If you were looking for a typical fantastical read, that has magic, politics, love and heartbreak- I'm sorry to say this isn't it. Nothing Sarah Chorn writes is typical, but it is all must read.

She weaves poetic words into an intoxicating vision that tears your heart out and attempts to put it back in only to rip it out again. I could read this book a thousand times and still be just as affected by the beauty in her words, while taking away different themes and meanings with each read. I cried in so many places, so much sadness, but also tears of joy. How can a book make you so freaking sad, but also fill you with hope?!

The world building is fantastic, could totally see it playing out as such in a current society. Replace the word Shine with any coveted resource, and monsters will be created to try and monopolize it. I adored the use of timeline jumping and multi POVs. Gave the story a depth and transcends storytelling as we usually see it.

Having a terminally ill child, Ianthe's character struck home a little too hard for me. Ugh, I could rave about how well written the characters in this book are FOREVER!

This book includes: deep family values, love/hate, loss/acceptance, morally grayness, and LGBT characters written so fluidly/perfect it was one of the most natural depictions I've read, all tied up in a nice little package.

You'll love this book if you love multi pov character stories, with deep seeded messages to ponder, and books that make you feel. ( )

My e-book copy Of Honey And Wildfires (The Songs Of The Sefate Bk 1), authored and self published by Sarah Chorn, cover art by Pen Astridge, edits by Nathan Hall, format by Clare Davidson, was a personal read. What follows below is my honest review, freely given.

I rated this novel 5 stars. Quick mention, the sequel, Glass Rhapsody, will be released on Kindle June 30th and is only .99 to pre-order, which I did because I have to know what happens next. I hope there is a paperback release for it as well, it’s cover looks as stunning as Of Honey And Wildfires. I would love to have physical copies of both.

Being Pride Month I was pleasantly surprised at the representation in the book, so I want to make sure to make mention of it. The authors writing style is very lyrical, which works harmoniously within the sub-genre of Gaslamp Fantasy, as this novel is listed (so I learned of a new category!). I also felt she did not overuse this vibrant language; specific characters seemed more prone to use it, especially as internal dialogue. I began to look forward to chapters with their names as the header simply for this reason. The book does follow a nonlinear timeline, but chapters did come with time stamps; I did not feel lost at all, only a small sense of panic towards the end, because well, I didn’t want it to end. Do I read faster or slower, how do I stop looking at the % completed now that I’ve noticed it? It can be stressful enjoying a book, you know what I’m talking about.

I thought the idea of shine pretty perfect, for the world is was built for; I liked that the reader learned quite a bit about the properties of shine but it still held some mysteries. Firefly (2002) had a stylized wild west feel to it, I would refer to it as being thematically adjacent to Of Honey And Wildfires. It hit all the happy parts in my brain when I watched the show, and I found that this novel gave me the same satisfied feeling when I was done. It’s such a full story, I found myself invested in the characters needs, the knowing of a unstoppable event (oh how I railed against it); this is a read to wring your heart. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. ( )

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Of Honey and Wildfires

Shine oil is a valuable commodity controlled by one company. It can restore food, provide light and power, and also heal the wounded. Shine Company owns the land this oil is taken from and through it owns the people that reside there. Arlen Esco, heir to the Company, takes a journey to Shine Territory seeking adventure. But the harsh realities he finds will forever change him. The lives of those who work for the company are not as picturesque as he imagined.

Residing in Shine Territory, Cassandra grows up among ridicule and hatred. While the family she lives with does the best they can for her, it is impossible to hide the fact she is the daughter of an outlaw. One that has caused problems not only for the company, but the people forced to work for it to survive.

Be prepared, Of Honey and Wildfires is going to grab your heart. The prose is poetic and steeped in emotion, painting vivid imagery every step of the way. I found myself sinking into this world, never wanting to leave. I highlighted line after line on my Kindle, saving so many quotes. This book is a lyrical masterpiece, and the characters are just as powerful as the writing style.

While the book mainly focuses on Arlen and Cassandra, another character named Ianthe sneaks in chapters from time to time. Through their eyes, the reader experiences what it means to live in the shadow of Shine Company and how it has changed their lives. Each of them will face uncertainties and hardship, immersing the reader in an intricate story about love, loss, and family.

Sarah Chorn has created characters with true depth and complexity. And while the plot is nonlinear, each chapter is perfectly placed. The world unfolds across the pages, each chapter adding another layer to the experience that is Of Honey and Wildfires. Not to mention she has somehow mixed third and first-person points of view in a way that makes the story all the more captivating.

Of Honey and Wildfires is one of those books that I will be talking about for months, attempting to make everyone I know read it. Seriously, go buy this book or download it on Kindle Unlimited, you will not be disappointed. Meanwhile, I will be sitting, waiting for the sequel to release because you can be sure I already pre-ordered it. ( )