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Six friends stand against the combined Orders of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, protecting a girl whose forbidden abilities have condemned her to death. Now they are joined by a man who was once the Curse, the Church's most powerful weapon and Ria's greatest threat.

Left with no name and no memory, the decision to aid this stranger will cost friendships and more as the group of friends journey north to seek a tribe of people lost to time amid an ancient war. The path home is riddled with dangers as the Church of Four Orders still seeks Ria and the former Water Priestess Nirine. For one High Priest, the desire for vengeance is personal.

Ria must unravel the mysteries of her power to find acceptance in a world where her abilities are considered a taint. Is the strange gift of magic an aberration that should be destroyed or something far more, related to the skills held by the Elementals who rule Myrrah?

The sequel to Born of Water, Rule of Fire is the second book in the epic fantasy trilogy, the Rise of the Fifth Order full of elemental magic and epic fantasy adventure. Return to the world of Myrrah ruled by the Church of Four Orders.

402 pages, ebook

First published June 16, 2013

39 people are currently reading
98 people want to read

About the author

Autumn M. Birt

48 books141 followers
Autumn is a bestselling author in fantasy, epic fantasy, and war - not all on the same series though!

She is the author of the epic fantasy, adventure trilogy on elemental magic, the Rise of the Fifth Order. Games of Fire is an epic continuation of the world and characters begun in the Rise of the Fifth Order and received tremendous critical reviews and book 2, Gates of Fire & Earth, is also a Fantasia Reviews 2017 Book of Year nominee.

She is also the author of Friends of my Enemy, a military dystopian/ dark fantasy tale laced with romance. Friends of my Enemy was released in full in 2015 and is quite the story full of strong characters, tight plots, and lots of action.

New stories are already emerging. Check out the Tainted Fae to be released in 2021 and soon followed by Black Throne/Black Blood along with a whole new world written with her writing partner, Jesper Schmidt.

In her real life, Autumn has traveled across North America in an old Land Cruiser. However, she currently lives in a tiny cabin in the woods of Vermont. Along with her for all her adventures are her husband and small cairn terrier, Ayashe. Check out her Instagram feed for lots of fun travel pics!


Expect a lot of great adventures, both real and fictional, coming soon!

You can learn more about Autumn’s book online at her website www.AutumnWriting.com including her latest work-in-progress.

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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for William Stuart.
Author 4 books101 followers
May 9, 2014
I read the first book of Autumn Birt’s series, Born of Water, and i liked it (gave it 4.5 Stars), so I couldn’t wait to get to read the second installment called Rule of Fire. I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed!!

Synopsis: Six friends stand alone against the combined Orders of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, protecting a girl whose forbidden abilities have condemned her to death. Now they are joined by a man who was once the Curse, the Church's most powerful weapon and Ria's greatest threat. Left with no name and no memory, the decision to aid this stranger will cost friendships and more as the group of friends journey north to seek a tribe of people lost to time amid an ancient war. The path home is riddled with dangers as the Church of Four Orders still seeks Ria and the former Water Priestess Nirine. For one High Priest, the desire for vengeance is personal.

Ria must unravel the mysteries of her power to find acceptance in a world where her abilities are considered a taint. Is the strange gift of magic an aberration that should be destroyed or something far more, related to the skills held by the Elementals who rule Myrrah?

What I liked: As with the first book, I enjoyed the way Autumn Birt handled her characters and the environment in which they exist. Her description of places, the growth of the characters, and their interactions were easy for me to identify with and made them seem real.

I also enjoyed the use of the four elements as major parts of the story. The Fire Elemental High Priest, Sinnika, makes for a great antagonist and his actions left me wondering what the final book has in store! The protagonists in the story all are learning their own powers and the limits of them. All of those elements combine into a great story!

What I didn’t like: There wasn’t much I didn’t like about the book. About the only thing I could say is that it moved a little slowly for me a time or two, but then the action returned and the story flowed well.

Overall impression: I liked this book better than the first book. The characters evolved nicely and the story is intriguing, making this a very enjoyable book. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys epic fantasy! Well Done, Autumn Birt!

My rating: 5 Stars!
Profile Image for Kim.
683 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2018
It took a bit to grow accustomed to the different narrator, but it was worth it. There was much better differentiation between the characters. The story itself is well-written and action packed. I'm back to disliking the character that was getting on my nerves in the first book. I hope he gets over himself soon.
244 reviews
October 5, 2018
Great series!

This has captivated me from the beginning! Elementals from the four corners. War has come and gone, but would there be another as the fifth elemental is found? Love, strength and friendships set the way for the refugees from the Church.
20 reviews
December 16, 2017
Love it

This book kept me wanting more. I have fallen in love with everyone. I want the next book. I hope Everyone is ok
2,429 reviews13 followers
July 18, 2020
I'm sorry. I think that I read it too soon after book 1. Just found it heavy going
Profile Image for Dawn Ireland.
Author 97 books70 followers
June 5, 2023
Action packed from start to finish. Reading the last book now. Can't put these books down.
Profile Image for Chasity Nicole.
Author 26 books54 followers
July 8, 2016
Rule of Fire by Autumn Birt is a phenomenal follow-up novel to Born of Water. I thought I absolutely loved the first one, but I loved the second one even more, and feel I’ll feel the same about the third. This series is just amazing.
Rule of Fire starts off where Born of Water leaves off and we dive more into their world. Born of Water was more about protecting Ria and getting her to safety, while Rule of Fire was all about the Church, the destruction of the other temples, and who the curse was before the curse. In book two we learn that things aren’t what they seem and we feel the same emotion that Niri feels as she slowly learns that the people she once trusted are the people who caused so much devastation. And to be honest, I can’t imagine what she’s ultimately thinking, especially when Ty shuts her out.
We also find out that there is no limit to what an Elemental can do, which is really cool. Normally if you’re gifted with one element, you can’t touch the others, and this goes for most novels that pertain to elements. But with this series Autumn changes it up and adds a nice twist to what an Elemental can fully do. A twist that I never saw actually coming, actually there are a lot of twists that I never saw coming. Which is ultimately why I love this series as much as I do, it keeps me on my toes and never leaves me knowing what to expect.
Rule of Fire is written in a way that sucks you in quickly. It leaves you craving the next chapter and before you realize it you’ve finished the novel. The characters are relatable, and I can see myself stepping up and doing most things that they’ve done throughout this book as well as throughout Born of Water. The group is one that will do anything for the people they care for, be it newcomers or people they’ve known for a lifetime. Friendship means everything to them.
Profile Image for C.p. Bialois.
Author 21 books234 followers
March 6, 2016
I was a big fan of the first book and I couldn’t wait to read this one. Picking up a short time after the first book, Rule of Fire expands on the world we were previously shown as we get to see more of it through the main character’s eyes, but also through the eyes of a high priest chasing them (Sorry, no spoilers).

As with the first book, the settings are well done and you feel you’re there from moors-like areas to dry and icy mountains. Going hand in hand with that are the characters. It’s fun to characters taken out of their comfort zones by traveling to different places during their quests. Having them deal with their environment makes the story more real for me.

While each of the characters were well developed, one of my favorites is still Ty. I’m a fan of the darker characters, and his mood swings remind me of myself when I was younger. Lol Unfortunately, he’s been usurped by the former Curse (Sorry, no name. That would be a spoiler). His ordeal at finding himself was an excellent side story. Nothing beats a tortured soul when it’s done right.

The story itself is smooth and flowing, but that can be misleading. While it’s a fast read, it’s not one that can be read in a couple of hours. In its own way, that makes it more enjoyable as we get to indulge for a greater length of time.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the third book in the series.
Profile Image for William Bitner Jr..
600 reviews34 followers
April 4, 2016
Just finished reading "Rule of Fire", Rise of the Fifth Order Book 2 by Autumn M. Birt.
Synopsis: Six friends stand alone against the combined Orders of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth, protecting a girl whose forbidden abilities have condemned her to death. Now they are joined by a man who was once the Curse, the Church's most powerful weapon and Ria's greatest threat. Left with no name and no memory, the decision to aid this stranger will cost friendships and more as the group of friends journey north to seek a tribe of people lost to time amid an ancient war. The path home is riddled with dangers as the Church of Four Orders still seeks Ria and the former Water Priestess Nirine. For one High Priest, the desire for vengeance is personal.
The journey of the Elementals continues throughout the imagined world conjured up by this amazing author. I am very much looking forward to Book 3. Well worth you time if you are into epic fantasy...
Profile Image for LisaMarie .
469 reviews1 follower
July 11, 2016
An epic journey continues in this second book, Rule of Fire, for our cast of characters; Niri, Ty, Ria, Zhoe, Lavinia & Darag with the addition of others who may or may not have been introduced in the first book, Born of Water.
We follow each through their personal quests of self realization as they expand on their limits of elemental skills or as they go through trials of dealing with their feelings.
I enjoyed reading as I was drawn in, feeling as though I was with each character as they traveled over sea, through bog-laden moors, over plains, up into the frigid weather of the mountains and weather the shore of storms. There are transformations in the literal sense.
Secrets are revealed. ..knowledge is gained.
...but still questions remain.
There is humor...there is loss...as the plot twists and turns.
If you haven't gone on this journey , what are you watching for?!
I can't wait to find out what happens next. ..
Profile Image for Lana.
2,772 reviews59 followers
January 6, 2017
I have no regrets about buying this set of books cause the second book is just as thrilling a read as the first was, loved the temple of ice and that in the clouds and the scared thrill full of tension of being in solaire. the priests are so vile and will stop at nothing to wield their power especially sineka, he is so horrible!! the end of this books was awful and so very sad, could not believe this would happen to one of the main characters and such a beloved one too!! have already started reading the third book!
Profile Image for Andrea M.
108 reviews4 followers
April 22, 2016
I gave a rare 5 stars to the first part and it breaks my heart not to be able to do the same with the second but it just didn't cut it. It continued the story lines well and brought up some interesting questions but what was missing is the reason for everyone to wander about. If there's no reason for adventure, walking into the enemy's territory just becomes stupid and not exciting.
And I'm with Ty on not liking Khodan either :)
Profile Image for Diana Barton.
19 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2016
I was immediately drawn into the first book in the series and couldn't put it down. This, second in the series is equally as good. I plan on re-reading both. In my rush to discover the characters and their adventures, I am sure I didn't catch all the details of what has proven to be told in a beautiful, lyrical voice.
130 reviews4 followers
June 28, 2015
Very nearly 4 stars. This book definitely draws the reader in, building on the first volume. Still classic epic fantasy, with magic, dragons, good and evil. Looking forward to how the story evolves in volume 3.
Profile Image for Diane Maran.
1 review
May 23, 2016
Loved it



Loved it , can't wait to read the next in the series , I want some one to Kell the fire priest .
Profile Image for Effy J. Roan.
43 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2016
Riveting

A very good follow up to book 1. It kept me entertained. But I find myself a little disappointed in the cliffhanger ending.
Profile Image for Dan Simmet.
40 reviews1 follower
September 2, 2016
Rule of Fire

This was an excellent second book in the trilogy. It is quite an epic tale being told. I highly recommend this trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews

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