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Firewalk
Thrust into a marriage to unite two kingdoms, a young woman must learn to master fire-magic before she becomes the victim of a treasonous plot.
339 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 5, 2013
This was a favorite of mine and has been re-read a few times. It was a new way of writing the old arranged marriage that neither wants but end up falling in love story. And it didn't feel old at all when I read it. Like a really good author should she made the story feel like this is the first time it had ever been told. And as we all know there are no new stories just new ways of telling them and Ann's story telling stuck with me.
July 20, 2022
I really loved this story! I'e been following a fantasy-genre reading challenge for 2022 and selected this book as my "book written the year you were born" category. I absolutely loved Kayli and found the entire story very interesting. This book is also very easy to digest, I recommend it for people looking for a quicker read between larger high fantasies. Looking forward to reading more Logston books after this reading challenge is done :)
December 22, 2022
This was the book that got me hooked on fantasy fiction when I was a teen. When I had this book I read it all the time. I've loved this book so much, when my daughter was born when I was 31 I named her Kayli. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart.
February 19, 2024
I literally only bought this book because I am a devotee of the arranged marriage happily-ever-after trope. I thought it’d be cheesy, same old familiar flavor, but this is going down amongst my favorite arranged marriage books.
I loved the fact that Kayli is powerful, skilled, determined, but also kind, patient, and passionate. She has emotional control that she has learned over the course of years and she demonstrates this over and over rather than just claiming it with no backing.
Randon, ugh, don’t get me started on Randon. I like the fact that he’s goofy, and gentle and lacking in many ways, but does his best despite his trust issues, learning disability and situation that is constantly telling him he’s inferior.
This felt like one of the most realistic book relationships I have read in a very long time and though they have their issues they’re inspiring in a way. At times their communication was definitely lacking and they schemed and let pride get in the way.
The pacing was quick, but not too rushed and held my attention and kept me coming back as a putter downer of many books for *whispers* years. The deep intrigue and political drama mixed with the character relationships was what I CAME FOR! I didn’t know it, but I needed it.
I loved the fact that Kayli is powerful, skilled, determined, but also kind, patient, and passionate. She has emotional control that she has learned over the course of years and she demonstrates this over and over rather than just claiming it with no backing.
Randon, ugh, don’t get me started on Randon. I like the fact that he’s goofy, and gentle and lacking in many ways, but does his best despite his trust issues, learning disability and situation that is constantly telling him he’s inferior.
This felt like one of the most realistic book relationships I have read in a very long time and though they have their issues they’re inspiring in a way. At times their communication was definitely lacking and they schemed and let pride get in the way.
The pacing was quick, but not too rushed and held my attention and kept me coming back as a putter downer of many books for *whispers* years. The deep intrigue and political drama mixed with the character relationships was what I CAME FOR! I didn’t know it, but I needed it.
October 20, 2017
Enjoyable story
Interesting world building and likeable characters. I had read a review of this book and was happy to find it available on Kindle. I would have been happier with a more realistic account of the fighting and battle scenes.
Interesting world building and likeable characters. I had read a review of this book and was happy to find it available on Kindle. I would have been happier with a more realistic account of the fighting and battle scenes.
August 4, 2023
If you like slow, thoughtful reads this may be the book for you. I read this 20 years after having read the sequel, Waterdance, not knowing that Waterdance WAS a sequel.
This is a very different story and very different characters to Waterdance. Unlike Peri, the main character of Waterdance, who is emotional and impulsive, Kayli, the main character of Firewalk, is reserved and careful (on the whole - several scenes of temper not withstanding). This is the story of Kayli being pulled away from her studies to become a fire mage and instead entering an arranged marriage with the very new High Lord of Agrond, a kingdom that Bregond, Kayli's homeland, had always been at war with. It's a story of them getting to know each other and finding a way to trust each other while dealing with political manoevres.
I found the story slow-going and nearly gave up half a dozen times, but because I wanted to re-read Waterdance I kept with it. It was interesting to learn more about the difference cultures, and I liked Kayli as a character, but there were aspects of the story I really didn't like -
On the whole, I much preferred the straightforward action of Waterdance to the philosophical and political meanderings of this book.
This is a very different story and very different characters to Waterdance. Unlike Peri, the main character of Waterdance, who is emotional and impulsive, Kayli, the main character of Firewalk, is reserved and careful (on the whole - several scenes of temper not withstanding). This is the story of Kayli being pulled away from her studies to become a fire mage and instead entering an arranged marriage with the very new High Lord of Agrond, a kingdom that Bregond, Kayli's homeland, had always been at war with. It's a story of them getting to know each other and finding a way to trust each other while dealing with political manoevres.
I found the story slow-going and nearly gave up half a dozen times, but because I wanted to re-read Waterdance I kept with it. It was interesting to learn more about the difference cultures, and I liked Kayli as a character, but there were aspects of the story I really didn't like -
On the whole, I much preferred the straightforward action of Waterdance to the philosophical and political meanderings of this book.
January 25, 2022
The plot went seemingly nowhere and there were a few predictable aspects. We went around in circles for a while before everything suddenly happened. There was a lot of political talk which was rather dry. I'm not adverse to political manoeuvrings in fact I love epic fantasy. Logston writes beautifully, but this was more romance based. Not sure if I can even say that - when I am not even convinced by this romance.
The worst part honestly - HUGE SPOILER - was how Kayli slated Terralt and everybody else for Ynea being a child bride but - should I even write out this spoiler or let the readers discover for themselves. Maybe I should let everyone else get that first hand shock I did, because wow. hahaha, I'm still in recovery. Would like to point out though, how is Ynea being married having kids despicably young (I'll admit yes she was frail) but if she were two/three years older that's where we draw the line of it's acceptable marriage age (in the book narrative)??
I guess this book just wasn't for me. Not sure whether I wanna try Logston again, maybe in a couple of years I'll circle round.
The worst part honestly - HUGE SPOILER - was how Kayli slated Terralt and everybody else for Ynea being a child bride but - should I even write out this spoiler or let the readers discover for themselves. Maybe I should let everyone else get that first hand shock I did, because wow. hahaha, I'm still in recovery. Would like to point out though, how is Ynea being married having kids despicably young (I'll admit yes she was frail) but if she were two/three years older that's where we draw the line of it's acceptable marriage age (in the book narrative)??
I guess this book just wasn't for me. Not sure whether I wanna try Logston again, maybe in a couple of years I'll circle round.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2018
This book was really hard to get into - and admittedly I stopped after a few chapters. The basic plot is interesting, but the writing is amateurish and makes it hard to get absorbed in the story.
December 30, 2018
Wish she'd ended up with Terralt. I do love a villains to lovers story. Randon was little too nice to be interesting as a romantic counterpart. :/
January 26, 2024
I was gifted this book, otherwise I’m sure I wouldn’t have given it a glance. Fantasy and magic aren’t my thing, but I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.
November 20, 2024
A mix of romance, fantasy, and political intrigue. Not bad.
April 6, 2012
An oldie/keeper from my bookshelf.
For all its problems, FIREWALK is an enjoyable read. Sure, the dialogue is stilted and the characters' tics can be irritating (if that one guy chuckles one more time...*grr*). But the ideas are fantastic... this is an arranged marriage, but neither of the participants act like martyrs or spoiled brats. They don't hate eachother on sight. They try to work as a team, they feel smug about things until someone points out they've made a mistake--they're deliciously flawed and try to be better. Still, the execution is lacking. But this book will stay on my bookshelf none the less.
For all its problems, FIREWALK is an enjoyable read. Sure, the dialogue is stilted and the characters' tics can be irritating (if that one guy chuckles one more time...*grr*). But the ideas are fantastic... this is an arranged marriage, but neither of the participants act like martyrs or spoiled brats. They don't hate eachother on sight. They try to work as a team, they feel smug about things until someone points out they've made a mistake--they're deliciously flawed and try to be better. Still, the execution is lacking. But this book will stay on my bookshelf none the less.
May 3, 2016
I always loved this book and all the author's other stories. I wish she had written more books. Her characters are approachable and yet also wonderfully foreign. The land is just obscure enough to not be ours but also familiar enough to make it believable. I love her humor and her characterization.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews