We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire
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15
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Average rating3
From the author of the acclaimed Blood Water Paint, a new contemporary YA novel in prose and verse about a girl struggling with guilt and a desire for revenge after her sister's rapist escapes with no prison time. Em Morales's older sister was raped by another student after a frat party. A jury eventually found the rapist guilty on all counts--a remarkable verdict that Em felt more than a little responsible for, since she was her sister's strongest advocate on social media during the trial. Her passion and outspokenness helped dissuade the DA from settling for a plea deal. Em's family would have real justice. But the victory is short-lived. In a matter of minutes, justice vanishes as the judge turns the Morales family's world upside down again by sentencing the rapist to no prison time. While her family is stunned, Em is literally sick with rage and guilt. To make matters worse, a news clip of her saying that the sentence makes her want to learn "how to use a sword" goes viral. From this low point, Em must find a new reason to go on and help her family heal, and she finds it in the unlikely form of the story of a fifteenth-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de Bressieux, who is legendary as an avenging knight for rape victims. We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is a searing and nuanced portrait of a young woman torn between a persistent desire for revenge and a burning need for hope.
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Read for Tarot Readathon 2021: 3 of Swords
We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is a story about the patriarchy and rape culture that includes a story within a story. The main storyline is written in first person, which follows Em Morales after her older sister's rape trial. The rapist was found guilty but was sentenced to no prison time, which enraged Em even more. Em's perspective shows how rape not only affects the survivors but also the people around those survivors. It also shows how that speaking out against rapists and pursuing legal action permanently affects the survivors and their families.
To escape from her reality and release her emotions about the situation, Em begins writing a medieval story about a feminist figure in history. Parts of the story she is writing are included in the book and are written in verse.
I loved the messages in here so much espeically and as a survivor, I believe the representation was very well done. I really connected to Em in the sense that when I'm extremely passionate about an issue, I will go to the ends of the earth to do what I can to make a difference. I also appreciated seeing how supportive Em's family was, not only to her sister but to her and her friend. Em gains a non-binary friend through this story whose parents are going through a divorce, so those issues are also talked about. I am not non-binary or have parents who have been divorced so I can't speak on that representation so I would definitely check out own voices reviewers.
Another bit of representation is that Em's father is Guatemalan and that is sprinkled in but again I can't speak on that representation and I know that the author is not at all Guatemalan so I don't know if how the culture in this book was portrayed, is accurate.
Despite really enjoying the messages and themes throughout this book, I really started to disconnect from is when more of the story Em was writing got included. Towards the middle of the book, half of the story began to be just that. I honestly didn't really care about that portion of the story and honestly was confused on what was going on most of the time.
I also do think this is still a bit of a white-washed version of feminism, and there is a lot more to rape culture in the patriarchy when people are a part of a minority, and while Em and her sister are having Guatemalan, that was not really discussed in regards to rape culture, and how they are more susceptible.
I still did enjoy this story and would definitely recommend it for younger readers, maybe around the ages of 15-16, who are just starting to witness these issues. I think it goes into a lot of nuances not discussed much and could be really helpful for those trying to understand the complexities of rape culture.
Thank you to Dutton Books, Joy McCullough, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This mix of a contemporary tale and historical fiction in verse is EXTREMELY MY JAM surprising no one.
I appreciated the look at the ripple effects of sexual assault through an entire family and the guilt and pain that Em feels after Nor's rapist serves no time. Em's discovery and then obsession with Marguerite de Bressiueax is fascinating and I was also pretty bummed to find out she is maybe just a legend. But I chose to believe she's real and found Nor's speech to Em about her really amazing. .
If you liked Blood Water Paint or think women should have fucking swords, this is for you.
