Book Review: Tell the Wind and Fire by Sarah Rees Brennan

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Tell the Wind and Fire
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: April 5th 2016
Review Source: Clarion Books

In a city divided between opulent luxury in the Light and fierce privations in the Dark, a determined young woman survives by guarding her secrets.

Lucie Manette was born in the Dark half of the city, but careful manipulations won her a home in the Light, celebrity status, and a rich, loving boyfriend. Now she just wants to keep her head down, but her boyfriend has a dark secret of his own—one involving an apparent stranger who is destitute and despised. Lucie alone knows the young men’s deadly connection, and even as the knowledge leads her to make a grave mistake, she can trust no one with the truth.

Blood and secrets alike spill out when revolution erupts. With both halves of the city burning, and mercy nowhere to be found, can Lucie save either boy—or herself?

This is my first book by Sarah Rees Brennan.  Tell the Wind and Fire is a futuristic story based in New York City. The city is split into two magical halves, the light side and the dark side. The light side is considered the good/superior side and the dark side is considered evil. Both sides need the other to live/have power.

The main character Lucie Manette was born in the dark city but was able to get a ticket for herself and her caged father to the light city due to some theatrics and deceit on her part. She became a "celebrity" in the light city and a girl friend to the most powerful family's son.  The son, Ethan, ends up having a doppelgänger, Carywn, which is very taboo.  Ethan was a loving sweet boyfriend but I didn't feel a real connection with him and Lucie as a couple. I connected with Carywn the most in this story because of his sarcastic wit and due to the whole "dark, bad boy" persona.

I did not like the way the story jumped around. I feel it started out strong and exciting and then got kind of boring for quite a while. I felt that at times the author gave too much information all at once.  I had to take many breaks to get through this story because of the information overload.

I liked the emotions this book evoked in me. It was such a roller coaster ride. Also a very powerful story. Very few books have gutted me and made me shed actual tears but this story did just that.  My family was a little bit scared briefly because I am not a crying person lol.  I liked the dystopian/futuristic picture that was painted of NY by the author.

I do recommend sticking with this story because I think it is worth the read. Once you push past the "slower" chapters, it ends up being a really interesting and unique book.