Jenna, the loner of her village, never really found her place. She worked at her uncle's inn, and kept to herself. She'd given up on love, and she'd given up on her dreams. She knew she'd never leave her corner of the world, no matter how bad she wanted to. She was too afraid to leave... but what happens when her village is burned to the ground by a power Jenna doesn't understand? What happens when Jenna is thrown into the center of a magical rebellion, filled with powerful, element wielding witches called the Magi? In the midst of all the chaos, what happens when Jenna finds love?
Plot
This is a fast-paced and fairly short book so it’s a quick and easy read. The plot starts early on and there are multiple twists so the book was easily able to keep my attention. However, the book does move a bit too quickly, though. There were rarely quiet moments for me (or the characters) to rest or learn more about the characters and world.
Characters
Jenna is a relatable protagonist. She’s shy and sheltered, with big dreams to see the world but no real plan. She learns a lot and grows significantly through the book. I felt less attached to her love interest, Oliver, as there is an “insta-love” trope in their relationship that didn’t work well for me. I struggled to understand their relationship and did not get a good sense of their chemistry.
Setting
The author sets up an interesting world with a strong theological and magical elements. However, it takes a while for the reader to understand where and when they are, as the opening pages are vague in regards to the time and place. Once I settled into the world though, I did enjoy it. While elemental magic does sometimes get flak for being overused, I always appreciate it and the author introduces some unique characteristics that I hadn’t seen before.
My Recommendation
Born of Fire and Flood is the first book in Bryce Allen’s “Becoming the Goddess” series. This book is a short, fast-paced read that I’d recommend for people looking for a fun, fantasy book they can easily read over a long weekend. The protagonist is relatable, but I did not connect with her love interest. The world set up was interesting and the magic system had some unique characteristics, that I’m hoping to explore more in the future books in this series.
