‘Only one of the four elements was missing that night, but its time would come.’

Fire by John Boyne will publish November 7th with Doubleday and is the third volume in THE ELEMENTS series. Fire is described as a story that ‘takes the reader on a chilling, uncomfortable but utterly compelling psychological journey to the epicentre of the human condition, asking the age-old question: nurture – or nature?’ and is possibly one of the most unsettling, yet strangely, compelling books I have ever read.

Water and Earth, the first two books in this series, were both challenging and powerful reads, with each focusing on the life of one particular character. In Water, Vanessa Carvin was escaping her home life and needed a place to reflect on where she was at, so she sought peace on an island off the coast of Ireland. Vanessa herself was not directly guilty of anything but someone close to her was. In Earth, young Irishman Evan Keogh faces a serious trial for sexual assault in the UK. He is a tormented soul who is aware of his part in this terrible assault and is ravaged by the guilt.

In Fire we meet Dr. Freya Petrus, a very successful surgeon working in the burns unit. From the opening lines we are aware that Freya’s trajectory in life has all been based on a secret.

‘When I was twelve years old, I was buried alive within the grounds of a construction site’

This dark past has influenced every decision Freya has ever made. Very respected within the medical field, Freya is constantly aware that people gossip about her but she pays no heed to it. Her personality is quite off-putting to many. She is abrasive, cold and precise in her every action. She is excellent at what she does but Freya is different. Her personal life is poisoned by her past and her decisions are quite disconcerting which, as a reader, can be quite distressing.

In the three novellas so far, Fire is the one that I am struggling the most to review. Freya’s childhood years were traumatic. The behaviour of those around her impacted her every step into adult life. In her mind her behaviour is justifiable and she sees the end game as been worth the suffering achieved. Her guilt is momentary and she moves on. Freya is guilty of wrongdoing, Her sinister and dark behaviour is very disturbing and utterly despicable, yet what makes Fire so compelling is the narrative. It’s Freya who is telling us her story. She is attempting to justify her Machiavellian behaviour by colouring our perception of her as she recalls her past life and the harrowing experiences that resulted in her now presenting as this cruel person.

John Boyne asks of us to consider nurture v nature. Did the events of Freya’s early years shape her or was she born this way? Fire is a short read but it packs an almighty and incomprehensible punch. Air is the final book in this series which is due for publication in May 2025 and is described as ‘a contemplative story about one man trying to move forward from the trauma of his youth to become a better father to his son.‘ As with all four books the main character is someone who we have already crossed paths with. In a very smart move, John Boyne has intersected these four books by interweaving specific individuals into his work, A brief appearance of a certain character in one book leads to them taking centre stage in the next one. This clever detail ties all the book together so I would recommend that you start your journey with The Elements from the beginning.

Admittedly, I felt all out of sorts when I finished reading Fire yet, I had to acknowledge the pure power of John Boyne’s writing and his ability to stir up such unease and discomfort in such a compact piece of work. Fire is a chilling and psychological exploration of human nature. It is an extremely provocative piece of work that will perplex, challenge and demand the attention of the reader.

Childhood trauma continues to haunt in adulthood.

Freya is a surgeon. Her speciality is skin grafts. She lives in a beautiful flat and drives a fast car. However, it seems that the deeply disturbing trauma she suffered as a young child at the hands of twin boys aged fourteen, affected her in ways that causes bizarre and dangerous behaviour.

John Boyne is truly a phenomenal author. Fire makes the reader look at how trauma at a young age can come back to haunt and even distort behaviour later in life.

Rony
Elite Reviewing Group.

Another success for Boyne. I will miss these stories, the links to previous stories are cleverly included and feel like a reward to those following the series. Yet each story easily stands alone. Freya is a character it would be easy to demonise, but Boyne as always creates a multi-dimensional character. Very satisfying read

Published 7 November 2024. Wow! Another 5* from John Boyne for this - the third in the Elements series. Water and Earth looked at guilt, culpability, but this one is so much darker. I'll give a warning now for child sexual abuse. Freya - who we met briefly in Earth - is a highly renowned burns specialist. When asked by an intern on why she specialised in burns she makes a comment that when people think of fire, they think of how 'someone’s physical appearance is damaged by burns, we turn away, repulsed. We don’t want to know.' She seems to be a woman in control of her life - career, reputation, money in the bank. However, she has a much darker side. She is a woman seeking revenge for something that happened to her when she was 12. Freya is telling us her story and although you feel disgusted by her, you feel sympathy for her as well. She endured horrific trauma when she was a child of 22 and now she is repaying the world for allowing that trauma to happen. She is both a victim and a perpetrator with all the layers in-between. A case of nature or nurture? You feel that she was not born 'evil' but that circumstances moulded her into the person that she became. What happened to her stopped her from ever having a normal life. As a teacher in my past life, I have had meetings with parents who would insist that their child was an angel - but for all children, for all adults, I believe that no one will ever know what they are capable of if suddenly their life is turned upside down after enduring an unspeakable event. The dichotomy here is that in her work Freya does so much good, helps so many people, but - in her private life ... This is excellent and while you don't need to have read Water and Earth - this one does refer back to Earth, so spoilers are in here. Such a dark read and totally thought provoking. Really looking forward to Air when it is published but will be so sorry that it will be the final book of the quartet.

'Fire' is the third in John Boyne's 'Elements' quartet, all of which (so far) have featured people involved in a crime, often in an accessory/accomplice type role. The books are loosely connected but all stand alone, so you could read them out of order without it affecting your enjoyment/understanding of each. However you would get some spoilers if you did - this one in particular 'spoils' the outcome of 'Earth' so it would be preferable to read that one first. They are all (so far) excellent books so reading them all is no hardship.

The protagonist of 'Fire' is Freya, a plastic surgeon with some dark secrets that become apparent over the course of the book. Freya is not a particularly sympathetic character, but she is interesting and compelling to read about. Boyne is an author who can tell a great story in a relatively small word count, which is one of the things I admire about him. When the trend is for longer and longer novels, or the occasional novella with a premise as thin as the print version, Boyne demonstrates again and again that a good book can be 200-300 pages long without any compromise on quality.

The story is compelling and I wasn't sure how things would turn out. It does include some upsetting topics, particularly sexual abuse of minors, and readers who want to avoid that topic therefore should not choose this book. As with all of the series so far, it isn't always comfortable reading and makes you think about right and wrong - although in this case there is less ambiguity around the guilt (or the extent of the guilt) of the main character than in the other two so far. It's the most chilling of the series to date, despite it's hot title.

If you enjoy well written fiction, particularly if you have an interest in crime, justice and ethics as topics, then I would highly recommend the Elements series, including 'Fire'. I am very intrigued about how Boyne will conclude the series, and have every confidence he will do so well.

This third instalment in Boyne’s Elemental series has left me completely devastated. It’s uncomfortable, disturbingly dark, and yet undeniably compelling.

Boyne’s writing style is immaculate. I first encountered his work when we read The Heart’s Invisible Furies for our book club a couple of years ago, and since then, I've been trying to catch up on his impressive back catalog. I haven’t found a single book of his that I would critique negatively.

“He has nothing to fear. If anything, it’s me who should be afraid. After all, a doctor in the burns unit should know better than to play with fire.” This quote appears on page 11, and from that moment on, I was completely hooked. It’s an intense literary revenge thriller that toes the line of urban horror.

Boyne paces the story brilliantly, revealing information slowly and teasingly, leading us on a dark, rollercoaster ride. The attention to detail is superb - I loved that one of the characters was called Vidar (Norse God of Revenge). Most chapters end on cliffhangers that keep you turning the pages (I finished this novella in one sitting).

Our main character, Freya, is a renowned burns specialist surgeon living a life of luxury and privilege. She’s highly esteemed by her colleagues because she dedicates herself to rescuing those deeply scarred by the devastating effects of fire. She poignantly remarks, “When someone’s physical appearance is damaged by burns, we turn away, repulsed. We don’t want to know,” in response to a question about why she chose her specialty.

I have so much to say, but it’s hard to do without giving too much away. I’ll say this, the content can be quite hard to digest and may be triggering for some, but Boyne handles these sensitive topics with great skill. It was rewarding to spot references to the previous two novellas—like Freya serving on the jury for the Earth’s footballers rape trial and discovering that another character is Willow’s daughter from Water . These connections made me reflect on how our choices can have ripple effects that extend far beyond our immediate circles.

I can’t wait to see what the final instalment of this series brings!

A big thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for the advance reader's copy.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the invite to read this eARC.

John Boyne has fast become one of my favourite authors over the last couple of years. I love his writing style and his witty slant on serious subjects. This book was very different but still excellent. Definitely the darkest character I can recall from any of the books of his I’ve read. I liked the links into the previous Elements books.

I found some parts of this very difficult to read, and others I wanted the more background and substance. The balance was almost perfect throughout though.

Overall, another amazing book from Boyne but I just wanted a little bit more! But maybe that’s just because I never want these books to end.

Well this was dark! I think John Boyne is a fantastic author and this the third instalment in the Elements series is amazing. It is so well written and thought provoking but an extremely uncomfortable read at times. Looking forward to the next book!

4.5*
This is described as ‘disturbing and compelling’, and that pretty well sums it up.
The subject matter is dark, extremely dark in places. Not a read for anyone easily triggered.
I love John Boyne’s writing style; he could make a recipe for scrambled eggs into a compulsive read. Here I found myself in a continuous state of anticipation as he teases you with dark hints and gradually unfolds Freya’s life. The story is told entirely from her viewpoint and she is a complex mix of ….. no- no spoilers!
I read this in a few hours, but like Water and Earth (the latter of which was a recent choice for my Book Club) it could spark hours of discussion.
My only little niggle is Freya at the age of twelve; her ‘voice’ was sometimes a bit too adult.

This third book in the author’s Elements Quartet series is not for the fainthearted. It’s dark, disturbing, and deeply affecting. But it’s also compelling and brilliantly written.

The themes of nature versus nurture, lingering effects of abuse and trauma, an intermingling of victim and perpetrator, and compulsions caused by past experiences are all addressed here.

In keeping with the element of fire, the unlikeable protagonist, Freya, is a renowned burns specialist surgeon who has been permanently scorched and scarred herself by neglect, rejection, trauma and childhood abuse.

Now she lives a life of luxury and privilege and is highly esteemed by her colleagues because she seeks to rescue people seriously impacted by the searing heat of fire and its devastating consequences.

“The elements destroy everything…think of fire. When someone’s physical appearance is damaged by burns, we turn away, repulsed. We don’t want to know.’

Freya is heavily invested in caring for her patients. They have no idea that she’s a cold, clinical woman who plays with fire herself as a victim turned perpetrator, hellbent on seeking revenge in seriously shocking ways.

When those compulsive urges involving vulnerable teenage boys come closer to the surface, they risk visibility to others that might put her life and reputation at risk, destroying the image she’s worked so hard to create. How will she escape?

There is tough and triggering content to navigate here, held as it is in the hands of a consummate storyteller. After this intense dive into the darker side of the human psyche, I’m hoping for some necessary air and light with the next novella in this superb series. Grateful thanks to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for the eARC.

I was gripped from the first page.
It’s actually quite a dark and disturbing story and although the main character, Freya isn’t a person that I warmed to, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Having a difficult childhood certainly has repercussions for her.
Of course I loved it, it’s written by John Boyne who can do no wrong in my opinion.

This is the darkest book in the Elements series and explores how far we are willing to excuse heinous behaviour if it is the result of an earlier trauma. Freya, a respected surgeon had a traumatic childhood and as an adult has become a predator. It's hard to read in parts but really makes you examine your own moral judgements. A tough but enlightening read. Can't wait for the final installment.

On the face of it, Freya lives a gilded existence, dancing solely to her own tune. She has all the trappings of wealth and privilege, a responsible job as a surgeon specialising in skin grafts, a beautiful flat in a sought-after development, and a flash car. But it wasn’t always like this. Hers is a life founded on darkness.

Another great book from John Boyne. His mastery of characters is brilliant in this story. Superb story full of twists with a killer ending.

Fire, the third instalment of the Elements series, follows Freya a doctor wih a golden life, a dark past and an unforgiveable pastime

Like the previous two in the series the writing is just top notch and the characters and storyline push you to consider difficult issues and your own morals and beliefs.

I feel Boyne pushes the reader closer and closer to the edge of what we can forgive or accept with every book in the quartet. The main character gets more and more unlikeable and morally gray pushes further into evil black

It’s certainly the case with this book as Freya preys on young teenage boys, pushing them into sex with her as some sort of revenge for her own troubled past and she seemingly does it without a flicker of remorse. She's definitely a cold fish with few redeeming features and it makes for uncomfortable reading.

As before there are small links with the the other books which are cleverly tied in with the story

Another excellent, if challenging read from Mr Boyne

'Fire ' is the third release in John Boyne's Elements series. What can I say. I read this novella pretty much in one sitting, couldn't put it down. It is certainly the darkest and most disturbing of the series so far. It ties in well with the previous books as there are subtle references to characters that you would recognise. Nonetheless it can be read as a standalone.
Dr Freya Petrus is a hospital burns specialist. However her life has a dark side as she is continually taking 'revenge' for an abuse that happened to her as a child which turned into a covert obsession.
John Boyne's writing is exquisite as usual. He so well understands to paint a picture of the human psyche, in this case does nature or nurture drive Freya to the acts of violence she commits.
Now I can't wait for the last of the Elements books to be released.
Many thanks to #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK for providing me with an ARC.

If John Boyne’s intention in writing this novella was to shock, then he has succeeded. But, peel away the stomach-churning sensationalism, and you’ll find an absorbing continuation of his incisive and thought-provoking exploration of morality and the human psyche.

While the previous two books in this ‘Elements Quartet’ examined themes of complicity, culpability and conscience, and focused on characters who were enablers rather than the perpetrators of misdeeds, Fire widens the discussion to the age-old debate of nature versus nurture and features a protagonist who is very much the miscreant.

Fire also challenges the assumption that all predators and abusers are male, explores the idea that an individual can be both the victim and perpetrator of abuse and questions if the former can mitigate the latter.

All of this is contained in the story of burns specialist Dr Freya Petrus, who has devoted her career to treating patients with life-changing disfigurement. On the face of it, she leads a gilded life, the epitome of professionalism and compassion.

Underneath is a different story.

Irreparably damaged by a neglectful childhood and horrifying abuse by two teenage boys, Freya is consumed by darkness and a burning desire for revenge, which she exacts without shame.

It’s a deeply disturbing read, with a shock factor that’s off the scale. I found my feelings towards Freya vacillating between sympathy for the abandoned, lonely child desperate for friends, and abhorrence at the cold, malevolent predator she became.

I’m not normally a fan of ambiguous endings, but here it felt right to be left wondering which way Freya would jump when faced with exposure.

Despite the controversial subject matter, I remain in awe of Boyne’s ability to squeeze so much into such a slender volume. It’s only 176 pages long but contains enough material to keep a book club discussion going for weeks.

Kudos to my favorite author for this bold, triumphant piece of writing. It’s my favorite of the series so far.

This is the third book in the Elements series (all of which I've thoroughly enjoyed). All books are standalone but I did enjoy the subtle links that give you the aha moment as characters or places intermingle. In Fire, we meet Freya a burns specialist, and some dark subject matter that is well written. The writing is perfect in a way that Boyne does so well taking subject matters and brutality and weaving them into a narrative that while dramatic and shocking is unputdownable. I can't wait to read the next and final book in this Elemental series.

I have read each of John Boynes books in the Elements series and can say each is unique and a terrific thoughtful read. They are stand alones but there is a subtle link between them all. He writes so well that it is a pleasure to read every word. Fire is toe curling at times as we follow the activities of the beautiful, successful Freya. A well regarded hospital consultant, she has a dark side. The suspense is held throughout.

This is the third novella in John Boyne's Elements series and is another brilliant read. It is, without doubt, a somewhat chilling read, definitely disturbing and very uncomfortable but at the same time a compelling story that the reader will probably devour in one sitting. While the subject matter is dark, it is an incredible piece of writing once again from John Boyne, who manages to craft his characters in a unique way, that is, they are both the perpetrator and the victim.
While a lot of the narrative is traumatic to read, it is unputdownable. I loved it.....whatever that say's about me!

Brutal, dramatic and shocking. Another excellent book in the Elements series, exploring what leads a person to commit horrible crimes. Tough reading at times, but another phenomenal read, I didn't want to put it down.