Fire with Fire

May 31, 2021
In this contemporary fantasy, the half-Mexican, half-Scottish Rivera sisters—17-year-old Dani and 19-year-old Eden—have grown up in a family of dragon hunters in the middle of the U.S.’s Smoky Mountains, trained from birth to serve as “one of the few bastions protecting humanity from dragonkind.” Despite Eden’s greater dedication, Dani’s skill outstrips her sister’s. When Dani develops a rare bond with a dragon named Nox, she is forced to reconsider her previous beliefs on their danger. Eden’s own decision to contact the sorcerers—the dragon hunters’ mysterious allies—in order to save Dani turns the sisters into enemies, setting the scene for a conflict wherein their personal relationship becomes intertwined with the political. Soria (Beneath the Citadel) skillfully delves into the complexities of sibling dynamics—in part through Eden’s feelings of insecurity around Dani, whose careless approach and desire for “normal teenager plans” grates on Eden—in alternating third-person chapters. Though the worldbuilding occasionally lacks detail, and teenage bisexual Dani’s light romance is somewhat uneven, multidimensional supporting characters strengthen the narrative with humor and pithy dialogue, while tight, spare prose ensures the narrative retains vigor. Ages 12–up. Agent: Taylor Haggerty, Root Literary.

May 1, 2021

Gr 9 Up-Sisters Eden and Dani grew up living a double life-swordplay and school, friends and fire. Being a part of a dragon slayer family entails grueling practice, but also lying to anyone who isn't born into the clan. Eden, who practices diligently, avoided her schoolmates, graduating high school with the basic credits. Dani, who'd rather watch a dragon movie with her friends than actually spend time with a dragon, tries to avoid her pedigree, going to parties and doing anything to live the average teenage life. Dani's lifestyle of not caring but somehow managing to usurp Eden is infuriating, and Eden's constant nagging and disdain does little to make Dani stop. But how far will the sisters go to get what they want? In alternating perspectives, this novel explores what self-doubt, manipulation, and bad influences can do. A gripping tale filled with incredible metaphors, fitting pop culture references, and hilarious punchlines, the plot is predictable but the characters are heroic and relatable, making it an enticing read to the end. Eden and Dani's father is white and their mother is Mexican. VERDICT The plot will resonate with young teens though the language, violence, and characters skew older.-Moksha Davaloor, Carroll H.S. Lib., Southlake, TX

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2021
Coming from a long line of dragon slayers doesn't mean that sisters Dani and Eden Rivera are on the same path: Are they destined to be enemies for eternity? Dani had a normal life. Mostly. She had a summer job lined up working a zip line in the Smoky Mountains and an end-of-school-year party to attend. Of course there's the little secret of her family's being legendary dragon slayers--and some superfancy sorcerers coming to dinner. But when Dani has her first encounter with a real dragon, Nox, she ends up soul bonded to him. Being friendly with dragons is a bad look for a dragon slayer, so how will she explain her way out of this one? After learning about her sister's new dragon friend, Eden, who believes dragons are a scourge on humanity, decides she has to do something to save Dani. With their parents out of town, Eden calls high sorcerer Calla Thorn for help, leading her into danger and pitting sister against sister. This exciting, inclusive fantasy with a dash of romance brings lots of sassy dragon snark to the table. The action sequences are fast-paced, the magic is entertaining, and the narcissistic sorcerers are delightfully smug, evil--and fabulously dressed. Point-of-view shifts between the siblings render both equally sympathetic. The girls are fourth-generation Mexican American on their mother's side; their father is a White Scottish immigrant. Hits all the marks for an absorbing and high-spirited read. (Fantasy. 14-18)

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June 1, 2021
Grades 8-12 Dani just wants to be a normal teenager but, unfortunately, she's a Rivera, which comes with the expectation of upholding the family legacy: dragon slaying. In a world where most people believe dragons to be fantasy creatures, Dani keeps this part of her life a secret--and compartmentalizing has its drawbacks. Her older sister, Eden, on the other hand, is completely dedicated to their slayer training, though she's increasingly jealous of Dani's natural talent. This tension comes to a head when each sister undergoes a transformative experience that draws them into a much larger conflict. For Dani, an encounter with a dragon reveals a rare but powerful connection between them, turning Dani from dragon slayer to ally. Meanwhile, Eden becomes entangled with sorcerers whose offer of magic comes at a dear cost. Soria's fantasy ably balances entertainment and substance as she traces both girls' journeys, giving dragons a voice and taking a hard look at empathy along the way. The girls' Mexican American heritage and Dani's bisexual identity also add meaningful dimension to this fiery read.

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