Waking Fire has so many things I love: themes of found family, a chosen one main character, twins, dragons, and a desert setting! I honestly loved it even more than I thought I would - and I knew I'd love it thanks to the inclusion of dragons. I loved the worldbuilding, and I thought the story was really well paced. The action picks up right away and carried me through the whole book in a single sitting. Plus, the writing was excellent, which is always a bonus. I can't wait for the sequel!

Thank you to Inkyard Press and Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.5 I really wanted to like this more than I did. It was a struggle to finish it. I had a hard time grasping why Naira a 16 year old felt like she was responsible for protecting the town and killing the mistress. I listened to the audiobook and I don’t know if I just read the physical copy I could have found the drive to finish it.

I wish there was more world building. The prologue kinda threw me for a loop and I didn’t free like it had much to do with the story. The awkward attempted romance didn’t had anything for me and it all just fell flat.

I enjoyed this novel much more than I had expected too, and I can’t wait for the sequel.

The story, the characters and the very core of the novel were all so captivating, and I read it in only a few sittings. The cover first drew me in, but the story really sold me. Watching Naira and her brother go from living a peaceful life to suddenly having to fight armies and their own values was fascinating. I loved the world, and I knew how to wield a sword, I would definitely visit.

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next novel, and I know that I’m going to love anything else that the author publishes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Inkyard Press and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I adore the world building and fantasy feeling in Waking Fire. From the beginning, there's lore and information which makes the world feel expansive. You get this idea that you've been transplanted into a world of magic and dragons. And the world just keeps growing. Waking Fire is a series starter which will make you pre-order the sequel right now. The last ten to twenty percent increases the pacing. You feel like the dominoes have finally started to fall and the world will never be the same.

There is poor writing and lack of rereads at the core of this book's struggles. I just couldn't get past the debut author feel here. The cover also is not that great.

The book follows Naira, a headstrong girl with a temper living in the desert town of Lagusa with her twin brother Nez and their parents. The peace of their 'hidden city' is broken when a zombie army led by a mysterious women breaches the gates.

The setting of the book appears to be North African-inspired (a desert town with a sea and white people to the north), with its own fantasy religion and history. The town is nicely imagined, and I especially loved the atmosphere of the tombs outside the city.

While reading I wasn't aware that this was the first book in a series, so I was wondering when all the mysteries from the prologue would be answered, only to find out that it wouldn't be explained in this book. It was a little disappointing that we didn't get to know much about the dragons, and much of this book felt like filler before we get to the real story. There was a lot of Dambi zombie fighting and running about the city - with so much gore I began to wonder how anyone was left alive in the city (it was maybe too much senseless killing for me, though pretty standard for dark fantasy these days), and I was a little incredulous that a few teens were so much better at killing the zombies than seasoned fighters (but that's how YA is :P)

Naira and Nez's sibling banter was fun, her questioning of the religion was relatable, and there is clearly a lot of world left to be explored in the next books. I read this in spurts and didn't really get into it, but I think teens who love high fantasy and non-Western worlds would find this enjoyable, keeping in mind it is part of a series.

Book Summary:

Naira Khoum has a strong sense of who she is – alongside knowing right from wrong. Perhaps that's why she ultimately picks a fight from which she should have walked away. But doing so would have meant allowing more people to get hurt in the long run.

Now Naira has been thrown out of the only home she has ever known – Lagusa. Her presence outside the borders opens Naira's eyes to everything happening in the outside world, such as war and an army of undead monsters. Yeah, not ideal.

My Review:

It was the cover of Waking Fire that first caught my attention – but the story that held it. Waking Fire is every bit the debut fantasy novel I had been hoping for. It's intense, full of unique characters and worldbuilding.

In truth, I would have loved to see even more of this world, given a chance. I know, I know. I'm so greedy when it comes to worldbuilding. But I can't help it! This world is fascinating, as Lagusa is meant to be a myth to the rest of Naira's world. More, please!

Waking Fire is a fun read for anyone looking for a new fantasy series to dive into. I'm already counting down the days until the next installment.

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Vibes similar to The Gilded Ones
Debut
Brilliant Cover

I gave this a four out of five stars, I really enjoyed it. The issue was the beginning was a little slow for me to get into it. I did love the family relationships and friendships in this book. I also liked the love interests for the twins in this book. I can't wait to read book two when it comes out.

Naïra and her brother Nez are twins living in a secluded desert village called Lagusa. They live with their parents. Their father teaches them how to fight. It is invaded by a woman called Mistress and her warriors known as Vra Gool Dambi, an army of the dead. She wants all the children of a certain age to come to her or people will die. The villagers say no as they fear she will kill them. The Mistress has her army go house to house to grab the children. The twin’s mother wants them to hide but they end up fighting. Will they end up winning or losing? Who or what is the Mistress looking for?

The author has written an incredible fantasy. I felt as if I was there seeing and feeling everything that Naira feels.. it’s a story filled with fighting and learning the twin’s background. It is a story that includes the importance of family, loyalty, and honor. It is about finding the path of your life and following it. I enjoyed this fantasy with its fast-paced adventure with unexpected surprises.

This was an incredible debut YA Fantasy novel! If you love found family, the chosen one trope, creepy monsters created by an evil ruler, dragon gods, and a country at war then you’ll love this. Kez and Naira are twins who grew up in the desert city that most people think is a myth, until a great threat finds them. Their story unfolds from there, and it’s full of fast paced action, emotional moments and amazing plot twists. I can’t wait to get a physical copy for my shelves, and for the sequel (which is sooo far away).

Naira Khoum lives in Lagusa, a quiet village the rest of the world considers a myth. War rages, led by Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi. Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress with Dambi, willing to destroy it in her search for something. Naira convinces her twin brother Nez and refugee Kal to join the newly formed resistance with her. Together, they’ll figure out what the Mistress wants and save Lagusa.

We're introduced to Naira and the village bullies right away, then the horrors of the Dambi when the bullies try keeping her out of town. It draws us in immediately, feeling everything she does. The fighting is intermittent; refugee caravans brave the desert to look for Lagusa, and as they're let in, the Dambi follow. The Mistress is looking for a specific child who was presumed dead, the one that should be on the throne that Sothpike wants. Naira can't sit idle as the village is attacked and children stolen and "tested," and even wounds don't keep her down for long. Gradually we get clues to the long-forgotten history of the kingdom, gods older than the thirteen dragons, and why the Mistress persists in Lagusa. 

This is a fun read that sucked me in almost immediately and made me forget about the outside world. There are glimmers of romance for Naira and Nez, but the main focus is on the fight for safety. Naira is in a dangerous place and even defeating an immediate threat doesn't mean it's over. Sothpike is approaching through the desert, an undead army and more Mistresses under his command. I can't wait to read more in this universe.

Thank you to NetGally, Jean Louise, and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review. Waking Fire is now available where all books are sold.

I really liked this one. It’s a fun young adult debut with lots of action to keep the story going. That said I really wanted to shake the heck out of Naira for a good portion of this book. She is so brash and doesn’t think before she opens her mouth most of the time and so much of the drama in this book would have been avoided if she could have just shut up for half a second.

The big plot twist of the book could be seen from a mile away too but that’s not a big deal for me.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Such a wonderful and entertaining story. I was instantly transported to this place and felt like I was along for the journey. I’ve never been one for epics but this book has challenged me and changed my views. This story is EPIC in the very best way. Just read this and enter it with your mind and heart wide open.

Thank you to Netgalley and HC for granting me access to this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review of this book when the Harper Collins Union strike is over because their needs were met.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.

Waking Fire is a compelling debut, and it has the promise to join the growing list of well-received diverse YA fantasies that have come out in recent years. While there are tonal similarities to those titles, Jean Louise very much gives the world and characters in particular her own flavor, as she’s coming at it from the perspective of a biracial woman. As such, there’s an equal representation of both Western and African diaspora features injected into the narrative. The village of Lagusa reflects this, and it’s particularly memorable as a result.

The narrative is very character driven. I like the approach of focusing a lot on Naira and her character growth throughout. She begins the story very naive, albeit rather stubborn, and it’s clear she’s only at the beginning of her journey toward coming into her own by the end of this book, with more to come in follow up installments.

The family dynamics were great, and I appreciate that this was largely not a story about a family without too many issues, which makes a nice change for much of the YA fantasy I’ve read.

The plot and pacing is a bit odd, with a lot of emphasis toward the characters and world setup, prior to the reveal of anything major that makes Naira stand out. However, the setup is well done enough that it doesn’t feel boring, and the ultimate reveal does generate the hype expected for the next book.

This is an impressive start to a series, and I can’t wait for more! If you’re looking for more diverse YA fantasy, I recommend checking this one out!

Undead monsters and a desert setting? Like music to this fantasy fan’s ears.

The cover immediately catches the eye and depicts Naira’s arid world. It’s clear the author put a lot of time and effort into the world-building, and it’s easy to visualize the settings and terrifying Dambi. The sibling relationship between twins Naira and Nez is a strong point, and he steals the show more than once. He’s also more logical, mature, and realistic than Naira, whose actions gave me the impression she was a much younger character. With the situations they’re thrust into and losses they’re dealt, at least they had each other to rely on.

The way Naira and her family welcome Kal after the loss of his father is admirable and heartwarming. He hasn’t had an easy life. I liked him as a character, but there’s a case of serious insta-love between him and Naira that happens over a couple pages. It’s not my favorite trope, but I know plenty of readers are fans of it.

If not for some language and graphic violence and deaths, I could easily see this being an upper MG book because the characters read more like lower YA.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book: Waking Fire
Author: Jean Louise
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Inkyard Press, for providing me with an ARC. I am going to start by saying that I had fun with this book. Is it the best-written one out there? No. Are the characters as complex as what I normally like? No. To me, this was like the Seafire series. It’s one of those books that you just have to sit back and relax. It’s one of those simple stories that allow you to escape for a little bit.

In this one, we follow Naira. She lives in a small village that is cut off from the rest of the world. While the rest of the world is at war, her town lives in peace. That all changes the day that the Mistress arrives with her army of the dead. Everything that Naira has ever known ends and she finds herself in this world of violence. She is not one to sit on the sidelines though. She is going to fight and not let this end her world. She convinces her brother and Kal to join the resistance and fight to hang on to their homeland.

This, to me, is a great setup. We have a teenage girl who has had an untouched life. Then, something happens and she is forced to take on this new role. Now, Naira has always been a fighter, but this is different. To see her take on this role of being a protector of her town and putting herself on the front was great. I will say though that the sense of danger was missing. This is the author’s first book and I am sure that this will be developed later on. I felt that even though our main characters were put into these very dangerous situations, there was never a sense that they were not going to make it out. Yes, it is hinted, but it just doesn’t leap across the page as it should.

Both the writing and the world were solid. Though there were times that I felt that the author was almost over explaining everything. This made some parts of the book feel a little bit uneven. Again, this all could come back to the fact that this is the author’s first book. However, whenever I was just sitting back and enjoying the ride and going along with it, I had a good time. This is what truly makes a book. You can sit and look at all of the little things and get hung up on them. If you can move on from that, then you may find yourself truly enjoying the story.

The characters could have been a little bit more developed and complex. However, for the story, they did work. I enjoyed Naira, Nez, and Kal’s dynamic. They brought so much to the story. Even though they were all different, there was something about them that made them work. I did like the family elements the most. So many times in young adults, we have teenage characters without any kind of adults. Seeing a close family in this age range gets me every time.
An untouched life with this book and I am looking forward to more from this author.

This book comes out on January 10, 2023.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/_n-qk-FpKrA

DNF - I'm sad to say that I have outgrown YA Fantasy and this one did not keep me hooked like I hoped it would. I recommend it for others who enjoy the YA fantasy genre. Thank you for the early copy!

A hidden village, a safe haven at the desert's end
A great place to live and there time to spend
But when the world comes crashing through
What are its citizens going to do?

They know a war rages far to the north, its true,
But never imagined it would impinge on them, too.
But when the Mistress and a hoard of Dambi arrive
They have to wonder who'll manage to survive.

Dambi are creatures created from the dead
Fighting for Sothpike, doing what he said.
Controlled by a mistress, they'll act for her, too,
Killing, attacking, pushing their way through.

In amongst this unfolding mayhem are twins Naira and Nez
Brought up to fight for right, as their father said.
Now they'll need to use all of their skills
To defeat these monsters before everyone is killed.

With old friendships rekindled and new ones made
Can the twins and others join to ensure the enemies are slayed?
An story filled with intrigue, legends, surprises and daring, too,
That I thoroughly enjoyed - so now I really need book two!!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Waking Fire by Jean Louise, 384 pages. Inkyard Press, 2023. $19.
Language: PG (14 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Lagusa has been a place of refuge hidden in the desert and safe from Sothpike and his army of monsters. But then Naira (16yo) picks a fight she shouldn’t have and ends up alone outside Lagusa’s wall in the middle of the night. When she comes to, Naira finds herself under attack by Vra Gool Dambi, some of Sothpike’s monsters, and someone who can control them – Naira has to survive in order to warn everyone that the monsters are upon them.
I was drawn by the prologue and all the worldbuilding it introduced. The actual story happens hundreds of years later, and the different religions and groups of people described as a result of the events of the prologue were my favorite parts of the book. Naira’s story is full of battle scenes and disorienting visions, lies and love, determining when to fight and why to fight. Overall, I liked the story but I loved the worldbuilding.
Naira and Nezra are described as having “pale brown” skin, and Kal is described as having “fallow-colored” skin. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and illegal activity. The violence rating is for mentions of physical abuse, assault, fantasy violence, weapon use, mention of suicide, persistent death, blood and gore, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen