We Set the Dark on Fire

This is largely my fault. I had a feeling that We Set the Dark on Fire was not for me. The description didn't hold much interest for me and I am trying to read more stuff outside of YA. But I am also currently making an effort to read more from writers of color, particularly Latinx writers. That means reading stuff that I wouldn't normally gravitate towards. Not to mention, there seems to be a much talked about influx of Latinx writers in the YA market, which has always been decidedly more diverse and adventurous than the adult market. So to untested waters I go, and so far....it does not seem to be going well.

We Set the Dark on Fire is a dystopia set in its most privileged realm, and Daniela Vargas, a girl from the other side of the wall, has found a way not only in, but to the top. Educated at a school where young girls train to be wives of the upper class' sons, she is married off to Mateo Garcia, a politico with designs to be the next ruler, along with her long-time rival, Carmen. If Dani has shaped herself into the perfect Primera - the wife that represents her husband's intellectual equal and partner - Carmen is the quintessential Segunda - the beautiful, compassionate lover. Naturally, they would be coveted by the same family. Once married though, Dani realizes that Mateo has no intention of giving her an ounce of responsibility or power in the household, and as such Carmen and Dani, despite their years of conflict, begin to gravitate towards each other. On top of it all, a rebel group, La Voz, knows Dani's humble origins and threatens to out her if she does not help their insurgency against the oppressive government that she has worked so hard to be a part of.

There was a little thrill that happened where I realized I was reading about a world based in Latinx cultures. The names, the foods, the appearances left me with a feeling of comfort and excitement that I don't get to experience most of the time in fantasy as a Latina. But once that passed, I had very little to hold on to. There was no sense of atmosphere, the prose left absolutely no impression on me. Daniela is difficult to attach to. I couldn't engage with either side of her - the dedicated part that propelled her to the top of her class, or the part that misses the life she left behind. Daniela never asked for this, and if she had been she would have preferred to live a humble life in the small town where she grew up. She doesn't give a damn about being wealthy or powerful. She does it out of obligation, and she's capable of doing it a level that no one else can. Supposedly. Because, as it turns out, there isn't anything particularly special about how Dani conducts herself.

See, when you're dealing with the upper crust of society, the devil is in the tiniest of details. Everything is sideways. Everything is about manners or lack thereof. This is one of the reasons why I'm starting to really enjoy historical fiction - nothing is said explicitly, and yet one could dish out the worst of insults or the grandest of compliments in extremely subtle ways. It's infuriating yet deeply entertaining. This book is not subtle. This book is a sledgehammer dragging artlessly on the ground. Mejia's way of portraying Dani's Primera skills is boring clothes and superficial conversations with other Primeras. In the over 200+ pages I read, there was little sign of the clever, manipulative powerhouse that Dani was supposed to be.

Likewise, Carmen is presented as vain at first, but is over time revealed to be more down-to-earth. But I'm not sure how Carmen's vanity would have made her a good Segunda. It seems like a very immature way to portray a character that is supposed to be, by definition, emotionally intelligent. And the bond that develops between Dani and Carmen didn't feel organic at all. I would have preferred if they had actually accomplished something together to build their relationship, rather than wandering into each other's rooms when they're bored and ogling each other. And the rebel plot is mostly negligible - it is dutifully ever present in the whole story but carries little weight. Much like everything else in Dani's life - from her education, to her marriage - Dani has no options other than to do what she has been told. I have little idea what Dani really wants so I was perpetually frustrated with this story.

I was hoping to like this despite my initial misgivings, but I think this story was told in the wrong way. It would have made a lot more sense as an adult novel, and would have benefited a lot from deeper texture in the setting and in the characters. As a dystopia, it is neither frightening or alluring, and Dani, who has been plopped into this world with little choice or agency, provides nothing in making it feel more real or grounded. Considering how many boxes it checks - girl/girl romance, Latinx setting - this would have been an extremely satisfying home run if it had been good, but sadly this was a dud.