Cast in Firelight

Whilst I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style, I thought the world and magic system was very interesting. I also thought both of the two POV main characters were as equally as likeable as each other and didn't feel like one of them lacked/was overshadowed by the other.

Really strong debut! Light, quick, fast-paced, great fight scenes and an underground fight ring, unique and easy-to-follow magic system, dual POV, two royal heirs in an arranged marriage meet in disguise without realizing it and embark on a dangerous investigation together trying to save their countries.

I liked it! It’s sweet and fun watching them interact without realizing it and their growing chemistry born out of rivalry. Natural, enjoyable progression and likable characters. My one rebuke is at the very very end, I dislike the ~rumor bc I don’t buy the logic. I’m sure book 2 will certainly delve into it deeper. Overall a very sweet, imaginative, and attention-grabbing YA debut.

• South Asian/Indian inspired fantasy

• cage-fighting witches

• vigilante heroism

• royalty

• arranged marriage

• secret identities

• slow burn

I haven't had this much fun reading a book in so long! I couldn't stop smiling and was giddy the entire time I read this. This book has: - arranged marriage trope - protagonists that dont meet again until they're adults and don't recognize each other so use fake alias's - masked vigilantes - underground magic cage fighting ?! And so much more! It's all set in this beautiful, colourful, world inspired by Indian and South Asian culture. This has become my new comfort read!

a white author writing a book with south asian representation .. ? (edit: okay so her husband is but i'm still bitter lol) grr but ignoring that. i didn't like the writing that much but this was really good overall, i love adraa and jatin's dynamic sm and i will be looking forward to the sequel ! (edit)

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 (one sided) *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 2021. 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.

Content warnings: (view spoiler)[fantasy violence, natural disasters (volcano eruption, avalanche), drug abuse, character believes they’re emotionally involved (cheating) with someone they’re not betrothed to (hide spoiler)] An arranged marriage where the couple hates each others’ guts and then gets to know each other under secret identites? Yes! I picked this up based on that premise and the read-alike comparisons in the blurb, thinking this would be an ownvoices Indian-inspired fantasy a la Tasha Suri and… it’s not. “You sure you aren’t trying to kill me?” “Never.” She smirks. “In front of all these witnesses.” “Reassuring.” Adraa and Jatin, heirs to neighboring kingdoms, have been betrothed since they were kids. Neither remembers much about the other, besides the fact that Adraa lost her temper with Jatin and slapped him in the face at their first meeting. Ten years later, Jatin is finally returning home from school to start taking a more active role in running the kingdom with his father. But neither Adraa nor Jatin are looking forward to the formalization of their bethrothal – especially when a chase after a thief leaves “Kalyan,” supposedly one of Jatin’s guards and “Jaya,” a cage fighter and spy working for Adraa, collaborating to find the source of a smuggling ring. Neither realizes the other’s identity, but as their investigation continues and they grow closer to each other, how long can their secrets hold? I liked the magic system, though it was at times a bit confusing. Certain segments of the population are Touched, which means they have magical abilities. The Touch starts as a small marking on each wrist and then grows up the person’s arm, and the length is commensurate with their magical ability. There are nine different varieties of magic, called fortes, which correspond to different colors and gods. For instance, pink is healing magic from Laeh, the goddess of healing, while red is from Erif, the god of fire. Adraa is different in that her Touch is only on one arm, which leaves her a bit defensive about her magic and her suitability to be the next ruler of Belwar. And that leads in to my first criticism of the book. It read much younger than YA to me, with a very predictable plot and a very black and white morality. Belwar is small compared to the neighboring kingdoms, but it’s diverse, with a large Untouched (nonmagical) population. Of course, while the other kingdoms discrimate against those without certain types of magic or based on how many types a person can use, Belwar is a progressive utopia. And of course Adraa is a rani of the people, inventing something called firelight that she sells so cheaply that even the poorest people in the kingdom should be able to afford it. And when a friend is injured, she takes on an alternate identity – with the blessing of her future father-in-law – to infiltrate the criminal underworld of cage fighting. So, basically Batman. It was entertaining, sure, but it felt very unrealistic, and I think Adraa’s characterization suffered as a result. “By Gods, this was winning. She had been winning the whole time. When I was nine I had wanted to impress her with a freeze spell. Naive me had wanted her to praise me, wanted her good opinion. But I’m a fraud compared with her. I only learn spells and recast them to perfection. She invented an entirely new one. I had never even thought of trying that.” As for the other characters, I did like how quickly Jatin realized that he was, well, kind of a jerk to Adraa. Through all their letters exchanged over the past years, they’ve been competing to see who’s “winning” – that is, better at magic – than the other. Given that Jatin attended a prestigious academy along with other promising young royals while Adraa was homeschooled due to her one-armed Touch, he naturally assumes he’s better at magic than her. But she never mentioned inventing firelight or all the other work she does for her kingdom. He even admires her – as Jaya – bossiness, recognizing it as a natural tendency towards leadership. “I can like her—blood, I’m even allowed to love her. I don’t need to squash the feelings or the thoughts that have bubbled to the surface ever since she saved that little boy in the street. What had I done in my life to make me this Gods-blessed lucky?” What I didn’t like was that when he figured out that she was Adraa, he put off confronting her about it or coming clean about his own deception. At this point in the story, they both have pretty much fallen into insta-love with the other, but were under the impression they were betrothed to another person, which naturally leads to a lot of angst for both of them. Jatin’s relief when he realizes the person he’s in love with is the person he’s going to marry is overwhelming, but he somehow doesn’t comprehend that she could be feeling the same way and that he’s causing her further pain. When she finally finds out, she is angry and upset, but then she just lets it go. He respects her magic and leadership abilities, but he still feels like it’s OK for him to lie to her, and somehow she’s OK with that as well. I was beyond frustrated with how that was handled. My main disappointment with the book, however, was even worse. This is not an ownvoices book, and I’m not an ownvoices reviewer for it, so take this next commentary with that in mind. It seemed very superficially Indian-inspired. The characters wear kurtas and saris and lehengas, Adraa has upma for breakfast, the leaders are maharajas and maharanis and… that’s it. The way the families interact, their culture, the magic, none of that felt Indian. It read like generic western fantasy with some ethnic window dressing, and nothing like the readalikes mentioned in the blurb. Overall, I’d give this around 2.5 stars, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for ownvoices reviews. I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Disclaimer: I bought this e-book. Support your authors! Book: Cast in Firelight Author: Dana Swift Book Series: Wickery Book 1 Rating: 3/5 Diversity: South Asian MCs and characters Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, romance, South Asian inspired Publication Date: January 19, 2021 Genre: YA Fantasy Recommended Age: 15+ (violence, gore, mass death, drugs, animal butchering scene, slight sexual content, some fetishization, romance, religion) Explanation of CWs: There is violence, mass death, and gore in this book. Drugs are not used in the book but are mentioned and are a plot point. There is one animal butchering scene and it’s graphic. There is some slight sexual content and some fetishization scenes shown. There is romance and the book heavily leans into religion (the religion is one that is set up in the book). Publisher: Delacorte Press Pages: 448 Synopsis: Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people. Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child. Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet. Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross... and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead. Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction. Review: For the most part I really liked this book. I thought it was a well written book that utilized the old enemies to lovers/mistaken identity trope well. I loved the little competition between the MCs and it had a cute Swan Princess movie feel to it. The book was also South Asian inspired and starred South Asian characters, which I loved seeing. The character development was well done and the world building was as well. However, there are concerns from own voice readers about the author and how she was chosen to write a story for South Asian readers instead of a South Asian writer. Some of the concerns also revolved around the incorrect terminology and how the author utilized the fetishization scene when that’s a problem that many South Asian women and children face in their day-to-day life. Their voices are valid and should be read in full. They can be found on Goodreads, so please review their concerns. The book also had some pacing issues and I felt like it slumped in the middle. Verdict: It was ok, but please please please read the ownvoice readers comments on this book.

When I read CAST IN FIRELIGHT was going to have an arranged marriage trope (and saw the gorgeous cover done by none other than Queen Charlie Bowater), I burned with the curiosity of reading it. Arranged marriage in fantasy is a trope that always makes me curious because of its potential for drama and slow-burn. I will be honest, this book wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, but it still managed to surprise me and keep me entertained in a time when concentrating was difficult. I really enjoyed the tone and atmosphere of Cast in Firelight. The world of Wickery definitely has more in common with the past than modern times, but the characters and the writing had a very “modern” feel to them that gave a touch of levity to the entire story. There were moments where it read more like a young YA book, but it wasn’t a bad thing. If you’re in the mood for a less complex and entertaining read, it’s very well done. The magic system was one of my favorite aspects. The idea of magic being divided in colors was very original and having nine different and unique abilities added a layer of complexity to the world-building. I also enjoyed that, while each witch and wizard had an affinity for a color, that didn’t preclude them from casting others as well, which allowed us to see magic used often and with variety throughout the novel even having only Adraa and Jatin’s perspectives. Jatin and Adraa were definitely my favorite part. Their banter was entertaining and I found their personalities to merge quite well. Adraa is spunky, sassy and headstrong while Jatin is sweeter, more reserved, sometimes awkward and yet still sassy in his own way. I would have liked to see more of the secondary characters and definitely would have preferred more page time for the antagonist as well as more complexity to his character, but I hope we’ll see more of this in the next book! Though I really loved the book overall, I do think I would have preferred if the story had focused more on the arranged marriage trope and less on the secret identities, which instead added what I call a “superhero” vibe to the narration. For two people engaged-to-be-married since the age of nine, I found it hard to believe that Adraa and Jatin managed to pull off not meeting each other for as long as they do. I also believe knowing their true identities earlier on could have added more complexity and spice to their relationship, given the conflicting nature of their first meeting as children and the letter exchanges that derived from it. Overall though, it was a fun and very quick read. I recommend to fans of light YA fantasy!

It was not a surprise I loved this book. From the first quote I was captured, the author was great and I can't wait to read the sequel!

Two people betrothed to one another fall in love with each other despite themselves and their preconceived notions. Sounds a bit like Pride and Prejudice, and I’m here for it. Adraa and Jatin meet as young tweens to establish a betrothal relationship; in the meantime, on their individual roads to maturity, they each must do some growing up in order to come back together and rule their two kingdoms. Adraa must train to wield magic in the traditions of her kingdom of Belwar, while Jatin must attend formal schooling in Naupure; each heir to the throne strives to master magical abilities that demonstrate a fitness for duty. In the meantime, the two taunt each other and build up an animosity that can only be cured by dispelling the prejudices they hold against one another. Watching that happen is the most entertaining aspect of the whole novel. And it’s fun. Matter of fact, bring some tea and popcorn. The single most impressive thing about this novel is the magic system. It is not necessarily anything that readers have not seen before in one way or another, but it is given to the reader as part of the story and not a giant info dump to wade through in order to get to the point of the story. I have seen such skillful presentation before, but not often. It made the story focus much more on the characters, their relationships with one another, and the two or three (this book was busy!) subplots going on at the same time. Very enjoyable book overall. Solid four stars. No foul language, no sexual situations (though there is kissing), and not mentally taxing with a magical system that makes itself essential without being the main focus. I will definitely invest in this for my own collection and purchase one if need be for my local library. My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC, for which I give my own opinion.

I really enjoyed this book, more than I thought I would! I read this book within three days, and I honestly enjoyed it a lot. I gave it the three stars as I did skim read at times, finding myself just a little bored, however, the overall story, plot and character design were really well done and enjoyable.

Although I enjoyed Adraa and Jatin's journey in the first book, I found myself highly disconnected to them in this sequel. The premise of the first book was that they were rivals to lovers, but because they are dating in this book, the tension is no longer there. As such, I found that Jatin did not go through any character development, even though Adraa does. The characters spend most of the book apart, but their motivations weren't aligned with the actual threat at the end. Ultimately, I lost interest in Jatin's POV because his singular thought was of Adraa the entire time they were apart, whereas Adraa's was of escape and fighting the villain. Even so, with the dual POV, I wasn't able to easily distinguish between which character we were following as their internal voices were so similar. I also couldn't tell you who the side characters were because there were just there to push the story forward but with no emotional depth. The storytelling was fast paced, but because so many things were happening, I got lost in the plot. While the ending was satisfactory, I felt like there were too many hoops to go through in order to get there. I think that the author's writing was fine, but the execution of the story was just a bit lacking. Unfortunately, this story lost my interest but I look forward to the author's future works.

4.5 stars! A note tied around the jar's lid read, Thought you might need this soon. Unscrewing the cap, I find the potion I taught Jatin to settle my cramps. Good Gods. He makes it hard not to love him. Ladies, get yourself a man who would learn how to make period potions for you. Just a daily reminder to keep your standards that high. It worked really well for Adraa, even when she thought this boy was her fiancé's guard and she'd never be allowed to marry him. ^ That right there is just a taste of all the angst in this book, and I'm delighted to say I absolutely ate it up. I'm a sucker for secret identities, criminal underbellies, overcoming failure, and pretty much everything this book had to offer. I knocked a half star for the beginning feeling a little generic, but once we hit like 25% I was hooked. And don't even get me started on the second half !! I was SWEATING. The twists were so well done, I honestly didn't see a single one coming. I'm so pleased with how this book left off, with how much feels resolved, but also what's left to be done. The world and stakes truly expanded tremendously in that third act, and I couldn't help but read it all in one sitting. I need the next installment!! But I also feel satisfied enough to be able to wait until it comes out. For now I'll just stare longingly at Adraa and Jatin fanart ;)

The Curse of the Charlie Bowater cover has been lifted! More often than not, I’m roped into books with illustrated covers by this incredibly talented woman because they’re too pretty to resist, and later end up regretting it. So far, only Aurora Rising (and sequel) by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson have survived. I’m happy to say that this book has been added to their ranks. Besides pretty covers, the elements that draw me to a book are mentions of magic, royals, enemies to lovers or arranged marriages. This book has (sort of) all these elements, which made me excited to read it despite the fear of the curse. I’m so happy I gave it a chance, because it was fun, fast, with an intriguing magic system and a wonderful banter between the protagonists. I admit that I’m not good at remembering synopses once I dive into a book, so I was surprised by the vigilante twist added to it. Though it wasn’t at all what I was expecting, it was still enjoyable and surprisingly fun. However, I wish we’d seen a little more of the arranged marriage aspect of the story, which was what drew me to the book in the first place. But for the rest, it was perfect and I encourage everyone to pick this up.

** spoiler alert ** I sat on writing this review for a couple of days but I really didn't have any particular feelings towards this book. The plot about mistaken identify really confused me because [spoilers] when they first bump into each other she recognized him?? But at their next meeting he tells her a different name and she just rolls with it?? Did I completely miss something? I'll read the sequel when it comes out though.

This book was SO surprising and breathtaking! I was sold reading it had an arranged marriage plot line but THIS BOOK. I read it within 24 hours and have so many great things to say about it. Not only do we have an awesome edgy magic fighting female lead but also a magic cinnamon roll of a love interest that isn’t afraid of a woman’s cycle and not being stronger than a woman. Every time I thought this book would follow normal trope parallels (I love tropes don’t get me wrong) it would totally go a way I didn’t see coming! This is one of my favorite 2021 reads so far!

Rating: 4.5/5.0 Did I expect to love this book as much as I did? No, definitely not. YA fantasy books have been disappointing me the last couple of months. Cast in Firelight, however, reminded me why I love this genre. It is a fun, adventurous story with great characters, heart racing action scenes and high stakes. Center to the plot is the relationship between Adraa en Jatin. They have been arranged to be married since they were little kids and their relationship has been hostile ever since. Their agreement to work together without knowing each other's identities creates tension for the reader as well as an opportunity to get to know each other without prejudices. Dana Swift developed their relationship very naturally and it was lovely to see them growing closer. Besides the relationship, the main plot line focuses on the disappearance of Adraa's invention. I loved how their research was a combination of espionage as well as well-executed action scenes. There were also many elements included in the story such as (royal) responsibilities, politics, witchcraft and spell casting, and underground fighting. The ending was anxiety-inducing and makes me anxious to read the sequel. The main reason Cast in Firelight stood out to me was the believable chemistry between the two main characters. Their relationship felt genuine and I could not help but root for them. I also loved Adraa's relationship with Jatin's father. It was very sweet. However, I wished the main characters had more developed relationships with the other characters in the story. Now it feels that they have only each other. For Adraa, especially, I would have liked to see a more developed relationship with her little sister and her parents. The side characters felt a bit too one-dimensional for my preference. The writing itself was pleasantly to read. It kept me engaged to the story. However, they were some issues with the writing. For example, eight-year old Adraa was not a convincible child. However, the action scenes were clear and exciting. The banter between Adraa and Jatin was witty and entertaining. The story was also told in dual perspective and it was so much fun to read from both characters perspective, especially since they kept their identities secret from one another. Cast in Firelight has an interesting take on witchcraft. I loved the magic system; how the spells were cast, the magical inventions, how each country was handled magical abilities differently and how differently Adraa and Jatin used their magic. I loved that Gods and Goddesses were included in the story, but I wished their part would have been more developed. The world itself felt well rounded. It had politics, underground society with gangs, drugs and fighting clubs, a heath care system and different methods of travel. It was a fun world to be in. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut and I am excited for the sequel. I would recommend Cast in Firelight if you love light hearted YA fantasy focused on romance. Rating breakdown: - Plot: 5/5 - Characters: 4.o/5 - Writing: 4/5 - Worldbuilding: 4.5/5 - Overall enjoyment: 5/5 Trigger warnings : Violence, fighting, betrayal, drugs, substance abuse.

I enjoyed this book so much! I loved the magic system, the two main characters were great as well. The plot wasn't wholly my thing, hence 4 stars.

REREAD REVIEW I loved this book even more the second time around! This is now a five-star read for me! Cast in Firelight has literally everything I love in a book - forbidden romance, secret identities, royalty, magic, even vigilantes, in a tale so action-packed and well-written that once I start reading, it's hard to stop! I relate so much to the main character, Adraa, yet she also inspires me to be better and braver! GAH I sincerely love everything about this book, and I recommend it to any and all fantasy romance lovers!! Original Review AAHHH my first two reads of 2021 are new favorites?! I’m off to a great start!! My Moodboard Goodreads summary: Adraa is the royal heir of Belwar, a talented witch on the cusp of taking her royal ceremony test, and a girl who just wants to prove her worth to her people. Jatin is the royal heir to Naupure, a competitive wizard who's mastered all nine colors of magic, and a boy anxious to return home for the first time since he was a child. Together, their arranged marriage will unite two of Wickery's most powerful kingdoms. But after years of rivalry from afar, Adraa and Jatin only agree on one thing: their reunion will be anything but sweet. Only, destiny has other plans and with the criminal underbelly of Belwar suddenly making a move for control, their paths cross...and neither realizes who the other is, adopting separate secret identities instead. Between dodging deathly spells and keeping their true selves hidden, the pair must learn to put their trust in the other if either is to uncover the real threat. Now Wickery's fate is in the hands of rivals..? Fiancées..? Partners..? Whatever they are, it's complicated and bound for greatness or destruction. *Usually I like to write my own summaries because they aren’t always reflective of the book, but I thought this one was perfect!* This book truly has it all: an interesting magic system, a unique mix of cultures, the coolest heroine, a sweet other main character and love interest, a stunning cover, a lil forbidden romance, vigilantes & royalty, mysteries, and secret identities upon secret identities! For real, Cast in Firelight is a RIDE. An action-packed, tension-filled, romantic and magical adventure full of near-death experiences and all the feels! I highly recommend this book to lovers of action-packed fantasy romances looking for the next unique story to escape into! And I’m not kidding about Adraa being the coolest heroine - she is literally the coolest and I want to be her. Because it’s important for me to critique as well as praise, the beginning of the book is rather confusing, as the world-building and the development of the magic system is skipped over more than it should be. It took me a long time to figure this out, so PSA: the color of their magic is based on the type they’re best at, not the type of magic they’re doing at the moment. And there is so much build-up to the climax of the two characters’ romantic arc that when it happens, it feels the *tiniest* bit anticlimactic. But in all seriousness, these things are pretty minor, especially the romance one. I really truly recommend this read, especially if you need an escape from reality - it’s one of those that just takes you away and puts you right into a world of action and magic! **I won an-earc of Cast in Firelight from an author giveaway; all opinions are my own! This book releases January 19th.** If you enjoyed this review, you can friend me here on Goodreads and follow my Bookstagram/Twitter @ashton_reads. Thanks for reading!