that has been given to Talia to keep safe by her grandfather - so much?
Will Talia make it out of the domes alive?
I was intrigued by the blurb for Book of Fire, but, unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
From the very beginning, I struggled with the writing style. I found a lot of the sentences clunky and thought they could have flowed easier.
The characters and plot were okay but I lost interest several times.
I liked the Roman and mythological creature themes, but I wasn't a fan of the romance.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy Book of Fire as much as I hoped.
Overall this was an okay read.
Talia and her twin brother Eli live in a forest community in a future England that has been affected by nuclear war.
They live in fear of their home being discovered by the dome-dwelling Insiders who have been led to believe that life outside the domes is impossible.
When some of Talia's family are taken by the Insiders, she will do anything to get them back. Even if it means going into the domes.
Why does the leader of the Insiders want the Book of Arafel - a book that has been given to Talia to keep safe by her grandfather - so much?
Will Talia make it out of the domes alive?
I was intrigued by the blurb for Book of Fire, but, unfortunately, I ended up disappointed.
From the very beginning, I struggled with the writing style. I found a lot of the sentences clunky and thought they could have flowed easier.
The characters and plot were okay but I lost interest several times.
I liked the Roman and mythological creature themes, but I wasn't a fan of the romance.
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy Book of Fire as much as I hoped.
Overall this was an okay read.
August 6, 2017
Dynamic, beautiful and tense to the end. Book of fire is a compulsive and exciting read, the world brought to life by gorgeous lyrical prose and description that will engage all your senses as your read. I've never wanted to eat an apricot so much! This is only the start of an exciting new series, but it will below away readers as a stand alone, too, and I dare you to not fall in love with both the world and characters in this novel.
August 30, 2017
Sometimes, you come across a book that you can’t quite categorise. Is it a science-fiction novel, is it a fantasy novel, or is it just a straight YA novel? The Book of Fire is one of these: I picked it up expected a straight fantasy romp, and it ended up twisting and turning like a labyrinth, giving us some odd curveballs along the way.
The Book of FIre does start as a fantasy. Talia and her family live in a forested community, hidden from the outside world by mountains and crags. A hundred years ago, the world was almost destroyed by a huge world war, and though nature is fast recovering, most of the population lives inside a massive white dome- the Isca Pantheon- built before the disaster to shelter civilians. As far as the citizens inside know, outside is a wasteland- and Talia shouldn’t exist. Now, something far more sinister is going on inside, and when Talia’s brother and grandfather are taken into the dome she follows.
I liked the way that Kenney blurred the lines between genres here. Though of course fantasy is a well-trodden genre, the way that she kept adding new details, making the inside of the Pantheon a high-tech paradise and then populating it with genetically modified humans and mythical beasts like Cerberus and cyclopes definitely made me look twice! Everything had a Roman flavour to it, which did jar slightly at the start but was a welcome, fresh take on the genre that kept me engaged and curious to see what the world of Isca Pantheon would throw at us next. Also, it’s set in the UK- Exeter, to be precise. Bonus points!
Talia herself was an engaging main character, too: feisty and determined, she’s likeable and surprisingly resourceful, throwing the world of the Pantheon into disorder. She’s almost too capable, but I liked that! The only thing I didn’t like was her love triangle with her childhood friend Max and newcomer August; that felt forced. Though Max is a fun, warm character, August seemed a little wooden, and his romance with Talia a little too strained, for me really to invest in it. Similarly, the villain of the piece, Octavia, was a bit one-note, generic ‘evil’, for me to really root against her in an Umbridge kind of way. Also, she was far too lenient towards August- he got away with some pretty eyebrow-raising treason. That was a shame, because all of the other supporting characters- Unus the Cyclops, and Aelia the doctor- were rounded, believable and interesting.
That said, though, the story is entertaining and breakneck: Talia and August tear up the Pantheon and take us from the upper classes to the ‘proles’, or genetically-modifed sub-classes, all the way to the dungeons. It was interesting and detailed- I would have liked to spend more time finding out how Isca Pantheon really worked and what it would be like to live there- and there are more plot twists than you can shake a stick at. Kenney really knows how to keep her readers interested, and how to write a great action scene; I was hooked the whole way through.
All in all, this is a well-written, entertaining romp of a ride that takes us on a rollercoaster ride through several genres and keeps the readers guessing until the end. If you’re looking for something gripping, in the style of The Fire Sermon, then this is for you!
The Book of FIre does start as a fantasy. Talia and her family live in a forested community, hidden from the outside world by mountains and crags. A hundred years ago, the world was almost destroyed by a huge world war, and though nature is fast recovering, most of the population lives inside a massive white dome- the Isca Pantheon- built before the disaster to shelter civilians. As far as the citizens inside know, outside is a wasteland- and Talia shouldn’t exist. Now, something far more sinister is going on inside, and when Talia’s brother and grandfather are taken into the dome she follows.
I liked the way that Kenney blurred the lines between genres here. Though of course fantasy is a well-trodden genre, the way that she kept adding new details, making the inside of the Pantheon a high-tech paradise and then populating it with genetically modified humans and mythical beasts like Cerberus and cyclopes definitely made me look twice! Everything had a Roman flavour to it, which did jar slightly at the start but was a welcome, fresh take on the genre that kept me engaged and curious to see what the world of Isca Pantheon would throw at us next. Also, it’s set in the UK- Exeter, to be precise. Bonus points!
Talia herself was an engaging main character, too: feisty and determined, she’s likeable and surprisingly resourceful, throwing the world of the Pantheon into disorder. She’s almost too capable, but I liked that! The only thing I didn’t like was her love triangle with her childhood friend Max and newcomer August; that felt forced. Though Max is a fun, warm character, August seemed a little wooden, and his romance with Talia a little too strained, for me really to invest in it. Similarly, the villain of the piece, Octavia, was a bit one-note, generic ‘evil’, for me to really root against her in an Umbridge kind of way. Also, she was far too lenient towards August- he got away with some pretty eyebrow-raising treason. That was a shame, because all of the other supporting characters- Unus the Cyclops, and Aelia the doctor- were rounded, believable and interesting.
That said, though, the story is entertaining and breakneck: Talia and August tear up the Pantheon and take us from the upper classes to the ‘proles’, or genetically-modifed sub-classes, all the way to the dungeons. It was interesting and detailed- I would have liked to spend more time finding out how Isca Pantheon really worked and what it would be like to live there- and there are more plot twists than you can shake a stick at. Kenney really knows how to keep her readers interested, and how to write a great action scene; I was hooked the whole way through.
All in all, this is a well-written, entertaining romp of a ride that takes us on a rollercoaster ride through several genres and keeps the readers guessing until the end. If you’re looking for something gripping, in the style of The Fire Sermon, then this is for you!
January 19, 2022
I anticipated enjoying Book of Fire: feral people, a wild girl and hidden forests, what’s not to love. It’s all that, but it is also so much more.
The Great Holy War of 2025 left the UK enveloped in cataclysmic dust clouds. With cities in ruins and thousands of refugees, the government’s scientific team opened the Lifedome doors to give shelter. In the present day, the Lifedome is a landmark and the country is divided. Outsiders, like the protagonist Talia, are taught of the devastating effects of biochemical warfare, and of how humans in the Lifedome develop differently – an uncorroborated fact since no outsider has entered the Lifedome and returned. In this divided world, the forests outside (with hidden villages and communities) is a dangerous place: sweepers from the Lifedome regularly do the rounds to steal from the natural world. Insiders, who knows, except to suggest that they believe life outside should not be possible. But two worlds are set to collide when members of Talia’s family are taken in an unexpected forest raid.
I was hooked from the first line of this YA fantasy, and by the end of chapter one, fully invested in the characters. I adored the diverse cast: Talia’s strength, resilience and determination; her twin brother, Eli, deaf and mute from birth, he moves through the forest with gentle stealth that brings him close to the animal world; and their friend, Max, resourceful, and with abilities and skills that bring the village world to life. The world-building is well thought out and a feast for the senses, using a perfect blend of imagination, mythology and plausible scientific advances to describe a possible future dystopia. The backdrop unfolds with ease as the characters take us on a magical and dangerous ride through their forested world. I wanted to dive in and join them, run through the trees, take on the sweepers, and at the end of the day, curl up next to the resident snow leopard.
Danger heightens when Talia is forced to head out on the ultimate rescue mission. Her perspective, complete with coming-of-age firsts is perfectly captured, making for a complex, challenging, endearing protagonist whose personal journey sees the mysteries of this dystopian world unravel. There is fascinating depth built on a cocktail of fantasy, history, biology and brilliant invention. It is a place where monsters can be heroes and personal strengths can be found in the most unlikely places, where all of life’s imperfections merely enrich the world. The story is a rollercoaster of twists and turns that you think you should have seen coming, but you don’t. Leaving book one and heading straight into the sequel, we are sure of one thing: ‘Come what may, nature finds a way’.
Like all great fantasies, prepare to dive in, get lost, explore and discover in this colourful, extraordinary world. A wonderful read.
The Great Holy War of 2025 left the UK enveloped in cataclysmic dust clouds. With cities in ruins and thousands of refugees, the government’s scientific team opened the Lifedome doors to give shelter. In the present day, the Lifedome is a landmark and the country is divided. Outsiders, like the protagonist Talia, are taught of the devastating effects of biochemical warfare, and of how humans in the Lifedome develop differently – an uncorroborated fact since no outsider has entered the Lifedome and returned. In this divided world, the forests outside (with hidden villages and communities) is a dangerous place: sweepers from the Lifedome regularly do the rounds to steal from the natural world. Insiders, who knows, except to suggest that they believe life outside should not be possible. But two worlds are set to collide when members of Talia’s family are taken in an unexpected forest raid.
I was hooked from the first line of this YA fantasy, and by the end of chapter one, fully invested in the characters. I adored the diverse cast: Talia’s strength, resilience and determination; her twin brother, Eli, deaf and mute from birth, he moves through the forest with gentle stealth that brings him close to the animal world; and their friend, Max, resourceful, and with abilities and skills that bring the village world to life. The world-building is well thought out and a feast for the senses, using a perfect blend of imagination, mythology and plausible scientific advances to describe a possible future dystopia. The backdrop unfolds with ease as the characters take us on a magical and dangerous ride through their forested world. I wanted to dive in and join them, run through the trees, take on the sweepers, and at the end of the day, curl up next to the resident snow leopard.
Danger heightens when Talia is forced to head out on the ultimate rescue mission. Her perspective, complete with coming-of-age firsts is perfectly captured, making for a complex, challenging, endearing protagonist whose personal journey sees the mysteries of this dystopian world unravel. There is fascinating depth built on a cocktail of fantasy, history, biology and brilliant invention. It is a place where monsters can be heroes and personal strengths can be found in the most unlikely places, where all of life’s imperfections merely enrich the world. The story is a rollercoaster of twists and turns that you think you should have seen coming, but you don’t. Leaving book one and heading straight into the sequel, we are sure of one thing: ‘Come what may, nature finds a way’.
Like all great fantasies, prepare to dive in, get lost, explore and discover in this colourful, extraordinary world. A wonderful read.
February 19, 2019
I didn't know where this book would go when I started reading it: at first glance, it seemed like a traditional dystopia, with the world post-apocalypse, and the surviving humans split between the outsiders (who live in the forest) and those inside the Lifedome, a massive structure housing what is left of civilization. We follow Talia, an outsider, hunting and gathering for her family until the day her brother and grandfather are taken in a raid by those mysterious people inside the dome. And that's when every expectation I had got thrown out of the window, and my mind was blown.
Mild spoilers from here on out: if you don't want to know what society is like under the dome, and would rather find out for yourself, head on over and start reading the book now. If you don't mind having that spoiled for you, it's what I found the most compelling with the book, and I'm going to rave about how awesome it is.
The dome was built before the downfall of humanity in order to house massive strides in bioengineering. It's only logical that when the apocalypse came and mankind needed a place to ride it out, the elite got the better end of the deal, and the lower classes - let in by sheer pity and necessity for a labor force, à la Snowpiercer - got the sharp end of the stick. The new society is entirely ruled by the fundamentals of bioengineering, artificial selection, and genetic experimentation.
And the Roman empire. Because what cooler combination than modern day Romans trying to bring their myths back to life? If you enjoy Greek/Roman mythology, then you're going to see it come alive in marvelous, terrible ways. The author's abundant knowledge of Roman life and culture infuse the novel with a degree of realness that you can't help but be drawn in.
On top of the cool premise, we have Talia, a headstrong main character with a massive love for her family (she reminds me a little of Katniss in the way she deals with disaster) and a secret that could end mankind if it ends up in the wrong hands. With the help of a mysterious knight named August, and her lifelong friend Max, Talia battles the cruel realities of the dome and its vicious despot, Octavia as she tries to rescue her brother and grandfather.
While the love triangle felt a little forced, I'm 100% team Taugust (is that a thing? it should be a thing) though someone should really tell him calling a girl 'Feral Cat' all the time isn't as sweet as he thinks it is. Oh well.
This book is if The Isle of Doctor Moraux was crossed with Hunger Games but written by a Roman. It's exciting, fun, and brilliantly clever. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
Mild spoilers from here on out: if you don't want to know what society is like under the dome, and would rather find out for yourself, head on over and start reading the book now. If you don't mind having that spoiled for you, it's what I found the most compelling with the book, and I'm going to rave about how awesome it is.
The dome was built before the downfall of humanity in order to house massive strides in bioengineering. It's only logical that when the apocalypse came and mankind needed a place to ride it out, the elite got the better end of the deal, and the lower classes - let in by sheer pity and necessity for a labor force, à la Snowpiercer - got the sharp end of the stick. The new society is entirely ruled by the fundamentals of bioengineering, artificial selection, and genetic experimentation.
And the Roman empire. Because what cooler combination than modern day Romans trying to bring their myths back to life? If you enjoy Greek/Roman mythology, then you're going to see it come alive in marvelous, terrible ways. The author's abundant knowledge of Roman life and culture infuse the novel with a degree of realness that you can't help but be drawn in.
On top of the cool premise, we have Talia, a headstrong main character with a massive love for her family (she reminds me a little of Katniss in the way she deals with disaster) and a secret that could end mankind if it ends up in the wrong hands. With the help of a mysterious knight named August, and her lifelong friend Max, Talia battles the cruel realities of the dome and its vicious despot, Octavia as she tries to rescue her brother and grandfather.
While the love triangle felt a little forced, I'm 100% team Taugust (is that a thing? it should be a thing) though someone should really tell him calling a girl 'Feral Cat' all the time isn't as sweet as he thinks it is. Oh well.
This book is if The Isle of Doctor Moraux was crossed with Hunger Games but written by a Roman. It's exciting, fun, and brilliantly clever. I cannot wait to read the sequel!
August 13, 2017
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.
Book of Fire is a book set in the 22nd century. There are two ways of life, "inside" and "outside". Those who are outsiders should not exist. Talia is an outsider who loves her family, and will do anything to protect them, even if it means going "inside".
This was a fun read by Michelle Kenney. Going into this book I did not know much about it other than the description but I was intrigued. Whilst reading I found I was reminded of books like hunger games, divergent and twilight. This book is not that though. The world building was done with great detail, I was able to picture what I was reading and that made the experience that much greater. I found it hard to put the book down once I got past a certain page. My only qualm about the book is that there are a few words that are repeated so much that it started to get to me. I am not a grammar police by any means, but I started to dislike the word "dived" more and more by the end of the book.
I was not aware that this book was going to be one of three when I started it! A trilogy!! THANK ARAFEL! As I got closer to the end of the book, I was beginning to get angry, "there is no way this is ending here? Like this? NO this can't be....SO. MANY. QUESTIONS! Then I read the epilogue and saw that magical word, TRILOGY. YAY! Looking forward to reading more of this trilogy by Michelle Kenney.
Definitely Recommend
Book of Fire is a book set in the 22nd century. There are two ways of life, "inside" and "outside". Those who are outsiders should not exist. Talia is an outsider who loves her family, and will do anything to protect them, even if it means going "inside".
This was a fun read by Michelle Kenney. Going into this book I did not know much about it other than the description but I was intrigued. Whilst reading I found I was reminded of books like hunger games, divergent and twilight. This book is not that though. The world building was done with great detail, I was able to picture what I was reading and that made the experience that much greater. I found it hard to put the book down once I got past a certain page. My only qualm about the book is that there are a few words that are repeated so much that it started to get to me. I am not a grammar police by any means, but I started to dislike the word "dived" more and more by the end of the book.
I was not aware that this book was going to be one of three when I started it! A trilogy!! THANK ARAFEL! As I got closer to the end of the book, I was beginning to get angry, "there is no way this is ending here? Like this? NO this can't be....SO. MANY. QUESTIONS! Then I read the epilogue and saw that magical word, TRILOGY. YAY! Looking forward to reading more of this trilogy by Michelle Kenney.
Definitely Recommend
September 7, 2017
I requested an advanced copy for review purposes.
Rating: 3.5*
As the first book from HQ Digital, I was curious to see what they started off with. Furthermore, this book was discovered by Chloe Seager, author of EDITING EMMA but also an agent, and I wanted to see what I could expect from her in terms of findings in the future. I was pleasantly surprised that this first offering was a YA dystopian, as I love them so much, but they seem to have been largely relegated to self-publishing these days (bar a few exceptions). I was also not disappointed with HQ Digital and Chloe, as Book of Fire by Michelle Kenney was interesting, exciting, and even a little educational.
The book is set in the future after a nuclear war between the East and the West. How appropriate is the timing of this release??? Talia is an Outsider, living with her family in a village of treehouses. When some of her family members are taken by the Insiders (people living in the Lifedome, designed to protect people from the effects of the bombs dropped during the war), she follows them on a treacherous rescue mission. What she discovers shocks her…and me. Quite frankly, I was not expecting what was inside.
I really liked the surprises, especially when combined with the ties to history, mythology, and science. There was also a message behind the book about how dangerous it is to play god with nature. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love science, but one of my favourite areas of science is evolutionary science and seeing how animals have gradually adapted and evolved into what they are now. Trying to control the drivers of the natural world is mad and takes away a lot of the wonder and beauty there is out there.
The array of characters was intriguing, both physically and personality-wise. I would have liked a bit more on a few of them, especially Octavia, but otherwise, the variety kept me interested. I can’t really say much more without spoilers, though, which is why my review is super vague, sorry!
No book is perfect, and debuts often have a few flaws as the authors are still developing their skill and style. Book of Fire was no exception. There was a bit of insta-love that would have benefited with either toning down to just insta-lust (more believable) or extending the timeline. There was also a very predictable love triangle, as well as an unnecessary hint towards sexual abuse. Finally, there were some inconsistencies in the world-building, and some of the science didn’t quite make sense to me. However, like I said, this is Kenney’s debut, and I see plenty of potential in her writing for great books in the future.
Overall, a great start to what looks to be a series based on the ending (no sign on Goodreads yet of it having a sequel). The story ends satisfactorily (no cliffhanger!), so I’m eager to see what the next book holds, especially if it can clarify some of the questions I have left!
-----------------------
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.
Rating: 3.5*
As the first book from HQ Digital, I was curious to see what they started off with. Furthermore, this book was discovered by Chloe Seager, author of EDITING EMMA but also an agent, and I wanted to see what I could expect from her in terms of findings in the future. I was pleasantly surprised that this first offering was a YA dystopian, as I love them so much, but they seem to have been largely relegated to self-publishing these days (bar a few exceptions). I was also not disappointed with HQ Digital and Chloe, as Book of Fire by Michelle Kenney was interesting, exciting, and even a little educational.
The book is set in the future after a nuclear war between the East and the West. How appropriate is the timing of this release??? Talia is an Outsider, living with her family in a village of treehouses. When some of her family members are taken by the Insiders (people living in the Lifedome, designed to protect people from the effects of the bombs dropped during the war), she follows them on a treacherous rescue mission. What she discovers shocks her…and me. Quite frankly, I was not expecting what was inside.
I really liked the surprises, especially when combined with the ties to history, mythology, and science. There was also a message behind the book about how dangerous it is to play god with nature. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love science, but one of my favourite areas of science is evolutionary science and seeing how animals have gradually adapted and evolved into what they are now. Trying to control the drivers of the natural world is mad and takes away a lot of the wonder and beauty there is out there.
The array of characters was intriguing, both physically and personality-wise. I would have liked a bit more on a few of them, especially Octavia, but otherwise, the variety kept me interested. I can’t really say much more without spoilers, though, which is why my review is super vague, sorry!
No book is perfect, and debuts often have a few flaws as the authors are still developing their skill and style. Book of Fire was no exception. There was a bit of insta-love that would have benefited with either toning down to just insta-lust (more believable) or extending the timeline. There was also a very predictable love triangle, as well as an unnecessary hint towards sexual abuse. Finally, there were some inconsistencies in the world-building, and some of the science didn’t quite make sense to me. However, like I said, this is Kenney’s debut, and I see plenty of potential in her writing for great books in the future.
Overall, a great start to what looks to be a series based on the ending (no sign on Goodreads yet of it having a sequel). The story ends satisfactorily (no cliffhanger!), so I’m eager to see what the next book holds, especially if it can clarify some of the questions I have left!
-----------------------
See this review in its natural environment, Dani Reviews Things.
You can find me on Twitter and Instagram.
August 23, 2017
I was lucky enough to win a proof copy of this wonderful debut novel. I devoured it, I loved it, I want someone to wipe my memory so I can read it all over again. I felt like I was dipping into a world born from my childhood favourite sci-fi movies and books. From Logan’s Run to Mad Max, this book was what I always wanted.
The Characters
All characters are well rounded and being fully engaging. You care for them and you wish for the people of Arafel to remain safe. However, there are certain characters who take your heart straight away.
For the full review...
https://queensofgeekdom.com/2017/08/2...
The Characters
All characters are well rounded and being fully engaging. You care for them and you wish for the people of Arafel to remain safe. However, there are certain characters who take your heart straight away.
For the full review...
https://queensofgeekdom.com/2017/08/2...
May 25, 2020
Firstly, I read this in pretty much one sitting and finished it within 24hrs.
Yes, it’s dystopian, but that doesn’t begin to describe the scope of the world building Michelle Kennedy crafts in this epic beginning to her trilogy. And if YA books typically have you rolling your eyes at the painful teenage romance scenes, then welcome to the real world, my friends.
I dare you not to get a little bit hot under the collar for August AND Max. And you know what? I still can’t decide. Okay, August. But maybe Max... oh crap. Anyway, dystopia, romance, the Roman Empire, and a generous serving of mythology; what’s not to love?
Yes, it’s dystopian, but that doesn’t begin to describe the scope of the world building Michelle Kennedy crafts in this epic beginning to her trilogy. And if YA books typically have you rolling your eyes at the painful teenage romance scenes, then welcome to the real world, my friends.
I dare you not to get a little bit hot under the collar for August AND Max. And you know what? I still can’t decide. Okay, August. But maybe Max... oh crap. Anyway, dystopia, romance, the Roman Empire, and a generous serving of mythology; what’s not to love?
January 20, 2018
Written in a unique style, this fast paced thriller is full of wonderful prose that creates a rich world in the readers imagination. Bringing together roman history, mythological creatures and the all too important topic of genetic modification, the author weaves a fascinating tale of an alternate past and future. Unable to put the book down, I whipped through it in a couple of days. I will definitely be picking up the sequel.
November 26, 2017
I couldn’t put this book down.
Talia was a strong, stubborn character. And her love for her family was endearing. I loved her interactions with August and I can’t wait for the next book. It should be interesting to see how this goes based on the ending.
Talia was a strong, stubborn character. And her love for her family was endearing. I loved her interactions with August and I can’t wait for the next book. It should be interesting to see how this goes based on the ending.
August 5, 2017
Thank You Net Galley for the free ARC.
Talia lives outside the dome that allegedly saved humanity after a virus infected and killed the masses. The jungles have claimed back the cities and Talia and her people hunt and grow crops for survival. One day the sweepers catch her and her grandfather and she learns what the dome is really about.
Talia lives outside the dome that allegedly saved humanity after a virus infected and killed the masses. The jungles have claimed back the cities and Talia and her people hunt and grow crops for survival. One day the sweepers catch her and her grandfather and she learns what the dome is really about.
March 18, 2019
3.5 stars
I know we should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover of Book of Fire was the first thing that attracted me to this story. It's stunning and made me want to dive right into the story! I have read quite a few dystopian stories, but nothing like this one. This author created such an unique and intersting world.
Talia, our main character, lives with her family in Arafel. This place shouldn't exsist after the world as they knew it was destroyed. A life dome was created and according to the government, nothing can survive outside of it. Except they do!
Some unexpected events, force Talia to make some extreme decisions to help save her family. I loved how actionpacked this story was. I never knew what was going to happen next. Talia is so strong and I loved how determined she was! For being far away from home and by herself, she did well.
There is some typical YA romance in this book, but I loved that we weren't really ever sure who to trust! Normally it's rather predictable, but this author left me with many questions and I really wasn't sure if she should be with Max or August. I would've liked to have seen more of Arafel and maybe even get to know the characters a bit better before they were off to the dome. Her brother sounded really interesting as well as her family.
The life dome was so creative. I loved all the layers and details. And all the creatures and "monsters" she encounters while there. I don't think I've seen most of them in other books. This dome was so interesting and I really hope it's explored even more in the next story. This aspect was really amazing.
Near the ending things went a bit fast and maybe a bit too easy. It's hard to say what should've been done differently, because the book ends really open and nothing is really settled. I'm excited to dive in the second story and learn more about the theory this book is base on. Hopefully we see more of Arafel as well.
Michelle Kenney created a world that is so unique and diverse that really makes you want to read more. I can't wait to see what happens to these characters next. Taking aspects of things that could actually happen to our world and giving them a twist was definitely not something I was expecting!
I know we should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover of Book of Fire was the first thing that attracted me to this story. It's stunning and made me want to dive right into the story! I have read quite a few dystopian stories, but nothing like this one. This author created such an unique and intersting world.
Talia, our main character, lives with her family in Arafel. This place shouldn't exsist after the world as they knew it was destroyed. A life dome was created and according to the government, nothing can survive outside of it. Except they do!
Some unexpected events, force Talia to make some extreme decisions to help save her family. I loved how actionpacked this story was. I never knew what was going to happen next. Talia is so strong and I loved how determined she was! For being far away from home and by herself, she did well.
There is some typical YA romance in this book, but I loved that we weren't really ever sure who to trust! Normally it's rather predictable, but this author left me with many questions and I really wasn't sure if she should be with Max or August. I would've liked to have seen more of Arafel and maybe even get to know the characters a bit better before they were off to the dome. Her brother sounded really interesting as well as her family.
The life dome was so creative. I loved all the layers and details. And all the creatures and "monsters" she encounters while there. I don't think I've seen most of them in other books. This dome was so interesting and I really hope it's explored even more in the next story. This aspect was really amazing.
Near the ending things went a bit fast and maybe a bit too easy. It's hard to say what should've been done differently, because the book ends really open and nothing is really settled. I'm excited to dive in the second story and learn more about the theory this book is base on. Hopefully we see more of Arafel as well.
Michelle Kenney created a world that is so unique and diverse that really makes you want to read more. I can't wait to see what happens to these characters next. Taking aspects of things that could actually happen to our world and giving them a twist was definitely not something I was expecting!
April 7, 2018
This book was a bit of a slow starter for me. We gathered the basic idea that this is set in a dystopian future in England where some radiation disaster has destroyed life as we know it.
We follow Talia who lives outside the dome in the natural environment, her village trying to hide their existence from ‘the dome’. We find out that there has been some radiation disaster that destroyed cities, destroyed most water borne and air borne diseases and caused catastrophic climate change that made it possible for ex – zoo animals to become wild in England and live in the forest. People inside the dome apparently believe that outside the dome is contaminated and unsafe. This is all we really get of the backstory to how the world came to be how it is in this story, and I personally would like to know more. I’m sure more will be revealed later on in the series but I found myself getting a little bored as I really didn’t have much of an idea what was going on at first as nothing was really explained.
I wanted to know how the radiation was caused, how did all these humans and animals survive the huge climate change etc etc. Now, these answers may fully appear in later books as there were hints and nuggets of information about the past later on in the book, but the major focus of the plot actually took place inside the dome, so we got a huge amount of information about life inside the dome.
Talia ends up inside the dome with her friend Max, her brother and her grandfather. Her brother and grandfather are captured by ‘sweepers’, machines from the dome designed to collect samples from Outside. Max and Talia sneak into the dome to try and save Eli and Talia’s grandfather. Now, I really liked Eli as a character, he was good with animals and I presume he was deaf (the author described him as living in a world of silence and he signed with other characters..) however, he was barely in this book which was a shame!
I can’t go into too much detail about the dome without turning this review into spoiler central but basically it is based upon the Roman Empire. The leader inside the dome clearly has an obsession with the Roman Empire, believing it to be the best civilisation in history. This results in a huge amount of information being given about the names of different classes plus mythological creatures have been created (giving hints at a debate on the ethics of genetically modifying animals which was interesting). I found there was TOO MUCH information given here, there were so many Roman or Roman inspired names being used for this that I had to keep referring to the glossary, especially as there was a lot of futuristic technology discussed, I became so lost and a bit bored to be honest.
I found the plot to be a little lacking as this basically seemed to be the build up for the rest of the series. There was some information given about a bookthat will clearly become very important, but I can’t really recall many of the reasons why, which isn’t a good sign.
I also found there to be a lot of coincidences and lucky breaks for the characters. Some of it just felt a bit too coincidental and lucky and there is also the start of a love triangle that I am just not on board with, however, I know some people do love a love triangle!
Despite this, I can’t deny that the author has clearly thought their world building through and I did find the idea of basing a future civilisation on the Roman Empire, including the bringing back of mythological creatures. This is perfect for fans of Mythology or those interested in the Roman Empire. It’s also good if you are looking for a new dystopian series to get stuck in to.
Originally posted at:
https://thebookishfairyblog.wordpress...
We follow Talia who lives outside the dome in the natural environment, her village trying to hide their existence from ‘the dome’. We find out that there has been some radiation disaster that destroyed cities, destroyed most water borne and air borne diseases and caused catastrophic climate change that made it possible for ex – zoo animals to become wild in England and live in the forest. People inside the dome apparently believe that outside the dome is contaminated and unsafe. This is all we really get of the backstory to how the world came to be how it is in this story, and I personally would like to know more. I’m sure more will be revealed later on in the series but I found myself getting a little bored as I really didn’t have much of an idea what was going on at first as nothing was really explained.
I wanted to know how the radiation was caused, how did all these humans and animals survive the huge climate change etc etc. Now, these answers may fully appear in later books as there were hints and nuggets of information about the past later on in the book, but the major focus of the plot actually took place inside the dome, so we got a huge amount of information about life inside the dome.
Talia ends up inside the dome with her friend Max, her brother and her grandfather. Her brother and grandfather are captured by ‘sweepers’, machines from the dome designed to collect samples from Outside. Max and Talia sneak into the dome to try and save Eli and Talia’s grandfather. Now, I really liked Eli as a character, he was good with animals and I presume he was deaf (the author described him as living in a world of silence and he signed with other characters..) however, he was barely in this book which was a shame!
I can’t go into too much detail about the dome without turning this review into spoiler central but basically it is based upon the Roman Empire. The leader inside the dome clearly has an obsession with the Roman Empire, believing it to be the best civilisation in history. This results in a huge amount of information being given about the names of different classes plus mythological creatures have been created (giving hints at a debate on the ethics of genetically modifying animals which was interesting). I found there was TOO MUCH information given here, there were so many Roman or Roman inspired names being used for this that I had to keep referring to the glossary, especially as there was a lot of futuristic technology discussed, I became so lost and a bit bored to be honest.
I found the plot to be a little lacking as this basically seemed to be the build up for the rest of the series. There was some information given about a bookthat will clearly become very important, but I can’t really recall many of the reasons why, which isn’t a good sign.
I also found there to be a lot of coincidences and lucky breaks for the characters. Some of it just felt a bit too coincidental and lucky and there is also the start of a love triangle that I am just not on board with, however, I know some people do love a love triangle!
Despite this, I can’t deny that the author has clearly thought their world building through and I did find the idea of basing a future civilisation on the Roman Empire, including the bringing back of mythological creatures. This is perfect for fans of Mythology or those interested in the Roman Empire. It’s also good if you are looking for a new dystopian series to get stuck in to.
Originally posted at:
https://thebookishfairyblog.wordpress...
April 30, 2020
Imaginative World.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yes it was similar to Divergent and The Hunger Games but at the same time I feel like it's it's own masterpiece. Highly recommend reading if you enjoy those series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Yes it was similar to Divergent and The Hunger Games but at the same time I feel like it's it's own masterpiece. Highly recommend reading if you enjoy those series.
Read
November 14, 2021My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.
This was the first ARC I picked up after YALC and I wanted to love it.
I was so excited to read it and it sound right up my alley.
However I kind of only read 2 chapters over ten days, had no urge to return to picking it up, and when I did I noticed I kept reading the same bit over and over.
I don’t know why this happened because the writing itself was really good, the set up for the world was really interesting, and I loved the whole idea that these twins had grown up with one with nature.
The people living inside the dome provided a threat to the twins and their civilisation so I was really interested in what happened inside the dome. TO see their contrasts of living.
But alas that didn’t happen. There was nothing wrong I just couldn’t get into it.
So I did what any good book owner does and traded it to someone who was really looking forward to reading it! Every other review has certainly enjoyed it so you should definitely check out their reviews too.
[2.5 stars rounded up + physical arc traded]
This was the first ARC I picked up after YALC and I wanted to love it.
I was so excited to read it and it sound right up my alley.
However I kind of only read 2 chapters over ten days, had no urge to return to picking it up, and when I did I noticed I kept reading the same bit over and over.
I don’t know why this happened because the writing itself was really good, the set up for the world was really interesting, and I loved the whole idea that these twins had grown up with one with nature.
The people living inside the dome provided a threat to the twins and their civilisation so I was really interested in what happened inside the dome. TO see their contrasts of living.
But alas that didn’t happen. There was nothing wrong I just couldn’t get into it.
So I did what any good book owner does and traded it to someone who was really looking forward to reading it! Every other review has certainly enjoyed it so you should definitely check out their reviews too.
[2.5 stars rounded up + physical arc traded]
October 28, 2019
A copy of the title was generously given to me by the author
Firstly, I really like this cover.
So the book itself has its pros and cons. I noticed that it needed another eye or round of editing as there were multiple instances where the wrong tense of a word was used (i.e. everything was written in present tense and then there was a sudden past tense of a word used) which threw me off a few times.
I liked the general plot idea but I feel like this book really lacks structure and information. It's mentioned repeatedly that this is a new world. We've resorted back to some of our old human history but then we have a bunch of science updates but nothing is explained. You're just continuously like "oh...so is that doable in this world? Okay, I guess so." On that same thought, the characters don't have much growth or development. I spent 50% of the book being like "...but why is he helping her? This doesn't make sense" to the point it got frustrating by the end and I wasn't totally sure why I was supposed to like the good people and dislike the villains.
Firstly, I really like this cover.
So the book itself has its pros and cons. I noticed that it needed another eye or round of editing as there were multiple instances where the wrong tense of a word was used (i.e. everything was written in present tense and then there was a sudden past tense of a word used) which threw me off a few times.
I liked the general plot idea but I feel like this book really lacks structure and information. It's mentioned repeatedly that this is a new world. We've resorted back to some of our old human history but then we have a bunch of science updates but nothing is explained. You're just continuously like "oh...so is that doable in this world? Okay, I guess so." On that same thought, the characters don't have much growth or development. I spent 50% of the book being like "...but why is he helping her? This doesn't make sense" to the point it got frustrating by the end and I wasn't totally sure why I was supposed to like the good people and dislike the villains.
May 8, 2018
I'm so glad this book is over. The main character Talia was quite annoying and one-sided. Her predictable response to every situation was to lose her temper. The only character I actually liked was the cyclops.
August 8, 2019
You can find my Booktube review for this novel below, at
https://youtu.be/FLMY02BObb0
Kind regards,
April Grace O'Sullivan
https://youtu.be/FLMY02BObb0
Kind regards,
April Grace O'Sullivan
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews