Trigger warnings: Murder, death of a child, grief and loss depiction

7/10, now that I think of this book retrospectively it wasn't as good as I had thought when I first read this book but it was still an enjoyable read anyways. The concept of this book is just, let me say this, a cheap knockoff of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. That's it. Now with that behind, the book was quite a fascinating read and this is only part one of the series but the library does not even have the second book so I will never know what really happens in the end. The main character, Tella was just a typical teenage heroine that kicks butt and tries to survive and win the Hunger Games Brimstone Bleed. The side characters didn't have much characteristics like Harper, Caroline and Dink except for the fact that they were Tella's allies and that's all, and the antagonists were just as over the top and shallow as them especially the main one whose name I forgot but I know that he was some sort of mad scientist. The book got a bit brutal at times and there were even a couple of deaths of minor characters but that is to be expected in a story like this. If you like a quick sci-fi book this one is for you. ( )

What would you do to get a cure for a family member who was dying? You’d be willing to compete in a race, probably, knowing only one person could win, right? But what if that race could kill you? What if you saw other contenders die? What if other contenders turned on you? Would you still want to do race? It’s going to take three months; you’ll travel over four different ecosystems, and you’ll have a Pandora. What’s a Pandora? That’s just one of the questions, you’ll have, that will be answered later, maybe.

This was a wild ride of a book. I’m hooked and ready to read the next one, immediately. Good thing it’s out already. There were times that I giggled at Tella’s comments, and times I rolled my eyes at her, but overall I really enjoyed this one.

Some will want to compare Fire and Flood to The Hunger Games. Yes, the competition aspect is like that, but the motivation is different to me. Tell wants to win so her brother can be cured of his disease. Katniss took her sister’s place, but Prim could live without her, well, she would have…. Tella is much more compassionate than Katniss. She cares about the other contender’s stories, and Pandoras. And I’ll be really mad if that turns out to be her downfall rather than her salvation.
( )

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott is a YA fantasy adventure story that both delighted me and frustrated me. The fact that the author set the book in current times made the story feel very false and I would much rather have had this story set in a post-apocalyptic future.

When Tella receives a mysterious summons to take part in the Brimstone Bleed, a race with the prize being a miracle cure, she sets off immediately. This is a chance to save her deathly ill brother but little does she know of all the hardships she will have to endure. The race takes place over a three month period and contestants must race over four distinct ecosystems. Each contestant receives a Pandora egg which hatches into a genetically engineered animal to assist them. Each animal comes with it’s own powers that are revealed over the course of the story. Tella teams up with a group of contestants and, of course, meets Guy, a love interest who appears to be a uber-survivalist. The book covers the first two ecosystems, the jungle race and the desert race. There are plenty of adventures, lots of deadly competition and still time for Tella and Guy to make googly-eyes at each other.

The stakes are high as everyone in the race has a dying relative that they want to save and sooner or later, each contestant must strike out on their own as there can only be one winner, but survival depends on banding together right now. The secondary characters are nicely mixed, but the villain of the piece is quite over-the-top. Also while totally unbelievable, the Pandora animals are super fun and easily the best part of the story, with Tella’s Pandora perhaps the best one of all.

The book comes to an abrupt end halfway through the race but I do have the second book on my Kindle and although it is rather silly, I will definitely read on to find out what happens next. Fire and Flood comes across as an homage to The Hunger Games and I think it would appeal to fans of that book. ( )

I loved the concept of using animals as companions in the race. ( )

PopSugar '15 #28--Books with antonyms in title ( )

This story line had such potential. I had a few issues with the story. #1: I could not stand the main character Tella. I did not like the way she spoke or behaved. #2 Insta-love. I HATE INSTA-LOVE! Holy god, the thing between her and Guy annoyed me to absolutely no end. #3: Victoria Scott's writing just was not for me. Her characters and style did not flow well at all. However, with all this said, I did like the premise, which is why I would probably give this story a 2.5 STAR rating. ( )

This story line had such potential. I had a few issues with the story. #1: I could not stand the main character Tella. I did not like the way she spoke or behaved. #2 Insta-love. I HATE INSTA-LOVE! Holy god, the thing between her and Guy annoyed me to absolutely no end. #3: Victoria Scott's writing just was not for me. Her characters and style did not flow well at all. However, with all this said, I did like the premise, which is why I would probably give this story a 2.5 STAR rating. ( )

Race across the Jungle, Desert, Ocean & Mountain -the Brimstone Bleed!

This is just what I needed tonight, a little bit of action! : ) The story reminds me of the show the Amazing Race. Contenders are selected to take part in a four month race, the Brimstone Bleed, in order to win a cure for someone in their family that is dying. There are so many more layers to the story then that though. I was really pleasantly surprised by how good it was because some of the reviews aren't very good. I liked it a lot though and I think I held my breath through half of it. It's one of those stories where once you start reading, you won't want to put it down until you finish. I got both the first and second book, Salt & Stone, at the same time and I'm really glad I did. Without saying too much, the story is split up so you'll definitely want to read them together. ( )

Compare to Hunger Games, Divergent and Pokemon. ( )

This book has been compared to "The Hunger Games" and "The Amazing Race", and there are some similarities to both. Although the romance is rather sickly and over-the-top, the thrills and excitement are non-stop as the reader follows Tella through an extraordinary journey of survival. Tella is annoying at the start, however, she does mature as the book progresses and by the end I was cheering for her all the way.

I loved the pandoras - hybrid created animals with special abilities given to each contender to help them throughout the race. Tella's pandora, Madox, is the cutest thing and if you don't fall in love with him you must have a heart of stone. Can't wait to start to sequel. ( )

I absolutely loved Fire & Flood. It is still with me two days after finishing it.

I think Tella is an amazing character. She is girly, but also very strong when it comes to adjusting to the race. There are so many qualities in her that I see in my daughter it’s unreal. That could be why I felt instantly connected with Tella. Bellz is such a princess, but she’s a fierce one. :P I also liked the side characters. They each have their own story to tell, and I loved getting little glimpses into their lives. Guy…. oh Guy! He’s swoony, intelligent, and straight up survivor man. I’d definitely want him on my side while out in the wilderness.

I think my favorite part of this novel is how Tella is always having to adjust to her surroundings. She doesn’t let her fear completely consume her, and she rolls with the punches. I also liked how despite trying to beat the other people for the cure, there’s still a sense of comradery. There are also quite a few twists and turns that I did not see coming at all. Some had me gripping the edge of my seat, um couch, and others had my heart breaking.

I highly recommend this to everyone. I even think a certain sister will be getting this for her birthday…. And I NEED a freaking pandora. That is all. :D ( )

All I have to say to myself in order to remember this book is Hunger Games meets Pokemon in a Survivor setting. This is not a new book. It was published in 2014, but since I just finished book two, I thought I'd review them together.
Tella Holloway has a brother suffering from an undiagnosed and seemingly incurable disease, and her parents have moved the family to the middle of nowhere in the hopes that fresh air might help, or at least that's the story Tella was given.
Understandably, she feels hopeless so when a mysterious invitation appears, advising her that she can compete in the Brimstone Bleed to potentially win a cure for her brother's ailment, she's all in.
Before the race begins, each Contender has a scavenger hunt opportunity in a barn to find a Pandora egg which will hatch to an individually genetically mutated creature designed to increase the Contender's chances of success. If you have any experience with the affection that fictional cartoon character Ash, a Pokemon handler, has for his creatures - that's what I imagine most Contenders feel for their Pandora. I really enjoyed the crazy modifications to the animals. Scott clearly has a vivid imagination.
The Bleed takes about three months and spans four ecosystems; jungle, desert, sea and mountain. The single winner gets a Cure for their loved one. Alliances have started to form, and the rugged environments and the not knowing who you can trust are the parts that made me think of Survivor.
This book really left me wanting more since it ended in the middle of the race; they've only crossed the jungle and the desert. I think it will be extremely popular among middle school readers who like adventure, survival violence and even a little romance. ( )

The creators of the game have infected her brother, along with countless others. Now Tella must enter a race- a competition that they have created- and risk her own life for a one in a million change to save her brother. Each contender and their Pandora- a genetically engineered creature with a unique gift that can help them survive - must make it through the four terrains- jungle, dessert, sea, and mountain...Fire and Flood, Salt and Stone.

If you liked the Hunger Games, you will love this series. 9th Grade and Up. ( )

Diese und weitere Rezensionen findet ihr auf meinem Blog Anima Libri - Buchseele

Oh mein Gott! Dieser Roman von Victoria Scott war ja so, so, sooo schrecklich – in meinen Augen zumindest ;) „Feuer & Flut“ ist einfach einer dieser Young Adult Romane, die mit einer so grässlich unfähigen Protagonistin daherkommen, dass man sich eigentlich nur wünscht, sie würde scheitern und sterben, weil alles andere schlicht und ergreifend realistisch wäre.

Aber natürlich läuft das nicht so, denn sonst wäre dieser Roman ja schon nach ein paar Dutzend Seiten zu Ende gewesen. Stattdessen erscheint der Ritter im strahlender Rüstung, ein Kerl so Klischee belastet, wie man es sich nur vorstellen kann. Dieser, der auch noch den passenden Namen Guy trägt, eilt immer dann zur Rettung der Protagonistin herbei, wenn diese auf sich allein gestellt eigentlich kläglich scheitern und untergehen würde.

Und von solchen Situationen gibt es viele, denn Tella – so heißt Miss Unfähig übrigens – nimmt am Brimstone Bleed teil, einen wegrennen, bei dem am Ende ein Heilmittel für ihren todkranken Bruder als Gewinn lockt. Sie erhält also eine Einladung von der sie weder weiß, von wem sie ist, noch so richtig sicher ist, was sie eigentlich erwartet – das ganze hätte also auch der Plan eines verrückten Axtmörders sein können. War immerhin bekommt immer ein Wundermittel, dass jede Krankheit heilen kann, so auch die von Tellas Bruder, dessen Erkrankung ja noch nicht einmal identifiziert wurde.

Wer würde so etwas tun? Wer würde ein mörderisches Rennen wie das Brimstone Bleed veranstalten, statt dieses Mittel zu verkaufen und damit ordentlich Kohle zu scheffeln? Wer hat überhaupt Zugang zu so einem Wundermittel, wenn die Medizin sich sonst kaum von dem, was wir heute kennen, zu unterscheiden scheint? Was mich auch direkt zur nächsten Frage bringt: Wann spielt „Feuer & Flut“ eigentlich überhaupt? Ich meine, es gibt wundersame Allheilmittel und den Teilnehmern des Brimstone Bleed werden genetisch veränderte Wundertiere als Helfer, Beschützer & Kämpfer zur Seite gestellt (Pokémon/Digimon lässt grüßen!), aber sonst? Die Welt des Romans scheint sich kaum von unserer zu unterscheiden, spielt „Feuer & Flut“ also in der unmittelbaren Zukunft/Gegenwart, in einer phantastischen Parallelwelt, oder doch irgendwo in fernen, zukünftigen Zeiten?

Leider scheint Victoria Scott keinerlei Wert auf solche Nebensächlichkeiten wie den Weltraumbahnhof zu legen bzw. beschlossen zu haben, dass sie sich diesen – eventuell aus vermeintlichen Spannungsgründen – für kommende Bände aufsparen sollte. Das führt allerdings nur dazu, dass es relativ frustrierend ist, sich im Laufe der Geschichte immer wieder diese Fragen zu stellen, ohne dass sie jemals wirklich beantwortet werden. Die wenigen Antworten, die es gibt, werfen mehr Fragen auf als sonst was.

Statt einer Geschichte mit stabilem Hintergrund, spannender Handlung und faszinierenden Charakteren gibt es in Victoria Scotts „Feuer & Flut“ also Fragen über Fragen, klischeehafte Figuren und rundherum einfach wahnsinnig viele Handlungselemente, die kaum nachvollziehbar sind. Schade, aber dieser Roman war in meinen Augen ein wahnsinniger Reinfall! ( )

An altogether forgetful contribution to the oversaturated world of young adult dystopian fiction, Fire & Flood starts off rocky--unbelievable characters and plotlines stretch across this thin novel. ( )

If you’re hearing this message, you are invited to be a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. All Contenders must report within forty-eight hours to select their Pandora companions. If you do not appear within forty-eight hours, your invitations will be eliminated.
The Brimstone Bleed will last three months and will take place across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The winning prize will be the Cure—a remedy for any illness, for any single person.
There will only be one champion.”

I’ve been looking forward to Fire & Flood since it was first announced and before it even had a cover. I fell in love with The Collector and was eager for more from Victoria Scott! Even though this isn’t my usual kind of book, but I didn’t care. I was excited to meet Tella and Guy (!) and the Pandoras. My favorite aspect of The Collector, was how Victoria captured Dante’s voice so perfectly. I was curious to see how Tella’s character would be since she’s worlds away from Dante. From the first page, I knew Tella and I would get along just fine. This girl was funny and witty with such an awesome sarcastic attitude. The fact that she’s also fearless and determined to save her brother at all costs, makes it pretty much impossible to not love this girl.

Tella’s older brother has a rare, undiagnosed and incurable diseases that is slowly killing him. It broke my heart to see how determined Tella and her brother are to keep their relationship the same, even if he can’t even get out of bed anymore. When Tella receives a mysterious message telling her she has 48 hours to report to be a contestant to the Brimstone Bleed. Winning the race will get her the cure for her brother’s illness, but there can only be one winner. Tella has no other option, she knows she’s her brother’s only option so she sets off to try to save his life. I was so excited for the Pandora selection and to see what animal Tella (and the other contenders) got to help her in the race. This was one of my favorite parts of the book and as much as I loved the story, the Pandoras kind of stole the show. No I won’t spoil what Pandora Tella chooses, or what his name is or what he can do. But I will tell you that you will love him as much as Tella does.

The competition, Brimstone Bleed, last three months and covers different ecosystems: desert, jungle, etc. This takes up a good chunk of the book and kept my attention the entire time. Tella meets other contenders who are also competing for a cure for a loved one. She even befriends a group of them. I think this is one of the reasons why the competition part of the book never gets boring. It’s not just Tella wondering by herself (although she does for a bit in the beginning) but we get to meet this great cast of secondary characters. My favorite was Harper, who I wasn’t even sure I would like when I first met her. But of course, my favorite character was Guy Chambers. *insert dreamy sigh here* *and another one* If I were to go to the Brimstone Bleed, I would pick Guy Chambers as my Pandora ;) This is one of those slow-building relationships, but the payoff is worth it! I was hooked on Tella and Guy’s every interactions. So excited to see where this goes next!

While I’ve heard the comparisons between this and Hunger Games, other than the competition thing, I didn’t really see it. It was like when people would compare every vampire book to Twilight…For me, it was more like an awesome mix of The Amazing Race and Pokemon. Pandora, I choose you!!! This is part of a series so there will definitely be unanswered questions in the end, but I do love the way everything came together at the end and gave us the perfect set up for book two. The ending wasn’t a cliffhanger (at least not for me) but it does end in a to-be-continued sort of way that will have you itching to get your hands on the next book. A thrilling and action-packed story with vivid descriptions and plot twists (some you may expect and some that will blindside you), Fire & Flood will take you on an epic adventure! ( )

I have so many conflicting emotions about this book. The main character is just off the wall . Not only is her parents dealing with the fact that their nineteen year old son is dyeing but then they have her running away with no details known to them to participate in a crazy contest called the brimstone bleed. The brimstone bleed is a survival contest that takes place in all the eco systems with the winner receiving a cure for a family member who is dying of a incurable disease. I had so many questions about how the makers of the Brimstone Bleed even knew about the sick patients, had the race came about but guy thankfully answered a lot of those questions surrounding that towards the end.

It was The Hunger games meets Pokemon because of the the fact that there is one winner and all the crazy survival strategies that are going on while there are Pandora's popping out of eggs and have special powers.That one pandora it must have taken a really crazy person to develop.

This was not the first Brimstone Bleed so i'm wondering how there is no one in the media that knows anything. Of course right off the bat there would be someone trying to sell their story and get rich unless they had to sign a contract which was not stated or the cure would not be provided if they ran their mouth. I'm kinda partial to the fact that the creators are gangsters and just hack everyone that doesn't listen and throws them in the river. Which goes back to my other question of is something this big dealing with so many pharmaceuticals not known to the government unless there are more people involved.

such a strange book but interesting book and can't wait to see what will happen in the next one. ( )

DNF-ed at 35%.

What would you do to save someone you love? Your brother, your sister, your mother...your child? Fire & Flood puts young Tella to the test to see just that! But not just Tella, 122 people enter this race called the Brimstone Bleed, but there can be only one ultimate winner. One person who will receive the cure for their loved one's illness. To win that person must survive a race through 4 ecosystems. They are given an animal Pandora companion. A genetically modified animal that has skills and talents beyond their imagining. Where do I sign up? Let's just skip the my family member's almost certain death part though...

There can be only one!!
Sounds like one hell of a crazy ride am I right? It really is! Admittedly I have never been a fan of those reality tv shows like Survivor. But Survivor would be a somewhat accurate way to describe this. Everyone is racing to be the winner, but really this is more like surviving, because each ecosystem is something to survive. There is action, there is suspense and such tension that kept me flipping pages until I reached the end. A quick note on that, I really wish the entire race were covered here, but I don't think this is a spoiler in saying that this first book only covers the first 2 legs or ecosystems of the race. I wish the entirety of the race were covered but then I guess the book would have been twice as long and what then would we see in book two? I'm just so impatient and want to see the finish now!! *pouts* We see Tella grow from a girl I wouldn't even bet a nickel on to a strength to be reckoned with. In ways she's much like her little Pandora, easy to underestimate at first glance.

Love, like weeds, can bloom in the harshest of climes
You romance junkies will be happy to know that you won't be denied your palpitating hearts - because there is most definitely some budding romance going on here. It's made even harder in that, if you're falling for a competitor and you know that only ONE of you can win...and if you win that means your love's family member will die. Sizzle and pop, baby, that's one hell of a relationship dynamic to shake things up.

Whoever said dogs are man's best friend?
Because I would say they are wrong! An adorable baby fox would steal my heart any day! There is a whole zoo worth of amazing animals in this book and I was always interested to see what nifty talent one would roll out with next.

Fire & Flood was an amazing young adult read. I think it used some ideas we've seen before but melded them with unique concepts and a stellar delivery. Readers will definitely enjoy this action packed race of survivalist adventure! ( )

Tella's brother Cody is sick and getting worse, so when she finds instructions on how to become a contender in the dangerous Brimstone Bleed race where she can win a cure for him, she jumps at the chance--but there is no guarantee that she will win, or even survive. ( )

Fire & Flood is the first book in the series of the same name by Victoria Scott. I knew when I started reading it that people would compare this (badly) to the Hunger Games. I understand the comparison, but I think there is enough good stuff in Fire & Flood to let it stand on its own as an enjoyable dystopian novel.

Firstly, there's the Pandoras. I admit I'm a sucker for animals, and I liked how they were used in the story for the most part. I didn't like the last requirement to get into the second base camp - which I won't mention because of spoilers. It was kind of harsh and I didn't quite see the point of it.

I liked seeing the Contenders group up for support and helping each other get through the challenges. This also brought some interesting tension as they know only one of them can win and they are all playing for loved ones. Those relationships were portrayed well, but I felt the potential romantic relationship between Tella and Guy was a little lacking. The ways Guy was stand-offish, then suddenly holding her while she slept seemed contrived.

The novel was an easy read, I finished it in one afternoon. Over all, I enjoyed it and will probably keep reading the series. It's marketed for Young Adult, but if YA is considered as 13-21, I would say this skews more to the younger end, and maybe into the older Childrens' level. ( )

The only people that know about the Brimstone Bleed are those who have been invited to participate and survived. They are forbidden from speaking anything about it to others. When Tella's brother becomes ill her parents pack her up and move her to Montana. Until she gets a bluetooth type device out of nowhere Tella doesn't realize that her parents have been hiding her to keep her protected. The only problem is that if Tella participates and wins she will get the cure to save her brothers life and she would do anything to make that happen. I was hesitant to read FIRE & FLOOD after reading some other reviews but I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it.

I admit, Tella started out by being on the vain, depend on others side but as the challenges came she really grew into her skin and started to go head to head with the other contenders. She was loyal to the people she considered friends and I would want her on me team in this sort of situation. I absolutely loved the animal companions and just like Tella, everyone underestimates hers. I wasn't sure what to think about Guy in the beginning. He came off as kind of a jerk but he did little things that showed you otherwise. He slowly grows on you as his real character is revealed and by the end of the book I liked him just as much as I liked Tessa.

FIRE & FLOOD brought us plenty of action, adventure and twists. I enjoyed the budding romance between Tella and Guy and when the final sentence was read I searched and searched to find out when book two would be available. SALT & STONE is already on my wishlist.

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I felt like Fire and Flood by Victorica Scott is a little bit like taking The Amazing Race and throwing in some Digimons. Then tossing them on the island that Survivor was filmed on. It’s crazy awesome. I kept having dreams about being in the Brimestone Bleed myself and let me tell you that got exhausting. I know a book has really wiggled it’s way into my brain when I start doing that. I think the most interesting part is that Tella knows nothing about it. Never heard of it and it appears she is the only one who is in the dark. Why were her parents hiding it from here and how did the gamemakers find her to be a contestant and conviently know she need a cure that heals all? Lots and lots of questions. We get glimpses and peeks throughout the book and I found that the plot developments were paced really well. There were one or two things that I totally didn’t see coming which gave me that Crapballs did that just happen moments. I couldn’t stop reading, I had to know what was going down next. I love that. I love when a book catches me like that. It doesn’t have to be at the beginning it can be at the middle like this one did. I really enjoyed this story and being the race is supposed to take place across three terrains and we cover two I was kind of wondering how the next book was going to go but by the end we get it. I am so excited...

I loved Tella for many reasons. She often made me laugh because she did certain things that are things I totally do. Giving people nicknames, naming her Pandora (I haven’t done this but I would), talking to herself then thinking she’s crazy for talking to herself. Yep so I totally related with Tella in that respect. I could picture us being friends. The other thing I really liked about Tella is that she is a little vain. Even though it’s necessarily considered a great characteristic but it is so refreshing to have an MC that doesn’t do the I’m beautiful in my sweats and don’t know it. She likes to dress up and look cute and hates her hair because it’s too curly just like a normal teenage girl. I am that girl that walks around in t-shirt, jeans and never wears make-up. My two best friends however wouldn’t leave the house without looking anything less then 110%, I’m often attacked with a make-up brush when I’m not looking. In fact my one friend works for cooperate at Sephora. I have to say though if Andrea, Lauren and I were dropped into the Brimestone Bleed I would bet my life on the two of them to win. They are not the girls that go camping or trekking through the woods but they are smart, fiercely loyal and would go UFC fight style on your ass with their stilettos if you mess with them. They’ve got sass and they’ve got fire which is how I see Tella. She’s such a different MC and I love her for that, I love Victoria Scott for that.

Guy had me when he was so noisy in the morning. No one who knows how to survive in a jungle is loud in the morning. I was on to you Guy and you made me crush on you. I also loved the flaws of Guy. He has a mangled ear, he’s got some crazy spiked hair and Tella might suspect he is a serial killer. Of course if it were me in the Jungle, that would be the dude that I would follow. As we get to know him through the book we see some softer sides to him. I like how protective he becomes of the group in that nonchalant way.

Guy and Tella have a complicated romance. They might be attracted to each other but you have to remember the end game. Always remember there is an endgame. They both want the same thing and they both have someone to save. I think Guy tries his best to keep Tella at a slight distance but not effectively. I actually really liked their story because it was a quiet one. They weren’t going to stand on top of a mountain and scream that they like each other. By the end of the book, you get it. You have a deep connection with them and you really understand the complications.

I really dislike going into a new series with any expectations or comparisons. With that said, yes, there are some elements to Flood & Fire which resemble other YA series, and that's okay. In fact I'm hard pressed to find a YA book without a less-than-perfect family, a love interest, an act of rebellion or a challenge.

Moving on... I really, really enjoyed this book!!!! While Tella is not my favorite person, we wouldn't be friends in school, she is real with real thoughts. Her mannerisms, vanity and random thoughts are all real. This was usually followed by chuckles and highlights on my part. She is not perfect or leading the feminist manifesto and I think I like her better that way. It's refreshing to see a lead female character who isn't stone cold and Ms. Bear Grylls, but is able to navigate through a survival situation without being completely dainty or fragile at the same time. Dare I say, her journey is almost believable.

The secondary characters make for an interesting bunch in diversity, strengths, motivations and mystery. Slowly the layers are pulled back without much confusion but definitely a few surprises. Each character is provided a "Pandora" for the journey, but not every Pandora is equal. Each character is motivated by the well being of a loved one. Every character has an identifier but they are not so complex you feel like you're having to take notes or draw a family tree. Our antagonist, Titus, is evil and not just because the book tells us so. I'd like to think the evilness stems from an innate desire to survive, but I have a feeling "creeper" was the descriptor well before the Brimstone Bleed come into the picture. Definitely the character we love to hate. Which brings us to our brooding and mysterious love interest, Guy. No, it's not love at first sight (what a relief!), overly cautious or campy either. All things that were refreshing. There's nothing incredibly "swoon" worthy about him but he's got a nice body, deep voice and awesome eyes. So the YA male lead checklist is fulfilled. I look forward to exploring more of Guy's character background as we move forward.

I also really enjoyed the pace of the book. It was detailed enough to get what I needed and quick enough to keep me engaged. I actually got really nervous about half way through that the book was going to wrapped up into a neat bow in 200 more pages. Luckily, this is a series and Victoria Scott was in no rush to push us out the door. While there are some answers to questions in this book there are twice as many questions when we reach the stopping point.

Last, but not least, thank you Victoria Scott for having a sense of humor. The most laughing I did was when the author/ main character would poke fun at the situation she was in or the thoughts she was thinking. Often times pointing out stereotypes in YA stories or pop culture. Seriously, who doesn't come up with witty retorts when they're asked to be quiet, which then creates a "backlog" of inner dialogue? It's organic and reminds me a lot of the anxious inner dialogue I carry around with me most of the time.

Disclaimer: Scholastic Press provided me with a copy of Fire & Flood in exchange for an honest review. ( )

I wanted to read Fire and Flood because I liked the sound of Tella. She is obviously loyal and will do anything for her family since she is after a cure for her chronically ill brother. I also am a dystopia fan and I haven't burnt out when it sounds like it has a unique twist and I like the sound of the animal companion as well as that she is fighting for her brother. I want to know more about what is making him (and others) sick because I am also drawn to that type of story line.
Also, it is an author that Trisha Wolfe (my homegirl who wrote the amazingness that is Fireblood, Of Silver and Beasts and The Darkest Part) recommends and one that Victoria, the author calls out in the acknowledgements.
We get a taste of the kind of life Tella has been living at the first, and we get to see her relationship with her brother. They banter back and forth but you can tell that Tella does it to keep his spirits up and that is their love language to each other. But regardless of how much Tella wants her brother to get better, she is bored and having a hard time appreciating the country being raised in Boston. I can't imagine the transition from city to country like that much less they don't have computers or anything like that there either.
When she finds the device that ultimately invites her to compete in the competition for the cure, the Brimstone Bleed, she thinks she might be losing her mind. Or it could be the best thing that happened to her... Or a joke. But as readers, we know its real. I saw a shift in Tella in the moment she realized it too, and decided to fight for a cure for her brother. That showed me so much into her character.
As she is discovering what she faces she is really showing her feminine side, and I love it. She doesn't lose her love of nail polish, being self conscious about her looks, and that is awesome. She is strong in all of the ways that matter, she wants to save her brother. But she also wants to try to find the good in others, and she hates the nature of the game. She doesn't like violence, and she has a kind heart. She has a fierce will to survive and she wants to band together with others even knowing it might be hard when the time comes to separate. But all of these things make her such a complex character and I admire her so much for that and Victoria, the author for having the courage to write a character that's girly but still hardcore.
The animal companions give such a unique edge to the story. I mean just when many are thinking that dystopias and games pitting people against one another for survival has been done every way possible, Victoria writes this brillant twist to the story. I don't want to talk about them too much because I don't want to spoil anything. But besides the complexity and amazingness that is Tella, the animals are one of my favorite aspects. They are so individual and distinct (though I will admit with the letter/number names and the sheer number of them at times, I had a hard time remembering which letter/number combo went to which animal). Besides their differences they also demonstrate a lot about the people with whom they are working. For instance, with Tella, she is the most attached to her animal, and she cannot stand to see another animal being hurt or taken advantage of. Tella cuddles with hers, sings to him, and tries to share her food and water. I think that this develops and even deeper bond with them than him just being assigned to her and to help her out.
The pacing of Fire and Flood was amazing. There was always something going on. New challenges for Tella, new people coming into her world and heart, as well as discoveries she is making about the world that she lives in, the sickness that has afflicted her brother and the Brimstone Bleed's origins and current purposes.
The secondary characters that surround Tella stole my heart as well. Harper was so tough, Caroline and Dink a mystery, and Guy, oh my goodness. He started out such an enigma and really stayed that way throughout the story. I can't wait to learn even more about him. He's so strong, the silent type and a natural leader. He is smart about survival and everyone in their party looks to him for advice and trusts his guidance on how to survive the parts of the race.
What is so hard about this group of companions is that they are all contenders. They have someone they are fighting for. Someone they love who is sick and will die or continue to suffer without the promised cure--which only goes to one person. So while they become attached to each other and help each other, there will eventually have to be some hard choices made, and even knowing that, it is hard to keep from liking them and them from forming some pretty strong bonds.
The romance in this one didn't really surprise me, but that is more than okay. I loved how it was a slow developing and that they questioned it like they rightly should in the circumstances. But I think that it made them stronger, giving them more reason to keep going and yet another person they cared about to fight for. There are some moments that take my breath away they are so sweet or there is so much of that good tension and chemistry going on.
The ending, oh my. I think that it stopped in a relatively good spot, although I was def not ready to stop reading about Tella, getting answers about the world, guy's past and what would happen to these people and animals that I came to care so much about. I am certainly continuing this series, and anxiously awaiting the copy of Fire and Flood #2 to be in my hands.

Bottom Line: An amazing dystopia with a unique and fascinating spin with the animal companions and a feminine but hardcore amazing main character. ( )