Pyro

by A.G.M. Campbell

Senior year is supposed to be special, but for Melissa Curran it starts off with spontaneous combustion and the unexpected friendship of two foreign students, Willow Caldridge and his twin sister Cierra. Melissa stresses about keeping her fiery secret from the newcomers, but then she learns the secret they’ve been keeping: they’re elves from Parcia, a country that doesn’t even appear on maps.

Melissa knows she will never return to an ordinary life, especially after a traitorous murder in Parcia reveals a bloodthirsty enemy. Between the threat of a killer on the loose, Melissa’s growing feelings for Willow, and her new tendency to accidentally set things on fire, senior year is shaping up to be the toughest year yet—understatement! Melissa has to face perilous danger in defense of herself and her new friends.

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

About the author

Ever since childhood, A.G.M. Campbell has dreamed of fantastical worlds full of magic and supernatural creatures. All she has ever wanted is to write, overcoming injury and mental health struggles to pursue her lifelong dream of being a published author. Now she brings to life tales of magic, romance, and things that go bump in the night.

Campbell grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and has moved around the country quite a bit. She now resides in Louisville, Kentucky, with her twin kitties, Luna and Aurora, where she enjoys playing Dead by Daylight and The Sims incessantly, daydreaming about her characters, and consuming stories in every medium.

Reviews

[Donald Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of people are going to really like this book, I'm just not one of them. Good characters, multiple plots, some new and interesting concepts. But I'm just not a fan of shifting focus every chapter or two. For me the jumping perspective slows the read and is inherently frustrating.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to be biased when I'm reading a book my buddy wrote, although this is honestly very far from the genre I read.

Pyro is an easy, quick YA fantasy read that's got all the good hits - secret country, magic, ELVES, high school drama, a hot villain (*cough*), first love romance, school dance, a couple twists. You don't get bogged down with excessive worldbuilding, but enough that gets you intrigued - what are all the possible powers available, for example, and what would my Elemental Underground OC be like.

A big stand out for me is Campbell's humor and authentic voice - Melissa feels like a teenager for sure! I have questions for my friend but must see if book 2 (or the secret book 3 draft) answers my suspicions.

My buddy is cool and if this book hits any of your boxes, check it out! Help feed her adorable cats!!

[Llorona De Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Curran, a high school senior who is navigating all things ✨teen✨: SAT scores, applying to university, the part time job at her mom’s restaurant… Oh, and of course fiery spontaneous combustion and the unexpected friendship of the mysterious foreign students. I love a good coming of age story, and this debut definitely scratched my itch.🤌🏽 While the main character, Melissa is the focal point, we follow the points of view from multiple important, very diverse characters. Told in different settings around the globe, there is one thing always in the common denominator, the underground capital of the magical country of Parcia. I enjoyed not only the fantastical lore, but the way Campbell has such a knack for incorporating everyday teen issues. If you’re a fan of getting lost in magical moments, sweet and spicy romance, and teens finding themselves, PYRO is definitely for you!

[Molly Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I typically like YA fantasy, and this is right up that alley. I’m interested in what the books to follow have in store.