Thank you to the author and publisher for granting me access to We Are The Fire in exchange for an honest review!

I think this book does well at capturing the likes of AEITA in a LITE way. I feel like this lacked a bit of the emotional depth that really drew you into that fantasy. However, this book was romantic, painful, and full of tough choices for our MC to wade through. I enjoyed the character development of Pran and Oksana, two people with vastly different life goals. I struggled a bit in the beginning and towards the middle but then binged the end. I think that there was too much telling rather than showing, which I know is hard to do! Especially in YA. I do think that this author has what it takes to create great work and I look forward to checking out their books in the future!

This book has been compared to An Ember in the Ashes but sadly I didn't like that book, so it wasn't surprising that this didn't keep my attention either.

I loved this book so much, I wanted to fully submerse myself in its words!
I am so sad that this is a stand alone, but I fully enjoyed the elements of this book!

I was drawn to this book because of the stunning cover. The concept was unique and interesting, but for whatever reason I was unable to connect with the characters. The pacing is super slow and the story didn't quite hold my attention. I appreciate that it is a standalone, but was ultimately bummed out.

I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

Sam Taylor's debut novel is set in a fictional country of Vesimaa. Its previous ruler was a successful military leader who managed to conquer a lot of neighbouring lands, turning Vesimaa into a powerful empire, not least thanks to his formidable army of monstrous flame throwers, known as Tullikobrets. The most horrifying thing about them is that they are all stolen from their families (mostly from the conquered parts, but also Vesimaa itself) and tortured until they undergo a transformation that turns them into ruthless fire-breathers.
The protagonists of the book Pran and Oksana were born in different lands, but they are also best friends and more - they have spent seven years trying to survive the poisons, the training and other horrors of their camp. It was interesting to see an established couple. This absense of a romantic buildup was an unusual choice which allowed Sam Taylor to focus their differences. They know who their enemy is -the bloodthirsty emperor-but this doesn't mean Oksana and Pran will always agree or see the things in the same way. Rebellion appears to be the only way, and rebel they will, it's how that will make or break them....
Overall, it felt like this debut novel might be enjoyed more by younger teens. I generally love fantasy books with elemental magic and all the twists that come from the power of controlling something as strong and powerful as fire. My favourite lines from this book are 'Not everything that comes from fire is terrible and ugly' and I have to agree. Just look at this gorgeous cover.

Spoiler free review. This book is simply amazing. I love the world building and the way the author really brings out the characters. I would definitely recommend this book!

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

The blurb of We are the Fire by Sam Taylor is promising, so is the beginning. What would Oksana and Pran do to thwart the Emperor’s cruel plans? Taylor explains the cruelty that the Tuliikobrets must undergo to become fire-wielding soldiers in exquisite detail. They underwent torture for seven years which changed them, physically and mentally. It is a world where only the strongest and the most powerful survive. Taylor shows the hierarchy in the Tuliikobrets army in detail. She gives a no-holds-barred portrayal of the scrambling for power, the torture of the subordinates to stay in power, and the snatching of children from their homes.

However, it is in the middle, where the Tuliikobrets plan to thwart the Emperor, that I could not connect to the protagonists, as well as the plot. I was not convinced of their plan. To take down such a seemingly invincible empire, it takes more than a scheming group of teenagers in my humble opinion.

Moreover, there were one or two scenes where Pran is in severe pain (so severe that he should not be able to do anything), yet he has to kiss Oksana. I found this to be an exaggeration of the insta-kissing trope in the YA genre. The conclusion is better because the cracks in the plan show, resulting in inevitable failure and unforeseen deaths.

We are the Fire is vividly descriptive. Some parts are excellent such as all the fight sequences especially the ones involving Oksana when she tries to control her Snapping.

Overall, I found it to be good. The story is neatly wrapped up in the end.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. So, I expected more from this book. It is a good book. It has plenty of action sequences and fire. Lots and lots of fire. The world-building is good too. However, I could not immerse myself fully in the Vesimaan world.

Fans of the young adult genre would enjoy it.

Many thanks to the publisher for my digital copy of the book. This does not affect my opinion on the book.

Initial Thoughts

I was super excited to be chosen for this tour. I did an ARC tour on Instagram about a month ago and really wanted to read this book so I’m so glad I was given the chance to read and review it!

Some Things I Liked

Epic fantasy in a standalone. I loved that this book packed such a punch for being a single book series. I really connected with the characters and wanted to learn more about them. It’s hard to attain this with only one book to grab my attention but Sam Taylor did that here.
Dual POVs. Again, I really loved this. I’m always a fan of multiple POVs and it was done so well here. I loved that Oksana and Pran had different opinions on things and that was highlighted through their POV chapters.
Romance from the jump. Again, something different for me. Usually, YA romance stories follow the hero or heroine finding someone to love or realizing they love a childhood friend. Pran and Oksana start out in love and we get to see how their relationship changed over time. I really enjoyed that and thought it was unique for a YA novel.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

Names and world building. Unfortunately, when you write a standalone novel, the world building has to all be done more quickly than in a series. Therefore, I struggled with some of the names and concepts in this book. I think if I read it again, I’d be fine but I had moments of confusion during this read.

Series Value

I liked that this was a standalone. I do, however, think that it easily could have stretched into more. This is a fascinating world and I’d love to see more stories set here.

Final Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one sitting and could easily see myself reading it again. It’s not often that I find a standalone fantasy book that I like and this one really hit the mark.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommendations for Further Reading

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir – if you enjoyed the dual POVs and action in this story, definitely try this series by Sabaa Tahir.
Blood and Honor by Miranda Lyn – if you enjoyed the magic and world building, give this upper YA / NA series a try.

We are the Fire follows Pran, determined to rebel and Oskana, whose only wish is to go home, who are two soldiers stolen from their homes at a young age and forced to go through a terrible transformative process such that they will develop fire abilities for the army.

As mentioned before, We Are the Fire was compared to An Ember in the Ashes, which was rather bold as this kind of references never fail to skyrocket my expectations.

Thank you to Xpresso Tours, NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book for a sincere review.

I could definitely see the similarity between the two, with We Are the Fire mastering creating such a brutal environment with the strict rules, inhuman treatment and disregard for the soldiers… that set the serious, sombre tone up effectively, as well as building up to the rebellion. Furthermore, the characters oh are a mess, through all the tension between them and all the tangles they got themselves into, making the book so gripping!

Another thing I enjoyed about We Are the Fire was all the action. Once you get about 40% into the book, everything starts moving and weaving together all at once. The fight scenes were incredible to read about, with SO MUCH FIRE INVOLVED, written at an intensely fast pace. These action scenes to me, strung together create such a solid backbone for the book.

But that was where the similarities to An Ember in the Ashes ended.

I know I do sound quite vague in this review, not able to be exactly specific and this was because of the lack of worldbuilding here. The worldbuilding was essentially zero. We have some leading plot point about a random country wanting to invade casually mentioned at times, without much context being given… I’m still trying to figure out why they wear antlers on their heads (not really world building but the lack of detail was disappointing)… and I couldn’t even comprehend where exactly everything was taken place at.

And oh the most disappointing and repelling aspect of this book was the romance. *cringe cringe* It was rather unique that Pran and Oskana started out as lovers and instead of the normal progression to falling in love we see in books, we see how their relationship fluctuates dramatically after that. But ugh, it was so cliche and cringey. The same repetitive “fierce protectiveness”, the writing of scenes between then made me cringe, it was all around a huge let down and dampened the book.

However, the world-building and romance being severe disappointments aside, one aspect that I particularly enjoyed reading would be the theme of power and its responsibilities. We saw power being abused right from the start with the empire stealing children and forcing them to undergo gory procedures, the Commanders (instructors of the army) exploiting the soldiers… and we see our characters, particularly Pran experience the massive power and influence over a group for the first time. How inexperienced and how much he struggled with the responsibilities of making hard choices and keeping promises was rather well written!

Overall, I don’t think that We Are the Fire lived up to its comparison to An Ember in the Ashes due to the poor world-building and romance, but it was incredibly entertaining to read and the theme of power was explored satisfyingly!

well, this got progressively better as I read

but still *sobs* it felt like torture😭🤚


so happy I'm done.


Okay, it wasn't that bad, but it was unbelievably slow. It got much better in the 2nd half, but there were still many parts that would just drag on and I was dying.

While I didn't love An Ember in the Ashes , I did thoroughly enjoy it so I was pretty excited for this book when I saw that it for fans of that series.

It is very unfortunate that I was disappointed.💀


But I do see how the two are similar -- the way the commanders/rulers in both books treat their soldiers/slaves is very cruel and there's a rebellion plot to overthrow said rulers. oh how i've grown to despise that plot

Also, I'd like to say that I loved Pran and Oksana, but I didn't. It was definitely interesting seeing the two main characters already in love with each other from the beginning but ehhhhh I don't like them and I don't like their romance.😕


Although I will say—and yes, I know something's wrong with me—that I started liking Pran a lot more when I saw him kill others for the good of the rebellion.

I mean, at least he knew when to make hard decisions even if it made him feel like a monster. I applaud him for that. don't question my sanity

Oh, and even though I didn't like the romance at all, it was interesting to see the author have Oksana and Pran struggle with their relationship throughout the novel, since both had different ideas of freedom.

How far would they go to get what they wanted? Would they have to become the monsters they very much despised to get their freedom? Many questions were raised along the way -- it was nice to see the complexity of the situation they were in.


So yea, even though this definitely felt like torture forcing my way through this book, it wasn't totally bad maybe just for me.

And I was actually in a cursed slump before this and I think I've been cured??? Like I was so bored with this book that I now I really feel like reading a super good book. (*cough* ACOSF) So THANK YOU for saving me.


(2.5⭐)

Buddy read with amazing friends, Katie @ Whispering Pages and Alex @ The Scribe Owl <33

---

Thank you Xpresso Book Tours for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

Not surprisingly, it let me down, as books I have high expectations for tend to do. This was compared to An Ember In the Ashes, which I enjoyed, so this caught my attention. Unfortunately, I was let down, but there were still some aspects that I found interesting.

We Are the Fire follows Pran and Oksana, two of many who were taken from their families to serve in the army of Vesimaa. As their goals get in the way of their love for each other, they get tangled up in a web of lies, deaths, and corruption.

Oksana is an alchemist who fiercely cares for those she loves, but blames herself for everything, even the things that are out of her control. Pran is the self-appointed 'leader' of the secret rebellion. Though he was a complex character to read about, he annoyed me at times. There was a character arc for both of them, but my lack of investment in both Oksana and Pran just slowed it down.

I felt disjointed from the romance, to say the least. Pran and Oksana already had an established connection when the book starts off, which didn't allow much room for development and time for the two to get to know each other. However, it was captivating to see them in the ups and downs of their relationship, and how their hopes for their futures lead them farther away from each other.

The writing was rich and evocative, but some scenes felt so short, while others seemed to drag on forever. Although things got more interesting in the second half, the beginning was a bit too slow for my liking.

Overall, We Are the Fire was a solid debut and had an interesting concept, but it had so much more potential and I personally thought it was lacking in many aspects.

A fantastic, gorgeously written fantasy about fire magic, child soldiers, and an evil emperor. There is so much to love in this book, but mostly I loved Pran and Oksana. It's not often you see a couple who is already together at the beginning of a story, but this book isn't about them falling in love, it's about how to get through what comes after, and I was so invested in the moral dilemmas they faced as they navigated this richly crafted world. If you're looking for a book to get lost in, this is the one.

"Rebel with flame.. and you die by flame. We are watching."

'We Are the Fire' is the fantasy debut novel by Sam Taylor that tells the story of Pran and Oksana, two of the emperor's Tuliikobrets, magical fire-wielding soldiers. Taken from families across his kingdom by force, children are forced to undergo horrific transformative procedures and pressed into the army's service to carry out the emperor's will.

Both have dreams beyond the walls of the Tuliikobrets' fort. Oksana dreams of going home to her family and their peaceful way of life, while Pran's more inclined toward rebellion.. destruction of the empire and control of their own futures.

As different as their dreams, so too are their methods and ideals. Though they really just want freedom for their kind, it doesn't take long for both to realize their good intentions may require them to make choices that conflict with their principles if they're going to survive at all.

Ironically, the transformative procedures are horrible, but entirely different than I would have expected. Worse in some ways, as the changes wrought upon the soldiers are not all things they can completely adapt to, since their very human bodies aren't really designed for using their newfound abilities.

The opening pages are the quiet calm before the storm, giving the reader a chance to warm up to Pran and Oksana before any of the chaos breaks through. And it's time that I think really served their story well. It isn't slow or drawn out, but it allowed me to connect with them in a more intimate setting and begin to care from the start.

For the most part, there's a deep sense of loyalty that has developed amongst Pran, Oksana, and their friends. Perhaps because conflict and tensions seem to be deliberately stoked between the different ranks within the army, the trust outside their immediate circle is much harder to come by and obviously that makes their goals more difficult. Those with the most power, may also have the most to lose by rebelling, but strength in numbers and cunning are both necessities if their kind are ever to be free.

Treacherous statements to the wrong person, however.. could cost them the ultimate price.

I loved both main characters. Despite the monsters they saw themselves as and their different approaches to the situation at hand, they were genuine and wanted to help others. Pran is all heart. He just keeps trying to get up, no matter what life throws at him.. and I adored him especially.

There are some fantastic antagonists here, one of which is much more complex than they appear at first glance. Few within the walls are separated by more than rank and power. On some level, they've all been victims and it's interesting to see how differently they respond to that.

All in all, I'd definitely suggest this book to anyone who loves stories where the only way out is through others.. where the characters have to decide how much of their ideals they're willing to sacrifice for their freedom.. and where you get to see those decisions tested, all the while hoping they can succeed.

I’d be lying if I said the epilogue didn’t make me tear up. That’s when you know it was a good read for me!

We are the Fire by Sam Taylor had such a unique kind of fantasy twist to it, that I just couldn’t seem to put it down. Following Oksana and Pran, just two of many children stolen from their families, they were forced at a young age to be chemically mutated to be part of a fire wielding elite army for the sovereign of their lands. For years, they looked after each other until they discovered an even more sinister plan that would be happening to their kind. Now, they plan for rebellion but what happens when their ideas and morals are on different levels?

This has been one of the most fast paced fantasy reads I’ve read in a long while. The entire book felt like it just kept moving on for me and never once did it drag and the best part? These characters truly felt like flesh and bone. They suffer so many dilemmas, heartaches and most definitely mistakes but all of that is what made them feel REAL.

The ending also left me satisfied, especially after that epilogue (which I’m still tearing up thinking about lol).

Perfect for fans of flushed out characters, who refuse to give up but are definitely flawed. We are the Fire is action packed and full of nasty characters, fierce characters, loving and loyal characters and everything in between.

Hauntingly beautiful, We Are the Fire by Sam Taylor is gritty, dark, and emotional. There are several times over the novel's progress that you second guess your willingness to read about the intimate destruction of the two main characters. Even more, there are moments when you wish for their happiness, but don't find it possible anymore, almost to the point where you're begging for a swift demise. At the minimum, an ending that feels like the one being built up throughout the rest of the novel.

Alas, despite my wishes for a wholly dark and brutal ending, we're given one of small happiness; and, while the characters more than deserve it, it speaks accolades of the novel and the author's writing that you're lowkey wishing for the most heart-wrenching, saddening, and painful ending of any novel ever. Because Sam Taylor can pull that off. Never have main characters been so mutilated and beaten in the span of a novel. It's almost like reading torture logs from a dictator nation, it's that brutal. But you learn to love it, even if that sounds wrong. You begin to wonder just how much worse it can possibly get and EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. it gets worse.

Be willing to step away from the romance YA fantasies we all love and enjoy and take a chance on this destructive masterpiece. It'll worm your way into the ruptured and pulverized heart you'll quickly gain within a few short chapters of this novel. So, enjoy. Embrace. Feel the pain and let it take over. You'll enjoy it.

Pros
High Fantasy: Alchemy and monstrous antlers, reluctant fire-breathing soldiers, a cruel emperor: this book is full of fun fantasy elements and great visuals. Sam Taylor writes a more traditional type of high fantasy than a lot of recent YA. Not nearly as romance-driven as its contemporaries, it has an old-school feeling--in a good way.
Friend Tension: High fantasy can fall into the good-versus-evil trap. Everyone who is on the "good" side is always right and agrees with every other "good" character. Everyone who is on the "bad" side is always wrong and agrees with every other "bad" character. Taylor avoids that pitfall here. Though the two protagonists are on the side of righteous revolution, they disagree with each other and argue with each other. There is a significant amount of tension between them, even as they love and support one another. There should be more of this type of dramatic tension in books, because it is this sort of gray-area tension that makes the world go 'round--not a strict friends-enemies divide.
Fire: This book is full of fire. From punny names to dramatic billowing flames, Taylor manages to produce a lot of great passages revolving around fire. Hellions and Imps, burning pyres, smoke and flint: the pyromaniacs of this world will appreciate this book's dedication to the fiery end.
Cons
Overwhelming Worldbuilding: This book unfortunately starts out with a smattering of over-described world terms. These terms seem to be almost thrown at the reader to get them out of the way so that the immediate (yes, immediate) action can begin at once. I prefer a softer opening than this. The combination of heavy world-dumping and inexplicable action was overwhelming in the first chapter in a way that made it hard to get a footing in the world. Without a proper rooting, it is hard to stay connected as the action develops.
Emotional Disconnect: Though there are plenty of reasons why this particular cast of child soldier characters would be full of hatred, angst, and the desire to rebel, there was an ultimate disconnect for me as a reader between the reasons and the results. The actual emotions are more assumed than on the page. The passion of the characters doesn't translate, even when they are meant to be inspiring rebellion--stoking the flames, so to say--and that emotional disconnect between reader and characters is a major problem. If I can't resonate with the characters, why do I care whether their rebellion succeeds?
Lost Interest: About a quarter through this book, I set it down to head to work, and then I had no interest in picking it up again. I set it aside for the rest of the week until I finally had to pick up something else to get me out of my book slump. I forced myself back to this work in order to give it a full review (I never review a book I haven't finished, as that isn't fair to the author). If someone who, like me, adores fantasy can lose interest so quickly and so completely, this book might have a major problem. I have been on the lookout for good fantasy this year. I thought this book might be it, but I was disappointed and disinterested in the end.
Rating
⭐⭐
2/10

Those who enjoyed the twistedly alchemical body alterations of Marie Lu's Skyhunter should check out these fire-breathing soldiers. Anyone who shivered at the body horror of Julianna Bagott's Pure will want to experience this gruesome new fantasy.

Rich world-building, a fiery magic system, and beautiful prose all make for an exciting and thought-provoking debut! With a mix of mythology and science the story explores issues of repression, tyranny and the push for freedom. But what happens when those you love the most in the world have very different ideas about how to get to freedom? This tension was explored through deep and personal character development, and kept me on edge throughout the entire well-paced ride. A wonderful debut, I look forward to new world from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-Arc.

This is a story told from the perspective of Oksana and Pran, two members of the Tuliikoberts army, who were stolen away as young children and transformed into ruthless killers of the Emperor's army of fire wielders. Pran dreams of freedom, of rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire, while Oksana dreams only of returning home. They uncover secrets about the future of the Emperor's plans for the army and vow to end the tyranny once and for all.

The world-building in this was good and felt well fleshed out. The magic was interesting, and well thought out as well. The idea of these kids being stolen from their homes and being changed to have this magical fire to fight wars for an evil emperor was incredibly interesting to read about. You could tell that the author put a lot of effort into the magic system and the way that it irrevocably changed things for our characters. I wish that the environment itself, the country of Vesimaa for example, had a little bit more to it. I feel like we didn't get to see a lot outside of the military fort of the Tuliikoberts. The military was ruthless and also built in a way that felt realistic. There was very tense conflict of those who were forced to undergo this transformation against the Commanders, and the Emperor. The tension felt just right. The fact that the tensions build and that the characters motivations are so different really made me want to keep reading. Their motivations and reactions to the events being so different was realistic and made them so much more complex.

Speaking of the characters, it took me a little bit to get into the individual voices of these characters, as it felt like their voices were very similar at first, but once I got into the book, it was easier to tell them apart. Pran fights hard for what he cares about and you can tell that he cares for Oksana and his friends very much. He's also ruthless and will stop at nothing to ensure they are safe. Oksana is stubborn and also fights for what she believes in. She is cunning as well. She knows what she wants and will trick those in power to get it if she needs to. The romance was also already there before the book started, and I almost would have liked to see it develop on the backdrop of the revolution, but it was certainly a new thing to read about, as I haven't read many books that have a romance that has already been established.

The plot was interesting as well. The pacing was a little stilted. I felt like there were some periods where nothing was happening, and those dragged, and then it would pick up to an almost breakneck pace. I think that besides that, the plot was good. There were some unexpected twists that left me with my mouth hanging open. This is a standard YA Fantasy novel that I think many will love. I'm not going to go to deep into this since I don't want to give any spoilers. I feel like the comparison to Ember in the Ashes is apt. I'd say it's a mix of Shadow and Bone and an Ember in the Ashes, mixed with the tale of Spartucus. I'd say if you liked any of those stories, you'll love this one.

See this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl!

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a buddy read with two of my favorite people, Katie @ Whispering Pages and Lia @ Chain of Novels!

3.5/5 stars

We Are the Fire was one of my most anticipated reads this month! Unfortunately, it did not meet those lofty standards. That said, it wasn't a bad book. It wasn't the stuff of a favorite, but I did have a good time for most of the book!

In the cold, treacherous land of Vesimaa, children are stolen from their families by a cruel emperor, forced to undergo a horrific transformative procedure, and serve in the army as magical fire-wielding soldiers. Pran and Oksana―both taken from their homeland at a young age―only have each other to hold onto in this heartless place.

Pran dreams of one day rebelling against their oppressors and destroying the empire; Oksana only dreams of returning home and creating a peaceful life for them both.

When they discover the emperor has a new, more terrible mission than ever for their kind, Pran and Oksana vow to escape his tyranny once and for all. But their methods and ideals differ drastically, driving a wedge between them. Worse still, they both soon find that the only way to defeat the monsters that subjugated them may be to become monsters themselves.

The blurb of We Are the Fire compared it to An Ember in the Ashes and the legend of Spartacus. I know nothing about the legend of Spartacus, so I don't know about that part. Maybe. But, while it wasn't the closest match, it wasn't that far off the mark of An Ember in the Ashes. The way they were trained and the way their captors acted were similar. I've heard other people say the opposite, but I still think it was pretty close. I've only read the first book of An Ember in the Ashes, so maybe it deviates past the point of my reading.

What made this book new and interesting for me was the way the main romantic relationship was structured. Oksana (which is a really pretty name, I'll remember that one) and Pran already had a relationship when we started reading. Instead of seeing them start their relationship, we got to see all that comes next. No matter how true your love, people fight, opinions deviate, and life becomes a bog of hard choices.

Oksana and Pran themselves were pretty good characters, but nothing that really stands out. I will say that they aren't your stereotypical YA MCs. Pran is trying to lead a rebellion, but he seems to be doing it all wrong. Oksana is a kind soul who only wants to go home, but everything she does seems to backfire. While I doubt I'll think about them night and day or anything, I did like reading about them.

What really knocked the book down a peg was the pacing. While it got interesting and faster-paced in the second half, it was pretty slow at the beginning. I wasn't enjoying it all that much. Again, it picked up later in the story, but the first half dragged on forever.

All in all, this was a pretty good book. But just think--this is just a debut novel! I will very likely be keeping an eye out for this author.

On paper, I should have loved this book. The magic system was cool and the over plot held my attention... but the story was missing ✨something✨! I couldn’t tell you what that something is, but it just wasn’t there.
.
I will not be surprised if YA Bookstagram or book tok flock to this book. I won’t be surprised if this is a new favorite read for many people, or if it shows up on their “best books of 2021” lists. I look forward to the hype that I hope this book gets, because I know that my own personal tastes is the reason I’m not giving this 4 or 5 stars. We Are The Fire gets a solid 3stars from me. (Swipe for synopsis)
.
Thank you NetGally and Swoon Reads for providing me with an e-arc In exchange for an honest review. Release date Feb 16th, 2021.