Hey, everyone, and welcome to the first BRT of June 2018! Also, happy summer!
My summer’s been pretty low key so far, but I’ve already gotten a lot of reading in. I just stopped by the library yesterday, so hopefully that will produce some more material for these reviews. This particular book was one I got at the library a few weeks ago. It was recommended to my by Goodreads, and I was instantly hooked. One of the first books that I’ve really LOVE loved (not counting sequels) since…wow, maybe since Daughter of the Pirate King or Caraval. And I read those in April. Christ.
I hope you enjoy the review!
Firebug
The humans had the Mafia. But what about the others, those with supernatural powers or magical lineage? For them, there’s the Coterie. Led by Venus, the Coterie is responsible for killing others in the magical community who they deem dangerous or that threaten them. One of their best hitmen is Ava, who has the ability to start and control fires with her mind. And she’s only seventeen. After the death of her mother, Venus took Ava under her dangerous wing, and since then, the Coterie is all she’s ever known. And she hates it.
So when she receives her latest assignment-to kill a man who’s been a family friend for years-Ava knows she must rebel. Together with Lock, a half-dryad, and Ezra, a were-fox, Ava sets off on a journey to evade the Coterie once and for all, and put Venus in her place if they can.
My first thoughts before I read this book were that, OH MY GOD, IT’S TEEN LIZ SHERMAN!!!!
And upon reading the book, I found a lot more similarities between her and Ava beyond their powers. They shared a fierce loyalty to their friends (Ezra and Lock reminded me a little of Hellboy and Abe Sapien), a bit of stubbornness, and a desperation to feel like they belonged somewhere.
Now, the book itself blew me out of the water! I haven’t read something as witty, funny, and action packed as this book in a long time. I really enjoyed all of the characters (Besides Ava, Lock, and Ezra, I really enjoyed Cade and a few others), their clever banter, and the interesting set of powers many of them had. Also, the chapter names need some serious recognition, guys. These are, like, Rick Riordan-level chapter titles. (My personal favorite was “Ain’t no party like a Coterie party, ‘cause a Coterie party’s got a body count”.)
There is a sequel, which I will probably review later, but all I’ll say is that it was just as good as book 1.
I hope you have a wonderful day, and keep on reading!
The Bookish Mutant 