Fire: The powerful and compelling novel from the bestselling author of The Heart's Invisible Furies

· Random House
1 review
Ebook
176
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About this ebook

'An exhilarating read' Spectator
‘Unsettling and utterly compelling’ Woman and Home
‘incredibly well-written’ Good Housekeeping
'Hypnotically clean, clear prose... powerful and memorable' Irish Times
'You will hurtle through the book, because it is such a compelling story' Irish Examiner
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From internationally bestselling author John Boyne, a challenging and visceral narrative that asks the question: can one cataclysmic moment turn someone into a monster?

On the face of it, Freya lives a gilded existence, dancing solely to her own tune. She has all the trappings of wealth and privilege, a responsible job as a surgeon specialising in skin grafts, a beautiful flat in a sought-after development, and a flash car. But it wasn’t always like this. Hers is a life founded on darkness.

Did what happened to Freya as a child one fateful summer influence the adult she would become – or was she always destined to be that person? Was she born with cruelty in her heart or did something force it into being?

In Fire, John Boyne takes the reader on a chilling, uncomfortable but utterly compelling psychological journey to the epicentre of the human condition, asking the age-old question: nurture – or nature?
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Praise for John Boyne

'One of the greatest craftsmen in contemporary literature' Colum McCann
'Among the world's greatest storytellers' Donal Ryan
'One of the most assured novelists of his generation' Observer

Irish Times bestseller, May 2024

'An exhilarating read' Spectator ‘Unsettling and utterly compelling’ Woman and Home ‘incredibly well-written’ Good Housekeeping 'Hypnotically clean, clear prose... powerful and memorable' Irish Times 'You will hurtle through the book, because it is such a compelling story' Irish Examiner ______ F...

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Ratings and reviews

1 review
Karl O'Reilly
May 7, 2026
Of 'The Elements' series, thus far, this has been the most difficult, most macabre novel to read. All of the characters are so unlikeable; it's like 'Jaws' by Peter Benchley. Nevertheless, I really admire how John Boyne is making each story connect to the other, thus far. This novel is the third of 'The Elements' series, and it comes highly recommended from me, overall.
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About the author

John Boyne is the author of sixteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, a picture book and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart’s Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes, including most recently both the 2025 Prix Femina Étranger and the Prix du Roman FNAC in France for The Elements. His novels are published in sixty languages.Twitter: @JohnBoyne Instagram: @JohnBoyneAuthor
John Boyne is the author of sixteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, a picture book and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet and opera. His many inter...

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