The Secret Fire

I was out putting seed in my bird feeders when I hear this tap, tap, tap noise.  I look around and then up to see a woodpecker.  I was glad to see it return after being gone for over a year.  It had built a nest in a neighbor's tree that hangs over our yard about two years ago. Unfortunately, it picked a bad limb and the baby ending up falling into our yard.  Thankfully, the ASPCA came and picked up the babies (do you know that they will not take turtles).  I had not seen the woodpecker since that incident so I was glad to see it again.

The Secret Fire by C.J. Daugherty and Carina Rozenfeld is the first book in the new The Alchemist Chronicles.  Sacha Winters is seventeen years old living in Paris, France (lucky kid).  He has started doing dangerous stunts, skipping school, and, basically, doing what he wants.  But then that might have to do with the curse.  He is the first son on his father and he will die on his eighteenth birthday.  Until then he cannot die (his body heals).  Sacha’s father died trying to find a way to stop his son from dying.  Sacha’s mother seems resigned to the fact. 

Taylor Montclair is seventeen and living in Woodbury, England.  She wants to go to Oxford to be an archaeologist.  She devotes a majority of her time to studying.  Her French teacher, Mr. Finlay asks her to tutor Sacha on English.  Taylor really does not have time in her schedule, but her teacher insists.  They connect and discover that Sacha really does not need to be tutored in English (he is being pressured by his English teacher when he does go to school), but they both decide to continue to meet online.  Taylor has been getting horrible migraines recently and they are getting worse.  Then one night her friend, Georgie insists that Taylor go on a double date.  They go to an American style 50’s diner.  The music is loud and is making Taylor’s head really hurt, when she cannot take it any longer she says stop.  The sound system in the diner blows up.  How did that happen?  After a few strange events, something really big happens.  That’s when Taylor finds out that she is special. 

Taylor talks with Sacha and they figure there has to be a reason they were thrown together.  Can Taylor help Sacha?  But someone does not want Sacha finding the answers he needs.  Actually, someone is after Taylor as well.  What is going on?  These two need answers (and only a few weeks until Sacha’s eighteenth birthday) and they have to stay alive to get the results (and ahead of their enemy).  Will they succeed?

I found The Secret Fire riveting.  I sat down and read the book straight through to the end.  C.J. Daugherty is a great writer.  She pulls in the reader and keeps them engrossed until the very last page.  I liked this unique story with interesting characters.  I especially liked that the book is set in England and France (instead of America).  The Secret Fire is fast paced and well written.  I give The Secret Fire 5 out of 5 stars.  There was just one (maybe two) little things I did not like.  One is that the book ends with a cliffhanger.  The second issue is we have to wait for the next book (so frustrating).  The Secret Fire is a young adult novel, but I am an adult who really enjoyed reading it (as you can tell).  If you like The Secret Fire, check out C.J. Daugherty's other series Night School (The first book is Night School Genesis).

I received a complimentary copy of The Secret Fire from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The review and opinions expressed are my own.

I am going to go eat dinner and read.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader