ARC provided by NetGalley.
Fantasy and character driven. Two companions that struggle together early on that share a path but pursue different goals entirely. One seeks peace and the other is seeking power. The pace is slow and may not be suitable for all readers however there is character development occurring here that centers on moral choices, corruption and the shifting of loyalties in a city that is in constant cycles of violence.

Would love to hear where Halfa and Gronk story continues from here….

Fire for Joy by Hal Rowan is a gritty, character‑driven urban fantasy set in the city of Grayspire. The story follows Halfa Schoona, a Goliath orphan who unexpectedly survives walking through fire, discovering a rare power he doesn’t understand. Seeking sanctuary in the Temple of Thessira—a place devoted to joy and resistance—Halfa finds community and purpose. But when the Blackjaw Syndicate threatens both the temple and his friends, he must confront his inner fire and decide what—and who—is worth protecting. With emotional depth, a moody tone, and themes of loyalty, identity, and found family, it’s a thoughtful fantasy debut.

This e-arc was given by Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a character driven book, for sure. Halfa's story begins when he is a boy and follows him through manhood. He is a Goliath who intimidates others until one day he decides he wants to fight for what is right and not just be forced to be the brute strength. I loved his self-journey and the relationships he built. I loved how others loved and encouraged him in his journey.

The story moved very slowly for me and felt repetitive and at times even preachy.

That being said the book ended at the perfect place. I hope Halfa goes on to learn his heritage and finds belonging and greater understanding for himself.

Fire for Joy is a quietly powerful novel that lingers long after the final page. It’s not about grand battles or epic quests, but about the kind of resistance that happens quietly—in the heart, in daily choices, in the decision to be soft in a hard world.
Halfa is a deeply compelling protagonist, not because he’s larger than life, but because he’s trying so hard to live with what’s inside him. The fire he carries isn’t just magic—it’s rage, memory, guilt, and hope. Watching him navigate the crumbling city of Grayspire, torn between the pull of violence and the unexpected peace he finds at the temple, was incredibly moving. His bond with Marin is understated and honest, built through silence as much as words. And Serelion’s presence in the story brought a grounded wisdom that I found quietly comforting.
The prose is restrained, almost poetic in its minimalism, and that style won’t work for everyone—but for me, it suited the emotional tone of the book perfectly. It feels like the author trusted the reader to sit in the quiet and feel alongside the characters.
This is a story about found family, choosing gentleness, and finding light in unlikely places. I’m truly grateful to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read an early copy. It was a beautifully introspective read, and one I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

When you start this book you get dropped into this new world right away. You follow the MMC Halfa, an orphaned Goliath who has always felt out of place, as he experiences his days at the Dock Ward. You get a glimpse into his thoughts and feelings and how he spent each day before the start of this book. It should've felt confusing and foreign, instead I felt an immediate connection to our main character.

The writing style definitely relies on emotions, it’s short sentences, thought provoking lines and hidden feelings behind every word chosen by the author. I loved it, it might just be what made this book so special to me. Like seriously, I was highlighting lines in this book from page one.

This is a story about self discovery, love and rage. This story is quiet, and all these emotions sneak up on you until all you can do is feel.

Once Halfa stumbles upon the temple and meets all these new people, I was honestly hooked. His scenes with Marin, an elf in the temple, had me clutching my heart. Again, it was quiet but full of emotions, short sentences that had so much meaning. We meet Serelion, with their wise words, helping Halfa come to terms with who he is. A steady presence in Halfa’s time at the temple.The connections between the characters were definitely my favorite part in this book.

If you like character studies, stories with lots of character development, a writing style that is fast paced and filled with to-the-point sentences and emotions, then this book is for you.

I always describe stories like this as quiet. It’s a story told around a fire, in a hushed tone, where you can close your eyes and just feel everything the character went through and hope that he gets the ending he deserves.

I have recently found the most amazing books through Netgalley, and Hal Johnsons book is no exception.

This book while fantasy, deals with ideas of self discovery, and finding one's place in a difficult world. After meeting Gronk, Halas friendship temporarily answers the question of who he is, while putting more coin in his pocket. But as with most fantasy, there’s something deeper, and Halfa feels it after the FIRE.

Fire for Joy isn't fast paced but the story moves quickly and is character driven, with an enjoyable story that while on the surface seems simple, the complexity rears its head quickly.

Fun magic, crime syndicates, character tyles and hell of a cast of characters that can be endearing