To be quite honest, I initially clicked on the book because it was pretty. Gold Dragons and the word "Fire" in the title was enough to pique my interest. A quick glance over the synopsis had me giddy with glee instantly! A mother disappeared, a heist gone wrong, and dragons in tabloids?! What else do you need in a novel, I mean really. Once I found out it was set in my state of Colorado, I was sold.
Fire & Heist
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher:Crown Books for Young Readers
From Goodreads: In Sky Hawkins's family, leading your first heist is a major milestone--even more so than learning to talk, walk, or do long division. It's a chance to gain power and acceptance within your family, and within society. But stealing your first treasure can be complicated, especially when you're a wyvern--a human capable of turning into a dragon.
Embarking on a life of crime is never easy, and Sky discovers secrets about her mother, who recently went missing, the real reason her boyfriend broke up with her, and a valuable jewel that could restore her family's wealth and rank in their community.
With a handpicked crew by her side, Sky knows she has everything she needs to complete her first heist, and get her boyfriend and mother back in the process. But then she uncovers a dark truth about were-dragon society--a truth more valuable and dangerous than gold or jewels could ever be.
Here's what I think...
The story is told from Sky's point of view - the youngest and only daughter of a wealthy and powerful Wyvern family living in Colorado. Her family is cast out of the high society into an almost exiled condition after her mother failed at a heist and then disappears completely. Her entire world is rocked, and she is determined to find out the truth behind what happened to her mother and why her family was not being completely honest with her. The self empowerment that Sky grabs onto in the novel is one of the most heartwarming aspects of the story for me. I find there are too many stories that still alow the princess to be saved, and that is entirely unacceptable in 2018. Sky is her own hero, taking the lies that everyone else spins and finding the truth for herself. Of course, she has some help along the way -- but she is the ring leader, the organizer, and the heart of the story.
Another topic Durst tackled was family and friendship - what defines real friends, and what family means to different people. At the very core of the story is a girl that wants her mom back; a girl who needs a friend; and a family broken by tragedy. All of these sub plots entwine to create relationships that are not only healthy, but loving, supportive and unconditional. Every time I thought she was about to give up, her love for her family -or her new found friends- kept her going. Sky's resilience and her desire to treat everyone fairly really resonated with me. It's a value I hold very close to my own heart, making this story uniquely special to me.
Aside from the phenomenal characters, Durst's writing is easy to follow, clean and fluid. There are no awkward passages, short and pointless chapters, or horridly over used cliches laced through the book. The novel is clearly intended for a younger audience and is written as such, however it is easily enjoyable for readers of all levels. There are darker themes underlying in the book that young adults and adult readers will pick up on and enjoy. I devoured the book in a matter of 4 sittings - and only because work and sleep interrupted. In the were-dragon world, Durst has created a world that is so vivid, you could almost reach out and touch it. Her portrayal of the Wyverns as celebrity type creatures made it all the more believable, as we all know real shape shifting dragons would be all the rage!
The symbolism used to correlate self worth with a dragon's horde was not lost on me either. I really enjoyed the way Durst played on our societal norms while creating her own world with it's own sinister problems.
I would say this story is definitely a coming of age, self empowerment book. If you enjoy fierce females, family bonds and forming unbreakable friendships - this book is for you!
TLDR;
This coming of age story about a were-dragon who must find her mother and save her family is the perfect read for anyone who loves dragons! It is rich with vivid world building and fantastic and well rounded characters! I give this brilliant gem 5 gold bars! Sky would approve :)
About the Author
Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of numerous fantasy books for children, teens, and adults, including Conjured, Drink Slay Love, and The Queen of Blood. She won an ALA-YALSA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children’s Literature, and has been a finalist for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy three times. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. You can follow her on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Twitter at @sarahbethdurst, or visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
*Netgalley granted me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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