Firelight Review

Firelight

-       Sophie Jordan

Kindle Book

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form. Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Jacinda is conflicted. She’s struggles against the pressure her people put on her as a rare fire breathing Draki. At the same time she struggles against her family who want to keep her safe and leave her inner Draki behind. As Jacinda struggles to find the balance that is right for her, she is drawn to Will, the hunter who nearly cost her, her life. Sophie Jordan’s twist on Dragons, the Draki are pretty cool and I loved how they need moisture to survive.

There is a very sweet love story here which I adored. Sometimes the romance in YA feels a little forced or I don’t understand the attraction between the leads, but Will and Jacinda feels natural together. I loved the difficulty in their relationship – very Romeo and Juliet. Will’s families are hunters – although why they hunt Draki or what the benefits for them are is not explored in much depth. This gave some depth to the usual first love story.

The writing was expressive and I did feel conflicted as Jacinda’s Mum and sister adapt to the mortal world better than Jacinda. It did feel at times like she was being selfish, but at the same time her family were asking a lot of her! There is plenty of teenage angst and some fun secondary characters – I loved Jacinda’s friends and the nosy neighbour! A word of warning, this ends on something of a cliff hanger which will lead you to want to pick up the sequel, Vanish as soon as it is released!

Recommended for fans of Twilight and House of Night. 7.5 out of 10.