Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Wildefire by Karsten Knight 
Published: July 26th, 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 400
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge 2011, 100+ Reading Challenge, 350 Page Books Challenge
Other: First book in the Wildefire series. The second book, Embers and Echoes, will be published in 2012.
Buy the book: Bookdepository

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

In his action-packed debut, Knight introduces us to Ash, our main character who's not afraid of kicking some butt. The story starts off with a beating, and has several more scenes in which violence and action play a big role. In the beginning I didn't like it - so much action and I had no clue what was going on - but when the story developed it got better and better, working up to an amazing climax.

There was something I was having difficulty with in this book, especially in the beginning. Knight's writing style feels forced at times, like it didn't come naturally, making it difficult for me to read some parts. Around halfway through the book, this changed (or it didn't bother me so much anymore) and the story picked up even more pace.

Having said that, I really liked how the different myths were all mixed together in this book. I'm a sucker for Greek mythology, but I really liked the combination of all these different gods and goddesses and the way the Oracle was woven into the story.

Ash is a difficult character, she's stubborn and thinks she knows everything, but she's not a bad character. If I had to pick one character for follow around in the book, it would've been Ash. She's insecure, which makes it easier to relate to her than when she would have been arrogant on top of her stubborness.

I really liked Colt. He's not *that* important during the story (yet), but I liked him. Not completely swoon-worthy or whatever, but he made a nice change in guys for Ash, who seemed to have been dating only guys who were in it for her body.

And you have to give it to Knight - when the story builds up to the climax, he sure knows how to write an ending and a cliff hanger!! I totally didn't see that coming, but ooooh man does he have me excited for the sequel!! (Darn you Karsten, I have to wait so long for Embers and Echoes to come out!) I would have wanted to read the second book *only* because of that ending, so that must be telling you something!!

My overall rating:


Four minus for Wildefire and me on my knees begging for the sequel!