We Set the Dark on Fire
One of the classes that I teach at the junior high school is Latinos in Action. If you're not familiar, this is a wonderful organization and program that is meant to help our Latino students develop skills in academics, service, and leadership that will benefit them throughout their lives. This was our first year having a Latinos in Action class at our school and it's definitely been a learning process for both me and the students.
One of the projects that I set for them this year was that they read a novel by a Latino author. Latinos and other people of color have historically been underrepresented in books that are studied in English classes and considered "canon" in many literature courses. However, I know the importance of helping young people to see themselves in books and make connections with characters that have lives like theirs. I also teach English Language Learners at my school, the majority of whom are Latino, and I love seeing their faces light up when they know that the people in a book are just like them. It's also important for them to have successful Latino role models and there are so many amazing Latino authors out there creating these types of books.
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia is set in a fantasy dystopian society. The setting is painted in the first chapter by the story of the God of the Sun and the God of the Salt. The Sun God falls in love with the wise princess of the kingdom of Medio and marries her. However, the beautiful Moon Goddess falls in love with the Sun God and presents herself to him. The Sun God must then decide between the two women. His brother, the Salt God is enraged when the Sun God announces "that from that moment onward, the three of them would rule as one. Constancia, his equal, and the goddess his opposite." The two halves raged against each other and part of the land became cursed.
"From that day forward, for each of the Sun God's faithful servants, there would be two wives to serve him..At birth, the women of the island would be destined: One touched on her brow by Constancia for her wise and discerning nature, her quick wit and loyalty. The other would be kissed on her brow by the Moon Goddess for her beauty and bravery, for her nurturing warmth and the passion that lurked beneath." This is the story Daniela Vargas has been told and been working toward for the past 5 years. She is one of the top students at the Medio School for Girls and she is about to graduate and become the Primera, first wife to a wealthy young man who will keep her out of poverty. She has managed to hide the secret of her pedigree-being born into a lower class from everyone--until now.
She is suddenly thrust into her new life as a wife, all while being blackmailed and turned into a spy for the resistance, a group trying to break free from the reign of the wealthy over Medio. Dani will have to make some difficult decisions to try to keep her past a secret or help free the lower class.
I absolutely loved the world that this is set in. While there were some similarities to reality, the culture is completely different and it's a very interesting way of looking at how life could be different for us--especially as females. I found myself constantly wondering what I'd do in Dani's situation or if I had to live as the women did in this culture. It honestly made me kind of grateful for the state of relationships and marriage in our culture. It also made me reflect a lot on the disparities between social classes that do exist in our country that were very much like the ones in the book--the prejudice and problems that divide us.
I don't want to spoil too much but there is some solid LGBTQ representation which I found to be a little bit of a surprise in a setting ruled by such patriarchy..but, of course, "let rebellion burn." That makes up the majority of the romance in this book and reading those sections of the book were some of my favorites!
The female espionage in this book is also great. I love seeing the ways that people underestimate Dani and other women because of their gender. But so many times, it is ultimately the women in the book pulling the strings and calling the shots. We are constantly surprised with new revelations and twists and turns in the story. There's even a major cliffhanger at the end of the book which just leaves me yearning for the sequel.
The second book in the series just came out in February-- We Unleash the Merciless Storm. I definitely plan on purchasing when I get the opportunity!
This YA novel is great for lovers of Latinx literature, romance, LGBTQ representation, dystopian, and feminist adventure books! You can purchase a copy of We Set the Dark on Fire here.
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia is set in a fantasy dystopian society. The setting is painted in the first chapter by the story of the God of the Sun and the God of the Salt. The Sun God falls in love with the wise princess of the kingdom of Medio and marries her. However, the beautiful Moon Goddess falls in love with the Sun God and presents herself to him. The Sun God must then decide between the two women. His brother, the Salt God is enraged when the Sun God announces "that from that moment onward, the three of them would rule as one. Constancia, his equal, and the goddess his opposite." The two halves raged against each other and part of the land became cursed.
"From that day forward, for each of the Sun God's faithful servants, there would be two wives to serve him..At birth, the women of the island would be destined: One touched on her brow by Constancia for her wise and discerning nature, her quick wit and loyalty. The other would be kissed on her brow by the Moon Goddess for her beauty and bravery, for her nurturing warmth and the passion that lurked beneath." This is the story Daniela Vargas has been told and been working toward for the past 5 years. She is one of the top students at the Medio School for Girls and she is about to graduate and become the Primera, first wife to a wealthy young man who will keep her out of poverty. She has managed to hide the secret of her pedigree-being born into a lower class from everyone--until now.
She is suddenly thrust into her new life as a wife, all while being blackmailed and turned into a spy for the resistance, a group trying to break free from the reign of the wealthy over Medio. Dani will have to make some difficult decisions to try to keep her past a secret or help free the lower class.
I don't want to spoil too much but there is some solid LGBTQ representation which I found to be a little bit of a surprise in a setting ruled by such patriarchy..but, of course, "let rebellion burn." That makes up the majority of the romance in this book and reading those sections of the book were some of my favorites!
The female espionage in this book is also great. I love seeing the ways that people underestimate Dani and other women because of their gender. But so many times, it is ultimately the women in the book pulling the strings and calling the shots. We are constantly surprised with new revelations and twists and turns in the story. There's even a major cliffhanger at the end of the book which just leaves me yearning for the sequel.
The second book in the series just came out in February-- We Unleash the Merciless Storm. I definitely plan on purchasing when I get the opportunity!
This YA novel is great for lovers of Latinx literature, romance, LGBTQ representation, dystopian, and feminist adventure books! You can purchase a copy of We Set the Dark on Fire here.
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