Fifteen-year-old Yulla prepares for the time when everyone in her village must go below. Should they stay above, Mother Sun would be displeased because this is when she sends her Fire Children out. When Yulla accidentally discovers her village's witch-women conducting spells for Father Sea during the time below, she decides to go above the surface and witnesses a Fire Child being kidnapped. With the help of the Fire Child's brother, Ember, the two must save Mother Sun and her Children.
THE FIRE CHILDREN by Lauren Roy begins with an incredible premise of mythology, fire, and legend. The details about Mother Sun, Father Sea, and the Fire Children are well done, crafting a world easy and fascinating to imagine. The setting is truly stunning, and seeing it through Yulla's eyes, a young girl who has so much to learn but has such a strong heart, is excellent.
As much as I love the premise, the plot does have areas where it drags. Yulla doesn't meet Ember until a good portion of the way into the story. Though it is nice to see Yulla's day-to-day life beforehand, the action could have started much quicker. The delay also makes the minor romance between Yulla and Ember feel rushed and surface-level, not allowing room for the development of the character growth Yulla seems to have randomly found towards the end of the story. However, their interactions are still sweet and have a nice ring of hope.
Though it takes a bit to get there, the climax is well done. Mother Sun and Sister Moon are intriguing and powerful with the perfect amount of mysterious complexity. The story wraps up well, giving the reader plenty of answers, if not completely set up beforehand.
Though THE FIRE CHILDREN has its flaws, Lauren Roy crafts a fantastic and exciting world. Yulla is a kind and brave protagonist sure to be liked by many readers.
Two children escape the darkness of their underground
dwellings, to find adventure, magic and terrible danger
await anyone who ventures above ground.
Fifteen years have passed since Mother Sun last sent her
children to walk the world. When the eclipse comes, the
people retreat to the caverns beneath the Kaladim,
passing
the days in total darkness while the Fire Children
explore
their world. It's death to even look upon them, the
stories say.
Despite the warnings, Yulla gives in to her curiosity and
ventures to the surface. There she witnesses the Witch
Women
β who rumors say worship dead Father Sea, rather than
Mother
Sun β capturing one of the Children and hauling her away.
Yulla isn't the only one who saw the kidnapping; Ember,
the
last of the Fire Children, reveals himself to Yulla and
implores her to help.
Trapped up above and hunted by the witches and the desert
wind, Yulla and Ember must find a way free his siblings
and
put a stop to the Witch Womens' plans, before they can
use
the Fire Children to bind Mother Sun herself.
No excerpt available.
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