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Firebug
(Firebug #1)
by
Ava is a firebug—she can start fires with her mind. Which would all be well and good if she weren't caught in a deadly contract with the Coterie, a magical mafia. She's one of their main hitmen . . . and she doesn't like it one bit. Not least because her boss, Venus, killed Ava's mother.
When Venus asks Ava to kill a family friend, Ava rebels. She knows very well that you ...more
When Venus asks Ava to kill a family friend, Ava rebels. She knows very well that you ...more
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Kindle Edition, 368 pages
Published
September 23rd 2014
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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Start your review of Firebug (Firebug, #1)

I was really, awkwardly excited for Firebug



See, kinda awkward...
Anyway!
There wasn't anything I didn't love about Firebug. And since I am a rabid pusher of the Necromancer books, I tried to be objective.
I loved Ava; she was snarky, sarcastic, flawed and utterly realistic - down to being stupid over a dude.
I adored the myriad of supporting characters - Ezra is incorrigible and stole my heart quickly. Lock is a steady, quiet constant; almost lurking in the background until the metaphorical clouds p ...more



See, kinda awkward...
Anyway!
There wasn't anything I didn't love about Firebug. And since I am a rabid pusher of the Necromancer books, I tried to be objective.
I loved Ava; she was snarky, sarcastic, flawed and utterly realistic - down to being stupid over a dude.
I adored the myriad of supporting characters - Ezra is incorrigible and stole my heart quickly. Lock is a steady, quiet constant; almost lurking in the background until the metaphorical clouds p ...more

Lish McBride throws you smack dab in the middle of the fray with Firebug, as the reader your force to run to keep up the action that is Firebug from page one. Along the ride we join our firebug Ava whose stuck in between a rock and a really crappy job as a hired assassin for a magical mafia called Coterie. Her team and best friends of the half-druyd Lock and were-fox Ezra go out and clean up and take out anyone who has crossed the Coterie leader Veuns.
But when Veuns puts out a hit for one of A ...more

I'm in love with everything about this book: the story, Ava, the friendships, and the boys. I love how this book features a great friendship story between Ava, Lock and Ezra. This is probably one of the reasons I enjoyed it so much. And honestly, I wish I had a Lock and Ezra in my life, even if one of them is a dryad and the other is a werefox. Lish's writing is fantastic and even made me chuckle a few times.
...more

2/26/17: yep, this book is still snarky and awesome. I did forget just how much I loved Ezra.
This book was exactly what I wanted, I loved every single thing about it.
Ava, Lock and Ezra are all so much fun. Their different personalities make the friendship work so well. As always, Lish provides excellent banter and snark. I always want to hang out with the characters she creates.
The plot was interesting and the twists were delicious. Thankfully, the ending wasn't cliffhangery, but there is one ...more
This book was exactly what I wanted, I loved every single thing about it.
Ava, Lock and Ezra are all so much fun. Their different personalities make the friendship work so well. As always, Lish provides excellent banter and snark. I always want to hang out with the characters she creates.
The plot was interesting and the twists were delicious. Thankfully, the ending wasn't cliffhangery, but there is one ...more

See more of my reviews on The YA Kitten! My copy was an ARC I received from the publisher.
Oh lord, the train wreck that was this book. I wanted to like it–I don’t read a book anymore if I don’t expect to like it–but I should have known from the first chapter this was not going to be anything I’d like. Call a girl a bitch queen right off the bat and I’m going to get angry like a territorial cat because of the girl hate. IT ONLY GETS WORSE. The humor and absurdity of Firebug may appeal to younger ...more
Oh lord, the train wreck that was this book. I wanted to like it–I don’t read a book anymore if I don’t expect to like it–but I should have known from the first chapter this was not going to be anything I’d like. Call a girl a bitch queen right off the bat and I’m going to get angry like a territorial cat because of the girl hate. IT ONLY GETS WORSE. The humor and absurdity of Firebug may appeal to younger ...more

4,5 flaming stars

The Coterie, the magical mafia, don't give a second chance. Enter the assasins. Ava is owned for life by the Coterie since she was 13 y.o., she is a firebug and has no scape for that kind of life, her dangerous talent is used for kill other magicals by orders of Venus (the vampire boss who kills Ava's mom). Her best-friends: Ezra a werefox, and Lock a half-dryad are her team (tithes indebted until their 25 b-day)
Most girls my age worry about prom dresses and SATs. I have to weig ...more

The Coterie, the magical mafia, don't give a second chance. Enter the assasins. Ava is owned for life by the Coterie since she was 13 y.o., she is a firebug and has no scape for that kind of life, her dangerous talent is used for kill other magicals by orders of Venus (the vampire boss who kills Ava's mom). Her best-friends: Ezra a werefox, and Lock a half-dryad are her team (tithes indebted until their 25 b-day)
Most girls my age worry about prom dresses and SATs. I have to weig ...more

Warning: This is a highly unprofessional review which will probably make no logical sense but I hope you like it anyway.
Dear Characters:
Ava, you are the perfect heroine. You made me laugh so hard my stomach ached with your sarcastic observations. You were just so damn snarky about everything, even in the most serious situations. But you weren't cold hearted, oh no. You cared so much about your friends it warmed my frozen heart(and yes unlike you I have one). And you were smart, not some fluff-br ...more
Dear Characters:
Ava, you are the perfect heroine. You made me laugh so hard my stomach ached with your sarcastic observations. You were just so damn snarky about everything, even in the most serious situations. But you weren't cold hearted, oh no. You cared so much about your friends it warmed my frozen heart(and yes unlike you I have one). And you were smart, not some fluff-br ...more

you can read this review and Pyromantic's on my blog!
Firebug was just so much fun. It's one of those books that makes you want to keep reading, never mind what the time is. I picked this book up on a whim and oh man, I'm so glad I did because this was the type of book that was just perfect for me.
This is an urban fantasy book, so there a lot of, er, creatures--I guess?--that hide amongst human crowds, pretending to be human by magic. Ava is one of them and she's a firebug, which basically means ...more
Firebug was just so much fun. It's one of those books that makes you want to keep reading, never mind what the time is. I picked this book up on a whim and oh man, I'm so glad I did because this was the type of book that was just perfect for me.
This is an urban fantasy book, so there a lot of, er, creatures--I guess?--that hide amongst human crowds, pretending to be human by magic. Ava is one of them and she's a firebug, which basically means ...more

Though Firebug is rather typical for a young adult (YA) urban fantasy, it is definitely one of the more enjoyable stories in the genre. This is the fist installment of the Firebug series by Lish McBride, who is best known for her previous series, which begins with the humorous YA urban fantasy Hold Me Closer, Necromancer. Fans of McBride’s Necromancer series will find much of what they love about McBride’s writing present in Firebug, while many readers that are new to her work will be drawn in b
...more

On principle alone, I really kind of detest reverse-harem books. In manga it works great, but manga is a different medium completely and it fits perfectly in there. But in literature? It almost always feels cheap or unncessary, or worse, it feels like the author's attempt to make the lone female character seem very important. (She usually is, like special snowflake kind of way, and as a general rule, other female characters MUST feel threatened by her). And unfortunately, for the most part, Fire
...more

Lish, I thought we were friends.
You owe me sixteen bucks.
(Might review this later, because I wrote so many angry rants while I was reading. I need to unleash the venom. But right now I'm feeling too lazy and exhausted (it takes some serious energy to go through half of a book as irritating as this one) to properly organise my thoughts. In short: Firebug is Hold Me Closer, Necromancer revamped*; the poor man's version. Now with more bitching, women hating each other, unlikeable, unremarkable, ...more

To see full review click here
Really 1.5 stars ( I DNF'd it though)
Seriously?
Show some sensitivity, editors. There is currently an Ebola epidemic going on killing seventy percent of the people it infects in multiple countries in west Africa. Having a teenager talk about how she’s going to fake it to get out of a social engagement is probably not the best idea.
Just saying.
Out of all the diseases out there you had to go with that one. Suggestion: next time go with a plain old sinus infection.
That b ...more
Really 1.5 stars ( I DNF'd it though)
Seriously?
Show some sensitivity, editors. There is currently an Ebola epidemic going on killing seventy percent of the people it infects in multiple countries in west Africa. Having a teenager talk about how she’s going to fake it to get out of a social engagement is probably not the best idea.
Just saying.
Out of all the diseases out there you had to go with that one. Suggestion: next time go with a plain old sinus infection.
That b ...more

Oh, Lish McBride, you make me happy. Like in Necromancer, you've come up with yet another motley crew of the definitely snarky, sometimes cute, and often funny that find themselves embroiled in some dark, dangerous, supernatural goings-on.
That they are all such nice guys is just a bonus- nice because where one pays special attention to potential collateral damage, another is a hodge podge mix of leather jacket clad nature boy... slightly eco-footprint without being preachy about it, and the oth ...more
That they are all such nice guys is just a bonus- nice because where one pays special attention to potential collateral damage, another is a hodge podge mix of leather jacket clad nature boy... slightly eco-footprint without being preachy about it, and the oth ...more


update 27.08.2014
there is an EXCERPT on TOR.
---------------
Snippet from the book:
* on Lish McBride's blog
"I can be ready in five,” I said.
He wiped what was left of the suds I’d forgotten off my nose. “No, you’ll eat some breakfast, finish your coffee, and I’ll see you in an hour."
“Besides,” Duncan added, “evicting Ezra in under five minutes is hardly humane.”... read the rest HERE! ...more

Aug 07, 2014
Paula M
marked it as dnf
I tried. I don't know.. Maybe it's me. The blurb and that cover lured me in. I thought this is it. This is the book that I've been waiting for. Sadly, it's not. I think it's the main protagonist. She's so boring. I feel like a robot reading this. Anyway, I'll check the other books of the author!
...more

McBride writing is on point, so much wit and sarcasm. I love it. I'll recommend you read her first duology to better understand the world.
...more

I laughed so much in this book! There was action, and romance, and a LOT of sarcasm! Definitely can't wait for the next one! :)
...more

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Hilarious story full of action, adventure and a splash of romance. McBride once again delivers a purely fun book that I’m sure all young adult paranormal fans will enjoys
Opening Sentence: RYAN SLAMMED the book shut and tipped his head back, sprawling on the bench and claiming it as his own.
The Review:
Seventeen year old Ava has a very special ability, she can start fires with her mind. People with her talents are known as firebugs and they are ve ...more
Quick & Dirty: Hilarious story full of action, adventure and a splash of romance. McBride once again delivers a purely fun book that I’m sure all young adult paranormal fans will enjoys
Opening Sentence: RYAN SLAMMED the book shut and tipped his head back, sprawling on the bench and claiming it as his own.
The Review:
Seventeen year old Ava has a very special ability, she can start fires with her mind. People with her talents are known as firebugs and they are ve ...more

Firebug was a solid start to a new series by Lish McBride. I may be in the minority with my rating as I didn’t absolutely love this but I will say that while that might be true, I found myself enjoying the characters and the overall story.
Ava is a firebug and lives in a paranormal world where it isn’t uncommon to be friends with a guy who talks to trees, turns into a fox, or even someone who carves figures out of wood which he can then make them real. The challenge for Ava is that her power (th ...more
Ava is a firebug and lives in a paranormal world where it isn’t uncommon to be friends with a guy who talks to trees, turns into a fox, or even someone who carves figures out of wood which he can then make them real. The challenge for Ava is that her power (th ...more

I read this because I read and enjoyed Ms McBride's torshort Burnt Sugar. I didn't give it All The Stars, but I enjoyed it, it felt fresh and entertaining and just enough kickass, I wanted to read more. I had high expectations for Firebug. Expectations ... dashed. :-(
It's not that this book was BAD per se, not at all! It was good, it was fun, it was exactly what I SHOULD have expected from the short. But somehow I expected something more. This is one of those YA books that should definitely be ...more
It's not that this book was BAD per se, not at all! It was good, it was fun, it was exactly what I SHOULD have expected from the short. But somehow I expected something more. This is one of those YA books that should definitely be ...more

Huge thanks to Macmillan Teen/fierce Reads for hosting their giveaway for this book here on Goodreads!
This book is whip-smart and a wild ride. It moves faster than a forest fire and has all the heat. These characters are so cool, in their dialogue and teamwork, I want to hear spaghetti-western music as their theme song.
Read it and hang on -- I was flipping pages so quickly near the end I was afraid I'd tear them.
I am pleased this is to be a series because, for real, I refuse to sink my ship. S ...more
This book is whip-smart and a wild ride. It moves faster than a forest fire and has all the heat. These characters are so cool, in their dialogue and teamwork, I want to hear spaghetti-western music as their theme song.
Read it and hang on -- I was flipping pages so quickly near the end I was afraid I'd tear them.
I am pleased this is to be a series because, for real, I refuse to sink my ship. S ...more

Jan 02, 2015
Stuti
added it
Unrated DNF at 15%. I just couldn't anymore. And passages like these are why:
"Mr. Monticello decided to take the express elevator down before I made it to the top. I can’t say I blame him. The wet sound he made when he landed will show up in my nightmares for a long time.”
What does this even mean? What even happens to Mr. Monticello? Is this kind of vagueness going to describe every single Coterie job the gang does? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND FROM THIS. Stop telling me, AND SHOW ME.
Not to ...more
"Mr. Monticello decided to take the express elevator down before I made it to the top. I can’t say I blame him. The wet sound he made when he landed will show up in my nightmares for a long time.”
What does this even mean? What even happens to Mr. Monticello? Is this kind of vagueness going to describe every single Coterie job the gang does? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO UNDERSTAND FROM THIS. Stop telling me, AND SHOW ME.
Not to ...more

The characters in this book can only be described with the best adjectives: kickass, dreamy, sassy, lethal. From start to finish, this one's a winner.
...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

I read this series backwards, without knowing it - still enjoyable backwards.
There is one thing I was made aware of with the characters that I have noticed others also pointing out - They can be frustrating, full of cringe and cliche, however I channeled into my teen/tween self and was able to enjoy the book well enough.
Ezra came across as the typical, good looking guy cliche but a bit more hyper thanks to his fox heritage. Lock, the typical brooding teen who is also the mother hen to fox kid Ez ...more
There is one thing I was made aware of with the characters that I have noticed others also pointing out - They can be frustrating, full of cringe and cliche, however I channeled into my teen/tween self and was able to enjoy the book well enough.
Ezra came across as the typical, good looking guy cliche but a bit more hyper thanks to his fox heritage. Lock, the typical brooding teen who is also the mother hen to fox kid Ez ...more

May 05, 2015
FictionForesight
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
treavor-g
Review Originally Posted At: FictionForesight
4 or 5 stars?.....that is the question!
Warning, do not read this book until the next in the series is ready to be published. Ignoring this warning may lead to disappointment, depression, fits of rage and frustration. You have been warned....be prepared.
A Quick Summary:
The ability to start fires with your mind, sounds awesome right? Not if your Ava - a "firebug" with a seriously bad mafia-style boss who would like nothing more than to kill her for dis ...more
4 or 5 stars?.....that is the question!
Warning, do not read this book until the next in the series is ready to be published. Ignoring this warning may lead to disappointment, depression, fits of rage and frustration. You have been warned....be prepared.
A Quick Summary:
The ability to start fires with your mind, sounds awesome right? Not if your Ava - a "firebug" with a seriously bad mafia-style boss who would like nothing more than to kill her for dis ...more

Ava is a firebug. She's liable to go all firey (literally) when she's emotional. She also has the potential to go supernova. She's rare and therefore, all the more precious or is it, powerful? Unfortunately, she is also owned by the Coterie. She is their assassin enforcer, but not by choice. She's doing it so that her loved ones aren't hurt but this is about to change...
As always, I find it difficult to read when the protagonist is angry one. Sure, she's got just cause but yet, I do wish she's a ...more
As always, I find it difficult to read when the protagonist is angry one. Sure, she's got just cause but yet, I do wish she's a ...more

he story moves really fast. It appears to take place over the span of about a week, which made me doubt a little bit how much could happen in that timeline. I loved how black and white it was. All the characters were either good or bad, and all the characters thought that of each other. There was a huge lesson about that. However, I did not like the setting. There was really no explanation for where you were most of the time, and that was really confusing. There was not much background informati
...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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SCBA: Firebug by Lish McBride SCBAYANOM1617 | 6 | 8 | Mar 22, 2016 08:13AM |
Lish McBride is the author of funny and creepy Young Adult books such as Hold Me Closer, Necromancer; Necromancing the Stone; Firebug; and Pyromantic. She has published short stories in the Normal School, Tor.com, and the anthologies Cornered, What to Read in the Rain, Freaks & Other Family, and Kisses & Curses. She got her BFA in creative writing from Seattle University and her MFA from Universit
...more
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