Review #293

I rated this a 3.4/5 stars. I won’t be reading the sequel.

Here’s my live thoughts while reading:

So, Iris, a 17 year old employee glass blower seems to envy her twin sister, Malina’s skill. But I’m unsure exactly what their magic is, if it’s about flowers blooming or related to art and music and creation? They’re witches of a sort and have stay hidden/secret. Iris’s relationship with her mom seems a bit strained but she seems to long for that affection. So far the prose are absolutely delectable and paint a vivid picture.

I love that it’s set in Montenegro. Because this country as well as Croatia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Serbia & Albania are rare countries to read about in fantasy fiction. 

Other than Lina’s singing magic, she seems a bit two dimensional. Sometimes her reactions are a bit flat. Iris, the main character, has more depth but isn’t exactly fully likeable yet.

Who is this lady of many names?: Marzanna, More, Morena, Marzena, Morana, Mora, Marmora? 

The dreams and flashbacks are a bit confusing in chapter nine but it seems like the twins are trying to learn their gleam powers, who the other half of their family is in Japan and what Dunja, Sorai, and Naisha have to do with the attack on their mom?

I can’t tell which boy will be her true love interest. Luka?

Chapter 14 is good for friendship development but didn’t push the story forward at all. 

Their midnight swim was cute and felt very YA but the attraction felt too instantaneous so not fully believable. Also, it’s good that she’s forming a connection, but she’s simply prolonging her goal of figuring out what to do about her mom so the chapter didn’t drive momentum forward about what she’s trying to achieve. I also don’t know if I’m supposed to trust him or not. Is he the “bad boy” that I should be rooting for or will he betray them? 

At the half way point I was getting a bit bored. It’s like two different stories are happening so it’s a little frustrating that they’re not intersecting as much as I want for momentum. 

I’m not really a fan of immortal characters. What’s the point? 

I love the vivid sensory scents and sounds of this story but sometimes it feels like I’m on drugs trying to imagine it all.

The stanzas of songs were cool and the overall powers involving emotions. 

I ended up skimming more of the second half.

Here’s the blurb:

All the women in Iris and Malina’s family have the unique magical ability or “gleam” to manipulate beauty. Iris sees flowers as fractals and turns her kaleidoscope visions into glasswork, while Malina interprets moods as music. But their mother has strict rules to keep their gifts a secret, even in their secluded sea-side town. Iris and Malina are not allowed to share their magic with anyone, and above all, they are forbidden from falling in love. 

But when their mother is mysteriously attacked, the sisters will have to unearth the truth behind the quiet lives their mother has built for them. They will discover a wicked curse that haunts their family line—but will they find that the very magic that bonds them together is destined to tear them apart forever?

Wicked Like a Wildfire is the first in a two-book series. Readers will be rapt with anticipation for the sequel.