Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Captivating alternate-Asia fantasy has magic, suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
At the start of FOR A MUSE OF FIRE, Jetta Chantray has magical powers that allow her shadow puppets to move without the assistance of sticks and string. Instead, they are animated by the souls of the recently departed. Jetta suffers from a malady that modern science would call bipolar disorder, and she hopes to find a cure in Aquitan. To travel there requires plenty of cash, and it's dangerous for anyone to know that she practices magic. Luckily, she earns the friendship of Leo, a young smuggler with connections in high places. In the midst of an armed rebellion, they plot a dangerous escape attempt for Jetta's family.
Is It Any Good?
Fantasy novels benefit from unique settings and situations, and this start of a new series has a concept that is fresh and captivating. In For a Muse of Fire, author Heidi Heilig concocts a setting reminiscent of South Asia that is rich with ancient magic. Her diverse cast of characters harbors more than their share of secrets, but Jetta stands out as an especially complicated protagonist.
According to her afterword, Heilig has her own struggles with bipolar disorder, and that knowledge lends believability to the fantastic plot. Only the first book in a trilogy, For a Muse of Fire takes its time setting in motion the mechanics of the plot, but it eventually reaches a high level of suspense. The cliffhanger ending is sure to reel readers in for another helping.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how For a Muse of Fire depicts a society on the brink of revolution. What kinds of injustice does colonization promote?
Jetta has a mental illness. How does she cope with her symptoms? What support do people with mental illnesses need? How are they depicted in the media?
Should people keep their talents secret from others? When might that strategy be productive?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Puppets
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Greenwillow Books
- Publication date : September 25, 2018
- Number of pages : 512
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate