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Emerald City Shifters #1
Sealed by Fire
Vanya is a sorcerer’s apprentice who finally achieves his goal, initiation as a sorcerer – only to find that he, himself, is the intended sacrifice in their ritual. When the ritual goes wrong, his master flees and he is left with the creature that his master summons.
Stranded on this side of the portal, Nash is a powerful being with only one desire – find the sorcerer who stranded him and wreak his revenge. Vanya agrees to help, and in the process, he and Nash find more than they ever bargained for: love, friendship, and belonging.
Can they protect themselves against the sorcerer’s growing power, or will he destroy all that they hold dear?
Stranded on this side of the portal, Nash is a powerful being with only one desire – find the sorcerer who stranded him and wreak his revenge. Vanya agrees to help, and in the process, he and Nash find more than they ever bargained for: love, friendship, and belonging.
Can they protect themselves against the sorcerer’s growing power, or will he destroy all that they hold dear?
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2014
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
A. Catherine Noon
23 books56 followersAuthor • Creativity Coach • Insurance Analyst • Textile & Calligraphy Artist
A. Catherine Noon is a multidimensional creator whose work bridges the worlds of storytelling, strategy, and sensory art. With over two decades of experience in the insurance industry, she brings analytical precision and calm-in-crisis leadership to every endeavor. As a trauma-informed creativity coach and brand strategist, she helps individuals and communities unlock their voice through emotionally resonant storytelling and sustainable creative workflows.
Noony is a published novelist, public speaker, and co-founder of Writer Zen Garden, a global community dedicated to creative exploration. Her work spans genres—from shifter romance to writing how-to guides—and she’s known for her intuitive grasp of audience psychology and visual branding. A lifelong learner and textile artist, she also teaches calligraphy, fiber arts, and creative writing, blending tactile engagement with emotional depth.
Whether she’s analyzing market trends, sketching dragonflies, or crafting a YouTube read-through, Noony’s signature is clarity with heart. She lives on a forest homestead in Washington State, where she finds inspiration in herbalism, folklore, and the quiet magic of the everyday.
Resume Highlights:
• Strategic brand consultant for authors and creatives
• Published author (as A. Catherine Noon), co-author with Rachel Wilder
• Founder of Writer Zen Garden
• Trauma-informed creativity coach and workshop facilitator
• Insurance market analyst with 20+ years’ experience
• Textile artist and calligraphy instructor
• Public speaker and community builder
A. Catherine Noon is a multidimensional creator whose work bridges the worlds of storytelling, strategy, and sensory art. With over two decades of experience in the insurance industry, she brings analytical precision and calm-in-crisis leadership to every endeavor. As a trauma-informed creativity coach and brand strategist, she helps individuals and communities unlock their voice through emotionally resonant storytelling and sustainable creative workflows.
Noony is a published novelist, public speaker, and co-founder of Writer Zen Garden, a global community dedicated to creative exploration. Her work spans genres—from shifter romance to writing how-to guides—and she’s known for her intuitive grasp of audience psychology and visual branding. A lifelong learner and textile artist, she also teaches calligraphy, fiber arts, and creative writing, blending tactile engagement with emotional depth.
Whether she’s analyzing market trends, sketching dragonflies, or crafting a YouTube read-through, Noony’s signature is clarity with heart. She lives on a forest homestead in Washington State, where she finds inspiration in herbalism, folklore, and the quiet magic of the everyday.
Resume Highlights:
• Strategic brand consultant for authors and creatives
• Published author (as A. Catherine Noon), co-author with Rachel Wilder
• Founder of Writer Zen Garden
• Trauma-informed creativity coach and workshop facilitator
• Insurance market analyst with 20+ years’ experience
• Textile artist and calligraphy instructor
• Public speaker and community builder
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2016
Being almost ritually sacrificed by his master to a being from another dimension is not what Vanya would call the makings of a good day. Not that any of his days lately had been ‘good.’ But when the ritual takes a rather unexpected turn, Vanya comes to find out the ‘sacrifice’ intended to seal his master’s control had rather less to do with blood slowly leaking out of his body, and more to do with some cross-dimensional hanky-panky. And after 21 years of forced celibacy, Vanya is finding he doesn’t mind sacrificing himself. Over and over again. Just, you know, to be thorough.
Still, it is not all fun and erect pensis. Vanya’s master is rather put out that the ritual was flubbed, and seems to feel that removing Vanya (permanently) from the equation will solve all his problems. Which is probably true. Unfortunately true-–especially for Vanya, Nash, and the rather restless nest of snake shifters guarding their backs-–because Vanya’s master has no trouble killing to solve his problems.
This book is set in an alternate universe where sorcerers, shifters, and magic are common and known about. Vanya has been apprenticed to his master since he was a little kid, and is only now coming to realize that all his ‘training’ was only his master fattening him up for the slaughter. I quite enjoyed the world that was built here. And found the various magics and magical people really interesting. Especially the snakes. Now, I am the first to admit that if I see a snake in real life my first reaction is going to be ‘scream like a little girl,’ but I have a fondness for snake shifters. They just don’t pop up all that often in stories, and I was really happy to see that they are the good guys in this story. And a whole nest of gay(ish) snake shifters…well that is fine by me.
I also liked how magic functioned in this world. It wasn’t overly complicated, but it was nice to see Vanya slowly learn that even the smallest of spells can turn the tide in battle. And the fact that Vanya is Russian, and we get introduced to some rather foreign ideas of magic and magical beings was rather cool. And I really liked the mage fight at the end. It was very well written, with just the right amount of tension so that it didn’t seem inevitable-–even if it was.
However there were some things about this book that I had problems with. The main one is how what Vanya knew, saw, or could do fluctuate from chapter to chapter. He would know something in one chapter and then act surprised by learning about it in the next-–especially when it came to the snakes. I know stories where there are two authors can present issues in the writing, but sometimes it felt like no one bothered to go back and make sure that the story as a whole was coherent and not filled with so many inconsistencies.
Also, Nash called Vanya by his various pet names, way more than needed. It sometimes felt like every other piece of dialogue required Nash to call Vanya ‘lostling’ or some other pet name. What was cute on page five quickly became annoying by page seven, and after 250 pages of it I really felt the need just shake someone and tell them, quite firmly, that “I GET IT!” If someone was to do this to me in real life I’m pretty sure I would throw a book at their head. Yes, Nash was trying to show his affection…but there have to be less annoying and repetitive ways of doing it.
This is not a bad story, and there are certain elements that I really liked. The snakes were awesome. But it also felt like the story got sidelined for the porn. And while I have nothing against books that want to center on the sex and not the story, they are not for me. Had I known, going in, that this was going to have sex shenanigans every other scene, I would not have picked it up. It just became something I had to skim thru to get to the interesting bits, and over 200 pages of that can get a bit annoying. The sex was hot-–when I read it–-but it was just too much for me. It impacted the rest of the story because it didn’t really build up anything but steam. The plot got left by the wayside time and time again so Nash and Vanya could get it on, and that’s a pity, because the plot really was interesting. Just a little flimsy because it never got enough time to really grow.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Still, it is not all fun and erect pensis. Vanya’s master is rather put out that the ritual was flubbed, and seems to feel that removing Vanya (permanently) from the equation will solve all his problems. Which is probably true. Unfortunately true-–especially for Vanya, Nash, and the rather restless nest of snake shifters guarding their backs-–because Vanya’s master has no trouble killing to solve his problems.
This book is set in an alternate universe where sorcerers, shifters, and magic are common and known about. Vanya has been apprenticed to his master since he was a little kid, and is only now coming to realize that all his ‘training’ was only his master fattening him up for the slaughter. I quite enjoyed the world that was built here. And found the various magics and magical people really interesting. Especially the snakes. Now, I am the first to admit that if I see a snake in real life my first reaction is going to be ‘scream like a little girl,’ but I have a fondness for snake shifters. They just don’t pop up all that often in stories, and I was really happy to see that they are the good guys in this story. And a whole nest of gay(ish) snake shifters…well that is fine by me.
I also liked how magic functioned in this world. It wasn’t overly complicated, but it was nice to see Vanya slowly learn that even the smallest of spells can turn the tide in battle. And the fact that Vanya is Russian, and we get introduced to some rather foreign ideas of magic and magical beings was rather cool. And I really liked the mage fight at the end. It was very well written, with just the right amount of tension so that it didn’t seem inevitable-–even if it was.
However there were some things about this book that I had problems with. The main one is how what Vanya knew, saw, or could do fluctuate from chapter to chapter. He would know something in one chapter and then act surprised by learning about it in the next-–especially when it came to the snakes. I know stories where there are two authors can present issues in the writing, but sometimes it felt like no one bothered to go back and make sure that the story as a whole was coherent and not filled with so many inconsistencies.
Also, Nash called Vanya by his various pet names, way more than needed. It sometimes felt like every other piece of dialogue required Nash to call Vanya ‘lostling’ or some other pet name. What was cute on page five quickly became annoying by page seven, and after 250 pages of it I really felt the need just shake someone and tell them, quite firmly, that “I GET IT!” If someone was to do this to me in real life I’m pretty sure I would throw a book at their head. Yes, Nash was trying to show his affection…but there have to be less annoying and repetitive ways of doing it.
This is not a bad story, and there are certain elements that I really liked. The snakes were awesome. But it also felt like the story got sidelined for the porn. And while I have nothing against books that want to center on the sex and not the story, they are not for me. Had I known, going in, that this was going to have sex shenanigans every other scene, I would not have picked it up. It just became something I had to skim thru to get to the interesting bits, and over 200 pages of that can get a bit annoying. The sex was hot-–when I read it–-but it was just too much for me. It impacted the rest of the story because it didn’t really build up anything but steam. The plot got left by the wayside time and time again so Nash and Vanya could get it on, and that’s a pity, because the plot really was interesting. Just a little flimsy because it never got enough time to really grow.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
July 2, 2014
This was sort of naff but it had promise. First (let me get this mini-rant over with) it reminded strongly me all those I interminable stories based on the Black Dagger Brotherhood genre, you know with gangs of uber macho guys with some super secret power who club together and do stuff about evil in between screwing TSTL females. So it's a bit like that, but with a gay love interest. Ok, here it is in a nutshell. My verdict: this was a pleasant read that dragged at times but it had potential as the start of a new urban fantasy/paranormal mm series. 3.5 stars.
March 9, 2018
Very good writing, strong story and well-developed characters. Great read for fantasy lovers.
September 9, 2014
3.5 out of 5 stars
Originally reviewed at The Novel Approach - http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
Description ~
Vanya is a sorcerer’s apprentice who finally achieves his goal, initiation as a sorcerer – only to find that he, himself, is the intended sacrifice in their ritual. When the ritual goes wrong, his master flees and he is left with the creature that his master summons.
Stranded on this side of the portal, Nash is a powerful being with only one desire – find the sorcerer who stranded him and wreak his revenge. Vanya agrees to help, and in the process, he and Nash find more than they ever bargained for: love, friendship, and belonging.
Can they protect themselves against the sorcerer’s growing power, or will he destroy all that they hold dear?
My Review ~
Sealed by Fire is the first in a new series from authors A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder. While this is a M/M paranormal romance it reads like an urban fantasy story, so there is a fair amount of world building, character set up, and as much story as there is romance.
Vanya’s day doesn’t start out on the best circumstances. His master, King, tries to sacrifice him to bring Ignatius into this realm. Ignatius is able to come through the veil and attacks King, saving Vanya in the process. Vanya believes Ignatius to be a fire elemental; little does he know that Nash is a much bigger creature than an elemental. There is an almost instant connection between Nash and Vanya, but Vanya has been kept a virgin by King, and isn’t quite sure at first what he’s feeling.
Nash and Vanya end up working together to set things to rights. Nash enlists the help of a very large seethe of snake shifters. Yes, you heard me right, snake shifters. Normally I’d be squicked out by a real snake, but these snake shifters are utter badasses and very sexy. They also play a very large part in helping Vanya and Nash chase down King, and also protect Vanya. After all, King is still after Vanya to complete the spell to force Nash to be under King’s control.
This was a very good introduction into a new series, although it did have a few slow spots along the way. I expect that, though, with a first book in an urban fantasy series. With setting up the world, the characters, and what magics or otherworldly creatures are going to be a part of the storyline, it won’t be all action or love story in that particular book. The story itself was not lacking in any sense, it was very detailed and rich in texture and backstory on many of the characters.
I have to say that I loved the snake shifters almost a little more than the main characters, though. They had very distinct personalities and histories that stood out and were very enjoyable. I adored Nash as a protector and as part of a couple with Vanya; however, Vanya alone was a little too weak for my taste. That is part of his character, though, and toward the end of the book he had started to find his direction and was a stronger character.
I do look forward to the next book in this series, especially if we get to see more of the snake shifters, or even more of Nash’s world. This is one to definitely check out if you’re an urban fantasy reader or like a good solid dose of shifters, magic and world building in your M/M romance.
Originally reviewed at The Novel Approach - http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
Description ~
Vanya is a sorcerer’s apprentice who finally achieves his goal, initiation as a sorcerer – only to find that he, himself, is the intended sacrifice in their ritual. When the ritual goes wrong, his master flees and he is left with the creature that his master summons.
Stranded on this side of the portal, Nash is a powerful being with only one desire – find the sorcerer who stranded him and wreak his revenge. Vanya agrees to help, and in the process, he and Nash find more than they ever bargained for: love, friendship, and belonging.
Can they protect themselves against the sorcerer’s growing power, or will he destroy all that they hold dear?
My Review ~
Sealed by Fire is the first in a new series from authors A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder. While this is a M/M paranormal romance it reads like an urban fantasy story, so there is a fair amount of world building, character set up, and as much story as there is romance.
Vanya’s day doesn’t start out on the best circumstances. His master, King, tries to sacrifice him to bring Ignatius into this realm. Ignatius is able to come through the veil and attacks King, saving Vanya in the process. Vanya believes Ignatius to be a fire elemental; little does he know that Nash is a much bigger creature than an elemental. There is an almost instant connection between Nash and Vanya, but Vanya has been kept a virgin by King, and isn’t quite sure at first what he’s feeling.
Nash and Vanya end up working together to set things to rights. Nash enlists the help of a very large seethe of snake shifters. Yes, you heard me right, snake shifters. Normally I’d be squicked out by a real snake, but these snake shifters are utter badasses and very sexy. They also play a very large part in helping Vanya and Nash chase down King, and also protect Vanya. After all, King is still after Vanya to complete the spell to force Nash to be under King’s control.
This was a very good introduction into a new series, although it did have a few slow spots along the way. I expect that, though, with a first book in an urban fantasy series. With setting up the world, the characters, and what magics or otherworldly creatures are going to be a part of the storyline, it won’t be all action or love story in that particular book. The story itself was not lacking in any sense, it was very detailed and rich in texture and backstory on many of the characters.
I have to say that I loved the snake shifters almost a little more than the main characters, though. They had very distinct personalities and histories that stood out and were very enjoyable. I adored Nash as a protector and as part of a couple with Vanya; however, Vanya alone was a little too weak for my taste. That is part of his character, though, and toward the end of the book he had started to find his direction and was a stronger character.
I do look forward to the next book in this series, especially if we get to see more of the snake shifters, or even more of Nash’s world. This is one to definitely check out if you’re an urban fantasy reader or like a good solid dose of shifters, magic and world building in your M/M romance.
September 10, 2014
3.5 Stars
Sealed by Fire is the first in a new series from authors A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder. While this is a M/M paranormal romance it reads like an urban fantasy story, so there is a fair amount of world building, character set up, and as much story as there is romance.
Vanya’s day doesn’t start out on the best circumstances. His master, King, tries to sacrifice him to bring Ignatius into this realm. Ignatius is able to come through the veil and attacks King, saving Vanya in the process. Vanya believes Ignatius to be a fire elemental; little does he know that Nash is a much bigger creature than an elemental. There is an almost instant connection between Nash and Vanya, but Vanya has been kept a virgin by King, and isn’t quite sure at first what he’s feeling.
Nash and Vanya end up working together to set things to rights. Nash enlists the help of a very large seethe of snake shifters. Yes, you heard me right, snake shifters. Normally I’d be squicked out by a real snake, but these snake shifters are utter badasses and very sexy. They also play a very large part in helping Vanya and Nash chase down King, and also protect Vanya. After all, King is still after Vanya to complete the spell to force Nash to be under King’s control.
This was a very good introduction into a new series, although it did have a few slow spots along the way. I expect that, though, with a first book in an urban fantasy series. With setting up the world, the characters, and what magics or otherworldly creatures are going to be a part of the storyline, it won’t be all action or love story in that particular book. The story itself was not lacking in any sense, it was very detailed and rich in texture and backstory on many of the characters.
I have to say that I loved the snake shifters almost a little more than the main characters, though. They had very distinct personalities and histories that stood out and were very enjoyable. I adored Nash as a protector and as part of a couple with Vanya; however, Vanya alone was a little too weak for my taste. That is part of his character, though, and toward the end of the book he had started to find his direction and was a stronger character.
I do look forward to the next book in this series, especially if we get to see more of the snake shifters, or even more of Nash’s world. This is one to definitely check out if you’re an urban fantasy reader or like a good solid dose of shifters, magic and world building in your M/M romance.
Sealed by Fire is the first in a new series from authors A. Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder. While this is a M/M paranormal romance it reads like an urban fantasy story, so there is a fair amount of world building, character set up, and as much story as there is romance.
Vanya’s day doesn’t start out on the best circumstances. His master, King, tries to sacrifice him to bring Ignatius into this realm. Ignatius is able to come through the veil and attacks King, saving Vanya in the process. Vanya believes Ignatius to be a fire elemental; little does he know that Nash is a much bigger creature than an elemental. There is an almost instant connection between Nash and Vanya, but Vanya has been kept a virgin by King, and isn’t quite sure at first what he’s feeling.
Nash and Vanya end up working together to set things to rights. Nash enlists the help of a very large seethe of snake shifters. Yes, you heard me right, snake shifters. Normally I’d be squicked out by a real snake, but these snake shifters are utter badasses and very sexy. They also play a very large part in helping Vanya and Nash chase down King, and also protect Vanya. After all, King is still after Vanya to complete the spell to force Nash to be under King’s control.
This was a very good introduction into a new series, although it did have a few slow spots along the way. I expect that, though, with a first book in an urban fantasy series. With setting up the world, the characters, and what magics or otherworldly creatures are going to be a part of the storyline, it won’t be all action or love story in that particular book. The story itself was not lacking in any sense, it was very detailed and rich in texture and backstory on many of the characters.
I have to say that I loved the snake shifters almost a little more than the main characters, though. They had very distinct personalities and histories that stood out and were very enjoyable. I adored Nash as a protector and as part of a couple with Vanya; however, Vanya alone was a little too weak for my taste. That is part of his character, though, and toward the end of the book he had started to find his direction and was a stronger character.
I do look forward to the next book in this series, especially if we get to see more of the snake shifters, or even more of Nash’s world. This is one to definitely check out if you’re an urban fantasy reader or like a good solid dose of shifters, magic and world building in your M/M romance.
July 20, 2016
This had such delightful potential. The magic here is fascinating, and it earned itself an extra star just because of the dragon, but it wasn't anywhere near as entertaining to read as I'd hoped.
Vanya as the narrator was frustrating, because he's been raised by King and kept innocent of so much in their world. So every character knew more than he did, about everything, and even the little he did know he didn't always choose to share with the reader.
So being trapped in his head while basically all he does is nap and bitch about wanting to go after King and tell us how hot Nash is had me feeling more disconnected from the fascinating world than I wanted to be.
And having everyone be fine with him making out with and then waking up in bed with one of the snake shifters completely lessened my interest in the growing romance.
Favorite Quote:
"But I blame my obsession with Anne McCaffrey. You'll have to read her books next. See how accurate they are."
Vanya as the narrator was frustrating, because he's been raised by King and kept innocent of so much in their world. So every character knew more than he did, about everything, and even the little he did know he didn't always choose to share with the reader.
So being trapped in his head while basically all he does is nap and bitch about wanting to go after King and tell us how hot Nash is had me feeling more disconnected from the fascinating world than I wanted to be.
And having everyone be fine with him making out with and then waking up in bed with one of the snake shifters completely lessened my interest in the growing romance.
Favorite Quote:
"But I blame my obsession with Anne McCaffrey. You'll have to read her books next. See how accurate they are."
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August 19, 2014This book was reviewed by Love Bytes Reviews!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews