7.31.2011

My Thoughts: Wildefire (Karsten Knight)

WildefirePublished: July 26, 2011

Cover: Pretty.

Goodreads Summary

My Thoughts:
I was soo excited to read this book. It has been on my wishlist for a while, and I couldn't wait for it to come out. The storyline sounded freakin' awesome, and I just knew I was going to really like it..so where did it all go wrong?

The writing was okay, the characters were eh, the plot was okay...This story had the potential to be AMAZING. A girl who turn out to be the Volcano Goddess? um.awesome! Tragically, however, me and Wildefire just did not click.

Firstly, I felt like I kept reading and reading and it took FOREVER for the plot to develop. It's not good when you keep looking to see how many more pages you have until it's over. I kept waiting for that "OMG I can't believe that just happened" moment. And that didn't come until the last page. Even then..eh.

I did not connect with any of the characters, wasn't invested in any of their lives. I felt like they were a bit generic, nothing special.  For me, if I can't connect or relate to any of the characters, it's all down-hill from there.

I also had difficulty with some of the dialogue because it just didn't fit.  In some passages I found myself thinking no. no. no. I realize the writer of this book being male and all had a daunting task trying to write the inner workings of a female main character, but I don't think he quite hit the nail on the head, so to speak. For example, the main character Ash (who's a girl) says the following to her friend (also a girl) when they are out dress shopping: "Damn, girl. You better get a defibrillator to go with the dress, because Rolfe is going to have a heart attack when he sees you in that."  Awkward.Cheesy. and not something I picture being said in this context.

With the main story line of this book being about Ashline and some of her school mates discovering they are Gods, there wasn't nearly enough detail relating to the subject. I felt like it took until the last 40 pages to really get anywhere and even then there was too much left out.  Too much time was spent on the build-up and not enough on the actual story.

So what did I like?  The whole Polynesian Volcano Goddess subject. The idea of these kids being reincarnated over and over again and not remembering their past lives.Having kick-ass powers. And it did have one of my favorite settings-boarding school.

Favorite Quotes:
"There are two types of people in this world...Those of us who fear what we cannot control, who sit in the driver's seat of life and take charge of our own fates. And then there are those who fear choice, those so burdened by the mistakes that they've made that they seek solace in what they cannot control, knowing that no matter the outcome, at least it wasn't their fault. I challenge you to figure out which one you are."

"Strange to think we spend our entire life growing up under the wings of one religion only to find out that we're actually the fruits of another. Do you still believe?"

Bottom Line: I reallyreallyreally wanted to love this book. Sadly, I was left wanting.  2.5/5


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