**I received an ARC through a third party giveaway. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig
Release Date: September 25, 2018
My Rating: 4.5 stars
Summary: A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn between a merciless colonial army, a terrifying tyrant, and a feared rebel leader. The first book in a new trilogy from the acclaimed Heidi Heilig blends traditional storytelling with ephemera for a lush, page-turning tale of escape and rebellion. For a Muse of Fire will captivate fans of Sabaa Tahir, Leigh Bardugo, and Renée Ahdieh.
Jetta’s family is famed as the most talented troupe of shadow players in the land. With Jetta behind the scrim, their puppets seem to move without string or stick—a trade secret, they say. In truth, Jetta can see the souls of the recently departed and bind them to the puppets with her blood. But the old ways are forbidden ever since the colonial army conquered their country, so Jetta must never show, never tell. Her skill and fame are her family’s way to earn a spot aboard the royal ship to Aquitan, where shadow plays are the latest rage, and where rumor has it the Mad King has a spring that cures his ills. Because seeing spirits is not the only thing that plagues Jetta. But as rebellion seethes and as Jetta meets a young smuggler, she will face truths and decisions that she never imagined—and safety will never seem so far away.
Heidi Heilig creates a vivid, rich world inspired by Asian cultures and French colonialism. Her characters are equally complex and nuanced, including the bipolar heroine. Told from Jetta’s first-person point-of-view, as well as chapters written as play scripts and ephemera such as telegrams and letters, For a Muse of Fire is an engrossing journey that weaves magic, simmering romance, and the deep bonds of family with the high stakes of epic adventure.
The unique layout of the book definitely makes this book stand out. Much of it is told from Jetta's first-person point of view, but it switches to short play scripts, letters, and maps with sheet music between every section. I thought the play scripts in particular were really creative in that we could have a different perspective other than Jetta's without actually switching points of view. It definitely avoided the whole "technically this is someone else's perspective but it reads the same," which is a major pet peeve to me.
The music and maps also really added to the world building! Again, unfortunately I didn't get to see most of it, the lyrics are amazing. It really puts us in the mindset of the people in Jetta's world, and I love seeing the little parts of their life. I feel like music is something that isn't really brought up in high fantasies, but I feel like it should be, so I was really in love with the little details that Heidi Heilig added.
Speaking of world building, I love that Heidi wrote about colonialism and its effects on both countries. As a Vietnamese American, I really related to some of the things she wrote, as this book was based on France and Southeast Asia. So I very much appreciate that she wrote Jetta's story, a character whose country is no longer really their own.
And!! This book features an #ownvoices bipolar protagonist. I like how being bipolar is a large part of the story, as Jetta seeks a lithium spring in Aquitan, but not Jetta's entire character. We also get to see so many great, complex family relationships: Jetta and her parents, Leo and his siblings, etc. It's nice to remember that not all family relationships are so black and white.
The characters are stellar; I loved loved loved Jetta and Leo, as well as their interactions with each other. I love me some good banter, and Heidi knows how to write some chemistry. The plot is also so engrossing; you will never want to put this book down.
I will say that I heard that the main character in this novel was pansexual, but I don't think that was completely made apparent in the book? I might have missed it, so maybe that's just me. This isn't a big issue or anything, I was just expecting something explicit.
For a Muse of Fire is an enchanting and thrilling tale of familial relationships, dealing with mental illness, and steamy romance. I loved all of the characters so much; even when you want to scream at them, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, you'll love them all the same. The plot is fast-paced, making this book so un-put-downable. I can't wait for everyone to read this book and fall in love with it like I did.
You can also preorder the book and submit the proof to Heidi for the songs, sheet music, and a signed bookmark! I was lucky enough to win a giveaway, and I can sufficiently say that this is one of the best, most creative preorder prizes I've ever seen. You don't want to miss out on it!
I also played part of the song from way back when Heidi shared a snippet of the sheet music! You can check that video here, on my Twitter, or on my Instagram in the piano section of my highlights. I'm hoping to be able to sit down and play through the entirety of the song, and I can't wait to get the finished copy and play all of it! Hopefully I can record "La Lumiere" soon; if I do, I'll post it on my Twitter and my Instagram!
About the Author: Heidi grew up in Hawaii where she rode horses and raised peacocks, and then she moved to New York City and grew up even more, as one tends to do. Her favorite thing, outside of writing, is travel, and she has haggled for rugs in Morocco, hiked the trails of the Ko'olau Valley, and huddled in a tent in Africa while lions roared in the dark.
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