I really, really wanted to fall in love with this book. Cover: stunning. Fantasy world: excellent. There was just some disconnect I couldn’t quite get over. I didn’t get that far in the book, as it couldn’t keep my attention, but I am willing to revisit sometime in the future.

I do not have the words to explain how much I enjoyed this book.

We Are the Fire centers around Oksana and Pran, who were stolen from their families as children 7 years before. They were injected with dangerous serums that could kill, but if you survived you would awake with great power.

Sick of their lives being controlled by the very people that stole them from their homes, all of the stolen children band together to overthrow the commanders and the ruler. Relationships are tested and changed forever. Morals are questioned, just because someone shares your goal, doesn't mean they are an ally.

This book was incredibly well written. From the world building to the characters, this book felt real. I felt the anger and anguish that these characters went through.

*Thank you to the publisher for providing this eARC.

This was an excellent debut! I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked it up, but I ended up really enjoying this!

I will admit that I picked this based off the cover. It's so pretty!!!! I didn't care what it was about, I wanted this prettiness in my life. What's even better is that the cover fit the book perfectly, and helped me invision our characters so well.

This may sound dumb, but I loved the uniforms for our characters! They were just so cool! Seriously though, they were tall antlers, and had eye drops to turn their eyes black. How fun is that?? It was such a small detail that added so much to the worldbuilding, and gave a lot of insight into how the government operated.

I also loved how Oksana was a scientist! I almost wish we had more scenes of her tinkering in the lab, and more failed experiments, they were super fun to read. It also separated this from other fantasies, because our characters weren't born magical, they were experimented on.

The only reason this wasn't a five star read for me was that I struggled a bit with the pacing. At times, this book felt slow, I'm not sure why. Because of that, I struggled a bit to connect to the characters.

This book has all of the bones necessary for an amazing book, so I can't wait to see what else this author has to offer!

Thanks to Sam Taylor and Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

After being stolen by the brutal Vesimaan empire as children, Oksana and Pran are forced to undergo a terrifying transformation into fire-wielding soldiers. Both are desperate to protect one another and keep their relationship a secret from those who would surely use it against them. So, when fellow soldiers start acting strangely and dangerous schemes come to light, no cost is too great for Pran in the fight against tyranny, even if Oksana has different plans in mind. Difficult choices lie ahead, and threaten to drive them apart, as they realize that freedom is not so easily won in a land where cruelty reigns. With overwhelming odds against them, the spark they light in search of a future together may just consume everything in its path...even themselves.

Morally grey protagonists and dangerous magic abound in Sam Taylor’s thrilling debut We Are the Fire. Set in an expansive fantasy world, this book kept us reading until the early hours of the morning, excited to find out what happened next. Alternating between the perspectives of Oksana and Pran, readers are propelled through an intense fire-fight for freedom à la An Ember in the Ashes. With a smoldering romance and characters that leap off the page, this book is a fiery new addition to the young adult fantasy world. As the two protagonists find themselves winding down an ever-darkening path, themes of home, fierce friendship, and fighting for a better tomorrow shine through as crackling embers of hope. We Are the Fire is perfect for those who enjoy detailed world-building, lovers at odds, and heart-wrenching twists.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.)

I"m going to leave this review just here on Netgalley only and not on Goodreads as I started reading I just couldn't get into the story without being too emotionally irritated by the protagonists being stolen from their families as children and then experimented on. I am just not in the correct frame of mind to read this book and this is totally a me issue but I still wanted to give a review.

This was certainly not a favorite book of mine. It started too slow, and the execution could have been better, in my opinion. Although with these in mind, I can 110% see why people would enjoy this. The physical characterization with the antlers was one of my favorite parts to the storyline/ culture. I think this could have been a situation where it was the wrong time for me to read it, but it is by no means a bad book.

4.5 out of 5 Stars

***ARC received from Swoon Reads/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

I’m going to be perfectly honest here, the whole reason I wanted to read this is because of the title. I have no shame in admitting a beautiful cover will always get me. Sometimes it will burn me when the book inside doesn’t match the beauty of the cover but thankfully that is not at all the case in debut author Sam Taylor’s We Are the Fire.

The story follows Pran and Oksana, taken from their homes as young children forced into an army of other mostly children taken from different areas and engineered to become soldiers that control fire. Not everyone survives this and Pran has injuries that can cause debilitating issues that follow him throughout the book. Its refreshing to see that Pran struggles throughout the book but that his injuries do not stop him from fighting to break free from the empire that has controlled and used him and the people that he cares about the most. These aren’t super soldiers, these are kids raised into a cause most don’t even believe about, they are broken and just trying to help themselves.

Pran and Oksana both has the same cause, freedom even if they are going about it a little bit differently. Oksana wants to freedom to return home while Pran has a little bigger aspirations to free everyone that Oksana is not fully on board with. This is a set up that could generate a lot of forced unnecessary tension to drive two characters apart but nothing felt forced to me. When they do butt heads it feels natural and comes from a place of love and concern for each other and the people around them then something that was manufactured to create tension the book doesn’t need. Especially considering that their relationship is the core part of this story. They have an already established relationship that we get hints of throughout the book with how they came to be a couple and how it motivates their drive to be free. There are a few secondary characters that have different levels of development that are there to support/antagonize Pran and Oksana. Rootare is definitely the most interesting in terms of being an antagonist. I liked that the reasons for what he is doing, I can’t really talk about it without fully spoiling it, aren’t as straight forward as what it may seem. It doesn’t make him a good person but his reasons are not as simply as they would have been presented.

This is theme I found through the book, characters cast as antagonists are not what they fully appear. There is a scene at the end of the book with the commander that I’m not sure if we are meant to feel sorry for them, there is nothing from the characters that they are sorry for them but I felt that way. Yes they are horrible people but they are that way and have been created that way for a reason and once I found that out I can understand their twisted resentment toward those beneath them, not that I agree with it just that I understood it. Not everything is as straight forward as it seems.

There is final giant battle, despite the abilities that the characters have and it is refreshing to see. Not every book needs a battle, this book did well without it.

World building is okay, I felt that it couldn’t have been built up a little better particularly with the layout and spacing of the city. I felt at times people got everywhere very quickly when places felt like they might be more spread out. Maybe a city map would have helped to get the layout of areas but that could also just be me. Despite these few issues this was still a really strong debut book that I really liked.

We Are the Fire was intriguing and unique concept. I do not know what it was but I felt a disconnect. I think the character development felt very juvenile and not very well developed. Right away we are told about Pran having issues with pain in his leg. I love books that touch on different issues but in this case we did not get a good feel for the character or a back story to where we developed empathy for Pran. I think I also found it hard to bond with the story when we have the two characters Pran and Oksana who end up having very different points of view on how to right the wrongs of the world they live in. That also created a wedge since they are pretty codependent. I do think this is definitely a fantasy book that some are going to love it but it was just not for me.

Did you think we could keep our hands clean? Our choices easy and light?

3.5 out of 5 stars
This is a fast-paced book with such a great premise. Children are taken to be made into fire-breathing soldiers. They are experimented on until they are what is needed. Some don’t make it. The ones that do are ruthless weapons.

Pran and Oksana are our MC’s. They are lovers and best friends. They started out cute and playful but throughout the rest of the book they felt more like best friends. I was a little disappointed in that because I loved them at the start.

The story is full of action. It has a great story line. So why did it fall a bit flat for me? It’s hard to pinpoint. I felt the words on the page should be exciting. I even tried over multiple days. But I never quite “felt it.” Did the story happen to quickly? Did the romance change too much? Was there not enough emotion? Maybe. There were very few times that emotion was described. The story is detailed but it evoked no emotion in me. Many times I wondered why this big moment, like a death didn’t make me sad or cringe. While I read their thoughts, there weren’t a lot of emotions described which maybe accounted for my lack of feeling? I wanted to love this story. It should’ve been everything I love. I’m curious if anyone else feels the same?

I really think most people will love this story. It has so much going for it. Whatever I “need” in a book just wasn’t felt in this one and I’m disappointed. I am actually planning to reread this one or get the audio because I honestly cannot pinpoint why I feel this way.

We Are the Fire by Sam Taylor

This book is listed as children's fantasy but it feels almost like a combo fantasy/science fiction. I think it is one of the saddest stories I've read that wasn't a romance novel. The land is called Vesimaa. The Emperor is cruel in the worst way. He has children stolen from their parents. They are then put in a heavily fortified fort and the "doctor" injects them with strange serums to make them stronger. Along with getting stronger, they can breathe hot air that is highly flammable. The different injections are very painful as is the whole process. As if this wasn't enough, they are then trained to fight and kill. They have become the Emperor's undefeatable army. As they move up in rank, they then rule the younger children. Oksana and Pran have been there since they were each eight years old and have come to depend on each other. They are now eighteen. This is their story mainly. They want to marry and return home. It's been ten long years but no one leaves this army unless dead. Pran is determined to change all of this and the punishments along the way are not pretty. I'm not sure who this is marketed to but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under sixteen. The death scenes are too graphic for young children. I still give it 5 stars though.

We are the Fire is the perfect book for those looking to devour a a stand-alone YA fantasy. Usually I don't like pre-established romances as I enjoy the building up and yearning, however, as this is a stand-alone it worked really well. The fact that the main characters are already together from the beginning of the story means that there is no unnecessary drama and instead the story is able to focus on the plot. Speaking of the plot. Wow. I was hooked from start to finish, there was so much action and intrigue.

All in all, a fantastic read!

If you like flawed yet relatable characters and heart-stopping tension, WE ARE THE FIRE is a must read for 2021. Debut author Sam Taylor has created a dark world of flame, rebellion, and romance that will appeal to young and old readers alike. Readers will find themselves sympathizing with but often wishing they could shout “Wait! What are you thinking!” as Pran and Oksana face difficult moral dilemmas and make questionable decisions. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page.

Yay Sam Taylor!! This book was jampacked with magic and rebellion! I loved these characters and think the author did an amazing job weaving this story together. It was hard to put down!

Ask me for a book that broke my heart, I will point you to this one. Sam Taylor pulls no punches in this book that almost feels like a dystopian fantasy. The world that is created in this book is so fascinating to me, right down to the battle armor the Tulii's wear (I mean, strapping antlers to your head to go into a fight? yeah that sounds cool as shit, excuse my language). Despite a lull in the plot just after the halfway mark, the action in the story keeps you going until you reach the Epilogue. You can tell how much Pran and Oksana need each other, and I only wish that we had more interactions with them as a couple so that as they become pushed apart, the desire to bridge the gap between their issues is evens stronger. Regardless, this was a fantastic, unique, heart-wrenching, emotionally exhausting book in all the best ways.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storygram tours for this ARC copy of WE ARE THE FIRE. I really enjoyed this one. The magic system and story were easy to follow.

It pains me to walk away from a book that I looked forward to reading. Even after taking a break from this for a couple days I DNF’ed it at 40%.

I guess my beef with it so far is the story’s failure to hold my attention. I feel like the world building is lacking something but I can’t put my finger on what that something is. The character diversity is practically nonexistent, which is a massive bummer because there’s so much potential there to explore more of these characters from different parts of this fantasy world. And none of them were all that interesting to me.

Pran and Oksana are both wonderful characters. I have nothing against friends-to-lovers and what these two go through is horribly tragic and I’m rooting for their happy ending. What put me off about them though is the fact their relationship is already established. Which usually doesn’t leave much room for development other than working to attain their freedom so they can be together without living under the Emperor’s thumb.

Overall, I wish I could’ve enjoyed this story more. I might come back to it again later and see if my opinion of it changes any.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I HAVE TO WRITE THIS REVIEW IN ALL CAPS. WHY, YOU ASK? WELL, IT'S BECAUSE I WANT TO SCREAM HOW MUCH I LOVED THIS STORY. MAGIC. WHO DOESN'T ENJOY A STORY WITH MAGIC? I FOUND THE CHARACTERIZATIONS REALISTIC AND RELATABLE. THE PLOT HELD ME THE ENTIRE TIME. I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND IT TO LOVERS OF YA.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for a review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.

This book was very well-done. It had good characters, an intriguing premise, moral ambiguity, great action sequences, and captivating imagination. This is one of those rare times that I wish the book wasn't a stand-alone because I feel like the world offers a lot of possibilities. A lot of people will probably be fine with the pacing of the book and how it ends, but to me it sometimes felt like it was going too fast. Maybe it was just me wanting to soak in the atmosphere of the world more.

The biggest negative I can give this book is that it made me forget that the characters' helmets had horns. It was mentioned once in the opening when the two leads get tangled together, but I don't recall it ever being brought up again. It's a relatively minor thing in the grand scheme of things but for such an image to not stick with me throughout the book has got to be a negative.

I guess for the other negative, I'm going to quote Mean Girls: why are you white? Seriously, this is a fantasy where characters are warped by alchemy into breathing fire. How cool would it have been if their skin colors reflected fire as well-- reds, oranges, blues? That would have served as an excellent visual to show just how much they were altered and separating them more from the rest of the population. Especially when your ranks include words like Imp or Goblin. Why not have them look more like imps and goblins so that ranking system makes some sense, and have each promotion warp them even more?

I mentioned already that to me the pacing was a little fast. What I thought would be the climax happened halfway through the book, making me wonder what the hell the rest of it would be about. The second climax felt just as quick. If this had been two books instead of one, I think each part could have been fleshed out a lot more. The world would have been given more time as well as the characters. I think the stuff with the Commanders definitely could've benefited from more time, as it all felt like it came out of nowhere and then ended quickly.

All that said, though, I still think this was an entertaining book. The imagination was certainly there and the concept is very cool. I liked our main leads and how they each struggled in their own way to make their lives better, as well as the lives of those around them. It's a relief to read a YA where romance isn't so prominent and plot-focused. I would definitely recommend this as a teen's introduction to fantasy.

The fires that light the way to freedom, Pran and Oksana, two children who were stolen from their families and forced to become fire-wielding soldiers, will finally light the way to freedom. The story is set in a world where children are stolen from their families and forced to enlist in the army where they are experimented on, tortured, and killed, all for the emperor. Their lives are brutal, horrific, and painful, yet Pran dreams of snatching freedom for them and Oksana just wants to keep Pran alive and live to get back to her family again. It’s a great story about persevering, hope, love, and endurance. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it!

*Thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I got about 20% through before giving up. I was just not invested in anything that was happening. I didn't really feel interested in the characters or the world. I don't know if this is just a me problem but either way, it was just not something I could find myself enjoying unfortunately. I wish there was more substance to the characters. I just felt like we were expected to know what the characters were like already and I just lacked a connection to them.

Maybe I would be able to like this book but for now, it's just not something for me.