Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, by Rosamund Hodge | Book Review #232

When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.

The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.

Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.

Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting. . . .

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Trigger Warning: Blood, Self-harm

I actually thought (and was delighted) that Bright Smoke, Cold Fire was a standalone. However, when I got to the end of reading this book and found that it wasn’t?..well..I was both relieved because then at least we’d get another book to find out the true ending. Yet on the other hand, that means that there’s another book on the way.

There are three points of view within Bright Smoke, Cold Fire. The first view we see is actually the point of view that has only a few chapters within the book. The second view is from Runajo, who is as strong-willed as they come. The third view is from Paris, who is as innocent as one can possibly within this world.

The points of view between Runajo and Paris shift every 2 chapters. Which to be honest, I had a major problem with in the beginning. I found more often than not that the plot would drag on. And on. Then the story would finally become interesting! — and then the point of view changed. Thus making the majority of BSCF boring for me.

I’ll give the book some kudos cause there are a few interesting parts to the novel, and a few descriptions that I enjoyed reading. Like the Sunken Library, for instance. Other than that I was just so bored with the majority of this book. I’ve mentioned kudos because there are a few scenes in this book that I really enjoyed. I mean, it took me a good part of a few days to get through 200 pages. That is not normal for me. I usually whiz through books.

By the time I had finished reading BSCF, I realized that never before have I been so happy that a book wasn’t a stand-alone. Seriously. By the time I finished reading Bright Smoke, Cold Fire, I was confused and a little angry, since the ending of the book ended in the middle of a scene for both Paris and Runajo, but I was mostly confused. Bright Smoke Cold Fire in my opinion, feels like the story was entirely unfinished. That Bright Smoke, Cold Fire was published in the middle of writing the book, and that they had to get the book out on the publishing racks .

‘The world was dying, and death did not care who mourned.’

I really, really like this quote. There are a few other lines like this scattered throughout the book that I absolutely adore as well. — If Bright Smoke, Cold Fire ended with this quote I could have either really liked this novel, or I could have hated it. I think after a few days I would have loved the dramatic ending.

I ended up giving Bright Smoke, Cold Fire 2 of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Have you read Bright Smoke, Cold Fire? If you have, what do you think of the novel?

Happy Reading!
Adele