We Set the Dark on Fire

Would it be hyperbolic to say that I’ve been waiting my whole life for a book like this? Reading We Set the Dark on Fire made me feel fifteen again, devouring every immersive fantasy book with a twist of romance that I could get my hands on. But where those books fell short in both diversity and female empowerment, We Set the Dark on Fire excels and exceeds. Opening with a brief folkloric backstory, Tehlor Kay Mejia’s shining debut novel submerges its reader in the hierarchical world of Medio and its fraught borders. Medio’s tension with its border towns and what lies beyond its literal border wall finds roots in the mythology established at the beginning of the text: The disintegrating relationship between brother gods, both desirous of the same wife. Ultimately, the Sun God won the right to have a relationship with both an earthly queen, Constancia, and the Moon Goddess—his Primera and Segunda wives—over his brother, the Salt God. Scorned and cursed, the Salt God was banished. Mimicking this folktale, Medio’s contemporary social system is built around the upper classes having a Primera wife, who runs the household, and Segunda, for beauty and harmony. While the upper echelons superficially thrive on this model, the border and beyond—territory of the Salt God—suffers and is subjected to increasing violence. Mejia’s worldbuilding in the first few pages of this novel are brilliant, thorough, and engaging in a way that doesn’t feel beleaguered. Though Medio’s world may seem leagues away, its tumultuous border disputes feel so grounded in our contemporary moment that readers will instantly latch onto this novel. The orders that those who would risk traversing Medio’s border wall be shot on sight seem jarring when reading the novel, but then I turn on my TV or open social media and I’m reminded, once again, of the exigency of a novel like this. Additionally, Mejia’s masterfully and lovingly created world plays perfect backdrop to the complex relationship between new Primera wife, Dani, and Segunda wife, Carmen. Dani, an undocumented immigrant from beyond the wall, smuggled across when she was a child, has managed to stay under the radar, even through her new marriage to the most eligible and most politically well-positioned bachelor in Medio. But her passing comes at a cost: being indebted to the rebel group La Voz. As Dani performs increasingly risky tasks for La Voz, she becomes further entangled with their mission. Complicating matters is her at-first catty relationship with Carmen, but as Dani and Carmen grow more intimate, Dani’s investment in the revolution becomes all the more precarious. We Set the Dark on Fire sets the stage for what (I hope, please Tehlor Kay Mejia, please, tell me there will be more) promises to be a robust and revolutionary universe. Carmen and Dani’s relationship, alone, is a revolutionary prospect. We are getting more and more queer Latinx books for young readers, but to see this kind of representation in a fantasy novel is just lovely and wonderful (even if the plot of the book is dark and gritty). Like I said, this is the kind of novel I would have loved as a teenager. It doesn’t overemphasize its love story, but it makes Dani’s unfolding attraction to Carmen feel organic, naturally growing from their situation and Dani’s own burgeoning self-awareness. What’s more, the attention to Dani’s growth and empowerment will resonate with young readers, seeking similar empowerment from the texts they read. Finally, Mejia’s choice to make this a Latinx story is calculated and necessary. The names, foods, and contours of Medio’s spaces bespeak Latinx culture, but Mejia is careful to not overemphasize and caricaturize. This world feels real because it’s grounded in something real. Mejia’s given us a gift in this lush, rebellious, queer, Latinx story. All-in-all, We Set the Dark on Fire’s otherworldliness, its devotion to strong and multifaceted female Latinx characters, and its queer romance subplot make it impressive, and Mejia’s immersive prose make it lasting. To be fair, it may be a little difficult to get into because it does move slowly, building tension at the same time as the reader digs deeper into Medio’s innerworkings; even so, it’s worth the wait. For fans of Anna Marie McLemore’s books, We Set Fire to the Dark is a must-read. We’ll be talking about this book for years.

We Set the Dark on Fire is a dystopian novel that is more akin to The Handmaid's Tale rather than The Hunger Games. When we first meet Dani, she is training to be a Primera at the Medio School for Girls. In Medio, women can fall into one of two camps: the Primera, who takes care of the household, i.e., responding to correspondence, accepting and attending social functions, hiring staff, etc., and the Segunda, the woman who takes care of her husband's physical and emotional needs. Every man in Medio has two wives, ensuring he lacks for nothing. At the end of five years of schooling, the women are married off. In Dani's case, she is set to be married to Mateo, the son of the chief military strategist to the President, and a man with his own political ambitions. Dani isn't expecting a fairy-tale marriage but even a gesture of affection would confirm she is doing the right thing. Even without it, though, she goes through with the marriage, Her parents didn't sacrifice so she could turn her back on what they envisioned for her. Her faked documents are what allowed her to attend the school and while the Medio school and Mateo didn't realize they were fake, the rebellion group that blackmails her into helping them, does. Our own Benedict Arnold! Not only is Dani worried about being exposed, she has to contend with Carmen, her enemy at school turned Segunda. At school, Carmen made Dani's life miserable and now they have to share a husband? Wonderful. Dani is a strong female character - ambitious, determined, logical - but while she is strong in certain respects, I wanted to shake her some times. She is mistrustful and suspicious of everyone, from the resistance group to Carmen, to the older women around her, and consistently changing her mind after committing. I wanted more depth to her character. While I thought the romance between her and Carmen came out of nowhere, I enjoyed their dynamic. I thought there were quite a few sweet moments between them. You could see the affection and care they had for each other. I would have liked to see more build-up, however. I had to go back and re-read the book to see what clues I'd missed. I would have enjoyed the opportunity to see more of the girls' time at school, i.e., the selection process would have been fun to read about. I am curious about how Dani was chosen by the Garcia family. The snippets from the handbook that begin each chapter were great additions. I also would have liked to know more about the mythical backstory of the island, so I hope we learn more in the second book. I thought Mejia constructed a painfully realistic novel; I never doubted that any of the events could happen around the country. Many of them hit close to home, including the construction of the border wall, illegal immigration and the desire/sacrifice for a better life, and of course, the sexism and misogyny. While I thought she did a great job of covering these topics, there were instances where I felt the writing came off as heavy-handed. The ending also felt sudden, leaving us with a cliffhanger. Luckily, I don't have to wait to read the second book to find out what happens next. There are plenty of things I enjoyed about this novel - representation of the Latinx community, queer teenage relationships, relevant political themes, and much like in our own world, young people fighting for improvement in their society - and am glad I picked it up.

This was [kisses my fingertips like a true Italian]. First, the worldbuilding was delightful. It was unabashedly Latinx in the food, the colors, the language; and even beyond the obvious, it's woven into all the coziest parts of the world. Everything felt so lively! The society was appropriately infuriating, starting from the myth that served as the book's prologue. I wanted to throw punches starting on page three. (But I feel it's worth noting that this righteous anger was fun, in a way, because it never felt hopeless. And unlike Ember in the Ashes, the threat of rape didn't smack you in the face every chapter. That was nice.) I love Dani so much. Our protagonist, the reader's centerpiece for the rebellion, is initially NOT here for a rebellion. She is a frightened survivalist of a young woman who uses a sharp analytical mind and a hundred masks to fake her way through high society. She has so much heart and spends so much time smothering it. Which means that there is so much delicious character development and dynamic to be had here. Dani changes, and she changes the people around her and reflects them in such interesting ways. And the romance...! It was unbelievably tender. I was holding my breath the whole time. I think the plot was very well paced, especially considering Dani's analytical habits. And I was so invested that I nearly threw the book when I finished it. But the last thing I have to talk about is the writing. The phrasing was so vivid. Every aspect of a description was in motion, and every action was colorful. It was captivating. I get the feeling Mejia's writing is only going to get more enchanting from here.

Okay. So first what I loved: the themes and apt handling of a hot topic via a fantasy world. About half way through the book I was very disillusioned with what I saw as a lackluster and not very well done romance. But I continued because the plot as a whole was SO DANG GOOD! It’s highly relevant especially to America where the idea of immigration and illegal status is a major issue right now. I love the mythos of the island nation and the world building that went into it. Major props on those fronts. But for things I didn’t like. The romance. It seemed very rushed and sudden, Dani even sees the love interest in underwear and is more intimidated and self conscious than anything else. Later after she starts having a crush, she thinks about what she saw. But it just was a very lackluster attraction that seems to spring from no where. It starts after the LI apologizes for being an unrepentant jerk who made Dani’s school life pretty bad. And immediately everything is not only forgiven but Dani is also now in love. Sure. Now. I would have given the book four stars with all of this in mind. As disappointing as the romance was, the rest of the book was so great and well written that I kept reading and enjoyed it. Until the final chapter. Wherein I can’t go into details without major spoilers- but it’s kind of just a giant mess that left me writing notes to express my “wtf is happening and not in a good way” thoughts. To summarize: Dani proves herself, and a character thinks a good thing to do at that point is to threaten her life to the degree of making Dani second guess everything she’s done the whole book. That seems like a great plan. What a successful rebellion this will be. *sarcasm* I am unsure if I will read the sequel or not. And I do want to say I still recommend this book to people looking for representation, or just a good book about a rebellion. Because it’s got a lot of really high points. I just did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

Y’all. This book…was so freakin’ AMAZING! It’s so hard to write reviews for books I loved because I just want to constantly scream about how incredible they are. Everything about We Set the Dark on Fire was just magnificent!! The cover is beautiful, the characters are well-developed, and the world Mejia created was super interesting. If you want to read a book with strong, beautiful, and absolutely incredible girls, read this. Right from the start, you can tell Dani is willing to do anything to keep her and her family safe. I fell in love with her right away, I couldn’t help it. And Carmen. I love her just about as much as Dani. The two are similar in so many ways but you don’t realize it until later in the book. Even the characters I didn’t like were created so beautifully. I love the way they’re portrayed. You can definitely tell Mejia created this with her whole heart. The world in this book is very different from other dystopian novels. It is very much like our own world, but with its own originality. There’s a little prologue before the book actually starts with the history of how Medio became what it is, and I loved that. And before every chapter, there are rules from the Medio School for Girls Handbook that are kind of like chapter titles. You know how chapter titles set up that chapter?? That’s what these rules do. They relate to what’s going to happen, and I really liked them. Dani and Carmen’s love!!! My heart was so full and happy anytime they were near each other. I love forbidden love stories and I can’t wait to see more of them together (hopefully!) in the sequel. I’m pretty sure I almost cried when they first kissed, I was so happy. Them falling for each didn’t happen too fast, and it didn’t happen too slow, either. It was perfect. Everything about this book is perfect. I need book two right now!!!!

I loved the premise, the characters, and the direction of the story. Can’t wait to read book 2! I would have more world- and character- building with a longer book and with more slow burning of relationships in general, but overall it was a solid, gripping, and quick read I couldn’t put down!

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I picked this book up but I'm sure glad I did! It caught my attention and refused to let go. I've never been more grateful to know the sequel is already out! Awesome read!

I‘ve always been drawn to dystopian, fantasy, and political fiction, especially with a female lead. But, I rarely read about people who look like me, a latina woman, much less stories about queer Latina heroes. When I picked up this book, I was pleasantly surprised that not only was Dani a latina, she was “first generation” of sorts, being the first woman in her family to attend an elite school. She’s also, much to my delight, QUEER. There are many things I like about this book, but what I love most of all is Mejia’s beautiful, and tender rendition of one’s gentle, confusing, and exhilarating first-queer love—and how beautifully she incorporates consent! It seems almost expected, but very rarely do I ever read love stories that incorporate consent so naturally. This is how young readers should think of a safe, equal relationship. As a queer survivor of sexual assault, I feel safe reading Carmen and Dani’s words to each other as they begin to fall in love. It’s not hyper-sexualized, or rushed. It’s a beautiful, slow burn of a love story in the face of rebellion and fear burning all around them. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

3.75 STARS In many aspects, this is a very interesting book. There are a lot of Latino characters, the atmosphere is very "The Handmaid's Tale" style and the dystopic world created with all its political intrigues is very interesting. I absolutely love that there's an f/f relationship HOWEVER the beginning of the love story of these two characters is too rushed and sudden. Moreover, the story in general is a little bit obvious: what should have been shocking revelations were actually things that I could predict chapters before. Anyway, since the book ended with a cliffhanger, I will surely read the second novel.

I have fallen so deeply and utterly in love with this story. Everything from the world building to the slow development ot the romantic story arc worked perfectly for me. Every plot twist and new revelation leading to both girls discovering more about themselves and each other, their new and old lives, and also the other forces involved in what their life is becoming, kept me glued to the pages, emotionally invested all the way in all of their fates and also in the outcome of their struggles. Part of the magic of the story surely was the intricate and natural way in which it incorporated the sometimes hopeless present political and societal struggles in the world and managed to wrap them in fire, but also in hope and a gentle reminder that not everything is lost and dark always. In addition to that I loved and hated in equal measure the compassionate and empathetic way in which the story navigated the patriarchal and deeply sexist system the world was build on, not shying away from harsh realities like sexual and intimate partner violence, the psychological and emotional consequences of it, and the wide ranging effects it has on everyone living in that kind of society. It made this a very hard book to read, and the ending wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for. But at the same time it was the perfect book for me, left me even more emotionally invested than I thought possible and it stoked that tiny spark of hope in my chest that might not be entirely rational or even realistic, but felt wonderful nonetheless.

It's a great book, I had to finish it in one sitting. It grips you and then does not let go. Immediately ordered the sequel. The quality of the print is fine, and the inside is okay. Especially for the price. But the paper quality is not the best and the cover got a bit scratched up by the time i received it. I know books have other purpose than to be perfect, and the tarnishes are signs that they have been read, but I do like to have my books looking their best as often as I can.

Acheté pour un cadeau donc je n'ai pas d'avis sur l'histoire, mais... Le livre à mal été imprimé ce qui fait qu'une partie du livre dépasse des autres pages. La couverture est aussi trop petite? Livraison dans une envelope souple ce qui fait que le livre n'était pas bien protégé. La couverture avait des griffures et était abimé à tout les coins et rebords.

Esta duología me emocionaba mucho porque la trama suena muy interesante y me encanta leer historias de conflictos políticos, además me emocionaba leer estos temas en una relación sáfica, pero terminé decepcionada :( Aviso que hay spoilers en esta reseña 🖐️ Le doy cierto crédito porque el estilo de escritura me gustó, es muy ligero, lo cual esperaba completamente de una novela YA. Los personajes me agradan, y uqiero justificar su falta de desarrollo diciendo que todo lo vemos desde la perspectiva de Dani, al igual que la situación social y política. La verdad es que no esperaba una gran trama política y no me equivocaba, es más bien ligera y eso está bien. Mi problema con todo esto es Daniela. Creo que es un personaje con mucho potencial dentro de la historia: como la mejor Primera de su generación y como la Primera de un personaje político tan importante, supuse que su papel en la política de Medio sería indispensable (a pesar de que Mateo hace lo imposible por mantenerla al margen). Y lo fue.... supuestamente. La verdad es que Dani no hace más que llorar, sobrepensar y poner a todos y a todo en riesgo por caprichosa. Todo lo contrario a lo que se supone que es como una Primera (la mejor de su generación, repito). Entiendo el conflicto de intereses que tiene durante la historia, pero no tiene sentido que haya sido entrenada para ser una figura política, casi una espía, y termine consiguiendo información por pura casualidad y arme planes que honestamente son ridículos, sólo porque no puede aguantarse la curiosidad de cosas que ni quiere ni debe saber (y además le explican por qué NO pueden darle esa info). Lo que más coraje me dio fue que arruinó todo al final, ni siquiera ayudó en nada, puso en jaque a Carmen y AUN ASÍ la rebelión la considera como su mejor carta (excepto por Alex, que parece ser la única con algo de razón en esta novela) y deciden protegerla. Tenía ganas de tirar el libro por la ventana, de verdad. Si no le doy menos estrellas es porque tuvo personajes interesantes y el estilo de escritura fue agradable, pero eso no es suficiente para aplaudirlo. No sé si el libro está mal planeado o si Mejía cambió de idea respecto al personaje de Dani a mitad del libro, pero lo que sí es que Daniela es un personaje con mucho potencial, ero está. muy. mal. escrito. y eso arruina completamente el libro para mí. Para nada espero una trama política intrincada, considerando que es una novela YA, pero llegar al punto de regalarle la información a Daniela y cumplirle berrinches sin que le suceda nada?? Nah, al menos no para mí. En este punto estoy indecisa sobre leer el segundo libro, me interesan los demás personajes y la historia, pero si el libro va a ser similar a este prefiero quedarme así.