A purple-orange-red fire in the shape of a tear drop over a forest of purple trees.

About the Book

Title: Firewalker (Worldwalker #2)
Published: 2015
Series: Worldwalker
Swoonworthy Scale: 3

Cover Story: Good Vibrations
BFF Charm: Shiny
Talky Talk: Science! Industry and Technology!
Bonus/Anti Bonus Factor: WAR!
Relationship Status: Going the Distance

Cover Story: Good Vibrations

I like this cover. It’s appropriate to the story, it’s a atmospheric – a spooky/sciencey/romantic book about witches in an alternate Salem is kinda hard to package, I’m imagining, but this gives the right vibes.

The Deal: 

Picking right up (like, exactly) where Trial By Fire left off, Lily and Rowan arrive back in Lily’s world. Lily is severely burned from her time on the pyre, and it takes all of Rowan’s skills as a mechanic to heal her. It takes some time for Lily to get used  to being back home – dealing with this-world’s Juliet (who’s never met Rowan and is skeptical of magic), plus explaining her long absence to a nosy FBI agent are no small feats, but Lily can handle it. Trickier is Lillian, Lily’s alter-world arch nemesis, sneaking into her consciousness and showing her things – including the startlingly understandable reasons for some of her worst atrocities. As Lily learns more about the world of magic, she starts to realize that things aren’t as clear cut as she thought – but will it come between her and Rowan?

BFF Charm: Shiny!

BFF Charm Heck Yes - sparklier and shinier than the original BFF Charm

Lily just keeps surprising me. It would have been so easy for her to become a Mary Sue – being the new kid in the parallel universe and all – but she doesn’t. Keeping pace with Trial By Fire, Lily uses her status as dimension-hopping-newcomer to view this complex world with clear eyes, and without the inherited prejudices and notions of Lillian and Rowan’s society. She stays true to her own conscience in this book, too, but through the course of events, Lily becomes the kind of person who evolves as she learns new things. And that? You just don’t see that every day, I don’t care what universe you’re traipsing through.

Swoonworthy Scale: 3

Yes, I know, it’s a pretty low rating compared to my review for Trial by Fire. First of all, that was like a year ago, and I’m soooo much more sophisticated now. Terribly sophisticated. More to the point, this book had a lot less smooching and a lot more withholding  of communication. You know what I’m talking about – hopelessly infuriating misunderstandings that could have all been avoided if either character JUST FREAKING TALKED TO EACH OTHER. I don’t know if you can tell, but that kind of thing really annoys me. So while there is still plenty of swoon (I stand by my opinion that a Magical Mechanic who has to heal your internal cell structure by running his manly hands all over your broken ankle is H-O-T-T HOTT HOTT HOTT), it kinda killed the mood for me.

Talky Talk: Science! Industry and Technology!

Somehow, I think I forgot (it’s been like a year) just how much science this fantasy deals with. Honestly, is it even a fantasy? Maybe it’s a Sci Fan. Or Fanci. But as much as there is talk about witches and magic and powerful stones, there is more talk about parallel dimensions, the multiverse, and what have you. And I like it.

Bonus/Anti Bonus Factor: WAR!

Two armies face each other across a battlefield while a city burns off to the side (from LotR).

The ONLY thing I’m willing to admit war is good for is fiction, because when it’s not real, it’s super exciting. Just like the last book, tensions build in the alternate Salem – it’s a beautifully constructed society with a whole lotta rules and a generous amount of intrigue, and when things finally come to a head, it’s thrilling.

Obviously, real war would be classified as an Anti Bonus factor.

Relationship Status: Going the Distance

After two times around, I’m ready to go the distance with this series. It’s a worthy and fascinating read, and I can’t turn that down. Bring on book #3!

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my review copy from Fiewel & Friends. Sadly, I received neither money nor a Cadbury Dairy Milk bar for writing this review. Firewalker is out now.


About the Contributor:

Savannah Kitchens is a children’s librarian living near Birmingham, Alabama. She loves discussing Harry Potter fan theories, making lists, and baking pies. When she’s not reading YA books and graphic novels, she’s beating her husband at Scrabble.

This post was written by a guest writer or former contributor for Forever Young Adult.