Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Waking Fire 

 

Author: Jean Louise 

 

Book Series: Waking Fire book 1 

 

Rating: 1/5 

 

Diversity: BIPOC themed characters 

 

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, zombies 

 

Publication Date: January 10, 2023 

 

Genre: YA Fantasy 

 

Age Relevance: 15+ (parental death, violence, language, blood gore, racism, death, war, child kidnapping, religion, etc) 

 

Explanation of Above: I DNF’d this read at 34% in. The following is what I observed in that percent: parental death mentioned and shown. Death in general and war. Child kidnapping and religious themes. Violence, blood gore, and strong language. Racism. 

 

Publisher: Inkyard Press 

 

Pages: 384 

 

Synopsis: Naira Khoum has only known life in Lagusa, a quiet village at the desert’s end. But to the rest of the world, Lagusa is a myth, its location shrouded in secrecy. While war rages to the north led by power-hungry Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi, Naira’s people live in peace. Until the impossible happens—Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress sent to do Sothpike’s bidding with a hoard of Dambi under her control. The Mistress is looking for something, and she’s willing to let her Dambi destroy Lagusa to get it. Desperate to protect her home, Naira convinces her twin brother Nez and handsome refugee Kal to join the newly formed resistance with her. Together, they’ll have to figure out what the Mistress wants—before there’s nothing left of Lagusa to save. 

 

Review: I had to dnf this book. I had actually been trying to get into and read this book since about January of last year and I had only made about 34% progress in it by the time that I decided to just give up. The book is just really all over the place and it's way too fast-paced for what I think that this book should be. The book also has very quick and very little world building. I know that doesn't make any sense, but what I mean by that is whatever world building that you do get in the book, because you don't get a lot in it, it's very quick. It's a very blink and you'll miss it kind of thing. And at the end of my journey and reading this book I just found myself getting really frustrated with not knowing what the hell was going on. I did have to read the synopsis and even that didn't help. So I just gave up. 

 

Verdict: It was not for me, but it might be for you!