We Are the Fire - Hardcover

Taylor, Sam

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1250241421 ISBN 13: 9781250241429

Publisher: Swoon Reads, 2021

Synopsis

As electrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sam Taylor's explosive fantasy debut We Are the Fire is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and the legend of Spartacus.

All will burn.

In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure, and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Pran and Oksana―both taken from their homeland at a young age―only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place.

Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both.

When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Pran and Oksana vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves.

Praise for We Are the Fire:

"At once brutal and tender, this heart-pounding debut will make you ponder what it means to be monstrous―and what it costs to be human." ―Joanna Ruth Meyer, author of Echo North and Into the Heartless Wood

"Set to fill the Ember in the Ashes-shaped void in your heart." ―Culturess

About this title

About the Author

Sam Taylor grew up in Arizona's deserts and now lives among Connecticut's trees. She spends her days writing, being mom to the world's cutest kiddos, whirling through dance workouts, and baking too many cakes. She does not possess fire magic, but does have one fire-colored cat. We Are the Fire is her debut novel.

Reviews

Gr 9 Up—Like the other recruits at the fort, brown-skinned Pran and white-skinned Oksana were stolen from their families as children and trained as soldiers to protect the Vesimaan Empire. All the recruits are given a serum that gives them the power of fire as part of their military training. This serum has caused Pran much physical pain. During his seven years at the fort, he has been aided by Oksana, and the two have fallen in love. Pran plans a rebellion to defeat the Commanders as he wants to help the recruits escape the cruelty forced upon them. Oksana wants the freedom to return home, but finds herself at the mercy of Rootare, the imperial alchemist whose serums give him immense power. This fantasy world is so gritty and dark that for much of the story, there is little hope of a better life for the young trainees. The violence may be disturbing to some readers, and the unremarkable writing and weak characterization do little to make up for the darkness. It is difficult to empathize with Pran when he finds himself with the disquieting choice of killing a traitor to his cause or letting the youngster be tortured at the hands of a Commander. VERDICT Pass on this for more appealing books in this genre like Sabaa Tahir's "An Ember in the Ashes" series.—Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

Edition details

• Publisher: Swoon Reads
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1250241421
• ISBN 13: 9781250241429
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 416