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peculiarb 's review for:
Incendiary
by Zoraida Córdova
This review can also be found on Bookstacked: https://bookstacked.com/reviews/book-reviews/incendiary-review-zoraida-cordova/
Actual rating 3.5/5
"Incendiary" by Zoraida Córdova starts out messy but moves past that to deliver a gripping story with echoes of Latin America’s own past.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I’m not a fan of the events that kick-start the plot, specifically the romance. In the first chapter Renata emphatically states she can’t act on her feelings for Dez, her commander, because of how this would impact the unit’s dynamics. However, a few chapters later she is sneaking off into the woods with him, where they all but proclaim their love for each other. In the time that passed there was no obvious development in her feelings, or an event to cement her decision. Their relationship felt rushed and her motivation slightly overblown.
Once the plot does kick off, Incendiary becomes much better. The writing becomes much more focused on the plot, with fewer info-dumpy passages and a good pace. While Renata’s stay at the palace isn’t the most action-packed part of the novel, her alertness and the constant underlying tension make it far from boring.
It also allows Córdova to develop Renata’s character alongside the secondary characters who appear throughout. Of those, Leo and Lady Nuria were my favourite because their loyalty was a question that kept me on my toes. However, I wish Córdova had developed the characters of Renata’s unit a bit more as they felt flat in comparison.
I also want to touch on Castian’s character because he surprised me the most. The prologue sets him up as a formidable villain but most of what we know about him, once Renata is in the palace, comes from local rumours and the rebels’ impressions of him. It’s impressive how present he is in the story all while he physically remains in the shadows.
Finally, I want to talk about the world. It’s incredibly rich and relies on an attention to detail. Beyond the fascinating magic system, there’s a lot of history and politics thrown in, which can become confusing at times. The information wasn’t overwhelming — Córdova creates links between events, places, and political events and/or figures — but it was a lot to remember.
Córdova’s skill with her characters were my favourite feature and I can’t wait to be reunited with them in the sequel to Incendiary!
Actual rating 3.5/5
"Incendiary" by Zoraida Córdova starts out messy but moves past that to deliver a gripping story with echoes of Latin America’s own past.
I have mixed feelings about this book because I’m not a fan of the events that kick-start the plot, specifically the romance. In the first chapter Renata emphatically states she can’t act on her feelings for Dez, her commander, because of how this would impact the unit’s dynamics. However, a few chapters later she is sneaking off into the woods with him, where they all but proclaim their love for each other. In the time that passed there was no obvious development in her feelings, or an event to cement her decision. Their relationship felt rushed and her motivation slightly overblown.
Once the plot does kick off, Incendiary becomes much better. The writing becomes much more focused on the plot, with fewer info-dumpy passages and a good pace. While Renata’s stay at the palace isn’t the most action-packed part of the novel, her alertness and the constant underlying tension make it far from boring.
It also allows Córdova to develop Renata’s character alongside the secondary characters who appear throughout. Of those, Leo and Lady Nuria were my favourite because their loyalty was a question that kept me on my toes. However, I wish Córdova had developed the characters of Renata’s unit a bit more as they felt flat in comparison.
I also want to touch on Castian’s character because he surprised me the most. The prologue sets him up as a formidable villain but most of what we know about him, once Renata is in the palace, comes from local rumours and the rebels’ impressions of him. It’s impressive how present he is in the story all while he physically remains in the shadows.
Finally, I want to talk about the world. It’s incredibly rich and relies on an attention to detail. Beyond the fascinating magic system, there’s a lot of history and politics thrown in, which can become confusing at times. The information wasn’t overwhelming — Córdova creates links between events, places, and political events and/or figures — but it was a lot to remember.
Córdova’s skill with her characters were my favourite feature and I can’t wait to be reunited with them in the sequel to Incendiary!