Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dystopian fantasy displays sharper edges in second volume.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Having saved themselves at great cost from Roanoke Island's pirates in Elemental, Thomas and his fractious crew of friends and family members, now in the pirates' commandeered ship, still need a new place to call home. Using his newfound elemental powers on the ship's radio, Thomas hears a message urging all refugees to head to Fort Sumter. But as they head south, he and his crew discover their powers fading; by the time they reach the refugee colony, they fear its distrustful, rather sinister inhabitants. Is Fort Sumter the haven they've been searching for, or have they stumbled into an even worse predicament?
Is It Any Good?
A nonstop adventure fantasy with an intriguing near-future setting, FIREBRAND mixes history and fantasy to present a fresh take on the standard tropes of apocalyptic fiction. The series' second volume is a little harsher than the first in its presentation of violence, but not excessively so. The plot offers plenty of twists, as well as a deepening sense of the characters. Author Antony John inspires confidence that he'll be able to carry this saga to its conclusion with inventiveness and skill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why post-apocalyptic stories in books, movies, and TV are so popular. What's going on in our world that makes readers want to imagine a near future in which everyone's struggling to survive?
How do you develop trust with people? What characteristics make one person more trustworthy than another?
Why do people resort to piracy, even today? What sort of economic conditions encourage it?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Pirates
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Delacorte Press
- Publication date : November 14, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 304
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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