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The Ghosts #2
Ghost in the Flames
Caina is now a Ghost nightfighter, with the cunning of an elite spy and the skill of a master assassin.
But this time, it might take more than that to keep her alive.
Caina has been sent to hunt a murderous pyromancer, a master of fiery sorcery, and she soon discovers that more is at stake than just a few murders.
Because if she doesn't find the pyromancer soon, the entire world might burn.
Starting with her...
But this time, it might take more than that to keep her alive.
Caina has been sent to hunt a murderous pyromancer, a master of fiery sorcery, and she soon discovers that more is at stake than just a few murders.
Because if she doesn't find the pyromancer soon, the entire world might burn.
Starting with her...
258 pages, Nook
First published August 5, 2011
164 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Moeller
401 books670 followersStanding over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works. His books have sold over one million copies worldwide.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works. His books have sold over one million copies worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 4, 2012
Ghost in the Flames is the sequel to the wonderful Child of the Ghosts. Caina now works alone with the assistance of a new male character named Ark. Instead of fighting necromancers, this time she is dealing with pyromancy. The story is ok but not as exciting or eventful as its predecessor.
In the later part of the story, there was a pirate ship captain called Maltaer. He knew Caina was a woman despite her disguise. The author did not give a physical description of him and did not keep him around for long. Too bad since I found him really interesting. Like Riogan in the first book, some male characters who I thought could be a possible romantic interest are written off. The ones that stay around longer are usually the villains.
Meanwhile the covers for these series need to be redone because they are so misleading. She's portrayed either as a valkyrie or a ninja warrior. And she is neither!
In the later part of the story, there was a pirate ship captain called Maltaer. He knew Caina was a woman despite her disguise. The author did not give a physical description of him and did not keep him around for long. Too bad since I found him really interesting. Like Riogan in the first book, some male characters who I thought could be a possible romantic interest are written off. The ones that stay around longer are usually the villains.
Meanwhile the covers for these series need to be redone because they are so misleading. She's portrayed either as a valkyrie or a ninja warrior. And she is neither!
September 19, 2018
I thought the first book in the series was an enjoyable read, but there seemed to be something not quite right. I then read a couple of short stories, which were very good.
I have now finished the second full novel and I have again got the feeling that there is something not quite right with the books. My problem is the whole world is so improbable, nearly everybody is corrupt, especially the Magi and the aristocracy and it seems to be riddled with megalomaniac, power hungry, despots. The only method the Emperor has to keep order seems to be the Ghosts and this is such an ineffective ‘Rag Tag’ organisation it has virtual no control over their criminal activities. What is his government doing, where is his army?
Following Caina’s activities is interesting and in the short stories where she is concentrating on a single incident it works really well, but in the novels it becomes clearer that the whole society should have imploded. This doesn’t mean I don’t like the books, but it does temper my enjoyment a little.
As for Caina, I like the way the she has developed in this book. She is becoming a real ‘kickass’ heroine, although she seems a bit slow to learn from her mistakes. For example she keeps trying to use steel knives against Magi protected against steel, why hasn’t she tried knives with silver coating or made of bronze?
I have now finished the second full novel and I have again got the feeling that there is something not quite right with the books. My problem is the whole world is so improbable, nearly everybody is corrupt, especially the Magi and the aristocracy and it seems to be riddled with megalomaniac, power hungry, despots. The only method the Emperor has to keep order seems to be the Ghosts and this is such an ineffective ‘Rag Tag’ organisation it has virtual no control over their criminal activities. What is his government doing, where is his army?
Following Caina’s activities is interesting and in the short stories where she is concentrating on a single incident it works really well, but in the novels it becomes clearer that the whole society should have imploded. This doesn’t mean I don’t like the books, but it does temper my enjoyment a little.
As for Caina, I like the way the she has developed in this book. She is becoming a real ‘kickass’ heroine, although she seems a bit slow to learn from her mistakes. For example she keeps trying to use steel knives against Magi protected against steel, why hasn’t she tried knives with silver coating or made of bronze?
November 8, 2018
Second in The Ghosts. Spoilers ahead for Child of the Ghosts.
A simple mission to steal a merchant's ledger turns complicated when Caina discovers he burned in his bed -- without the bed or anything else having been burnt.
So Caina is set out with a skeptical Ghost named Ark, because another city has seen scores of these burnings. She poses as a countess with him as one of her servants. And they arrive to find much unrest, and that the dead include the city's entire circle of Ghosts.
It winds on, touching on the city's perpetual flames, accumulating lands for pasture sending peasants into the city as beggars, a history of piracy, much discussion of slavery, and more.
A simple mission to steal a merchant's ledger turns complicated when Caina discovers he burned in his bed -- without the bed or anything else having been burnt.
So Caina is set out with a skeptical Ghost named Ark, because another city has seen scores of these burnings. She poses as a countess with him as one of her servants. And they arrive to find much unrest, and that the dead include the city's entire circle of Ghosts.
It winds on, touching on the city's perpetual flames, accumulating lands for pasture sending peasants into the city as beggars, a history of piracy, much discussion of slavery, and more.
July 26, 2014
This book was a quick read like the first book. The characters are well written and the story is entertaining but there was one small thing that ruined the book for me. Near the beginning Caina wonders to herself what Halfdan did before he became a ghost and goes so far as to say that she doesn't know but would guess that he was a vintner. According to the first book she does know for a fact that he was a vintner because they discuss it numerous times. It bothered me so much I actually went back to the first book and checked - after she guesses, three times Halfdan confirms to her that he was a vintner.
I realize this small detail has zero impact on the story but it threw everything off for me. Did the author intend for her to forget important details about her closest companions? (Perhaps she has been hit in the head too many times?) Or did the author actually forget some of the details? Which then leads me to wonder if perhaps the author just had someone else ghostwrite this story.
I realize this small detail has zero impact on the story but it threw everything off for me. Did the author intend for her to forget important details about her closest companions? (Perhaps she has been hit in the head too many times?) Or did the author actually forget some of the details? Which then leads me to wonder if perhaps the author just had someone else ghostwrite this story.
May 21, 2012
This second novel in the "Ghosts" series was ok. Continued the story of Caina, but started to feel repetitive. I could only read that she arched her body like a bow and how she was bathed, shaved, coiffed, prepped, and perfumed so many times. The new secondary character, Arc, didn't strike me as compelling as Radgion was in the first book. It just felt like something was missing. However, I do feel it was worth the $3 I paid and for the continuation of the story. I also picked up the third book. Hopefully, that missing spark will be back.
July 29, 2014
Great story line - similar to Sarah J Maas' Assassin series, unfortunately it hasn't been proof read properly (by a human) with grammatical errors, many words in sentences out of context, and many sentences missing crucial words. It's a shame, as this is a really great series (so far) - but the poor English just distracts from the book.
December 29, 2021
Much to my surprise, I enjoyed this book a lot. I'm even going so far as it give it four stars. I enjoyed rejoining Caina on her misadventures as a Ghost. Even more so than the first book, if only because there wasn't a lot of annoying training sequences that felt like they were intended only for movies, instead of in book format.
However, I found myself annoyed with Caina's behavior. It was like she'd forgotten half of her training aside from simply just fighting. She had one disguise the entire time, of the Countess Marianna. And she never took on any others, even when it was obvious that donning the garb of a drunken sailor or even a merchant's wife would have suited the situation better.
There were several other instances where a magic person was trying to get into her mind to control her, but it was like she'd forgotten even about her mother and the things she used to make Caina do. In the first book, Caina was good at pushing magic users out from her mind. Here, she almost fell victim to them simply because, as mentioned, it was like she'd forgotten half of her training.
But other than that, this book was an adventure. I seriously had no idea how it was going to resolve. I'm eagerly looking forward to the third book.
However, I found myself annoyed with Caina's behavior. It was like she'd forgotten half of her training aside from simply just fighting. She had one disguise the entire time, of the Countess Marianna. And she never took on any others, even when it was obvious that donning the garb of a drunken sailor or even a merchant's wife would have suited the situation better.
There were several other instances where a magic person was trying to get into her mind to control her, but it was like she'd forgotten even about her mother and the things she used to make Caina do. In the first book, Caina was good at pushing magic users out from her mind. Here, she almost fell victim to them simply because, as mentioned, it was like she'd forgotten half of her training.
But other than that, this book was an adventure. I seriously had no idea how it was going to resolve. I'm eagerly looking forward to the third book.
February 19, 2022
3.5
Someone is burning bodies in their beds.
However, neither the beds themselves or the rooms are touched by the fire. This can only mean one thing...rogue magic is afoot. With this latest murder being only the most recent in a string of deaths -Caina is given a task by her circle master Halfdan to travel to Rasadda with another Ghost by the name of Ark to figure out who this pyromancer is.
Their relationship doesn't start out on the best foot because Ark sees Caina simply by her duplicitous cover identity as the Countess and nothing more- but will soon discover Caina gained her nightfighter rank in earnest.
After arriving in Rasadda the two discover that nothing is going right from the start. The local Ghost chapter is missing and the Saddai people are on the brink of revolt, and none to happy to see a woman of the Empire in their city.
With no help, little to go on, the Saddai watching their every move, and more suspects than expected- can the two Ghost's find the murderous pyromancer before everything is burnt to the ground?
Someone is burning bodies in their beds.
However, neither the beds themselves or the rooms are touched by the fire. This can only mean one thing...rogue magic is afoot. With this latest murder being only the most recent in a string of deaths -Caina is given a task by her circle master Halfdan to travel to Rasadda with another Ghost by the name of Ark to figure out who this pyromancer is.
Their relationship doesn't start out on the best foot because Ark sees Caina simply by her duplicitous cover identity as the Countess and nothing more- but will soon discover Caina gained her nightfighter rank in earnest.
After arriving in Rasadda the two discover that nothing is going right from the start. The local Ghost chapter is missing and the Saddai people are on the brink of revolt, and none to happy to see a woman of the Empire in their city.
With no help, little to go on, the Saddai watching their every move, and more suspects than expected- can the two Ghost's find the murderous pyromancer before everything is burnt to the ground?
March 19, 2019
I prefer novels to short stories so I liked this book a lot more than the previous novella. Caina is now a full-fledged Ghost and is willing to do whatever necessary to achieve her goals. Her supposed ability to disguise herself and exit/enter her bedroom window without any of her maids suspecting anything is a far reach for me. After all, they've witnessed Caina kill assassins set out to murder her. They must have an idea that she is more than she appears.
Okay, so the Governor (or whatever his title is) has been committing illegal acts for years - dealing in slavery, purchasing land illegally and starving the community he rules over. I know he isn't the main focus of Caina's investigation but why in the heck hadn't he been reported to the Emperor a long time ago? There was definitely cause for him to be replaced.
Caina must solve the mystery of who is behind people being burned alive without any trace that a normal fire was involved. People's insistence that sorcery isn't involved is not only naive but frustrating. Somehow she manages to overcome all obstacles.
Okay, so the Governor (or whatever his title is) has been committing illegal acts for years - dealing in slavery, purchasing land illegally and starving the community he rules over. I know he isn't the main focus of Caina's investigation but why in the heck hadn't he been reported to the Emperor a long time ago? There was definitely cause for him to be replaced.
Caina must solve the mystery of who is behind people being burned alive without any trace that a normal fire was involved. People's insistence that sorcery isn't involved is not only naive but frustrating. Somehow she manages to overcome all obstacles.
May 16, 2023
I really hate how much focus the author has put on the fertility of the FMC. The FMC feels that she can't be loved or even in a relationship since she can't reproduce. The author frequently has the FMC reference her sorrow and loss at not being able to have children. SHE CAN HAVE CHILDREN!! There is adoption, fostering, heck she could find a widowed person with children. OR here is a novel idea find someone who doesn't want children and loves her for being her and not what her womb can/can't do. She doesn't have to have a working womb to be a parent or to be a person that deserves love. This was used/referenced so much in the book. It really vexed me. Total misogynistic bullshit.
June 27, 2018
Ghost in the Flames (The Vs Book 2) Review
Dear Jonathan, yet another entertaining and interesting book in the series. China is in her fire element once again. For those of you who have read and enjoyed Jonathan's stories, this is another entertaining and wonderful story in the continuing adult reading series. I highly recommend reading this book and series to anyone interested in reading a great story. Thanks for the entertainment.Nadia
Dear Jonathan, yet another entertaining and interesting book in the series. China is in her fire element once again. For those of you who have read and enjoyed Jonathan's stories, this is another entertaining and wonderful story in the continuing adult reading series. I highly recommend reading this book and series to anyone interested in reading a great story. Thanks for the entertainment.Nadia
September 24, 2019
The Story,
I like the characters I'm not too sure about the torture it's a little graphic for me but so far I haven't stop
Ed reading. So I will read the next one and see where it goes. Sincerely Nancy
I like the characters I'm not too sure about the torture it's a little graphic for me but so far I haven't stop
Ed reading. So I will read the next one and see where it goes. Sincerely Nancy
October 1, 2019
This series keeps getting better and better. The characters and story are very strong and you'll fall for them. The story telling by this author is great and you'll keep turning the pages. Great Reading Everyone!
August 11, 2021
Ghost Flames
Caina is off to hunt a rouge Pyromancer that is burning the citizens of Rassada. With a new cast of characters, she tries to solve the mystery before the city revolts.
This is the second book of the series and furthers Caina's story nicely.
Caina is off to hunt a rouge Pyromancer that is burning the citizens of Rassada. With a new cast of characters, she tries to solve the mystery before the city revolts.
This is the second book of the series and furthers Caina's story nicely.
November 30, 2018
Rating: 3 stars.
August 3, 2020
Another great book
The whole series has been great so far can't wait to get the next one in the series. Great reads
The whole series has been great so far can't wait to get the next one in the series. Great reads
April 4, 2021
I liked this even better than the first one.
February 14, 2022
She's sort of Zorro in a dress. Great fun. On to book 3
March 15, 2020
Not quite as good as the first in the series but still an entertaining read with a very strong lead character and always the feeling that good overcomes evil
July 10, 2015
Surprisingly this is a very entertaining book, keeping the pace of the first book of this series, Child of the Ghost, with a plot very well constructed and characters enjoyable. Our main character is a young lady named Caina. She joins a legendary society called the Ghosts, that act as spies and assassins for the Emperor of Nighmar. Caina is trained on how to disguise and stealth, how to infiltrate and murder. She becomes a powerful weapon for the Ghosts in their fight against the sorcery. Now that her training is complete and she is a Ghost nighfighter, she have her first mission. Stop a pyromancer. Hunt him down and destroy him. Is she up to the task? The book is full of twists and will keep you entertained for hours. But I recommend that you read the first episode prior of reading this one.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that enjoy a very well written book with an young adult theme. Opinion expressed in this review is my own.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that enjoy a very well written book with an young adult theme. Opinion expressed in this review is my own.
June 28, 2013
Wow, what a journey. Unlike the previous book, this one is more of a mystery and it will test your wits to try to piece this thing together. The more I get into these books, the more I really love Caina. What an extraordinary character. Accompanying Caina this time is a new character. He is a Ghost by the name of Ark. At first I found him unlikable, but as the story progressed and I got to know more about him, I found that I really liked him. More so then any of the previous side characters. I found the mystery of the whole story compelling and to see Caina get deadlier and more clever with her kills was a treat. I tried guessing the pyromancer, but came up short until it was revealed at the end. Overall, like it's predecessor I really enjoyed the story.
January 22, 2014
The second book in this addictive fantasy series sends Caina, now a fully trained Ghost nightfighter, and her new companion to the city of Rasadda to investigate what lies behind an ever growing number of murders that appear to have been committed using the supposedly long lost art of pyromancy. With its swift pace and plenty of action and intrigue, this was a great sequel to Child of the Ghosts.
November 11, 2014
The sequel was as good as the first book. The story line held me captive to the last page. I definitely will be getting the third book in this series.
Take a spoilt rich noble girl, throw in dark magick, murder and death and you find the little girl has been turned into a trained assassin - or ghost, working for the Emperor.
Throw in lots of adventure and action and you have a good read. I would however like to see if she ever finds someone to love.
Well done Jonathan.
Take a spoilt rich noble girl, throw in dark magick, murder and death and you find the little girl has been turned into a trained assassin - or ghost, working for the Emperor.
Throw in lots of adventure and action and you have a good read. I would however like to see if she ever finds someone to love.
Well done Jonathan.
December 28, 2014
After finishing the first book, I was afraid that the second would either not live up to it or become repetitive. However , my fears were unfounded, as I think this one was even better than the first.
The depth of the characters make them easy to become attached to and a fresh storyline kept my interest well.
This is probably the best series of 2014 that I have discovered and I am looking forward to reading more. Highly recommended.
The depth of the characters make them easy to become attached to and a fresh storyline kept my interest well.
This is probably the best series of 2014 that I have discovered and I am looking forward to reading more. Highly recommended.
May 1, 2024
Gory
There is a lot of fighting in this book. I mean a lot of fighting and death, if you enjoy just the intrigue side of this series you may find it harder to read. There are a lot of players in this book and occasionally it can be hard to keep a track of them all but I highly enjoyed the book. She grows slightly and the development of the other magic systems was interesting. It kept me hooked throughout.
There is a lot of fighting in this book. I mean a lot of fighting and death, if you enjoy just the intrigue side of this series you may find it harder to read. There are a lot of players in this book and occasionally it can be hard to keep a track of them all but I highly enjoyed the book. She grows slightly and the development of the other magic systems was interesting. It kept me hooked throughout.
August 7, 2014
I enjoyed this more than the first one as the main characters past is more subtle. The new situation and characters are interesting ad I am sure there is a whisper of romance for the future.
It is fast paced and hints of who she needs to find are dropped so that the reader can make some guesses and get to the answer before the ghost!
Look forward to reading the next one.
It is fast paced and hints of who she needs to find are dropped so that the reader can make some guesses and get to the answer before the ghost!
Look forward to reading the next one.
May 27, 2012
Terrific book I am in awe of your ability. The art almost put me off, but I would bet a lot of people would kick themselves if they pass on any of your books, I am so glad I read the first one, then I was hooked. Well done.
November 19, 2012
good follow on in the series, some things were repetitive but i suppose this is for those that pick the book up without reading the first. well paced and a mystery with it as well. i will be reading the next installment
April 25, 2013
Love this series. You have a classic underdog, Caina, who was betrayed by her own mother and watched her father die in book one. The author does an incredible job of weaving all of the details in the series together so you don't feel like you are just reading the same book over and over again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2014
Author doesn't fail to disappoint despite what others have said. The spelling errors are still abound like in the first book but not as exaggerated as people claim it to be. Though the author seems to forget what his own character knows and what strengths they possess at some points in the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews