Review: Through Fire & Sea

Author Nicole Luiken

Format e-ARC

Print Length 354 pages

Publisher Entangled Teen

Published May 5, 2015

Mirror mirror, hear my call…

In the Fire world, seventeen-year-old Leah is the illegitimate daughter of one of the realm's most powerful lords. She's hot-blooded—able to communicate with the tempestuous volcano gods that either bless a civilization or destroy it. But then Leah discovers she's a Caller, gifted with the unique—and dangerous—ability to “call” her Otherselves in mirror worlds. And her father will do anything to use her powers for his own purposes.

In the Water world, Holly nearly drowns when she sees—and interacts with—Leah, a mirror image of herself. She’s rescued by Ryan, a boy from school with a secret he’d die to protect. Little do they know, his Otherself is the son of a powerful volcano god at war in the Fire world…and he’s about to fall.

As Leah and Holly's lives intersect, the Fire and Water worlds descend into darkness. The only way to protect the mirror worlds is to break every rule they've ever known. If they don’t, the evil seeping through the mirrors will destroy everything—and everyone—they love…

My Opinion

In the beginning, there was the True World. It was perfect- so perfect that someone tried to re-create it. First with heat, followed by water, then by stone and finally air. These worlds were not perfect but they were our worlds- our reality. A caller is a person who after looking into a mirror can call to her otherselves. There are rules though, rules that are made to protect the worlds and the otherselves.

Through Fire and Sea is a story about two girls. The same girl from two different worlds. One lives in the Fire World and the other in the Sea World. This story is told from a dual point of view.

Leah, from the Fire World is an illegitimate daughter of a duke. She gets sent to live with Qeturah, a duchess who has the power to control the fire breathing dragon that is plundering the kingdom. She was sent as payment. Once there she learns that she is a caller- one who can call to her otherselves. Leah shows a strength and loyalty that the elders in her kingdom lack. Once with Qeturah, she falls in love with Gideon. Events leave her with a quest to save the Gideon’s of the otherworlds. To do this she visits the Water World first.

Holy is the Leah of the Water World. Her parents are divorced and she lives a privileged life. One day while out with her daddy she falls overboard into the ocean. Instead of drowning a boy named Ryan saves her. Ryan is the Water Worlds Gideon. Ryan is a loner, who wants nothing to do with anyone. He has his reasons. Holly of course wants to find him and thank him for saving her life. He tries to ignore her until they are casted as the leads in the school play. This could mean his one big chance to break the chains of poverty. But what will this do to his relationship with Holly? Holly for her part tries not to fall for Ryan but once she learns his life is in danger, it really is game on.

Since this is told from both points of view, at times it will be difficult to follow. Both girls due to circumstances of their worlds have distinctive voices and switching back and forth can cause whiplash. Once you get use to the flip-flopping though the story picks up. It really is a race against time and the big bad meanie to see if the girls can save Ryan’s life. Through Fire and Sea is a hypnotic tale that ends with a new beginning. Hopefully, you will like it as much as I did.

My Rating 4 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote Your father isn’t the most interesting thing about you. Not even close.

Other People

Gideon- Leah’s honey

Qeturah- Gideon’s mom and the big baddie

Joseph- Holly’s daddy