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The Gifted #1
Daughter of the Flames
He's on his way.
You had better be ready.
Or he will kill you.
At first, the warnings in Isabella DeMarco's nightmares seem the likely result of the stresses in her life: the anniversary of her mother's tragic death, her anxiety over applying to the police force, or what her acceptance might do to her protective cop father. Then she begins to hear voices in her head when she's awake.
Slowly she realizes that she's not going crazy -- she's reading people's minds. And that's just the beginning. When the mysterious Jean-Marc enters her life, he introduces her to a dark world beyond anything she's ever imagined and powers she never knew she had. Now he will lead her to her destiny...or her ultimate destruction.
You had better be ready.
Or he will kill you.
At first, the warnings in Isabella DeMarco's nightmares seem the likely result of the stresses in her life: the anniversary of her mother's tragic death, her anxiety over applying to the police force, or what her acceptance might do to her protective cop father. Then she begins to hear voices in her head when she's awake.
Slowly she realizes that she's not going crazy -- she's reading people's minds. And that's just the beginning. When the mysterious Jean-Marc enters her life, he introduces her to a dark world beyond anything she's ever imagined and powers she never knew she had. Now he will lead her to her destiny...or her ultimate destruction.
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
453 people want to read
About the author
Nancy Holder
354 books2,407 followersNancy Holder, New York Times Bestselling author of the WICKED Series, has just published CRUSADE - the first book in a new vampire series cowritten with Debbie Viguie. The last book her her Possession series is set to release in March 2011.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
Nancy was born in Los Altos, California, and her family settled for a time in Walnut Creek. Her father, who taught at Stanford, joined the navy and the family traveled throughout California and lived in Japan for three years. When she was sixteen, she dropped out of high school to become a ballet dancer in Cologne, Germany, and later relocated to Frankfurt Am Main.
Eventually she returned to California and graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at San Diego with a degree in Communications. Soon after, she began to write; her first sale was a young adult romance novel titled Teach Me to Love.
Nancy’s work has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, LA Times, amazon.com, LOCUS, and other bestseller lists. A four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers Association, she has also received accolades from the American Library Association, the American Reading Association, the New York Public Library, and Romantic Times.
She and Debbie Viguié co-authored the New York Times bestselling series Wicked for Simon and Schuster. They have continued their collaboration with the Crusade series, also for Simon and Schuster, and the Wolf Springs Chronicles for Delacorte (2011.) She is also the author of the young adult horror series Possessions for Razorbill. She has sold many novels and book projects set in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Saving Grace, Hellboy, and Smallville universes.
She has sold approximately two hundred short stories and essays on writing and popular culture. Her anthology, Outsiders, co-edited with Nancy Kilpatrick, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award in 2005.
She teaches in the Stonecoast MFA in Creative Writing Program, offered through the University of Southern Maine. She has previously taught at UCSD and has served on the Clarion Board of Directors.
She lives in San Diego, California, with her daughter Belle, their two Corgis, Panda and Tater; and their cats, David and Kittnen Snow. She and Belle are active in Girl Scouts and dog obedience training.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 4, 2016
Setting: Brooklyn – her family home, across the street from an Italian bakery – St Theresa, stone parish church – Two-Seven precinct, evidence room – The Cloisters (collection of Medieval art) -
Theme: more than you thought you were; processing change; stepping up to do right; coming into ones power; magic
Characters:
Isabella ‘Izzy’ Celestina DeMarco: next Guardienne of the Maison des Flammes/House of the Flames (after Joan of Arc); of the family de Bouvard; lived a normal life as daughter of a policeman; lost mother in violence (ended up to be adopted mother); had always had nightmares, but they are getting worse; her dreams are coming true; hears Jean Marc’s voice in her head, and not sure what to make of it; once told she is immortal, special, descendant of Joan of Arc, has power and responsibility, she is working toward a full commitment to her magic – but not quite there at the end of the book; she works in the property storage room in basement of police station, and is working herself up to becoming a cop, she is just afraid of guns (which feature prominently in her dreams – somehow tied to the death of her adopted mother); as she learns more of her background, and of evil, many of her actions are guided by instinct, not clear thought; she decides she is in love with Kittrel, but there is a deep, in part sexual connection with Jean Mark … hmmmm
Jehanne aka Joan of Arc: Izzy calls on her for strength, for guidance, for understanding, for protection; her French families’ saint;
Jean-Marc: Izzy’s guide, until she’s ready to assume the Crown of the Flames; Regent for the Bouvards until she is ready to step up (not sure why); He is high up in his family – unclear why her family can’t operate without an outsider; he has been searching for her for 2 years (as well as the family against her); he is contradictory with her – sometimes patient, sometimes demanding, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes insensitive; sex enhances magic – and there are some sexual undercurrents between them, though he encourages her to pursue Kittrell – doesn’t seem jealous of him in any way;
Gino: adopted brother; seminary to be a priest; his bedroom purer than hers – magically speaking; loves her and her father;
Vincenzo “Big Vince” DeMarco: her father; police lieutenant; blustery; proud of his children; protective; feels the loss of his wife – relies on Izzy to run his household;
Yolanda: her co-worker in the property room; upbeat & feminine; friendly; recently got rid of evil boyfriend, and is staying with a friend with a new baby; and she is duplicite – working with Cratty to mismeasure the drug evidence, so he skims some off the top;
Officer Cratty: worked out drug stealing with Yolanda and Julius; puts her father at risk when they are out together, and Cratty meeting with drug buddies; becomes a magical minion for the bad family; crass with Izzy, threatening her; dies of heart attack by Izzy’s magic gun (she did not shoot it);
Julius Esposito: Le Fils du Diable aka Son of theDevil; voodoo practitioner; also working in property room and with Cratty to skim drugs; goes with Cratty to the safe house Yolanda is in to ‘fog’ perceptions so that Cratty can get in and kill Yolanda (with Izzy’s magic gun);
Pat Kittrell: detective; recently transferred to the Two-Seven; wildly attracted to Izzy (Izzy gets a glimpse into his thoughts one time) but is taking time with her – coffee… movie… pecks… kisses… watching her for cues as to how far she is ready; when she calls him with some wild requests (based on her premonitions that she can’t explain to him) he takes her concerns seriously and acts on them… he takes her home towards the end when she is shook up… and they make love (though she leaves his bed to go home, not staying til morning);
Michel: Bouvard aide-de-camp; anti Jean Marc; I suspect will play a greater part in future books.
Marianne de Bourvard des Flammes: her mother; coma; Maison des Flammes – House of the Flames; Guardienne; sent her away / hid her away so that she would not be subject to this forced life… oh well, best laid plan and all that; not sure why… not sure why she has been in a coma most of Izzy’s life… not sure who Izzy’s father is… she is dying, now that new Guardienne is coming out;
Sauvage: gothic; human; Jean Mark’s assistant;
Malchances / de Devereaux / de Bouvard: magical surnames – House of the Blood (du Sang)/ House of the Shadows (des Ombres) / House of the Flames (Flammes);
Summary:
I think I’d like more back story…
2 french magical families vs 1 french magical family – good vs evil – for centuries; magic, weres, angels, religion tied in together…
And Izzy is the next powerful guardian of her people… but she has had no training… she muddles through… though gets angry and impatient with Jean Mark too easily, she works to apply what he teaches her, and seems to be innovative with some of his ways… she is under threat… she is trying to figure out what is happening at work… and ultimately goes with Jean Mark to meet her family… where her mother is all but dead (need a ceremony to pass on her gift)… and they come under attack… she helps a bit to defend, but…
Lots of questions… I’ll try one more book…
Memorable scenes:
‘Girls who had learned about hair and makeup back in high school, and frequently returned to the Secret School of the Feminine Arts for refresher courses. Girls exactly like Yolanda.’
when Izzy has a vision of her father and Cratty, she is able to telepathically warn her dad to fall to the ground, and therefore he isn’t shot… and her father believes it is his wife who warned him, that her angelic self is watching over them.
Theme: more than you thought you were; processing change; stepping up to do right; coming into ones power; magic
Characters:
Isabella ‘Izzy’ Celestina DeMarco: next Guardienne of the Maison des Flammes/House of the Flames (after Joan of Arc); of the family de Bouvard; lived a normal life as daughter of a policeman; lost mother in violence (ended up to be adopted mother); had always had nightmares, but they are getting worse; her dreams are coming true; hears Jean Marc’s voice in her head, and not sure what to make of it; once told she is immortal, special, descendant of Joan of Arc, has power and responsibility, she is working toward a full commitment to her magic – but not quite there at the end of the book; she works in the property storage room in basement of police station, and is working herself up to becoming a cop, she is just afraid of guns (which feature prominently in her dreams – somehow tied to the death of her adopted mother); as she learns more of her background, and of evil, many of her actions are guided by instinct, not clear thought; she decides she is in love with Kittrel, but there is a deep, in part sexual connection with Jean Mark … hmmmm
Jehanne aka Joan of Arc: Izzy calls on her for strength, for guidance, for understanding, for protection; her French families’ saint;
Jean-Marc: Izzy’s guide, until she’s ready to assume the Crown of the Flames; Regent for the Bouvards until she is ready to step up (not sure why); He is high up in his family – unclear why her family can’t operate without an outsider; he has been searching for her for 2 years (as well as the family against her); he is contradictory with her – sometimes patient, sometimes demanding, sometimes sympathetic, sometimes insensitive; sex enhances magic – and there are some sexual undercurrents between them, though he encourages her to pursue Kittrell – doesn’t seem jealous of him in any way;
Gino: adopted brother; seminary to be a priest; his bedroom purer than hers – magically speaking; loves her and her father;
Vincenzo “Big Vince” DeMarco: her father; police lieutenant; blustery; proud of his children; protective; feels the loss of his wife – relies on Izzy to run his household;
Yolanda: her co-worker in the property room; upbeat & feminine; friendly; recently got rid of evil boyfriend, and is staying with a friend with a new baby; and she is duplicite – working with Cratty to mismeasure the drug evidence, so he skims some off the top;
Officer Cratty: worked out drug stealing with Yolanda and Julius; puts her father at risk when they are out together, and Cratty meeting with drug buddies; becomes a magical minion for the bad family; crass with Izzy, threatening her; dies of heart attack by Izzy’s magic gun (she did not shoot it);
Julius Esposito: Le Fils du Diable aka Son of theDevil; voodoo practitioner; also working in property room and with Cratty to skim drugs; goes with Cratty to the safe house Yolanda is in to ‘fog’ perceptions so that Cratty can get in and kill Yolanda (with Izzy’s magic gun);
Pat Kittrell: detective; recently transferred to the Two-Seven; wildly attracted to Izzy (Izzy gets a glimpse into his thoughts one time) but is taking time with her – coffee… movie… pecks… kisses… watching her for cues as to how far she is ready; when she calls him with some wild requests (based on her premonitions that she can’t explain to him) he takes her concerns seriously and acts on them… he takes her home towards the end when she is shook up… and they make love (though she leaves his bed to go home, not staying til morning);
Michel: Bouvard aide-de-camp; anti Jean Marc; I suspect will play a greater part in future books.
Marianne de Bourvard des Flammes: her mother; coma; Maison des Flammes – House of the Flames; Guardienne; sent her away / hid her away so that she would not be subject to this forced life… oh well, best laid plan and all that; not sure why… not sure why she has been in a coma most of Izzy’s life… not sure who Izzy’s father is… she is dying, now that new Guardienne is coming out;
Sauvage: gothic; human; Jean Mark’s assistant;
Malchances / de Devereaux / de Bouvard: magical surnames – House of the Blood (du Sang)/ House of the Shadows (des Ombres) / House of the Flames (Flammes);
Summary:
I think I’d like more back story…
2 french magical families vs 1 french magical family – good vs evil – for centuries; magic, weres, angels, religion tied in together…
And Izzy is the next powerful guardian of her people… but she has had no training… she muddles through… though gets angry and impatient with Jean Mark too easily, she works to apply what he teaches her, and seems to be innovative with some of his ways… she is under threat… she is trying to figure out what is happening at work… and ultimately goes with Jean Mark to meet her family… where her mother is all but dead (need a ceremony to pass on her gift)… and they come under attack… she helps a bit to defend, but…
Lots of questions… I’ll try one more book…
Memorable scenes:
‘Girls who had learned about hair and makeup back in high school, and frequently returned to the Secret School of the Feminine Arts for refresher courses. Girls exactly like Yolanda.’
when Izzy has a vision of her father and Cratty, she is able to telepathically warn her dad to fall to the ground, and therefore he isn’t shot… and her father believes it is his wife who warned him, that her angelic self is watching over them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2018
*I had first read this about eight-ten years ago and I thought it was good.
*But now... not so much (or not at all).
*It's a mess.
*MC says she's in love with this guy and is pursuing something with him.But she's also going on and on about gazing at this other guy's eyes and about a spark of connection, plus, saying 'You die, I die with you'.
*URGH. Triangles.
*But now... not so much (or not at all).
*It's a mess.
*MC says she's in love with this guy and is pursuing something with him.But she's also going on and on about gazing at this other guy's eyes and about a spark of connection, plus, saying 'You die, I die with you'.
*URGH. Triangles.
January 6, 2026
Brilliant
Daughter of the Flames is a book that immediately invests the reader in the central character. We feel to our core what she feels, her fear, her joy, her fight to hold onto her sense of self. The story is everything it should be, confused, illuminating and brutal, scattered with intervals of ecstacy.
Daughter of the Flames is a book that immediately invests the reader in the central character. We feel to our core what she feels, her fear, her joy, her fight to hold onto her sense of self. The story is everything it should be, confused, illuminating and brutal, scattered with intervals of ecstacy.
December 22, 2020
it has potential to be my favorite book. this kind of genre is my favorite. but i was one third of the book and got tired of the mouthy close-minded female. so DNF.
February 9, 2026
4.5 stars
What a rush!
What a rush!
August 30, 2013
Izzy DeMarco is a second generation cop who finds herself propelled from her mundane life into a fantastical world of magical families and their political intrigue. She's guided by Jean-Marc a mysterious man who seems to be more than he lets on. I can't say that I really like the characterization in this novel. It wasn’t bad or non-existent. It was simply okay. That is it resembles a script for a movie, which is not a good thing in this regard since quite a few parts are scripted without that sense of vitality which an actor breathes into a character. The author should have done this for it to be really successful. Even her relationship with Pat Kitterell is rather lukewarm and a tad bit boring, especially when you compare him to Jean-Marc who is such an enigma even at the end of this installment.
What I did like is the allure of this new world that is opening up in front of Izzy's disbelieving eyes. She's moving from being worried about her family to realizing that the web of her concern is much wider than her "cop family” and moving from being so demure and passive to being more responsible for her actions. This would have been even more successful if the characters were richer and able to come into their own.
I wonder if I really liked this novel. I suppose I did. I can definitely say that there is a very potent visual presence to this book - to the point that I feel as if I saw the movie rather than read the book. It could make a smooth transition to film certainly. The problem is that sometimes it feels like it might be something out of the Syfy channel which given their trend for movies could be really good or really, really bad and just end up being a comic fest. Hopefully, it’ll be the former.
I did enjoy it and I am looking forward to seeing how Izzy/Isabella/Isabelle fares with her new acquaintances and the mysterious yet ever diligent Jean-Marc.
May 7, 2011
I'm only a few pages into this book, so is very early to give a review. It is holding my attention!
I tried not to include spoilers... It was hard not to and still give a review.
Later: Well, I've finished this one and have very mixed feelings about it! It kept my attention but the actions and responses of the heroine didn't mesh with the actions and responses a woman would have if she has grown up as a cop's daughter and wants to be a cop, too. I don't think she would fall apart so much if she had that kind of training or keep denying what's right in front of her face. If she had the training Izzy would've had, she'd research more and ask questions of people, including her father. I also understood that she began to see her powers (when she acknowledged them) as a weapon but refused training in how to handle them yet didn't hesitate long to cut loose with them when she felt she or someone else was in danger. Weapons training is a very important part of being a cop, I think, including the attitude that innocent people can get hurt of you use a weapon you aren't trained in.
She acted careless with a man's feelings - a man she sometimes seems very close to - and her maturity in handling relationships wasn't a positive thing for me. I did like that man and would like to see her delve deeper in the relationship. It was really hard to tell by the end of the book who she wanted or if she had narrowed it down. Is she ruled by lust or love?
I liked her concern for others, when she was in protective mode. The book ended with a deluge of action, to which Izzy responded. I'd like to know more about her brother, too, and hope there will be more about him in the subsequent books.
I tried not to include spoilers... It was hard not to and still give a review.
Later: Well, I've finished this one and have very mixed feelings about it! It kept my attention but the actions and responses of the heroine didn't mesh with the actions and responses a woman would have if she has grown up as a cop's daughter and wants to be a cop, too. I don't think she would fall apart so much if she had that kind of training or keep denying what's right in front of her face. If she had the training Izzy would've had, she'd research more and ask questions of people, including her father. I also understood that she began to see her powers (when she acknowledged them) as a weapon but refused training in how to handle them yet didn't hesitate long to cut loose with them when she felt she or someone else was in danger. Weapons training is a very important part of being a cop, I think, including the attitude that innocent people can get hurt of you use a weapon you aren't trained in.
She acted careless with a man's feelings - a man she sometimes seems very close to - and her maturity in handling relationships wasn't a positive thing for me. I did like that man and would like to see her delve deeper in the relationship. It was really hard to tell by the end of the book who she wanted or if she had narrowed it down. Is she ruled by lust or love?
I liked her concern for others, when she was in protective mode. The book ended with a deluge of action, to which Izzy responded. I'd like to know more about her brother, too, and hope there will be more about him in the subsequent books.
January 1, 2011
Isabella "Izzy" De Marco is a New Yorker who discovers she is the long-lost heiress of a legacy of magic handed down to the women in her family by Joan of Arc. She is part of the House of the Flames and hasn't known about it for 26 years. Now, her nightmares are getting worse, and she notices a strange man in black watching her house. Izzy also meets the dark and mysterious Jean-Marc de Devereaux. He tells her magic exists, as well as other darker things. She finds herself thrown into a world that's in turmoil and Jean-Marc becomes her mentor and anchor into this new world of the Gifted.
This book was action-packed from the beginning and pretty much doesn't let up. Actually, there's commotion and chaos all the way to the end and you're left wanting more. Izzy is a great character who proves her strength even though she's continually struggling with what's happening around her. Jean-Marc is captivating and bordering on the edge of good-guy-trying to-help-her, or good-guy-in-this-for-his-own-benefit. There's a great array of interesting characters I can't wait to read about some more.
This book is awesome. There was so much tension and the desire to know what was going to happen next, that I became totally captivated.
This book was action-packed from the beginning and pretty much doesn't let up. Actually, there's commotion and chaos all the way to the end and you're left wanting more. Izzy is a great character who proves her strength even though she's continually struggling with what's happening around her. Jean-Marc is captivating and bordering on the edge of good-guy-trying to-help-her, or good-guy-in-this-for-his-own-benefit. There's a great array of interesting characters I can't wait to read about some more.
This book is awesome. There was so much tension and the desire to know what was going to happen next, that I became totally captivated.
September 7, 2009
Although I normally prefer historical romance, etc., I love stories with romance and magic. So I took a chance on this book (I had read a brief summary about it in another book I was reading). Overall, I liked the story and its characters, and the element of suspense mixed with some horror. The only drawback, for me, was that I thought the story started slow and I found it hard to get into to. However, the author definately makes up for it towards the middle and end. Despite this, I plan to read the other books affiliated with this series. Would I recommend it others, yes; especially those readers who are unsure about romance type books and would like to try one (or two...).
July 23, 2008
Okay, If I would have stopped reading it like I almost did at the beginning, I would have rated it a one. However, the story finally caught my attention and I was enjoying it. I started to understand what was going on and the book ends.
AGH! So I am not sure if this is part of a series or not, but I am not sure if I would try reading some more or not! It deals with other "worldly" things and was had for me to follow at first!
AGH! So I am not sure if this is part of a series or not, but I am not sure if I would try reading some more or not! It deals with other "worldly" things and was had for me to follow at first!
March 27, 2016
I tried reading this book three separate times. I couldn't get into it. I didn't like Isabella. when her character was introduced at first I thought the setting was in the 1800's because of how Isabella's house was run. But no it is a present day book. I also didn't like the writing style. I couldn't finish it
May 2, 2010
The story line was good and intriguing. But there were times where Isabelle spent so long in denial it annoyed me a bit. I hope that the next book will be better.
December 29, 2011
Didn't care for the modern day setting or the writing style.
September 22, 2012
Wasn't easy to get into, I skimmed through a lot of the first half as it dragged on. Once the action started I finished it quickly.
June 26, 2012
Kind of cheesy but I liked it! :D
Read
January 1, 2018I enjoyed the story, i just finished it late last night and it makes me wish i had the second book. Nancy Holder sure knows how to make a cliff hanger.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews