A poignant tale of loss, redemption and new beginnings. Irini Diamandis, a music teacher is living a peaceful life in a Greek village with her artist husband Tasso and her ten-year old daughter Charra. Their lives are turned completely upside down when an accidental forest fire turns into a horrific blaze ravaging the entire community. Written in alternating timelines of before, during and after the tragedy, the book describes in vivid detail the immense grief and struggles not just of Irini and her family but the entire community at large. The writing is beautiful, and you can't but help feel a range of emotions from empathy to a sense of frustration and helplessness. I loved the Book of Fire chapters where Irini also describes her great-grandfather's 100-days journey from Turkey to Greece after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. The story is powerful, candid and evocative, and will stay with me for a long long time. Dealing with contemporary issues like unfettered capitalism, incompetent governance and the effects of global warming, this is a timely story for the present. Simply maginificent and definitely a must read!!

Thank you Netgalley, Christy Lefteri and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC.

This is such an interesting book. While it is about Greece and the destruction of a fire, it could be about almost anywhere. The changing climates of the world are becoming more and more of an issue and not much is being or can be done.

I loved the story within the story of this book. I love that Irini is writing the story of the fire while we are learning of what has happened since the terrible fire. I felt the emotions of the characters. Chara lost her innocence, Tasso was lost in his guilt and pain, Irini just wanted to find a way to bring her family back. I felt the loss of the instruments and history that the fire wiped out. My heart breaks for way the fire wasn't fought and how they didn't realize how dry the land truly was.

This book really made me think. I highly recommend it to everyone. I think that it can be quite eye opeing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book. All opinion expressed are my own.

THE BOOK OF FIRE
BY: CHRISTY LEFTERI

I was contacted by the publisher to read and review, "THE BOOK OF FIRE, masterfully written by the wonderful talented Christy Lefteri. I am so thrilled to have discovered such a well written novel that has aspects of reality included in it regarding the harmful effects of global warming. This is truly a masterpiece that has risen to the top of my list of top lifetime reading experiences. This is a novel that deserves to be read by everyone. The prose is impeccable with vivid imagery of the beauty of a forest with every type of ancient trees and wildflowers that existed in a village in Greece before a fire decimated it.

The novel begins with Irini whose point of view we the reader can feel, see, hear and smell as she tries to make sense of the horror in alternating chapters as she records her haunted reflections in her journal she calls, 'The Book of fire.' She is thinking things through as she records in her narration in the first person point of view of her family's history before, during and after the fire that obliterated her home and changed her life and many others.

"Once upon a Harry Lime. This is how my dad started every story, even if the story was as true as the
nose on his face. Once upon a Harry Lime, once upon a time. Because he was Greek and far from
home, he wanted to belong so much he used cockney rhyming slang whenever he could slip it in,
even when it sounded ridiculous.. Once upon a Harry Lime, there was a beautiful village inside an
ancient forest. How I wish I could start the story like this and tell you that it took place a long time
ago. Once upon a time before the fire, there was an ancient forest. Before the fire, there were pines
and firs that reached up to the sky and a thousand-year-old chestnut that my great-grandad sat
beneath at the end of a hundred-day journey. Story goes, he was so exhausted that he stayed beneath
the gigantic tree for days, leaning back on its twisted bark, in the cool shade. So he rested there
among rock lizards and dormice, white-breasted hedgehogs and beech marten, rabbits and deer, red
foxes and jackals. He ate juicy purple figs and black berries. At night, he listened to the howl of
wolves as they roamed the highlands. Once upon a time, my father would say to me-there was a
beautiful village inside an ancient forest on the slope of a mountain that looked down upon the sea.
Inside this village there was a bungalow surrounded by fig trees, olive trees and a wildflower
meadow.'

Irini is recording her lineage and everything that existed before a man the village has named Mr. Monk who started the fire that destroyed nature as her family and the whole village had enjoyed for many generations. Mr. Monk recklessly obliterated life as everybody in her Greek village lost the flora and fauna of their homes as it once was. He was motivated by greed wanting to build a boutique hotel so he started a fire to clear the land and it destroyed an entire village seeking his opportunities. The fire spread and got out of hand creating dangerous conditions. People's homes were destroyed and some died. Irini and her young daughter Chara, which means joy, survived because they fled to the sea. Chara's back was burned and her father Tasso's hands were badly burned.

Irini was a music teacher and her husband Tasso was an artist that painted the forest. His hands are bandaged and he is deeply depressed. Many people of the village that survived but were burned were displaced having their homes destroyed. Irini, her husband Tasso and Chara were lucky to have Tasso's father's home that miraculously didn't get destroyed that they returned to live. There is one fig tree in the garden that Tasso sits in everyday despondent over his father being missing and the loss of his hands to paint.

Irini describes the forest being black charred skeletons of tree stumps. She makes a decision while walking their greyhound named Rosalie in the stark destruction of what used to be such a joy.
Now everything is reduced to ash and bleak with the loss of all of the animals and the magnificent variety of trees that no longer exist which was once a glorious forest. Her decision upon a discovery in which she doesn't act to do the right thing will haunt her and get her entangled in a police investigation.

This author has become a favorite of mine who I've bought her two previous novels after loving this one so much. I really had not initially had expectations of wanting to read this so I put it off. The premise didn't sound like something I would be interested in. I could not have had a more enchanted reading experience. It is a stunning achievement by Christy Lefteri. I had heard of her novel called, "The Beekeeper of Aleppo," but I didn't make the connection of who wrote that highly acclaimed work was the same author that wrote this. I appreciated her Author's Note of the reality of global warming and climate change that inspired her to write this novel.

Christy Lefteri's Author's Note drives home the message of the lessons to be learned by this novel. She enlightens the reasons behind her decisions that she has chosen for her character development.
It highlights her research and how her characters and plot mirror real life in how resistant people are towards global warming. How easy it is to blame a person, the fire brigades response to wildfires, and the government for the wildfires that are becoming increasingly on the rise. She has tackled this issue and crafted a moving, life changing masterpiece in "The Book of Fire." I highly, highly recommend this fantastic literary fiction that was reminiscent of being a child again charmed by reading my favorite fairy tale. This will stay with me forever. One Hundred Stars!

Publication Date: January 2, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Christy Lefteri and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine.BallantineBooks for reaching out to me to read this magnificent ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheBookofFire #ChristyLefteri #RandomHousePublishingGroupBallantineBallantineBooks #NetGalley

Set in a village in Greece, The Book of Fire tells how a wildfire destroys the village and the lives of those who survive. I had a hard time staying interested in this book. Some chapters seemed to be repeating a previous chapter. Not a fan of this book. Thanks to author Christy Lefteri, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

In gorgeous lyrical prose, Lefteri tells the story of the devastation left by a forest fire that wiped out much of a small village's property and some of its people. Started by a real estate developer whose desire for more land to develop overcame his common sense, and stoked by the slow response of the local fire department, the fire spread quickly. Much of the blame for the loss of life could be attributed to over-development that left few routes to the sea open and much of the blame for the fast spread of the fire could be attributed to climate and environmental changes that left the land dry. Lefteri tells the story of a family of three - a traditional musician mother, an artist father, and a young girl who is wise beyond her years and peripherally of two grandfathers, one long dead and the other living apart from the family although part of its close-knit circle - through the woman's first-person narrative and the third-person Book of Fire. Readers will devour this book; those who like a book that makes them cry will be more than satisfied. The Book of Fire is a triumph.

A story told in alternating sequences about a place where one man started a controlled fire that got out of hand quickly and killed people. Those that did escape lost their loved ones. It was a sad story.

Last summer we vacationed along Lake Superior, kept indoors by the heavy smoke from Canadian wild fires. We know climate change has lead to more wildfires. And we know that climate change is rooted in human folly and greed, our inability to implement needed change to alter our impact on the earth.

The Book of Fire was inspired by a real fire in Greece and the stories of survivors. Lefreri’s novel imagines a family with deep roots in Greece who lose their home and a loved one after a real estate developer sets a fire to a woods, hoping to get the land for development.

The mother and wife tells the story of the fire in a journal, how she and her daughter survived by fleeing to the ocean, the hours they were in the sea waiting for rescue, the burns her daughter and husband suffered, the lose of a beloved family member. When she discovers the developer in the decimated forest, a rope around his neck, and near to death, she faces a moral crisis of decision.

Has this man killed himself, unable to live with the lives his rash act has taken? Or did survivors lynch him?

The artist husband’s burned hands and loss of the beloved forest drives him into depression, leaving his wife without his support. Meanwhile, the daughter encourages him to rejoin the living, and draws the burned forest as he had painted it in its glory.

This story of community and individual trauma and recovery asks who is guilty and what are the just deserts of guilt.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

Christy Lefteri kept this story going, with what is happening in the present, but sprinkled things in that came from a memory from one of the people. It kept me engaged, and wondering what was happening behind the story that we couldn't see yet. As I was reading this book, I kept thinking this is like being at the fire, and not being able to see what is behind the smoke and fire. But like the smoke and fire, it eventually clears, and you can see clearly then.
This book is like no other I have read. I had never heard of this author before receiving an ARC from Ballantine Books through NetGalley. I have gone and checked out the author and have bought some of her other books because this one was so good.

In The Book of Fire a beautiful forest is destroyed. The death and destruction is overwhelming. Did one man cause all this devastation, or is climate change also to be blamed? This book is exceptionally well written. I could “see” and “feel” everything. Switching between timelines and the main character writing her own book within this book add to the tension. The themes of loss, grief, guilt and hope resonate well beyond the final page.

This is a stunning piece of literary work. The story is told with a lot of depth and emotion. The details of the characters is fantastic. The story is told mainly from the point of view of the mom in real time as well as looking back on the events of the fire. It is a pensive and realistic look at climate change and its danger to humans, animals and communities at large. This is a really wonderful story that is easy to read and is very interesting.

Christy Lefteri has written a very sad, depressing book, yet her writing style is beautiful. The story takes place in Greece, “In a beautiful village, inside an ancient forrest, on the slope of a mountain that looks down upon a sea.” A fire is set by a man who wants to develop land. The forrest is ruined, people die and people are changed for life.

Irini, Tasso and their daughter Chara must work to find a way to rebuild their lives, their souls and each other. They must find a way to cope with the devastation around them and the loss of family and friends.There is a moral dilemma that takes place in the story that is good for a book club discussion. The questions that could be asked are: Is it important that all wrongs are righted? If something wrong is done to someone bad is it acceptable, forgivable? Who is judge and who is jury?

I give 5 stars for the authors writing style. The detailed writing of the fire and the journey the town had to take down to the water to survive was so vivid. I felt as if I was running for my life and every step I took would decide if I survived or not. I give 3 stars for the story giving an overall rating of 3.5 stars. Ninety five percent of the book was just too depressing for me. I wish it was a little more uplifting. I am glad I read it and would recommend it with a clause that is it very depressing.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an ARC of this book in exchange for N honest review.

This book takes place in the aftermath of a large fire that has destroyed part of the neighboring area. Sprinkled throughout the book are also chapters of a story the protagonist is writing, which is a sort of fairytale retelling of the events of the fire. It's a unique way to both learn what happened during the fire and show the protagonist's way of mentally processing everything. Overall, an interesting and well written book.

I adored this book, the description of the small town in Greece, the forest, how the fire destroyed everything, Irini and her story of what happened, I felt for her daughter snd husband. It was admirable how they finally find their new normal, I loved the mystery aspect when it came to the man who started the fire, and his death. The mystery behind that was what kept me wanting to read more. I felt at times the book was repetitive but overall a heartfelt read.

I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone. I really enjoyed emerging myself into this book and it was just wonderful. This book evened my eyes to quite a few things and it’s one of those books that I’ll think about for quite awhile.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced reader's copy of this publication.

After visiting Greece this summer I really resonated with this story. I felt the landscape thru the author's writing. The people, the traditions, the smells are all apart of this tale.
Wonderfully written and a dear storyline.

The story of a family in Greece dealing with loss, injuries and trauma after a devastating wildfire. Took me a little bit to get into the book but I got more and more into it as the book went on and really loved the characters and the writing. Such a sad story reminiscent of the recent tragedy in Maui.

The way Christy Lefteri writes terrifying reality but in a quiet way… The Book of Fire solidifies her spot on my auto read author list.

A small Greek village is destroyed by a fire. One that is started by greed… the community flees to the banks and try’s to escape the flames. The Book Of Fire shares a families perspective alternating chapter from post fire as well as during.

My heart ached for this community and their response to the trauma they experienced. Though this one will rip your heart out the author always leaves you feeling hopeful.
I found myself excited to reach the authors note… and it didn’t shy away from what are world is looking like or what it may look like in the near future.

I’m excited for this to release!

The Book of Fire is a well-written, gripping tale about the aftermath of a massive forest fire that destroys everything in its path, killing people and wildlife alike. While the story is mostly told in the first person from Irini’s perspective, there’s a story within the story as Irini writes “The Book of Fire” and describes the fire from a third person (but really her own) perspective. The characters come alive on the page as the author shares their fears, guilt, hopes, and dreams. The writing is engrossing, making the reader feel as if they were there in the midst of the desolation. This is a fast read, a story of greed and the horrid, devastating consequences. Another great novel by Christy Lefteri!

This was beautifully written. Such evocative and rich description throughout. I liked how the story was in two parts with the flashbacks to the day of the fire and the following days interspersed throughout the story.
There was a lot of repetition about the dry land, climate change, and how these things were fueling the fires. It started to feel preachy rather than part of the tale. With so little actually happening throughout the book these parts grated on me.
I want a dog as well-behaved as Rosalie now!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I have mixed feelings about The Book of Fire. One the one hand I liked the way the author used light and dark contrasts/symbolism. I also liked the contrasts between water imagery and the starkness of the burned forest. I enjoyed exploring these elements in the story. Also, because this mirrored the fire in Maui, I better understood the pain and loss of that tragedy. On the other hand, the book seemed longer than necessary and once the author started blaming the fire on climate change and not the greedy person, I lost interest.
Nevertheless, I would recommend this book. Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to read #bookoffire by #christylefteri.