I really wanted to rate this one higher but the main problem for me was I just could not get into the story. I enjoyed the writing style, but something about the characters fell flat and I found my attention wandering often. I will still try other GC books in the future though

4.5 stars rounded up

I’ve read and enjoyed both of this author’s Sci-fi books, so I was excited to see what she did with a fantasy story.

This is fairly light in its fantasy elements, as there are only certain people that can use the Idolfire, basically faith set aflame, which I loved as a concept. We see this mostly through main character Aleya, who uses it sparingly. I also really liked the ideas of the gods, and I especially liked the idea of Nivela stealing gods/idols to grow their own power as they conquered foreign lands, reflecting the way real world empires like Rome would come in and strip natives of their culture. I also really liked the conclusion/reveal that came in the climax of these gods and their potential origins when Iona is revealed to have been an ordinary woman in life who lost her family that carved the idol in her own image.

I liked all three of the main characters, Kirby, Aleya and Nylophon and their contrasting personalities. I really loved Kirby’s opening section, which was sweet and tragic matching with her personality as a kind woman, a little too trusting and naive, but a guiding star inspiring others around her to change, including Aleya and Nylophon. Aleya, in contrast, is more untrusting, hot-headed and stubborn. She believes a lot of people are against her due to her origins, so she’s felt the need to prove herself superior by being the best, smartest, strongest, etc. though that definitely pushes some people away in the beginning, she does grow throughout the story. Nylophon is the soldier who doesn’t want to be one and a bit of a misogynistic brute at that, but in a way that was still endearing, and he does grow and I really liked the conclusion of his arc.

This is a sapphic book, but romance is definitely not the focus. Some may find it disappointing that Kirby and Aleya don’t yearn all that much, rather for a time they are inconvenient travelling companions, and then fairly easily decide to be a couple. There aren’t any internal or external forces that keep them from being a couple throughout the story. But this is more of a plot focused story than a character one, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Compared to Curtis’ other works, this feels less like a series of vignettes and more like a continuous story, however, I adored the 2nd person chapters that was a poetic description of the rise of Nivela, almost like retelling a legend.

I’m eager to see where this author goes next.

3.5⭐️
This was an interesting read, but it didn’t resonate with me like the author’s previous novels. It was very much a fantasy road trip, with lots of beautiful descriptions of the scenery. The romance was very much a slow burn, I actually enjoyed the development of Nylophon way more than that of the main characters.
I think my expectations were too high, and that’s on me. There were some good ideas, but I wanted more, especially about the magic system.

Oh boy, I wanted to love this one. I really really did. I loved Frontier by this author and thought that this would bring similar joy. Friends, it did not.

Firstly, this book needs a trigger warning for infertility and miscarriage. Secondly, I thought this would be a portal fantasy and it was not. Kirby of Wall’s End (see? I thought Kirby was a modern girl dragged into a fantasy land, alas no) leaves her village which is plagued with a kind of spreading infertility which means the babies are dying and no one can get pregnant. In a bid to save her village, Kirby leaves to try and find the goddess Iona (or maybe a statue of her?) which can be found at the lost city of Nivela.

Our other heroine, Aleya, is a bastard princess, fighting for her right to the crown. She too is tasked with going to Nivela for a relic of a missing deity. They have a chance meeting on the way and end up travelling together.

Okay, so here’s another issue for me. This book was both long and jumped about wildly… the majority of the book is a backpack fantasy, with lots of travels and different cities, all with their own convoluted histories. What I loved about Frontier was how pacy it was… this felt slow, even though they seemed to jump about from city to city… I regularly struggled with where we were in the world and why. Some of the journey was described in long, painstaking detail for no reason, and some of it we literally jumped from city to city with nothing in between?!

And Idolfire? Genuinely thought it was going to play a waaaay bigger role than it did frankly. Sort of felt like a bit of an afterthought… it’s a tricksy magic that is created through faith. But only some people can create it and use it and Aleya is one of them… and she uses this ability like 3 times throughout the book? Idk, seems like a lost opportunity there to me.

Now onto my biggest disappointment and by far the biggest spoiler, so stop now of you are thinking about actually giving this book a go. There are three (four??) main characters in this book. Kirby, Aleya, Nylo and you. Yes, you. Because chunks of this book were in second person and the book is talking to you, the reader, as if you were the Worldlord and founder of Nivela, Scoria. Who, confusingly, we do actually meet in the book and she is described in third person… so are we Scoria, or aren’t we? I just didn’t get that stylistic choice at all.

Nylo was another upset - he’s a stray who Aleya and Kirby pick up on the way, a solider who stumbled his way into being a general, was unceremoniously beaten in front of all his soldiers by Aleya, then started stalking her because he wants to bring her back to his city because she can use magic. He’s also suffering a ton of trauma because the boy he loved, a fellow solider, died in front of him in battle and he’s dealing with it in a very toxic masculinity kind of way… by ignoring it. Kirby takes pity on him and he joins their rag-tag team. And I loved him. Broken gay lad who desperately just wants a friend but had been raised to be nothing but a killing machine decides to follow these two lassies like a puppy. Oh and then dies FOR NO BLOODY REASON in the last few pages. Told you there’d be spoilers.

Now finally to my biggest gripe. So I have seen this book INCORRECTLY marketed as a Sapphic Romance. It’s not. Because a romance needs an HEA and Kirby and Aleya do not end up together!!! They are lovers on the journey, but once the journey is over they part ways and Aleya becomes queen and lives her life in her city and Kirby, now cured of infertility, goes home to Wall’s End, gets a husband and has a load of kids. They meet up again in the epilogue when they are both elderly and Aleya is on her deathbed. So yeah, not a romance I’d argue, merely a sapphic fling. Which is fine, but not what I signed up for.

Two stars because I loved Nylo, the battle scenes and there were some great places that they visited, and it was gonna be three stars until that ending, Nylo dying and Kirby and Aleya not even having an HEA together… yeah. This book was not the one, for me at least. I’m gonna read Frontier over and over but if I never see this book again in my life I’d be thankful.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book. I don’t blame you in the slightest.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and honestly review an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

Grace Curtis’ writing has such a distinctive quality. There is always a perfect balance between high stakes and the gentle, steady pace, but what stands out most is the sheer warmth and heart in every word. Her prose is beautifully rich and immersive, especially when describing the landscapes her characters traverse. (The Ocean Road? That will be haunting my dreams.)

Having read and loved both of Curtis’ previous sci-fi novels, I was eager to see what she would bring to the fantasy genre. And she absolutely delivered. The world building, (centered around Idolfire and its deities,) felt intricate and engaging, detailed enough to fully draw me in without ever becoming overwhelming.

But, as with her previous books, it’s the characters who truly shine:
- Aleya, a royal from the city of Ash, journeying to Nivela to prove herself worthy to her people.
- Kirby, from the remote village of Wall’s End, making the same journey in search of the lost goddess’s idol.
- Nylophon, a mercenary who loses everything along the way, forcing him to question his very purpose. (I love him dearly!)

These three couldn’t be more different, and their clashing personalities, tense interactions, and gradual growth made for a fantastic dynamic. They challenge each other, nearly kill each other more than once, and yet their journey together feels very rewarding.

This book has officially solidified Grace Curtis as an auto-buy author for me. I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Idolfire is advertised as an epic sapphic fantasy inspired by the fall of Rome.

I agree the scope of the story is epic, although the fantasy setting does have some gaps and is not fully developed. There is some sapphic romance but this not a significant part of the book.

This book had so much potential and after reading I felt frustrated that it didn’t deliver on its premise. The romance is very much a minor plot so anyone going in expecting a sweeping sapphic love will be disappointed. The leads lacked chemistry and only showed personality when bickering and I was not rooting for them to couple up.

I appreciated the worldbuilding which had intriguing ideas even though some elements felt generic and I never fully had a grasp of geography, distances or the passage of time.

I strongly disliked the second person POV chapters interspersed throughout the book. The first time I found it totally jarring and had to pause reading. They interrupted my reading experience and I hoped the significance of these chapters would be revealed later, but ultimately these could have been removed entirely with minimal difference.

A third main character was introduced part way through the book and while I enjoyed seeing a different perspective and his viewpoint of the two FMC, he was sidelined too frequently to have any impact.

I can see the bones of an ambitious tale but it didn’t transport me into another world like I yearn for with epic fantasy, the romance was half-baked and the ending rather anti-climactic.

A disappointing read.

Thank you netgalley for this arc.

I think this might be my perfect book everything about it feels so perfect for what I want! I love a quest, I love an interesting magic, I love a bit of intrigue, I love love!!!! What a book! One of the greatest quest books of all time??? An absolute banger a million stars a million hearts

I am such a huge fan of Grace Curtis sci-fi books so I was curious to try their fantasy writing! I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

Here we start the book following two different women, one living in a palace and with magical powers, one living in a struggling village suffering a tragic loss. Both will journey from miles apart to reach a mysterious city, one for a quest, one to save her town. It was an interesting juxtaposition to see their different experiences at the start of their travels. They are different in temperament, wealth, fighting ability and must approach their journey accordingly.

We start to see found family elements in this story, but with Curtis, it was not going to be straightforward or expected and we see this turned on its head. Cleverly done. I was a huge fan of the connections between the two main characters and how they influenced each other for the better, making each other braver, kinder, more compassionate.

We have an interesting magic system relating to the title of the book. I would have happily seen more of this. I can understand why restraint was necessary within the structures of the novel but I found this very cool so would have gladly seen more.

A good foray into fantasy from Grace Curtis, a fantastic writer who is so good at journeys, writing the unexpected and giving us characters we can root for.

Idolfire was the third book I finished this year. And it was my first five star read. It was seriously incredible. I wasn't sure it was a genre I would like but wanted to give it a try because the synopsis made it sound very good. And I'm glad I did.
I fell in love a little with the characters as the story went on. Aleya is brash and smart and harsh while Kirby is naive and kind and strong. They are also so much more. They are headstrong and motivated and open-minded. They had a goal and they went through a lot to achieve it.
Their paths was full of adventures and issues and wonders and meetings. It felt like reading an epic story. We have our heroes, we have several gods, we have meetings of different civilisations, a quest to achieve, a transformation. We can clearly see that the Kirby and Aleya of the start are not the ones from the end.
The characters we meet on the way are all interesting too, whether we like them or hate them. They are all fleshed out, they had personalities, goals, lives, different languages and cultures. I loved it all.
When I approached the ending and saw that the story wasn't close to done I was so afraid for our characters. The ending is incredible, it makes sense and it made me feel alla the feels. It's so true to the characters and it answered the questions I had while reading.
I absolutely recommend this book to everyone.

grace curtis you will always be famous.

a phenomenal novel. its strength lies in its worldbuilding, it is SO creative and bold that it manages to take settings we've seen before and make them feel so fresh and new. this is done mainly through really good prose that really serves the storytelling, and through an excellent cast of characters that i was deeply invested in from page one. i think it should have been (and may be, in its final product), a bit tighter and a tad bit shorter, but i will forgive it all its little flaws because it's something truly original, that i've not read before at all, and that was truly so full of heart and beauty and kindness and grief that i don't want to get hung up on technicalities. it's nice to read a book that really takes chances and has such a simple yet full vision. kind of like a kaleidoscope, every time you think you know what you're looking at, there's something new woven in expanding the story, its lore, its depth, its range. i think this would also be great on a reread, there's probably lot to explore again in a couple of years. i would LOVE to read more stories like this, and will be on a little quest to find them. just so much heart and beauty to this story. aaah

thank you netgalley + publisher, truly a delight! i warmly recommend it far and wide, even to those who might not think they'd be into it. give it a go!!!

Idolfire is a solid adventure novel with a firm focus on its characters, and how their relationship grows as their adventure progresses. I know Grace Curtis for her excellent character development, and those hallmarks are ever present in Idolfire - for her fantasy debut, she takes a smaller pool of POV characters to develop much more than the characters of her previous works. The result is a nice balance of adventure and sapphic romance, with neither aspect stifling the other. The world felt dynamic, and the regions passed through during the plot felt distinct enough to draw you into the journey. The final segment took on a different tone to the rest of the novel, and the ending didn’t go the way I’d expected (and subverted plenty of the classic tropes you find at the end of adventure/romance novels).

I had two gripes with the novel that kept me from rating the book a little higher. The first revolves around the elements of magic and idolfire in the story, which didn’t factor into the story anywhere near as much as I expected (especially since the book is named after it!). The impression I got was of a book setting up a series of novels, and just giving a hint of what magic is present in the world. However, without spoilers for the end, the finale resolved enough of the plot to not absolutely warrant a sequel (though the scope is definitely still there). With such an ending, I have to conclude the magic felt rushed and underused in Idolfire, which is a shame given the potential it had.

My other (less cohesive) complaint is that Idolfire, while being a perfectly fine fantasy novel, simply didn’t have the spark that has drawn me to Curtis’ previous books. The perspective hopping shown in Frontier and Floating Hotel was a really unique style, and is an excellent way of demonstrating her talent at rapid-fire quality character creation. Rest assured Idolfire’s characters were well developed, but the book as a whole felt more run-of-the-mill and generic when her previous novels shined with originality. Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and to NetGalley for an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun read! I didn't expect to love it so much but it was a really welcome change from the fantasy books that I'm usually drawn to. It's very fast paced and plot-driven but in a really good way: the book was absolutely impossible to put down and I was completely invested in the story. I kept letting out little yells and laughs because that's how alive the story is, it really felt like being immersed into a new world.

This is a book that, according to me, embodies the notion of "enjoying the journey more than the end" (but the end is also great!). The environment was so vividly described, I had no trouble picturing it at all and I love every interaction that they had on the road. The magic system was also really interesting and easy to keep up with.

The characters are all so adorable, engaging and well fleshed out. I loved their relationships and the way they evolved, how they also serve to define the characters traits further. The romance just felt a little too abrupt, I didn't exactly feel that much chemistry between them but it was still sweet. I wished we spent more time with Kirby's point of view as she's the sweetest and my favorite but I still appreciated the other perspectives, and surprisingly enjoyed Nylophon's a lot.

We also have an exploration of the consequences of imperialism on places and individuals, though it wasn't developed in-depth through the writing but more in the imagery. Part of me wishes there'd been more explicit telling of what happened around Nivela (both pre and post our protagonists' passage) because the "You" chapters just felt a bit too abstract and I still had a lot of questions by the end.

I also really liked how the book was structured a bit like the classic epics, told in separate acts with defined arcs. The last act gave off very strong Ghibli vibes which was fun!

Overall, an amazing story that I recommend if you're looking for some light fantasy read. It's also a book that I would suggest to people wanting to explore that genre more as the language is very close to our modern day one and easy to follow.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC!

Overall, a fun adventure fantasy with a very cool setting - I don't know that I would have picked up the inspiration of the fall of Rome if I wasn't told, but I think knowing that added to my reading experience, at least.

When I talk about the setting, I mean that specifically each city or country had a very distinct personality. I loved how the book delved a bit into the history of each, as well as their individual gods. Each setting felt quite fully realized to me, and while I'm already a noted fan of road novels and picaresque writing, I definitely enjoyed the fact that the very plot of this book meant that we got to explore so many of its cultures.

It's a bit sad, then, that where this book didn't quite hit the mark for me was in the personalities of its actual characters. Aleya, Kirby, and even Nylo had great setups to their arcs, with strong motivations to drive them, and yet I just did not get attached to any of them. They were fine, but I could not bring myself to really care for any of them.

One other aspect that didn't quite work for me, though I appreciate the idea behind it and the ambition, was the handful of "You" chapters. I like the idea of these mysterious, lore-building chapters in the second person, but I felt like the author also liked the idea of it and didn't really go much beyond "wouldn't this be cool?"

There were many elements common to epic fantasy - a quest! Magic! A band of misfits-turned-found-family! - and it was a fun story and easy to read, even if I didn't connect with it as much as I'd like. The fact that the author is writing a companion set 2000 years later is intriguing enough to get me coming back, I think!

Thank you to both publishers, DAW and Hodderscape, and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you very much for this eARC!

Immediately this book drew me in—I love Roman history, especially the less commonly discussed parts, and using that as an inspiration meant I was hooked straight away. I also think Curtis did really well in using the Roman Empire as a recognisable basis for the world of this book, rather than an exact replica, which allowed a bit more freedom/creativity with the worldbuilding.

Curtis’ prose was excellent in her two previous books, but here it shone. I’m not usually one for long descriptions, but the descriptions of the different landscapes were gorgeous.

The introduction of a third POV character was unexpected but not unwelcome—I ended up really feeling empathy for Nylophon. That said, Aleya and Kirby were the heart of the book, and their characterisation complemented each other well. Their relationship was compelling and well developed as a slow burn!

I sped through the last few chapters of the novel and thought the ending was both beautiful and satisfying. This feels like a book I might have to revisit for full appreciation, but I will be nothing but glad to return.

I was promised serious Xena vibes with this one, and it didn't disappoint. But make no mistake, this book is a story all on its own and goes in many different directions that are far from the Warrior Princess.
There's Aleya and Kirby, and their paths cross in a world full of gods and history and magic, and they go on a hero's journey together...for a time.
There's even a third person with a sad past and the need for redemption, and another voice that will not be revealed until the end.

It's character driven and it's sweet, but also tragic at times.
I loved this book, even though it took a while for me to kick in. And I especially loved the least 15% or so. I had not expected this.

4/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @dawbooks and @hodderbooks for the eARC!

#Idolfire #Netgalley #Bookstagram

As a big fan of Grace Curtis's previous books I have to say I was a tad let down by this one. When she announced her next release would be fantasy I did think it was a shame, as her scifi books are brilliant but I had faith. Unfortunately for me, this one ended up being very generic and forgettable, and sadly didn't have anything that set it apart as unique from competitor titles in the fantasy space.

I will say, i think Curtis is a great writer. Her use of language and the way she plays with POV is very unique and enjoyable, I just didn't really warm to the characters and I found the plot quite boring. Our main characters don't even meet until the 30% mark and we don't even get to meet the other POV character until about 50% in. The plot structure also felt a bit repetitive and I didn't really believe the growing intimacy between the main three.

In terms of the romance, it was ok. I felt like there was a potential spark but I wasn't really kicking my feet over them together. When they eventually did kiss it was a bit of a let down, it just sort of happened a la: "And then they kissed." And that was the end of the chapter 😅

I will say I LOVED the ending however. And I won't say anything else on that as I don't want to spoil anything.

I would recommend this if you like the "hero's journey" format and arent too bothered about romance and characters having a lot of depth. Like I didn't hate it, I just expected a bit more from Curtis based off of her previous work. But as I've said, not a bad book, just maybe not my cup of tea.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I think it’s very hard to write an epic fantasy adventure, particularly a there-and-back, that feels fresh and new and exciting, and yet Curtis has done just that. The warmth, the joy, the *art* of IDOLFIRE made it a delicious reading experience that I took pains to savour over many weeks. There are shades of Tolkien and Avatar: The Last Airbender and modem fantasy favourites like The Jasmine Throne and The Unbroken, rooted in real-world history that culminate into something so carefully, loving crafted that I think fans of Curtis’ sci-fi books will have no trouble following her on the path to Nivela with Kirby and Aleya. Add to it the sapphic slow-burn of it all, and this might just be my favourite read of the year.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It mixes gods, religion and fantasy very well.

Kirby is all heart and brings such a warmth to this story, while Aleya comes across sharp and a little arrogant, but it’s her past and quest that has shaped her this way. The true surprise was the 3rd somewhat main character who I really ended up adoring, I hope despite what happens that they show up in a book 2.

4.5 stars

When I first started reading Idolfire, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Structurally, I think this is a unique take on the hero's journey - in this book's case, the journeys of both Aleya and Kirby, coming together - on their quest to find the city of Nivella. But pretty much by chapter three, I found myself falling in love with the characters and this story. And the world-building...let me tell you, it was simply incredible. As Aleya and Kirby follow the trail of the lost city, they find themselves in many places marked by the Nivellans. The city is very much imbedded into the core of everyone who resides in the world - it is marked by symbols, road markers, mythical stories and more.

The story feels very character-driven. By centering Aleya and Kirby (and eventually Nylophon), Idolfire paints a wondrous picture of three different perspectives, each coming from very different lands, undertaking the same journey. Aleya, the headstrong princess with aspirations to rule, fighting against the machinations of an arrogant council (and her uncle). Kirby from the World's End, a small village much further than anything you can think of, going on this journey for her brother. Nylophon of Cartha, a deadly mercenary soldier with a sad past. The three characters feel very distinct and that, for me, really cemented this book.

Oddly enough, I would say, even enjoying the worldbuilding as it is, I would have loved it even more if we had gotten more of that mysterious second person POV (no spoilers but when you read it, you will know what it is). I think it adds a certain charm to the book and I would have read chapters more from that perspective, especially if they were narrating the history of the world.

But all in all, Idolfire was a pretty good adventure fantasy and I am glad that I got to read it this early. I will definitely be getting a physical copy when it releases!

I went into Idolfire with some misconceptions (probably all of my own making) which altered my reading experience. Based on Grace Curtis' previous works I was expecting, if not an outright scifi novel, a fantasy novel which still leaned on those tropes. In contrast, Idolfire is closer to Robin Hobb than Grace Curtis' previous works. None of this is negative at all, but it meant that it took me a little longer to really become involved in the tale. The pacing meanders.slowly during the epic journey which makes up the majority of the plot, but falters slightly when it picks up speed for the ending, which felt rather rushed. I enjoyed Kirby and Aleya as characters, and particularly watching them learn to interact with and understand one another. However, I found it incredibly difficult to warm to Nylo, regardless of how much redemption or explanation for his character was given. This was an absorbing book, with fascinating world-building underpinning it - however, for me, it was a case of right book wrong time.