As someone who has just turned thirty, it’s been some time since I settled down to read a real ‘young adult’ book and I was curious to see how this one would fare against my more grown up book preferences. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
With that said, the book does get off to a somewhat shaky start, mostly due to the fact that its central characters are living in different countries and experiencing different things. It’s when their stories and lives start to merge and the reality of their lives start to become apparent that things get interesting, and by that I mean rather exciting.
Sasha is a bad boy of sorts, but he has a good heart. I won’t give away the key point about him, but needless to say, said fact makes him a target for some pretty nasty people. Taylor on the other hand, rather like I was in school, is studious and driven and she too has a special something about her. It’s a cliché to say it, but they are polar opposites with one thing that connects them so it’s not entirely surprising to see them somehow come together the way they do – although they are two teenagers who have more reason to do so than most!
Anyone looking for a book filled with romance, true love and all the usual lovey-dovey, hopeless romantic stuff so many books today seem to be about should not read this – there’s little indication of any romance (budding friendship certainly) and instead, the story is quite dark and sinister.
The relationship between the two main characters is what really makes the book work. Even when they’re (literally) miles apart, their interactions bring a realness to a story which the majority of the time makes you feel like you’re in a Harry Potter-esque world.
The plot itself, once the characters are integrated with one another, moves well. There’s plenty of excitement and anyone who loves mystery and magic will lap this up. However, for older readers, it might not offer as much intrigue or be of as much interest as they had hoped. I for one fit within the latter category, but nevertheless, The Secret Fire made for an enjoyable, ‘devour in a single sitting’ read and with another instalment ahead, I’m intrigued to find out exactly where this story is going.
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