Kay I ended up enjoying this book more than I expected! It wasn't perfect but it was enjoyabl.e. The plot kept moving forward and the main characters are pretty likeable. The issues I had were with the writing for the most part. Some of the dialogue felt like a way for the author to insert things in the story that she didn't want to explain in other ways. Like it felt very tell instead of show in some ways. Also, I feel like she introduced minor characters that were super interesting but then they fell away for the majority of the story, only coming in at the end when it was convenient. I feel like having more supporting characters that were actually present would have been better. Also, I feel like some things were so obvious and the characters were so oblivious (I can't say much without spoiling). I think the world building could use some more fleshing out. It was vague and losse and again felt like the author just pulled some things in at the end because it was convenient but there wasn't enough set up throughout the story for it to seem natural. Overall though, it was an enjoyable book. 3.5 stars

I had very high hopes for this book after several customers recommend I get my hands on it immediately, and I just really struggled to actively enjoy it. While it was not a bad read by any stretch, it did not stick out to me as something special.

Because this was so highly recommended by several people that I usually share tastes with, I did not go into it reading the synopsis. This is a mistake on my part as I would have seen the mistaken identities portion of the synopsis and chosen to pass. While I do not believe all tropes are bad by any stretch, the mistaken/secret identities and communication issues are two I do not usually enjoy - and this book is based on both of those.

This book comes with two POVs - Adraa and Jatin. Two royal heirs trapped in an arranged marriage from a young age. These two have not seen each other since they were betrothed, but have continued to have an extremely competitive relationship via letters as they've grown up. Jatin is off receiving training, while Adraa is at home helping with royal duties and assisting in her mom's clinic. Outside of her duties, Adraa has also used her strong fire magic to create something called 'firelight' which is a magical sphere containing fire that can be used for months at a time to provide light. While both of our main characters are Touched (meaning they can do magic), Adraa cannot do all types of magic while Jatin can - a point of contention for Adraa.

Their character banter was fun to read and I enjoyed their strong personalities. Adraa in particular is a no-nonsense, strong, female lead and I appreciate those types of characters in YA. Jatin is also extremely strong and could hold his own, but at the same time was always very respectful to Adraa, her talents, and her wishes - which is refreshing to see in a male character.

I also liked the magic system of the book. It is mostly element-based and comes across as having almost a scientific twist which I felt was a very unique take. The world of Wickery is separated into the 'Touched' and the 'Untouched' which is people who possess the ability to do magic and those who cannot.

Although the stakes of the book are extremely high and culminate in an 'end of the world' scenario at the climax of the book, I don't feel like that was accurately communicated throughout the book. The storyline revolves around Adraa discovering that her firelight is being illegally seized and removed or sold at a much higher price than she intended without her permission. Instead of it being a resource for the less wealthy of Wickery, it's being used as a means against them. She decides to investigate this and Jatin (who is under the guise of being one of his own elite guards and NOT Jatin) tags along to help. The stakes of the situation seemed very 'let's play detective and try to solve a mystery' and ended up being a little childish for my taste. The storyline just felt a tad flat to me and I did not get invested.

Overall, it just was not a favorite read of mine. It fell somewhere in the middle of the pack for 2020 reads for me and I'm sure it is one that with time I will probably lose some of the details since it did not make a strong impression. I may continue this series, but am really unsure at this time.

Review posted on Goodreads (September 22, 2020)
Review linked.

4/5 stars!

Before my review I just wanted to say that I personally cannot speak on how the POC representation was written. So, I really recommend looking at own voice reviews on GoodReads or other platforms.

Here is a review that I read before I wrote my own review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3397441913?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1


One, this cover is super pretty and I love it! Two, this book was really fun to read!

I really loved the entire idea behind this book, and I absolutely loved the romance. We all know by now that I love a good Hate-To-Love romance, and this one was no exception. I think that the characters had so much chemistry together and I loved seeing how both of them and their relationship developed throughout the story.

I also really enjoyed the plot. I found that the pacing in this story, especially at the beginning was a bit slow, but around halfway through, the pacing picked up for me and I ended up really loving the book. The author did a great job of creating a really beautiful and intriguing world that I just want to learn more and more about. I think that this book's plot was really interesting to me because it was a complete story that could really stand on its own, but also left some ideas open in order to continue the series. I really ended up liking how complete the story felt, especially with the romance, at the end of this book.

In the end, if you love YA Fantasy, I do really recommend picking up this book! It was a super fun read!

Thanks for reading,
Caden

There are some books that you just absolutely need in your life, and Cast in Firelight by Dana Swift is one of them. I could never have expected that I'd be as in love with this book as I am, and I cannot wait for everyone to read this book and become as obsessed with Adraa's and Jatin's story as I am! I loved the immersive world and culture of Wickery, the intruiging plot, the incredible characters. I liked that this story felt really unique. The magic system created didn't seem like anything I had read before, which I find impressive with the amount of YA fantasy out there. The plot was engaging, with lots of action, secret underground activities, political corruption and more. I wouldn't say there were any crazy plot twists or anything, but I don't think this story really needed that, and there were some small reveals that kept things interesting. Cast in Firelight is the type of book I didn't want to put down, and I can truthfully say I enjoyed every bit of it.

My favorite part of any book is the characters, and Cast in Firelight did not disappoint. I'm in love with both Adraa and Jatin! Individually they are both great characters who are fierce, care so much for their kingdoms, and have all the relatable fears and feelings. The two of them together? It's pure magic. I haven't read a lot of secret identity tropes when it comes to romance, so that felt fresh and fun, and the banter between the two of them is awesome. Also, I won't spoil anything, but Jatin does something for Adraa I can honestly say I've never seen a guy do in a book, but I'm pretty sure it's the most romantic thing a man can ever do for a woman. Jatin is definitely boyfriend goals.

Then there's the cultural element of this book. I love that it's a book featuring brown characters, in a South Asian-inspired world. I definitely love seeing more of that in fantasy, and I loved Dana's author's note towards the end explaining that, even though she is a White author, her future children will look like Adraa and Jatin, and it was important for her to write a story that would represent them. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for the second book!

I really liked this story. It was fairly fast paced with an interesting magic system and intriguing characters. I was pulled in from the start and had a hard time putting it down.

This was a solid YA fantasy story, not my favorite, but from a critical angle, good for the audience it’s intended for. Before I get into the book, this is a reminder that this book is NOT an #OwnVoices story, but it has South Asian characters and culture integrated within it. Usually when it comes to non POC writing POC stories it bothers me, however, Dana acknowledges this and alludes to the fact that her husband is South Asian, thus creating a story that her children can see themselves in. As a South Asian person myself in this situation I found the representation to be acceptable because it didn’t come off as cultural appropriation or knowing about POC struggles, but rather creating characters and showcasing South Asian culture in a subtle but kind way. I don’t think many if any authors can do this, but I think that Dana Swift did a pretty good job. I also appreciate that sometimes there has to be POC in books and no deep rooted reason as to explain why. Just seeing a brown character in a book would have made me happy as a kid and having Dana Swift write a YA fantasy with these characters is again something I appreciate.

Moving on to the actual book, I found the concept of this book really intriguing. I love a good YA fantasy with witches and wizards and this concept of controlling different colors that are linked to these Gods was just fascinating. My biggest problem as a reader with this book was the underdevelopment or rather not as thorough development of the magic system as I would have liked. There were many times in the book I was confused on terms, what spells were being cast, etc. I wish the world building had been in a more clear cut way rather than being muddled.

I found Adraa and Jatin’s characters to be relatable and funny at times. As I mentioned, for a younger audience I think this book would be perfect! I’d probably have rated this higher if I had read it when I was in middle or high school. Adraa was a fierce independent and strong headed woman and definitely got herself into trouble sometimes even with the best intentions. Jatin was a mix of arrogant and sweet which made the banter between the characters amusing. I don’t think that these two characters’ personalities were so much different than others I’ve read in books, so even though they were written well, I wasn’t a die hard fan of either.

I read this book in a lot of chunks so it was nice to just pick up and continue reading from where I left off. It gave me comfort read vibes which I really appreciated. With that being said, I did pick up and put this book down a lot because it was intriguing at times, but not so intriguing at others. I wanted to feel more invested in the book than I was.

However, I still think this is a book that so many people will enjoy and I still recommend you all check it out and see for yourself if you enjoy this world as much as I did. It’s a pretty cool world and concept trust me. I’ll be continuing on with this series because the ending although not a cliff hanger left me curious on where the story would eventually go from the end.

Characters: 7/10
Atmosphere: 7/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Plot: 7/10
Intrigue: 7/10
Logic: 6/10
Enjoyment: 6/10

Rating: 6.71 or 4 stars (critically, maybe more of a 3.75)

**Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

“...she has no clue what lies between Jatin and me is not romance. It’s fierce competition.”

Oh, this gorgeous, wonderful book! Cast in Firelight is by far, the best debut novel I’ve read in a long, LONG time! There wasn’t a single about it that I didn’t like! Dana created such a lush, imaginative world, with a super cool magic system. The characters were perfect, the pacing was flawless, and the romance was adorable! The one thing I would have liked more of was the relationship between religion and magic! I would love to know more about the gods, but I have a feeling that will be touched on in subsequent books so I’m not upset it was not covered in depth here. I am DYING to read more about Adraa and Jatin, so if anyone needs me, I’ll be over here hugging my kindle while I wait for book 2!!

A fun rivals-lovers, unique magic system, exciting plot, and intriguing world. Unfortunately at times overshadowed by writing that at times sounded...young. Not saying it was bad writing by any means, just that the language, dialogue and inner thoughts often came off juvenile. At times the language felt out of place and too modern for the setting I felt we were supposed to be in. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the book! It was a fun fast paced read that I believe fans of YA will enjoy. Also, what a stunning cover!

This is a really good book, and I'm eager to read the next book in the series. My one complaint is that more description could be used to really engage the reader into the story.

I’ve been afraid to start this one because I didn’t want the hype to let me down. Plus, the cover is amazing and I want to be able to stare at it’s beauty while it sits on my shelf. It did have it’s rocky moments but the pay off was worth it!

The book has two point-of-views: Adraa and Jatin. We are introduced to them from a young age and of their first encounter. It’s one that is awkward because of the arranged marriage that has been discussed between them. I can only recall one book I have read where it dealt with arranged marriage and it was good but this one was a bit different when it came to the characters feelings.

Adraa is courageous, strong, and doesn’t want anyone to view her as less because of her gender. From the first encounter she had with Jatin I knew I’d like her, haha. It was literally something I would do and can recall doing something similar in elementary school.

Jatin is strong in his powers but I don’t think he tries to show off. He is just genuinely him. This could be because he doesn’t feel like he has to prove anything. Even though he has his own PoV, I don’t think his development was as strong but where as Adraa sees him as cocky, we get to see the softer side of him.

From the beginning, I wasn’t sure where the relationship would go. Will they put their competitive nature aside to get along? Will one of them find someone else and call it off? What actually happened, I was not expecting!

Spoilers!
Mistaken identity is a glorious trope and I was here for it. One figures it out more quickly than the other but I’m glad there wasn’t a long and drawn out fight because of it. They realized their feelings outside of the arrangement and found love where they least expected it to be. You could say that the relationship moves rather quickly and Jatin was smitten from the beginning but I still enjoyed it all.

End of Spoilers!
The plot has magic, gods/goddesses, and cage fighting (those were some of my favorite scenes!). Books about goods/goddess always get on my tbr because I love mythology but I am also hesitant to start them because they can be hit or miss. Even though they don’t play a huge role until closer to the end, I liked what we got and I am hoping for more in the next book. The author also does a good job of creating a magic system that is exciting to read about. In ways it reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender but some of the people are able to control more than one type.

The pacing can be a bit slow at times but once it ramps up, it’s worth it. The last big cliffhanger had me hooked and I am so ready for the next book. Some of the smaller plot twists were easy to see coming but it didn’t stop me from immersing myself in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book! Although it started off a bit slow, this book took me by surprise and the author creates an intriguing world full of magic and a romance you can’t help but swoon over.

4.5/5 stars - To Be Released November 2020.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

In Wickery, there are Touched and Untouched - those who have magical powers and those who do not. Some are blessed with one or two types of magic, but royal can control all nine. Adraa is destined to be the heir of Belwar. She is Touched, but only on one arm - an oddity in Wickery. At age eight, her parents arrange a marriage to Jatin, the heir of Naupure. Neither is happy about the situation. They grow up in different areas of the country and the only exchange is their love letters, which are actually letters boasting about their skills and try to best each other. Destined to be married but rivals at heart, Adraa and Jatin band together to expose a mystery that threatens all of Wickery. But there's a catch - both lie about their true identities when they accidentally meet upon Jatin's return from school.

Cast in Firelight creates a unique and magical world. There are nine gods, nine types of magic to conquer, and people are literally marked by their power on their arms. The book is told from both Adraa's and Jatin's perspectives which provides an entertaining look at the deception they try to hide from one another. A play of the enemies-to-lovers trope, the novel has a playful writing style that allows Adraa and Jatin to be relatable and feel as if you are hearing a story from a friend. The romance does not feel rushed but instead feels quite genuine. Cast in Firelight was a quick but super fun read and definitely in the top ten books I have read this year. The only thing that i felt was lacking (or almost forced) was the villain. Other than that, it is perfect for anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.

Alright, alright, alright… this novel is quite promising.

Secret identities, world-building, superb magic system, royal arranged marriages, steady semi slow-burn romance, and diverse characters. What more can a reader ask for? And despite the instant love *gag*, minor scenes between Adraa and Jatin that made me want to pull my hair out, and the somewhat slow pacing that made this a dragful read (maybe it’s just me?)—this was an incredible debut and a must read for 2020.

So will I read the sequel? Hell yeah. Adraa and Jatin, the hero and the villain of Belwar that choose to stand and be together, will rise again and I am more than ready to ride along and see where their journey takes us.

Adraas parents are planning an arranged marriage. I like the name Adraa. Adraas is nervous about meeting Jatin. I like the name Jatin. I thought Adraa could be smart mouthed. I couldn't get interested in the events.

I loved this book! The characters and world were so rich and vivid in my opinion. This was the kind of book that made me forget the real world from the first line. Highly recommend!

In Cast in Firelight, you will meet two royal heirs : Adraa and Jatin. Their first meeting happened when they were kids and Adraa ended up punching Jatin. It was pretty funny to say the least. Their parents clearly want them to like each other in order to have an alliance through marriage and at first, it's not really working.

In this world, there are many types of magic, each having a distinct color to them. When someone is able to do magic, their arms are marked with the "touch", marking them as witches/wizards. Adraa and Jatin are both very powerful but they each have their strengths and weaknesses. They've always competed with each other.

Years later after not seeing each other, Adraa has become friends with Jatin's father while Jatin was away and when Adraa see Jatin's guard wearing Jatin's clothes as a safety protocol, she mistakes him for the Prince she's supposed to marry. It was pretty fun to see them step around each other not knowing who they really are at first and then Jatin was trying to become her friend and more, that was cute too.

Overall, Cast in firelight is a pretty good YA Fantasy but I feel like this would be better as a standalone. While I was entertained, I never felt addicted while reading this book and even though it was an interesting story and I liked the characters, I wasn't very excited to pick this book up once I put it down. I'm not sure if I'll be hyped for the next book. I wish the plot would have been tied up at the end but nope, this will be stretched into two or maybe three books? Again, I'm not sure.

(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

I super wanted to love this because of the awesome premise, but the writing style is just not clicking. Wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished and rated it lowly. DNF.

A fun book! Had a conversation recently with my students about the ability of white people to write books about nonwhite people/cultures. Lloyd Alexander came up in the conversation. I don't think this book was really about nonwhite culture? It was the standard YA tropes but with a more diverse cast? I appreciated that. I really appreciated that.

I had really high hopes going into this book, which were kind of let down. I don’t know what went wrong, the writing was fine, and the plot was full of action. I more couldn’t connect or empathize with the characters.

This books has so much energy. The action is exciting, the magic is fantastic and the romance is steaming. The secret plots will keep readers guessing.

<b>What I liked:</b> Cast in Firelight was a total delight to read! From the cover and description I was expecting a YA sword and sorcery fantasy with a South Asian flair, but the best way I can describe Cast in Firelight is that it actually takes a bunch of fantasy tropes, throws them into a barrel, and then drop kicks the barrel down a hill.

And it still works! With a magic system that is easier to follow than the one from Grishaverse but a bit more elaborate than Avatar: The Last Airbender, and your "far off places, daring swordfights, magical spells, and a prince in disguise" (to quote Belle) the story suddenly goes full... Batman. It somehow manages to be a politically spun fantasy novel, an "they don't know it but they're destined to be together" romance, and...a superhero story. The heroes are earnest, determined, and good people.

<b>What I was meh on:</b> The hero's uncle, who is a significant character in the story, is named "Moolek." That was just one too many "o"s for me, and every time he was mentioned or showed up--including in otherwise serious scenes--I imagined a talking cow.

<b>How's the romance?:</b> Much sweeter than I expected! With these kinds of stories, and the rivalry that was set up from the very beginning, I expected a "snark back and forth and don't admit you actually like each other" frenemies dynamic. I was pleasantly surprised by how their acquaintance to friendship to romance progressed. Also, this is the only romance I have read with a scene where the hero is not at all squeamish about menstruation and actually acquits himself in being helpful. It's very sweet.

<b>Okay, but are there PoC</b> Although Cast in Firelight is not a #ownvoices story, Swift blends her fantasy world with some cultural elements borrowed from her adoptive family. There are aspects of the story that are profoundly American, distinctly South Asian, and/or prevalent in any fantasy world. Every character is a character of color. There are also some supporting characters in queer relationships.

<b>Bottom Line:</b> Imaginative, unpredictable, and fun! Although I won't have a solid opinion on the duology until both parts are published, at this point Cast in Firelight was one of the more enjoyable reads I've experienced in 2020 quarantine.