Set Fire to the Gods
Author: Sara Raasch & Kristen Simmons
Series: Yes, first book
Release Date: August 4, 2020
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Get it Here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources.
Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family’s taxes. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn’t have the earth god’s powers like his opponents. His elemental gift is something else—something that hasn’t been seen in centuries.
When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games. The fights put Madoc in Ash’s path, and she realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs—but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.
But when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal—it will unravel the world.
Check out my review on GoodReads over here!
I’ve only read one of each author’s past work, and they were both very mediocre. However, the glorious cover for SET FIRE TO THE GODS and exciting blurb convinced me to pick up their joint creation. What came out from this experience was reading a powerful punch of combined mediocrity. The world-building was weak, the storyline was fine but failed to grip me, and I couldn’t care less about the characters. This is odd, because despite everything, the writing was fine. The narrative switches between Madoc and Ash’s POV’s as they enter a “war” as gladiators and fight against gods. The blurb promises non-stop action and maybe a hint of romance. Something about it, though, failed to differentiate this story from the amalgam of YA fantasies out there, and it just wasn’t gripping enough to really make me care. This review is my good-bye for picking up any of these author’s next works. Continue reading “Set Fire To The Gods by Sara Raasch and Kristen Simmons Review | Gladiators And Elemental Powers, Yet Still No Spark”