Wildefire series by Karsten Knight -> Starting November 3rd, 2021

[Aly]

Every flame begins with a spark.

Blackwood Academy was supposed to be a fresh start for Ashline Wilde. A secluded boarding school deep in the heart of California’s redwood forests, three thousand miles from her old life—it sounded like the new beginning she needed after an act of unspeakable violence left a girl in her hometown dead. But Blackwood is far from the peaceful haven Ashline was searching for. Because terrifying, supernatural beasts roam the forests around campus. Because the murderer from Ashline’s hometown—her own sister—has followed her across the country. Because a group of reincarnated gods and goddesses has been mysteriously summoned to Blackwood...and Ashline’s one of them.

[Emma]

Just starting a wee bit early!
Up to 15% (view spoiler)[ wondering so far if it’s a bit too young for my tastes…time will tell (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Sleepwalker, Thursday
(view spoiler)[ something’s very off about Serena- how could a blind girl sleepwalk 4 miles through the woods? Also how come only those 5 could hear her screams?
How could the headmistress catch them in her dressing gown and slippers? Hadn’t she been trying to catch them out at the bar?!🧐 (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Blue flame, Friday
(view spoiler)[
What the hell were those creatures?!
I can’t believe how much freedom these kids have! Also why are they not more nervous about going into those woods at night?! (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

End of Part 1
(view spoiler)[ I wonder what the scientists are trying to achieve (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I'll be starting this in about an hour.

[Emma]

Great- I’m just finishing up for the night @ 57% but I’ll be back tomorrow!

[Melanie]

I actually have forgotten a lot of this since reading it 7 years ago.

Prologue (Lightning Rod)
(view spoiler)[
I like the hints of the powers shown here. But the petty high school drama is a bit much for me.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Yeah I have definitely forgotten most of this book.

Thru Chapter Blue Flame, Friday.
(view spoiler)[
I enjoyed the scene of the group coming together and rescuing Serena. Why were two people trying to kidnap her?

These kids are so cavalier about partying even though they're still basically on school grounds? How do they get away with so much.

Also I had completely forgotten about the creatures in the forest. What was that thing Ash saw?
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I'm remembering some of this now and I am still enjoying it though I don't think it will get 5 stars like I gave it originally.

Thru the end of Part 1
(view spoiler)[
I remembered about the group being the gods/goddesses, but it was interesting watching each of their backstories as I'd forgotten those.

The little girl with the scientists is odd. I can't remember what it was they were doing with her, but it doesn't seem good. And she killed quite viciously for being a little girl.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru Chapter The Burning Bed, Monday.
(view spoiler)[
The confrontation in the woods with mercenaries that I'm guessing work for those scientists we saw was a great scene. It was neat watching everyone use their powers to fight back.

Ash's sister Eve is such a chaotic character. It's clear she cares about Ash, but she definitely seems to want power more than anything.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

End of Part 2
(view spoiler)[
Damn this little girl is destructive. I had completely forgotten that she's Ash and Eve's sister. That's going to go poorly once Eve figures it out.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

So I still really enjoyed this one but I'm going to lower my rating from 7 years ago from 5 stars to 4.

Part 3
(view spoiler)[
Lily switching to Eve's side and killing Rolfe was just as surprising this time around. Raja aging her was a nice form of justice.

I've forgotten a lot about the Cloak and after what happened to Eve at the end, I'm wondering what their motives are.

I remember being so surprised by the Colt revelation at the end of the book the first time I read this. The author did a great job keeping that hidden throughout the book.
(hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Melanie wrote: "Thru Chapter The Burning Bed, Monday.

The confrontation in the woods with mercenaries that I'm guessing work for those scientists we saw was a great scene. It was neat watching everyone use their ..."

Yeah, is Eve good or bad? Time will tell!

[Emma]

Burning bed, Monday
(view spoiler)[ I’m wondering if the head teacher is somehow involved in all this god stuff…
Also- was it definitely Eve who set her bed alight? (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Tuesday
(view spoiler)[ there’s an awful lot of skipping classes as well as the partying..
I wonder why Ash didn’t also summon Serena when they were arranging to meet up in the church
What the hell? Ashline’s burned a handprint into Colt’s chest?! So maybe that dream she had was actually prophetic.. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Melanie wrote: "End of Part 2

Yes that was a big reveal.

[Emma]

Match point, Wednesday
(view spoiler)[ you can’t win a match by hitting a ball into someone’s face!
That’s pretty weird about the photo in the forest- why wouldn’t Colt look at it and HOW could he not look at it when it was him that developed it?🧐 (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Thursday
(view spoiler)[ well that was just creepy: Serena and the Cloak… (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Masquerade Friday
(view spoiler)[ well it’s quite surprising the level of violence in this- the author certainly isn’t pulling punches- can’t believe Rolfe is dead and Bobby too (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

Finished. That was absolutely crazy. Also compulsive reading. When are you starting the next one?

[Emma]

Melanie wrote: "So I still really enjoyed this one but I'm going to lower my rating from 7 years ago from 5 stars to 4.

Part 3

Wow- I agree- wasn’t expecting THAT!

[Melanie]

Glad you ended up liking it!

I'll probably pick up book 2 one day next week, most likely on Thursday or Friday. Got some other buddy reads to get to between now and then.

[Emma]

Melanie wrote: "Glad you ended up liking it!

I'll probably pick up book 2 one day next week, most likely on Thursday or Friday. Got some other buddy reads to get to between now and then."

That’s good- I’ve got a lot on too. Hit me up when you’re about to start!

[Emma]

I’m starting!

[Emma]

Tuesday (view spoiler)[
The Humidor prisoner: hmm.. new love interest..new gods- God of night and goddess of dawn- she hasn’t wasted time hanging around- she’s only been in Miami for a day!
The scarecrow murders: we’re starting to see the recurring pattern, but let’s hope little Rose doesn’t end up the same way as baby Grace. (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

The Tiki bandits
(view spoiler)[ ah so Colt is part of their past lives as well. I suppose all the gods could be as they are all immortal… (hide spoiler)]

[Emma]

I’m finding im not really in the mood for this so I’m going to put this on hold for now.

[Melanie]

Emma wrote: "I’m finding im not really in the mood for this so I’m going to put this on hold for now."

Sorry you're not in the mood for this one!

[Melanie]

Started book 2 tonight. I remember a bit more about this one from my original read than the first one.

Thru Chapter The Scarecrow Murders 1924
(view spoiler)[
I love how Ash deals with Colt when she finds out he was lying to her. She can be quite dangerous when she gets mad.

Wes is a much better love interest for Ash and I enjoy the banter between them when they first meet.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru the end of Part 1
(view spoiler)[
Colt, showing up to ruin the day. And right when Ash and Wes were getting close.

The flashbacks into Ash's old lives are interesting. Add in Colt being involved and you know things are going to end badly.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru the end of Part 2
(view spoiler)[
People dying left and right in this section. Aurora's death was terrible, particularly because Ash and Wes couldn't do anything to save her.

The fact Wes was part of Ash's previous life and she killed him was an interesting addition. That's sure to affect their newfound feelings.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I really enjoyed this one, but like the first book I'm going to lower my rating from 7 years ago from 5 stars to 4. I still think it's really good but my tastes have changed enough that it's no longer 5 stars.

Part 3
(view spoiler)[
Well Ash is on her own again with most of her friends dead and her sister betraying her. Colt's determination to get his version of Pele back is just ridiculous. Just let it go dude.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Started book 3 tonight.

Prologue (Norway: Six Months Ago)
(view spoiler)[
Colt just doesn't know when to let things go. He's so obsessed with getting his version of Pele back that he doesn't care about anything else.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru the end of Part 1
(view spoiler)[
It's so nice to see Ash and Eve working together. The Wilde sisters are going to wreck Colt.

The flashbacks to Pele's last life as one person are interesting. I'm curious to see what she does that causes her to be separated as I don't remember from my original read.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru the end of Part 2
(view spoiler)[
Wes's return scene is one of my favorite. It's just so much fun.

The final showdown with Colt is all set now. The confrontation between all the gods is going to be great.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru the end of Part 3
(view spoiler)[
I love the epilogue where the new version of Ash finds the book Ash wrote about everything that happened, preparing her for Colt.
(hide spoiler)]

I really enjoyed this one, but like the others I'm lowering my rating from 7 years ago from 5 stars to 4 stars. It's still really good, I think I've just mostly outgrown YA.