bookbriefs's profile picture

bookbriefs 's review for:

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott
5.0

**See this full review and more at http://bookbriefs.net**

Fire and Flood is intense and action packed. I could not put this book down. I gobbled it up in one sitting. The book takes place in multiple settings, first in a forest and then in a dessert. Each extreme in their own ways. Victoria Scott did such an excellent job bringing these awful conditions to life. The contestants in the Brimstone Bleed competition had to endure so much. Fire and Flood has a very mysterious vibe. The people behind the Brimstone Bleed and the competition itself is all shrouded in mystery. And then there are the pandoras, which are mysterious in and of themselves. I loved getting to know all of the different pandoras and seeing what they can do.

I have seen more than a few comparisons to the Hunger Games, and while I do see some similarities, I feel like Fire and Flood has a different focus than the Hunger Games. Yes, they are both dystopians and a majority of the book takes place in a competition like arena where the stakes are high enough for people to kill, but for me the main focus in Fire and Flood was aimed at uncovering the past of the Brimstone Bleed and discovering what secrets it held. In the Hunger Games everyone knew the history of the games and the focus was mostly on the capitol. I was so curious about the race itself, and I was super surprised at what we learned about it. It was a great plot development. Everyone that goes to the race is trying to win a cure for a loved one in their life. This was one thing that I was questioning while reading. Why was everyone convinced that this single "cure" would work for everyone. How could this brimstone bleed know just what every sick loved one would need. I asked myself that at least 5 times while reading. But that is the only hold up I had.

Not only is the Brimstone Bleed plot super interesting, but you also get a really great romance between Tella and Guy. Tella was pretty awesome all on her own though. She is laugh out loud funny and I adored her connection and love for the pandoras. (which kind of reminded me of pokemon)Each contestant gets their own pandora to help them out in the competition and they are all different. Fire and Flood is an awesome start to a series that I dying to continue. Victoria Scott rocks.