Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Magical twins chase a family curse in absorbing fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In WICKED LIKE A WILDFIRE, 17-year-old twins Iris and Malina each have a magical ability, called a gleam, that they have to practice in secret for fear of being branded witches by the locals. A mysterious attacker leaves their mother hovering between life and death, and the local police are baffled. So the twins and their best friends set out to find the culprit. As they dig deeper into the mystery, the twins discover there's a lot more to their family than their mother let on. And that those family ties, through countless generations, lead back to a bargain struck with Death himself. Will Iris and Malina have to keep that bargain now?
Is It Any Good?
This debut fantasy draws the reader in with its engaging, magical teen characters, unusual setting, and vividly evoked, witchy folklore. Wicked Like a Wildfire's intriguing mystery and thickening plot keep the pages turning. Author Lana Popovic is particularly good at bringing the mountainous beauty of Montenegro to life: Don't be surprised if you find yourself adding it to your bucket list.
Iris and Malina are exotic yet relatable characters. Teen fantasy fans will easily overlook the overused lip biting and nails digging into clenched fists, and the all-too-common device of the heroine not knowing that her best friend is totally in love with her. Nearly every other aspect of the story has fresh appeal, from Iris and Malina's particular abilities to the way everything is steeped in rich, exotic folklore. Planned as the first of two volumes, the book has a cliffhanger ending that will have readers eager for the rest of the story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wicked Like a Wildfire shows Iris and Malina's relationship. Does it seem realistic? Do you have a special bond like theirs with a sibling or close friend?
How much sexy stuff is OK in books? Does it seem realistic in this one?
What do you think will happen in the planned second book? Why do you think so many fantasy books are series?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
- Publication date : August 15, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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