Fire Touched

It has a traditional vibe, it’s off to a nice start
We get a good introduction in the very first part
All the characters have unique voices, which is nice
Their vivid personalities all give this book some spice

It has dark overtones but from what I have read today
It has a fun spirit to it, dark in a fun way
The premise is creative, grammar is high quality
The pace is pretty quick, and exposition flows nicely

I’m glad I stumbled on this and I think you will be too
If you like some good old fantasy, this one’s for you
It delivers on the themes the synopsis presents
And the first chapter really kicks of the course of events

This is a novel in which there is a grand, overarching plot which the characters are uncovering bit by bit. We see Sarah discovering how she fits into the schemes of gods and her resolve to forge her own path.

The grand intrigue is definitely the drawing point of this novel. Not the (adequate) characters or any kind of cheap dopamine fixes like some other novels have. If that's all that you're looking for, this novel may not be for you. But if you're looking for a sit-down story of good quality, this is worth your time.

Style:

Very well written. There's a lot of dialogue in the story, but the dialogue is complemented well with description and action, so it's very smooth to read. The writing is very compelling and I find myself scrolling to the end before I even know it. Encore! 5/5 for sure.

Story:

The story starts with action, and brings you in for a ride. I'm liking how it's going. The fact that Sarah doesn't just follow her destined path of being the Chosen One is a pleasant surprise, and adds interesting dynamic to the story. The realistic characters and cast creates the motivations that drive the story forward, which means that at no point do I think the plot is in any way forced. Great work!

Grammar:

I've noticed a lack of capitalisation in the beginning of dialogue, but other than that the grammar is impeccable.

Character:

Strong cast with interesting dynamics. I like the complement between John and Sarah, with John being the more thoughtful and strategic one while Sarah is more relatable with displays of emotion and courage.

Overall, this story is a strong recommend! An easy 5/5, and I would say to definitely give it a try if you feel at all intrigued.

Can we take the time to appreciate the dope as hell cover art? It is immaculate, ooh baby.

Style

Perfect score. Yeah. It feels like a professionally edited book. Something you’d find in your local library. The chapters are considerably long, but thanks to the author’s nearly flawless way of making sentences flow it is a delight to read through.

Grammar

Paradoxically to what I said, there are tiny grammar mistakes here, but really they are all neglectable.

Story

I want to give the story itself a 5 and I believe that if/when I read it further I will feel that should be the final score. The only reason I haven’t given it a 5 is because it is simply too early, but it is scorchingly entertaining and fast-paced!

Our main character is the “Chosen One”, wait, stop rolling your eyes, hear me out. It’s interesting, okay? Some followers want her to claim her Godhood and fulfill her destiny… she isn’t interested, though. RIP.

Seriously, I consider this one above the average on this site (and boy have I read my fair share of average and below average on this site).

Characters

The two mains are great. I like Sarah because I have a bias for naivety and to balance out her bumbling innocence is quick-witted, more stern John. The others are cool, too, and I wonder what more kind of characters we’ll meet.

So, who is this story for? Hm. Just about anyone to be honest. Have a read!

Seriously, amazing cover art, it's very eye-catching. Anyway, the writing feels polished and professional, while the premise hooked me in instantly, Instead of a typical introduction to characters and setting, the narrative thrust me straight into the action, a small group of adventurers investigating the untimely deaths of hundreds of villagers. The plot has only begun to coalesce, leaving me with many questions that have yet to be answered. All I know is that the main character has been blessed with fire magic by a mysterious deity, and the orcs are planning something awful. The characters are being introduced mainly by their actions and dialogue, a slow drip of information that is far more tolerable than massive exposition dumps. There's so much going on in this story, and I can barely wait for more!

This may be slightly incoherent. 

First, the worldbuilding seems very superficial or at least thin. Through the first ten chapters or so, there's just so many issues that are blatantly obvious are like a rock in my shoes.

Second, it's a rather gloomy, tragic novel (though I'll admit that it doesn't seem like any of the primary characters die). Sarah is a bit of a naive idiot (among other unflattering adjectives that may apply) unwilling to come to terms with what has happened to her. Rather she seems rather "woe is me." It's a weird juxtaposition between she's a traveling adventurer and so seemingly worldly. Though the backstory on this is a little unclear or inconsistent. I have a remarkably hard time empathizing with her. 

Third, there's a very D&D feel to it. Not just the world, but the plot itself which seems to be largely driving the characters forward to some inevitable conclusion, and yet these events largely seem to come out of thin air. Admittedly, that happens in a lot of fiction, but it seems more obvious here and is harder to ignore. 

Finally, in a last gamble to see if it was worth continuing, I skimmed chapters 28-30 and the epilogue. There was nothing interesting or compelling enough to make the rest of the story in-between seem worth my while.

What a world! The female lead of Fire Touched is busy in another fantasy world than the one of World of Warcraft!

Fire Touched is well written. The grammar is impeccable. There is no typo that catches the eye to the point of becoming Long John Silver. In short, as pointed out in another review, this is the kind of book you might find in a library or Barnes & Noble. The prose is enjoyable, the chapters short. The dialogues balance the descriptions to participate in the world building in a sweet harmony.

The story just started, so I'll take the liberty of analyzing the quality of this introduction. For the moment, it rocks! We go straight to the action!

The main character, Sarah, does not necessarily shine by her charisma or her courage but brings a touch of realism that stands out rather well in a fantasy world. As a reader, I can easily identify with her and I can't wait to see what the future holds for her. Hopefully her naivety and idelaism will not play tricks on her. His childhood friend, John, is on the opposite side of the spectrum which makes for an interesting dynamic.

Fire Touched is a great read. Well written, it will quickly convince and charm you. Unless you are an orc.