BOOK REVIEW: FIRE & HEIST BY SARAH BETH DURST

In Sky Hawkins’s family, leading your first heist is a major milestone–even more so than learning to talk, walk, or do long division. It’s a chance to gain power and acceptance within your family, and within society. But stealing your first treasure can be complicated, especially when you’re a wyvern–a human capable of turning into a dragon.

Embarking on a life of crime is never easy, and Sky discovers secrets about her mother, who recently went missing, the real reason her boyfriend broke up with her, and a valuable jewel that could restore her family’s wealth and rank in their community.

With a handpicked crew by her side, Sky knows she has everything she needs to complete her first heist, and get her boyfriend and mother back in the process. But then she uncovers a dark truth about were-dragon society–a truth more valuable and dangerous than gold or jewels could ever be.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

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REVIEW

Disclaimer: Penguin Random House International has given me an E-COPY of the book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Sarah Beth Durst did an amazing job to write a book that is simple and straightforward and yet holds so much meaning. Fire and Heist is not just a book about dragons, it is not just about thieves, it is not just about wealth and fame; it’s about knowing who you are, trusting your family, friends, and yourself, and most importantly it’s about love.

It is not much coming from me considering I have not read that many books with dragons, but I believe many reviewers and critic will agree that each author has their own take on a world where dragons and humans coincide. And where the laws of physics and nature are different and yet still the same. Fire and Heist is just that. Durst’ take on the laws of nature that governs the world she laid her story upon definitely grounds it on our reality. Making it more susceptible to being just a fantasy and making her readership believe the possibility of it all.

What is more, all of her characters are likable. And yes, that includes the antagonist of the story. Each of them has their unique characteristic and distinct belief that make them who they are. If you do not fall in love with all of them, you will most likely fall in love with one or two. The protagonist, Sky, has all the character I imagine a half-dragon would have. She is feisty, confident, but at the same time, she is full of love.

Additionally, I was completely aware that this could be a standalone book. Knowing that, I hoped so strongly that it ends up with a cliffhanger — not so typical of me, considering I love open-ended endings. But that is how much I love the book, its characters, and the world they live in. I just don’t think I can get enough.

Overall, this is a fantastic read worth everyone’s time. It isn’t a complex book which may discourage some, but it has its own quirks that you’ll definitely love. More importantly, it has dragons and unicorns. If that does not entice you, then I don’t know… maybe you aren’t really up for something wonderful.

RATING

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of seventeen fantasy books for adults, teens, and kids, including The Queens of Renthia series, Drink Slay Love, and The Girl Who Could Not Dream. She won an ALA Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award, and has been a finalist for SFWA’s Andre Norton Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. For more information, visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.