This is an absolute masterpiece. The third of three novellas all standalone but with a common thread. John Boyne is so talented and if I could give this a bonus star I would. I’d recommend reading the first two in this series and then await the final book! Whilst waiting read The Heart’s Invisible Furies as that is another unbelievable book. It’s a long one and an absolute must.

Fire is the third in Boyne’s Elements Quartet. Like its predecessors, Water and Earth, it is a darkly compelling and unnerving, though short, read. You could easily read Fire as a standalone book, but threads linking this book to its predecessors enrich the overall narrative. I advise reading them in order: Water, Earth, Fire, Air. Fire centres on cold, aloof, 36-year-old Freya, a renowned plastic surgeon specialising in burns. With this comes the trappings of wealth—a penthouse flat and flashy sports car. But Freya did not come from a life of privilege; no, hers was a childhood of discontent and neglect. At twelve, one summer brought a whole new level of fear and trauma upon her. And now she is out to seek revenge, and hers is an extremely dark path of retribution spiralling into a sinister realm that contrasts sharply with her caring profession. Was this cataclysmic childhood moment enough to turn her into a monster, or was she always destined to be that person? Was she born with cruelty in her heart, or did something force it into being? As with the previous books in the series, the symbolism of the ‘element’ plays a significant role—fire is a life-sustaining element, but it has fierce destructive power, a devastating blaze that could easily destroy everything and everyone in its path. Fire is a chillingly disturbing examination of the complexities that contribute to what makes a human being. However, the story is cloaked in such a suffocating level of horror that it makes for highly uncomfortable reading. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it; I did, but Boyne has delved deep into the darkest corners of the psyche here, and it's utterly chilling. Consider yourselves warned, there are multiple trigger warnings. 4.5⭐ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

As the third in the John Boyne Elements quartet Fire is not a comfortable read. Told from the point of view of Freya a successful doctor and specialist in burns we learn of her childhood and how that appears to have affected the decisions she makes now in her personal life. A difficult book to review as spoilers would hinder the ‘enjoyment’ of this novel. The story once again deals with abuse and the role that nature versus nurture takes in behaviour and decisions that are made by the characters. As already stated this is not a comfortable read at times and I really wanted a friend with whom I could discuss the issues raised. This book as well as the others in this quartet is not afraid to deal with difficult and often taboo themes and topics. It could be read as a standalone but I think probably best read with the others in the series as threads and characters do appear in several of the books.

Fire is the third in John Boyne's Elements quartet. Having read Water and Earth already, I was prepared for a hard-hitting read but I thought Fire was probably the most powerful so far. Freya Petrus is a brilliant surgeon, working with patients who have been badly burned. She's rich, beautiful and clever, but there's something deep in her past that has affected her so completely that it's coloured her actions throughout her life since. Make no mistake about it, this is quite a disturbing novella. It asks questions about nature vs nurture. Are we pre-destined to be the way we are or do events in our life, especially in childhood, shape us? I don't know the answer but this book certainly made me think. At times I understood where Freya's actions were coming from but then was utterly horrified at the outcome. I felt the author intended the lines to be blurred. There are themes running through all the novellas and some of the characters from the previous ones are mentioned in or appear in Fire. They're all cleverly weaved together with similar thorny subjects popping up about consent and the effects of childhood trauma. It's impressive that such a short read can invoke so many emotions in the reader, but then, having read many of John Boyne's books, I know that this is what he does so well. Boyne is a writer at the top of his game. Fire is a superb novella. I'm now eagerly awaiting Air which focuses on Aaron, Freya's intern.

Wow, what a book. I loved this from beginning to end. It raised all manner of feelings and emotions, from empathy, to discomfort and shock. The characters were fantastic. I read this in a day. Looking forward to finishing the series of these books.