Series: Fire & Flood #1
Author: Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Pages: 304
Source: ARC, Netgalley/Publisher
Summary from Goodreads:
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.
Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?
Review
Fire & Flood was a whirlwind of action, humor and cuteness.
Tella enters a mysterious race for the chance at a cure that will save her dying brother. There is only one winner, one cure. But first she must survive four different ecosystems, with a genetically modified animal, or 'Pandora', as her only aid. This is where the action comes in. Surviving the jungle, then the desert, is a feat all by itself, but Tella must also survive the other contenders who wish to eliminate the competition. There was always some obstacle, some danger. Fortunately, she quickly finds some allies to even the playing field. And an interesting lot of characters they are. And can you guess who else she finds? A very capable, very protective, very mysterious, very handsome, young man.
But no, that's not where the cuteness comes in. The cuteness is actually a badass baby fox named Madox, aka Tella's Pandora. I don't want to steal his thunder so you'll have to discover all of the badassery that is packed into this adorable and affectionate little animal by reading this book. But basically I will fight Tella for him. Although, he would kill me if I tried because he is made to protect her. But whatever, I'll figure it out. And if you help me figure it out, we can share him.
The romance in this novel was actually a negative for me. Tella thinks about Guy WAY too much and often forgets that her brother's life is on the line. A little too boy crazy if you ask me, considering she is fighting for her and her brother's life. Truthfully, my opinion of Tella is not all that great. This girl packed nail polish in her survival bag for goodness sake. And she wore flats! Even as helpless as I am, I could pack a better survival bag than that. She was not the brightest crown in the box. But the girl was freaking hysterical, i'll give her that. Her comedic narration definitely added to the level of entertainment Scott delivers.
Fire & Flood is a very fast paced read and packs one hell of an adventure. There are a good number of surprises, many breath-catching moments. It is entertaining for sure. Sure, Tella may make you roll your eyes at times, but her humor will keep you laughing. And Fire & Flood gives us the cutest, most awesome little fox ever. So yes, I recommend this one!
Tella enters a mysterious race for the chance at a cure that will save her dying brother. There is only one winner, one cure. But first she must survive four different ecosystems, with a genetically modified animal, or 'Pandora', as her only aid. This is where the action comes in. Surviving the jungle, then the desert, is a feat all by itself, but Tella must also survive the other contenders who wish to eliminate the competition. There was always some obstacle, some danger. Fortunately, she quickly finds some allies to even the playing field. And an interesting lot of characters they are. And can you guess who else she finds? A very capable, very protective, very mysterious, very handsome, young man.
But no, that's not where the cuteness comes in. The cuteness is actually a badass baby fox named Madox, aka Tella's Pandora. I don't want to steal his thunder so you'll have to discover all of the badassery that is packed into this adorable and affectionate little animal by reading this book. But basically I will fight Tella for him. Although, he would kill me if I tried because he is made to protect her. But whatever, I'll figure it out. And if you help me figure it out, we can share him.
The romance in this novel was actually a negative for me. Tella thinks about Guy WAY too much and often forgets that her brother's life is on the line. A little too boy crazy if you ask me, considering she is fighting for her and her brother's life. Truthfully, my opinion of Tella is not all that great. This girl packed nail polish in her survival bag for goodness sake. And she wore flats! Even as helpless as I am, I could pack a better survival bag than that. She was not the brightest crown in the box. But the girl was freaking hysterical, i'll give her that. Her comedic narration definitely added to the level of entertainment Scott delivers.
Fire & Flood is a very fast paced read and packs one hell of an adventure. There are a good number of surprises, many breath-catching moments. It is entertaining for sure. Sure, Tella may make you roll your eyes at times, but her humor will keep you laughing. And Fire & Flood gives us the cutest, most awesome little fox ever. So yes, I recommend this one!
