About the Book:

Title: Bound By Firelight (Wickery #2)

Author: Dana Swift 

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: January 18, 2022

Pages: 448

Genre: YA Fantasy

Synopsis:

After a magical eruption devastates the kingdom of Belwar, royal heir Adraa is falsely accused of masterminding the destruction and forced to stand trial in front of her people, who see her as a monster. Adraa’s punishment? Imprisonment in the Dome, an impenetrable, magic-infused fortress filled with Belwar’s nastiest criminals—many of whom Adraa put there herself. And they want her to pay.

Jatin, the royal heir to Naupure, has been Adraa’s betrothed, nemesis, and fellow masked vigilante… but now he’s just a boy waiting to ask her the biggest question of their lives. First, though, he’s going to have to do the impossible: break Adraa out of the Dome. And he won’t be able to do it without help from the unlikeliest of sources—a girl from his past with a secret that could put them all at risk.

Time is running out, and the horrors Adraa faces in the Dome are second only to the plot to destabilize and destroy their kingdoms. But Adraa and Jatin have saved the world once already… Now, can they save themselves?

The heart-pounding sequel to Cast in Firelight, perfect for fans of epic, sweepingly romantic fantasy by Sabaa Tahir, Susan Dennard, and Mary E. Pearson.

Review:

*I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

There may be spoilers for book one in this review.

Bound By Firelight is the conclusion to the amazing Wickery duology. This was a really good sequel, it was fast-paced, and the new setting in the Dome was much more than I expected. There’s such an awesome magic system in this world that is further explored in this book, and lots of character development. I also loved all the twists and turns along the way!

The story picks up right after the aftermath of the volcano explosion in book one. Adraa is wrongly accused of being the mastermind behind the destruction and has to stand trial in front of the people of the kingdom of Belwar, who do not look on her favorably. Her punishment is imprisonment in the Dome, which is impenetrable, infused with magic, and full of the creme de la creme of the criminals of Belwar. Some of the prisoners Adraa put in the Dome herself, and they want her to pay.

Jatin has been waiting to ask Adraa the biggest question of their lives, but now he has the impossible task of breaking her out of the Dome. He won’t be able to do it without the help of his team, and a girl from his past with a secret that may put them all at risk.

The clock is ticking, and the atrocities that Adraa faces at the Dome are second to the plot that has been hatched to destroy and destabilize their kingdoms. Adraa and Jatin have saved the kingdom once before, now will they be able to save themselves?

Adraa is such a wonderful heroine, and I loved watching her overcome her own self doubts. Jatin also learned so much about himself on his journey. I would be remiss if I didn’t share that I wish that Jatin and Adraa had more scenes together in this book, as that’s what I really loved in the first book, their witty banter. I do understand though that due to plot they had to be separated and grow and develop as characters on their own. The ending was satisfying and wrapped everything up well, but I feel like there’s a lot more that could be explored, and I’m sad that it’s not going to be a trilogy. I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters or this world.

If you read Cast in Firelight, you don’t want to miss Bound By Firelight out January 18, 2022!

About the Author:

Dana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. While in college, Dana competed as a saber fencer and learned a thing or two about fighting, parrying and how it feels to fall in love with your sparring partner. She currently lives with said husband in Miami, Florida.