I have to admit that when I first started reading Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller, I didn’t think I was going to enjoy it. The beginning felt a bit slow, and I found it difficult to follow along; I wasn’t sure where the plot was headed or even what the point of the story was. However, I am so glad I pushed through and kept reading. What I discovered was a gripping historical novel that I simply could not put down. Island on Fire is set in Saint-Pierre, Martinique, right at the foot of the sup...

Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller is a little different from the type of historical fiction I usually read, mostly because of the setting, but there was something about this book that really grabbed my attention. Volcanoes, voodoo, and a cheating fiancé give this story a little something extra. The setting is Martinique in 1902, and the plot centers around the eruption of the volcano that devastated the island, resulting in the tragic loss of 30,000 lives. The geologists at the time believed t...

In Island on Fire, Sophie Schiller paints a vivid picture of a society where, much like the volcano looming over them, there is a volatile pressure building beneath the surface. This tension stems from a collision of commercial and political schemes and the persistence of voodoo traditions in an era supposedly defined by modern science and reason.Despite clear warning signs, those in power choose to ignore the volcanic threat, prioritizing the fear of public panic over the genuine risk to life a...

In 1902, the Caribbean island of Martinique, a French territory, was devastated by the eruption of Mt. Pelée, which scorched the city of Saint-Pierre and claimed 30,000 lives. Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller is set during the final two weeks leading up to the catastrophic eruption on May 8. Several storylines unfold: Emilie, the beautiful daughter of a struggling cocoa planter, desperately wants to break off her engagement to Lucien, a wealthy but detestable sugar plantation owner, and seeks h...

Following up on 2015's Race to Tibet, Sophie Schiller has produced another well-crafted and thoroughly researched historical adventure, this time shifting the action from the frozen Himalayas to tropical Martinique. As with her previous work, she brings to vivid life another historical event I was totally unfamiliar with—I can't wait to see where she takes us next! This historical fiction novel is a must-read for anyone who loves immersive, fact-based storytelling. The book is especially effect...

The thriller tale of Emile, the naive young plantation woman, caught in the trap of an arranged marriage she thought she wanted, keeps you wondering right to the end—does she make it? Sophie Schiller builds the suspense and keeps you guessing in Island on Fire. Historical fiction often has to combat the fact that, historically, we know in a broad sense how the story ends—the eruption of Mt. Pelée in Martinique destroys the town, and practically everyone with it. Schiller structures it so that yo...

Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller is a gripping historical novel centered on the devastating 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée on the exotic island of Martinique. The author masterfully weaves together the lives of two protagonists as they hurtle toward the inevitable catastrophe. Emilie Dujon, the spirited daughter of a plantation owner, begins to realize that her engagement is a terrible mistake once she sees the true colors of her fiancé. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Denis Rémy, a committed soldier, stru...

A fantastically gripping tale of love, loss, bravery, and redemption. Mixed in with some voodoo, assholery, and greed. Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller is, by all accounts, a must-read book that belongs at the top of your reading list.

Historical ThrillerThe author does a magnificent job of weaving facts with fictional characters to tell the true story of the eruption of Mount Pelée at the turn of the century. Sophie Schiller weaves visual impressions with her prose that are among the best I've ever read. I can see, smell, and taste the story as it unfolds. There is no question in my mind as to why Island on Fire was chosen by Amazon Press for publication; it also gives me quality insight as to why my novel, Evolution of a Kil...

Island on Fire by Sophie Schiller is a Kindle Scout book I picked up after it won the campaign. Honestly, it’s not usually my go-to genre, but it looked like a winner, so I gave it a shot. I was genuinely surprised and happy that I actually enjoyed it—being historical fiction definitely helped pull me in. The story follows a girl dealing with a cheating, low-life boyfriend. Naturally, she heads to a voodoo priestess—because why not, right? That’s exactly the first thing I look for in the Yellow ...