Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Actual Rating: 2.5 stars

I attempted to read this book before it came out but stopped 20% in because it was so uninteresting. With a second try two years later, I’m here to report that my feelings slightly changed. Although I wanted to stop reading after the first chapter this time, I pushed myself through and am happy to report that the book actually became entertaining 50% in. I don’t have a great explanation for why this book wasn’t doing anything for me, but the best I can come up with is because of the writing style and the fact that I didn’t care about the characters for a long time. I also wasn’t too invested in Pran and Oksana’s relationship, which might be because they were already together when the book began. I did think the author did a good job at highlighting Pran and Oksana’s flaws throughout the book while also giving them space to figure things out and be redeemed. The ending chapters were some of my favorite and partially made up for the slow beginning. Overall, this book wasn’t for me, but I can understand why people enjoyed it and would recommend it for people who are fans of slower fantasy and rebellion.

This was a highly anticipated book, and I wanted to love it so much, but it was kind of meh for me. I never hated it, but I was also never so in love that I couldn't put it down.
For me, this book is definitely one that starts with a simmer and builds to a flame, which is not something I love, but it was a pretty good read. This was just a slow read for me, which is not the type of book I enjoy reading. There was nothing necessarily wrong with this story and nothing I just outright hated, it just wasn't as good as I wanted it to be.
The main characters were fine, but they were in love from the beginning, which is not the kind of romance I like. I like how they were with each other, the lengths they were willing to go for the rebellion, and how they grew, but I never found myself excited for them or anything. They were kind of just there and necessary for the story as a whole.
I liked the plot of the story, and the way it was told, I just didn't love reading it or find myself thinking about it. It might be because I am not the demographic this book was written for, but this was just not the book for me.

I am disappointed with this book. I was expecting one thing and received another. It had potential but it was not well written.

I really love the concept and magic system in this story! This YA epic fantasy has all the romantic tension, fire magic, alchemy, strong friendships, and moral dilemmas. It would be perfect for fans of An Ember In The Ashes. ⁣There's a cruel empire, fire-wielding soldiers, and horrific, magical transformations. Expect dual POVs and a cold, harsh, and heartless world that our main characters, Pran and Oksana, attempt to survive in as they decide whether to rebel, flee, or become monsters themselves.

I really tried to get into this one, but I just couldn't. There was something about the writing that just didn't work for me and I couldn't get into the characters. I feel like world-building might have gotten in the way of character development in this case. The premise sounded like something I would like, but I was just never drawn in enough to get myself to finish. Since I didn't finish this book, I won't be posting a review on IG or Goodreads. I really hope this title finds readers who will love it!

I had a really hard time getting into this one. The writing was good but I just didn't connect with the characters very much. It took me a couple tries to get going on it but ultimately I just couldn't.

We Are the Fire is a standalone YA fantasy with phenomenal world-building, a swoon-worthy romance, and plenty of action scenes tying everything together. The plot follows two protagonists who were taken from their families at a young age and transformed into fire-wielding soldiers in an army serving a cruel emperor. Pran dreams of rebelling against their oppressors, while Oksana dreams of returning to their homeland and living a peaceful life. When they discover the plan for them is worse than they imagined, they vow to escape no matter the cost, but they both have such drastically different views. Will Pran and Oksana escape the emperors grasp? If so, at what cost? Highly recommended to anyone looking for an action-packed YA fantasy with a romance at the center of the story.

Thank you to the author and the publisher for an eARC of this book, which was won in a giveaway on Instagram.

One of my favourite aspects about this YA fantasy was the established relationship between Pran and Oksana, and how story dove into how their choices affected their relationship and how the relationship was challenged by different visions of freedom and the depths they’re both willing to go to gain it. This complex romance between Pran and Oksana was interweaved with the plot and action well. The transitions between the dual POVs were well-crafted, and I enjoyed how realistically done Pran and Oksana’s perceptions of themselves versus their perceptions of each other differed, as well as the exploration of the moral dilemmas that both Pran and Oksana faced and the hard decisions they both had to make. Pran’s endurance even during tough choices that would haunt him and Oksana’s strong will, both of them fighting for a better future and existing in a world with little hope for them, made me feel for their fight and invested in their future.

The intimacy of the setting with the story mostly taking place in the military fort was intriguing and helped gain a sense of these characters’ lives. I appreciated the scientific nature of the alchemical magic system and was interested in how this magic was implemented to transform them, as well as how it could potentially be undone.

As much this story was about political rebellion and uprising, it was also about healing and learning to love oneself (“Not everything that comes from fire is terrible and ugly.”), which I thought was beautifully done. This book gave me major Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans vibes, which I both loved and broke me in places, especially this quote from Pran: “There’s a place in this world for us, if we make it ourselves...”. The action was vivid and immersive with high stakes, with multiple threats and tense moments. I was constantly wondering how this book would end for Pran and Oksana and the other Tulliiobrets.

There’s a beautiful ease to Taylor’s prose that allows the story to unfold in a natural way. There are twists and turns littered through the story, a couple of which took me by surprise.

However, this book felt like a book of halves: the first half being more character-driven and slower in pace, and the second half was where the plot and pacing picked up, and because of that, I felt slightly disjointed in the shift of pacing. It also took me a little while (around 25%) to feel part of the story as you are thrown straight into it, so I couldn’t fully grasp the story and gain my bearings. There was also a disconnect when we left the fort, which more worldbuilding of the wider world could have helped to ease. Further explanation of the war that the fire army were created and fighting for could have also aided in fleshing out the world and adding more emotional depth rather than producing more questions.

We Are The Fire is a dark, heartbreaking, yet hopeful YA standalone debut fantasy about those fighting for their freedom, their place in the world and changing the corrupt system.

We Are the Fire is an electrifying debut to behold. Pran and Oksana are Tulliiobrets, humans transformed into demons who were taken from their family by the Emperor to protect their country. In a world where their freedom is taken away time and time again, Pran and Oksana cling to each other as they dream of a future where they can be free of the Emperor and the fire magic that runs through their veins. When their fellow Tulliis begin losing control of their powers and rising against their oppressors, Pran and Oksana become the leaders of a rebellion that could change everything for their people, but when they find their purposes at odds and suffer horrendous loss, Pran and Oksana risk endangering the very love that inspired them to dream of a better life. Will Pran and Oksana win freedom for the Tulliis? Or will rebellion rip them apart at the seams?
We Are the Fire was a really solid fantasy debut that stands out as unique because of its characters and its magic system. What I really liked about Pran and Oksana was that they start out as a committed couple and remain together throughout the novel, albeit their love tested in unimaginable ways. That isn't something you see often in both YA and Adult fantasies nowadays, so that was a refreshing change of pace. I also really liked how both of them had to grapple with the great responsibility of leading a rebellion and the morally grey decisions they must make. This book is paced pretty well. From the start, Taylor kicks off this story with explosive action that instantly gives the reader a clue of to the projectory of the entire novel and what is at stakes. The only thing I have to say that isn't as glowing is that I felt that the world building needed a little bit of fleshing out. There were things explained, but other elements of their world felt discordant from the rest of it, and I had a hard time picturing it. Also, the ending felt a bit abrupt. But We Are the Fire is a fantastic debut novel that should no be missed, filled to the brim with intrigue, sacrifice, and two characters who would go to the ends of the earth for their people and for each other.

Unfortunately We Are The Fire was a miss for me. From the beginning of the story I felt like I was on the outside looking in. It starts off very rough and it feels like you’re just thrown into the middle of the world that was built. Only no one tells you.

Beautifully written, with heart-pounding stakes and strong characters forced into hard decisions. I loved the world-building and the character dynamics throughout!

This was a difficult story to read. In a world where children are routinely separated from their families, this definitely hit close to home. Sam Taylor does an excellent job in making the despair and hopelessness of our characters feel visceral. With every tragedy and difficult choice your heart breaks right along with them. It delivers a singular message: Monsters aren't simply born. Monsters are made by those who nurture them.

The alternate POVs was done very well. What I found most interesting was that not only did Pran and Oksana have their own distinct voice, but their impressions of each other were wildly different from how they viewed themselves, which can happen so often in intimate relationships. For example, Oksana wishes for Pran's talent to inspire hope, yet he always feels he has failed his fellow soldiers and cannot overcome his physical weaknesses. Conversely, Pran sees Oksana as a fierce warrior when she is continuously doubting her own self worth and purpose.

All in all, this was an enjoyable standalone story. The world felt whole and thoroughly fleshed out. I would have liked to learn more about Scamall and the war this fire army was designed to fight, but this story isn't about the war. It's about what happens to soldiers once the fighting is over.

It was difficult to find a sense of balance when I first started reading the book. It felt as though I was thrust into the middle of something I didn't fully grasp, so I had some difficulty settling into the story. Presented with many names, including those of people and places, and titles (e.g. Tuliikobrets, Nightmare, Hellions, etc.) in a short amount of time made it difficult to keep track of everything that was going on. It was also difficult to get a sense of place. It wasn't until later that I pieced things together, but I was a bit frustrated when I finally arrived at this point. Adding the somewhat slow pace to my list of frustrations further inhibited me from being fully immersed in the book. Eventually, the book picked up right before the halfway point, both in pace and story. In particular, the multiple moral dilemmas presented added to the complexity of Pran's and Oksana's decisions. 

Ultimately, We Are the Fire was a bit of a toss-up for me. I struggled to finish the book. I was frustrated in the beginning, and it was difficult to connect with the characters. On the other hand, the last part of the book was more action-packed, and I liked the themes presented. (2.5 stars rounded to 3 stars)

We are the fire drew me in immediately. The was something about the grittiness and the urgency in Iran and Oksana's situation that just really made me so invested from the beginning. I loved both their characters and I LOVED the alchemy. A fast-paced adventure you don't want to miss.

Mostly struggled with this one, but it's not a bad book and I do see the appeal for others. As this is only an ARC, I am reluctant to criticize a book for this, though I do think it worth mentioning: I felt it lacked the polish that I read in other books, not regarding prose/grammar, etc. but regarding the actual story structure and core elements of the book. Pacing is a tough thing for an author to master (and even here, opinions will vary) but what I can say for certain is that the pacing was not right for me. As this is a YA book -- where I feel the pacing is front-and-center most of the time, quick and to-the-point -- I do feel that some younger readers *may* struggle with it. Of course, though, every teen is different, and this book will inevitably be the perfect read for someone else. I must also speak for the representation, which I felt was nuanced and good (again, another reader's opinion will vary!) The worldbuilding, I felt, was where this book shone, whereas the characters and story lacked an emotional depth that I am now used to in the quality that YA fiction has become. Overall, not a bad read, but not for me. It's been compared to AEITA, so if you liked that book (again, another one that I felt lacked polish, was not for me) I do recommend checking this one out!

I really enjoyed this book! The relationship between Pran and Oksana was sweet and nuanced, and I was glad to see representation of a character who struggles with chronic pain. An interesting take on dystopian themes.

This book for me started out very strong and interesting, but I found that I quickly lost steam after about the first third of the story. It wasn’t bad by any means, and I did like it, but I found that I didn’t really ever want to continue reading, I had to kind of push myself, and I really just skimmed the last half and don’t really feel like I missed anything. I really feel like this just wasn’t particularly up my alley, but would be great to check out for others.

What a fun ride! We Are the Fire is a clean young adult read that keeps the reader guessing. I can spot a plot twist a mile away, but author Sam Taylor's clever writing acted as a blindfold. I never saw the jaw-dropping twists coming. Political mishmash and intrigue. Thrill of adventure. Swoony romance. Deception. I am enamored with these characters! The characters were compelling and mostly multifaceted. I would have loved to see more past the surface on a few of the side characters, but we got a good feel for quite a few of them and that was nice.

The journey was fraught with danger (and excitement!) from the very beginning and it pretty well kept it up till the end. Even the more down training type time had its perils. The tale ended in a good spot, even if it was a massive cliffhanger. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

3.5*
We are Fire boasts a fun and fascinating concept that alone can pull you in but suffers severely from a snail-like pace and characters that fall flat. The magic-system and world-building are truly what carries an otherwise mediocre read.