Cast in Firelight felt like a book that was well developed and thought of in depth in the author's mind, but didn't really carry that over to the page and the execution just felt a little underwhelming. It seemed like it was going to be a complex and compelling world with dynamic main characters, but that just didn't quite come across for me.

My main issue was the world building. There were clearly supposed to be Indian influences, but it didn't feel inspired by Indian culture so much as the author had an idea of what she thought the inspiration was, but it didn't end up being anywhere near what the intention was. It felt a lot like a pick-and-mix, which unfortunately didn't work for me. Writing another culture's influence into a fantasy world doesn't often work. The magic system was a big component of the world, and it did seem intriguing. There was a color system and corresponding gods, with a guide at the beginning, that seem cool initially, but this didn't quite carry through and it ended up quite confusing. I feel like it would have been better if the magic had been developed from scratch instead of loosely modelled on chakra, because it really could have been interesting.

The main relationship was clearly supposed to be complicated and 'forbidden' for lack of a better word, but it lacked the spark necessary for me to find it compelling. This was partly due to the main characters, who didn't really click for me. I found them hard to root for, and while Adraa was an interesting character at the beginning, this didn't quite carry through the rest of the book and I didn't feel compelled to cheer the characters on. I also couldn't quite get the whole hidden identities plot element, which had potential but the execution made it seem like it was just there to keep the main relationship from being fully realised, which just didn't work for me.

I'm sure this book will find the readers that love it and that enjoy what I didn't, but it wasn't really for me. I found it an alright read while I was reading it, but nothing particularly stuck out for me, and it felt a little bit like eating something light and fluffy that doesn't make you feel any more full. There were some parts that felt clunky and could have been handled better, but overall, while I didn't hate it by any means, I also didn't love it.

This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a non spoiler review, because you as reader need to read this book. Also, I feel sometimes I have in the past gave away to much of the plot line. This has diminished the pleasure for would be readers

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift has a vast magical system, vigilantes, secret identities, enemies to lovers.
A captivating tale with an arranged marriage twist, makes for a fast paced enjoyable read.

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift is the first installment in the Wickery duology, a fantasy series about two young royals whose have been betrothed to each other from an early age. Unfortunately they are rivals that have never seemed to be able to able to get along. Corresponding to each other through letters, they come to the conclusion that they are not right for each other and A marriage would be disastrous undertaking. Because of there extensive time away from each other, they have no idea what each other looks like.

Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a neighboring kingdom that possesses more magic. He is a highly competitive wizard who’s mastered all nine colors of magic at an academy. Who has been gone from his home since a young child, who has been out of touch with the realities of what it takes to be ruler of a kingdom.

Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, she is a talented witch on the verge of taking her royal ceremony test. A bold girl who wants nothing more than her people to see her worth.

These two fiercely competitive love interests happen to come together under a series of events. Only their true identities have been withheld from each other.

The authors writing was superb, she kept the intricate magical system easy to comprehend. The characters are well developed and I enjoy to do more POV‘s between the two main characters. The unique magical system stands out with its i nine different elements that correspond to color /deities

This was a riveting addictive read. I loved the complex, color-based magical system, along with the diverse culture with two kingdoms.

CAST IN FIRELIGHT by Dana Swift is the story of young royal casters, arranged marriages, secrets identities along with enemies-to-lovers romance!

I thought this was an own voices book but it turns out the author is married to someone of South Asian descent, so I thought other readers and reviewers might want to know that.

I loved Adraa and Jatin as characters. The plot was fast paced. But the gods names were just so goofy I couldn’t get past it. Other than that it’s a solid YA fantasy that will appeal to readers of Bone Criers Moon and Throne of Glass

Cast in Firelight is one of the best fantasy books I've read within the last few months. It is an action packed, quick and easy read story with a hint of Indian culture. The author did a great job with world building and character development. I felt that I was able to easily understand what was happening. When the characters are casting, I was able to visualize it thanks to her vivid storytelling. It has a slow-burn, rivals to lovers romance that is woven into the larger plot. I enjoyed the banter between Adraa and Jatin and looked forward to the alternating chapters between their viewpoints. I look forward to continuing the story in the next book!

Thank you to TBR and Beyond Tours and author Dana Swift for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cast in Firelight definitely sets the tone perfectly at the beginning of the book. We learn that Adraa and Jatin are going to have an arranged marriage once they come of age and as this scene unfolds we get a perfect glimpse of each of the main character’s personalities that flow really well into the rest of the book. As far as MCs go, both of them were wonderful to read about. There were never any dull inner monologue moments that seemed to last forever and it was pretty nice being able to fully delve into their minds while they were on their journey to save their lands.

The story itself was deeply original and the magic system is definitely something that catches your attention in the book. Recently, I have read so many books with unique and different magic systems and Cast in Firelight is no different. The gods and their names were a nice touch to this creativity as well. As the story progresses author Dana Swift does an immaculate job of world-building without huge info dumps. All the information presented was relevant to our MCs and the situation they were currently in. The pacing of this book also allowed for long reading sessions that I low key did not want to end. I can definitely say that this series is going to bingeable whenever Swift has released all of the books and yes I will be reading them again when this happens.

Adraa has been betrothed to Jatin since she was a little girl to unite their two nations, which will be made official in just a few short months when she comes of age. To say she is reluctant is an understatement, instead she loathes Jatin and wants nothing more but to ignore him now that he has returned home from years away at school and continue her investigation into a darker problem with her people. Jatin is not thrilled with his upcoming wedding either, but is resigned to his duty- that is until a heroic and foolhardy woman saves a child at her own risk. Now both heirs have missions of their own, but their paths will cross sooner than they expected.

This review will be short and to the point because I finished the book a week ago and am still here fangirling over it. I don't really know what to say that will sound coherent except for the fact that this is currently my favorite book of 2021 (yes I am aware it is only January, but I read a LOT) and definitely in my favorite fantasies in general.

The world building was well developed and incredibly unique, introducing me to something I am not even a little bit familiar with, which instantly elevated this story to something remarkable to me since so many books blend together anymore. The magic was fantastic, described so well and detailed that I felt like I could see the characters performing all the types of magic. The romance was the perfect slow burn, enemies to lovers, secret identities- basically all my favorite romance tropes smooshed together to create the most romantic and sweet relationship (FYI romance was not the main focus of the story but it is always one of my favorite parts of a book and it was so well executed here). The plot was twisty, full of hidden dangers and court intrigue, as well as an underlying mystery. AND that brings me to my favorite part of the story- which completely surprised me since I did not know it was in here- the amazing battles and action! I mean seriously, the main character Adraa is a cage fighter, and cage fighting in this world involves fists and magic and was spectacular to read about.

Ok, enough fangirl rambling, just know I adored this story and will gladly throw my monies at the next book in the series as soon as it is available- yes this is a series, and no the ending did not really wrap anything up so anticipate no resolution. I want to force all YA fantasy fans to pick this up because it was something new, fun and exciting and completely worth the lack of sleep to keep reading.
PS make sure to read the author note to see her connection to the world and the culture to help understand her decision to write the book.

Cast in Firelight first drew my attention because of the cover. And then I read the synopsis and was completely sold. Cast in Firelight’s magic system reminds me of Avatar the Last Airbender, with different types of elemental magic and only rare individuals being able to wield all of the types. But this book also had secret identities and fight clubs.

Although the pacing was a bit off sometimes and the world-building could have been expanded, I mostly enjoyed this one. It was fun seeing how both the romance and the secret identities storyline played out. I also enjoyed seeing the main characters connect without the trappings of court.

If you’re a fan of YA fantasy, consider checking this one out. Also, I will note that this book isn’t own voices (despite the comp books being all own voices) and that the author’s note says that she wrote it for her children.

A very fun and magical read! It's so nice to see fantasies set outside of a fictional medieval Europe, populated with just a ton of white people. I wish the dialogue had been a little less American sounding - it kind of took me out of the book a few times. I think at times it felt a little juvenile, but I am maybe not 100% the target audience. Overall it was a fun read, and definitely a good addition to the YA fantasy canon.

Let's just take a moment to stare at this absolutely stunning cover, as it is completely swoon worthy!

I'm just going to come out and say it, you need to read this book! From the very first chapter I was instantly sucked into this magical world the author built. The characters were interesting, the world building was richly detailed, the magic system was unique and the of course, the romance! There were so many different elements in this book that I honestly was impressed by how well Dana wove them together in a seamless manor that didn’t leave the reader absolutely confused. You have an arranged marriage, mistaken identities, an underground drug ring, and so much more to look forward to with this book.

If you are looking for a story filled with magic, romance, adventure, a strong female character, or just some witty banter than I highly recommend this book! I cannot wait for the next installment to see what comes next.

Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift was my first read of 2021 and I'm so glad it was! With an amazingly unique magic system, characters you can't help but fall in love with, and twists and turns that keep the action coming, I can't wait to purchase a physical copy of this book for my collection. I love a good ratio of action, magic, and romance and Dana Swift hit the nail on the head. I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author!

REVIEW: Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift

Plot: Adraa, the royal heir of Belwar, and Jatin, the royal heir of Naupure, have been known almost their whole lives they were arranged to be married and unite two of Wickery’s most powerful kingdoms. After a disastrous first meeting, the two kept up and fierce rivalry from a distance through letters. However, they meet again almost a decade later under two hidden identities that make the perfect team in unraveling a hidden crime scheme that may be larger than the entire kingdom. They begin to trust each other, and develop feelings they must repress knowing they are secretly betrothed already while working to save all of Wickery.

My thoughts: Firstly I want to say I was surprised to discover after finishing the book set in a South Asian setting through the authors note that this story is not #OwnVoices. The author explains she created the characters with the idea that her children would be able to see themselves in the story, and I respect that, but feel the need to disclaim it regarding the representation. I cannot comment on the accuracy or handling of the representation myself and I HIGHLY suggest you read the reviews of South Asian reviewers before reading the book! This is highly important to hold the story accountable, and I do not agree with the publishers marketing strategy here. With that being said I did really enjoy this novel. I thought the magic system was unique to any I’ve previously read, and still easy to grasp. I immensely enjoyed the dynamic of Adraa and Jatin’s rivalry, especially when they were interacting without knowing it. Their banter and bond was so good. I thought the author wrote fight scenes very authentically and it really kept the story high in energy and tension. The development of how they infiltrated the crime ring in Belwar was so interesting and engaging. I remember thinking while reading that I hadn’t felt this invested in a romantic fantasy plot in a LONG time. The pacing was really good as well, and the ending while open for more to come, left me satisfied and hopeful.

RATING: ★★★★.5/5

***Thank you to the author and TBRBeyondTours for providing my eARC to participate in the tour. Check out their website for the rest of the tour schedule and giveaway info!!!! All opinions are my own.

This book took me by storm and blew me away! The dynamic between the two betrothed was addicting to read and I adored watching the growth of the characters. It was interesting to see the gods bless and give abilities to individuals and at times they end up being pawns in something greater. I am so excited for the sequel to come.

Cast in Firelight is a book that I stumbled upon by chance and I am so glad that I did. I hadn't heard of this book at all, but when I saw it and read the blurb and discovered that there were 9 types of color magic I knew I would probably enjoy this book. It grabbed my attention instantly and I found myself absolutely loving this story and these characters. I am so impressed that this is a debut novel and am psyched that it is going to be a series. Cast in Firelight is a read that you won't want to miss!

I really loved these characters. Adraa and Jatin's romance was so much fun to read about and I couldn't help but root for them. Adraa is determined to hate her fiance Jatin when she meets him, but they meet when they are both pretending to be different people. They wind up having the opportunity to get to know each other without the pressure of their titles. Their romance was flirty, fun and full of sarcasm and banter. It is a slow burn romance that was written the best way and it really felt like true love, not just a lusty attraction like in most books lately.

This world felt so incredibly unique. I am a sucker for an interesting magic system and the one built in this book was amazing. There were 9 gods, each represented by a color and a power. People could have all 9 powers, or a few, or even none at all. Those who had multiple colors of magic have one color that they specialize in, The politics around the magic in different countries were fascinating and I believe that the sequel will expand upon how different beliefs about magic can be divisive.

The plot was amazing. While the romance is at the center of the book it never took away from the plot. Cast in Firelight was action packed and had so much going for it. There were undercover missions and a classic fight against evil. There was so much packed into this novel that I never wanted to set it down. It was hard for me to find a lull in the action just so I could get some sleep.

I can't believe that Cast in Firelight is a debut because it was just so incredible. It had all the makings of an amazing fantasy, there were characters that you rooted for and were incredibly well developed, a unique magic system that was incredibly fascinating and a plot that kept me flipping the pages late into the night. Cast in Firelight deserves all the hype and I can't wait for others to read it. I am so excited that this is going to be a series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. Dana Swift is an incredible new voice in the YA fantasy scene and I expect great things from anything she writes.

Como vocês já sabem, essa resenha é em parceria com a Random House Internacional, de quem recebemos esse eARC (Advance reading copy: algo como “uma cópia de leitura avançada, ou seja, o livro ainda pode sofrer alterações antes de ser publicado). Também lembrando que essa resenha terá um formato diferente: por ser um ARC, não haverão quotes, já como os livros podem sofrer mudanças em seu texto antes de serem comercializados. Gostaríamos de agradecer profundamente a Editora pela oportunidade de parceria.

Assim que li essa sinopse, eu quis ler “Cast in Firelight”, 1º livro de uma duologia. Há esse movimento dentro dos livros Young Adults que eu simplesmente adoro e faço questão de dar total apoio: a diversidade da cultura. Enquanto no começo muito se vira de cultura Europeia e norte-americana, agora os livros de fantasia YA trazem outras influências em suas páginas, o que, para mim, é algo a se reverenciar. Sempre que vejo qualquer livro de fantasia com elementos de outras culturas, corro para ler porque é meu jeito de viajar o mundo dentro de um dos meus gêneros literários favoritos.

“Cast in Firelight” é inspirado na cultura indiana com diversos outros elementos, criando um universo de magia simplesmente delicioso de se ler sobre. Preciso deixar isso muito, muito claro porque é mesmo o ponto forte do livro: pra mim, se você vai falar sobre magia, você precisa construir suas regras e deixá-las claras para o leitor, e a autora aqui consegue isso maravilhosamente bem. De cara entendemos que os agraciados com magia são mais raros no reino de Belwar, fazendo Adraa ser uma das poucas bruxas. Já no reino de Naupure, do qual Jatin é o herdeiro, a magia corre mais forte. Entre os dois reinos, os que tem magia tem uma marca em suas mãos, e Adraa, incrivelmente, tem somente em uma mão.

Os pais de ambos decidem que um casamento entre os dois seria de ótima valia para os reinos e, ainda criança, os apresentam – e aqui temos o começo do livro em uma introdução deliciosa demais de ler. Adraa é uma garotinha com muita, muita personalidade e já mostra desde sempre que não vai aceitar nada do tão metido e convencido Jatin. É um começo que fica claro que os dois vão naquele relacionamento de gato e rato até se casarem, só que o livro ai tem um salto de 8 anos, já trazendo os personagens adolescentes para o começo real da trama.

Levados por motivos diversos, Adraa encontra Jatin, mas vê o guarda dele usando suas roupas (para segurança do herdeiro) e acredita que o outro é Jatin, que não reconhece Adraa. Cada um mentindo sobre sua identidade enquanto um mal maior começa a surgir, os dois precisam, cada um dentro do seu disfarce, juntarem seus poderes para poder conter esse mal maior, que pode estar muito mais próximo deles do que pensam.

Pra começar, eu quero falar, mais uma vez, da construção da magia e do universo que a autora criou aqui: baseada em cores e em Deuses, cada um dos elementos é capaz de dar “poderes” aos seus usuários, além de invocar outros elementos também. Toda ambientação do livro é magnífica porque lembra e muito templos hindus, tudo bastante perfeito e que te transporta para o mundo de Wickery. Todas as cenas de magia são bem escritas e te prendem, exatamente como eu pensei. Mas… sim, tem um mas gigantesco aqui: o romance.

Adraa sozinha funciona muito, muito bem. Ela é o tipo de mocinha que amamos: forte, corajosa, com um intenso senso de justiça e capacidade de não desistir nunca, pecando por ser um pouquinho teimosa demais e que domina a maior parte dos ponto de vistas do livro (que tem o ponto de vista dos dois, mas Adraa tem mais alguns do que Jatin). Jatin também funciona muito, muito bem – em parte mimado, em parte inseguro, em parte convencido, em parte inseguro, ele é o tipo de mocinho que te faz torcer por ele, principalmente porque ele é o que se apaixona antes e começa a tentar lutar pela garota que ele acredita ser a certa pra ele.

E aonde está o problema, você se pergunta? No romance. O romance passou um pouco do ponto nessa trama de gato-e-rato que somos jogados entre os dois. Pela sinopse sabemos que um engana o outro dizendo ser outra pessoa, e é assim que eles começam a se apaixonar por quem deveriam sem saber. O problema é o tamanho e a insistência nessa trama. Talvez, se ela tivesse terminado antes, eu teria shippado mais o casal porque eles tem química, eles fazem o leitor querer os dois juntos, mas… faltou algo que eu não soube precisar. Pareceu tudo grande demais para ficar preso em um romance que poderia ter sido bem facilmente resolvido se eles conversassem.

O que eu quero deixar claro é que “Cast in Firelight” é um livro delicioso de se ler, uma fantasia rápida e leve, mas que se perde em criar um mundo tão intenso e grande com base em um romance que sabemos claramente aonde vai terminar. Não pude deixar de sentir uma certa decepção quando terminei de ler, mas não deixo de torcer para o livro chegar no Brasil e vocês lerem mais sobre a magia de Wickery e como tudo lá funciona. É um livro que merece ser lido e ter seus rumos corrigidos para sua continuação, a qual certamente eu lerei e espero que seja invocada a magia do romance no ponto certo.

Thanks for the free book, Penguin Random House International.

I really loved this so much! The characters were amazing, and the plot kept my attention. I also LOVED the magic system! It was so cool and well developed! I cannot wait to see more from this world. Absolutely highly recommend, especially to those that love magic - and the complication of secret identities!

I am very sad to review this book, and I actually put it off so many times because it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2021 and I was over the moon when I got my hand on an ARC at the end of last year.
Sadly, while the idea was interesting and the characters pretty fun (I ended up laughing out loud at this one more than once) the flaws overtook my joy.
First of all, was the overwhelming telling not showing. There were many instances in which we were spoon-fed feelings and experiences, I saw many debut authors doing this mistake and I feel like they don´t trust the readers to get those feelings from the action and feel the need to spell them out.
Second, the world and magic were highly underdeveloped. I had no idea what was going on, Adraa and Jatin were part of different kingdoms (maybe?!) but one could easily fly from one palace to the other.
I did found the main characters very fun and likable, the bickering was enjoyable and all the shenanigans that came with the mistaken identities were exactly what I expected.
Adraa was probably my favorite character, she´s a strong females character that knows what she wants and she´s not afraid to take it. the only problem I had with her was that I did found the language she was using weirdly modern at times.
One last thing that didn`t really make sense were moments in which the characters will realize something, or know something with no clues. One of the instances was when Jatin speaks with a guy and with no prior knowledge he just realizes "yeah, this must be X". Like how?? There were no hints, no info. I, as the reader with way more knowledge of the situation, had no idea who that was.
Overall the book was ok, I had fun reading it and will probably read the sequel, but the low rating is due to the obscene amount of times I rolled my eyes in frustration during this read.

Excellent! I loved this! This is a perfect fit for me as a reader - great characters, sassy back and and forth, magic, secret identities, etc. Perfect!

I loved the characters in this. Adraa and Jatin, alone, are fantastic and fascinating. Together, they make the other person better, they are a great complement to each other.

The crimes and issues they end up investigating take some interesting turns. I didn't want to put the book down at all, but especially during the last quarter. There's no cliffhanger per se, but there are plenty of things that still need resolution. The author really just gets us to a ledge where we can breathe as we wait for book two which will likely launch these characters, and readers, into a non-stop adventure. And I can't wait!

This book was so good! I buddy read it which was perfect because I could savor every chapter!

Adraa was such a great MC. She is no nonsense and when she puts her mind to something she goes for it! She's very independent and doesn't let anyone push her around. When she finds out what is happening to her Firelight she doesn't hesitate to get to the bottom of it and if she has to drag her betrothed husbands guard around with her than she's going to! She was such a fun character and I enjoyed how feisty she was. I can't wait to see how her story continues to develop in the next book!

Jatin. Goodness he's a hunk. He's also a perfect match for Adraa's fiery (pun intended) personality. The longer he kept his identity from Adraa the harder it was for me because I just wanted to blurt out to her that he is her betrothed! I thought his character really brought balance to Adraa. He really supported her. He was there to protect her but I think he quickly realized that she was capable of taking care of herself and that became something he really admired about her. I can't wait to see how their relationship grows in the next book!

If you're looking for a fast-paced adventure than I definitely recommend Cast in Firelight!

What attracted me to this new series was the witch magic system surrounding the central plot. Witches are really hot right now in the genre, but I think I've been gravitating towards these stories since Deborah Harkness' All Souls trilogy. I'm also a big fan of standalone fantasies and duologies as opposed to trilogies so the fact that we are not subjected to a three book series that drags out over a period of many years is another plus. Many times, much in these series is unnecessary filler that begins to drag, making my interest taper off. While there were some slower paced sections in this book, for the most part I enjoyed the introduction to the world and the original storyline.

Adraa is the heir of Belwar who has been gifted with "the touch" a small marking on her skin that indicates that she has born magic ability. However, to her shame, she is unlike all other known magic users because she is marked on one arm instead of two. This is almost seen as a disfigurement-it's something unnatural that she feels self conscious enough about to hide. Right off the bat, you wonder what makes her different. Will this difference prove to be a source of great power rather than a disadvantage? Sometimes our differences are what makes us stronger, which is a wonderful theme to explore here. After a disastrous (but funny) first meeting with Prince Jatin as children, the two begin a fierce rivalry with one another that reaches into young adulthood. Adraa's feelings of inadequacy over her slow mastery of magic pushes her to "best" him at every possible opportunity. While their families believe they write love letters to each other from afar, they're actually taunting one another in their secret game of one-upmanship.

Adraa and Jatin meet again in unusual circumstances as their long awaited wedding looms. They meet under the guise of mistaken identities which allows them to see past the antagonism built in over their competitive relationship. Of course, this creates a forbidden romance feeling since they are attracted to one another despite believing they are engaged to someone else. The irony is that they are falling for their fiancé which is pretty amusing at times. I was wondering if either would "cheat" before their true identities came to light and I think that would have tarnished my respect for the characters if it had happened. Thankfully, we see them battle their conscience quite a bit as they work through everything they're feeling.

I enjoyed the magic system with the nine gods, the colors, and affinities. It was interesting to see how Adraa's abilities manifested in such a unique way, and how it created a source of power that was a miraculous source of aid to her people. Unfortunately, this new magic that she created turned friends into traitors, and enemies desperate to use good for evil. Adraa and Jatin must eventually work together to discover who is behind the sinister plan unfolding. Working as a team, they grow past their attraction and discover a new respect for on another.

My only two critiques of the story are that:
1) It had some slow portions that I had to push myself through
2) Jatin had an almost instantaneous puppy love reaction that didn't feel entirely natural. I wish it could have been a little more drawn out, but I appreciated the unusual way they were able to get to know one another as "strangers."

Overall, I think this was a strong debut, and a solid first book in the duology. I've read a lot of YA fantasy, and this one brought something fresh to the table which was really appreciated. I'll be excited to see how everything concludes in Bound by Firelight this spring!

Adraa and Jatin are betrothed to each other, though they do not like it. Adraa, heiress of Belwar, and Jatin, heir of Naupure, are both talented magic users. Jatin in particular has mastered every color of magic, and their marriage together, decided by their parents, will unite both kingdoms. Adraa would rather prove her worth on her own terms, but when criminals in Belwar vie for power, plans change, which thrusts Adraa and Jatin together. Except, they don't know it, because they both have taken on secret identities to stay safe in aftermath of the criminal uprising. The fate of the two kingdoms rests in their ability to work together and harness their magical abilities for the sake of their people. The trick is, secret identities don't stay secret forever.

I found Adraa and Jatin's adventures to be a bit of good fun! Cast in Firelight is the first in a planned duology, and its author, Dana Swift, is up front about this book not being an own voices creation, as she has written this story for her children. This is an "enmity-to-lovers" sort of story, where the characters don't hate each other, but they definitely don't like each other starting out. As they get to know one another after being thrust together because of circumstances outside their control, they don't know who the other is yet begin to warm up to each other, and that spark becomes a steady flame as the story progresses. Some plot beats may feel familiar to devout readers of YA fantasy, but I felt like Dana was able to bend some familiar settings into interesting events for her characters to play in. Adraa and Jatin are really cute together, and I liked their magical power usage and the magic system generally. Cast in Firelight is a fun and consequential debut that sets its characters up for more hijinks and adventures in its planned sequel, is a solid read in its own right, and I recommend it if you're looking for a new writer with interesting ideas.