“Even if you know nothing about the Commune of Paris or the Franco-Prussian War (before reading this, I certainly didn’t), Lydia Syson’s incredible worldbuilding will have you feeling as if you’re right there with them—running through the streets and crying revolution while Paris is burning.”

Barnes and Noble recommendations for Sarah Waters fans

“Lydia Syson does another fine job of bringing to life sometimes neglected periods of the past. . .the detail is great. . .” The Telegraph

“a brilliant milieu for such a story, at a time and place that feel familiar – through stories of the French Revolution and Les Misérables – but which are both distinct and novel. Political ideas and agency are broached; themes of personal, class and gender liberation are all developed in an incident-packed plot. The main protagonists are faced with decisions of moral ambivalence relevant today…an unusual mixture of hard-hitting story-telling and subtle discourse on adolescence – and on the courage needed to face an uncertain world. Highly recommended.” Historical Novels Review

“an inspired setting for this tense, dramatic novel. . . The writing is powerful, the events terrifying.” The Bookbag

“a dramatic story filled with tragedy and heroism. Syson’s protagonists are very real, not least in their fallibilities. Jules and Antoine, Zéphyrine and Marie are young people we recognise and understand – even when their actions may be less than heroic, for history is never black or white. The Parisian setting is vivid and immediate. The reader is there on the barricades cheering for the Commune. While the Tudors and Victorians may hold a continuing fascination, it is novels like this that open the eyes and imagination to a wider history. Highly recommended.”  Books for Keeps 

“a thrilling and passionate plot perfect for the teenager in your life.” Counterfire

“this exciting and unflinching novel is a hugely satisfying read – and a fascinating one too.” Absolutely Dulwich magazine

“powerful and complex…historical fiction at its best: opening a window on the past and showing a moment that has echoes and resonances with our own troubled times.” Ann Turnbull, An Awfully Big Blog Adventure

“[A] thrilling, daring love story set against the backdrop of the Paris Commune. Known for bringing neglected historical periods to life for her teenage audience, Syson’s passionate account of the lives of four youths during those dramatic seventy-two days in 1871 is a riveting yarn. With bullets flying and hearts throbbing, she lucidly portrays the historical context and complications, the high hopes and thwarted aims of the first democratically elected socialist government, and its rapid unravelling. Seamlessly and refreshingly integrated into the taught plot is the ample participation of women – leaders and populace alike – in the Commune. She also weaves into the story numerous issues facing women, such as poverty, prostitution, and political disenfranchisement, all of which reverberate with our own times. A wonderful, inspiring Communarde leader known as the ‘Red Virgin’ pops up throughout the novel; we learn in Syson’s Historical Afterward that she is based on the real-life revolutionary Louise Michel. In 1890 Michel fled Paris for London to escape police harassment, founding an international anarchist school in Fitzroy Street where Syson’s great-great-grandmother taught. The story of Michel’s heroics was the spark igniting Syson’s novel. Vive les grand-mères!” Jenny McPhee at Bookslut

“Liberty’s Fire is perfect for fans of Lydia Syson’s previous novels: she has written another beautifully evocative, fascinating historical epic which had me enthralled from the opening pages.” We Love This Book

“Highly recommended…written with passion, strength and inspiration…Historical fiction at its best, it’s fascinatingly and carefully crafted making it well worth reading and discussing.” Readplus

“[A] truly extraordinary book. Syson brings this pivotal moment in French history into glorious life.” The Review Diaries

“seriously exciting reading” Serendipity Reviews

“shocking and fascinating and just hugely emotional…a roller coaster” Fluttering Butterflies

“This book is a historical gem…tense, moving and written deeply from the heart . . . Be inspired and read it.” Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books

“gripping…I got swept away with the characters and the situations they were all in: unrequited love, family, dreaming of a better life. . . The Pewter Wolf

“Lydia . . . writes my sort of historical fiction . . . well-researched with a brilliant attention to detail . . . all in all a fascinating read.” The Overflowing Library

“The characters were so strong and different. I don’t think there was a character I didn’t like! The historical backdrop was really vividly written…a beautiful tale of French rebellion.” The Whispering of the Pages

“[A] fascinating YA historical, which is about friendships and love, but also about deciding what it is worth to fight for and when to take a stand. I had a fantastic time with Lydia Syson’s latest and while it was written for a young adult audience, I think there is plenty here to appeal to adult readers as well.” A Fantastical Librarian

“I could not put it down”; “I loved the book so much”; “I would recommend this book as it did not just focus upon history, the story also allowed for the reader to go on a journey which explores the individuals of the history rather than just the events themselves. This is important to me as I enjoy learning about the impact of events upon the people, rather than just the event itself. In my history lessons we do not study about Paris in the nineteenth century so this gave me an opportunity to consider different histories which otherwise I would not know. The different twists and turns of this book made it gripping and exciting read. I would recommend this book and I would really like to read another book by Lydia Syson.” Young Quills Reviewers at The Historical Association