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We Set the Dark on Fire
(We Set the Dark on Fire #1)
by
In this daring and romantic fantasy debut perfect for fans of The Handmaid’s Tale and Latinx authors Zoraida Córdova and Anna-Marie McLemore, society wife-in-training Dani has a great awakening after being recruited by rebel spies and falling for her biggest rival.
At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized ...more
At the Medio School for Girls, distinguished young women are trained for one of two roles in their polarized ...more
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Hardcover, 364 pages
Published
February 26th 2019
by Katherine Tegen Books
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Alice Byrnes
Yes! There is a f/f romance.
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Showing 1-30

Start your review of We Set the Dark on Fire (We Set the Dark on Fire, #1)

Really like the setup and appreciate the F/F relationship and Latinx representation; the concept here has a lot of potential (an arrogant straight man has two wives who fall in love with each other instead… we love to see it). Unfortunately I found the romance developed way too quickly and the rebellion to be handled in a flimsy manner (the main character’s role was mostly just conveniently overhearing important information at the right time lol).

imagine being a weak straight man and your two wives don’t love you, and instead fall in love with each other. instantly crushed
[3.5]
[3.5]

**3.5-stars rounded up**
At The Medio School for Girls, young women are prepped for one of two roles within their future husband's household: Primera or Segunda.

Before you get too excited, let me just say, these aren't highly challenging positions, but rather socially-assigned womanly roles.
Beauty or brains, those are the choices because apparently you can't be both, or neither for that matter.

A Primera essentially handles the business required for a functioning household, while the Segunda ta ...more
At The Medio School for Girls, young women are prepped for one of two roles within their future husband's household: Primera or Segunda.

Before you get too excited, let me just say, these aren't highly challenging positions, but rather socially-assigned womanly roles.
Beauty or brains, those are the choices because apparently you can't be both, or neither for that matter.

A Primera essentially handles the business required for a functioning household, while the Segunda ta ...more

what would you do if 🤔 we kissed 🧐😗 under the roof 🤭😳😳 of the rich guy we’re both married to 🙈🙈🤫😛 and we’re both girls? 😜😘😳😳😱🤭

Who is attacking, and who is dying?
4 1/2 stars. We Set the Dark on Fire follows Dani, a girl being trained in the art of being a wife. In the inside of the wall, men each have two wives: Primeras run the house, while Segundas are the childbearers. On the outside, people live in poverty. Dani is an interloper, and when a resistance fighter threatens her with this information, she’s forced to use her primera status to spy. All the while, though, she is falling for her home’s segunda, h ...more

This was an ‘okay’ read. A school set up to prep girls for a life of ‘wife’- catch being, you’re not the only wife. Two enemies get placed in the same government officials home. As the ‘wives’ one is there for brain/support the other is there to be arm candy. Sounds interestingly chauvinistic, right?! 🤨 Well of course there’s some corruption with the government, which results in some spy action. 🤫 This ends on a cliff hanger.... and I honestly can’t say I’m hankering to see what happens next. My
...more

How cruel is it to promise a forbidden wlw romance and an internal struggle between a deep-seated yearning for equality and parents' sacrifice for privilege hardly anyone else has the opportunity to reach for... and then not execute it in an interesting way? I wanted to scream, but I yawned instead.
Dani is the top student at the Medio School for Girls, where women are trained to either become a Primera or a Segunda, the two types of wives each man marries. Primeras run the household, while Segun ...more
Dani is the top student at the Medio School for Girls, where women are trained to either become a Primera or a Segunda, the two types of wives each man marries. Primeras run the household, while Segun ...more

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the publisher, Harper Collins, via Edelweiss+ for an honest review.
Opinion:
I cannot tell you guys how excited I was to receive an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss+!
SO excited.
So, when I started actually reading, I realized…maybe, this isn’t exactly what I imagined it to be.
But naturally, I kept reading…
And reading…
And…reading…

*Sigh*
This was ALMOST my first DNF book of 2019.
Daniela’s family sacrificed everything they had to give her a better life. ...more
Opinion:
I cannot tell you guys how excited I was to receive an ARC copy of this book from Edelweiss+!
SO excited.
So, when I started actually reading, I realized…maybe, this isn’t exactly what I imagined it to be.
But naturally, I kept reading…
And reading…
And…reading…

*Sigh*
This was ALMOST my first DNF book of 2019.
Daniela’s family sacrificed everything they had to give her a better life. ...more

Let's start by saying that I appreciate the representation and the timeliness of the topic but unfortunately that's all which is the reason for the low rating.
The MC, Dani, was nothing special. She was the typical character who wants to please her parents even if it means sacrificing their own desires. This character that we've all read a hundred times, rebukes the rebels or ignores them until she's confronted with the realness and joins them. IF YOU MUST WRITE THIS CHARACTER THAT APPEARS IN EV ...more
The MC, Dani, was nothing special. She was the typical character who wants to please her parents even if it means sacrificing their own desires. This character that we've all read a hundred times, rebukes the rebels or ignores them until she's confronted with the realness and joins them. IF YOU MUST WRITE THIS CHARACTER THAT APPEARS IN EV ...more

Jul 08, 2018
. (not active on this account stop adding me)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
full review on my blog
Representation: Latina main characters and an f/f romance. According to the publisher, these are both ownvoices.
This was such a refreshing and original read that takes on so many prevalent issues in today's society. I hate comparing books, but if you like diverse reads with queer characters of colour that have the same vibe as The Handmaid's Tale (except Young Adult), then you'll love this. Ev ...more
Representation: Latina main characters and an f/f romance. According to the publisher, these are both ownvoices.
ARC kindly provided by Katherine Tegen Books in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a refreshing and original read that takes on so many prevalent issues in today's society. I hate comparing books, but if you like diverse reads with queer characters of colour that have the same vibe as The Handmaid's Tale (except Young Adult), then you'll love this. Ev ...more

Fell victim to what I call "what's the plot, again?" syndrome where so little new things happen for such a long time that I had to keep re-reading the summary to remember what the book was about. BUT! It's a good set up. I just wanted more of the spy action and less of the same conversations and thoughts being rehashed.
I wasn't into the romance that much, although Mejia writes romance well. It was the particular dynamic between the characters of deep mistrust didn't vibe with me. I don't really ...more
I wasn't into the romance that much, although Mejia writes romance well. It was the particular dynamic between the characters of deep mistrust didn't vibe with me. I don't really ...more

Dec 17, 2018
Madalyn (Novel Ink)
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2019-releases,
edelweiss
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
After following Tehlor Kay Mejia on social media for years and hearing some early buzz about her debut, I was highly anticipating this one. And, friends, let me tell you: it did not disappoint!
We Set the Dark on Fire is set in a world that feels uncomfortably close to our own. Medio is a world in which women are expected to conform to prescribed subservient role ...more
After following Tehlor Kay Mejia on social media for years and hearing some early buzz about her debut, I was highly anticipating this one. And, friends, let me tell you: it did not disappoint!
We Set the Dark on Fire is set in a world that feels uncomfortably close to our own. Medio is a world in which women are expected to conform to prescribed subservient role ...more

HI I AM NOT OKAY WHY DID NO ONE WARN ME HOW MUCH THIS WOULD HURT. THE ENDING DESTROYED ME. NEED. SEQUEL. NOW. THIS BOOK WAS SO PERFECT AND BEAUTIFUL AND I LOVED IT SO SO SO MUCH. (AND I *MAY* HAVE STAYED UP TIL 3 AM READING IT AND I HAVE NO REGRETS).
Dislikes
... nothing. Literally nothing. The fact that it ended. The fact that I have to wait 8 months to read the sequel. Nothing.
THINGS THAT WERE PERFECT AND WONDERFUL AND I LOVED
- Tehlor Kay Mejia's writing is legit the prettiest thing. Li ...more
Dislikes
THINGS THAT WERE PERFECT AND WONDERFUL AND I LOVED
- Tehlor Kay Mejia's writing is legit the prettiest thing. Li ...more

l 51% l
the concepts for this book are really good but the execution is….not it. the whole book is just a bunch of vague ideas mushed together into a book that feels very unsubstantial. theoretically, this book has everything: plot, characters, romance, intrigue, etc. and then you put it all together and get ~nothing.~
you don’t even need to read this book, you can read the blurb and that’s it. that’s the whole book.
☾the plot
this takes place in a dystopian world that is very misogynistic where ...more
the concepts for this book are really good but the execution is….not it. the whole book is just a bunch of vague ideas mushed together into a book that feels very unsubstantial. theoretically, this book has everything: plot, characters, romance, intrigue, etc. and then you put it all together and get ~nothing.~
you don’t even need to read this book, you can read the blurb and that’s it. that’s the whole book.
☾the plot
this takes place in a dystopian world that is very misogynistic where ...more
![destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]](https://images.gr-assets.com/users/1627172939p2/15335689.jpg)
Feb 23, 2018
destiny ♡⚔♡ [howling libraries]
marked it as to-read
1) I'm always going to be here for fantastic queer women of color
2) Tehlor Kay Mejia's story in All Out was so phenomenal that I feel an empty space in my soul begging for more of her writing ...more
2) Tehlor Kay Mejia's story in All Out was so phenomenal that I feel an empty space in my soul begging for more of her writing ...more

♦
Video Review
♦
We all know Dystopian has had its big hype and it seems like it's not coming back anytime soon. But with WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE, Tehlor Kay Mejia managed to write a truly engaging, very timely Dystopian Fantasy that feels different from what we've seen before.
We all know Dystopian has had its big hype and it seems like it's not coming back anytime soon. But with WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE, Tehlor Kay Mejia managed to write a truly engaging, very timely Dystopian Fantasy that feels different from what we've seen before.
“'Women, I'll never understand them.' With only his Primera and Segunda present, there was no one in the room to laugh at his joke. While he was busy congratulating himself on it, Carmen shot Dani a look over he...more

*is no longer speaking to Tehlor*
Now that we have that out of the way, this is an unsettlingly prescient read for the state of politics in 2018-19 - like, it's literally about wall-crossing "illegals"and has a bunch of characters you'll want to rip apart with your bare hands and thank God there is some kissing in there. ...more
Now that we have that out of the way, this is an unsettlingly prescient read for the state of politics in 2018-19 - like, it's literally about wall-crossing "illegals"and has a bunch of characters you'll want to rip apart with your bare hands and thank God there is some kissing in there. ...more

Actual rating: 4.5 stars
I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS!!!!! I'M NOT OK!!!!! SOMEONE SEND HELP!!!!!
I absolutely adore the MC in this one, she's so smart, resourceful, strong willed and confident, she doesn't let anyone step on her toes and her trust is very hard to earn! I also loved her LI (spoiler but not really: it's f/f) and the way their attraction and later on romance bloomed! I loved the urgency and intensity of it all!
I also LOVED how politically charged this was. It set parallels w ...more
I HAVE SO MANY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS!!!!! I'M NOT OK!!!!! SOMEONE SEND HELP!!!!!
I absolutely adore the MC in this one, she's so smart, resourceful, strong willed and confident, she doesn't let anyone step on her toes and her trust is very hard to earn! I also loved her LI (spoiler but not really: it's f/f) and the way their attraction and later on romance bloomed! I loved the urgency and intensity of it all!
I also LOVED how politically charged this was. It set parallels w ...more

Mar 26, 2019
Scarllet ✦ iamlitandwit
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
lgbtqa-rep,
young-adult,
4-star-read,
queer,
latinx-rep,
wlw,
authors-of-color,
in-my-bookshelf,
favorite-pairings,
fantasy
If we’re not all free, none of us are free.
I'm looking forward to writing down my thoughts on the amazingness that is WSTDOF, but for now let me just say that. Ending. was. WILD. I seriously cannot wait for the next book and read what becomes of Dani, Carmen, Sota, & Alex... ...more

disclaimer: i received an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review. this in no way impacted my review.
"I heard about men with big boots and helmets who would come in the night, step on your garden and steal your food, and make your parents disappear. I heart about a dark room with no windows where they'd take you if you didn't behave. Where they'd ask you questions until you forgot what the sun felt like on your skin. I heard about a wall so tall and so wide that if you wok...more

I'm a simple person...
I see a Latina main character, I press TBR
...more
I see a Latina main character, I press TBR
...more

Nov 23, 2019
✨ jami ✨
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned-books,
romance,
f-f,
2019-reads,
audiobook,
lgbtqiap,
fantasy,
young-adult,
fave-couple,
lesbian-mc
“I just need to get out of here. I'm doing what I have to do to survive. I'm not signing up to set things on fire.”
This book was chosen by my twitter followers as my book to read this month and I actually ended up enjoying it A LOT more than I thought I would
We Set the Dark on Fire is a wlw, latinx inspired YA fantasy that incorporates modern-day political concerns, especially those emerging in the Trump era, and explores poverty, sexuality, misogyny and race and how these identities interse ...more

. : ☾⋆ — 5 ★
READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG!!!
https://bit.ly/2SxlsQY
ARC provided from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review (thank you Katherine Tegen Books and HarperCollins!!)
OOF, if it isn’t one of the most exciting, original, well written and gorgeously set up books I’ve read. it’s a YA The Handmaid’s Tale AND ALSO The Handmaiden all at once: a dark, forbidden sapphic romance with intensely vivd world building?? count me in!! and as if that wasn’t enough to pique your in ...more
READ THIS REVIEW ON MY BLOG!!!
https://bit.ly/2SxlsQY
ARC provided from the publisher via Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review (thank you Katherine Tegen Books and HarperCollins!!)
OOF, if it isn’t one of the most exciting, original, well written and gorgeously set up books I’ve read. it’s a YA The Handmaid’s Tale AND ALSO The Handmaiden all at once: a dark, forbidden sapphic romance with intensely vivd world building?? count me in!! and as if that wasn’t enough to pique your in ...more

#2) We Unleash the Merciless Storm ★★★☆☆
➸ Trigger warnings for (view spoiler) .
▷ Representation: Dani (mc) & Carmen (li) are latinx and sapphic; latinx cast.
Blog • Trigger Warning Database • Twitter • Instagram ...more


Nothing about the blurb sounds interesting or new, but 4 starred reviews? Can't resist...
...more

Jan 25, 2019
Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
edelweiss,
advanced-reader
This book made me feel a lot. Mostly anger. But not at the book. Just at some of the similarities to what we're seeing in the world right now.
Dani came illegally over the wall into the legal side of her country. She still grew up close to the border which is very poor. Her parents got her papers illegally and did everything they could to get her into the Medio School For Girls. In this school, the girls are prepared to be married off to prominent boys. Dani is the top in her class. She ...more
Dani came illegally over the wall into the legal side of her country. She still grew up close to the border which is very poor. Her parents got her papers illegally and did everything they could to get her into the Medio School For Girls. In this school, the girls are prepared to be married off to prominent boys. Dani is the top in her class. She ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Diversify Book Club: We Set the Dark on Fire | 1 | 6 | Sep 17, 2021 07:36AM | |
Autumn Readers : September BOTM book discussion | 1 | 9 | Sep 01, 2021 02:01PM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fantasy. Gated city, Prima/Segunda wives. Girl joins rebels, has fake birth certificate. Read 2019. [s] | 3 | 18 | Nov 29, 2020 05:23PM | |
Challenge Corner: We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia --> Starting March 20th 2020 | 1 | 5 | Mar 04, 2020 06:27AM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA Fantasy Sun God School for Wives. [s] | 4 | 19 | Nov 12, 2019 06:52PM | |
What's the Name o...: SOLVED. YA/New Adult (might be dystopian), girl must choose to be a wife and bear children for a man or manage a man's household, academy training for girls, Handmaid's Tale but for YA vibe. [s] | 5 | 30 | Jun 18, 2019 11:04AM |
Tehlor Kay Mejia is a YA author and poet at home in the wild woods and alpine meadows of Southern Oregon. When she's not writing, you can find her plucking at her guitar, stealing rosemary sprigs from overgrown gardens, or trying to make the perfect vegan tamale. She is active in the Latinx lit community, and passionate about representation for marginalized teens in media. You can find her on Twi
...more
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We Set the Dark on Fire
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“In a battle between two men trying to control her, she'd chosen herself.”
—
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“Maybe this was trust ... Giving someone the power to ruin you, betting your life on the belief that they wouldn't.”
—
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