Incendiary (Hollow Crown)

Product Information

With the ferocity of series like Ember in the Ashes and Throne of Glass and loosely based on 15th century Spain, INCENDIARY explores the double-edged sword of memory and the triumph of hope in the midst of fear and oppression.

I’ve just read Incendiary for my book club, I’ve yet to hear what the others will say but I thought it was extremely powerful in many ways, shocking too. I read The Other Hand first and was very moved by the story – it is thought provoking and sad and I felt on finishing it that the story would stay with me. An epic tale of love and revenge set in a world inspired by Inquisition-era Spain pits the magical Moria against a terrifying royal authority bent on their destruction. I used to believe that engaging in the creation of beauty (which is the only currency that I truly understand) had enough power to combat cruelty and ugliness, at least on some subtle level .I will admit to finding the first part of the book slightly slow, however, once the main storyline got going I found it almost impossible to put down. Córdova’s epic and imaginative tale sees a memory thief going up against a monarchy hell-bent on the destruction of her people. From where I come (Finland) Chris can also refer to a woman and I always took it for granted you were one.

The first one is a good idea -- new information about 'May Day' comes to light -- but what he does with it (the plan is for Jasper and Petra to get it published in their newspaper) is just ridiculous.

I’m not familiar with Zoraida Córdova’s previous works but I really wanted to give this a shot because I loved the synopsis. Regarding the attacks I can say nothing that the families of the victims haven’t already said – much more eloquently and poignantly than I ever could – because it is their story. I started reading it during a transcontinental flight, and then couldn’t go to sleep when I got home till it was finished.

I felt various emotions whilst reading it, including tearful, cross, upset and downright furious at the injustices we humans dish out to each other. This is a masterful, skillfully controlled piece of work which feels so plausible, and is terrifying and touching at the same time, with brilliant satirical references to popular culture. As Renata grows more deeply embedded in the royal court, she uncovers a secret that could change the fate of the entire kingdom – and end the war that has cost her everything.

I feel powerless to stop all the evil in this world so I go about my business daily trying to make a difference for my family and friends. She is an example of the ability to live through tragedy, to live with one’s demons and struggles; to be able to choose life rather than destruction. May Day' is described well enough, and Cleave shows a nice touch in dropping in some of the changes that it causes in asides (a nurse suspended from her job, because Muslims have been suspended (for an "indefinite but temporary" time) from jobs where they might pose a security risk; the observation that: "you can't leave a ciggie butt unattended these days without someone coming and doing a controlled explosion on it"), but for the most part one doesn't get much of a feel for the changed atmosphere. Brilliantly paced, with some beautifully written characters and a whole fresh new magic system for you to dig your teeth into.

There are, eventually, two semi-decent plot-twists -- though perhaps they just seem that way because something finally happens in this surprisingly dull narrative. As newspaperman Cleave knows, there's no way this information could get published in a UK paper (at least not the way they plan to do it) -- but, in the Internet-age (and with streaming video) there's almost no reason they would even bother mentioning it to the newspaper first.While I am not a literary critic or I educated in all the fineries of writing, I would like to posit a few thoughts about the story. Another stylistic change of pace you employee, that I find refreshing, is lack of use of quotation marks. It is a breathless, racing novel, and once you pick it up it is impossible not to become fully absorbed into the narrative. While the young mother tries to battle her depression, she also must fight the guilt of committing adultery the same day of her son's and husband's death.