We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire

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.