F*CK. This one hurt. In all the best ways, but still. For anyone who longs for a less intense Poppy War - you should check this one out.

This is an INTENSELY dark and haunting young adult fantasy that delves into the lives of young soldiers who have been forged in the fires of war and left to navigate the hollow remnants of peace. It is set in a world where kindlings—magic-wielding teenage warriors whose magic will burn them up—were once the most powerful weapons of war. Now, in peace, they flounder. The story follows seven of these broken child soldiers as they confront the trauma that still haunts them.

What makes Kindling so powerful is its unflinching portrayal of the psychological scars left by war. These characters have seen and done things that no one should ever have to endure, and now, in the absence of battle, they’re left to grapple with the meaning of their existence. It hurts my heart just writing this review. The use of second-person POV is brilliantly executed, adding a layer of intimacy to the narrative, and making the reader feel like they're just over the shoulders of these characters in their turmoil. And I love the reveal of who is narrating the story.

Despite being a young adult novel, Kindling doesn't shy away from the grim realities of war and its aftermath. It's a story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it, lingering in your thoughts and pulling at your heartstrings. The last 10% of the book is an emotional gauntlet, and I found myself dreading it, knowing it would be both heartbreaking and inevitable. I STILL find myself thinking about this story and how incredibly sad it is. Often. 

This is a story for readers who appreciate dark, introspective fantasy—one that doesn’t sugarcoat the horrors of war but instead explores the deep wounds it leaves behind. It's not for the faint of heart, but for those who can handle the emotional weight, it’s an unforgettable, gut-wrenching experience that exemplifies the best of dark YA fiction. 

F*CK. Perfect. Incredible. Heartwrenching. Highly recommend.

I was bawling at the end. This book is devastating and beautiful.

The characters are all deeply flawed and on one hand CANNOT trust each other but on the other have to

 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗯𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗲 was a challenging read for me. I initially DNF'ed it a few months ago but decided to give it another try for Pride Month. Though it remained challenging and I finished it too late to include in my June reads, I found the effort worthwhile. The story follows seven kindlings, once elite magic-wielding warriors, now outcasts in a world where their magic is outlawed. The narrative is unique, with each character’s perspective written in the second person. Initially, I found it difficult to follow and sort out who was who, but once I adjusted, I appreciated the distinctiveness and depth it added to the story. The characters are richly developed, each with their own personalities and traumas from the war. Their struggle to come together and fight one last time against a looming threat was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. The portrayal of their pasts and pain made me deeply empathize with each of them. The book’s cover is stunning and perfectly captures the essence of the story. Inspired by classic films like "Seven Samurai" and "The Magnificent Seven," 𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 was overall a good read. 

I gave this book 70 pages, which is 20 pages more than I normally give a book that I'm struggling with. The premise of this book was promising but lacked delivery and sustenance in the final product. It was difficult to keep the characters straight, being that each chapter was written in first person as a different character.
It didn't pull me into the story, nor did I find the characters remarkable or memorable. I felt like the author was going off a checklist of character archetypes, which I found both annoying and distracting. We got the tough loner, the no commitment chick, the fall head over heals one. Blah, blah, blah and so on.