Title: The Fire Sermon
Author: Francesca Haig
Pub Date: March 10th, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Page Count: 384
I took a chance on this book and unfortunately, it let me down. - Nova @ Out of Time
The Fire Sermon sounded strange to me upon first reading. I was pretty surprised at the author's boldness to the story. In fact, I distinctly remember making a joke with my friends about it about how this is like a world of Siamese twins and that led to a bunch of shenanigans.
Anyway, I digress.
I had no issues with the actual idea. I actually quite liked it. The whole "one cannot live without the other" presented a lot of problems that had to be overcome throughout the novel. What I had problems with was... everything else?
Okay, that's a bit harsh. I enjoyed the main character for the most part. She had her shining moments and even though there was nothing connecting me to her, I admired her capacity to love. Even though her brother is the biggest jerk on the planet and she knows it, she still loves him to an extent because after all, he is family.
My feelings towards the character, Kip, were questionable. Basically, the main character saves him halfway through the novel and it's pointed out that Kip pretty much follows Cass like a lapdog because she saved him. I felt like that really stunted his development. However, he was such a nice character. I loved his attitude towards things and his personality, even if he was underdeveloped. I was also very upset because of his death. It felt so wrong to me because this guy isn't even fully grown yet and you're already killing him off? I wanted him alive, goddammit!
In terms of plot, I had issues with the second half of the book and that's why it drastically affected the rating. The first half was riding on a solid three stars. I really liked the pacing and right in the middle, there's a brilliantly plotted scheme by the main character where I was totally rooting for her. However, after that action packed moment where a new character is also introduced, things slowed... and they didn't pick up until very later. But by then it was too late.
I'm not even going to start with the problems on the worldbuilding. All I know is that it felt like the middle ages with the farming and wagons but then there are computers? What?
Seeing as I struggled to finish this, the main character was not enough make this book worth praising. There were just too many problems I couldn't ignore.
Author: Francesca Haig
Pub Date: March 10th, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Page Count: 384
When Zach and I were born our parents must have counted and recounted: limbs, fingers, toes. We were perfect. They would have been disbelieving: nobody dodged the split between Alpha and Omega.
Nobody.
They were born together and they will die together.
One strong Alpha twin and one mutated Omega; the only thing they share is the moment of their death.
The Omegas live in segregation, cast out by their families as soon as their mutation becomes clear. Forced to live apart, they are ruthlessly oppressed by their Alpha counterparts.
The Alphas are the elite. Once their weaker twin has been cast aside, they're free to live in privilege and safety, their Omega twin far from their thoughts.
Cass and Zach are both perfect on the outside: no missing limbs, no visible Omega mutation. But Cass has a secret: one that Zach will stop at nothing to expose.
The potential to change the world lies in both their hands. One will have to defeat the other to see their vision of the future come to pass, but if they're not careful both will die in the struggle for power.
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I took a chance on this book and unfortunately, it let me down. - Nova @ Out of Time
The Fire Sermon sounded strange to me upon first reading. I was pretty surprised at the author's boldness to the story. In fact, I distinctly remember making a joke with my friends about it about how this is like a world of Siamese twins and that led to a bunch of shenanigans.
Anyway, I digress.
I had no issues with the actual idea. I actually quite liked it. The whole "one cannot live without the other" presented a lot of problems that had to be overcome throughout the novel. What I had problems with was... everything else?
Okay, that's a bit harsh. I enjoyed the main character for the most part. She had her shining moments and even though there was nothing connecting me to her, I admired her capacity to love. Even though her brother is the biggest jerk on the planet and she knows it, she still loves him to an extent because after all, he is family.
My feelings towards the character, Kip, were questionable. Basically, the main character saves him halfway through the novel and it's pointed out that Kip pretty much follows Cass like a lapdog because she saved him. I felt like that really stunted his development. However, he was such a nice character. I loved his attitude towards things and his personality, even if he was underdeveloped. I was also very upset because of his death. It felt so wrong to me because this guy isn't even fully grown yet and you're already killing him off? I wanted him alive, goddammit!
In terms of plot, I had issues with the second half of the book and that's why it drastically affected the rating. The first half was riding on a solid three stars. I really liked the pacing and right in the middle, there's a brilliantly plotted scheme by the main character where I was totally rooting for her. However, after that action packed moment where a new character is also introduced, things slowed... and they didn't pick up until very later. But by then it was too late.
I'm not even going to start with the problems on the worldbuilding. All I know is that it felt like the middle ages with the farming and wagons but then there are computers? What?
Seeing as I struggled to finish this, the main character was not enough make this book worth praising. There were just too many problems I couldn't ignore.
This one sounds...intriguing , I suppose? Actually I hadn't even heard about it until now. Not sure I'll pick it up, just because the world seems like it's very confusing. But you never know, I might pick it up eventually. Shame you didn't like this one more!
ReplyDeleteI was actually approached by the publisher so I hadn't heard of it before either! And if you do, as always, I would LOVE to know what you think.
DeleteThe premise sounds very intriguing and unique. So many conflicts could arise because of the "I hate you and want to kill you but can't cuz I'll also die" and it could be AWESOME but it could also go very very wrong.... Unfortunately it would seem that it went very wrong for you. I want to read it but I've been hearing mostly negative stuff.. so I'm scared. *sigh* I'll probably give it a chance nonetheless.
ReplyDelete~Fari 0:)
That's exactly what I thought! It could've been so interesting but the plotting caused everything to collapse unfortunately.
DeleteAw, that's sad. The description sounded so interesting. I hate reading a dissappointing book. Especially if the word building is... off?
ReplyDelete