Over the summer, I was given an ARC (advanced reader copy) of Ignite by Kara Swanson through being on her street team, with the request for an honest review. So, here’s that review! I really liked this book, and the themes were deep and real. As usual, I’ll rate the book in a few categories, then at the end, give the final rating and more of my overall opinion.
Characters – 5/5
I absolutely loved the characters in Ignite. Eli and Jude, especially, were real and relatable. Mara, the main character, wasn’t as deep of a character. Her trauma was the biggest aspect of her, and while she was well-written, I didn’t feel as connected with her as with Eli and Jude. Overall, though, the characters were great. Each one was different and complex – there were no filler characters here; every character had a purpose and was fleshed out very well.
Writing – 4/5
The writing was very good, with vivid descriptions and emotions. My only issue with it was that there was a lot of repetition with certain things – for instance, the word “irises” was used a lot in place of “eyes”, to the point that it was really noticeable, which wasn’t my favorite thing. However, it’s important to note that since I’ve only read the ARC version, that may have been changed. Overall, though, I enjoyed the writing style.
Plot – 5/5
I loved the plot of Ignite! My favorite aspect of it was how Mara heard many different versions of the same story, each one holding nuggets of truth, and had to figure out the truth and the lies (with help, of course). The process of her learning how to interact with others and figure out who she was was very fun to read about, and I was drawn in from the second I started reading.
Worldbuilding – 4/5
The worldbuilding wasn’t super heavy in this book, which I appreciated (that’s just my preference, though). The world was built along the way, as Mara discovered more and more of it. Her reactions to new places/climates were really interesting, as were her interactions with people. The worldbuilding overall wasn’t a huge part of the story (after all, it’s a pretty desolate world), but everything that was needed was there, and the reader isn’t confused at all. There was, though, a bit of fantasy mythology, which I’m not a fan of.
Overall – 4/5
Ultimately, this is a book that I absolutely recommend! There are multiple themes of manipulation, and a lot of pain, but it’s all handled very well and for a purpose. In the end, the light overpowers the dark. I loved Ignite from start to finish, and it drew me in immediately and didn’t let go – I read the whole thing in two days, and a book hadn’t had that kind of grasp on me for quite a while before Ignite.