I loved most of this book. Loved the fictional world, the mythology, the tension, the writing, the commentary on the origins of patriarchy. About 2/3 of the way through, though, I started to lose interest. I would space out listening to the audiobook and so I missed some chunks of plot. I'm not sure if this was my fault or the book's, but it seemed to me like what began as super original turned kind of predictable. I'm like, of course Carmen is part of the resistance! Duh. Also, of course Mateo is evil. Zero surprise there. Obviously Dani is going to be forced to continue to spy on Mateo in subsequent books. Also there was a scene that bugged me where Dani overhears the exact piece of information she needs -- that always makes me roll my eyes. (https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ExactEavesDropping)

There's a queer romance element in this that is pretty well done (IMHO). I think this book will get labeled LGBTQ pretty quickly, but it's more exciting if you don't know what kind of love triangle you're getting with the three-person-marriage thing. ( )

Specifics:

Book: We Set the Dark on Fire

Author: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Published: 26th Feb'2019

Genre: Fantasy Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Contemporary, YA Fiction

LGBTQIA literature: Yes

Series: Part 1 of the Duology

Age: 14

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books ( Harper Collins Publishers)

Pages: 384

My rating: 4/5

Blurb:

DANIELA VARGAS is a top student at the Media School for girls, where young women are trained to be perfect wives to distinguished men, but her pedigree is a lie. She must keep the truth hidden or be sent back to the fringes of society. But when a resistance group learns where she comes from and asks her to become one of their spies, Dani must decide will she give up everything she's strived for in pursuit of a free Medio - and a chance at a forbidden love?

Review:

This is an accidental pick for this month but turned out to be so relevant. With the #blacklivesmatter movement taking place on a very resourceful and much needed way, I wanted to read books that reflect on such revolutionary times.

We set the dark on fire is not only an lgbtq literature but a revolt, against the upper class smothering the lower class and the lower class fighting for their freedom and lives.

The books is set in a world where girls from the 'Right side' of the wall go to a school where they are trained to either be a Primera - 'A woman who will be an equal to her husband and rule by his side in whatever he does' and a Segunda - 'A woman with nothing to do but to be pretty and bear children'.

The story is from Dani's point of view and in the beginning of the story are very questionable teachings that are thought to the girls in the Medio School.

This premise was so hurtful and tested my patience but there was something more to the story than just this. I thought the story would be about this system being overruled.

But turns out, there is also a war happening against the class (caste) system and people are revolting against their "Rulers".

The La Voz society fights for the suppressed and approach Dani and black mail her to become a spy for them. Meanwhile, Dani who graduates as the best Primera is married off along with Carmen - her die hard enemy, to the same family of Garcias, who happen to be running for president soon and have a core place in the havoc being raged on the lower class.

What happens next is not just rebellious and brave but also heart warming. The character development is very strong. I absolutely adore the writing and couldn't keep the book down.

The book does end on a very good but sort of predictable twist and a cliffhanger which I sort of thing was not necessary.

I would have liked it better if they spoke about the 'Two Wives' thing in a negative way. Nobody seems to have a problem with that and I am hoping that book 2 shatters this as well.

I rate this book 4/5 stars.

Spoiler alert:

The plot of the book was very well set. I liked that the author gave us a lot of information but also kept some for herself.

The best character development is definitely Carmens. She goes from being a sworn enemy who uses Dani's childhood to tease her to coming out to her as someone who just needed cover to falling in love with her and ending up being a member of La Voz.

The ending of the book, however, I am not okay with somehow. Why did Carmen have to leave? They could have built up a story to cover for the both of them right? I would have loved seeing them both sneaking off to steal some alone time when Mateo wasn't home.

The lovestory was pretty amazing though. The classic enemy to love trope but in a completely magical and rebellious setting. Someone on Goodreads said, "Imagine being a weak straight man and your two wives don't love you, and instead fall in love with each other. Instantly cursed." I figuratively died laughing at that.

Coming to the main characters:

Dani: Coming from the other side of the wall, Dani's parents gave up everything to get her into the school and her only goal is to get into a good house and fulfil her parents dreams. But when Sota approaches her and starts blackmailing her, she hesitantly helps in to protect her cover. We see her as a powerful and spontaneous young lady. She does feel for her cause and positively decided to convert into a member of the La Voz. I love how strong yet vulnerable she is. I cannot wait to see how she manages to carry on in that house without Carmen.

Carmen: I think she is a very important member of the society. The way she presents herself is admirable. I cannot wait to see more of her. Especially since she is not far away from someone that she loves so dearly.

Mateo: Can we kill him already? I hate how he is a control freak. I hate how he thinks he can rule the world with his cruelty. I hate how he treats the two girls. He is a perverted and privileged piece of shit and somebody that I relate a lot of real-life leaders to. The way he pushes himself on women is so disgusting and I feel like a thousand insects are crawling under my skin.

Reasons to pick up the book:

LGBTQ plus literature
Strong female characters
Great plot and writing
Very relevant for current times
Fast read
Page turner

Cons:

Tests your patience in the beginning (this is subjective)
Ends on a cliffhanger which is making me anxious becasue we don't really have answers
Predictable to a certain extent
The violence can be a trigger ( )

Such a fun, quick read. ( )

Featured in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/08/19/femme-rebels/ ( )

So on one side of the wall there is poverty and want and on the other side there's a culture with a wild societal structure where the elite have two wives, one who deals with the ordering of the household and the other who is ornamental and bears the children. Dani has come from nothing and the other side of the wall and has excelled in the school that trains girls who excel to be one or the other role. When Dani graduates to be married to one of the elite she finds that her co-wife is Carmen and they have a past. An enmity. But they have to survive in this world of complex politics where their husband could be the next leader and where a resistance wants more rights.
It could have been better with a little more grey with their husband who is just a moustache away from twirling it. The building relationship between the two women was a little quick and while I'm curious to see how things pan out with all the characters I'm not rushing out to read it. ( )