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popthebutterfly 's review for:
Cast in Firelight
by Dana Swift
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disclaimer: I bought this e-book. Support your authors!
Book: Cast in Firelight
Author: Dana Swift
Book Series: Wickery Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: South Asian MCs and characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, South Asian inspired
Publication Date: January 19, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, mass death, drugs, animal butchering scene, slight sexual content, some fetishization, romance, religion)
Explanation of CWs: There is violence, mass death, and gore in this book. Drugs are not used in the book but are mentioned and are a plot point. There is one animal butchering scene and it’s graphic. There is some slight sexual content and some fetishization scenes shown. There is romance and the book heavily leans into religion (the religion is one that is set up in the book).
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.
Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.
Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.
Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross... and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.
Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I thought it was a well written book that utilized the old enemies to lovers/mistaken identity trope well. I loved the little competition between the MCs and it had a cute Swan Princess movie feel to it. The book was also South Asian inspired and starred South Asian characters, which I loved seeing. The character development was well done and the world building was as well.
However, there are concerns from own voice readers about the author and how she was chosen to write a story for South Asian readers instead of a South Asian writer. Some of the concerns also revolved around the incorrect terminology and how the author utilized the fetishization scene when that’s a problem that many South Asian women and children face in their day-to-day life. Their voices are valid and should be read in full. They can be found on Goodreads, so please review their concerns. The book also had some pacing issues and I felt like it slumped in the middle.
Verdict: It was ok, but please please please read the ownvoice readers comments on this book.
Book: Cast in Firelight
Author: Dana Swift
Book Series: Wickery Book 1
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: South Asian MCs and characters
Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, South Asian inspired
Publication Date: January 19, 2021
Genre: YA Fantasy
Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, mass death, drugs, animal butchering scene, slight sexual content, some fetishization, romance, religion)
Explanation of CWs: There is violence, mass death, and gore in this book. Drugs are not used in the book but are mentioned and are a plot point. There is one animal butchering scene and it’s graphic. There is some slight sexual content and some fetishization scenes shown. There is romance and the book heavily leans into religion (the religion is one that is set up in the book).
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 448
Synopsis: Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people.
Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child.
Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet.
Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross... and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead.
Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction.
Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I thought it was a well written book that utilized the old enemies to lovers/mistaken identity trope well. I loved the little competition between the MCs and it had a cute Swan Princess movie feel to it. The book was also South Asian inspired and starred South Asian characters, which I loved seeing. The character development was well done and the world building was as well.
However, there are concerns from own voice readers about the author and how she was chosen to write a story for South Asian readers instead of a South Asian writer. Some of the concerns also revolved around the incorrect terminology and how the author utilized the fetishization scene when that’s a problem that many South Asian women and children face in their day-to-day life. Their voices are valid and should be read in full. They can be found on Goodreads, so please review their concerns. The book also had some pacing issues and I felt like it slumped in the middle.
Verdict: It was ok, but please please please read the ownvoice readers comments on this book.