A FLASH OF FIRE

In Wyss’ YA fantasy series-starter, a high schooler finds her life turned upside down when she finds out she has superpowers and visits a magical world that she never knew existed.

When the teenage Vivian Carmine accidentally sets fire to her school’s gym during the annual science fair, her parents are forced to reveal some secrets to her: namely, that they are spies and she has fire-generating powers. Before she can learn more, her parents disappear and she’s whisked away by a boy named Samael—whose own powers and motives are murky—to a place where satyrs, fairies, and other magical creatures thrive. Adonis, head of an academy for mythical beings known as Regulation for the Integration of the Special and Extraordinary (RISE), explains that Vivian is a Phoenix—and the only known child “to come from fire-born Phoenix parents.” Although Vivian embraces the chance to learn more about this new world, she begins to suspect that RISE is more of a prison than a school—and that Adonis hasn’t been entirely honest with her. In the midst of a brewing war between gods and humans, Vivian embarks on a desperate mission to the depths of the Underworld to find her parents. Luckily, she has newfound friends, magical and otherwise, who are there to help. Wyss has crafted an immersive world that expertly combines fantasy, children’s literature (the Cheshire Cat makes an appearance), and Greek mythology (Samael’s parents turn out to be well-known figures) alongside the more realistic challenges of being a teenager. Vivian’s trials act as a metaphor for growing up in a way that’s resonant without feeling preachy: “By the very nature of us believing wholeheartedly in something, we bring it into creation,” says one character. “Be it a god, a monster, or an imaginary friend.” Crisp prose and a brisk plot keep things moving along, even as Vivian untangles increasingly complex relationships with her parents, Samael, and others. The end result is a fresh, fantastical take on a coming-of-age tale.

A fun adventure that skillfully blends magic, friendship, and teenage angst.