Fire & Flood

If you’re hearing this message, you are invited to be a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. All Contenders must report within forty-eight hours to select their Pandora companions. If you do not appear within forty-eight hours, your invitations will be eliminated.
The Brimstone Bleed will last three months and will take place across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The winning prize will be the Cure—a remedy for any illness, for any single person.
There will only be one champion.”

I’ve been looking forward to Fire & Flood since it was first announced and before it even had a cover. I fell in love with The Collector and was eager for more from Victoria Scott! Even though this isn’t my usual kind of book, but I show more didn’t care. I was excited to meet Tella and Guy (!) and the Pandoras. My favorite aspect of The Collector, was how Victoria captured Dante’s voice so perfectly. I was curious to see how Tella’s character would be since she’s worlds away from Dante. From the first page, I knew Tella and I would get along just fine. This girl was funny and witty with such an awesome sarcastic attitude. The fact that she’s also fearless and determined to save her brother at all costs, makes it pretty much impossible to not love this girl.

Tella’s older brother has a rare, undiagnosed and incurable diseases that is slowly killing him. It broke my heart to see how determined Tella and her brother are to keep their relationship the same, even if he can’t even get out of bed anymore. When Tella receives a mysterious message telling her she has 48 hours to report to be a contestant to the Brimstone Bleed. Winning the race will get her the cure for her brother’s illness, but there can only be one winner. Tella has no other option, she knows she’s her brother’s only option so she sets off to try to save his life. I was so excited for the Pandora selection and to see what animal Tella (and the other contenders) got to help her in the race. This was one of my favorite parts of the book and as much as I loved the story, the Pandoras kind of stole the show. No I won’t spoil what Pandora Tella chooses, or what his name is or what he can do. But I will tell you that you will love him as much as Tella does.

The competition, Brimstone Bleed, last three months and covers different ecosystems: desert, jungle, etc. This takes up a good chunk of the book and kept my attention the entire time. Tella meets other contenders who are also competing for a cure for a loved one. She even befriends a group of them. I think this is one of the reasons why the competition part of the book never gets boring. It’s not just Tella wondering by herself (although she does for a bit in the beginning) but we get to meet this great cast of secondary characters. My favorite was Harper, who I wasn’t even sure I would like when I first met her. But of course, my favorite character was Guy Chambers. *insert dreamy sigh here* *and another one* If I were to go to the Brimstone Bleed, I would pick Guy Chambers as my Pandora ;) This is one of those slow-building relationships, but the payoff is worth it! I was hooked on Tella and Guy’s every interactions. So excited to see where this goes next!

While I’ve heard the comparisons between this and Hunger Games, other than the competition thing, I didn’t really see it. It was like when people would compare every vampire book to Twilight…For me, it was more like an awesome mix of The Amazing Race and Pokemon. Pandora, I choose you!!! This is part of a series so there will definitely be unanswered questions in the end, but I do love the way everything came together at the end and gave us the perfect set up for book two. The ending wasn’t a cliffhanger (at least not for me) but it does end in a to-be-continued sort of way that will have you itching to get your hands on the next book. A thrilling and action-packed story with vivid descriptions and plot twists (some you may expect and some that will blindside you), Fire & Flood will take you on an epic adventure! show less

I felt like Fire and Flood by Victorica Scott is a little bit like taking The Amazing Race and throwing in some Digimons. Then tossing them on the island that Survivor was filmed on. It’s crazy awesome. I kept having dreams about being in the Brimestone Bleed myself and let me tell you that got exhausting. I know a book has really wiggled it’s way into my brain when I start doing that. I think the most interesting part is that Tella knows nothing about it. Never heard of it and it appears she is the only one who is in the dark. Why were her parents hiding it from here and how did the gamemakers find her to be a contestant and conviently know she need a cure that heals all? Lots and lots of questions. We get glimpses and peeks show more throughout the book and I found that the plot developments were paced really well. There were one or two things that I totally didn’t see coming which gave me that Crapballs did that just happen moments. I couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what was going down next. I love that. I love when a book catches me like that. It doesn’t have to be at the beginning it can be at the middle like this one did. I really enjoyed this story and being the race is supposed to take place across three terrains and we cover two I was kind of wondering how the next book was going to go but by the end we get it. I am so excited...

I loved Tella for many reasons. She often made me laugh because she did certain things that are things I totally do. Giving people nicknames, naming her Pandora (I haven’t done this but I would), talking to herself then thinking she’s crazy for talking to herself. Yep so I totally related with Tella in that respect. I could picture us being friends. The other thing I really liked about Tella is that she is a little vain. Even though it’s necessarily considered a great characteristic but it is so refreshing to have an MC that doesn’t do the I’m beautiful in my sweats and don’t know it. She likes to dress up and look cute and hates her hair because it’s too curly just like a normal teenage girl. I am that girl that walks around in t-shirt, jeans and never wears make-up. My two best friends however wouldn’t leave the house without looking anything less then 110%, I’m often attacked with a make-up brush when I’m not looking. In fact my one friend works for cooperate at Sephora. I have to say though if Andrea, Lauren and I were dropped into the Brimestone Bleed I would bet my life on the two of them to win. They are not the girls that go camping or trekking through the woods but they are smart, fiercely loyal and would go UFC fight style on your ass with their stilettos if you mess with them. They’ve got sass and they’ve got fire which is how I see Tella. She’s such a different MC and I love her for that, I love Victoria Scott for that.

Guy had me when he was so noisy in the morning. No one who knows how to survive in a jungle is loud in the morning. I was on to you Guy and you made me crush on you. I also loved the flaws of Guy. He has a mangled ear, he’s got some crazy spiked hair and Tella might suspect he is a serial killer. Of course if it were me in the Jungle, that would be the dude that I would follow. As we get to know him through the book we see some softer sides to him. I like how protective he becomes of the group in that nonchalant way.

Guy and Tella have a complicated romance. They might be attracted to each other but you have to remember the end game. Always remember there is an endgame. They both want the same thing and they both have someone to save. I think Guy tries his best to keep Tella at a slight distance but not effectively. I actually really liked their story because it was a quiet one. They weren’t going to stand on top of a mountain and scream that they like each other. By the end of the book, you get it. You have a deep connection with them and you really understand the complications. show less

I really dislike going into a new series with any expectations or comparisons. With that said, yes, there are some elements to Flood & Fire which resemble other YA series, and that's okay. In fact I'm hard pressed to find a YA book without a less-than-perfect family, a love interest, an act of rebellion or a challenge.

Moving on... I really, really enjoyed this book!!!! While Tella is not my favorite person, we wouldn't be friends in school, she is real with real thoughts. Her mannerisms, vanity and random thoughts are all real. This was usually followed by chuckles and highlights on my part. She is not perfect or leading the feminist manifesto and I think I like her better that way. It's refreshing to see a lead female character who show more isn't stone cold and Ms. Bear Grylls, but is able to navigate through a survival situation without being completely dainty or fragile at the same time. Dare I say, her journey is almost believable.

The secondary characters make for an interesting bunch in diversity, strengths, motivations and mystery. Slowly the layers are pulled back without much confusion but definitely a few surprises. Each character is provided a "Pandora" for the journey, but not every Pandora is equal. Each character is motivated by the well being of a loved one. Every character has an identifier but they are not so complex you feel like you're having to take notes or draw a family tree. Our antagonist, Titus, is evil and not just because the book tells us so. I'd like to think the evilness stems from an innate desire to survive, but I have a feeling "creeper" was the descriptor well before the Brimstone Bleed come into the picture. Definitely the character we love to hate. Which brings us to our brooding and mysterious love interest, Guy. No, it's not love at first sight (what a relief!), overly cautious or campy either. All things that were refreshing. There's nothing incredibly "swoon" worthy about him but he's got a nice body, deep voice and awesome eyes. So the YA male lead checklist is fulfilled. I look forward to exploring more of Guy's character background as we move forward.

I also really enjoyed the pace of the book. It was detailed enough to get what I needed and quick enough to keep me engaged. I actually got really nervous about half way through that the book was going to wrapped up into a neat bow in 200 more pages. Luckily, this is a series and Victoria Scott was in no rush to push us out the door. While there are some answers to questions in this book there are twice as many questions when we reach the stopping point.

Last, but not least, thank you Victoria Scott for having a sense of humor. The most laughing I did was when the author/ main character would poke fun at the situation she was in or the thoughts she was thinking. Often times pointing out stereotypes in YA stories or pop culture. Seriously, who doesn't come up with witty retorts when they're asked to be quiet, which then creates a "backlog" of inner dialogue? It's organic and reminds me a lot of the anxious inner dialogue I carry around with me most of the time.

Disclaimer: Scholastic Press provided me with a copy of Fire & Flood in exchange for an honest review. show less

I absolutely loved Fire & Flood. It is still with me two days after finishing it.

I think Tella is an amazing character. She is girly, but also very strong when it comes to adjusting to the race. There are so many qualities in her that I see in my daughter it’s unreal. That could be why I felt instantly connected with Tella. Bellz is such a princess, but she’s a fierce one. :P I also liked the side characters. They each have their own story to tell, and I loved getting little glimpses into their lives. Guy…. oh Guy! He’s swoony, intelligent, and straight up survivor man. I’d definitely want him on my side while out in the wilderness.

I think my favorite part of this novel is how Tella is always having to adjust to her show more surroundings. She doesn’t let her fear completely consume her, and she rolls with the punches. I also liked how despite trying to beat the other people for the cure, there’s still a sense of comradery. There are also quite a few twists and turns that I did not see coming at all. Some had me gripping the edge of my seat, um couch, and others had my heart breaking.

I highly recommend this to everyone. I even think a certain sister will be getting this for her birthday…. And I NEED a freaking pandora. That is all. :D show less

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott is a YA fantasy adventure story that both delighted me and frustrated me. The fact that the author set the book in current times made the story feel very false and I would much rather have had this story set in a post-apocalyptic future.

When Tella receives a mysterious summons to take part in the Brimstone Bleed, a race with the prize being a miracle cure, she sets off immediately. This is a chance to save her deathly ill brother but little does she know of all the hardships she will have to endure. The race takes place over a three month period and contestants must race over four distinct ecosystems. Each contestant receives a Pandora egg which hatches into a genetically engineered animal to assist show more them. Each animal comes with it’s own powers that are revealed over the course of the story. Tella teams up with a group of contestants and, of course, meets Guy, a love interest who appears to be a uber-survivalist. The book covers the first two ecosystems, the jungle race and the desert race. There are plenty of adventures, lots of deadly competition and still time for Tella and Guy to make googly-eyes at each other.

The stakes are high as everyone in the race has a dying relative that they want to save and sooner or later, each contestant must strike out on their own as there can only be one winner, but survival depends on banding together right now. The secondary characters are nicely mixed, but the villain of the piece is quite over-the-top. Also while totally unbelievable, the Pandora animals are super fun and easily the best part of the story, with Tella’s Pandora perhaps the best one of all.

The book comes to an abrupt end halfway through the race but I do have the second book on my Kindle and although it is rather silly, I will definitely read on to find out what happens next. Fire and Flood comes across as an homage to The Hunger Games and I think it would appeal to fans of that book. show less

What would you do to get a cure for a family member who was dying? You’d be willing to compete in a race, probably, knowing only one person could win, right? But what if that race could kill you? What if you saw other contenders die? What if other contenders turned on you? Would you still want to do race? It’s going to take three months; you’ll travel over four different ecosystems, and you’ll have a Pandora. What’s a Pandora? That’s just one of the questions, you’ll have, that will be answered later, maybe.

This was a wild ride of a book. I’m hooked and ready to read the next one, immediately. Good thing it’s out already. There were times that I giggled at Tella’s comments, and times I rolled my eyes at her, but show more overall I really enjoyed this one.

Some will want to compare Fire and Flood to The Hunger Games. Yes, the competition aspect is like that, but the motivation is different to me. Tell wants to win so her brother can be cured of his disease. Katniss took her sister’s place, but Prim could live without her, well, she would have…. Tella is much more compassionate than Katniss. She cares about the other contender’s stories, and Pandoras. And I’ll be really mad if that turns out to be her downfall rather than her salvation. show less

Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele

Oh mein Gott! Dieser Roman von Victoria Scott war ja so, so, sooo schrecklich – in meinen Augen zumindest ;) „Feuer & Flut“ ist einfach einer dieser Young Adult Romane, die mit einer so grässlich unfähigen Protagonistin daherkommen, dass man sich eigentlich nur wünscht, sie würde scheitern und sterben, weil alles andere schlicht und ergreifend realistisch wäre.

Aber natürlich läuft das nicht so, denn sonst wäre dieser Roman ja schon nach ein paar Dutzend Seiten zu Ende gewesen. Stattdessen erscheint der Ritter im strahlender Rüstung, ein Kerl so Klischee belastet, wie man es sich nur vorstellen kann. Dieser, der auch noch den passenden Namen show more Guy trägt, eilt immer dann zur Rettung der Protagonistin herbei, wenn diese auf sich allein gestellt eigentlich kläglich scheitern und untergehen würde.

Und von solchen Situationen gibt es viele, denn Tella – so heißt Miss Unfähig übrigens – nimmt am Brimstone Bleed teil, einen wegrennen, bei dem am Ende ein Heilmittel für ihren todkranken Bruder als Gewinn lockt. Sie erhält also eine Einladung von der sie weder weiß, von wem sie ist, noch so richtig sicher ist, was sie eigentlich erwartet – das ganze hätte also auch der Plan eines verrückten Axtmörders sein können. War immerhin bekommt immer ein Wundermittel, dass jede Krankheit heilen kann, so auch die von Tellas Bruder, dessen Erkrankung ja noch nicht einmal identifiziert wurde.

Wer würde so etwas tun? Wer würde ein mörderisches Rennen wie das Brimstone Bleed veranstalten, statt dieses Mittel zu verkaufen und damit ordentlich Kohle zu scheffeln? Wer hat überhaupt Zugang zu so einem Wundermittel, wenn die Medizin sich sonst kaum von dem, was wir heute kennen, zu unterscheiden scheint? Was mich auch direkt zur nächsten Frage bringt: Wann spielt „Feuer & Flut“ eigentlich überhaupt? Ich meine, es gibt wundersame Allheilmittel und den Teilnehmern des Brimstone Bleed werden genetisch veränderte Wundertiere als Helfer, Beschützer & Kämpfer zur Seite gestellt (Pokémon/Digimon lässt grüßen!), aber sonst? Die Welt des Romans scheint sich kaum von unserer zu unterscheiden, spielt „Feuer & Flut“ also in der unmittelbaren Zukunft/Gegenwart, in einer phantastischen Parallelwelt, oder doch irgendwo in fernen, zukünftigen Zeiten?

Leider scheint Victoria Scott keinerlei Wert auf solche Nebensächlichkeiten wie den Weltraumbahnhof zu legen bzw. beschlossen zu haben, dass sie sich diesen – eventuell aus vermeintlichen Spannungsgründen – für kommende Bände aufsparen sollte. Das führt allerdings nur dazu, dass es relativ frustrierend ist, sich im Laufe der Geschichte immer wieder diese Fragen zu stellen, ohne dass sie jemals wirklich beantwortet werden. Die wenigen Antworten, die es gibt, werfen mehr Fragen auf als sonst was.

Statt einer Geschichte mit stabilem Hintergrund, spannender Handlung und faszinierenden Charakteren gibt es in Victoria Scotts „Feuer & Flut“ also Fragen über Fragen, klischeehafte Figuren und rundherum einfach wahnsinnig viele Handlungselemente, die kaum nachvollziehbar sind. Schade, aber dieser Roman war in meinen Augen ein wahnsinniger Reinfall! show less