Book of Fire
Rating: 5/5
Buy or Borrow: BUY
Source: Proof copy via HQ

Twins Eli and Talia shouldn’t exist. They’re Outsiders.

Their home is a secret. Their lives are a secret. Arafel is a secret.

An unexpected forest raid forces Talia into a desperate mission to rescue her family while protecting the sacred Book of Arafel from those who would use it as a weapon. As Talia and her life long friend Max enter the dome, she makes some unexpected discoveries, and allies, in the form of rugged Insider August, that will change the course of her life forever.


Before I start this review, I just want to thank the lovely people at HQ for sending me a proof copy. I had seen lots of chat about this book on my timeline and really wanted to give the book a go, as it sounded amazing and I wanted to get involved in all the bookish chat. I'd also spoke to the author, Michelle Kenney via email and Twitter, and she is just so lovely.

In a world "obliterated" by the Great War, there are now two groups of people: Insiders and Outsiders. The privileged and the survivors. The Insiders live inside the LifeDome where they are never to leave the domes because everything they need to survive is inside. The Outsiders live outside the domes and forage for food, build their own future and have their own freedom.

There is one thing the Outsiders have that the Insiders are desperate for: The Book of Fire. And they will stop at nothing to retrieve it.

The story focuses on our female protagonist, Talia. Talia is an Outsider and lives in Arafel. At the beginning of our story, we discover Talia's Grandpa is the current guardian of the ancient Book of Fire and he passes it down to Talia; something that puts her in a lot of danger and she is told she must protect it with her life.

Talia is always so careful, so when she's captured, alongside her brother Eli and her Grandpa, her world is turned upside down. It does a complete 360 when she meets our brooding Roman knight, August. Let us just pause the review right there.

August. August, August, August. Who remembers how hard and fast I fell for Warden, from The Bone Season series? Well, August is one of those characters. He is full of sass, charisma and sarcasm, as well as being a tall, gorgeous, Roman knight. Could he be any more perfect? I'll be honest, I was asked after if I was Team August or Team Max and I wanted to reply: Max, who? If August were to be sorted into a Harry Potter house, he would most definitely be Slytherin. He oozes arrogance in a way that will charm you right to the core. He is flawed, his loyalties are tested but there's a certain scene in the arena, where your heart will be overflowing with love and pride for him.

*cough* Anyway, August loving aside...

August tells Talia he wants to help her but Talia is un-trusting and when she discovers what's really happening on the Inside, she believes she was right in not trusting him. She finds out that the Insiders have been trying to genetically engineer creatures and humans, and the ones that are deemed inferior, are tossed aside and have formed their own underground society. A society that is vengeful and ready to help Talia change the Inside forever, in any way they can.

There are cyclops, Cerberus, griffins, manticores...every mythological creature you've ever deemed awesome? This book contains it and it's all wound beautifully into this chaotic, dystopian world.


This book is a sensational opening to the series and I'm so excited to see what's in store for our characters next. I tweeted that this book reminded me of The Bone Season and Percy Jackson, and I most definitely stick by that. The story isn't remotely similar to The Bone Season but the way the characters are written, and the way you connect to them on such a deep level, is exactly the same. I adored this book and it's out now...so go and download it!