“Logs on fire. Fires to burn the world down. A lifetime in the ashes of such a fire has taught me that it doesn't end there. Anyone can start a fire. The problem is what happens after.”

TW: animal cruelty, animal death, blood, bullying, classism, child death, death, death of a loved one, emotional abuse, fire/fire injury, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, physical abuse, sexism, sexual assault/coercion, slavery, torture, violence, vomit, war.


Update: 12/12/24

I swear I just get more defensive of these characters (Lee, specifically) and in awe of Rosaria Munda's writing ability with every single reread.

This was my fourth time reading Flamefall and something that doesn't change is the amount of pain I have whenever I reach certain scenes in this book, or how deeply her words continue to affect me. I could write entire books just on how much this series means to me.

Also, Power's an ass but I always forget how much he cracks me up in this installment.

Once again, I'm not ready to face Furysong or the absolute wreck I become whilst reading it.
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Update: 11/21/23

As with each book in this series, my awe and love for this book only grew upon rereading it. The foreshadowing, the parallels, the characters, the discussions of grief.... There are so many lines in Flamefall that are so beautiful, so poignant that I always take time to reread them again and again before moving on.

I'm once again not prepared for Furysong or for the emotional desolation I feel whilst reading it :)
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Update: 8/10/22

This book left me speechless the first time I read it and a little over a year later, I find myself speechless again. The only thing I can say is that - beginning to end - this book is a work of art. From the way it handles grief and trauma, to the way it makes you feel so damn much.

My opinions haven't changed much in my reread, except that I felt a bit more compassion for Lee this time around. I was still irritated at how irrational and sullen he was being, but I understood it more this time. (Yes, he's an idiot; yes, I'll defend him to the death.)
I hate Megara just as much as the first time around though :)

I'm also a complete mess about Delo and Griff rn and I'm terrified for Furysong. Keep them FAR away from urns, Rosaria Munda, I beg you. Please. They deserve happiness and peace and all we have right now is pain. So. Much. Pain.

As for that ending, I shall repeat my review from last year... "Excuse me WHAT"

I could talk about this book forever and I wouldn't begin to touch the surface of how much it means to me, or how amazed I was by every chapter and Rosaria Munda's absolute gift with words. I noticed so many parallels this time around and I left even more awed than the first time around.

Now... onto Furysong....
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Original Read: 3/7/21

Excuse me WHAT