Darach Gravenor is a keeper of blue Fire. He is alone in his world and he wants to rescue his friend Kian from the horrors of the Other World. Only one group of people have magic strong enough to help him cross from his world to where Kian is. Cariad.
Ceithin Morgan is Cariad. Strong with Ancient magic he teaches Darach that not all children's fairy stories should be believed. Ceithin has his own reasons for helping Darach and shows Darach that there is magic that he never even knew existed.
They are living on borrowed time. Guardian knows what they are doing and he is coming for Ceithin. Darach and Ceithin have two choices -- do they run, or do they make their stand together?
RJ Scott writes heartwarming, passionate MM/gay romance stories where every man finds his happily ever after. When not writing, she enjoys reading books, watching movies, spending time with her family, following Formula 1 (Forza Ferrari!), and cheering on the Pittsburgh Penguins. Email her here: rj@rjscott.co.uk
I really liked Kian a lot but this one was just amazing. It was the perfect follow up for Kian and really developed the world.
I loved the characters, especially Ceithin *dreamy sigh* I really liked the role water played in this book, specifically the scenes where the water was dripping off of Ceithin... I am a visual person but i couldn't pick just one visual to go with so here are 4:
As is to be expected for a trilogy, this middle volume can be summarized by “the plot thickens”. Darach and Ceithin’s story provides the bridge between the opening volleys of the battle I saw in book one, and what is sure to be a cataclysmic finale in book three. It also takes place in Kian’s old home realm, and I loved finding out more of the details of how those with Fire live, how their world is different from our version of Earth, what their issues are, and how Kian’s friend Darach is dealing with being all on his own. The short answer is “not well”, but the truth is a lot more complicated than that.
Darach may have found his fire, which is blue, but he has no clue what to do with it. He wasn’t able to go to our Earth with Kian because he was too young and without his magik, but now that he has matured, so to speak, he is determined to follow his friend. Not having received any training, he runs off half-cocked, following his instincts to find the one person he knows from Kian’s journal can help. A Cariad, outcast from society in the City, has taught Kian what to do, and as forbidden as any contact with the Cariad is, Darach will not be denied. Of course, his youthful impetuousness gets him into even more trouble, but he is just courageous enough to not care.
Ceithin is a Cariad, a section of the Fire world’s population that lives with Ancient magic, the way it used to be. They have exiled themselves from society in the City and follow their own rules, living in the Valley. Their magic is older and deeper, and for some reason that I am hoping will be explained in book three, they are despised and regarded as dangerous by the ruling council. Despite all that, Ceithin confronts the council, setting in motion a set of events that had me on the edge of my seat. Some questions are answered, but more secrets remain. Ceithin will have to figure out how to get what he wants, and after showing Darach some of the old secrets, it looks as though he won’t be doing it on his own.
If you like speculative fiction with old powers, secrets, and power struggles between worlds, if two men too proud to admit they belong together seem like interesting characters, and if you’re looking for a read that only increases the stakes of the battle against evil, then you will probably enjoy this second book of he trilogy. Just be ready for a cliffhanger, one that definitely has me looking forward to the third installment!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
The story was okay even if everything stayed unsolved. It was enjoyable to see Kian and Regan again, too. But this second pair, Darach and Ceithin, felt forced. Their communication was full of bickering and the bonding at the end felt forced. In my opinion the plot in this second book has to many holes. I didn't much like it. Here we have a bland story with week plot. Maybe the third book in this series will be better, this one is nearly bad.
An amazing book to follow Kian. While Kian was focused here and gave us only a glimpse of the Otherworld, Darach takes us there. I can't wait to read Eoin.
This second installment of The Fire Trilogy was pretty good. Darach is Kian's best friend and stuck back on their home world. It was brought out in this book that Kian, Darach and their dead friend, Eoin, were prophesied about. Darch comes across a prisoner, Ceithin, that was being held by the council and aids in his escape. The two men travel back to Ceithin's people where Darach learns more truths than he really wants to know. This book should have taken more time explaining the mysterious council and Ceithin's fire wielding people in my opinion. I'm a big fan of Ms Scott's writing but good fantasy takes a lot detail and this trilogy just isn't carrying itself.
Darach added what Kian couldnt provide me in the beginning - the depth of the plot. Even though the plot couldnt be expended in Darach but at least the understanding of what,why and how the happening (trilogy) comes about. In fact, I appreciate Darach more than Kian and couldnt wait the end of this trilogy. The reason I couldnt give it a 4 stars, it is just too short for me to appreciate the characters. Sort of like "wish it could have been more" type of thing.
A good follow up to the first book in the series. There is a cliffhanger at the end but since the third book is out already it shouldn't really bother anyone. I would have liked to have felt a bit more wooing/light flirtatious action from Darach and Ceithin but even with the light subtle hints of feelings building between them it was a good read. The plot thickens and readers are introduced to Eoin in this one.
This a 2 - 3 star so again I will probably be changing stars around. I don't think I was as into the romance in this second book; however, the story arc itself is interesting so I will definitely be getting the conclusion to the trilogy.
More of a 3.75, the overall story was really good, I just couldn't connect with Darach and Ceithin as a couple...Still I can't wait for the last installment.
This trilogy should have been one book. Nothing really happened here. More information was revealed about the characters but it was so little, it didn’t even feel like a third of a story. I suspect the next installment, like the last, will feel just as unfulfilling. The plot was predictable and while I find the fire idea interesting and most of the book was spent either discussing or training with it, I didn’t feel like it completely came together for me.
If I’m going to read the next one, I need to do so now before I forget what these two books are about.
My Rating: 4 of 4 Stars (Based on Short&Light Read Category)
This is the second book to the Fire Trilog and it continues the story that started out with Kian's Hunter. In this installment, we are taken back into the strange world where fire and magic dictate the destinies for those who carry them. In this world, the bond of two is strong, but in Kian's and now, Darach's, case, they had a bond of three, considered to be the strongest of the strongest. But the bond was broken when Eioin, the one who had the amber fire, was consumed by it, never to be seen alive again.
When Kian crossed over to find his Hunter, he crossed into a world where Demon's were becoming more powerful and there was a desperate need to stop the inevitable. On their home world, Darach found himself alone and unable to control his fire. When he heard there was a Cariad captured, he went out to save the man. He needed a Cariad to lead him through the barrier so he could find his missing bonded brother, Kian. First though, he must save the man and learn to control his fire.
The story that unfolds is a fast paced and quite a fast read. As the rescue ensued and the mysteries start to unravel, we find that Darach's inability to control his fire was simply because there had been no one to train him. In fact, the Council had managed to slowly chip away all semblance of practicality and left all the fire-bearers weak, unable to control their fires and eventually open for Demon attack. As Ceithin heals from his wounds wrought on him by the greedy council, he discovers that the young man who rescued him carries the blue fire. The same blue fire that when merged with his red, turns to the violet fire that was foretold in a prophecy that supposedly may change their world.
In the meanwhile, back to Kian and Regan, they, too, discover the mysteries of the other world. The visions Kian sees are inexplicable and yet were the very answers needed by the Guardian, the bearer of amber fire, to save not only his world, but that beyond it. First, they must go and rescue the other amber fire bearer. Who or where he is, they have no idea. But maybe, Kian does.
And that is where it ends! And I am so frustrated because then, RJ Scott, evil woman that she is, has announced the third and final expanded version book to this trilogy won't come out until January of 2015!
So the countdown begins and I am not a patient individual.
The second installment in the Fire Trilogy continues the story from Darach and Ceithin's perspectives. A call to a quest to save both worlds and a love grows between men of two cultures.
The foundations of intrigues are laid and I expect we will find the full mystery and answers to all of the questions in the final book, Eoin's Destiny. We know that both men have lost their brother to tragic Amber circumstances. Darach's blood brother, Eoin was consumed by his Amber fire (or was he?) and Ceithin's younger brother, Trystyn disappeared.
Ceithin is searching for a way to find Kian and Ceithin wants to find Trystyn so they join forces and somewhere along the way they find a love that bonds their magic together into one beautiful violet flame.
Darach with his blue fire, has been so alone and afraid, he tends to take life so seriously. Ceithin with his healing red flame, hides his desperate need for answers about his brother and all his anger behind snark and jokes. Both men are such brats and they argue and prod and drive each other crazy. They are so good for one another. I loved their dynamic as they both fought their irresistible attraction.
We get to spend some time with the Cariad as Darach learns how to use his blue magic. I liked Ceithin’s family and the way that Darach seemed to fit into that special community, much more than all of the stories of his childhood would have led him to believe.
We have a few moments with Kian and Regan which helped foster the connection between the men and their books. They are such a loving couple and an integral part of the whole of the trilogy.
Another fun, sweet and interesting installment in a series that I have been enjoying very much. I'm excited to read the last book and find all the answers to the puzzle and get Eoin's story.
In book 2 we see a bit more from Kian and his Hunter, Regan. They are still struggling as a couple and Kian is having terrible nightmares from the other world. Both are more determined than ever to cross back. Meanwhile, Darach is following his destiny by finding the man who helped Kian cross over, Ceithin. Ceithin is a Cariad (something like a gypsy) and is thought of like a mongrel or some other distasteful part of society, but he holds strong magic and is willing to help Darach learn to control his fire and cross back to help Kian. While training they learn about amber fire and how both Ceithin’s brother and Darach’s friend Eoin held it. They also learn that they are fated life partners. Just as the time is coming to test Darach’s fire and cross over to Kian, a Guardian makes himself known as Eoin and it is decided the group shall travel together to the other world to save Kian and some other man who holds Amber fire. ** This story was all over the place. We see glimpses of Kian and Regan – and they aren’t doing well. We meet Darach and Ceithin and Darach comes across as a very whiny, bratty, ungrateful man who resents taking the time to train and only knows he misses Kian and wants him back. Not unlike a child who has lost a favorite toy. Then we also see the City Council and the Guardian and their plots to stay alive and capture the Amber fire. That’s a lot for a short story and unfortunately it doesn’t translate well. I never liked Darach. I felt the night and day turnaround from hate to love between him and Ceithin was unbelievable. Then the discovery of Eoin, while predictable, was too much for this short story to handle. I’m not sure what the original stories were like, but I think that this is one of those situations where the stories should have remained shorter (more quick summaries and carefully selected words) or broadened significantly to make the reader more of a believer. I’m still invested enough to want to learn what happens with Eoin and Kian in book 3, but I’m not at all invested in Darach and Ceithin as lovers.
This is the second story in the Fire trilogy. Darach is the best friend of Kian and was left behind when Kian went the Otherworld, because his Fire wasn’t ready. Ceithin is a Cariad, a gypsy, and the person that helped Kian cross over. Now Darach is seeking him out as well, to help him cross over. Darach can feel that Kian is in danger. This story starts pretty much where we left the last one, with Kian and Regan fighting the demons and getting use to their new relationship. But something isn’t right, Kian is having nightmares about Darach and Regan is getting more and more frustrated not being able to help and not understanding because Kian won’t let him in. Darach is also having nightmares and is getting increasingly worried about Kian, and has decided that he is going to seek out The Cariad and make them show him how to cross over. Ceithin, has been tortured by the counsel for his Fire and is under a protective spell when Darach happens upon him. Darach breaks the spell and they travel back to the Cariad camp together so Ceithin can teach Darach how to use his Fire before they cross over. During this training they discover that Darach and Ceithin is bond. And Darach will do anything for Ceithin. This was a good continuation of the trilogy but I didn’t find it as enjoyable as the first. We did get a lot of the questions answered, who, what etc. But the emotional connection between the two MC’s, I didn’t feel it like I felt for Kian and Regan. Nice twist at the end, but you pretty much saw it coming. However, I will me diving into book 3 come Jan 2015! I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Crystals Many reviews
What continues here is awesome world building. Scott does a fantastic job of continuing to build on the world that she’s already created and giving it an ever more fleshed out feel. This worked perfectly within the plot, as the Cariad practice a more ancient magick than those in the City do. The clan has a better handle on Fire and elements, what they can do, and how to use them. I loved that we got to learn more about the way the magick works. The more we learn, the more things make sense. Which is exactly how a world like this should work.
Darach has a lot of preconceived notions and he’s got a lot of bluster. But he’s a wonderfully layered character, and we really got to see the vulnerabilities underneath. Darach really changed and grew as the story progressed, and I really liked seeing him letting go of what he thought he knew for what he can now see is the truth. I enjoyed the way he came to trust in his Fire more, letting it guide him. And I think he was the perfect partner for the proud and sometimes arrogant Ceithin. The two of them worked incredibly well together. And Scott did a great job of letting us see the attraction simmering under the surface as they moved from enemies to lovers.
Overall Trilogy Review: The Fire Trilogy satisfied all kinds of reading pleasure for me. Romance, magic, supernatural, mystery, intrigue, bordering on science fiction but not enough to add to that sub-genre, it really has a little bit of everything. All the characters are well written and will definitely leave a lasting impression. Watching the bond brothers, Kian, Darach, & Eoin, meet their other halves, Regan, Ceithin, & Trystyn is enjoyable and sexy. Watching the couples interact with each other and find their place in the quest for peace in both worlds is fun, sexy, and heartwarming. In my experience, fun, sexy, heartwarming are all things that can often be attributed to supernatural/paranormal fiction but to have all those emotions at the same time is rare and not easily done but Miss Scott has done just that.
Darach is Kian’s best friend and determined to save him from the horrors he is facing in the other world. Ceithin Morgan is a Cariad and he finds Darach and wants to help him learn that the Cariad are just misunderstood. He can teach him much if only Darach will let him. Darach learns that some fairy tales should be believed and some should not. Add into this the Guardian who knows what is going on and is coming. Darach and Ceithin will need to make some decisions. I find this world fascinating. RJ Scott has done an amazing job building it and bringing to life the heroes that are incredible. The plot in unfolding gradually and masterfully. I look forward to more in this amazing series.
I fell in love both Darach's and Ceithin in this book. Their is a shock towards the end. Darach's is a newbie with his powers while Ceithin is not. Ceithin and his sister help Darach's learn how to control his powers while Darach's and Ceithin fall in love. There are up and downs in this book and they have to find another person being held prisoner and drained of his powers. I can not for the next book to find out what happens next. Erin