Review: Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott
304 Pages
Release Date: February 25th, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic
Genre: Sci-fi/Adventure
Rating: 4 STARS

Goodreads Summary:
A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own. 

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Exceeding my expectations, Fire and Flood had me captivated throughout the entire novel. I'm not exactly sure the exact genre I would place this book in, because it has this adventure/contemp feel to it but at the same time the Pandoras and the tech used in the race is basically sci-fi. I loved the idea of a race and how everyone has the same motivation: get the cure to save the one you love. I've never seen races like these ever really written in YA and I loved reading a new kind of book with an original plot and premise to it. 

Then there are the Pandoras: basically my favorite aspect of this book. Someone give me a Pandora plush animal for my birthday or special occasion and I shall love you forever. They're so adorable and I love how loyal they are to their owner. With an awesome name and a variety of kinds with different abillities, it was just adorable seeing them become characters in the book and not a prop used for the plot. Maddox is the best thing ever. I want a Maddox. 

Tella was a pretty cool character and it was nice seeing her character develop and adapt to the race. She wasn't perfect but through the race, she was able to learn and get over the fact that she was in luxury anymore. She was a character that was easy to get along with and talk to. I did think she was tiny bit dense on some subject matter though. Guy was awesome :D I loved his brooding and mysterious character. The way he would be nice and provide help to Tella in an unknowingly and not so nice manner was just hilarious to read about. Observant and perceptive, he provided the base and foundation for their alliance group. Speaking of their alliance group, Harper the leader was a character you normally would hate in a novel but is actually the one to guide everyone, and her bluntness allows her to gain respect from others. 

With small twists you'll never see coming and action packed, Fire and Flood reached my expectations. The background of the race which is told later in the story helps bring the foundation of the book and plot as everyone race their way to save the one they love and how far some were willing to go for it. Definitely one for all YA readers but will most probably attract those who love reading sci-fi, thrillers, and paranormal novels. Happy Readings!