More of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

CW: burning of people, reference to past suicide(sacrifice)

I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book since the first time it showed up on my Twitter tl, because I’m always excited for a desi author debut and the cover with my favorite color was very enticing. And it turned out to be quite fun.

The writing of this book was quite easy to get into, though finding myself grounded in the world took a bit of time. The author is pretty good at descriptions, and I particularly gasped at the feeling of the desert heat and sand dunes, as well as the painful nature of fire. It took me a while to see where the story was going but I never guessed the most important twists and betrayals, so that was quite fun. But the one surprise which took me a while to get over was realizing that this is a technologically advanced fantasy world - with both hoverpods and tanks and pulse guns, as well as staunch belief in gods and prophecies and Fire magic - I don’t always encounter such worlds and I’m still not sure if I’m completely in love with it, but the author made the blend of the two feel seamless which was pretty cool.

Wow is this a book where I don’t know what to feel about the characters, but not exactly in a bad way. All three of the main POVs really skirt the line between black and white and it’s upto us as readers to decide what we feel about them. One is a king who probably wants his daughter to have a better kingdom to rule, but he is also consumed by his need for power and control and can’t accept that his actions maybe wrong. The Princess and Queen to be loves her people and wants everlasting peace, but worries more about mastering the fire until she realizes this power is all she has left if she wants to fight for her people’s survival. And finally we have a traitor, an assassin, a broken man torn between two homes both of which never accepted him, who yearns to be free but truly doesn’t know what it means. There were a couple of very memorable side characters whom I really enjoyed getting to know, but don’t want to spoil anything by talking more about them. The romance element is barely there but I was glad for it because the circumstances of the story didn’t make for ideal conditions for love to bloom, but I’m sure we’ll get more of it in the sequel.

On the whole, this was an entertaining story with compelling characters and an underlying theme of the greedy nature of power and what it can lead to. I will be very honest, I’m not sure this is something I will wanna reread, but I definitely wanna know what happens next and will look forward to the next installment.

This book was so much fun, exactly as described! I loved getting to know each and every character, and can’t wait until the official release!

Big thank you to NetGalley for providing this free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I cannot believe this is a debut novel for Aparna Verma! This high fantasy, inspired by Indian myth, is a thrilling story of redemption. One of my favourite aspects is when each chapter has a quote at the beginning. These quotes happen to be some of the best I've read so far. I want to share some that I noted while reading.

"To be forgiven, one must be burned."

"And thus the Phoenix rose with eyes afire and a cry of vengeance upon Her lips."

"The night when Alabore Ravence built his kingdom, it is said that men feasted on starlight. For it was Alabore Ravence who brought the heavens closer to Sayon, who brought the power and mystique of the Phoenix into a real, solid hearth. The desert may be unforgiving, but it was spun from stardust, and to stardust it will go."

"There is no hard line between the servant and the sinner. There is only a soft blur, a delicate edge in which a man can lose himself."

The author seamlessly blends the ancient kingdom and its customs along with futuristic technology such as cameras, holopods, pulseguns, hovercars and trains etc. Even such, it doesn't feel different from any other fantasy set in an imagined kingdom.

Coming from Croatia, we don't have as big a selection of books, especially when it comes to Fantasy books. Most are with Western European folklore, and the few I've read set in India, seamed like they were written by westerners, for westerners. This book perfectly describes the charms of Ancient India. Reading it, I could feel the heat of the desert sun, smell the spices and jasmine, hear the music of the dhol drums and feel the silk of the sari as if I were wearing it.

This novel has several undertones, and the plot isn't as direct as I've gotten used to in the fantasy novels that came out in the last few years. Don't get me wrong, I love it! Books are supposed to be multilayered and complex, with twists and turns guiding us through the story, instead of being simple and direct. How is the audience supposed to engage with the story otherwise?

I would recommend this novel to everyone, especially lovers of Sci-Fi & High Fantasy and that is why I give it 5 out of 5 stars. It isn't even out yet, still I cannot wait to read the sequel! I'm practically squealing with excitement.

e-arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"to be forgiven, one must be burned."

this has got to be one of the most well-crafted debut novels i've ever read. everything from the cast of characters -a future queen on a warpath, a sorrowful ex-assassin, and an increasingly unhinged dilf- to the world and its politics, felt as real and fleshed out as if this was the seventh book in a series.

the recent heat wave certainly helped, but the way the author writes just transports you right to the middle of a desert. the prose is simple enough not to get mixed up in, but at times so beautiful and lyrical i had to reread a passage thrice and write it down. and while the glossary may seem intimidating at first, i don't think this book would be as good as it was if it took place on Earth... But Magic™. i might not be fully clear on what a brenni looks like, but i want one.

i won't regurgitate the plot summary you've probably read, but i will say that it surprised me how the three different plotlines wove together and even ran parallel at times. it made for an exciting read, and seeing an event from multiple perspectives (while not just rehashing information i already have) definitely helped me get into the story a lot more than if it had been just one pov. that said, leo's perspective was definitely my favourite. not that i liked 95% of what he did, but it was fun to read about, in a 'detective trying to figure out the crime' kind of way.

the worldbuilding could be a bit heavy-handed at times, but i find that's the case with most fantasy books, anyway. my only real gripe was with the pacing, which could be inconsistent at times, but the last 15% of the book more than made up for it. and, of course, the epilogue chapter, which i read with a hand up to my mouth from shock alone. gonna have to start campaigning for a sequel first thing tomorrow. read 'the boy with fire', join the fight

Thank you to NetGalley and New Degree Press for the eARC!

The Boy With Fire was a great start to the Ravence Trilogy. The worldbuilding was stunning — a blend of the fantastical and the futuristic, set to the backdrop of the desert dunes and winds — and helped immerse the readers within the story easily. The characters were another plus; each of the main POV characters (as well as significant side characters) were developed with their own wants, needs, and moral compasses that, while not always pointing in the best direction, gave their actions depth.

I wish the pacing of this story had been a little better, as it started and ended strong, but dragged a lot in the middle. The characters helped keep the plot moving, but a bit too slowly for my tastes. Additionally, the romance that we all saw coming felt cliche and crammed in at the wrong time, and it distracted from the fiery stakes that the characters faced.

Finally, the plot twists absolutely ruined my week in the best way. I don't suppose I can ask for a book 2 before the first even releases, can I?

Final Rating: 4/5
+ Pros:
— diverse world and culture
— strong characters
— great worldbuilding
— plot twists !


+ Cons
— slow pace
— iffy main romance

"Belief is stronger than a god, more fragile than a feather."

This is my first (yay!) Indian mythology inspired read and it is extremely well-written. The three POVs did a great job in delivering the story, while the world building was interesting. I was impressed by the technology that they used because I initially thought that it'd have a historical setting. Although I have to admit that the first half of the book felt quite slow to me but the second half was absolutely amazing, I wasn't able to stop reading.

Elena's character development was brilliant, you really can't help but root for her the entire time. Yassen is just plain heartbreaking, while Leo..... He's really something else, that's for sure. I love how the characters (not just limited to these three) are morally grey, which makes it even more realistic considering the world that they live in.

There's a lot more left to unravel and I will be keeping an eye out for the sequels. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Arc provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
The Boy With Fire is advertised as a mix of Dune and The Poppy War with morally grey characters that fight a divine salvation in order to maintain power (each of which has a different definition of power) and it did not disappoint in that.

Elena is the princess and heir to the throne, soon to be coronated as queen but she is unable to wield fire— which is a skill that is viewed as proof that her family has the divine right to rule. Yassen an ex-assassin finds himself back at home while being on the run from both his former employees and well the ruling family. But his childhood friend Samson, has arranged to have him pardoned if they join the court of the Ravence family with Yassen as Elena’s bodyguard.

As the story moves forward we learn more about the court politics and conflict that looms over the entire story as well as the intricately written world. Aparna Verma pulls from Indian mythology for several of her characters and world building aspects but her world is so uniquely written. I loved how all the POVs had such big personalities, which you generally find to be lacking in books that have more than three POVs. I loved the relationships between the characters especially Elena and Ferma’s, you can clearly see how devoted they are to one another and how drastic their actions become when they are not on the same side of an argument.

The main setbacks for me were the plot, the ending, and the romantic relationship. The very weird pacing just didn’t work quite well with the plot which is why at times it could be a hit or miss. Some POVs were very fast paced and filled with information while others were slow and filler chapters and with a complex world building, it just did not work very well. Again, my issue with the ending had to do with the strange pacing. Everything happened really fast and then it felt like there was a big stop and went back to being fast paced. I’m not someone who really gets invested in romantic relationships so this wasn’t a big setback for me but it seemed as though the relationship was written better when they were being developed. The switch in beliefs was just very quick which made the relationship seem rushed.

I know some reviewers have said that even though The Boy With Fire is said to be an adult fantasy, that they would categorise it as a young adult fantasy. The youngest character is twenty-five years old and does deal with darker topics which is what I would define as adult fantasy but I know that adult fantasy is generally viewed as dark topics with usually some triggering content which definitely plays into the whole issue with book ratings. In comparison to The Poppy War or The Descent of the Drowned I would say that it is much lighter but still deals with similar dark topics, just in a more nuanced way.

Elena and Verma were my favourites and an absolute joy to read, I can’t wait to read them in the rest of the trilogy.

Would recommend The Boy With Fire to anyone who is a fan of morally grey characters, wrathful gods and women, and descent to madness arcs.

TWs: War themes, Immolation, Self-Immolation, Death of loved ones

3.75 stars

Dune meets The Poppy War is the most accurate possible description of Verma's debut novel The Boy With Fire. The novel follows three characters in a gritty world: Yassen Knight, an assassin who only wants freedom from a life of brutality and violence, Elena Ravence, the heir to Ravence who will either learn to hold fire and ascend to the throne or have everything torn from her, and Leo Ravence, my personal favourite perspective. The current king of Ravence, haunted by a prophecy that declares his family's reign will soon be over with the arrival of their Phoenix God's chosen Prophet, is willing is to go extreme lengths to retain power in his family, even if it means giving up salvation.

Between the three, there is never a dull moment, and Verma paints the setting in vivid colour, masterfully weaving imagery throughout to create an extremely immersive experience. It is extremely interesting to see how well modern technology was integrated into an epic fantasy based on Indian mythology. Although the plot doesn't truly pick up until after the halfway point, it wasn't an unenjoyable experience. The only thing I thought that could use more development were the characters. I could understand their decisions and how they came to it, and while people are a sum of their choices and I understood fundamentally who they were, I would have enjoyed seeing more of their personality, to give the book an emotional and personal edge. I feel like the climax would have been much more impactful had I been more attached to the characters and actively rooted for their success rather than being a passive bystander to everything that unfolded.

The Boy with Fire was a fantastic beginning to The Ravence Trilogy. Told in three different perspectives, this book captures motive and ramifications so well. Aparna Verma knows how to create a captivating world and shape fierce, intriguing characters. This journey was so good from start to finish, and I am absolutely looking forward to all of Verma’s future work and the rest of the story!

Positives:
- The world building was amazing. The blend of fantasy with sci-fi elements was perfect for this book. I could picture the desert, fire, and atmosphere so well.
- All 3 characters (Elena, Yassen, and Leo) were interesting and engaging. I enjoyed when they would interact, but I also think the author wrote their moments in solitude very well. I loved having villains as protagonists, people who made terrible decisions and had to face their consequences.
- When the plot was good, it was good! The plot twist left me in shock, screaming at what was just revealed. Sometimes I couldn't put the book down because I just needed to know what would happen next.

Negatives:
- There's a thing authors do that I call ‘the remote’. You know when you're watching a movie and you need to fast forward? As you skip through, you get the basic gist that happens, seeing the scene but not really feeling present in it. When you get to the part you want, the clip plays like normal and you're engaged once more. In books, a scene will occur rapidly or in a short amount of page time. To me it feels like getting the outline of a scene that could have had an indescribable “more”, and I got that feeling a lot during this book.
- The characters spent a lot of time trapped in their own thoughts. Yes it's great to learn about their past and the ideas behind the choices they make, but I am someone who craves banter and uninterrupted dialogue.

Overall, this was such a great read! I truly can not wait for book two!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing company for this arc!

There's a lot to like about this novel: the pacing, the characters, the plot twists. (Especially the plot twists.) The Boy with Fire takes its reader on a journey through kingdoms and their rites, their similarities and differences, their wars and their peace treaties. (The latter don't often last long.) Although long, it is by no means slow-paced: it has its ups and downs, especially in the beginning, but there is always something happening to carry the plot and the characters forward.

Its worldbuilding was really detailed. I found it interesting how the typical swords-and-daggers weaponry was intermixed with guns and much more advanced technology, creating a relatively unique fantasy world. Naturally, what I liked best about the worldbuilding was that I could see bits of culture that remind me of my own, and recognize words from a language similar to mine. There aren’t too many such words to be overwhelming; even for a person that doesn’t have ties in South Asia, the story is easy to follow, especially because it has an extensive glossary at the back.

I know this has been categorized as adult fiction here on NetGalley, but I'd personally say it belongs to the young adult category. This isn't because of its characters: out of the three points of view the reader is given, two are of 25-year-olds and the third is of the father of one of these 25-year-olds. The reason why I'd say teenagers are much more likely to enjoy this book is due to its content and writing style, both of which fit the young adult category well.

In many, many books I've read over the years (especially those which seem geared towards a teenage audience), I've seen "quotable lines" added to the story which often seem a little forced. I understand why you might have such lines in a story: they stand out; they get quoted; they bring curious new readers to a book. On their own, perhaps they truly are good lines; however, when reading such dramatic lines within the story itself, they're too noticeable as such to feel comfortable in the words surrounding them. This, amongst a couple of other things, is why I'd say The Boy with Fire seems more young-adult-esque to me – the writing style, although generally good for an older audience, too, would appeal to a younger one quite a lot as well. Why not market it to them, too?

Overall, though, this was a very enjoyable read, and the plot drew me forward and engaged me till the very end.

I was really excited for this book but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. The characters failed to catch my eye and the plot was really slow.

There is no simple way to put it, but I absolutely loved 'The Boy With Fire'. Right from the start, I was completely pulled into the story. Aparna Verma's prose is enchanting and I could easily imagine scenes from the book playing out in front of me, like they were a movie. This book gets really dark at times; and that's one of the things that elevates it for me. It doesn't shy away from showing power and madness and how selfish desires can lead to your own destruction. The book is told in three point of views; Elena Ravence, her father and king Leo Ravence, and Yassen Knight. Each of these characters are completely distinct from each other and are complex in their own way. I loved them all, but I have to say my favorite was definitely Yassen.
And the ending? It broke me. I sort of saw what was coming, but still it was painful and it essentially pulled out my heart and ripped it into two.

It's such a fantastic debut and I'm so excited to learn what comes next!

The reason why this book interested me so much was how the author described The Boy With Fire - i couldn't be more excited to get my hands on this. Indian-inspired epic fantasy with badass women, morally grey characters and corruption? Give me!

While being a solid foundation for a fresh, interesting sci-fi/fantasy world, it didn't quite reach my expectations.
The writing was great and easy to follow, the worldbuilding intriguing, filled with lore and had me wanting more and more.
Unfortunately, my biggest issue was the fact that i simply could not connect to any of the characters. Characters, for me, are what makes or breaks a book, and by no means am i saying that these are bad characters, but for me, i needed more depth. I can certainly appreciate what the author was going for, i just feel like i missed something very important and could not grasp it.
The other tough spot for me was the pacing. The first half of the book felt rather aimless and a bit slow at times, it did not glue my eyes to my kindle. The latter half was quite the opposite - perhaps too much fit into a smaller time frame which ultimately made the plot feel rushed.

Overall i still had fun with this, and i know i'm in the minority with these opinions - i can't wait to see how Aparna Verma takes off! I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more publications by her.

At first, I didn't plan to pick up this arc but when I saw the art/tiktok vids of the author posted on twitter I was intrigued. I loved the indian-inspired fantasy world that the author created mixed with the sci-fi concept of holopods and holocars. The world-building was rich and I really enjoyed exploring it. I also love how each of the characters are unique and distinguishable. The characters were all complex and dynamic in their own way. Lastly, the ending of the book, I didn’t expect it at all. I can't wait to read the next installment.

The Boy With Fire follows Elena- the heir to the kingdom of Ravence as she approaches her coronation, Yassen- an orphaned ex criminal who was rebuked from his job/affiliations and Leo, the king of Ravence as they struggle to deal with understanding power, understanding themselves, a country on the edge of change via new rule and prophecy and the elemental magic rooted within their country. This book is told in these three points of view, but personally I found myself enamored with the side characters who never got a pov just as much as the characters who did. That being said, there def was a lot of room for the relationships between the characteres to be explored more but getting to know the characters even without this was amazing because they are all such unique, enticing people.

Ravence is a country cloaked in mythology and learning what makes the country tick as well as the people within it is a beautiful part of this book and very well done. Despite this, there is a pretty big info dump at the beginning and I struggled a little with it but honestly that was a me problem not a problem with the book. The writing during the initial world building is not hard to understand at all and goes rather quickly. And on top of the simplistic nature, the initial worldbuilding helps us to understand some of the characters right off the bat- not just the world itself, which is useful for the rest of the book because it's like the characters are established in your head by the time you get through the worldbuilding and further into the plot. Also, Ravence and it's surrounding countries where our books take place is beautiful! Learning about it is a joy because of how lovely it is (learning about cloud cookies that become "honeyed air" in your mouth brought up such an intense craving in me).

The pacing of this book was also a little difficult for me. The start is interesting after learning about the world we are in, and the plot is addicting. The story is suspenseful and mysterious and keeps you hooked but towards the middle it slows down... a lot. There's a little hump to get through that feels a little repetitive but after that the plot does pick back up! I found myself getting more and more invested again at around 70% of the book and I was so thankful that I made it through the hump because the plot thickens in an amazing way and the plot is enticing, suspenseful and towards the end it definetely becomes the kind of book that you want to tear through but at the same time you want to live in it forever.

All in all, this is def worth the read for people who enjoy YA and NA fantasy (but with checking the appropriate content warnings of course) and I am desperately waiting for the next book.

“The path of fire burns everyone in the end.”

I always get weirdly anxious reading books that haven’t been recommended to me by someone—even if it SOUNDS amazing, what if I end up not liking it?? Well I can promise you, that is not the case at all with The Boy with Fire by Aparna Verma.

This Indian inspired fantasy/sci-fi novel is told from 3 perspectives: Yassen Knight, a notorious assassin who’s defected from the Arohassin; Elena Ravence, the confident heir to the crown, yet who still lacks the ability to hold Fire; and Leo Ravence, the king who will stop at (literally) nothing if he believes it will protect his country.

Ravence is a desert kingdom, on the brink of war with the neighboring metallic and bright Jantari kingdom. Paper is a rarity, replaced by a culture of holocrons, pulse guns, and game suits.

The first few chapters I did struggle with a little, as I was trying to keep up with all the names, places, events, culture, and backstory. (Oh, if only I had discovered the glossary sooner this would have probably been easier 😅) By about chapter 4, I was really piecing everything together and felt super invested in our 3 MCs. The world building is incredibly complex and detailed, but in a way that adds a lot to the story—you can tell Aparna Verma has really thought out every single aspect.

The pacing was spot on—there really wasn’t a moment that I was bored. I loved that Fire is so central to everything throughout the book—it burns, destroys, heals, rebuilds, devours, consumes, renews—and this really mirrors the journey of the characters. The last 1/4 of the book had me going “Oh crap” and then “OH $#%&!!” 🤣

This book is seriously great. It’s got slow burn enemies to friends (or more??), morally gray characters, corruption/redemption arcs, multiple POVs, an Indian inspired setting, complex world building, and best of all CLOUD COOKIES! Some people are comparing it to Poppy War meets Dune (haven’t read this YET so I can’t say!), but at times I definitely got vibes of Throne of Glass/Assassins Blade, The Bridge Kingdom, and maybe even a little Cinder?

This book is really worth your time and I already want to know when book 2 comes out!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this wonderful book ❤️

Review will also be posted on my Goodreads and Instagram account, @thebookishmusician!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“There is no hard line between the servant and the sinner. There is only a soft blur, a delicate edge in which a man can lose himself.”

The Boy with Fire is an impressive debut from Aparna Verma.

I have a soft spot for worlds that blend sci-fi and fantasy, and Sayon delivers. This book was sold as a mix of Dune and The Poppy War, and while I haven't read the latter, I definitely felt the influence of the former. The reverence and connection that the characters had to their environment is something that I wish I'd see in more fantasy. The desert almost felt like a character of its own. The influence of Indian folklore is also very present and there was a lot of religious lore included in the worldbuilding, which was a nice touch.

As far as characters, Elena was the one who hit home the most for me- she's clever, intense, pragmatic, and takes no shit. I felt like her POV was the best written and it was easiest to get inside her headspace. Yassen is another favorite, and I felt that his arc in this book was the strongest of any character and there was a lot of development. I'm dying to know more about his and Samson's backstories!

The prose itself is so lovely and there are lots of standout quotes- it's poetic without being hard to follow and lets the story flow naturally. It elevates the novel to another level and is where I feel Verma's skill as a writer really shines.

As far as critique I have a few points, but nothing major- <spoiler>I may be too much of a SFF veteran but I won't believe a character is dead until I see a body, so a couple reveals fell flat for me. I also wanted a little more of a concrete explanation to the magic system but trust it to be explored further in sequels. On the note of characters, I felt that Akaros wasn't built up enough to be believably threatening and wish he could have been kept in the dark as more of a mysterious villain, communicating to Yassen through a messenger to really hammer home the scope of his power. The facelessness of it would have been nice, I think. </spoiler> Lastly, I wish we could have seen more of the world from the POV of someone outside the royal household. I always think that things like that, even in interludes, help make a world feel more fleshed out.

I was intrigued by almost every element of this book- the character, the setting, and the plot all left me wanting more. I can't wait to see what Verma comes up with for book 2 and I'm excited for how she'll build on TBWF.

This book was a wonderful read. The author's writing is truly beautiful as it pulls you along Yassen's and Elena's journey. The author was able to world build so beautiful that you felt like you were right there with the characters. Using Indian mythology was a great idea as I feel it is one that is not typically depicted in most books (although this is starting to change). In addition, the character development was well done. The character's actions and growth made sense.

Sometimes having multiple POVs don't always work, but I have to say this was not the case for this story. I truly enjoyed reading about Yassen's, Elena's, and Leo's points of view. Having Leo's point of view has to be one of the best ideas the author had in creating this book. It is not very often that readers get the tyrant's point of view, especially with Leo being the father of the main character.

The book does have a slow start but as you continue reading it slowly starts to draw you in, to the point where you can't put it down. One of my favorite parts has to be the ending of the story. With so many unknowns about what's going to happen with the two main characters, I excitedly look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

Overall a 4.5/5 star rating.

this is a pretty solid debut and i'm so glad we're getting more desi inspired adult fantasies, the genre is in desperate need.

the standouts of this novel are definitely the writing and worldbuilding. the writing is straightforward yet beautiful and really easy to read; it's the perfect balance between description, action and dialogue, which is pretty impressive for a debut author. the worldbuilding is so immersive and wonderfully developed; the lore and the culture are written with fascinating detail and i just love the concept of prophecies, vengeful gods and dangerous mythological creatures. it's all written in a fairly accessible way too and i'd recommend this book to newbie fantasy readers.

however, the boy with fire wasn't really a great reading experience for me sadly. my main issue is the fact that i simply didn't care for the characters. they felt interesting in theory but for some reason, i was never emotionally invested in them, so i never cared about what happened to them. elena's pov felt very repetitive to me, especially in the first half, and i wish her relationship with ferma was more developed. yassen was a character that i should have liked but again, i got tired of his repetitive thoughts - also, his relationship with samson felt so empty for all that they were childhood best friends. leo was the most interesting character by far, i wish he could've been the main character instead of elena. the romance was also pretty stale for me personally.

basically, the characters didn't engage me enough and the relationships all felt strangely devoid of emotion to me. leo and elena have a really interesting parent/child dynamic but we simply didn't get enough of it.

another issue i have is the pacing. the first 50% is way too slow with hardly anything actually happening. when significant things finally start taking place in the second half, they're bogged down with boring interludes. the last 10% is when i got the most interested but for me to really enjoy a book, i need to be invested from the start, not just at the end.

overall, my problems with this book are very personal; i think this author has a lot of potential and i would still recommend this book if you're interested in an indian-inspired adult fantasy with morally grey characters and themes of war and religion.

My reason for reading this book was simply because I saw a tweet from the author on my Twitter timeline talking about how The Boy With Fire is an adult fantasy book inspired by Hindu mythology with a corruption arc and a romance subplot. When I heard there would be a corruption arc, I was intrigued and immediately looked up the book. When I saw that it was available on Netgalley, I didn’t hesitate to download the e-ARC.

When reading this book, my biggest issue was with the pacing. The first half or so of The Boy With Fire was super slow and it felt like barely anything happened. However in the last half of the book, things did start picking up, and it was more action-packed towards the end, which I enjoyed. I hope the future books in this series continues at this pace and that the slower build at the start was only to establish some background and contribute to the world building.

Also, as for the corruption arc I was promised I was kind of… underwhelmed? Maybe when I saw that tweet from the author I subconsciously had this expectation in my head about it and then subsequently let myself down. Though maybe this will be explored further in future books, since this was only the first book of a series.

In terms of what I liked about The Boy With Fire, I felt immersed in the world-building of this book. It was probably my favorite part about it. I also enjoyed the enemies to lovers subplot, but not as much as I wanted to. I liked it but it wasn’t anything new or different from other enemies to lovers relationship dynamics that I’ve seen before. Maybe in the next books of this series my opinion will change with further exploration of these characters.

All this to say, if this is only the first book in a series, then I think this was a good start. I believe there’s a lot of potential for this series to prosper.