So, I was nervous after I learned this book wasn't OwnVoices. I can't speak to whether it accurately represented or the pieces it took from a different culture were accurate. I shall leave that to those who can speak to it. I will however, talk about this book in general terms. While I can see where India was pulled from in this book such as clothes or names, I feel that it doesn't play as much a part as I was expecting it to. In fact, this book would have functioned just as well without it. From what I understand she was incorporating a culture that her husband’s family welcomed her into. She has a note at the end of the book in those regards.

I didn't love the book. I liked it, I enjoyed it. I love the enemies to lovers trope, but I didn't love it here. I just wasn't a huge fan of how it was crafted in this book. It just felt like it was missing pieces or something wasn't connecting. In any case, I just wasn't all that into it in the long run. I think the romance would have worked a lot better if done slightly differently. There were aspects I thought that were unnecessary. This is more of a me thing, I think others may enjoy it? I’m trying to be vague so I don’t spoil anything, suffice to say, I think the “mystery” aspect of it annoyed me a little bit.

I wasn't in love with the writing either. I didn't really click or connect with it at the level I would have liked to. There were some pacing issues that made it more difficult, and some awkward dialogue and repetition, but it wasn't horrible. It wasn't for me I should say. It felt very flat overall in some areas.

I liked Jatin and Adraa individually, but as I said earlier, I didn't like their romance. There were some interesting facets to them, but overall I felt that they fell rather flat for me. Of them all, I liked Adraa the best, and I think she was fiery and fierce. I liked those aspects. There were moments in this book that I wish had been throughout the entire book, but I also wasn’t thrilled with some of the plot either.

Much of the plot is focused around the romance with another plot about firelight thrown in. And sometimes I felt they were not worked together or incorporated well. It just didn’t go down as palatably as I would have liked in a book. The plot is pretty typical, and I think it was fairly thought out just not for me.

I will say that I loved the magic system in this book. It was one of those standout parts for me! I really enjoyed how it was developed. I even liked the world building for it.

I feel like I struggled with this book overall, and this is why I think three stars is about appropriate for it.

I received an ARC via NetGalley. I want to thank the publisher and author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another noteworthy addition to the YA fantasy genre. This book had so many of the elements I look for in a good fantasy read; magic, political intrigue, mistaken identities and a swoon worthy romance. Also, I couldn't get enough of the banter between our two main characters, so much fun! Can't wait for book 2!

I was sold on this book from the minute I saw Charlie Bowater has illustrated the cover. As soon as I got around to diving into it I was happy that the story felt both like a real fantasy but with certain things that grounded me and made it feel even more realistic (which is saying a lot for a story that relies heavily on magic). The language of Wickery was so similar in a lot of ways to how we talk today, but there were small differences that really placed me in the world. Jatin and Adraa were some of the most compelling fantasy characters I've read in a while, and I really hate when the plot unravels with one conversation, Swift did a great job of telling us Jatin's fears and motivations for not telling Adraa the truth.

The magic in Wickery is incredibly interesting and complex. There was a deep mythology happening in this world that I'm hoping well get even more of in book two. The politics in this book could've very easily gotten out of hand, but they were doled out in small doses that lead directly to the big confrontation without us having to understand a fantastical magical political system.
Overall, I'm kinda in love with this powerful duo and what's happening in Wickery.

I REALLY enjoyed this! The first thing that stood out to me was the magic system which was fleshed out, wonderful, and pretty damn cool. A humorous, creative, and well-written debut set in an Indian-inspired world, and generally excellent book.

What a great read!

I so enjoyed this book, the magic, the characters, the pacing was all well done. I love the different gods and the powers and colors they go with. In case you were wondering, I'd want black powers. I thought the meeting between Adraa and Jutin as kids was hilarious and when they got older and both were lying about their identities, it was adorable. They were able to get to know each other without pressure of their royal titles or knowing they're engaged.

The plot about the missing firelight and the drug running could have been a bit more engaging, but I like how it brought Adraa and Jutin together. They made a cute couple and I loved him trying to change her mind about him. I also thought their magic was so cool and would love to know more about the gods and the different powers.

The ending was sweet and I'm definitely excited for the sequel so we can see how it all goes down!

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

**Review will be posted to publication date on 11/2/20**
Breakdown ~
My Attention: totally caught

World Building: India inspired with magic – so good

Writing Style: quick, easy read with romance and humor

Bringing the Heat: 🔥

Crazy in Love: slow burn, enemies to lovers

Creativity: I love the India inspired world with different gods that bestow certain magic powers

Mood: happy

Triggers: violence

My Takeaway: Be honest and keep trying.

I Liked:
*The world building is lush with the India inspired setting. I love the magic system where gods touch certain people with power, and they are then marked on their arms. There are different levels of power one acquires and they chant words/phrases to conjure up the magic.

*The story is told between two perspectives, Adraa and Jatin. Their first meeting doesn’t go as planned and it starts off a relationship between them that is competitive. I love these two as individuals and a couple. The enemies to lovers romance is perfect, with the competition between and the deception. I loved watching them befriend one another and ultimately fall in love. They compliment each other so well.

*Adraa as a soon-to-be Maharani has depth. She’s got magic, she’s has her challenges (she’s got a temper and can be impulsive), she cares about her people, and she’s an inventor. What can this girl not do? Well…she can’t conjure up white magic. Adraa also is an undercover agent and a cage caster (ring fighting but with magic!), she is bad ass This girl is ready to lead and not afraid to lead. She never gives up.

*I liked the mystery that forces Adraa to go undercover. It introduces so many aspects of the world building from Jatin and Adraa’s home towns to the seedier aspects of the cities where cage casting, drugs and the black markets exists. It gives these two characters on the verge of leading to know more about what’s going with their people.

*The mystery, action, humor and romances balances out so nicely in this book!

Random Notes:
The author reveals in her notes this is not an OwnVoices story. She mentions being in an interracial relationship and that the characters will look like her children. I think that’s awesome.

Final Thoughts:
Cast in Firelight is exciting, magical, funny, heartwarming and has wonderful world building. I was craving an enemies to lovers story and this was perfect! It had the right balance of humor, romance, action and magic. I look forward to reading more stories created in this world.

This book was amazing. I know for a fact that this will be an instant bestseller. It's one of those YA fantasies that is action packed with magic, mystery, and romance. I fell in love with the main characters so much. The author also set this up beautifully for a duology and I cannot wait for the next book!
Now onto the plot. The plot was very well thought out and had many twists and turns that kept me reading. I seriously could not put this book down. Each of the main characters were both very unique and different but they completed each other perfectly. Not only that but the book is full of POC characters which is amazing for expanding anyone's book palette. I did not see the ending coming and there were a couple of times were the author definitely tricked me into thinking something else was going on.
All in all, I absolutely loved this book and it is one of new favorites and one of the best fantasy books I've read in a long time.

Cast in Firelight is an action-packed, thrilling adventure! Heirs to their respective thrones, Adraa and Jatin have been betrothed since they were children. Growing up, they are fierce rivals, always trying to one-up each other, especially when it comes to their magical accomplishments. Now adults, Jatin’s return from school means their upcoming marriage and neither is happy about it. Their marriage will strengthen the union between the two kingdoms, but how will these rivals who barely know each other fare when their first and only meeting ended with a slap?

An unlikely meeting brings Adraa and Jatin together. However, they both assume different identities. Trying to unravel a dastardly plot in Adraa’s kingdom while maintaining their secrets proves difficult, especially when fight rings, stolen magic, fierce and murderous villains, and epic destruction is involved. Can Adraa and Jatin, future rulers of their kingdoms and secret vigilantes, work together to find Adraa’s missing firelight and figure out why it’s being stolen? Will they reveal their true identities, and how will they react to the secrets and lies?

There’s so much about this story that I enjoyed. The immersive world, the characters, the relationships, the love story, the cool magic, the mystery behind the missing firelight – there is a lot to love in this richly developed and action-packed story.

Something that I love to see in literature is the depiction of strong family connections. All too often in literature, parents and siblings are convenient additions or barely mentioned. However, in Cast in Firelight, the parents and Adraa’s sister play a pivotal role in the story. I love how this added to the plot and character development, especially in later parts of the story. The more Adraa and Jatin trusted their family, and the more they learned about the missing firelight, the more they realize how important, involved, and selfless their family members are.

Adraa is a fantastic protagonist! Independent, fierce, and selfless, Adraa is a fighter. She fights for what she believes in, she fights to define her role in society, and she fights for the rights of others. I love that she is fierce, loyal, creative, inventive, punishing, and calculating. She is dynamic and flawed and fascinating, as is Jatin.

Sent to school at a young age, Jatin feels like an outsider in his family. He longs for a stronger connection with his father but doesn’t know how and fears attaining it. He and Adraa are both searching for direction and purpose throughout the story. They go through incredible growth as they struggle to define themselves as heirs, leaders, lovers, and people. They are very similar in their quest to reconcile their royal roles and expectations with their wants and desires. Can a future Queen cage fight and solve mysteries? Can a future King? Adraa and Jatin struggle with their feelings as they strive to solve the problems of their kingdom.

The rich mythology and vivid world-building are immersive and unique. Inspired by Indian culture, the world is described so well that I felt like I was in the crowds at the fighting rings, and walking through the bustling streets of Adraa’s kingdom. I could feel the heat of the volcano as Adraa and Jatin tried to stop it. I loved the author’s writing, and it pulled me into the story from the first lines where we are introduced to a fierce young protagonist and a unique world of magic.

The door was made of ice – glowing blue, crystalized ice. And behind that door was my… I guess I should say my destiny, even though it sounded absurd. Meeting a boy who might be my husband one day should not qualify as destiny.

Now, as much as I love the other parts of the story, what I really want to talk about is the romance! I’m a sucker for a good romance, and I just loved this one! I wouldn’t say it’s an enemies-to-lovers romance. It’s more like a betrothed-to-enemies-to-rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance. From their first meeting and Adraa’s fiery slap, Adraa and Jatin had a fierce connection. I think it’s because Adraa is the first person to challenge Jatin as much as he challenges her.

The couple spends much of the story not even knowing each other’s true identity, which I think helped them to truly care for each other without all of the expectations. They come to respect, admire, and care for each other without knowing they are each other’s betrothed. It’s the best arranged marriage, almost as if the parents knew how well Adraa and Jatin would compliment each other. The banter between the pair is fabulous, and their slow-building romance is everything!

The messages about family, trusting others, finding love, and selflessness as well as the dynamic characters, vivid world-building, and action-packed plot make this an immersive and fascinating read. I can’t wait to read the next book in the duology and see what other adventures await Adraa and Jatin.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Random House Children's for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I saw that this book was enemies to lovers and involved royalty and I was instantly hooked!
I was a huge fan of the romance in this book so I just have to start off with talking about that. I loved the slow burn and all the build up of the tension and anticipation. The beginning of the story was sprinkled with just enough romance to keep things interesting but the second half is when things really heated up. I cannot wait to see how the relationship between Adraa and Jatin continues in the sequel!
Beyond the romance, this book was such a captivating fantasy! The world-building was excellent, the magical elements were so interesting and the politics were very intriguing. The author did an amazing job of crafting this first book in a duology and I'm so excited to see where things are taken in the next book!

5 Stars!

Big thank you to Random House Children's, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

My oh my! Where do I even begin...
I just want to say the first thing that really captured my eye was the beautiful cover, I immediately recognized Charlie Bowater's art, and this cover is absolutely gorgeous. Perhaps one of my favorite covers among books being published this year.

The synopsis also encapsulated almost much everything I love in a YA Fantasy book, and I started it with high expectations. I was not disappointed one bit! Interestingly enough this book reminded me a lot of The Crown's Game and the ACOTAR series, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The rich cultural aspects of this book really make it so special, along with the world-building and the way magic was written. The plot kept me on my feet pretty much the entire book too. I also like the perspective switches! I honestly haven't read many books that do it well (other than the Heroes of Olympus series of course haha) The cliff hanger killed me! I can't wait for the next book.

Next, the characters. Gosh I love literally each and every one of them (of course except the bad guys) but Adraa, Jatin, Priya, Riya, Kalyan, ahhh they're all so special and just beautifully written. The dynamics between the characters are a joy to read.

Now, the romance. I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers and this wasn't exactly enemies, but wow did I love it! Waiting for the two of them to realize (trying not to give too much away!) was frustratingly painful at times, I won't lie! And some decisions, definitely not what I would've done, but I love them regardless.

I don't have many complaints for this book, but I did have a little bit of a hard time keeping up with some of the fight scenes and the number system (even though it was painfully obvious I have no idea how I missed it, so that's on me)

I was having a pretty bad day and remembered to check my NetGalley, which thank goodness I did, because I literally read this book in one day!

All in all, I love the plot, magic, world, cultural background, characters, writing, and romance ;) I would definitely continue with the next book and might even pick this one up when it drops in stores!! I would recommend this book to all my YA Fantasy lovers out there, trust me, it's not one you want to miss out on!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m going to be completely honest here: there are two main reasons I requested this book. The first reason is the cover is absolutely gorgeous! Charlie Bowater is incredibly talented! The second reason was the whole concept of two unwilling participants in a politically arranged marriage accidentally meeting while using secret identities and working together. This book did not disappoint!
As children, Adraa and Jatin met for the first time as their parents planned to have them marry when they were older. The meeting was short and did not end well. They go several years without seeing each other, communicating only through letters that were used for their ongoing competition. However, the two eventually meet again, but they are completely unaware of the true identity of the other. When underground criminal activity threatens to harm their kingdoms, the two are forced to team up. The corruption and danger run even deeper than they expected and their lives are continually put in danger. The only way to survive and figure everything out is to trust each other—which is not easy when they both are lying about who they really are.
The premise of this book was very interesting. I loved the world-building, and the magic system was so intricate and fascinating. There were times where the action was lacking which left me somewhat bored. Fortunately, the whole last half of the book picked up speed! I loved the banter between Adraa and Jatin as well as the way they fought together. Their complicated relationship was quite amusing! The ending left me wanting more, so I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out in the sequel!
A few more things I’ll acknowledge: first of all, this is part enemies-to-lovers and part insta-love. It’s complicated. I know some people aren’t fans of insta-love so I thought I should mention it. Second, the chapter titles are great! I feel like chapter titles are underrated these days, but I thoroughly enjoyed the use of them in this book! This was an interesting YA fantasy read—make sure to grab a copy!

A really fun and interesting read. I had an enjoyable time reading this and it held my attention the entire way through that I finished it within the day!

Very funny, witty, and so quick to read. It was an easy book to enjoy, especially with such an underlining stream of humor, such as the titles for each chapter. It's going to be interesting to see where the story goes. I do think it lacked a little luster, more excitement, but it's without a doubt still an interesting read.

A fun, faced paced read filled with every trope I adore and it pulled them off perfectly.

“Cast in Firelight” begins with the slap heard round the world as Adraa meets Jatin and from that moment on the two are engaged in more than just marriage as they rival against each other to be the best at their craft and when the time comes for them to reunite both are more than a little hesitant and find themselves pulled into a plot to discredit the royal family and take power even if it means killing everyone who stands in the way.

I was so excited to read this because not only is it enemies to lovers but we also get this great back and forth banter between two people who are actively trying to get on each other’s nerves and I live and breathe that kind of content. The set up with their second meeting was well done as I was worried the mistaken identities wrinkle might be too weak to stand up against what it had established between the two but thankfully it was done in a way that not only made sense but was organic enough to allow you to suspend any disbelief that these two could make such a mistake.

Some of the plot stuff got a little jumbled as we worked through the mystery of who was behind stealing the firelight so that’s my only real critique but thankfully the dynamic between our two leads was able to carry it through to where we needed to go even if at times things were a little rough.

A great read that I’m sure will be a hit upon it’s release and with a cover like that how could you not want to explore what’s inside?

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Dana’s novel CAST IN THE FIRELIGHT is one of my anticipated reads of 2020! The characters are real, dynamic, and relatable. The prose is so well done. Her ability to magically maneuver her plot points. My favorite pet is her magic system—color magic meets deities. Her story made my heart sing for days. I was left wanting more! I was so upset when I finished the story. I need more!!!!!!!!!

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to have been approved for this book. Full disclosure, I’m writing this post in July (and it’s a November release). I read it as soon as I was approved – because it sounded that good.

Some Things I Liked

Indian influences. This is not an #OwnVoices book but I felt like an Own Voices reviewer here. In the acknowledgements, Dana Swift described that this book was inspired by her husband’s culture and the characters were written with her children in mind. That actually made the book even more special to me. I am half Indian and half American on my other’s side and I loved the idea that the author was able to learn so much about a new culture and describe it in such a magical way.
Secret vigilantes. Somehow, this book reminded me of Batman, in all the best ways. If you asked me to make a recipe for a perfect book, somehow, I’d try to add Batman vibes to the mix and Dana Swift did that here. I loved the secret crime fighting elements to the story.
Enemies to lovers. What’s not to love about that classic trope? And, it was so well done here.
Magic system. I loved that the magic system was described in colors. What a cool concept!

Series Value

I 👏 can’t 👏 wait 👏 for the next book in this series. Dana Swift, if you read this and want to send a copy of book 2 to a good home – hit me up!

I love this world, the magic, and these characters. There’s nothing I want more than more of their adventures.

Final Thoughts

Ok, ok, I’ll stop gushing about this book. But, seriously, it was amazing and it might be one of my favorite books of the year. Bear in mind, I read ACOMAF and HOEAB for the first time this year. This book tops both of those. These characters have unseated my beloved SJM favorites as favorite characters (and that’s insanely high praise from me).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena – if you enjoyed the Indian themes, try this June 2020 release.
Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar – again, if you liked the Indian influences, try this August 2020 release.

As much as I wanted to like this book, it definitely disappointed me. The rivals-to-lovers romance didn't hit that hard for me. Loved the cultural aspects and worldbuilding, but I just unfortunately could not get on board with the romance.

“Gods, how are you this manipulative?” He smiles at the weapon as he scrubs its hilt. “You’ve taught me a lot, Jatin.”
This book started off kind of slow but once it picked up, I really enjoyed it.

I’ve always enjoyed the “secret identities” storyline because Im always anxious to see how the big reveal will play out! It was wonderfully done in this book!

The world building and magic was awesome. But if you’re not a fan of “insta-love”, then this might not be the book for you. It was super quick, but it did happen pretty fast.

I really enjoyed Jatin and although there were a few times that Adraa made me want to scream, I still enjoyed her character and her humor.

After that cliffhanger, I am definitely ready for book two!

The writing is edgy and magical! I really enjoyed this book. It has the thrown together romance trope and I am all for it. This a fun ride of a fantasy and YA fantasy readers are going to eat it up!

A book that’s filled with magic and characters that can’t help but compete with each other. It’s interesting and intriguing and has fantastic worldbuilding!