An arranged marriage where the couple hates each others’ guts and then gets to know each other under secret identites? Yes! I picked this up based on that premise and the read-alike comparisons in the blurb, thinking this would be an ownvoices Indian-inspired fantasy a la Tasha Suri and… it’s not.

“You sure you aren’t trying to kill me?”
“Never.” She smirks. “In front of all these witnesses.”
“Reassuring.”


Adraa and Jatin, heirs to neighboring kingdoms, have been betrothed since they were kids. Neither remembers much about the other, besides the fact that Adraa lost her temper with Jatin and slapped him in the face at their first meeting. Ten years later, Jatin is finally returning home from school to start taking a more active role in running the kingdom with his father. But neither Adraa nor Jatin are looking forward to the formalization of their bethrothal – especially when a chase after a thief leaves “Kalyan,” supposedly one of Jatin’s guards and “Jaya,” a cage fighter and spy working for Adraa, collaborating to find the source of a smuggling ring. Neither realizes the other’s identity, but as their investigation continues and they grow closer to each other, how long can their secrets hold?

I liked the magic system, though it was at times a bit confusing. Certain segments of the population are Touched, which means they have magical abilities. The Touch starts as a small marking on each wrist and then grows up the person’s arm, and the length is commensurate with their magical ability. There are nine different varieties of magic, called fortes, which correspond to different colors and gods. For instance, pink is healing magic from Laeh, the goddess of healing, while red is from Erif, the god of fire. Adraa is different in that her Touch is only on one arm, which leaves her a bit defensive about her magic and her suitability to be the next ruler of Belwar.

And that leads in to my first criticism of the book. It read much younger than YA to me, with a very predictable plot and a very black and white morality. Belwar is small compared to the neighboring kingdoms, but it’s diverse, with a large Untouched (nonmagical) population. Of course, while the other kingdoms discrimate against those without certain types of magic or based on how many types a person can use, Belwar is a progressive utopia. And of course Adraa is a rani of the people, inventing something called firelight that she sells so cheaply that even the poorest people in the kingdom should be able to afford it. And when a friend is injured, she takes on an alternate identity – with the blessing of her future father-in-law – to infiltrate the criminal underworld of cage fighting. So, basically Batman. It was entertaining, sure, but it felt very unrealistic, and I think Adraa’s characterization suffered as a result.

“By Gods, this was winning. She had been winning the whole time. When I was nine I had wanted to impress her with a freeze spell. Naive me had wanted her to praise me, wanted her good opinion. But I’m a fraud compared with her. I only learn spells and recast them to perfection. She invented an entirely new one. I had never even thought of trying that.”


As for the other characters, I did like how quickly Jatin realized that he was, well, kind of a jerk to Adraa. Through all their letters exchanged over the past years, they’ve been competing to see who’s “winning” – that is, better at magic – than the other. Given that Jatin attended a prestigious academy along with other promising young royals while Adraa was homeschooled due to her one-armed Touch, he naturally assumes he’s better at magic than her. But she never mentioned inventing firelight or all the other work she does for her kingdom. He even admires her – as Jaya – bossiness, recognizing it as a natural tendency towards leadership.

“I can like her—blood, I’m even allowed to love her. I don’t need to squash the feelings or the thoughts that have bubbled to the surface ever since she saved that little boy in the street. What had I done in my life to make me this Gods-blessed lucky?”


What I didn’t like was that when he figured out that she was Adraa, he put off confronting her about it or coming clean about his own deception. At this point in the story, they both have pretty much fallen into insta-love with the other, but were under the impression they were betrothed to another person, which naturally leads to a lot of angst for both of them. Jatin’s relief when he realizes the person he’s in love with is the person he’s going to marry is overwhelming, but he somehow doesn’t comprehend that she could be feeling the same way and that he’s causing her further pain. When she finally finds out, she is angry and upset, but then she just lets it go. He respects her magic and leadership abilities, but he still feels like it’s OK for him to lie to her, and somehow she’s OK with that as well. I was beyond frustrated with how that was handled.

My main disappointment with the book, however, was even worse. This is not an ownvoices book, and I’m not an ownvoices reviewer for it, so take this next commentary with that in mind. It seemed very superficially Indian-inspired. The characters wear kurtas and saris and lehengas, Adraa has upma for breakfast, the leaders are maharajas and maharanis and… that’s it. The way the families interact, their culture, the magic, none of that felt Indian. It read like generic western fantasy with some ethnic window dressing, and nothing like the readalikes mentioned in the blurb.

Overall, I’d give this around 2.5 stars, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for ownvoices reviews.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I received a complimentary copy of Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift from Delacorte Press through Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Cast in Firelight came out yesterday, January 19th!

Adraa and Jatin have been engaged since they were children. Their marriage would solidify an alliance between their kingdoms, but the pair haven't seen each other in many years. While Jatin has been away at the academy they have only communicated through competitive letters. When Adraa and Jatin run into each other upon Jatin's return, a series of lies leads to mistaken identities. The pair end up working together in an attempt to protect their people from an increasingly worrisome criminal organization while trying to keep their identities hidden from each other.

I wanted to love this, but I simply didn't. The mistaken identities and enemies to lovers tropes usually work for me, but this one was too unbelievable for too long. I was intrigued by the magic system, but it felt underdeveloped and took way too long to grasp in a significant way. I was really looking forward to an Indian-inspired fantasy, but there's not much that felt Indian except the food and clothes, which never played a truly significant role. I liked Jatin and Adraa well enough, but I didn't love them or feel invested in them. The more interesting side characters were largely absent from the story too. Overall, I'm not mad I read this one. It was okay. But I don't think I'll be continuing the series.

What a phenomenal journey! Set in Wickery, Cast in Firelight is about Adraa and Jatin, heirs to their respective kingdoms who have been betrothed since childhood but haven't seen each other in many years. Upon returning home from the academy Jatin encounters Adraa as she works undercover to try to root out an underground criminal operation. Neither realizing that the other is their betrothed as they hide their identities, the two begin to work together and maybe become more...
I am a sucker for the arranged marriage trope and combine that with them falling for each other while thinking they are someone else and you have got more than my attention but my full-on heart eyes as well. It's all about the pining y'all. I absolutely adored watching Adraa and Jatin fall in love with each other forming a magnificent and equal partnership. Congratulations, that's the perfect recipe for a chef's kiss. It was the perfect choice to tell their story from alternating points fo view to really get in both Adraa and Jatin's heads to not only give us maximum reciprocal pining but also to really let us get to know both of them in equal measure and see how well suited for each other they were. I can't believe this is a debut novel, it was so wonderful. The twists were well-timed and thought out and well-executed and I cannot wait for the next book.
The only notes I have are just personal ones in that, it was a little hard for me to keep up with the color magic. I have a bad memory so I basically had to bookmark the passage where each color's meaning and god/goddess and basically had to keep flipping back to it to keep up. Having each magic have a different color and yet the actual color of the spell depended on the forte of the user kind of through me for a loop. I'm not convinced that's a story flaw and could just be a me thing but it was still something I had to try to keep up with. Also, the fact that their curse word was Blood. every time they would just think "blood." by itself I'd think someone was bleeding and worry for a second. Those are really just minor things though and didn't take me out of the story too much. It really was an amazing book, especially for a debut and I'm very much looking forward to the sequel!!!

Cast in Firelight was filled with the enemies to lovers trope that readers are definitely going to love in this book. I unfortunately made it 35% through before I had to give up on it. The characters are really complex and both very intriguing so I enjoyed that. I just couldn't find myself enjoying the storyline or the plot. The world building and magic system were interesting but didn't entirely hold my attention. I think other readers are going to absolutely love this one, it just wasn't for me!

Adraa has been betrothed to Jatin since they were little kids. They are destined to get married when they grow up and rule together. The only time they had met however left them with not the best acquaintanceship, something that seems to make them rivaries over the years. Jatin goes away for several years and when he returns he falls upon her, but somehow neither of them knows who is the other.

Adraa at the same time is getting ready to face the gods on her birthday and she's not feeling like she's ready and fears that she's going to fail. At the same time many things go wrong with her kingdom and she needs to take action somehow.

This book was spellbinding to say the least! It captured my attention from the first chapter and I kept falling deeper in love with every page I was reading! I found the writing well woven, the story mesmerizing, the characters interesting and just compelling.

I loved loved loved these characters!! The sexual tension between them , their chemistry!! Their dialogues and their scenes had me swooning!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! The world building was also extraordinary! I loved how unique everything was! Also, the fact that these characters were described as southern Asian, like they were from our modern India, a culture that I love! Loved the fact that there were also some disabled characters as well and the fact that the heroine wasn't perfect, made her more relatable as a character!

This was my first 5 star read of the year and I can't wait to read more about this intricate world and these characters. Definitely looking forward to the sequel (yes, I know it's too soon!) and I certainly recommend this one to everyone who loves fantasy, magic and rivals to lovers!

I read this as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars

I was a bit wary going into this when I realised that it's an Indian inspired fantasy written by a white woman but I read the author's note where she says this isn't OV and she wrote this for her children so that they could one day see themselves in a story. I went into this with few expectations so I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story! This was pure entertainment from the easy-to-love characters, a unique magic system, a fast-paced and action-packed plot, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance!

The world of Witchery is mildly influenced by Indian culture, most notably when it comes to the food, dress, religious rituals (such as morning temple prayers), and part of the caste system with references to members of society being Touched and Untouched. I appreciated how Swift presented aspects of Indian culture without trying to represent the culture by inserting herself in the struggles of POC, if that makes sense? As a POC, I didn't find what she wrote offensive, but obviously I can't speak from an Indian POV. The overall worldbuilding was interesting though I do wish that certain aspects were made more clear. It took a bit of time for me to "place" myself in the story in terms of the different areas of Wickery and understanding which rajas ruled. The whole lineage on Jatin's side of the family actually confused me a bit but it also didn't have a major impact on the story. I thought the magic system based on elements and bestowed by the gods was pretty simple but fun, and the simplicity of it made it easier to follow each time magic was used--and thankfully, we got to see a lot of it in the story!

The plot had a lot more elements than I initially expected. I can't go into details without spoiling anything but there was plenty of high-stakes adventures, a bit of a mystery, and some political scheming on top of the magic and romance, and all of this kept the story moving at a rapid pace. There was truly never a dull moment! What I loved most though were the characters. Adraa and Jatin had such distinct voices and both were so easy to like and root for, which made following both their POVs really enjoyable. Swift also did a great job in weaving humour into her writing which upped the amusement factor and had me laughing out loud plenty of times (I'm also just really easily amused). It was definitely a cheesy kind of humor but I live for that stuff!

Adraa and Jatin hit it off on the wrong foot when they meet as kids and over the years, a fierce competition grows between them. There's a lot of anxiety from both their sides in this arranged marriage, but their pride and the prejudice they have against each other really doesn't help get their relationship on a good foot. And while things don't go at all to plan when Jatin returns to Naupure, I couldn't imagine their story unfolding any other way! Their banter was so good and I really felt their chemistry! This does sway a bit more heavily towards romance, although surprisingly (imo) not very angsty, but I do love a good romantasy and this definitely ticked all the boxes! Also, I have to say that while I don't usually go for the whole lying and deception in relationships of any kind, something about it just worked for me in this book.

Overall, this wasn't what I expected but I enjoyed every single moment of the ride. Thankfully, there isn't really a cliffhanger ending although I'm curious to see how this duology concludes. I have a feeling the next book might be more angsty but I'm keen to get my hands on it already! 😂 This was a promising debut for Swift and I'm looking forward to seeing what she comes out with after this.

Genre: YA Fantasy/Romance
Rating: 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Dana Swift for the opportunity to read Cast in Firelight in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book in a brilliant fantasy duology. There is so much going on in this book, it really does need a sequel to wrap up all the problems of the kingdom.

The story is told from alternating first-person perspectives. Adraa and Jatin are engaged to be married when they are children. They only meet once at the ages of eight and nine, respectively, before Jatin goes off to school for nearly ten years. While he is away, he sends "love letters" to Adraa, each one holding a secret message of competition, as that is all their relationship is: who is better with their magical forte?

Adraa is a one-armed Touch, her forte mark (magic element gifted by the gods) only on one arm instead of both, which is seen as a negative thing in this world. Those who have no Touch are looked down upon for not being blessed by the gods. Despite being a one-armed Touch, Adraa has a knack for fire magic that even the fire goddess herself did not gift. Adraa can make firelight, orbs of light that last nearly two months long, eradicating the need for candles. When Adraa finds out the Vencrin, and underground drug group, is taking her firelight, a whole new political issue arises. Adraa takes on her Underground forte fighting persona, Smoke, and aims to find out who is taking her firelight and to bring them down.

Jatin, meanwhile, returns home, having switched places with his guard, Kalyan, for safety as he makes his appearance to the people of the kingdom. When Adraa gets mixed up with a firelight thief, she finds herself face to face with Jatin, but she doesn't know it! She thinks he is his guard, Kalyan. At first, Jatin doesn't realize it is Adraa who is mixed up with the thief, but he eventually figures it out. even then, Jatin sticks to his reuse of pretending to be Kalyan as he gets to know Adraa. How far will the lies go? Between not wanting to marry, falling in love with a lie, and needing to stop the drugs and firelight from being used for malicious purposes will Jatin and Adraa ever discover who they truly are to each other AND be able to put their kingdom to rights?

This is a fantastic fantasy romance that has it all: royal engagements, bitter rivalries, underground sneaky bad guys, magic, and a gorgeously developed world, not to mention an over-arcing villain that might surprise the reader! I loved this book from start to finish and cannot wait until the next one.

Cast in Firelight is a whirlwind debut fantasy hate to love romance involving magic, cage fighting, masked crusaders, and rainbows.

I loved it from the very first page, where two young royals who have been promised to one another meets for the first time. Anyone who has ever watched the animated Swan Princess movie can definitely picture the dynamic between these two characters (as stated by the author that The Slap, was in fact inspired by the song This is my Idea from the movie).

Fast forward some years and it is time for them to meet again and make things official. But they've apparently forgotten what each other looks like, so when they meet in the street by accident they have no idea just who they are dealing with. Which leads to the mistaken/hidden identity trope that I am actually pretty fond of when it's done well.

I highly enjoyed this book, especially the romance, and am going to be highly anticipating the sequel next year.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delecorte Press for the free ARC provided for an honest review

Before I get started reviewing this book, I did want to mention something that has been brought up in a few other reviews. This is not an OwnVoices book. The author addresses this in the author's note, and she explains that while this book isn’t OwnVoices, her husband is South Asian and she wanted to write a book where their children can see themselves represented in the main characters.

I think the reason for the confusion here is because the publisher compared this book to books by Sabaa Tahir, Renee Ahdieh, and Hafsah Faizal. I think this can give the audience the wrong impression and make Cast in Firelight seem like it’s OwnVoices when it isn’t. However, this is an issue with the publisher, not the author or the book itself.

As for the representation in the book; I’m not South Asian, so I say if it’s done well or not. I highly recommend you read reviews by South Asian reviewers before deciding on whether or not you want to read it.

Cast in Firelight is an easy book to read. The writing is simple, nothing too complicated which would make it great for people just getting into YA fantasy and younger YA readers. The worldbuilding is also fairly simple while still being interesting. The magic system is based on elements and colors, which was fairly basic and easy to remember, but still something fun to read about.

This book primarily follows our two main characters as they try to get to the bottom of a mystery, going out at night in disguise and getting into the occasional fight with bad guys. I’m not a big mystery fan, but there was plenty of action to keep the plot moving. That said, it still took me a minute to get into it. But once I was invested? I was having a great time. The ending raises the stakes (which felt a little low in the first ⅔) and even throws in a few fun twists. However, in the end, I feel the overall plot wasn’t very memorable.

While there is a plot, a lot of this book does revolve around the romance. I love some adorable romance so I was really excited about this. However, I will warn you, there is a bit of instalove (one-sided). But, surprisingly, I didn’t mind it. I really enjoyed watching our two main characters banter and truly get to know each other.

Speaking of our characters, Adraa and Jatin are fun protagonists but nothing truly remarkable. Adraa is caring and hot-tempered. Jatin is arrogant and kind. Both of them are incredibly powerful when it comes to magic but have realistic insecurities that ground them. They had good development over the course of the book, but there was nothing about them that made them stand out from your typical YA protagonist.

Cast In Firelight is a fun read if you’re looking for something quick and easy. While this first book wasn’t very memorable, based on that last act, I believe the series will get better as it goes on.

3.5/5 Stars

I was very excited about the premise of this book and still see so much potential in it. But unfortunately, I believe it could benefit from a few more rounds of edits. While I thoroughly enjoyed the concept and the characters, the writing was what threw me off while reading. The characters use "blood" as a swear word, which, aside from the fact that it just doesn't make much sense is linguistically inaccurate. Swear words are formed with sounds in the International Phonetic Alphabet that are harsh and crisp, such as "ch" or "k" or "t" and so on. It's highly unrealistic that "blood" would ever become a swear word since it does not linguistically follow the evidence from all other world languages. There may be exceptions, but using a word that uses bilabial and alveolar sounds and on top of that uses a low vowel, highly unprobable. Furthermore, I was really turned off when the writer referred to climate refugees, escaping a monsoon, as "asylum seekers." This spreads misinformation on the difference between refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Asylum seekers are people who are fleeing political persecution and are seeking asylum in a country in order to protect their lives, they are not climate migrants or climate refugees who are fleeing a climate disaster, such as a monsoon. I really hope this error is fixed in a future publication. More generally, I found pieces of the plot to be a little too cliché for my liking and very cheesy. I still look forward to reading more of Dana Swift's work in the future, but hope there's more attention to the editing in future drafts.

"Why would anyone buy an itchy tablecloth? The Naupures were monsters.”

I absolutely loved this book! It had it all, characters of color, humor, an intriguing magical system, swoon-worthy romance, heartache, you name it. I also really enjoyed the alternating first person POV. I think it gave the story and characters a lot more depth than if it had just been from Adraa's POV.

This is not an #ownvoices book and I’m sure the author is going to get a lot of backlash for this since it is an Indian/South Asian inspired fantasy but if you think this will be an issue for you, I recommend you read the Author’s Note first. I’m not a sensitivity reader by any means but I detected nothing offensive in this book and while I think it’s important to support authors of color, I think credit should be given to authors who attempt to break from the norm and give readers more diversity in their cast of characters whether they can claim that diversity as their own or not. A non-perfect representation is better than no representation.

Thanks so much to the author, publisher, Netgalley for the e-arc!

Adraa is not at all happy to be meeting her future husband, and at 8 years old who can really blame her. There first meeting goes off with a bang and the 9 years in between their first meeting and their next are filled with letters each trying to one up the other with their magic. When she learns Jatin is set to return home she tries everything to make sure she isn't there when he arrives, but true to her nature she ends up nearly being run over and having to be saved by Jatin himself, though neither of them know that at the time. Hidden behind secret identities they form a bond looking into the criminal underbelly of Belwar, and the more they work together, the more their feelings grow. But like the true idiots in love they are, neither knows the identity of the other. Complicated isn't the word, but it will take them coming out from behind their mysterious identities and grabbing their destinies if they are to save their countries.

Cast in Firelight follows two main POV's. Adraa the future Maharani of Belwar, she wants nothing more than to protect her people, and if that means getting a little dirty then so be it. She is plagued by self-doubt and hides her fears behind a wall of sarcasm and strength. She has never wanted to marry Jatin, a boy she barely knows, but if that's what it takes to protect her kingdom then she will do it. Jatin has always been told he's the best at everything, after mastering all 9 forms of magic at a young age he has never really struggled, and yet he still lives with self-doubt. Doubt that he will make a good Maharaja, doubt that Adraa will want to marry him... basically hes a cinnamon roll and I loved him. We also get introduced to family on both sides as well as guards and servants. All the side characters are wonderfully built up with personalities and hopes of their own.

The magic system in this book is truly unique, and one of it's major selling points. In Wickery people are blessed with magic from 9 gods, though only the future rulers are able to master all 9 forms. There are also the 'untouched' those who can't use any magic. It was really interesting seeing how the different countries treated their magic users, in some all forms of magic were praised and the untouched not treated any differently, however others looked down on certain magic users and saw the untouched as an almost plague. Though we only get to visit the two countries; Belwar & Naupure, Swift gives us the ability to travel the rest of the world though tales of their rulers and how they treat their people. I think the magic system would make a great transition to TV/Movie with it being colour based, and I for one would love to see it being brought to life.

If you are a sucker for romance, especially idiots in love with stolen glances and soft touches... well then, look no further. There were times when I just wanted to jump into the book and give them both a slap, but I really enjoyed that it wasn't insta love, and the fact that neither knew who the other was let them come to the realisation that they liked each other without the pressure of the arranged marriage hanging over their heads. They make the perfect team, Adraa headstrong and more likely to charge into a battle head first without a plan and Jatin who is slightly more thought out, likes to take things slowly without rushing. There was just enough angst for those who enjoy it, and I couldn't wait for the moment they realised who the other was.

The authors writing style and use of colour in the magic system make for vivid imagery whilst reading. You can easily imagine the scenes like a movie playing in your head, and you can picture yourself right there alongside the characters whilst Adraa is taking part in her cage-fights or the pair of them are fighting the Vencrin. The author weaves in mythology and world-building based on Indian Culture, and it is incredibly easy to get swept away in the world she creates.

If you're looking for a fun and fast paced read (I finished in two sittings) filled with beautiful imagery and two idiots in love, well then this is the book for you. An easy 4/5 stars. I did feel the pacing was slightly off in parts and there was a little too much descriptive writing, but none of that took away from my overall love of the book, and I will certainly be picking up the sequel.

This ARC was provided for review, but in no way affects the following impartial and unbiased review:
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4,5*
Pros: Enthralling world-building inspired by Indian culture and folklore. Adraa is an amazing lead, powerful, kind and valiantly facing her failures. Slow-burning romance, and one where the boy falls in love first, one of my favourite tropes! Seamless transition between the two PoVs, giving us a heartwarming, belly-fluttering insight on Jatin, the dashing raja. Awesome battles with elemental magic and fantastic spells. Feminist notes peppered throughout. Fast-paced to keep you on your toes, but slow-paced when it matters most.
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Cons: The forced marriage trope and the lies/miscommunication trope need to go. Also saddens me how Adraa was portrayed as lightskinned in the cover of the book, it is whitewashing and regretful.

Two people betrothed to one another fall in love with each other despite themselves and their preconceived notions. Sounds a bit like Pride and Prejudice, and I’m here for it.

Adraa and Jatin meet as young tweens to establish a betrothal relationship; in the meantime, on their individual roads to maturity, they each must do some growing up in order to come back together and rule their two kingdoms. Adraa must train to wield magic in the traditions of her kingdom of Belwar, while Jatin must attend formal schooling in Naupure; each heir to the throne strives to master magical abilities that demonstrate a fitness for duty. In the meantime, the two taunt each other and build up an animosity that can only be cured by dispelling the prejudices they hold against one another. Watching that happen is the most entertaining aspect of the whole novel. And it’s fun. Matter of fact, bring some tea and popcorn.

The single most impressive thing about this novel is the magic system. It is not necessarily anything that readers have not seen before in one way or another, but it is given to the reader as part of the story and not a giant info dump to wade through in order to get to the point of the story. I have seen such skillful presentation before, but not often. It made the story focus much more on the characters, their relationships with one another, and the two or three (this book was busy!) subplots going on at the same time.

Very enjoyable book overall. Solid four stars. No foul language, no sexual situations (though there is kissing), and not mentally taxing with a magical system that makes itself essential without being the main focus. I will definitely invest in this for my own collection and purchase one if need be for my local library.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, for which I give my own opinion.

I saw so many good reviews but bad too, so I was a bit sceptical about this book. It says for the fans of Renée Ahdieh, I am one of them, I really loved The wrath and the dawn, so my expectations were high and I was afraid I will be disappointed.

Fortunately I wasn’t! I enjoyed Cast in Firelight, I liked the main characters and the world building. The plot was pretty interesting. I was intrigued by the powers, the Touch and the Gods. There are a few who can control all the nine powers, so it’s easily to find out who Adraa and Jatin are if they are hiding. But they are good at keeping their secret.

What I didn’t like it was that at every sentence one of them had to ask himself/herself if the other one found out their true identity. But ignoring that, the story was captivating. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Thank you TBR and Beyond and Dana Swift for the e-copy.

Cast in Firelight comes out next this week, and I could not be more excited. If you haven't yet pre-ordered your copy of Cast in Firelight, here are five reasons why you should cherish this book and add it to your bookshelf.

Cover lust. ❤️ I'm pretty sure this is a very good reason to admire this book and want to have a copy of your own, right? RIGHT?!

A perfect built romance. Cast in Firelight brings together two of my favourite romance tropes: hate-to-love and arranged marriage. Adraa's and Jatin's first meeting does not go well -- there might have been a punch or a slap. It depends on whom tells the story. Since then, the two developed a very competitive relationship -- "whatever you can do, I can do it better." All in all, they pretty much push each other to be better -- as well as they push each other buttons. It was great to follow their rivalry and then see it blossoming into love.

Secret identities. Who does not like a good deceiving game? After almost a decade without seeing each other, Adraa and Jatin have no clue of how each other looks. When their paths finally cross, they do not recognize each other. With no knowledge of their true identity, Adraa and Jatin start working together (and they start trusting each other) under a different identity to save Belwar from drug lords and thieves.

Wickery. Before I ramble about what I enjoyed about the world-building, there are some pertinent issues, which have been raised, that must be addressed. Although Cast in Firelight is strongly inspired by Indian culture, Dana Swift isn't POC -- her husband is. As she wrote in a note, she wrote this story for their future children. Nevertheless, I'm not sure if there are inadequacies regarding the world-building resulting from Orientalism (even though her husband and his family did seem to have had a saying on the story). Please, read own-voices reviews to be sure that there is nothing wrong regarding representation -- these reviewers will be able to point out if their culture is correctly depicted.

All of this said, while I cannot discuss if the representation is done correctly, I want to say that I did enjoy this colour-based magic system. Every kind of magic and God/Goddess has a colour. Those who can do magic are marked -- they are marked with the "touch" by the Gods and Goddesses. Of course, in Adraa's situation, she is only marked by Erif, Goddess of Fire (and more I cannot say). Moreover, I was caught up by the criminal underworld of Belwater, the political intrigue and the royal trials.

The ending. Do not worry that I will not be spoiling the end of Cast in Firelight. 😋 I absolutely loved how it didn't break my heart. Also, I loved that there was not a major cliffhanger (there was still a cliffhanger), and yet I can't wait to read the next book in this duology. I must know what comes next in Adraa's and Jatin's journey!

Thanks for the free book [aka my first ever physical ARC] @PRHGlobal/@prhinternational in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley for the free Arc

I really enjoyed this story and thought it was well written, fast-paced, and fun.

The "enemies" to lovers with an arranged marriage was so well done. It was never "enemies" to a point I hated either one, but more of rivals/distrust to lovers.

It has some really fun secret identity moments where both lead characters are concealing who they really are. The magic is really cool as well with it being elemental and having magic users being blessed by the gods.

There is also a moment in the story where the main female has her period and it is shown as just, normal. She mentions cramps and the male lead basically just goes, oh okay and makes her the magical Midol potion to help her. No " that's gross", I liked that little moment that broke the stigma.

The ending is really well done and while we solve one thing, we are set up for more to come in the story which I am excited about.

In some ways I really enjoyed this book, but in others I found it rather lacking. Part of this could be that I read an arc, but I feel like some of the ideas were sort of half-baked. First there would be talk of Jatin being 'the' Raja of Naupure, and then there would be talk of some other random raja or rani and then poof there's only one again? The familial ties between the royal families were a bit confused as well. The magic system, while interesting, also seemed to suffer - the names of the Gods were just... their power spelled backwards? Ice magic is Dloc (cold), fire magic is Erif (fire), healing magic is Leah (heal)... There were also several places where I wished the writing were tighter or where I ended up confused.

But at the same time, I loved the enemies to lovers -- and not just enemies to lovers, but betrothed enemies to mistaken identity lovers! -- and Andraa and Jatin's love for their people and wish to help them. The magic system (aside from the names) is cool and makes for very satisfying battles. And the chemistry between Andraa and Jatin is real, despite their false identities.

Going with three stars as I'm wavering between the good and bad points. I will be interested to see what happens in the sequel but I might not seek it out immediately.

I was provided an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This may be one of the most talked about YA books in 2021.

Cast in Firelight has everything a YA fantasy should have. The magic system makes sense, and it's easy to follow. The stakes are high, but they come at a pace that keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire book. The two leads are interesting, flawed, and easy to root for.

At times, the book falls into well-known tropes and cliches, but they're used in a way that does not feel like you're reading the same story for the 5th time.

The books ends in a way that is satisfying but still sets up the plot for book two, but the reader won't be left angry or overly anxious. Instead, it feels like part one wraps up as intended so the wait for part two isn't quite as painful.

4 STARS

Adraa and Jatin have not met in nine years, but their arranged marriage looms, along with a new threat to their kingdoms, and a new facet to their relationship.

For nine years, Adraa and Jatin have exchanged letters as a betrothed couple. Hiding in those letters, though, have been hints of magical competition, each trying to outdo the other's magical achievements while simultaneously avoiding the pending marriage their parents set up for them as children. Their competitive streaks run high, and when they finally meet again, it's under false names in a bid to make Belwar a safer place.

In trying to secure the kingdom and do right by the people, Adraa and Jatin must face powerful spellcasters, a threat that runs deeper than anticipated, and worst of all, their own securities. And they must do all of this while trying to resist falling in love outside the bounds of the marriage they are expected to complete soon.

Of course, this is a YA fantasy novel with headstrong leads and magic in spades. I don't think I have to tell you that nothing goes quite according to plan!


In a word, Cast in Firelight is energetic!

From the start, I actually loved the tone of the book. In some ways, the fast-paced narration and personal chapter titles reminded me of Percy Jackson. While not quite as oddball and witty as PJO, they have a sort of fire and life to them that reminds you this story is about a couple of eighteen year old kids trying to shoulder the responsibilities of whole countries. They're in over their heads and doing their best, and they've also got some pretty strong feelings to grapple with at the same time. It's a recipe for confusion, especially on an emotional level.

But it also makes it fun! While I'm not normally a fan of things that seem to fall under the category of insta-love, Adraa and Jatin's relationship was still a blast. Masquerading as Jaya and Kalyan, they meet as equals with shared purpose, and interact outside of societal expectations in a way that feels genuine. That feeling is freeing for both of them, and results in some fun banter and closeness that made their stories enjoyable.

Of course, I could have done without some of the intentional miscommunication. You can only drag out lying about your identity for so long.

And this fast, lively narration also seemed to do the world-building a disservice. As much as I loved the characterization, I feel like we lost a lot in terms of the world. The kingdoms are apparently close enough that flying between them takes an hour for a skilled magic-user? The gods' blessing is the source of magic, which comes in nine varieties? Only royalty can master all nine varieties of magic?

(The gods' names are all English words spelled backwards? I admit I rolled my eyes at this.)

Basically, I think there's a lot more of Wickery that I'd like to see. There's a lot we missed because of how close and personal the narration is, and how much it centers on Adraa and Jatin in relation to each other, without a deeper look at their friends and families. Gain one thing and lose another, in essence.


I expect some folks will be concerned that this is not an OwnVoices story, though, which is understandable.

The author is white, and fully acknowledges that. However, she also married into an Indian-American family, and says in her acknowledgements that the world of Wickery is meant to be a world her future children can see themselves in. That's not to say it's perfect representation (I'm not Indian, so I can't speak to the quality of Indian culture that Cast in Firelight features), but it strikes me as coming from a more sincere and respectful place than just selecting a South Asian source of cultural inspiration on a whim. Stories by Indian authors still deserve front and center attention, that is entirely true, but this does not feel as exploitative as people might assume from just looking at Dana Swift's author photo.

I figured this was worth mentioning, particularly for anyone who was under the impression that this book was an OwnVoices title. I also hope publishing realizes that marketing this as a title comparable to books like We Hunt the Flame and An Ember in the Ashes takes advantage of the work of authors of color to prop up a white woman's book, which I am less thrilled with than Dana Swift writing a book featuring a culture she has close personal ties with.


Cast in Firelight is a fun, speedy read, and a solid debut!

It releases this coming Tuesday, January 19th, and if you're a fan of PJO or rivals to lovers stories, this might just be a read you need to check out! It's enjoyable and a quick read, two qualities that gave it the power to break my reading slump. For that alone, I think, I have to commend it. Reading slumps are tricky things to shake!

Slump talk aside, I do think Cast in Firelight is a bright addition to shelves, and I hope it receives some love as it releases. Sometimes, I think enjoyable goes a long way beyond perfect, and this is a splendid case of that.


CW: loss of a loved one, drug use, addiction, violence, animal death, gore, sexual harassment


[This review will go live on Hail & Well Read at 10am EST on 1/16/21.]