"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a burn for a burn. A life for a life." (Mary Zane)
I read the first book in the Burn for Burn trilogy three years ago. When my school library ordered these books, I didn't know whether to continue with the series or not. But I decided to give this series a try and I'm so glad that I did.
The three main characters in the story are Lillia, Kat and Mary. The story is told from each of these character's POVs and the characters have their own personality and voice shining through. Lillia is the do-good queen bee. Kat is the bad girl. Mary is sweet and shy. My favourite POV was Lillia's. None of the characters in Fire with Fire are stereotypical, but Lillia is the most fleshed out of them all. I especially loved the story-line that she was given and will explain more about that later on in my review. I'm also a sucker for narrations that are filled with toughness, humour and sarcasm and Kat was definitely an amazing voice. My least favourite POV was Mary. It wasn't her personality that ruined it for me, but it was the story-line that she was given. I will also be explaining this later on.
The relationship between Reeve and Lillia sold this book for me. Even although the relationship is fake on one side, the chemistry between them was creating a serious fire (pun intended). What? Douchy Reeve from Burn for Burn? There are only a handful of books where my feelings for the jerk has changed and this book is part of that handful. Reeve stopped being the character that I loathed with a fierce passion and started to become a character that I loved. The best thing was that his personality didn't change at all. He's still the same guy, but he is showing a vulnerable and softer side. I shipped him and Lila with the fire of a thousand suns! (once again, pun intended!)
Even although this book is largely contemporary, there is a small part of it that is paranormal. However, these parts felt awkward and stuck out like a sore thumb. It was the paranormal aspect that I disliked in the first book and completely hated in the second. Mary does some freaky paranormal things and I would have accepted it more if it was explained or if my questions related to Mary and her paranormality was properly answered.
Fire with Fire is one of the best YA revenge books that I have ever read about. It's fast-paced with fantabulous fleshed out characters and a shippable romance. If you thought the ending of Burn for Burn was bad, try the ending of Fire with Fire. It made me want to flame something in order to read Ashes to Ashes.