Fire and Flood | Victoria Scott | Scholastic Press | Fire and Flood #1 | 5 Stars | Source: Bought | 305 pages Young Adult | Dystopia
Release Date: February 25th, 2014
Goodreads
Goodreads Synopsis:
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can’t determine what’s wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She’s lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dyingβand she’s helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It’s an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother’s illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there’s no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can’t trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?
Victoria Scott’s breathtaking novel grabs readers by the throat and doesn’t let go.
Review:
This was bought on a whim and read within a couple of days. I think 3 days is the best turn around time I have ever had. This is testament to how consumed I was by this novel. I couldn’t put it down!
I really enjoyed our main characters in this novel. Tella’s development was Β an interesting one to see. On the one hand she was quite vain and selfish. On the other hand, she was constantly grieving for her brother. I think we have all seen someone close to us in pain at some point and seeing Tella in this pendulum of a life made her easy to empathize with. Side characters also were incredibly insightful. All had a reason to be there and a family to fight for and seeing all of their individual stories added more depth to the tale.
Some of the my favourite parts of the novel were dedicated to the Pandoras. They are basically animals and companions that help the contestants. There was a range of animals with different abilities and seeing their interactions with the main characters and each other was something I thoroughly enjoyed reading about. Some of the pandoras were wole characters on their own.
When I read the synopsis for this one I immediately thought of The Hunger Games. The only thing the two series have in common is that they are both dystopia/fantasy. That is it. The Brimstone Bleed is a completely different concept. The origins and motives behind it are something that kept me guessing until the end and I can’t wait to read further into it in the sequels to come.
To say I loved this novel is an understatement. It has been a long time since I have just wanted to sit, read and forget what is going on around me for a while. This novel provided with me with an escape into an amazing world with kick ass characters. If you want a dystopia at the top of its game, this is the one for you.
Goodreads Average: 3.91/4 (Out of 2,097 ratings)
EXTRAS:
As soon As I finished Fire and Flood, I tweeted Victoria Scott (@VictoriaScottYA) and asked her how long the series would be. There will be a sequel called Salt and StoneΒ and out next year. She also said that possibly a third one may come out as well. I hope so!
I loved this book!!! The Pandoras are definitely the best part. Can’t wait for book 2!!!!
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The Pandoras are immense! As Faye mentioned earlier, they are just like pokemon π π
I can’t wait neither! Thanks for stopping by! π xx
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I also ADOOOORED the Pandoras!! Tella managed to annoy me at the beginning of the book, and quite a bit, going on a race and your first thought is nail polish?? WTF!! But, she really grew on me, mostly when she started caring for her Pandora!
I cannot wait for book 2!!
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I must admit she did do me a bit! Her pandora was so adorable! I want one! :3
I can’t wait either! I am gonna pre-order it to my kindle closer to the time!
Thanks for stopping by lovely! π xxx
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i think i’m going to like this book, same as you. i have this book in my kindle but i just didn’t get to it yet. heard so many great things about victoria scott’s books.
and i’m the same… as soon as i finish a book i love i immediately tweet the author to ask if there’s more. so happy to hear that there will be after fire and flood π
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I hope you get to it soon!
I do it all of the time! That is why I love to go on the twitters so much. Authors get back to me most of the time so it is so nice! π
Thanks for stopping by lovely! π xxx
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Pretty much every review I read has been raving about the Pandoras! I can’t help but picture them as Pokemon creatures somehow, lol! Is there a Pandora that’s like Pikachu, by any chance? Haha. I’m genuinely curious!
I’m not sure I want to read this, though. I heard about the main character, and I have this ominous feeling I’ll end up… disliking her. A lot. So steering clear of it for a while, until I get some early reviews for the second book! Perhaps by then she would have had improved, practicality-wise~
Faye at The Social Potato
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aaaaah I never made that connection!!! *hangs head* and there is one that can mimic others so then you can have two pikachu’s :3
Main characters have a tendency to put me off sometimes but this one even though a bit annoying at times was not too bad!
Thanks for stopping by lovely! Have a good week! π xx
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