Do you ever read something and realize you've never had an original thought in your life? Yeah, that's me right now.

I think this is my third time reading Set Fire to the Gods, and this time, I actually have the sequel on standby, so I can finish the series this time. I didn't remember much about this book because it's been a few years, but the vibes remind me a bit of Jennifer Nielsen's Mark of the Thief with the gladiator fights and the mythology. It probably doesn't mean much because I'm binging as many books as possible at the moment, but I finished this in, like, three sittings...
In this world, wars are fought solely by champions chosen by the gods. Ash comes from a long line of gladiators, but when her mother dies in a fight, she decides that maybe it's time that to overthrow her god. Madoc doesn't have earth magic, but a rare other gift that may be more powerful than he expects, and he joins the war effort to save his sister. Although the rebellion plot is pretty typical for YA fantasy, I enjoyed the limited romance and, overall, just the dynamics between the characters. I somehow (for the third time) managed to miss the major plot twist, but I also think there isn't a ton of foreshadowing for it. Overall, it's a quick and enjoyable read and I'm excited to actually read the sequel this time.
Like I said, I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. Ignitus intrigues me because he's the god we get to see the most of, and his arc is quite unexpected. I also want to hear more about Elias because he definitely deserves a break, but I didn't really care for Tor much. As far as narrators go, I liked Madoc a little more just because of the mystery of his divinity, but I also liked Ash's arc and her fiery personality (pun intended).
Set Fire to the Gods is a YA fantasy story full of gladiator fights, the sparks of rebellion, and elemental magic and mythology.

4/5