Blog Tour: Ignite Book Review

I'm so excited to be reviewing this book!!! I've been waiting to spill my thoughts all about this ever since I finish this book. It just one of those books that makes you think, you know?

Photo by Maksim Istomin on Unsplash

The blurb:

What if superhumans weren't considered heroes?

When Scarlett Marley is attacked by an illegal super with fire powers, she doesn't get burned, but now she has a fire-like glow flickering in her eyes.

With superpowers criminalized, she has no choice but to turn herself over to the Superhuman Containment Facility, or risk hurting everyone she loves.

Her normal life seems lost forever, until she is selected to be one of the first to receive the experimental cure to destroy her powers. In exchange, she must first complete one mission: 

Infiltrate and capture one of the largest gangs of supers in the remains of once-great Rapid City.

With the cure and all her future at stake, Scarlett is prepared to do whatever it takes to bring these criminals to justice so she can return to her family. But his gang and their leader, Rez, aren't what everyone says, and Scarlett begins to question everything she was ever told about the SCF and the fire flowing in her veins.

The cure is her only hope for returning her life to what it was before, but is that life worth returning to after all?

Rating: 💜💜💜💜

Content: mild violence 

Genre: Superhero, science fiction, dystopian 

Why I love this book:

The first thing that comes to mind is that it is unique and creative with the tropes it's using. Superheroes in this story are seen in a different view from the normal I know of. The focus on elemental powers in the main characters, which considering how there are so many different powers out there and that I've only seen a mix of type of powers rather than one type of powers, it's unique for the main cast of characters and most of the side characters to have this is all I'm saying. Also, side note, the author just happened to pick the type of powers I love the most, so I LOVE that so much. 😍 And I think the plot structure was quite different to anything I've read so far. Basically, most books have the "embracing the lie" moment off page, in the character's past, usually in their childhood. Sometimes we see it in flashbacks or prologues (or first chapters that function similar to a prologue) or even prequels (more common for villains). But in this one we get to see the lie form after the inciting incident. I love that we were there on day one when everything changed without being years in the past for a moment. Because of that, I enjoyed seeing her reach the truth even more than usual. It felt more personal to me as a reader and I was constantly screaming at Scarlett to stop the believing the lies, question them more deeply, and find the truth. I just don't feel the same impact with the classic structure. I know other stories out there have done the same things with certain elements and moments in her character arc, it's just not common. Especially with a POV character like Scarlett who is clearly a hero type of character and isn't very morally grey. More on her later. 

The dystopian vibe gave me life. Yes, I am now obsessed with anything reminds me of the dystopian genre. I just really love how dystopian just feels more realistic and relating to real issues in the world than any other genres to me. It just gives me a different feel, one that I can connect with reality the easiest. Also I thought it was so clever to mix the superhero genre (which is a subgenre of the science fiction genre I think) with the dystopian one. I've read one other superhero series (which I haven't finished yet) which also gives the same vibe and it just really works for me. It just makes sense that with the existence of superheroes/superhumans would make the world quite messed up.

The characters also made this story for me. None of them were lacking in development, though I wish I could spend more time with some of them, as in Ares, Nadia, Seth, Rez and Crynn. I would have just love to know them a little bit better in book 1 than what I got. More on this later.

Also I guessed the biggest plot twist (at least I think it is?) way before it was revealed because I picked up the foreshadowing almost instantly so I'm happy about that. I like getting things right, okay? 😂 I don't usually get these things so it's a win for me personally to have guessed it. It doesn't stop it from being a good plot twist. I loved it a lot. It was true to my suspicions.

And I would be failing if I don't mention the theme/the message. It definitely made this story all the more powerful, and I must admit knowing the same belief as mine is behind it made it more personal and deep for me. Self-worth in the non-toxic way is a beautiful and powerful gift from God. God never wanted us to think of ourselves unworthy. Jesus died and rose again so we can find true worth again. This story beautifully, expertly, shows a proper balance of finding yourself worthy while also being selfless. You are never a mistake and nothing you do or become changes your worth. You are always worthy in God's sight, no matter what the world says.

I love that God didn't feel forced in just to show the author's beliefs on the topic of her story. No, it felt natural and definitely not preachy. And I wouldn't jump to say that this is a Christian fiction, even though it is, because it just felt like a story that just happened to display Christian beliefs. I would recommend it to a non-Christian if they are open to it. Because it rather explores Christian beliefs and God than tell what they are. Which is just plain good storytelling.  

Pet peeves:

This is a new section which won't always be here. Most of the time I don't have big enough or any issues to talk about. It's called pet peeves because I thought it would be the best way to show that these are personal preferences and not something bad to do with the story or major flaws with characters, plots, worldbuilding or style. Generally if a story I find has those things I don't like them and won't ever review them here (if they are 3 stars I might review them on Goodreads). Also note that personal preferences do affect the rating and the overall enjoyment. And be aware that spoilers will likely be present here. Don't worry, I will warn you before I talk about them if they do show up. 

First off, I was sad that I didn't get as many interactions between the friends as I was expecting. This story was described to be about found family, which still totally is, but it just wasn't enough for me to feel like it was a found family story in my mind. They are like, "we are all really close friends" but I was like "but you guys have barely spent any time together". A lot of the narrative was just Scarlett and her thoughts, which perfectly fine since I enjoying being in her POV, but it also didn't convince me that the main characters were best friends and how they actually deeply cared for each other. Especially with Seth, who seemed like he was always avoiding them and not talking to them once they went on their mission. I just didn't feel it. It felt like I was told that was the case than being shown it.

I felt the same disconnect with Rez and his found family. Not because they didn't act like a family or that I was told that they were and not shown, but because Scarlett didn't ever felt like a family member with them. I just didn't personally felt like she had found a second family in them. Rez did felt like a father figure to her, but also like a distant one because she pushed him away or didn't listen to him a lot of the time. I definitely would have liked if Scarlett softened towards them more and acted like she was among family than she did.  

The other thing, which is *MAJOR SPOILERS SO PLEASE DON'T READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK*

Are you still reading this even though you haven't read the book?? No? Okay, good. *SPOILER* The death of the mentor character, Rez, felt too cliché. Don't get me wrong, I was sad about him passing away but like I knew he was going die when I first met him? I just really had a good sense that was what was going to happen to him, especially as he was such an amazing guy, was a really special figure to Scarlet and he fitted the mentor type so well. It just wasn't a shock when he got severely injured and I must admit it lessened the grief as a reader. It just didn't feel so sad when I called it? I feel like a terrible person. 😅 Not saying I don't miss him, I really do, and I wish he was still around. 😢

*END OF SPOILER*

Thoughts on characters:

Scarlett was such an engaging character to be in the head with. We can get to see how conflicted she is when her world turns upside down. She makes all the wrong decisions and views her situation in the wrong way. While it can be frustrating to experience this as a reader, I found it fascinating and unique to have a character believe the wrong thing unintentionally for such a long time. I just really love her POV and her internal conflict. She felt real and human. Her every action makes sense to her insecurities, desires and lies. I feel like I know her personally, like she had taken my hand and took me on her journey.      

Ares lives up to the hype. He's awesome. He's distant but friendly, which honestly sounds like what ice is. And his backstory is 😚👌. His one is my favourite, though all of the main characters have great backstories. I wish he had more screen time and more interaction with Scarlet. Maybe some conflict with how their powers are not compatible? Ohhh, now I want that. 😂 But anyway, while I love Ares, I feel like I have only know him on a surface level and I hope I will get to know him better, deeper, in book 2.

Nadia is such a sweetheart. The author was a genius in making the sweetest soul have earthquake powers. The conflict with caring for people and having violent powers is brilliant. And the fact she believes in the worth of others but struggles with seeing it in herself is just YES. I love that about her. Again, I wish more screen time and interaction with the POV character because I feel like I know her on a surface level and I would love to know her on a more deeper one.  

Seth is most mysterious one in the group. I really don't understand him much. I know why he believes the way he does, but how his actions reflects his past and beliefs is more blurry for me. He has two sides to his personality, which honestly confuses me more about him. Hopefully book 2 clears some of it up. I just really want to know him better.

Rez is like the perfect character but also still has flaws, which I liked seeing. His goals have all the good intentions yet the morals he displays while acting on his goals are a little grey, but that's mainly because he is superhuman and he has no choice but to break the law to keep his worth as a human and try to show the world somehow his power is a gift and not a curse. And he's a Christian, so you get to see how might a Christian respond in a situation where they are unable to follow the law because of their beliefs.  

Crynn is an interesting character. Her story was so fascinating, but like, again, not enough screen time for me to really know her and understand her. Her actions makes sense and I know why she did what she did, but also I don't at the same time? There are some unanswered questions about her I think. Also I wish I could've known her on more personal level and that she and Scarlett got close before the big event happened. I hope she shows up in book 2. 

Ivon fits the gentle giant type perfectly. His loyalty and care for Rez is so admirable, which brings out his intimidating side. His interactions with the superhuman children was just adorable and heart-warming, and I think he could be a mentor figure to the main characters, especially Scarlett, in book 2.  

Dr. Bailey made me mad. He's so manipulative and cold and I hate him, but then you see his vulnerable side and I feel sympathetic towards him, like I understand his motivations, but... I still hate him. Though honestly, I think he is like the foil character to Scarlett because their beliefs and views aligned so well at one point. Which is why he pretended? to be a mentor character for her. I don't like him, but that's just because he was written so well.   

Ian may be my favourite character, I just love guy best friends. They are so supportive, encouraging and kind. The perfect person for listening, understanding and helping the protagonist. Also the one thing that actually shocked me in this story was a thing involving him and just ahhhhhhh, I need answers please!!!! 😱 I need to know why so bad. 

Hannah and Dylan are amazing little younger siblings, and their different reactions to what was happening in their world was a great balance to the POV character's own perspective. Dylan is more open to the superhumans being human and Hannah has an innocent view. Also they love their sister, and Scarlett loves them back and cares so much for them, which makes my heart happy. Not enough stories with healthy and close siblings relationships. 

Scarlett's parents are awesome. Loving and supportive no matter what. How they reacted when they saw their oldest daughter as a superhuman in the SCF was heart-breaking. *MILD SPOILER* You should have told them before you ran off, Scarlett. (The one thing I was genuinely mad at Scarlett for doing.) *END MILD SPOILER*

Overall, this book is a unique superhero story, explores deep themes and has characters who feel deep despite the lack of time they were on paper (or maybe I just want more of them because they are just so good as characters?). I would recommend picking this up if you interested in this type of thing. I'll be here, waiting for book 2. I'm already impatient to read it. 😂

And, oh, this is part of a blog tour, as you can see above, so go check out the other amazing posts about this amazing debut and author (who is just so lovely)! 

Farewell for now, Virtual Paper Adventurers!

Are you interested in reading this book? Do you love elemental powers? Do you love guy friends characters to bits??