“TELL THE WIND AND FIRE,” by Sarah Rees Brennan, Clarion Books, April 5, 2016, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
Have you ever had a book you couldn’t wait to read, jumped right into and then found yourself noncommittal 100 pages in? That’s what happened to me with “Tell the Wind and Fire.”
Early on, I found myself intrigued by the characters and setting with its gentle nod toward Dickens’ “Tale of Two Cities.” But as I read on, I found myself becoming bored and not really caring what happened. Finally, I put it down for a few days, hoping to return with fresh eyes. Instead, I completely forgot the plot and stopped reading altogether.
I can’t pinpoint what made me put “Tell the Wind and Fire” down. And since I didn’t even get halfway through, I can’t offer constructive criticism one way or the other. It seems there are two camps on this book — love it or hate it. Not many in between. Below are thoughts from other people’s reviews, starting with a synopsis from the publisher:
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?
Katie at Teenreads loved how Sarah Rees Brennan handled the characters. And said that reading “A Tale of Two Cities” prior to “Tell the Wind and Fire” isn’t necessary but highly recommended.
“Sarah Rees Brennan weaves the old with the new together flawlessly, leaving little hints and lines from Charles Dickens’ novel in her own. Overall, ‘Tell the Wind and Fire’ is a brilliant rendition of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Tale Of Two Cities,’ full of modern twists and fantasy elements. This novel will not just appeal to fans of the classic but will usher in a new era of readers to the heartbreaking tale.”
Aentee at The Social Potato found “Tell the Wind and Fire” to be a “complete disappointment.” A fan of the author’s previous works, this reviewer gave up 60 percent of the way through “Tell the Wind and Fire.”
“The writing in this book was a huge let down, considering that I found Sarah Rees Brennan’s previous trilogies immensely entertaining. Gone are her captivating conversations and whip-fast banter. Instead, we have a lumbering plot that never quite finds its footing, accompanied by lacklustre proses that lulled me to sleep as I read.”
I could provide more reviews similar to those above, but you get the drift. My suggestion on this one is to check it out from the library before buying it.
