Why do they need gladiators? Cause the gods are pricks who keep fighting among themselves and gambling away resources, but instead of fighting in full blown wars (and killing a TON of soldiers) they pick their gladiators and basically have them fight each other. So because Madoc is so good at fighting he got approached by a sort of coach who was like “hey you divine and you fight well, come be trained as a gladiator!” Madoc has no choice but to say “fiiiine” so he can get paid.

Until that same guy comes a knocking and just because he can takes his sister as a servant and tells the boys “come up with x amount of money if you WANT TO BUY HER BACK FROM ME”. His brother is an earth bender earth mover thing, and together they scam the SOB “leader” who is trying to take away the money from the poor. He is undivine–an ordinary among the extraordinary. I was into Madoc, in a number of ways, he seemed the right amount of cocky and sweet, with iron fists (figuratively) and a grin to boot. SO–I really enjoyed the beginning of Set Fire to the Gods. The fights put Madoc in Ash’s path, and she realizes that his powers are the weapon her rebellion needs-but Madoc won’t jeopardize his family, regardless of how intrigued he is by the beautiful warrior.īut when the gods force Madoc’s hand, he and Ash uncover an ancient war that will threaten more than one immortal-it will unravel the world. When an attempted revenge plot goes dangerously wrong, Ash inadvertently throws the fire and earth gods into a conflict that can only be settled by deadly, lavish gladiator games. His elemental gift is something else-something that hasn’t been seen in centuries. But he hides a dangerous secret: he doesn’t have the earth god’s powers like his opponents.

Madoc grew up fighting on the streets to pay his family’s taxes. But after her mother dies in an arena, she vows to avenge her by overthrowing her fire god, whose temper has stripped her country of its resources. Ash is descended from a long line of gladiators, and she knows the brutal nature of war firsthand.

Set Fire to the Gods by Sara Raasch