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Florence Vaine #1
A Strange Fire
Flo has always had problems. Her stammer prevents her speech and her dad’s abuse makes her life a living hell. Not to mention she sees colours other people don’t.
When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, Flo thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank.
Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she.
Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.
*Contains some strong language.*
When her dad decides to ship her off to live with her grandma in the sleepy town of Chesterport, Flo thinks that this is her chance for a better life. But on her very first day at her new school she is ridiculed and laughed at for having a stammer. One student sticks up for her and his name is Frank.
Frank’s body is surrounded by an aura of fire, but Flo is the only one who can see it. He lives in a foster home for troubled teenagers. Flo is drawn to him because he’s different and so is she.
Things are about to get scary, because Chesterport is not your ordinary suburban town. It’s infested by a coven of dark witches who prey on the young and the elderly. Soon Flo discovers that she’s next on their list of victims, and finds herself fighting a battle she never would have imagined possible.
*Contains some strong language.*
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2012
22 people are currently reading
1671 people want to read
About the author
L.H. Cosway
56 books5,915 followersL.H. Cosway lives in Ireland. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, food, musical comedy, and of course, books. She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 15, 2012
I was given this book to read through the We Heart YA Books group for an honest review, thank you.
July 24, 2012
Wow this book was so much better than i expected it to be. It was beautifully written and it has every thing from witches to angels and demons and lets not forget romance.
Flo is a shy and troubled teenager. But Flo also has a secret she is an Empath she can see people's aura's so she knows what people are feeling. Flo's mother died giving birth to her and her father was a junkie who made her pay for it all her life even by calling her a murderer. When her dad suddenly drops takes her to live with her gran she is relieved. But starting a new school is not easy especially for someone like Flo but instantly she makes friends with Christina and her brother Christian and she also meets the Marsters Brothers who have a reputation of being bad news but Franklin aka Frank has an instant attraction to Flo but Flo doesnt understand why someone as good looking as him would want someone like her even when she keeps running away from him..But Frank and his family have a secret too. And when she finds out what it is will she stay?
I loved Flo she was so shy but sometimes when she opened her mouth it was rude and it really made me laugh. The sexual chemistry between her and Frank all i can say is dammm i wanted more. I enjoyed every second of this book. It has every emotion in it laughter, love, anger, frustration, sadness, and it also has love, when all the secrets are revealed action. Its an awsome book. This is the first book i have read from L.H. Cosway and i am so glad i read it now im going to read her other books asap. I cannot wait till the next installment of Florence Vaine to see what happens next. I recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal romance. Awsome book from an awsome author..
January 11, 2020
I prefer her newest books.
May 6, 2012
Wow. I'm actually rendered speechless at how brilliantly executed this book was!
Firstly - brilliant cover and an even better title for this masterpiece which is A Strange Fire by L H Cosway. Having a love for all things paranormal and to do with Empath-related abilities, I picked it up with high expectations and was not let down. Cosway's heroine - a shy, slightly introverted teenager by the name of Florence (of Flo, as she prefers to be called) - is as down to earth and troubled as any human being would be in her situation. Not only has she had to deal with having to bear the brunt of her father's verbal and physical abuse for most of her childhood, but Flo has a dangerous secret. She can see people's auras, and can even alter them.
But unlike some characters - no offence to anyone at all - she doesn't take it all in her stride, like "Cool - I live in the 21st century, and I know there's no such thing as magical powers but hey, I'm going to keep believing there is and never doubt myself for a second." Instead, she puts it all down to 'the nervous wreck'-like mind state that her father has given her, believing that she is probably just going crazy.
And everything would have stayed exactly the same had not her father had a sudden epiphany and decided to leave her with her grandmother whilst he went off to do his 'work'. Flo sees this as a chance to change her life, to get over her stutter (poor girl...I'd hate to have something like that, knowing people would define you by your insecurities and disabilities. I think it's wonderful how Frank sees her+stutter not stutter+her, if you get my drift. That her stutter and her abilities don't define the kind of person she is) and to put her past behind her.
Flo's new start is rough to say the least, and on top of it all she has a run in with the Marsters brothers...well, mainly the eldest brother Franklin. And for some reason, their auras are unlike any of any person's she's ever seen - bright, blazing and almost ethereal. She finds herself drawn to Frank, and is surprised to see that he has an interest in her as well. But amid his persistent, flirtatious and caring attentions, lies something deeper, something Flo is afraid to come to terms with lest the world, which she has been writing off as a series of delusions, should be real after all.
Also, a terrifying, dark entity that has lurked beneath the town's radar for so long begins to rise once more. It wants Flo and it will do whatever it takes to get her. A paranormal battle of will, strength, love and ultimately faith in one's self and those around oneself, A Strange Fire is a thrilling journey through the murky and tantalising world of Florence Vaine, whose big green eyes see more than you think.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I felt that the raw human emotion is something that makes it stand out - it is so rare when an author takes the time to establish the character as a human being, as someone who isn't the polished heroine/hero we've come to expect from modern literature, rather they have flaws but those flaws are apart of the armour they have constructed to face a darkened world. I felt Flo's pain, was proud of her when she stood up for herself (both in the face of evil, bullying and guys - she is not afraid to stop any romantic advances or voice her opinions). It just shows that sometimes the people who seem weak have a whole lot going on under the surface that no one really pays attention to. And they should.
So I give a heartfelt thanks to L H Cosway for requesting I read this book - it was one of my greatest pleasures and I adored every minute of reading it. I would have given it 6 stars, but they only had five! Oh, and I fell in love with Frank too *blushes*. He is such an awesome guy; I wish there were more like him!!
Booknut101:D
Firstly - brilliant cover and an even better title for this masterpiece which is A Strange Fire by L H Cosway. Having a love for all things paranormal and to do with Empath-related abilities, I picked it up with high expectations and was not let down. Cosway's heroine - a shy, slightly introverted teenager by the name of Florence (of Flo, as she prefers to be called) - is as down to earth and troubled as any human being would be in her situation. Not only has she had to deal with having to bear the brunt of her father's verbal and physical abuse for most of her childhood, but Flo has a dangerous secret. She can see people's auras, and can even alter them.
But unlike some characters - no offence to anyone at all - she doesn't take it all in her stride, like "Cool - I live in the 21st century, and I know there's no such thing as magical powers but hey, I'm going to keep believing there is and never doubt myself for a second." Instead, she puts it all down to 'the nervous wreck'-like mind state that her father has given her, believing that she is probably just going crazy.
And everything would have stayed exactly the same had not her father had a sudden epiphany and decided to leave her with her grandmother whilst he went off to do his 'work'. Flo sees this as a chance to change her life, to get over her stutter (poor girl...I'd hate to have something like that, knowing people would define you by your insecurities and disabilities. I think it's wonderful how Frank sees her+stutter not stutter+her, if you get my drift. That her stutter and her abilities don't define the kind of person she is) and to put her past behind her.
Flo's new start is rough to say the least, and on top of it all she has a run in with the Marsters brothers...well, mainly the eldest brother Franklin. And for some reason, their auras are unlike any of any person's she's ever seen - bright, blazing and almost ethereal. She finds herself drawn to Frank, and is surprised to see that he has an interest in her as well. But amid his persistent, flirtatious and caring attentions, lies something deeper, something Flo is afraid to come to terms with lest the world, which she has been writing off as a series of delusions, should be real after all.
Also, a terrifying, dark entity that has lurked beneath the town's radar for so long begins to rise once more. It wants Flo and it will do whatever it takes to get her. A paranormal battle of will, strength, love and ultimately faith in one's self and those around oneself, A Strange Fire is a thrilling journey through the murky and tantalising world of Florence Vaine, whose big green eyes see more than you think.
I couldn't stop reading this book. I felt that the raw human emotion is something that makes it stand out - it is so rare when an author takes the time to establish the character as a human being, as someone who isn't the polished heroine/hero we've come to expect from modern literature, rather they have flaws but those flaws are apart of the armour they have constructed to face a darkened world. I felt Flo's pain, was proud of her when she stood up for herself (both in the face of evil, bullying and guys - she is not afraid to stop any romantic advances or voice her opinions). It just shows that sometimes the people who seem weak have a whole lot going on under the surface that no one really pays attention to. And they should.
So I give a heartfelt thanks to L H Cosway for requesting I read this book - it was one of my greatest pleasures and I adored every minute of reading it. I would have given it 6 stars, but they only had five! Oh, and I fell in love with Frank too *blushes*. He is such an awesome guy; I wish there were more like him!!
Booknut101:D
June 2, 2012
DUDE!
This book was freakin awesome!
The YA field needs more books like these.
This heroine is unique. She can read auras and thus infer what the person is thinking and what type of personality they have. She's dealt with an abusive father but we walk into her life as she gets to live with her grandmother.
Man.
I lost sleep with this book.
The only thing that I would say is that the budding romance was predictable and cliche in the begining. Here you have a lowly boy who sticks with his foster brothers. The guy and his brothers don't really hang with the other kids. But this new girl catches his attention and they start talking.....
I know. I know...... Twilight, right?
Well I freakin loved Twilight!
However, once you get the twilight cliche out of the way..... it goes into a whole different path...
And dare I say FRANK is no EDWARD... he is awesome!
I was goin to gill this review with gyrating monkeys and humping dogs... but I'm just going to buy another one of the author's books!
AWESOME!
This book was freakin awesome!
The YA field needs more books like these.
This heroine is unique. She can read auras and thus infer what the person is thinking and what type of personality they have. She's dealt with an abusive father but we walk into her life as she gets to live with her grandmother.
Man.
I lost sleep with this book.
The only thing that I would say is that the budding romance was predictable and cliche in the begining. Here you have a lowly boy who sticks with his foster brothers. The guy and his brothers don't really hang with the other kids. But this new girl catches his attention and they start talking.....
I know. I know...... Twilight, right?
Well I freakin loved Twilight!
However, once you get the twilight cliche out of the way..... it goes into a whole different path...
And dare I say FRANK is no EDWARD... he is awesome!
I was goin to gill this review with gyrating monkeys and humping dogs... but I'm just going to buy another one of the author's books!
AWESOME!
December 11, 2012
Please don't judge me for using a Sarah Mclachlan song as the title - it was fitting! A Strange Fire does layer very slowly, building up the mystery surrounding Florence "Flo" Vaine and her new town. I could understand some readers getting frustrated at the pace, but I, however, thought it only added to its charm.
Flo was a very likeable and relatable heroine. Sure, I felt like shaking her a few times for being too naive and for not picking up on things sooner, but that's only because I care about the gal. She's been through a lot with her drug-addicted deadbeat dad, her life in poverty and her stuttering. Speaking of, I read some readers got annoyed at the way she stuttered but, hey, the girl can't help it, just as many people can't. I thought the defect came off realistically and made Flo stand-out from so many other dishwater dull characters you see these days.
The only thing I didn't quite buy was Frank and the romance between them...I wasn't his biggest fan *shrug* But Frank's family and the mysterious Sam did a great job of balancing things out. I even liked Flo's grandmother...well until she...sigh...you'll find out.
A Strange Fire is a slow-burner of a book with an easy writing style, realistic characters and a unique twist on the paranormal - I can't wait for the second.
Flo was a very likeable and relatable heroine. Sure, I felt like shaking her a few times for being too naive and for not picking up on things sooner, but that's only because I care about the gal. She's been through a lot with her drug-addicted deadbeat dad, her life in poverty and her stuttering. Speaking of, I read some readers got annoyed at the way she stuttered but, hey, the girl can't help it, just as many people can't. I thought the defect came off realistically and made Flo stand-out from so many other dishwater dull characters you see these days.
The only thing I didn't quite buy was Frank and the romance between them...I wasn't his biggest fan *shrug* But Frank's family and the mysterious Sam did a great job of balancing things out. I even liked Flo's grandmother...well until she...sigh...you'll find out.
A Strange Fire is a slow-burner of a book with an easy writing style, realistic characters and a unique twist on the paranormal - I can't wait for the second.
August 2, 2012
A Strange Fire was somewhat predictable yet had lots of surprises. Flo was very shy and starting a new school has only made her stutter seem worse than it really is. She is a very unique girl. She can see aura’s. She can see the good the bad and the ugly in everyone. It is a lot for a teenager to take on but she’s had this gift all her life and manages really well.
Flo’s dad, who is constantly in a drug induced haze, has left her with her grandmother. She seems nice enough and unlike Flo’s dad she treats Flo like a person.
Flo knows there something different about the small town of Chesterport especially the group of boys that have a fiery aura about them. They are the only people she cant read. One of the boys, Frank, has taken an instant liking to her. He is drawn to her and with their closeness things are revealed that makes her question what is reality. She is soon thrown into a world where all beings in your nightmares are real and she is fighting something she cant see.
I’m going to sound totally wussy for saying this but one of my fears is witches and of course that’s who the “bad” guys are in this book. But even though I was kinda freaked out I couldn’t put this book down. Not only is Flo fighting every day trials of being a teenager but now she is fighting to save a friend from a supernatural being.
Great read and I highly recommend!!!
Flo’s dad, who is constantly in a drug induced haze, has left her with her grandmother. She seems nice enough and unlike Flo’s dad she treats Flo like a person.
Flo knows there something different about the small town of Chesterport especially the group of boys that have a fiery aura about them. They are the only people she cant read. One of the boys, Frank, has taken an instant liking to her. He is drawn to her and with their closeness things are revealed that makes her question what is reality. She is soon thrown into a world where all beings in your nightmares are real and she is fighting something she cant see.
I’m going to sound totally wussy for saying this but one of my fears is witches and of course that’s who the “bad” guys are in this book. But even though I was kinda freaked out I couldn’t put this book down. Not only is Flo fighting every day trials of being a teenager but now she is fighting to save a friend from a supernatural being.
Great read and I highly recommend!!!
July 27, 2012
VERY intriguing premise! I’ve really enjoyed this book-multi-faceted and multi-layered, it isn’t the common “girl with an unusual talent plus boy with an odd talent or odd problem.” Seems like almost everybody in this story has something going on, out of the ordinary (way out) and not only is there Supernatural, there’s also romance, subtle sensuality, and DANGER. In fact, it’s some of those who have the psychic talents who are most endangered, and possibly least able to protect themselves, only to know with fatalism of their impending doom.
Not just Supernatural thrills and terror limn this book, but also deep and perceptive psychological insight, especially into the lasting nature of childhood abuse and the grooves it carves into one’s soul, and bullying (whether in a school situation or elsewhere). The “villains” are truly evil and terrifying, like Juggernauts in the French Revolution, rolling toward their assigned conclusion, yet masked as perfectly normal individuals-except to those like our protagonist Flo, who can see through the illusion. I’d give “A Strange Fire” about 18 stars.
July 29, 2012
This was my first book by L.H. Cosway and she didn't disappoint! I didnt know what to expect but was pulled in to the book right away! Flo has been abused her whole life, until she is dropped at her grans by her father! Flo is different she sees auras, she know if someone is happy, sad, sweet or just evil. She makes friends and meets a really hot guy name Frank that has a secret of his own. And then all hell brakes lose! In this story Flo whom seems week and shy, steps up and takes controll finding her inner strength.
A Strange Fire is worth the read and I can't wait to read more!
A Strange Fire is worth the read and I can't wait to read more!
February 11, 2013
First and foremost: OH MY FUCKING GOD - please excuse my french - BUT OH MY FUCKING GOD! amazing. I don't think there is much more i can say other than that? I think that is a good enough review, if you are thinking about reading this, well stop thinking and start doing! FUCKING AMAZING. I want to give this book 10 stars out of 5 right now i am so in love. Alright, alright i will stop the gushing and tell you all about why you should go and read this book right this second...seriously stop reading this review and just go ahead and read the book. But i suppose if you want a little more to go on than just the ramblings of a random girl on Goodreads here we go!
Okay so plot: Loved it. I thought it was very original and interesting to boot. I read a lot of paranormal, pretty much any kind really the only stuff i haven't tried yet is mermaids, maybe i will get around to it during spring break...not the point...moving on. So Florence (and i mean how awesome is that name?) Okay sorry, sorry... Flo has an interesting ability, she can see emotions, personalities, auras now i know you are probably thinking, man what a lame power - well how wrong you are! Because not only is this story filled with mystery, adventure, romance, and all that jazz its about a girl who is learning that even if she may seem grown up she still has a lot to learn and a lot of growing to still do. Flo comes from an abusive father - mother is dead - and is being dropped off with her totally opposite Grandmother. The stammer she has is more intense in the beginning and starts to fade - not completely and utterly disappear though throughout the book, which i see as a sign of growth. She is scared but i mean if i had lived in her shoes i probably would be to. i am so unbelievably happy on how L.H. Cosway made Flo turn out - i will talk about that in character, so back to plot. The villains evil guys whatever you want to call them in this book is witches, and though they are hidden for a lot of the plot you know that the danger is there. The boys in the book have their own secrets, and it just adds to the book.
So last/summarizing thoughts on the plot: Interesting and different from what i have read, yeah there is always good vs evil but i mean its what you do with it, and i think that it is totally worth the read.
Okay so Characters
So i know i talked some already about Florence but i loved her so i want to talk about her more! So like i had said before she comes from abusive father, which usually in my experience with books spits out one of two types of people: assholes (rightfully so assholes but assholes nevertheless) or super timid, and always running away. Well Flo is a nice mix of the two, she isn't an asshole but she claims that the lengths of which humanity will go to, to get what they want doesn't surprise her anymore, but as it might not surprise her she still does feel compassion, still feels hurt and understanding. I love that she doesn't become this emotionless robot that can't feel. She is yes timid with somethings but she is open to trying new things. I think that i love Flo because she is unpredictable. When i think she will zag she zigs, and visa versa, sometimes she reactions exactly as i suspect which makes me happy as well. So something that sometimes when dealing with series its hard to see any change within the main character because its over the course of many books that happens but i was pleasantly surprised to see Flo changing, she becomes more self-assured, and well kickass.
Franklin, well Frank is our main man. He is thankfully different from most main men, i like a guy who is willing to be a bit more tease-y and less serious and brooding. Frank is also like Flo a next mix of guy. He can be protective, and utterly overbearing which i love, and he can be a friend and try to make her feel comfortable. He is a bit of a flirt - not with all the girls but with Flo which i love. Well he sort of reminds me of a rock, he is solid and stable. He has his own secrets but you can tell he is trying hard to keep Flo in the loop but somethings aren't just his secrets to tell, oh he has a couple of foster brothers i will get to them soon. Frank takes an instant liking to Flo and i think that he is really good for her, i think that part of her growth is the need to prove to not only him but to herself that she is brave, and she more than her father wanted her to be. He is understanding when it comes to her strange quirks that are results of such a bad childhood because he understands. I wish that Flo would have had the heart to heart about her past with him but hopefully soon we shall get it!
So the foster brothers: Alex, Ross, (God i am having trouble remembering the other two they were younger and twins, they don't show up much...) Kevin and Benji! I looked it up! anyways Alex is the more pushed forward one as i think he is closer to Frank than the others. I liked Alex he had his own personality and he was very blunt. I think that he and Flo could be really good friends and i hope we get more of an interactions between these two in the next book. Alex is the smart one, the good one and that is pretty much all we get from him, there isn't any one on one moments with him but you know that Frank's foster family including this father and mother care for Flo because she means something to Frank and that always makes me happy!
There are a couple other side characters that were also really well done, unfortunately Caroline who becomes fast friends with Flo disappears near the end but i totally understand why its not that big of a deal. Just thought i should mention it. Anyways so overall the characters awesome!
Okay so the ending, and i am probably going to scream if the next one isn't out because i looked about half way through this book and it looks like its out. I and super excited to start the next one, this has a bit of a cliffhanger ending not that bad though its one you can live with if you are finishing this then have to run off to get lunch...like me....anyways ending = awesome. I love that L.H. Cosway isn't afraid to get their hands dirty if you know what i mean ;) ;).
So did you enjoy my awesome rant about an awesome book that i must force upon you even now? SERIOUSLY GO READ IT! Anyways if you did, or you enjoyed how i reviewed this book and you might be interested in some more not so well known paranormal/fantasy books well you should check out my blog that i share with my friend she does mostly compt. fiction and she has something you might be interested in up there as well. So come check us out because we aren't that well known, pretty new at this "blogging" thing, so theres the linky link and enjoy! http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... also seriously go buy this book and read it and enjoy it and tell all your friends about it.
Okay so plot: Loved it. I thought it was very original and interesting to boot. I read a lot of paranormal, pretty much any kind really the only stuff i haven't tried yet is mermaids, maybe i will get around to it during spring break...not the point...moving on. So Florence (and i mean how awesome is that name?) Okay sorry, sorry... Flo has an interesting ability, she can see emotions, personalities, auras now i know you are probably thinking, man what a lame power - well how wrong you are! Because not only is this story filled with mystery, adventure, romance, and all that jazz its about a girl who is learning that even if she may seem grown up she still has a lot to learn and a lot of growing to still do. Flo comes from an abusive father - mother is dead - and is being dropped off with her totally opposite Grandmother. The stammer she has is more intense in the beginning and starts to fade - not completely and utterly disappear though throughout the book, which i see as a sign of growth. She is scared but i mean if i had lived in her shoes i probably would be to. i am so unbelievably happy on how L.H. Cosway made Flo turn out - i will talk about that in character, so back to plot. The villains evil guys whatever you want to call them in this book is witches, and though they are hidden for a lot of the plot you know that the danger is there. The boys in the book have their own secrets, and it just adds to the book.
So last/summarizing thoughts on the plot: Interesting and different from what i have read, yeah there is always good vs evil but i mean its what you do with it, and i think that it is totally worth the read.
Okay so Characters
So i know i talked some already about Florence but i loved her so i want to talk about her more! So like i had said before she comes from abusive father, which usually in my experience with books spits out one of two types of people: assholes (rightfully so assholes but assholes nevertheless) or super timid, and always running away. Well Flo is a nice mix of the two, she isn't an asshole but she claims that the lengths of which humanity will go to, to get what they want doesn't surprise her anymore, but as it might not surprise her she still does feel compassion, still feels hurt and understanding. I love that she doesn't become this emotionless robot that can't feel. She is yes timid with somethings but she is open to trying new things. I think that i love Flo because she is unpredictable. When i think she will zag she zigs, and visa versa, sometimes she reactions exactly as i suspect which makes me happy as well. So something that sometimes when dealing with series its hard to see any change within the main character because its over the course of many books that happens but i was pleasantly surprised to see Flo changing, she becomes more self-assured, and well kickass.
Franklin, well Frank is our main man. He is thankfully different from most main men, i like a guy who is willing to be a bit more tease-y and less serious and brooding. Frank is also like Flo a next mix of guy. He can be protective, and utterly overbearing which i love, and he can be a friend and try to make her feel comfortable. He is a bit of a flirt - not with all the girls but with Flo which i love. Well he sort of reminds me of a rock, he is solid and stable. He has his own secrets but you can tell he is trying hard to keep Flo in the loop but somethings aren't just his secrets to tell, oh he has a couple of foster brothers i will get to them soon. Frank takes an instant liking to Flo and i think that he is really good for her, i think that part of her growth is the need to prove to not only him but to herself that she is brave, and she more than her father wanted her to be. He is understanding when it comes to her strange quirks that are results of such a bad childhood because he understands. I wish that Flo would have had the heart to heart about her past with him but hopefully soon we shall get it!
So the foster brothers: Alex, Ross, (God i am having trouble remembering the other two they were younger and twins, they don't show up much...) Kevin and Benji! I looked it up! anyways Alex is the more pushed forward one as i think he is closer to Frank than the others. I liked Alex he had his own personality and he was very blunt. I think that he and Flo could be really good friends and i hope we get more of an interactions between these two in the next book. Alex is the smart one, the good one and that is pretty much all we get from him, there isn't any one on one moments with him but you know that Frank's foster family including this father and mother care for Flo because she means something to Frank and that always makes me happy!
There are a couple other side characters that were also really well done, unfortunately Caroline who becomes fast friends with Flo disappears near the end but i totally understand why its not that big of a deal. Just thought i should mention it. Anyways so overall the characters awesome!
Okay so the ending, and i am probably going to scream if the next one isn't out because i looked about half way through this book and it looks like its out. I and super excited to start the next one, this has a bit of a cliffhanger ending not that bad though its one you can live with if you are finishing this then have to run off to get lunch...like me....anyways ending = awesome. I love that L.H. Cosway isn't afraid to get their hands dirty if you know what i mean ;) ;).
So did you enjoy my awesome rant about an awesome book that i must force upon you even now? SERIOUSLY GO READ IT! Anyways if you did, or you enjoyed how i reviewed this book and you might be interested in some more not so well known paranormal/fantasy books well you should check out my blog that i share with my friend she does mostly compt. fiction and she has something you might be interested in up there as well. So come check us out because we aren't that well known, pretty new at this "blogging" thing, so theres the linky link and enjoy! http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp... also seriously go buy this book and read it and enjoy it and tell all your friends about it.
January 1, 2015
Before I start with my review, I would love to thank the author for providing me a free copy for an honest review.
Hmm... A Strange Fire, hm, where shall I start?
I could not read this book in one sitting. I just could not! I'm actually surprised it took me two weeks to read it. I think it's both my fault and the book's. Why my fault? 1.) Exam week! 2.) Assignments, quizzes, projects, case studies 3.) Sleep! 4.) Fiesta week preparations. Why the book's fault? 1.) It didn't capture my interest right away. 2.) Shut up, Flo!
The creep factor in this book is a 4/10 for me. Yes, there was cannibalism, effing witches, and mysterious murders, but none of them really made me feel any goose pimples or the shakes.
Mystery factor? 7/10! But when the mystery was revealed, I felt too much info was dumped on me that the mystery became less fun and I started not caring anymore.
I did not like how the author described the characters to the reader. Once, I thought it was part of Flo's powers, but I realized it wasn't. Info dump much? The author described the character's by their facial features, which is alright, but then she also added the age and whatnot, which seemed out of place at times and just set the mood off of the story. So yeah, too much info can really lead to awkwardness. Try to tame the description a little, okay?
The story?
I... I.... really have nothing to say much about A Strange Fire. I mean, it is unique with all the mood-detecting-power and cannibal witches, but it just did not suck me in from the first page to the last. When it ended, I thought, "Um, okay, uh, how am I going to review this?" The story didn't really stick to my mind, like it was just another book that I will surely forget and not bother to remember.
The characters?
Flo is just really awkward and kind of whiny. But if she were real, I wouldn't mind befriending her. Is she a strong type of character? Uh, I think, I guess, maybe? I think she's trying to be too strong that it seems like she is a weak character.
Frank is a very good-looking, horny teen. As in horny with a capital H, O, R, N, and Y! It's like he's always ready to jump on Flo. If I were left in a room alone with Frank, I think I should be very afraid and be on guard all the time. I would not want him to be my boyfriend, maybe just a friend, but not a boyfriend. What I liked about him is that he genuinely cares for Flo and really protects her. One thing I liked about this book is that it's the boy who's head over heels in love and stalker-ish, and not the other way around.
Overall thought?
Uh, it's okay. I would recommend it, but not recommend it like I'm some sort of advertiser or promoter. But I really thought, from the moment I read the summary, that I was going to have fun and an adventure. The book disappointed me a little. Flo didn't like discussing her feelings, which hindered me from having any emotional connection with her.
Hmm... A Strange Fire, hm, where shall I start?
I could not read this book in one sitting. I just could not! I'm actually surprised it took me two weeks to read it. I think it's both my fault and the book's. Why my fault? 1.) Exam week! 2.) Assignments, quizzes, projects, case studies 3.) Sleep! 4.) Fiesta week preparations. Why the book's fault? 1.) It didn't capture my interest right away. 2.) Shut up, Flo!
The creep factor in this book is a 4/10 for me. Yes, there was cannibalism, effing witches, and mysterious murders, but none of them really made me feel any goose pimples or the shakes.
Mystery factor? 7/10! But when the mystery was revealed, I felt too much info was dumped on me that the mystery became less fun and I started not caring anymore.
I did not like how the author described the characters to the reader. Once, I thought it was part of Flo's powers, but I realized it wasn't. Info dump much? The author described the character's by their facial features, which is alright, but then she also added the age and whatnot, which seemed out of place at times and just set the mood off of the story. So yeah, too much info can really lead to awkwardness. Try to tame the description a little, okay?
The story?
I... I.... really have nothing to say much about A Strange Fire. I mean, it is unique with all the mood-detecting-power and cannibal witches, but it just did not suck me in from the first page to the last. When it ended, I thought, "Um, okay, uh, how am I going to review this?" The story didn't really stick to my mind, like it was just another book that I will surely forget and not bother to remember.
The characters?
Flo is just really awkward and kind of whiny. But if she were real, I wouldn't mind befriending her. Is she a strong type of character? Uh, I think, I guess, maybe? I think she's trying to be too strong that it seems like she is a weak character.
Frank is a very good-looking, horny teen. As in horny with a capital H, O, R, N, and Y! It's like he's always ready to jump on Flo. If I were left in a room alone with Frank, I think I should be very afraid and be on guard all the time. I would not want him to be my boyfriend, maybe just a friend, but not a boyfriend. What I liked about him is that he genuinely cares for Flo and really protects her. One thing I liked about this book is that it's the boy who's head over heels in love and stalker-ish, and not the other way around.
Overall thought?
Uh, it's okay. I would recommend it, but not recommend it like I'm some sort of advertiser or promoter. But I really thought, from the moment I read the summary, that I was going to have fun and an adventure. The book disappointed me a little. Flo didn't like discussing her feelings, which hindered me from having any emotional connection with her.
July 30, 2012
"I can see everybody's aura, the colours of their soul. It's a gift, it's a curse. It's ambiguous really. I never asked for it, and yet I have it. I still don't know if it's real, there's a good chance I've got psychological problems".
:D (no spoiler here! that is revealed at 2% of the book!) :D
When you are use to reading YA books, you are also used to the same clichés over and over. What it matters then is how they are carried out and that is how you decide if it is a great book or an average one.
A Stranger Fire was a little predictable at some point but even though it appear to be a bad thing, it made me wanna read more to see how cleverly the author solves every situation. And wasn't dissapointed whatsoever!
I can definitely say that L.H Cosway handled it beautifully and created an amazing book, totally worth reading.
The first thought I had was: "This book has to be made into a movie" . Yes! I was totally hooked from chapter 1!!!
The second thing I thought was: "Wow! Frank is hot!" He only had spoken once and I was already sensing his hotness lol. *sigh*
(sorry my review is kinda cheesy but I'm still so excited about it! :P)
Flo and Frank's relationship is different, not the typical love at first sight, on the contrary, you feel the connection instantly but their relationship grows and strenghten slowly and is so sweet it made me "awwww!" a lot lol.
Florence is a magnificent and complete character herself, so smart in spite of her shyness. At first, I didn't like her being so shy and suddenly having those outburst but once I got to know her, that amused me because it was such a trademark XD
Her power is awesome and I liked the way it evolved as the story goes on.
My heart shattered with hers and also felt her joy. I totally felt myself in Florence Vaine's shoes.
I sensed a deep conection to the characters and this is the first book! I can't wait to see how their personalities are developed and gain even more depth in the next book!
There was only one little thing... I wasn't very fond of her "Xanax junkie phase" but that was easily forgotten by the end of the book.
In a few words,A REFRESHING READING!
August 8, 2012
A Strange Fire is the first book in the Florence Vaine YA paranormal/fantasy romance series written by L.H. Cosway. I read this as a R2R with We ♥ YA Books! As always, a special thank you to the mods and author for allowing me to participate.
★★★★
SPECTACULAR READ!!! Couldn’t put it down.. read it in one sitting!
The Review:
This books was incredibly well written and had an awesome story with a great twist on the lore! I wont tell you what lore that is, because it would give away some of the greater mysteries of the story, but the author did a fantastic job putting her own spin on it.
I really liked Flo. She was down to earth, compassionate and strong even though she didn’t think she was. Her stammer only endeared her to me more and her background story pulled at my emotions. I also liked that though she was special and had certain.. gifts, she wasn’t overly powerful and there was room to grow within the story as well as the series.
I was totally taken in with Frank and his “brothers”, family and friends. That whole part of the story was so well done. I totally want a Frank all for my very own ;) Again, I liked how they had gifts but weren’t overly powerful. It made the story more realistic and gave it room expand.
Downsides:
There were very few things I didn’t like about this book but one of my all time pet peeves are plot holes and unfortunately, this book had two major plot holes that kept me from giving it a full five stars. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that I think they could have easily been edited out with a little more explanation and because it would have been so simple to edit them out, I feel they need commenting on in my review.
The Wrap Up:
I’m certainly going to follow this series! I absolutely loved the story and the writing was exceptional. I want to know more about the “other” world Cosway has created for us. I can’t wait for book two because there’s so much more to Flo’s story and I’m looking forward to reading what comes next for her and her friends!
★★★★
SPECTACULAR READ!!! Couldn’t put it down.. read it in one sitting!
The Review:
This books was incredibly well written and had an awesome story with a great twist on the lore! I wont tell you what lore that is, because it would give away some of the greater mysteries of the story, but the author did a fantastic job putting her own spin on it.
I really liked Flo. She was down to earth, compassionate and strong even though she didn’t think she was. Her stammer only endeared her to me more and her background story pulled at my emotions. I also liked that though she was special and had certain.. gifts, she wasn’t overly powerful and there was room to grow within the story as well as the series.
I was totally taken in with Frank and his “brothers”, family and friends. That whole part of the story was so well done. I totally want a Frank all for my very own ;) Again, I liked how they had gifts but weren’t overly powerful. It made the story more realistic and gave it room expand.
Downsides:
There were very few things I didn’t like about this book but one of my all time pet peeves are plot holes and unfortunately, this book had two major plot holes that kept me from giving it a full five stars. Without giving anything away, I’ll just say that I think they could have easily been edited out with a little more explanation and because it would have been so simple to edit them out, I feel they need commenting on in my review.
The Wrap Up:
I’m certainly going to follow this series! I absolutely loved the story and the writing was exceptional. I want to know more about the “other” world Cosway has created for us. I can’t wait for book two because there’s so much more to Flo’s story and I’m looking forward to reading what comes next for her and her friends!
August 23, 2012
This one took me a bit longer than most to finish. Now don't get me wrong, it is a really good book once you finish it, I think it just didn’t grab my full attention from the very beginning. I am so glad I decided not to put it down though since the story within itself is very interesting! I enjoyed the different aspects it brings to the table. I can say that I have never read a book with a storyline quite like this one. The only reason this is not a 5 star review is because of the pacing of it. I love how in the beginning, you are introduced to a young girl who has an unfair destiny. At first it was very confusing since she plays such a quick and short role, however, once you dive deeper into it – you are able to see the creativity that was used with the connection. I also really enjoyed the twists and turns you experience. Who is bad and who is good? Some definitely had me fooled. I like a book that keeps you guessing and A Strange Fire definitely did that for me. I cannot wait to read the sequel!! :)
July 28, 2012
Shocking and beautiful, I loved this story. Flo was an amazingly crafted character as well as Frank, the boy who was not what he seemed seem. Neither is Flo. It was a twisting story of mystery and I totally liked the storyline. L.H. Cosway has written a spellbinding tale!
March 18, 2012
I loved this book :D
I love this author :)
I have read two books by L.H Cosway, they are both completely different but both are completely amazing :)
I LOVE IT ALL!!! :D
I love this author :)
I have read two books by L.H Cosway, they are both completely different but both are completely amazing :)
I LOVE IT ALL!!! :D
April 13, 2012
Great read. I liked Florence a lot. She and Frank are adorable together.
March 21, 2012
I was approached by L.H Cosway to review her second novel A Strange Fire: A Florence Vaine novel. I was pretty excited when asked and since I recently did a review on Tegan's Blood (Cosway's first novel) i automatically jumped at the chance.
Tegan's Blood is an Urban Fantasy novel that focused around the life of Tegan and a few of the local vampires and witches.
A Strange Fire, which follows Florence Vaine, is set in the same world as Tegan's Blood and Cosway mentioned that "Their paths will cross eventually" . I definitely see some similarities with the two novels. Both Florence and Tegan live or have lived in the fictional city of Tribane and i also see similarities in the both the characters of Tegan and Florence.
Cosway has said that she likes to "portray underdogs" in her books. Florence and Tegan are victims that overcome the hardships in their lives. Although they have been through different traumatic experiences, both of them have been strong enough to heal and eventually leave the past behind.
This is probably where the similarities end. When we meet Florence or Flo for short, we find that she is special in her own way, she can see auras. Now this isn't something that other people know, she learnt at a very early age that her seeing auras is not normal. Flo is an introvert and on top of this she has a stammer or a stutter. Which is especially noticeable around people that she isn't comfortable around.
This is a direct result of her relationship with her father, who is a drug addict and abusive, both physically and mentally towards Flo. Now after what seems like a miracle Flo's father decides that she will be moving in with her grandmother in Chesterport.
Flo is hesitant at first, her father is the only family she has known. She never really got to know her grandmother while growing up so both appear to be nervous around each other. However unlike her relationship with her father, Flo starts to feels at ease around her gran and feels a warmth an affection she has never experienced before.
Flo is then enrolled at school where she meets an interesting bunch of characters. She meets Caroline, who is the zany but kind best friend, runs into the popular( & not so kind) boys & girls and then meets the mysterious and troubled Frank who intrigues Flo the most. His fiery aura is nothing she has ever seen before and what also completely baffles her is that his 'brothers' have the same aura.
If Flo thought that she would be able to coast through school & Chesterport under the radar, she thought wrong. Not only does she have to put up with the drama of high school & trying to figure what Frank & his family are, she also is having dreams/ flashbacks of a person who is being attacked by cannibalistic hooded figures and to top it off she is being stalked by a creepy spirit.
*Breath*
That is a lot to take in. I won't continue to delve to much into the book because i want you to read it for yourself.
Before reading this book, I had read a few others that were average at best. I just didn't get into the story & sort of lost interest in it before I got to the end. So when i started reading this I honestly didn't know what to expect. Boy was i pleasantly surprised, i found this to be heart-stoppingly good. It had everything you could want. It has romance, boy dramas, action, horror, heart-break and some super cool supernatural beings.
I enjoyed the characters through out the book. Flo is a great protagonist and i really enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident as the story progressed. Her stutter didn't bother me one bit. If you have read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi then reading this will be a breeze, if you know what i mean.
I love, love, loved Frank. I love it when a guy gets all protective over his girl and Frank has this whole bad boy and mysterious thing going for him. He is absolutely to die for....Did i mention that I loved Frank?!
I loved the chemistry of Flo and Frank. Oh the tension! it drove me insane. The subtle touches of body parts, flirtatious eye contact and the hesitation from both drove me wild!
Check out one of my favourite quotes:
"I haven't had the most pleasant of weeks. On Tuesday I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't speak to Frank any more at school. I'd messed things up with him altogether and I was to mentally exhausted to try and fix them. Too many mistakes had been made on both of our parts.
One: I'd told him about how I can see auras. Two: He'd gone and told his brothers I'd slept with him when I hadn't. Three: I'd acted like a strait jacket case when I sensed my invisible stalker and run away from him. Four: Did I mention I'd told him i could see auras?"
I think Cosway did a great job at keeping the suspense and the readers interest. I was so intrigued to find out what Frank and his brothers were, that I just had to keep reading. I won't mention what we find out about them but I think its clever and original (well I think so, I haven't come across anything like it lately).
One thing I would like to pioint out about L.H Cosway. She isn't afraid to write about topics that affect society nowadays. Things such as suicide,abuse and especially abuse of children is really confronting stuff and I think its great that it is written into books because it is something that a lot of people face everyday and definitely needs more focus and attention from society. I honestly don't know if this was her intention but its fantastic and it really reminds me of my favourite author Patricia Briggs and how she writes about such confronting topics in her novels.
So finally, I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. Some people might think it's a bit slow in some parts but I think it sort of works for the book. It builds curiosity and intrigue and makes you want to keep reading.
This isn't just your typical para-romance novel, it's got some real gory and scary stuff, which makes it terrifyingly good!
Tegan's Blood is an Urban Fantasy novel that focused around the life of Tegan and a few of the local vampires and witches.
A Strange Fire, which follows Florence Vaine, is set in the same world as Tegan's Blood and Cosway mentioned that "Their paths will cross eventually" . I definitely see some similarities with the two novels. Both Florence and Tegan live or have lived in the fictional city of Tribane and i also see similarities in the both the characters of Tegan and Florence.
Cosway has said that she likes to "portray underdogs" in her books. Florence and Tegan are victims that overcome the hardships in their lives. Although they have been through different traumatic experiences, both of them have been strong enough to heal and eventually leave the past behind.
This is probably where the similarities end. When we meet Florence or Flo for short, we find that she is special in her own way, she can see auras. Now this isn't something that other people know, she learnt at a very early age that her seeing auras is not normal. Flo is an introvert and on top of this she has a stammer or a stutter. Which is especially noticeable around people that she isn't comfortable around.
This is a direct result of her relationship with her father, who is a drug addict and abusive, both physically and mentally towards Flo. Now after what seems like a miracle Flo's father decides that she will be moving in with her grandmother in Chesterport.
Flo is hesitant at first, her father is the only family she has known. She never really got to know her grandmother while growing up so both appear to be nervous around each other. However unlike her relationship with her father, Flo starts to feels at ease around her gran and feels a warmth an affection she has never experienced before.
Flo is then enrolled at school where she meets an interesting bunch of characters. She meets Caroline, who is the zany but kind best friend, runs into the popular( & not so kind) boys & girls and then meets the mysterious and troubled Frank who intrigues Flo the most. His fiery aura is nothing she has ever seen before and what also completely baffles her is that his 'brothers' have the same aura.
If Flo thought that she would be able to coast through school & Chesterport under the radar, she thought wrong. Not only does she have to put up with the drama of high school & trying to figure what Frank & his family are, she also is having dreams/ flashbacks of a person who is being attacked by cannibalistic hooded figures and to top it off she is being stalked by a creepy spirit.
*Breath*
That is a lot to take in. I won't continue to delve to much into the book because i want you to read it for yourself.
Before reading this book, I had read a few others that were average at best. I just didn't get into the story & sort of lost interest in it before I got to the end. So when i started reading this I honestly didn't know what to expect. Boy was i pleasantly surprised, i found this to be heart-stoppingly good. It had everything you could want. It has romance, boy dramas, action, horror, heart-break and some super cool supernatural beings.
I enjoyed the characters through out the book. Flo is a great protagonist and i really enjoyed seeing her grow and become more confident as the story progressed. Her stutter didn't bother me one bit. If you have read Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi then reading this will be a breeze, if you know what i mean.
I love, love, loved Frank. I love it when a guy gets all protective over his girl and Frank has this whole bad boy and mysterious thing going for him. He is absolutely to die for....Did i mention that I loved Frank?!
I loved the chemistry of Flo and Frank. Oh the tension! it drove me insane. The subtle touches of body parts, flirtatious eye contact and the hesitation from both drove me wild!
Check out one of my favourite quotes:
"I haven't had the most pleasant of weeks. On Tuesday I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't speak to Frank any more at school. I'd messed things up with him altogether and I was to mentally exhausted to try and fix them. Too many mistakes had been made on both of our parts.
One: I'd told him about how I can see auras. Two: He'd gone and told his brothers I'd slept with him when I hadn't. Three: I'd acted like a strait jacket case when I sensed my invisible stalker and run away from him. Four: Did I mention I'd told him i could see auras?"
I think Cosway did a great job at keeping the suspense and the readers interest. I was so intrigued to find out what Frank and his brothers were, that I just had to keep reading. I won't mention what we find out about them but I think its clever and original (well I think so, I haven't come across anything like it lately).
One thing I would like to pioint out about L.H Cosway. She isn't afraid to write about topics that affect society nowadays. Things such as suicide,abuse and especially abuse of children is really confronting stuff and I think its great that it is written into books because it is something that a lot of people face everyday and definitely needs more focus and attention from society. I honestly don't know if this was her intention but its fantastic and it really reminds me of my favourite author Patricia Briggs and how she writes about such confronting topics in her novels.
So finally, I can't express how much I enjoyed this book. Some people might think it's a bit slow in some parts but I think it sort of works for the book. It builds curiosity and intrigue and makes you want to keep reading.
This isn't just your typical para-romance novel, it's got some real gory and scary stuff, which makes it terrifyingly good!
February 3, 2022
I love L.H. Cosway's writing style. It's the story that I found too predictable. Reminded me of Twilight. The mystery felt too drawn out and I couldn't keep my interest. Flo as a character wasn't memorable and Frank was like every other YA protagonist horny and stalker-ish.
March 28, 2012
This review is originally posted in my blog
Journey with Books
This is the first work of L.H Cosway I've ever read and I must say that I am completely blown away by the awesomeness of it.
Florence Vaine, a girl who has been through so much. Florence is broken girl who was starved of love and affection by her father. She grew up with an unstable father who continually abused her emotionally and physically. She thought she would be forever trapped in that situation.
She was shocked when her father decided to let her live with her grandmother in a little town called Chesterport and for the first time in her life she hoped for a normal and happy life but she was dead wrong.
Normal and happy was shot down the drain when she went to her first day of school. Ever since she could remember, Florence has a gift or a curse (she haven't really decided which is which) of seeing the auras of people. She could read the feelings and personality of a person through their auras. She had always been the strange girl who stammers, the girl who always stares up at the air and that didn't change when she moved to a new town. And so, first day in a new high school was a nightmare but one guy, a very good looking guy who has a very strange aura of fire, a kind of aura she had never seen before, stood up for her.
Chesterport might be a small town and you'd think that because it's small, it's peaceful but there are strange and dangerous creatures living in there and sadly, Florence thinks those strange and dangerous creatures are after her.
Reading this book was really amazing. It was different from other books I've read. L.H. Cosway has a way of writing words that could captivate the reader's full attention. She takes the reader inside the book and make her feel the things that her characters feel.
A reader would really read and devour every word from the very start in the Prologue to the very last chapter of the book. I could say that this book was written well. It started out really strong and maintained it to the very last word.
The characters of this book are really interesting to read. They are fascinating to get to know. Florence is a broken girl who has been through so much. She's very delicate and yet very strong. LH Cosway made her very real to me and that is good. Even though, she's broken and carrying all these emotional baggage the author, made her even more real to me because she showed that Flo is still a young teenager who feels these normal teenage feelings like first crush and young love.
Frank is simply an awesome character. He's perfect for Florence. He's strong and very manly and yet very sweet and protective of Florence. And he's very mysterious! One of the reasons this book is perfectly done is because of how the author held out the mystery of what Frank really is.
The romance between Florence and Frank is quite endearing to read. It was gradual and not rushed. It's not instant and unnatural which makes me root for them more.
The pacing of this book is simply perfect. LH Cosway has the knack of creating this suspense that makes the reader read the book despite how late it is. She has this way of imprisoning the reader into the world she has created. The suspense alone kept me reading further and further until I get to the very last word.
The book wasn't solely built in the Paranormal and Romance stuff that is normally found in the other books. It has this creepiness and suspense that would make your skin crawl and make you feel scared and I think it really blended well with the normal Paranormal Romance stuff. I can honestly say that this book is one of my best reads this year and I cannot wait to read more from a very talented author!
This review is originally posted in my blog
Journey with Books
Journey with Books
This is the first work of L.H Cosway I've ever read and I must say that I am completely blown away by the awesomeness of it.
Florence Vaine, a girl who has been through so much. Florence is broken girl who was starved of love and affection by her father. She grew up with an unstable father who continually abused her emotionally and physically. She thought she would be forever trapped in that situation.
She was shocked when her father decided to let her live with her grandmother in a little town called Chesterport and for the first time in her life she hoped for a normal and happy life but she was dead wrong.
Normal and happy was shot down the drain when she went to her first day of school. Ever since she could remember, Florence has a gift or a curse (she haven't really decided which is which) of seeing the auras of people. She could read the feelings and personality of a person through their auras. She had always been the strange girl who stammers, the girl who always stares up at the air and that didn't change when she moved to a new town. And so, first day in a new high school was a nightmare but one guy, a very good looking guy who has a very strange aura of fire, a kind of aura she had never seen before, stood up for her.
Chesterport might be a small town and you'd think that because it's small, it's peaceful but there are strange and dangerous creatures living in there and sadly, Florence thinks those strange and dangerous creatures are after her.
Reading this book was really amazing. It was different from other books I've read. L.H. Cosway has a way of writing words that could captivate the reader's full attention. She takes the reader inside the book and make her feel the things that her characters feel.
A reader would really read and devour every word from the very start in the Prologue to the very last chapter of the book. I could say that this book was written well. It started out really strong and maintained it to the very last word.
The characters of this book are really interesting to read. They are fascinating to get to know. Florence is a broken girl who has been through so much. She's very delicate and yet very strong. LH Cosway made her very real to me and that is good. Even though, she's broken and carrying all these emotional baggage the author, made her even more real to me because she showed that Flo is still a young teenager who feels these normal teenage feelings like first crush and young love.
Frank is simply an awesome character. He's perfect for Florence. He's strong and very manly and yet very sweet and protective of Florence. And he's very mysterious! One of the reasons this book is perfectly done is because of how the author held out the mystery of what Frank really is.
The romance between Florence and Frank is quite endearing to read. It was gradual and not rushed. It's not instant and unnatural which makes me root for them more.
The pacing of this book is simply perfect. LH Cosway has the knack of creating this suspense that makes the reader read the book despite how late it is. She has this way of imprisoning the reader into the world she has created. The suspense alone kept me reading further and further until I get to the very last word.
The book wasn't solely built in the Paranormal and Romance stuff that is normally found in the other books. It has this creepiness and suspense that would make your skin crawl and make you feel scared and I think it really blended well with the normal Paranormal Romance stuff. I can honestly say that this book is one of my best reads this year and I cannot wait to read more from a very talented author!
This review is originally posted in my blog
Journey with Books
July 25, 2012
(Book provided through ARR #24 in the We ♥ YA Books! group, in exchange for an honest review.)
After years of abuse at the hands of her father, 17-year-old Florence Vaine is suddenly sent to live in Chesterport with her grandmother, a kind woman who may at last give her the affection and life she never had before. And her life sure hasn't been easy, between her constant fear of her father, the stammer that afflicts her as soon as is in stressful situations, and her strange, unexplained power that allows her to see people's emotions through their auras. Although Flo meets nice people who may become friends, she also finds herself the target of bullying because of her speech impediment. One student, Frank, immediately stands for her, attracting her attention: for his aura, as well as that of her brothers, are of a fiery kind Flo has never seen before.
Such a beginning had me a little scared : a girl arriving in a new, small town in which she doesn't know anyone, but is from the start attracted towards the band of mysterious, different yet gorgeous pupils who always keep to themselves, have various rumours floating around them, and to whom there is clearly much more than meets the eye. This could have been the beginning of another "Twilight" (a novel I didn't like). Fortunately for "A Strange Fire", it wasn't the case at all. First because Frank is nothing creepy like Edward Cullen, and is on the contrary a very sweet boy whose odd reputation hides an otherwise brave and nice persona; as the story unfolds, so does the relationship between Flo and him, in a believable way—he is attracted to her, but respects her reactions and feelings, and doesn't force himself upon her, instead doing his best to win her friendship and trust first. His brothers, in spite of who they all really are, seemed to be good people overall, doing their best to live with what had been imposed to them from their birth.
As for Florence, I think she was portrayed in a realistic way, considering her powers, personality and past life. She's a young woman, still a girl in some aspects, who has suffered a lot of abuse. She's mature enough to realize how fearful this has made her, and to acknowledge how difficult it has made things for her; at the same time, she still struggles with the resulting lack of self-esteem, her need for medication, her wariness regarding people in general. During the story, she tries to overcome those hurdles, and this in turn helps her growing, getting stronger.
There were a couple of things that left me wanting, though. I wish we would have seen or learnt more about some of the characters: Ross, for instance, who was a little bland compared to Frank and Alex; or Caroline,who was exactly the kind of nice friend Flo had always needed... but after a while, this budding friendship seemed to have retreated in the background. Also, the overall plot with the witches may have benefitted from being a tad bit more present. And what was revealed about the true nature of Frank and his family was weird—actually, it's probably how it was introduced and explained that felt a little off.
Regardless of those few gripes, "A Strange Fire" is a book I thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend. It was my first foray into L.H. Cosway's works, but likely not the last one.
After years of abuse at the hands of her father, 17-year-old Florence Vaine is suddenly sent to live in Chesterport with her grandmother, a kind woman who may at last give her the affection and life she never had before. And her life sure hasn't been easy, between her constant fear of her father, the stammer that afflicts her as soon as is in stressful situations, and her strange, unexplained power that allows her to see people's emotions through their auras. Although Flo meets nice people who may become friends, she also finds herself the target of bullying because of her speech impediment. One student, Frank, immediately stands for her, attracting her attention: for his aura, as well as that of her brothers, are of a fiery kind Flo has never seen before.
Such a beginning had me a little scared : a girl arriving in a new, small town in which she doesn't know anyone, but is from the start attracted towards the band of mysterious, different yet gorgeous pupils who always keep to themselves, have various rumours floating around them, and to whom there is clearly much more than meets the eye. This could have been the beginning of another "Twilight" (a novel I didn't like). Fortunately for "A Strange Fire", it wasn't the case at all. First because Frank is nothing creepy like Edward Cullen, and is on the contrary a very sweet boy whose odd reputation hides an otherwise brave and nice persona; as the story unfolds, so does the relationship between Flo and him, in a believable way—he is attracted to her, but respects her reactions and feelings, and doesn't force himself upon her, instead doing his best to win her friendship and trust first. His brothers, in spite of who they all really are, seemed to be good people overall, doing their best to live with what had been imposed to them from their birth.
As for Florence, I think she was portrayed in a realistic way, considering her powers, personality and past life. She's a young woman, still a girl in some aspects, who has suffered a lot of abuse. She's mature enough to realize how fearful this has made her, and to acknowledge how difficult it has made things for her; at the same time, she still struggles with the resulting lack of self-esteem, her need for medication, her wariness regarding people in general. During the story, she tries to overcome those hurdles, and this in turn helps her growing, getting stronger.
There were a couple of things that left me wanting, though. I wish we would have seen or learnt more about some of the characters: Ross, for instance, who was a little bland compared to Frank and Alex; or Caroline,who was exactly the kind of nice friend Flo had always needed... but after a while, this budding friendship seemed to have retreated in the background. Also, the overall plot with the witches may have benefitted from being a tad bit more present. And what was revealed about the true nature of Frank and his family was weird—actually, it's probably how it was introduced and explained that felt a little off.
Regardless of those few gripes, "A Strange Fire" is a book I thoroughly enjoyed, and would recommend. It was my first foray into L.H. Cosway's works, but likely not the last one.
September 19, 2012
Loved it!
L.H. Cosway has done it again. She hooked me from the first page, something which rarely happens to me anymore. I thought my luck would run out after Tegan’s Blood and Tegan’s Return, but I found a new cast of characters to fall in love with in A Strange Fire.
Flo’s voice captured me immediately. Her acceptance of herself as a stammering idiot is heartbreaking. She’s never known love in her life, only abuse from a drug dealer father who likes to calls his daughter a “stupid bitch”. She’s also kept the fact she can see people’s auras to herself, until she lands in the small rural town of Chestertport and starts to make friends at her new school. Flo, or Florence as the lovely Frank (the boy with the strange fire in his aura) insists on calling her, gradually realises she’s not the only one around with a strange ability. As her powers increase, so too does the danger from those who wish to steal her gift. A teenager died under mysterious circumstances two years before in Chesterport, and it looks like the same fate is in store for Flo.
I liked how Cosway links this story to her other books. Flo originally comes from the city of Tribane, where all the action in her vampire series, The Ultimate Power takes place. It’s rare to become so lost in a story that you forget you’re reading a book. This doesn’t happen to me every often, but I should have expected nothing else, having read Cosway’s other books, which are now among my list of favourite novels.
The mocking and bullying Flo faces at school will have you seething. It’s something we’re all familiar with from our own school days. There are always going to be a few bitches and dickheads eager to cause others embarrassment and pain. It’s agonising watching Flo try to get her words, any words out. But Flo is strong. She may lack self-esteem but she grows a little more confident day by day. The cute asshole, Josh, who insults her in front of the whole class on her first day, comes on to her in private and she tells him to take a hike. Good for her.
The teens in this book are more straight talking and realistic than what I read in many YA books. I could be right there with Flo and Frank in the hall at school and I wanted to be sitting at the lunch table in the cafeteria with the friendly, best friend, Caroline, ballsy, Layla, flirty Alex and the lovely, older than his years, Frank. Frank is mature, sexy and filled with fire. His aura flickers like a live flame and his tattoos hint at a wilder side.
I cannot recommend this book and the others I’ve mentioned here today enough. The follow up to A Strange Fire, A Vision of Green is out later this month and it’s going straight on my Kindle.
L.H. Cosway has done it again. She hooked me from the first page, something which rarely happens to me anymore. I thought my luck would run out after Tegan’s Blood and Tegan’s Return, but I found a new cast of characters to fall in love with in A Strange Fire.
Flo’s voice captured me immediately. Her acceptance of herself as a stammering idiot is heartbreaking. She’s never known love in her life, only abuse from a drug dealer father who likes to calls his daughter a “stupid bitch”. She’s also kept the fact she can see people’s auras to herself, until she lands in the small rural town of Chestertport and starts to make friends at her new school. Flo, or Florence as the lovely Frank (the boy with the strange fire in his aura) insists on calling her, gradually realises she’s not the only one around with a strange ability. As her powers increase, so too does the danger from those who wish to steal her gift. A teenager died under mysterious circumstances two years before in Chesterport, and it looks like the same fate is in store for Flo.
I liked how Cosway links this story to her other books. Flo originally comes from the city of Tribane, where all the action in her vampire series, The Ultimate Power takes place. It’s rare to become so lost in a story that you forget you’re reading a book. This doesn’t happen to me every often, but I should have expected nothing else, having read Cosway’s other books, which are now among my list of favourite novels.
The mocking and bullying Flo faces at school will have you seething. It’s something we’re all familiar with from our own school days. There are always going to be a few bitches and dickheads eager to cause others embarrassment and pain. It’s agonising watching Flo try to get her words, any words out. But Flo is strong. She may lack self-esteem but she grows a little more confident day by day. The cute asshole, Josh, who insults her in front of the whole class on her first day, comes on to her in private and she tells him to take a hike. Good for her.
The teens in this book are more straight talking and realistic than what I read in many YA books. I could be right there with Flo and Frank in the hall at school and I wanted to be sitting at the lunch table in the cafeteria with the friendly, best friend, Caroline, ballsy, Layla, flirty Alex and the lovely, older than his years, Frank. Frank is mature, sexy and filled with fire. His aura flickers like a live flame and his tattoos hint at a wilder side.
I cannot recommend this book and the others I’ve mentioned here today enough. The follow up to A Strange Fire, A Vision of Green is out later this month and it’s going straight on my Kindle.
July 30, 2012
Originally reviewed at Joie de Lire
Rating: 3.75 stars
When I first started this book, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I can honestly say that this book was better than I thought it was going to be.
Flo is definitely a different brand of YA heroine--and I don't mean that in a bad way. She doesn't appear as strong and kick-butt as a lot of other YA girls out there; she's got a bad stammer, she gets nervous easily, and she's very self-conscious. However, throughout this whole book, I think she really came into her own, overcoming her traumatic past and coming to terms with what she can do. She definitely emerged as a stronger person at the end of the book.
I loved the mix of supernatural elements in this book--it's not just a werewolf book or an angel book or a witch book, but a mix of everything! I also enjoyed the suspense in finally finding out what each person was. The whole time I was reading, I was constantly guessing who was what, but the author did a great job keeping me on my toes and surprising me when the truth was finally revealed.
This world that Cosway has created where all these supernatural beings coexist left me very intrigued and eager to find out more.
This book had a rather slow build-up that wasn't really my kind of thing, but the book is full of creepy moments that made me keep reading. I know this isn't classified as a "scary book," but there were definitely some creeptastic moments that had me chilled to the bone!
All in all: this book was a nice read. Although I wish there might've been some more development in other characters and I felt like the identity of the big bad villain was pretty obvious from the start, this book has a very unique concept that makes me want to read the sequel and find out more about the world and Flo's ability.
**I received a copy of this book from the ARR program on goodreads in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 3.75 stars
When I first started this book, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I can honestly say that this book was better than I thought it was going to be.
Flo is definitely a different brand of YA heroine--and I don't mean that in a bad way. She doesn't appear as strong and kick-butt as a lot of other YA girls out there; she's got a bad stammer, she gets nervous easily, and she's very self-conscious. However, throughout this whole book, I think she really came into her own, overcoming her traumatic past and coming to terms with what she can do. She definitely emerged as a stronger person at the end of the book.
I loved the mix of supernatural elements in this book--it's not just a werewolf book or an angel book or a witch book, but a mix of everything! I also enjoyed the suspense in finally finding out what each person was. The whole time I was reading, I was constantly guessing who was what, but the author did a great job keeping me on my toes and surprising me when the truth was finally revealed.
This world that Cosway has created where all these supernatural beings coexist left me very intrigued and eager to find out more.
This book had a rather slow build-up that wasn't really my kind of thing, but the book is full of creepy moments that made me keep reading. I know this isn't classified as a "scary book," but there were definitely some creeptastic moments that had me chilled to the bone!
All in all: this book was a nice read. Although I wish there might've been some more development in other characters and I felt like the identity of the big bad villain was pretty obvious from the start, this book has a very unique concept that makes me want to read the sequel and find out more about the world and Flo's ability.
**I received a copy of this book from the ARR program on goodreads in exchange for an honest review
July 28, 2012
Goodness! A Strange Fire by LH Cosway is an absolutely wonderful book! I love it from start to finish.This book puts a new twist on paranormal romance books. First, there is an actual engaging mystery beyond the whole "what is he?" question that paranormal novels almost always seem to focis on. Also, Flo has her own powers and isn't helpless like so many female characters commonly are. She's been forced to endure abuse from practically day one and though it has given her some scars she doesn't let it define her life. Of course she struggles with them but she mangaes to overcome a lot of her issues as well. She isn't above asking for help when she realizes she's in over her head, either. She doesn't let pride get in the way of common sense, which is a refreshing change. This isn't to say she runs for help each time she encounters trouble, she just acknowldges her limitations and seeks help in order to remedy whatever the problem is. She doesn't live in denial either, when bad things happen, she rolls with the punches and carries on with her life, even when it's painful for her. One of my favorite parts of this novel is seeing the world through Flo's perspective, she looks at it in a different way than most teenagers and it's fun reading her observations and thoughts.
Things look up for Flo when she meets and becomes involved with Frank. Frank is strong, protective, compassionate, and understanding. He is there for Flo when she needs him but doesn't smother her, either.He accepts Flo unconditonally and she, in turn, accpets him. They're a wonderful couple.
It's not just the main characters that are great, either. The side characters make the story just that much better, as well.
All in all this is an amazing book and I defintely reccomend it.
Things look up for Flo when she meets and becomes involved with Frank. Frank is strong, protective, compassionate, and understanding. He is there for Flo when she needs him but doesn't smother her, either.He accepts Flo unconditonally and she, in turn, accpets him. They're a wonderful couple.
It's not just the main characters that are great, either. The side characters make the story just that much better, as well.
All in all this is an amazing book and I defintely reccomend it.
August 7, 2016
"i come to you with strange fire, i make an offering of love, the incense of my soil is burned by the fire in my blood. i come with a softer answer to the questions that lie in your path. i want to harbor you from the anger, find a refuge from the wrath." - Indigo Girls
Flo Vaine has seen auras her whole life. She knows when you are lying, happy, or high. She knows if you are generally a deceitful, kind, or evil person. Until her scumbag father drops her off at her grandmother's house, she's never truly known caring. On her first day at her new school, she has a new first - a boy with an aura of fire who stands up for her. Yet, he's not the only one - his foster brothers have the same fiery aura. What does it mean overall and what does it mean to her?
'A Strange Fire' is a compelling and scintillating book. The characters are strongly built and stand out, no matter how major or minor. Flo is a special girl who has been treated like trash her entire life. When she come to her grandmother's she finds out she's so much more than trash and is part of something much larger. Now she has dreams of strange hooded figures, an invisible presence following her, and something very strange and new - hope! Ms. Cosway has written an achingly suspenseful story with great characters. I wasn't able to put 'A Strange Fire' down for an instant. A definite must read!
Florence Vaine Series: A Strange Fire (1)
Flo Vaine has seen auras her whole life. She knows when you are lying, happy, or high. She knows if you are generally a deceitful, kind, or evil person. Until her scumbag father drops her off at her grandmother's house, she's never truly known caring. On her first day at her new school, she has a new first - a boy with an aura of fire who stands up for her. Yet, he's not the only one - his foster brothers have the same fiery aura. What does it mean overall and what does it mean to her?
'A Strange Fire' is a compelling and scintillating book. The characters are strongly built and stand out, no matter how major or minor. Flo is a special girl who has been treated like trash her entire life. When she come to her grandmother's she finds out she's so much more than trash and is part of something much larger. Now she has dreams of strange hooded figures, an invisible presence following her, and something very strange and new - hope! Ms. Cosway has written an achingly suspenseful story with great characters. I wasn't able to put 'A Strange Fire' down for an instant. A definite must read!
Florence Vaine Series: A Strange Fire (1)
November 18, 2012
Florence (Flo) is dropped off with her grandmother by her abusive father. She moves from Tribane (wonder if she ran into Tegan lol?) to Chesterport. Flo's power is unique because she read auras.
This is a handy dandy little power because she has always know what each color represents ; so it hard to get over on her pretending to feel one way when she can see that you feel another. But it also get her stared at and made fun of because she is to busy looking at the colors and not at the people.
Right off she meets a group of boys with auras she has never seen so she is fascinated by the colors and one of the boys is fascinated with her.
Even though we are dealing with teenagers, I like this story. While there is a romance brewing there is not the back and forth teen angst. Frank likes her she can see he likes her and is very forward and blunt but Flo is very skittish. Him trying to get her is like trying to catch a baby rabbit.
Flo realizes pretty early own that there is a lot of different people in Chesterport (I’m surprised she didn’t have this problem in Tribane with the vampires and all but I digress) and she has stumbled into the path of a killer. Since she is the only one that can sense the killer, the pattern changes and now Flo is in the killer’s site.
While trying to figure out who the killer is Flo also has to fight off a bully, the wrath of a jealous female all the while trying to figure out what and his brothers are.
This is a handy dandy little power because she has always know what each color represents ; so it hard to get over on her pretending to feel one way when she can see that you feel another. But it also get her stared at and made fun of because she is to busy looking at the colors and not at the people.
Right off she meets a group of boys with auras she has never seen so she is fascinated by the colors and one of the boys is fascinated with her.
Even though we are dealing with teenagers, I like this story. While there is a romance brewing there is not the back and forth teen angst. Frank likes her she can see he likes her and is very forward and blunt but Flo is very skittish. Him trying to get her is like trying to catch a baby rabbit.
Flo realizes pretty early own that there is a lot of different people in Chesterport (I’m surprised she didn’t have this problem in Tribane with the vampires and all but I digress) and she has stumbled into the path of a killer. Since she is the only one that can sense the killer, the pattern changes and now Flo is in the killer’s site.
While trying to figure out who the killer is Flo also has to fight off a bully, the wrath of a jealous female all the while trying to figure out what and his brothers are.
August 16, 2012
This is such a brilliant read. I enjoyed it so much I've now read it twice.
The balance between everyday life and the special powers of Florence and the boys is perfect - with neither aspect of the story overpowering the other. The settings were good without being intrusive and the gradual revelation of who had what powers was very well written, keeping the reader involved without giving too much away at the start. Good foreshadowing of the evil aspects of the story and just the right amount of romance for the age group of the characters added another dimension to the story.I would have liked to know a little more about Florence's background - the reappearance of someone from her family late in the narrative was a little sudden and I'm not sure that worked too well - maybe it would have been better moved to the opening of the next book in the series.
Overall, well-written, well-paced and well-balanced. So, well done!
The balance between everyday life and the special powers of Florence and the boys is perfect - with neither aspect of the story overpowering the other. The settings were good without being intrusive and the gradual revelation of who had what powers was very well written, keeping the reader involved without giving too much away at the start. Good foreshadowing of the evil aspects of the story and just the right amount of romance for the age group of the characters added another dimension to the story.I would have liked to know a little more about Florence's background - the reappearance of someone from her family late in the narrative was a little sudden and I'm not sure that worked too well - maybe it would have been better moved to the opening of the next book in the series.
Overall, well-written, well-paced and well-balanced. So, well done!
July 19, 2012
It was unique and exciting. Flo is a character that I definitely love she is not the damsel in distress character or the stubborn type which I often read in a lot of books she is just a strong character. She is one of those characters that you will admire for how she carries herself. She doesn't let anything bother her. Frank is a good supporting character. Although he is no Noah of Unbecoming of Mara Dyer but he is still somebody that you like being around. The characters are all very distinct which is just fitting for a good story like this one.
It was sad how things went. I was sad for Flo. I mean I thought that there would be a happy ending somewhere there for her but oh no things had to turn out like that. It was a mix of happy and sad endings. Nevertheless it was a good one. I can see that there is still more to come for Flo and Frank and the rest of them.
It was sad how things went. I was sad for Flo. I mean I thought that there would be a happy ending somewhere there for her but oh no things had to turn out like that. It was a mix of happy and sad endings. Nevertheless it was a good one. I can see that there is still more to come for Flo and Frank and the rest of them.
August 18, 2012
This book was better than I expected. As it was a YA book that I "picked up" for free via Amazon Kindle, I didn't have high hopes. Maybe that's why I found it pretty good.
The story is good, the characters are mostly round, though many quite predictable. The developing love between the main character and her guy develop much to fast.(What happened to allowing time to pass in the land of fiction?)The secrets were a little more original than I expected and that was a good thing. The writing was much better than some YA and even Adult (ahem Shades of Gray) books that I've read.
I'd have to say, I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series, though I don't think I'll spend much on it. I'll wait for it to be really cheap, or free, for Kindle.
The story is good, the characters are mostly round, though many quite predictable. The developing love between the main character and her guy develop much to fast.(What happened to allowing time to pass in the land of fiction?)The secrets were a little more original than I expected and that was a good thing. The writing was much better than some YA and even Adult (ahem Shades of Gray) books that I've read.
I'd have to say, I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series, though I don't think I'll spend much on it. I'll wait for it to be really cheap, or free, for Kindle.
August 27, 2012
I started A Strange Fire because I loved the first two books of this author's Ultimate Power Series. It did not disappoint. I love the progression of Flo's character in the strength she gained over the course of the book, although she is not completely healed which is refreshing. Sometimes it is eady for sn autjor to write a character thst goes from broken to completely whole and healed. I enjoy knowing there is more to come with Flo and her newfound friends and family. I loved the ending except that the impatientness in me shivers at the size of this "cliffy". (which is my teenager brat's term for cliff hanger) I cannot wait for the next book in both of these series.
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