Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. I'm not sure why it didn't really click with me, because it was well written and original. Every book is not for everyone. Give it a try and see if you love it.

The author surprised me with this story. In her forward, she introduces her protagonist, Naira Khoum, and it is evident that there is something special about Naira. I was expecting that Naira and others around her would recognize that she was special and that most of the story would focus on the ramifications of whatever it was about her that set her apart. However, it is not until more than two-thirds of the way into the book that Naira and others start to realize that there is something that is significantly unique about her. And even then, it is not until near the end of the book that one of the biggest secrets about her is revealed to herself and others. Rather, most of the book is focused on character and world-building, introducing the reader to Naira and her twin brother Nez, the hidden desert village of Lagusa, and the threat that will soon reach Lagusa and disrupt the lives of Naira and Nez (and many others) forever. The author has created a story that could easily become a multi-volume epic before she is finished. More importantly, she has created a story that will draw you in and make you invested in the lives of Naira, Nez, their family, friends, and new-found allies. I am excited to see (read) what will happen next.

As an anticipated read, I wanted to love this one. The cover is gorgeous! Orange is definitely a striking color. This could have easily been thrown into the DNF pile but I decided to slug on through in hopes that it would get better. I think my biggest complaint has to deal with the writing style of this author. It reads very low on the YA spectrum and if it wasn’t for the use of the b word I would have thought it could be on the higher side of MG. This could totally be a personal opinion though. Maybe others hadn’t felt the same.

I was very intrigued by the prologue and thought that it was going to go a lot different when it came to the book based on that little part. After getting a couple chapters in I totally lost focus and didn’t really have that feeling to continually pick it up. It is very much an average YA book with the usual tropes, one being insta-love. It’s a trope I just don’t get along with. It didn’t feel like there was any real buildup to this romance.

For me, the plot and characters weren’t much better. I had wished there had been more development for the characters and a better understanding of the world as well. I feel like a lot could have been explored more and it would have made for an even better read.

I feel like there will be those who like this one though, especially if they want something light when it comes to the YA Fantasy genre. So, if you are one of those people then give it a chance!

I hope this story finds the right readers, because it will be beloved by them. Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me.

Naira Khoum has only known life in Lagusa, a quiet village at the desert's end. But to the rest of the world, Lagusa is a myth, its location shrouded in secrecy. While war rages to the north led by power-hungry Sothpike and his army of undead monsters called Dambi, Naira's people live in peace.

Until the impossible happens—Lagusa is attacked by a Mistress sent to do Sothpike's bidding with a hoard of Dambi under her control. The Mistress is looking for something, and she's willing to let her Dambi destroy Lagusa to get it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

So, I didn't enjoy this. Waking Fire was written by a debut author and you can definitely tell. There is a ton of unnecessary exposition, insta love (or close enough to insta love for it to feel that way), and characters that could've been a lot more developed. This also felt very YA, though I'm not sure if it's officially classified that way.

HOWEVER. Credit where it's due - the world building is interesting and the classically "good" Naira and Rez stand out in a market currently flooded with morally grey characters.

TL;DR - This story is probably a solid introduction to epic fantasy if you're new to the genre. While it wasn't a winner for me, I will keep an eye on the author as she develops.

This COVER
It is one of my favorite covers EVER.
Did the book hold up to the cover?
No... But! I'm not going to REALLY judge it till the series is over.
This book is an excellent young YA fantasy perfect for fans of Six Crimson Cranes and Skyward (with violence similar to The Hunger Games)
I thought this book was well done, exciting, and sets up for a really cool series. The main character, Naira, is such a stubborn, capable, beautiful person. I enjoyed following her story immensely. The supporting characters are all excellent too. I'm very excited to see more from this author.
Thank You! to Netgalley for this ARC!

I really wanted to like this book. The concept was fascinating and I was very much anticipating this read… Unfortunately in the end, it just wasn’t for me. The lack of World building and insta-romance killed my interest almost immediately.

There will be many who will love and appreciate the story this author has, and I dearly hope those readers find this book.

The lead protagonist in this book, Naira, is well-developed and easy to like. She is a strong female character who is independent and willing to fight for what is right. The relationship between Naira and her Oppa (father) is so sweet. I loved how close they are, and that whenever he winks at her he is telling her he loves her. It is clear that her Oppa would do anything for his daughter, and she would do anything for him.

I am a sucker for a little romance while reading. I wish there had been more chemistry between Naira and Kal, and that it felt a little less like insta-love. However, it was a good amount of romance for a young adult novel.

Nez and Naira had a special twin relationship. I would have liked to see more recognition of and character development for Nez. He was clearly a huge part of the story, and I wonder if we had heard from his POV too, if I would have felt more connection to his character.

The pacing of Waking Fire was slower than I would have liked. It kept dragging, and new underdeveloped characters were tossed in. Towards the end, however, there were secrets revealed about Naira’s family that felt rushed. For a young adult novel, some of the descriptions of the fights and killings were a little too descriptive. There were also quite a few curse words throughout this book that I was not expecting. The twist at the end left me disappointed. I wish it had been left out of the book, as it felt like unnecessary sadness for Naira who had already lost so much.

Will be added to Instagram by the end of October.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was unique and original, and the characters are passionate and unique. I loved watching Naira deal with her internal struggles while also facing external problems, like the Mistress. The story unfolds quickly, and I found myself eager to keep reading. I especially loved the way that Jean Louise used Naira's dreams to unfold the story even more while adding an additional layer of mystery.

Naira and Nez are my sweet, sweet babies, and I will cry if anything happens to them in the next book. Rima and Kal were also great supporting characters, if not a little two-dimensional. I would love to see more character growth and dimension from them in the next book--that I'll definitely be reading.

Obba and Omma were fantastic, and any scene that had one or both of them in it made my heart so happy. I love when books have supportive parents. Louise also does a great job making it clear just how much everyone cares about one another and the place where they live. Even the development with Hamala was fascinating to watch. I can't wait to read the next one and learn more about Gamikal and these dragons!

Review posted on Goodreads 10/21 10:45am EST.

Naira has spent her life training with her oppa and twin brother, though her village nestled within the desert is always quiet. But this tranquility doesn’t last – a hoard of undead monsters led by a woman known as the Mistress attack the village, demanding that all children of a certain age be brought before her. As the village reels from this attack and tries to decide what to do, Naira takes matters into her own hands, convincing her brother and a couple friends to help. As they do their best to save their village and the people in it, secrets begin to come to light that will completely upend Naira’s life.

This was a great read! The worldbuilding was immersive – I found myself completely lost in this world while reading the book. The amount of lore that was included added to the depth of this world, and the concepts of the Mistress, the Dambi, and the different deities were just a few of the aspects that were well written. The plot was a little predictable, but given how much I enjoyed the setting, worldbuilding, characters, and the author’s writing, I didn’t mind too much.

Naira was headstrong and a little abrasive, but I enjoyed her – she was young and sheltered, so her behavior made sense. I would have liked to see a bit more character growth for her and the other secondary characters, but as this is a series, there’s still time for that. The other characters were also well written and felt like real people. I loved that Naira’s family was whole and happy – their interactions were lovely, and the sibling’s relationship and their interactions made the whole story.

I enjoyed this fantasy read and am excited to continue the series. What a fantastic debut! My thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for allowing me to read and review this work, which will be published on January 10th, 2023.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I really enjoyed this book, however I would have liked a touch more world building. Overall 4stars. Formal review will be on IG/Tiktok & Goodreads.

Like the reader of the previous feedback, I tried and was eager to love this book and fall into its world, but it didn’t work for me. I must give up at 35%. The pacing isn’t right. While I loved the prologue, the next 34% or so were just fighting over and over. Plus, I didn’t like the main character much.
I’m sorry, but I won’t finish it.

DNF 40%

I tried so hard to love this book that I kept picking it up again and again until it became a chore.

What did I like? In the beginning, the story was somewhat interesting and the world building was taking off. The main character was somewhat shallow but likeable. It seemed like the book had a great start.

However, that’s where development ended. There were the common tropes that most reviewers hate to see: insta love, shallow characterization, shallow world-building, and a plot that doesn’t engage your brain much.

If you’re looking for a fluff read or one that’s quick and easy, this book is for you! It just wasn’t up to my speed and I couldn’t finish. I rate books based on whether I will remember it later or not and my standards are sometimes high. That’s why I could only give this book one star, your mileage may vary.

Honestly one of the best fantasies I’ve read in a while. The plot was so, so good. Just like the plot, they were very well-written characters. I think this is a strong offering and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this one more as it was on my list of most anticipated. Sadly, it fell a little too flat for me.

I was so overjoyed when I heard this was a desert fantasy and I had all these expectations of a desert adventure like fantasy but that is far from what I got. Feel free to send me desert travel adventure fantasy recs if you've got them!

For the majority of this story minus maybe 2 scenes we are in one place which is a city that is somewhat located in the desert.

This is very clearly a YA fantasy with little world building and history but maybe that's going to be expanded on with the sequel which is set up for at the end.

There is a very insta love relationship that literally takes 2 pages to get serious and use the l word and at that moment I decided I'm probably not going to enjoy the rest of this story.

I did love the use of the name Mandisa as that is my mils name! And it's very uncommon.

I probably won't be picking up the sequel as I wasn't a huge fan of the conflicts or the enemies.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This had a lot of compelling ideas, but I don't think that the pacing and character development were as polished as they needed to be in order to hold up the story. I love the idea of these dragons and of a ruthless warlord conquering a continent, but after their introduction, the dragons didn't really figure in the story anymore, except as a reference in a character's prayer. The entire first scene, with Naira rescuing a maugrab, demonstrated her compassion (and impulsivity), but it's never referenced again in a significant, nor are the maugrabs. Although it involves fire, Naira does not demonstrate any special relationship to said fire (as I would have expected given the ending). The denouement pulls a lot from Star Wars--gifted protag with presumed dead-but-not-really parent, given to nice people to hide her as a child, evil not-dead parent wears a mask, they battle, parent wants Naira to rule with them, etc.

There were some continuity/logic issues, too, like Kal wrenching his ankle but easily keeping up on a rooftop chase a few moments later. Then he's back to being injured again. Naira's mom is vehemently opposed to her going off to fight the invaders, so much so that Naira and Nez sneak out of the house. Yet, she then sends a message telling them she's totally cool with it.

I found the romance rather trite (lots of ear nibbling and breathless glances at each other), but I think some teens will enjoy it. I'm just too old and jaded.

I actually quite enjoyed the goriness of battle scenes and of the Dambi. I appreciate it when teen fantasy books pull no punches in this regard.

With all of this, I am looking forward to the second book because I think there is a very strong story in here, and I want book two to be more tightly plotted and have a less conventional romance continuation.

Unfortunately this book and I really did not click. I do think that there are people who would really like it, and the basic idea of the story was appealing! I personally just had a very hard time connecting with any of the characters. It felt like there was a lot of telling instead of showing and a few twists that I feel happened right after we got the information about them. I do think if there was more time to emotionally connect to some of the information being revealed things might have had more weight. That being said I did enjoy the sibling relationship in this book and I do hope that it finds its readership.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and I would like to thank NetGalley and Inkyard Press for the opportunity to read this book.

“‘I will not die tonight,’ I say aloud once, then again and again, my voice getting stronger and louder until I'm shouting. I turn my face toward the night sky, hoping my words carry across the tombs, over the wall, and into the ears of Hamala and anyone who's ever helped her hurt others. ‘I will not die tonight!’"

Recommended for fans of “The Gilded Ones” and “Children of Blood and Bone.”

“Waking Fire” has potential to be the next big YA fantasy saga, and for good reason. Naira and Nez are seventeen years old when their world implodes; zombies attack their hidden desert village under control of The Mistress who is looking for a child just their age…

The novel has an interesting and very thoroughly thought out world which unfolds in increasing detail, immersing you in a land of long dead dragons, desert catacombs, and harrowing battles against the undead. I felt overwhelmed at times by the intricate backstory and continuous descriptions of the unique setting. I was impressed by the writing overall, especially when it came to character development.

As a narrator, Naira felt well-developed and didn’t fall into the trap of being too hotheaded and stubborn to be likable. She’s well-balanced by her easygoing brother, Nez. I think it’d be cool if book two gives us Nez as a primary narrator; I’m interested in what he has to say.

There’s a bit of romance that unfolds, and it’s the most realistic and healthy teen romance I’ve seen in a YA fantasy series, probably ever.

Overall, if you’re a fan of epic fantasies set in a unique world with thoughtfully created protagonists, you should pick up “Waking Fire.”

Thanks for a free ARC, Inkyard Press!

Quick summary: While I didn't connect with the main character, I still enjoyed this book's arid setting, compelling plot, and unique magic system. 3/5 stars.

Full review: Jean Louise's debut novel, Waking Fire, has a lot of passion and research packed into it. I can tell the author spent a lot of time creating this fantasy world. However, the brash main character and confusing family history affected my enjoyment of the story.

It isn't easy to like a book if you can't connect with the main character. I've always preferred characters who are kind, smart, and actually have a brain. Naira lacked every one of these qualities. She continuously made dumb, unrealistic decisions that had me rolling my eyes in frustration. Her poor decision-making skills were also used as a crutch to move the story along, and there were several moments where I was tempted to put this book down and not return.

Despite being tempted to DNF, I soldiered on to the ending. I'm proud of my decision to continue reading, but I'm not sure if the final climax was worth my struggle. The author dumped a lot of revelations about Naira's family history, and the conflict seemed choppy and rushed. Naira never matured as a main character, her love interest remained bland, and her twin never got the recognition he deserved.

Despite problems in characterization and pacing, I still enjoyed this book. Jean Louise did an excellent job painting the setting. It was easy to visualize the sweltering desert, the chaotic market, and the sandy catacombs. I also appreciate the thought that went into the religious system. It helped add depth to their village's culture and way of life.

Before I list my concluding thoughts, I want to mention that this book had several swear words and graphic depictions of violence/death. Readers who are sensitive to detailed descriptions of blood, intestines, and decapitations may want to know in advance before diving into this book.

Concluding thoughts: Waking Fire is a unique fantasy with memorable worldbuilding and a unique setting. Despite my inability to connect with the main character, I'd place this story at 3/5 stars. I'd recommend it to readers who enjoyed Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan and those looking for a light, easy read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.