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.

Just when you think it can't get any darker than Earth and Water, John Boyne gives us Fire. My jaw dropped open quite early on and didn't close until the end. Fire is the story of Freya, a surgeon with a great reputation. She is beautiful, wealthy and seems to have everything anyone would desire. However, her past is what drives her private life, which is not at all what you'd expect. The question is, will what happened to her as a child mean she can never live a normal life. I certainly didn't expect any of what happened in this book. Boyne takes the shocks to a new level and I was completely blindsided by the end. it may be short but its incredibly powerful. Loved it. Highly recommended. You don't need to read the first two to enjoy this but why wouldn't you - they were excellent too - and there are parts of Fire that hark back to both Earth and Water. I'm really looking forward to Air. Thankyou very much to Penguin Random House for the advance review copy. Very much appreciated.

This series is incredible. Fire is a very dark and uncomfortable read. Freya appears to be a successful surgeon with a beautiful home, and an apparently lovely life. However, Freya had a terrible childhood because of her dysfunctional family, and experienced some brutal abuse. Freya is still seeking revenge on the boys who harmed her. I felt so sorry for her, but that doesn't excuse her behaviour. The writing is brilliant and I couldn't put the book down. I look forward to Air. Thank you to NetGalley for the preview copy.

Fire is the third book in John Boyne’s Elements series. A traumatic incident, perpetrated by the fourteen-year-old twin sons of her mother’s landlord when she was twelve, sees burns unit specialist Dr Freya Petrus exacting a sort of revenge by proxy on other fourteen-year-old boys she encounters until, with one boy, it seems to backfire rather badly. After a childhood that no one would envy, Freya is now a wealthy, respected surgeon with a beautiful home and a flash car. She doesn’t put up with the boy’s shenanigans for too long: she takes care of it, coldly and efficiently, the way she has always handled things. But maybe she’s in for a surprise… This story is loosely linked to the first two stories in the series by the mention of Evan Keogh and his fate, and the appearance of Rebecca Corvin, daughter of Vanessa and Brendan. A dark and compelling tale with a chilling twist. This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld.

Fire is the third instalment in the gripping Elements quartet, it explores the dark and disturbing life of Freya, a successful burns surgeon. This novella is NOT for the faint of heart—it tackles issues of trauma, abuse, and moral ambiguity that could be triggering for some readers. Fire is a powerful and thought-provoking book, it’s perfect for readers who appreciate dark psychological reads, it is however also an unsettling read.