Incendiary is a new YA fantasy series starter full of action, secrets and magic. I loved the concept, the Moria's powers of enchantment and the vivid setting in a fantastical 15th century Spain - although I felt some of the worldbuilding came a little too late. The story only really comes to life after the first third of the novel. After a slow start, I was relieved when the pace picked up and the focus shifted from mopey characterisation to plot. Suddenly, Incendiary alights into a heartracing adventure, and Renata becomes a worthy heroine.

There are plenty of twists and turns - and enough clues along the way to keep it interesting. By the final third of the novel, all the pieces are starting to come together, leading to a final, adrenaline-filled climax.

Incendiary is not the strongest or most original fantasty I have ever read, but it hooked me enough that I'd look out for the sequel.

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a copy of Incendiary, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!



Ren is a Robari, a Moira with the power to steal other peoples' memories.  Held by the King since she was a child, as a weapon for her powers, she now lives with the other Moira who helped her escape.  But the Robari are the most feared of all the Moira, for their ability to hollow people out of all of their memories, leaving them a shell of themselves, so no-one quite trusts her, including the other Moira.  When her commander and best friend are taken captive by the king, Ren is determined to save him, but she ends up with a mission far more dangerous than she could have imagined.

Incendiary was full of magic and heart stopping action.  I was absolutely captivated from the first page and barely paused for breath while reading.  The Moira magic system is both interesting and fairly easy to understand.  I was so intrigued learning about each different type of Moira and hope they are even further explored in the next book.  I loved Ren as a main character.  The author did such a wonderful job of portraying her different emotions, both in her current life and her own lost memories, that she slowly re-discovers throughout the story.  I really love books that revolve around spies and betrayal at the moment and Incendiary definitely fit the bill!

Oh wow. I loved this story so much. It was a wild, emotional ride that I didn't want to end. I'm only going to list two things I loved about it, instead of my usual three, because everything I want to say is full of spoilers and I definitely don't want to give anything away.

1) The emotion in this story was what made it so special. I felt keenly for Ren - her sadness, her elation, her victories and her losses. There were moments when I thought I might cry, and others where I cheered. She is a wonderful protagonist and Córdova does a superb job of making you feel every second of her journey.

2) The magic in Ren's world is fantastic and so well defined. I loved all the limitations and details, the way it made the characters feel and the way it drove the plot. Ren's memory magics were particularly intriguing. There was so much complexity to her role as a Robari, she is wielded as a prize and a weapon, valued but also feared. Stealing memories takes a toll on Ren, shrouding her own past in the fog of the Grey, and it also alters how she sees and values herself.

I can't wait to return to Ren and her brilliant friends in book two. I wish I could start it straight away!