Name: Sarah Sammis's review of Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova
Item: Incendiary
Rating: 4
Author: Sarah Sammis

Zoraida Cordova

Set in a lushly drawn world inspired by Inquisition Spain, Zoraida Córdova's hotly anticipated new fantasy is an epic tale of love and revenge perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Maas. I am Renata Convida.I have lived a hundred stolen lives. Now I live my own. Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the King's Justice and brought to the luxurious palace of Andalucia. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people. Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred-or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace. When Dez, the commander of her unit-and the boy she's grown to love-is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to Andalucia and complete Dez's top secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it. But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom-and end the war that has cost her everything.

Incendiary

Jayla Poindexter 

Eduarda Lemos

Sarah Sammis

** spoiler alert **
           Big reveal at end not so surprising. Figured it out from the moment the deed was supposedly done.

Where this book falls short is in how the memories Renata takes are represented. Rather than summarizing and internalizing what she's learned, each memory is rendered as an extended scene written out in italics. Some take a paragraph and some go on for pages. Even the shortest of memories is hard to read as a block of italics. To be honest, I skimmed or skipped most of the memories.

Zoraida Córdova

An epic tale of love and revenge set in a world inspired by Inquisition-era Spain pits the magical Moria against a terrifying royal authority bent on their destruction. 'Epic and spellbinding' Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles series Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the crown. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, she was used to carry out the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people. Now Renata is one of the Whispers, a rebel spy working against the crown. When Dez, her commander - and the boy she's grown to love - is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to the palace and complete his top-secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it. But returning to the palace stirs memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the royal court, she uncovers a secret that could change the fate of the entire kingdom - and end the war that has cost her everything. 'A compelling world filled with beautiful, brutal magic and characters that feel real enough to touch' Sara Holland, New York Times-bestselling author of Everless

This book was kind of slow in the beginning cause it’s a ton of world building but the last 200 pages are so good. The background and characters are so interesting and it’s nice to see how Ren is the main character but she is so obviously flawed. 

Princess Twasam 

Nicole Dykeman

BOY OH BOY THIS IS GONNA BE IN MY TOP 5 OF THE YEAR IM LOSING MY MIND RIGHT NOW AND I NEED THE NEXT BOOK I M M E D I A T E L Y 

everything about this was literally perfect. the characterization? 💯💯. The romance?? 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 THE PLOT TWISTS?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯🤯 

So yeah I am INVESTED in Renata’s journey and I’m SO SHOOK and I CANNOT WAIT to see where this series goes oh my god

Megan Lowe

3.5 stars.

I did quite enjoy this book, I loved the culture, the setting, the difference from the usual quasi American/English country. The Spanish flare was a much needed breath of fresh air.
But I didn’t feel as if the world building was very strong. Nothing was really explained, not least the types of magic-wielders, who they are, what they can do.
The history isn’t explained either and a map is a much needed aspect.
I found this book started and ended with bangs, but the middle drags.
I love castian and dez.
I love the intrigue that develops as you go on.
I am intrigued enough to want to read the second book, and hold high hopes for it!

Shereen Evans

This was a buddy read book. I will say that I did judge the book by the cover and I didn't want to read it. I struggled a bit in the beginning to get through it. About half way the book picked up and kept me wanting to read it to figure out the ending. I enjoyed that Ren was a memory thief and could make hollows.

Holly

3.5 rounded up. idk how to feel

*Edit: after further reflection, i've settled on 3 stars

Liz Griffin

The 5 star is mostly vibes. Sometimes the pace felt slow (even audio-reading at 1.75 speed), but this book DELIVERED on tension and twists! I bought the second book immediately.

ellie chase

"Because I have more stolen memories than those of my own making. Because I have lived hundreds of stolen lives and I am afraid to live my own."

If your current OTP is Kanej, Percabeth, or Alinai- Incendiary is your new favourite story. The romance was beautiful and heart-felt and all the perfect things that make great ships. It has won the award for emotionally destroying me as a reader. 
Besides the beauty that is the DezRen ship, the plot was strong and fascinating. I can honestly say I saw none of the plot twists coming and they were all beautifully set up and done. I am so excited to find the second one and read it immediately.
The worldbuilding was fantastic and the names of all the places (Memoria is my favourite location name) were all little Easter eggs for places or ideas that represented the world.

Renata was only a child when she was kidnapped by the crown. As a memory thief, the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria, she was used by the crown to carry out the King's Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people. Now Renata is one of the Whispers, a rebel spy working against the crown. When Dez, her commander -- and the boy she's grown to love -- is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to the palace and complete his top-secret mission herself. Can she keep her cover, even as she burns for vengeance against the brutal, enigmatic prince? Her life and the fate of the Moria depend on it. But returning to the palace stirs childhood memories long locked away. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom -- and end the war that has cost her everything.

Hannah Wall

This started as a one start and just kept going up until boom! Five stars! This has so many whirl winds of emotions and the plot and the cliff hanger and the just wow! It’s incredible and to anyone who never finish- please do because I hated this book when I started and now it’s so much more!

Áróra Lind 

“The smell of old books and dust wafts from the opening, more powerful than any memory.”

I have been meaning to read this book for months now, and I'm so glad I finally did it! Even though it wasn't the 5 star read I thought it would be, I absolutely loved this book. 
I love the different magic abilities some of the characters have, the plot twists, and the story. 
It took me a little bit to get into the story but after that, I was hooked! I will definitely buy the sequel to this book.

Lila Harrison

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

Incendiary was a delightful reading experience! Though it features all the elements of a classic YA royal fantasy—villainous royals and a group of rebels determined to subvert the regime—the way these elements were written made an original and page-turning read.

The magic system was one of my favorite aspects of the book. Not only did it play a huge role in the plot, but it was beautifully detailed and unlike anything I’ve read in fantasy before. 
Plot and character development went hand in hand. Rather that learning everything there was to know about the characters beforehand, personalities came out as the plot advanced. This is especially true when it comes to the main character, Ren. I felt like a bond of trust was developing between her and the reader, and the more that trust matured, the more we learned about her fears, doubts and strengths. I love her!
Something I really liked about the characters was that there were no completely good or bad faction. Though it is clear (for now) that the rebels are the heroes and the royals are the villains, there were shades of gray in all the characters. Both factions have done terrible things, and hold many secrets that we still have to uncover. This made everything feel more real and engaging, and it created many twists for the plot, which were plenty and exciting!

My favorite aspect of the story, however, was something that I find very rarely. People who know me know I am a sucker for romance, and this book was no exception! However, rather than obsessing over a romance that was already predetermined, I found myself rooting for the potential of a relationship that may or may not have happened (I won’t say if it does.) There’s a certain character that we learn a lot of throughout the book. Slowly. Sparingly. But it was by far the most addicting aspect of the narration, and I found myself hooked to every word and scene about him. Am I obsessed? Definitely. Do I have a new book boyfriend? Absolutely. Am I shipping? You know I am!

So to wrap this up, I loved this book! 10/10 recommend to any fan of YA fantasy, especially if you love a good slow burn and books about royals and revolutions!

ashley hopkins

Loved the different magic.
I had a suspicion that something like the ending would happen with the clues near the end. I'm really excited for the 2nd book and the prince's and ren.

Viry

i am sorry to this book i tried to love you but it fell flat for me …

danielle bush

I thought it was good, but I had a hard time connecting with the characters.. towards the end it really picked up though, enough that I would read the sequel to see what happens next

Heather Heaton

Here is a booktube video with more of my thoughts:
https://youtu.be/YC_LmT-dByo

This book had me gripped instantly. It pulled me in with action packed scenes and surprising moments in the first few chapters. Then, Renata goes on a daring mission and there are so many well developed characters and you don't know who to trust. It feels like a big puzzle in which you keep getting all these little pieces, but you can't see the whole picture. The author does an amazing job of intertwining clues throughout the book giving you just enough to keep you intrigued, but not too much to give it away. The end kept me wanting to learn more and I can't wait for the next book to see where all these lovely characters go. Also did I mention the diverse range of characters? All hiding secrets and hidden intentions!! Such an amazing read, I am still reeling over it!

Leelynn Brady

Apparently I never added my review to Goodreads??? The shame 

Review first published on my blog: Sometimes Leelynn Reads on May 2, 2020.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Fantastic Flying Book Club, Netgalley, and Disney-Hyperion for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.



This was actually my first Córdova novel and I can’t believe that I’ve waited this long to read something from her! I’m actually really disappointed in myself because I could not get enough of this novel and I’m already dying for the next book. Like, can 2021 come any sooner so I can read the second novel?

I absolutely adored the world that Cordova created in this novel. I felt so immersed in this journey from the first page. I was already on the edge of my seat with the prologue alone that I knew that I was in for a wild and amazing ride. I was definitely not disappointed. Ren was such a well written character and again, I’m just floored at how many new characters I have now from all of these amazing books coming out! Ren is a girl that I could totally see me being friends with somehow, and the power that she has is just so intense and terrifying that I was already in love.

The magic system in this novel was also really interesting, and I liked how some of the magics weren’t as common throughout the Moria. Of course, Ren having one of the rarest magic out there, and it also being one of the most powerful was a nice touch, could have been seen as “typical” but hey, I dig it. I also just felt so much for Ren! I said that already I think, but ugh just hearing from her perspective and learning what she endured when she was kidnapped and in the possession of the king just broke my heart sometimes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I think that you will too. Add this to your TBR and get ready for another fantasy novel to enjoy the crap out of.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

There was a magic to this book that I have trouble putting into words. I enjoyed the world-building and was fascinated by the magic system, but what got me really hooked was the promise of a character dangled in front of my eyes—a character that I felt I would love with every fiber of my body since the moment we first see him. 

It was spectacular. I craved for any glimpse of him. I still laugh when I think of my sister’s squeals whenever he was mentioned. Glorious! I never fell in love with a character by seeing bits and pieces of him, but I did. 

What’s even more obscure is the ability the author had of making me ship two characters who meet later on in the book. How? What is this sorcery? My favorite aspects of a story are the characters and the romance subplot. Incendiary had very interesting characters, especially within the castle and, unless I’m reading too much into things, one of the best enemies-to-lovers I have ever read. I have high hopes for the sequel and I can’t wait to see if my theories are right or if my heart will be shattered completely with the weight of my expectations.

vania vela

“There is so much wrong in the world." she says. "Sometimes, I feel the only thing I can give is a bit of kindness, even when I can't give hope.”

 Renata Convida, a thief of memories better known as a robber, was kidnapped as a child and manipulated into hunting and persecuting her own people by the cruel King Fernando and Justice Méndez, the leader of the King's Justice.

 Years after being rescued by the Whispers, she is now a young woman and a member of the rebel group Moria, but when Dez, her friend and crush, is captured and executed by the Bloody Prince, Prince Castian, Renata is forced to return to the palace, his enemies, to finish Dez's last mission.

Set in a world similar to the Spanish Inquisition, the world of this story feels so real and complex. I loved the way the different cultures, traditions and religions were made visible; honest and brutal in many cases, showing the reality of that time.

The magic inside the book was phenomenal. We could read from magic, the royal court, espionage and revenge; written in a creative and easy to understand way.

Although it is a very plot-driven book, the characters were explored with adequate depth, making us love or hate them if we refer to the "villains".

Being the first book of a duology I can say that it is a fabulous introduction to the story and I am certainly excited to read the continuation.

Lisa van der Heijden 

Incendiary was the #booktalkwithwifey book for the month of June. As with all #booktalkwithwifey books, I did not know anything about the plot of the book. I just buy whatever Chiara and Aleksandra tell me to buy. Incendiary was one of those books I loved from page one. 

The first reason I loved this book was the plot. The plot lets your heart beat faster and lets you catch your breath in your throat. It is fast-moving and the author made some bold choices that I did not see coming. The author masterfully balanced different types of intensity in the plot: fighting scenes, rescue missions, court intrigue and politics, espionage and torture. This made me addicted to the story. I needed to know what happened next. Continuing, the stakes were high for the characters. Due to this and the unknown motives of the characters, a cut-throat environment was created. This was further established by the consequences character's actions or decisions. Lastly, the main character, Ren, was an unreliable narrator. She was unreliable because she could not remember relevant parts of her past and therefore, I was unsure on which side she was on. 

The second reason I loved this book was the memorable characters. They made me feel connected to the story. They were memorable because they had unique personalities. They kept the reader on their toes due to their hidden motives and desires. Furthermore, I loved how the relationships were formed and how they were realistically complex. The author also really made me highly invested in a relationship that did not exist. Lastly, I appreciated who the main character was mature enough the recognise her own mistakes. 

The third reason was the writing. Zoraida Cordova is a talented writer who writes with great feeling. The writing style is beautiful with many meaningful quotes. The dialogue and the interactions between characters felt realistic. Furthermore, I loved how Ren’s and other character’s memories are distinguished throughout the story. The author also uses Spanish words. This did not feel forced because it was strengthened by the world-building. 

The world was unique and detailed. The world feels established due to the many details and structure to the world. The world is not black and white. The established side and the rebellion were both complex with discrepancies and hypocrisy within their ideals. I loved how big the world felt, with different landscapes and cities. Lastly, the magic system was fascinating. The way Ren’s magic worked was different from other memory magic I have read about. 

Continuous, this was a great first installment in a fantasy series. I loved everything about this book, and I cannot wait for the sequel. I highly recommend picking up this book when you love intense YA fantasy series.

Cristina Cicivelli 

I had a LOT of expectations for this book, mostly because I was super intrigued by Renata's power. And I must say that the worldbulding (the fact that it was inspired by Inquisition Spain was just A+++) and the magical system were definitely my favorite part.
The rest... meh.  Renata was quite an interesting main character (I'm sure that she will really blossom later in the trilogy, as I see good premises) and the writing style is *chef kiss*, but everything connected to the plot was not as original as I wanted it to be, just average: I've read so many books with similar vibes to this one that plot twists are too predictable to be interesting, and I can't anymore with love triangles (really, I'm super annoyed every time I find them).

So yes, probably you would like Incendiary if you don't read as much medieval fantasy as I do, and don't easily fall in love with the bad boy (that is in fact the good boy) that is 99% going to be killed in book 3.

Roos Kuijper 

The beginning was really good, the middle a little too slow, the ending was good and now I need book 2!

Manon van Heumen

Lisa Beasley

I really enjoyed this book, it was a really interesting world and magic system, though it did annoy me that the Moria seemed to dislike one of their own because of the power they had. I felt that was a little unfair but I did really like Renata. The storyline was strong and I really liked the twists and turns. A very enjoyable fantasy whose sequel I am looking forward to.

Eduarda Lemos &
Incendiary by Zoraida Cordova

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