2.5 stars 
 Before I picked up this book, I already saw many people comparing this to the Hunger Games or complaining elements were 'copied' from the Hunger Games. This didn't really bother me, as I've never read that series and only saw the first movie. What drew my intention to this book were the comparisons made to Pokemon. 
 I went into this book expecting it to be a light, fun, fast paced read with interesting creatures. It was fast paced, but it was too childish for my taste and I had trouble believing that the main character was sixteen years old. Also, the element of the creatures, the Pandora, was what lacked most for me. I imagined candidates to train their creatures, but it all seemed a bit random, the Pandora didn't add much to the story and not much explanation was given about them. The characters also didn't come across as 'real' somehow. The contest itself was also not very believable: if I compare it to the movie of the Hunger Games that I've seen, the idea behind the contest was much better explained there and even more believable. In Fire & Flood, Tella (the MC) has never even heard of the contest and just decides to drive across the USA and participate. Her parents obviously know what's going on but don't say anything and her mother doesn't make much of an effort trying to stop her. In the contest there are also participants of 6 or 8 years old. The entire thing is just so unbelievable. 
 Somehow I did finish this book, just because it was so short and fast paced. But the characters and plot were way too unbelievable for my taste.