Divided Fire

October 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-Miren wanted so desperately to Sing like her mother-to use fire magic, directed by the power of her voice. But she didn't have the Song within her, as much as she tried. Miren's younger sister Kesia had no such issues-her Song was strong, even if her body was not. When the country goes to war, their parents are drafted, leaving the pale-skinned girls to take care of each other. As someone who can Sing, Kesia should have gone as well, but after she got sick, Miren was able to convince everyone that she lost her voice and the ability to Sing, to keep her safe. When pirates attack their small town, Kesia uses her power to try and save herself and her sister...and gets kidnapped in the process. Miren leaves the only home she has ever known to chase after the pirates who stole her sister. Both sisters must use every bit of strength they possess to be reunited. Told in multiple points of view, this is a compelling story of two sisters braving a world they've never seen before, and making unlikely friendships along the way. The quick pacing and perspective changes make for a fast read, which might appeal to some reluctant readers. VERDICT A solid purchase for libraries where fantasy novels are popular.-Amanda Toth, Lane Lib., Hamilton, OH

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2020
In a world where the elements are controlled by magical Songs, one young woman struggles to rescue her sister. Miren had always hoped to be a Fire Singer, but it was Kesia, her frail younger sister, who manifested the Voice. When their country forces every Singer into the military, Miren convinces Kesia to hide her gift...only for Kesia to be kidnapped by pirates. Miren will do anything to save her, even join forces with her sister's na�ve noble boyfriend and a family of runaway indentured servants. The narrative alternates between each sister's perspective but feels more like two different books: one, Kesia's harrowing life as a slave, relieved at first by her wonder at the airship she helps fly but even more by her discovery of her own capabilities; the other, Miren's tedious accounts of arguments about logistics, topography, and political structures among a large group, all of whom she regards with coldness and contempt. The world is exceptionally well defined, although details of the magical system are mostly hand-waved away. Once the separate storylines finally intersect and immediate crises are averted, so much is left unresolved that a sequel seems inevitable. Singers lose their speaking voices and communicate using universally understood phonetic signs that appear to be transcriptions of spoken speech rather than a separate language. Characters seem to be White by default. Half fantastical coming-of-age; half notes for a geography report. (Fantasy. 12-18)

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November 1, 2020
Grades 8-11 In a world where Singers can bend the four classical elements (Earth, Water, Air, and Fire) to serve their village, Miren is dispirited to learn that her younger sister, Kesia, possesses the rare gift of Fire, while she possesses none. When their country enters into a war and all Singers are drafted (including their parents), Miren suppresses her envy to care for her sister. But after an unfortunate encounter with pirates leads to the discovery of Kesia's magic, she is captured and sold into servitude, leaving Miren no choice but to ally with Kesia's noble boyfriend to find her. San Filippo leads readers along a carefully orchestrated plot, beginning in a homely village that's soon blanketed in desolation. The use of sign language by the Singers is a refreshing addition to the narrative, while the dual third-person points of view add depth. Miren's constant irritation with her sister's boyfriend, Davri, can feel cumbersome, but this imaginative debut with a sisterly bond at its center will attract fantasy lovers just the same.

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