We Are the Fire

by Sam Taylor Narrated by Eva Kaminsky

Overview

In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Pran and Oksana-both taken from their homeland at a young age-only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place. Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both. When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Pran and Oksana vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves. As electrifying as it is heartbreaking, Sam Taylor's explosive fantasy debut is perfect for fans of the legend of Spartacus and An Ember in the Ashes.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for We Are the Fire:

"At once brutal and tender, this heart-pounding debut will make you ponder what it means to be monstrous—and what it costs to be human." —Joanna Ruth Meyer, author of Echo North and Into the Heartless Wood

"Brutally monstrous and achingly human, We Are the Fire is a tale that is sprawling and intimate, beautiful and grotesque. Told at breakneck speed, the narrative is as unforgiving as its world, where love is dangerous, hope is fleeting, and the same fire that built the empire can tear it back down." —Nicki Pau Preto, author of Crown of Feathers

"Beautiful, haunting, and fierce, We Are the Fire is a riveting debut that will burn its way into your soul." —Kim Smejkal, author of Ink in the Blood

"A well-paced fantasy steeped in folklore and alchemy. Deeply developed characters and a sharply written plot give We Are the Fire a dramatic intensity that readers will fall in love with. Perfect for fans of Cursed by Thomas Wheeler." —B. R. Myers, author of Rogue Princess

"Set to fill the Ember in the Ashes-shaped void in your heart." —Culturess

"The character development is so robust and real: both Oksana and Pran are fully-fleshed out people who I love and who infuriate me at the same time. I haven't read such a dynamic relationship in a long time—where nothing is black and white, both sides are valid, and the heartache is so real. SO GOOD!!!" —Daisy, reader on SwoonReads.com

"WOW. ... The plot is fast-paced and exciting, and had me guessing 'HOLY CRAP WHAT’S GONNA HAPPEN HOW ARE THEY GONNA GET OUT OF THIS' until the end. It was a fantastic read, and I cannot recommend it enough!!" —LindsayLHess, reader on SwoonReads.com

"The writing is beautiful, and I love how much tension is packed in each chapter. I couldn't stop reading. It's one of those stories that has stayed with me long after reading it." —Kimberly, reader on SwoonReads.com

School Library Journal

12/18/2020

Gr 9 Up—Like the other recruits at the fort, brown-skinned Pran and white-skinned Oksana were stolen from their families as children and trained as soldiers to protect the Vesimaan Empire. All the recruits are given a serum that gives them the power of fire as part of their military training. This serum has caused Pran much physical pain. During his seven years at the fort, he has been aided by Oksana, and the two have fallen in love. Pran plans a rebellion to defeat the Commanders as he wants to help the recruits escape the cruelty forced upon them. Oksana wants the freedom to return home, but finds herself at the mercy of Rootare, the imperial alchemist whose serums give him immense power. This fantasy world is so gritty and dark that for much of the story, there is little hope of a better life for the young trainees. The violence may be disturbing to some readers, and the unremarkable writing and weak characterization do little to make up for the darkness. It is difficult to empathize with Pran when he finds himself with the disquieting choice of killing a traitor to his cause or letting the youngster be tortured at the hands of a Commander. VERDICT Pass on this for more appealing books in this genre like Sabaa Tahir's "An Ember in the Ashes" series.—Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Avondale, LA

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173034373
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	02/16/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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