I really liked this story. It was fairly fast paced with an interesting magic system and intriguing characters. I was pulled in from the start and had a hard time putting it down.

This was a solid YA fantasy story, not my favorite, but from a critical angle, good for the audience it’s intended for. Before I get into the book, this is a reminder that this book is NOT an #OwnVoices story, but it has South Asian characters and culture integrated within it. Usually when it comes to non POC writing POC stories it bothers me, however, Dana acknowledges this and alludes to the fact that her husband is South Asian, thus creating a story that her children can see themselves in. As a South Asian person myself in this situation I found the representation to be acceptable because it didn’t come off as cultural appropriation or knowing about POC struggles, but rather creating characters and showcasing South Asian culture in a subtle but kind way. I don’t think many if any authors can do this, but I think that Dana Swift did a pretty good job. I also appreciate that sometimes there has to be POC in books and no deep rooted reason as to explain why. Just seeing a brown character in a book would have made me happy as a kid and having Dana Swift write a YA fantasy with these characters is again something I appreciate.

Moving on to the actual book, I found the concept of this book really intriguing. I love a good YA fantasy with witches and wizards and this concept of controlling different colors that are linked to these Gods was just fascinating. My biggest problem as a reader with this book was the underdevelopment or rather not as thorough development of the magic system as I would have liked. There were many times in the book I was confused on terms, what spells were being cast, etc. I wish the world building had been in a more clear cut way rather than being muddled.

I found Adraa and Jatin’s characters to be relatable and funny at times. As I mentioned, for a younger audience I think this book would be perfect! I’d probably have rated this higher if I had read it when I was in middle or high school. Adraa was a fierce independent and strong headed woman and definitely got herself into trouble sometimes even with the best intentions. Jatin was a mix of arrogant and sweet which made the banter between the characters amusing. I don’t think that these two characters’ personalities were so much different than others I’ve read in books, so even though they were written well, I wasn’t a die hard fan of either.

I read this book in a lot of chunks so it was nice to just pick up and continue reading from where I left off. It gave me comfort read vibes which I really appreciated. With that being said, I did pick up and put this book down a lot because it was intriguing at times, but not so intriguing at others. I wanted to feel more invested in the book than I was.

However, I still think this is a book that so many people will enjoy and I still recommend you all check it out and see for yourself if you enjoy this world as much as I did. It’s a pretty cool world and concept trust me. I’ll be continuing on with this series because the ending although not a cliff hanger left me curious on where the story would eventually go from the end.

Characters: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Logic: 6/10
Enjoyment: 6/10

Rating: 6.71 or 4 stars (critically, maybe more of a 3.75)

**Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

“...she has no clue what lies between Jatin and me is not romance. It’s fierce competition.”

Oh, this gorgeous, wonderful book! Cast in Firelight is by far, the best debut novel I’ve read in a long, LONG time! There wasn’t a single about it that I didn’t like! Dana created such a lush, imaginative world, with a super cool magic system. The characters were perfect, the pacing was flawless, and the romance was adorable! The one thing I would have liked more of was the relationship between religion and magic! I would love to know more about the gods, but I have a feeling that will be touched on in subsequent books so I’m not upset it was not covered in depth here. I am DYING to read more about Adraa and Jatin, so if anyone needs me, I’ll be over here hugging my kindle while I wait for book 2!!

A fun rivals-lovers, unique magic system, exciting plot, and intriguing world. Unfortunately at times overshadowed by writing that at times sounded...young. Not saying it was bad writing by any means, just that the language, dialogue and inner thoughts often came off juvenile. At times the language felt out of place and too modern for the setting I felt we were supposed to be in. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book! It was a fun fast paced read that I believe fans of YA will enjoy. Also, what a stunning cover!

This is a really good book, and I'm eager to read the next book in the series. My one complaint is that more description could be used to really engage the reader into the story.

I’ve been afraid to start this one because I didn’t want the hype to let me down. Plus, the cover is amazing and I want to be able to stare at it’s beauty while it sits on my shelf. It did have it’s rocky moments but the pay off was worth it!

The book has two point-of-views: Adraa and Jatin. We are introduced to them from a young age and of their first encounter. It’s one that is awkward because of the arranged marriage that has been discussed between them. I can only recall one book I have read where it dealt with arranged marriage and it was good but this one was a bit different when it came to the characters feelings.

Adraa is courageous, strong, and doesn’t want anyone to view her as less because of her gender. From the first encounter she had with Jatin I knew I’d like her, haha. It was literally something I would do and can recall doing something similar in elementary school.

Jatin is strong in his powers but I don’t think he tries to show off. He is just genuinely him. This could be because he doesn’t feel like he has to prove anything. Even though he has his own PoV, I don’t think his development was as strong but where as Adraa sees him as cocky, we get to see the softer side of him.

From the beginning, I wasn’t sure where the relationship would go. Will they put their competitive nature aside to get along? Will one of them find someone else and call it off? What actually happened, I was not expecting!

Spoilers!
Mistaken identity is a glorious trope and I was here for it. One figures it out more quickly than the other but I’m glad there wasn’t a long and drawn out fight because of it. They realized their feelings outside of the arrangement and found love where they least expected it to be. You could say that the relationship moves rather quickly and Jatin was smitten from the beginning but I still enjoyed it all.

End of Spoilers!
The plot has magic, gods/goddesses, and cage fighting (those were some of my favorite scenes!). Books about goods/goddess always get on my tbr because I love mythology but I am also hesitant to start them because they can be hit or miss. Even though they don’t play a huge role until closer to the end, I liked what we got and I am hoping for more in the next book. The author also does a good job of creating a magic system that is exciting to read about. In ways it reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender but some of the people are able to control more than one type.

The pacing can be a bit slow at times but once it ramps up, it’s worth it. The last big cliffhanger had me hooked and I am so ready for the next book. Some of the smaller plot twists were easy to see coming but it didn’t stop me from immersing myself in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! Although it started off a bit slow, this book took me by surprise and the author creates an intriguing world full of magic and a romance you can’t help but swoon over.

4.5/5 stars - To Be Released November 2020.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

In Wickery, there are Touched and Untouched - those who have magical powers and those who do not. Some are blessed with one or two types of magic, but royal can control all nine. Adraa is destined to be the heir of Belwar. She is Touched, but only on one arm - an oddity in Wickery. At age eight, her parents arrange a marriage to Jatin, the heir of Naupure. Neither is happy about the situation. They grow up in different areas of the country and the only exchange is their love letters, which are actually letters boasting about their skills and try to best each other. Destined to be married but rivals at heart, Adraa and Jatin band together to expose a mystery that threatens all of Wickery. But there's a catch - both lie about their true identities when they accidentally meet upon Jatin's return from school.

Cast in Firelight creates a unique and magical world. There are nine gods, nine types of magic to conquer, and people are literally marked by their power on their arms. The book is told from both Adraa's and Jatin's perspectives which provides an entertaining look at the deception they try to hide from one another. A play of the enemies-to-lovers trope, the novel has a playful writing style that allows Adraa and Jatin to be relatable and feel as if you are hearing a story from a friend. The romance does not feel rushed but instead feels quite genuine. Cast in Firelight was a quick but super fun read and definitely in the top ten books I have read this year. The only thing that i felt was lacking (or almost forced) was the villain. Other than that, it is perfect for anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.

Alright, alright, alright… this novel is quite promising.

Secret identities, world-building, superb magic system, royal arranged marriages, steady semi slow-burn romance, and diverse characters. What more can a reader ask for? And despite the instant love *gag*, minor scenes between Adraa and Jatin that made me want to pull my hair out, and the somewhat slow pacing that made this a dragful read (maybe it’s just me?)—this was an incredible debut and a must read for 2020.

So will I read the sequel? Hell yeah. Adraa and Jatin, the hero and the villain of Belwar that choose to stand and be together, will rise again and I am more than ready to ride along and see where their journey takes us.

Adraas parents are planning an arranged marriage. I like the name Adraa. Adraas is nervous about meeting Jatin. I like the name Jatin. I thought Adraa could be smart mouthed. I couldn't get interested in the events.

I loved this book! The characters and world were so rich and vivid in my opinion. This was the kind of book that made me forget the real world from the first line. Highly recommend!

In Cast in Firelight, you will meet two royal heirs : Adraa and Jatin. Their first meeting happened when they were kids and Adraa ended up punching Jatin. It was pretty funny to say the least. Their parents clearly want them to like each other in order to have an alliance through marriage and at first, it's not really working.

In this world, there are many types of magic, each having a distinct color to them. When someone is able to do magic, their arms are marked with the "touch", marking them as witches/wizards. Adraa and Jatin are both very powerful but they each have their strengths and weaknesses. They've always competed with each other.

Years later after not seeing each other, Adraa has become friends with Jatin's father while Jatin was away and when Adraa see Jatin's guard wearing Jatin's clothes as a safety protocol, she mistakes him for the Prince she's supposed to marry. It was pretty fun to see them step around each other not knowing who they really are at first and then Jatin was trying to become her friend and more, that was cute too.

Overall, Cast in firelight is a pretty good YA Fantasy but I feel like this would be better as a standalone. While I was entertained, I never felt addicted while reading this book and even though it was an interesting story and I liked the characters, I wasn't very excited to pick this book up once I put it down. I'm not sure if I'll be hyped for the next book. I wish the plot would have been tied up at the end but nope, this will be stretched into two or maybe three books? Again, I'm not sure.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

I super wanted to love this because of the awesome premise, but the writing style is just not clicking. Wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished and rated it lowly. DNF.

A fun book! Had a conversation recently with my students about the ability of white people to write books about nonwhite people/cultures. Lloyd Alexander came up in the conversation. I don't think this book was really about nonwhite culture? It was the standard YA tropes but with a more diverse cast? I appreciated that. I really appreciated that.

I had really high hopes going into this book, which were kind of let down. I don’t know what went wrong, the writing was fine, and the plot was full of action. I more couldn’t connect or empathize with the characters.

This books has so much energy. The action is exciting, the magic is fantastic and the romance is steaming. The secret plots will keep readers guessing.

<b>What I liked:</b> Cast in Firelight was a total delight to read! From the cover and description I was expecting a YA sword and sorcery fantasy with a South Asian flair, but the best way I can describe Cast in Firelight is that it actually takes a bunch of fantasy tropes, throws them into a barrel, and then drop kicks the barrel down a hill.

And it still works! With a magic system that is easier to follow than the one from Grishaverse but a bit more elaborate than Avatar: The Last Airbender, and your "far off places, daring swordfights, magical spells, and a prince in disguise" (to quote Belle) the story suddenly goes full... Batman. It somehow manages to be a politically spun fantasy novel, an "they don't know it but they're destined to be together" romance, and...a superhero story. The heroes are earnest, determined, and good people.

<b>What I was meh on:</b> The hero's uncle, who is a significant character in the story, is named "Moolek." That was just one too many "o"s for me, and every time he was mentioned or showed up--including in otherwise serious scenes--I imagined a talking cow.

<b>How's the romance?:</b> Much sweeter than I expected! With these kinds of stories, and the rivalry that was set up from the very beginning, I expected a "snark back and forth and don't admit you actually like each other" frenemies dynamic. I was pleasantly surprised by how their acquaintance to friendship to romance progressed. Also, this is the only romance I have read with a scene where the hero is not at all squeamish about menstruation and actually acquits himself in being helpful. It's very sweet.

<b>Okay, but are there PoC</b> Although Cast in Firelight is not a #ownvoices story, Swift blends her fantasy world with some cultural elements borrowed from her adoptive family. There are aspects of the story that are profoundly American, distinctly South Asian, and/or prevalent in any fantasy world. Every character is a character of color. There are also some supporting characters in queer relationships.

<b>Bottom Line:</b> Imaginative, unpredictable, and fun! Although I won't have a solid opinion on the duology until both parts are published, at this point Cast in Firelight was one of the more enjoyable reads I've experienced in 2020 quarantine.

I really loved this book. The characters were amazing to read and I felt that I could feel the characters emotions spill off the pages and also felt the characters were real: as if I could reach out and touch them and know them. The story was amazing to follow, though I felt like the villian of the story could have been better fleshed out because we barely get to know them before the end of the book. This could be fixed in the second book as we will probably learn more about them I would hope. Overall, I would recommend this book and look forward to reading more about Aadra and Jatin in the next installment!

I was so excited for this book ever since the cover reveal; I mean, rivals to lovers? Royal heirs arranged to be married? This book seemed like I’d love it. Unfortunately, Cast in Firelight was a disappointing read, one that I found extremely wanting.

Adraa and Jatin are royal heirs of neighboring countries, having been betrothed to each other since they were young. However, over the past nine years, they’ve shared a secret rivalry hidden in coded love letters. Through a series of circumstances, they meet each other in the present day not knowing who the other is. They reluctantly partner up to discover a threat to both of their countries.

I honestly don’t know why I finished this book other than the need to see if I’d like any aspect of it. Unfortunately, that moment never came. Now that I’ve finished it, I couldn’t tell you something that I really enjoyed. However, I do want to emphasize that this review consists of my own opinions; please don’t let this hinder your own thoughts!

The writing reads as very modern if that makes sense? It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing except for the fact that it did a lot of telling and no showing. I mean, there was no development between any of the plot points or the characterizations; they’d go from not knowing something to immediately realizing it in a couple of sentences without any build-up. There was a serious disconnect between what’s depicted and the conclusions that are drawn. I’d be reading and thinking, where were we supposed to get this from?

So yeah, I just thought the plot was really random. Maybe I could’ve dealt with the mistaken identity between the two of them but it suddenly delved into the two protagonists becoming vigilantes? And undercover in an underground fighting ring? Yeah, I don’t know either. I guess this is vaguely mentioned in the summary, but I was really caught off guard by how we get there.

I wish I could’ve appreciated the rivals-to-lovers trope in a fantasy novel, but sadly, I couldn’t even get that. It was mostly hindered by the mistaken identity plot line, but really my issue was that Adraa and Jatin fall in love incredibly quickly, again with very little development. It’s just suddenly: wow, I love the other person. Again, we’re just told this but it doesn’t really feel like it.

What’s not necessarily an issue but something definitely worth pointing out is that the author is white while this book draws inspiration from her husband’s Indian culture. The author stated in her author’s note (which you can read here) that she wrote characters who don’t look like her because it would be representation for her future children, which I think was…interesting to bring up. She did say this is a blend of “both her worlds,” but I’m not entirely sure how to feel about this when it feels so heavily influenced by Indian culture.

I will say that this had no effect on my rating; I rated this two stars purely because I was bored out of my mind and couldn’t connect to the plot or the characters for the life of me. I also can’t speak to the representation in this book as I am not Indian or South Asian, but it’s something to keep in mind while reading. As of writing this review, I haven’t read many ownvoices reviews so I would like to boost any. If this is you, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d be okay with me linking to your review!

I did read a review that points out that the blurb for this review ONLY comps to authors of color, which I too find very strange. This isn’t on the author (as far as I know)! However, comping solely to authors of color who write stories based on their own culture when this book doesn’t fall in that category is honestly such a poor choice on the publisher’s part.

Cast in Firelight was honestly very disappointing for me. I definitely won’t be reading the sequel because I’m not invested in this series in any way. I wouldn’t say it was a bad book (just not for me at all) but I wouldn’t particularly recommend this book. However, this is just my personal preference! You may like Cast in Firelight if you enjoy mistaken identity, rivals-to-lovers, or worlds filled with magic.

I found this book to be pretty average in terms of world building, writing, and character development. While I think people who don't typically read fantasy may enjoy this book a little more, overall I just found it okay. It didn't capture my attention or blow me away, but I did find it mostly enjoyable.

Royal heirs that are betrothed, mistaken identities, wizards and witches, and beautiful world building, what more could you ask for. Adraa and Jatin are two royal heirs who are betrothed and have been competing with each other to be the best witch and wizard. But through mistaken identities these two grow to support and see who each other really are. This story has wonderful powerful characters and humor. I loved reading and learning about Adraa. Seeing her self doubt, strength and growth through the book was powerful. I could put it down.