Call of Fire

Blood of Earth #2

by Beth Cato

A resourceful young heroine must protect the world from her enemies—and her own power—in this thrilling sequel to the acclaimed Breath of Earth, an imaginative blend of alternative history, fantasy, science, magic, and adventure.

When an earthquake devastates San Francisco in an alternate 1906, the influx of geomantic energy nearly consumes Ingrid Carmichael. Bruised but alive, the young geomancer flees the city with her friends, Cy, Lee, and Fenris. She is desperate to escape Ambassador Blum, the cunning and dangerous bureaucrat who wants to use Ingrid’s formidable powers to help the Unified Pacific—the confederation of the United States and Japan—achieve world domination. To stop them, Ingrid must learn more about the god-like magic she inherited from her estranged father—the man who set off the quake that obliterated San Francisco.

When Lee and Fenris are kidnapped in Portland, Ingrid and Cy are forced to ally themselves with another ambassador from the Unified the powerful and mysterious Theodore Roosevelt. But even TR’s influence may not be enough to save them when they reach Seattle, where the magnificent peak of Mount Rainier looms. Discovering more about herself and her abilities, Ingrid is all too aware that she may prove to be the fuse to light the long-dormant volcano . . . and a war that will sweep the world.

Genres: Fantasy, Steampunk, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Alternate History, Romance, Historical

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2017

About the author

Beth Cato hails from Hanford, California, but currently writes and bakes cookies in Red Wing, Minnesota. She usually has one or two cats in close orbit. A 2015 Nebula finalist, she is the author of the cozy mystery CHEDDAR LUCK NEXT TIME as well as fantasy like A THOUSAND RECIPES FOR REVENGE. Her short stories can be found in publications ranging from Beneath Ceaseless Skies to Uncanny Magazine. In 2019 and 2022, she won the Rhysling Award for short speculative poetry. Her website BethCato.com includes not only a vast bibliography, but a treasure trove of recipes for delectable goodies. Find her on BlueSky as @BethCato and Instagram as @catocatsandcheese.

Reviews

[Judith Starkston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fast, twisting plot, the engaging characters and the menacing magic that made Cato’s first book in the Blood of Earth series such an excellent read are all present and expanded on in this second one, Call of Fire. The endearing, nascent romance of Breath of Earth blossoms in smart, heartwarming ways. The nuanced political machinations and cultural manipulations in this alternative historical world will keep your mind happily buzzing and expanding. Cato’s portrayal of Ingrid, the young, female geomancer hero of the series, keeps getting richer and more mystical. On her journey of self-understanding, Ingrid doesn’t let anything get in her way, even when the sources of her inner demons prove epically dangerous and alarmingly intimate. Along with Cyrus, a man courageous and quick-thinking enough to have won Ingrid’s heart, Cato also brings back Fenris, whose skill with his airship and other technology adds to the steampunk strand of the novel, and whose struggles with gender identity add depth to this characterization. The interaction between Ingrid, Cy and Fenris shows friendship under fire at its best—and gets lightened with some moments of humor. Here’s a snippet of conversation that takes place in their tiny airship the Palmetto Bug:
[Ingrid] leaned against the wall . . . “Fenris wanted me to fetch you. Something about the ship is aggravating him.”
Cy snorted softly. “Everything aggravates Fenris like a woolen union suit. I’ll see what the matter is.”
Call of Fire is storytelling at its best—good for the heart, the brain and the imagination.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Source* Edelweiss/Publisher
*Genre* Historical Fiction, Steampunk
*Rating* 4.0

*My Thoughts*

Call of Fire is the second installment in author Beth Cato's Blood of Earth series. Call of Fire picks up where Breath of Earth left off.  It has been an awful week for protagonist Ingrid Carmichael. As the world's only female Geomancer, she has watched her city of San Francisco be destroyed by a major earthquake. A group of geomancer's she knew well was murdered, and her mentor Sakaguchi was hurt badly and has disappeared. The plus has been that she's found herself on a quest alongside an eclectic and diverse group of friends from Cy Jennings, Fenris Braun, to Lee Fong who is more than who he appears to be.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

[Michelle Hauck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The already detailed and complete alternate history of America becomes even more layered in the second installment of this series. I love the additions of new cities and new historical characters, especially Theodore Roosevelt. I looked forward to his introduction since the moment he was mentioned in the first book and the author didn't disappoint.

Once again we are in the world where Japan and America are united with America being the weaker of the two partners. We meet new fantastic creatures and are taken deeper into the backstory of Ingrid and Cy, learning more of their nemesis Ambassador Blum. The racist persecution of the Chinese seems fitting with the intolerance in our current world--a lesson to be absorbed. And the magic of the earth is a unique set up.

Though it did leave many unresolved threads, the second book is better than the first as I got closer to the characters this go round.

[Sara Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dangerous misadventures of Ingrid, Cy, and the rest of their charismatic team continue in the sequel to Breath of Earth. This time, they run from the disaster of San Fran and hope to find safety elsewhere--but Ambassador Blum has other ideas.

Just as thrilling as the first (and with a dash of delicious romance), Cato's second novel in this world is a suspenseful punch in the gut that you'll be unable to put down. Cy is and probably always will be my favorite character, mostly because I have a crush on this sexy, Southern gent. But Ingrid is amazing, as well: a strong, fiery young woman whose brave actions deserve a standing ovation.

Full of action, excitement, comedy, and love, this steampunk series has everything going for it.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thanks to a Goodreads Giveaway I had the joy of reading a galley copy months before this book is released! YAY GOODREADS!

Call of Fire picks up right where Breath of Earth left off--and I mean *right* where. We are instantly thrown into post-earthquake chaos and follow Ingrid and crew into far, far more. My poor beloved book friends just can't catch a break, and I mean that in the best possible way. Call of Fire brings in more magic, more romance, more action than ever before. Beth only gets better and better with every book. My only complaint is that now I have even LONGER to wait for book 3!!

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up to Breath of Earth, love the main characters and the world-building. Still lots to be accomplished, looking forward to the next book.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be warned; this starts out as the last book ended so if you have not read book one you will be very lost. Ingrid, Cy, Lee, and Fenris have escaped San Francisco but are still in danger. The mix of history as we know it and history in a steampunk world is still very interesting. Cato even has a list of books the helped her develop her story listed at the end. More backstory is revealed, we meet new characters and learn more about the world where the story is set. Like many middle books in a series nothing is solved but much is set in place. This is a great series and I am looking forward to the next book. Again this does not do a good job of standing alone. Read book one, Breath of Earth, first.

[Karissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Breath of Earth series; I got it through Edelweiss to review. I really really loved Breath of Earth. Unfortunately for some reason Call of Fire really fell flat for me; there was just too much war and rioting and running from place to place.

Ingrid and crew are fleeing to Seattle from San Francisco but the plot involving Ambassador Blum and the subjugation of the Chinese people continues. There are a lot of politics, rioting, airship travel, and running around in this book. Sadly I really struggled to stay interested and almost stopped reading it a few times. There just wasn’t enough of the neat geomancy and devices that caught my attention in the first book.

I think maybe it’s because there are so many characters in the book, but I just never really connected with any of the characters all that well. The relationship between Ingrid and Cy was sweet but lacked teeth and passion; I feel like Ingrid herself lost some of her bite and intelligence in this book was well.

There were things I did enjoy. I enjoyed learning about Ingrid’s ancestry, enjoyed meeting some of her family and learning more about her father. Lee isn’t in the book nearly as much and I missed him some. Cy was just so cloyingly sweet with Ingrid that I lost a lot of respect for him in this book; I am not sure why...I usually like these sweet relationships.

Overall this was an okay read but I didn’t like it nearly as much as Breath of Earth. I really struggled to stay engaged and interested in this book and found myself skimming through portions of it. There were too many politics and not enough adventure for me. In addition I felt like there were too many characters and they weren’t filled out all that well so I struggled to engage with them. I loved the first book in the series, but I struggled with this book enough that I don’t think I will continue the series. The cover is absolutely stunning though!

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

The difficulty with sequels is also one of the easy things about it: as a reader, I know the world. This makes it easier to focus on the plot. The downside is that it also loses the freshness of the narrative.

That was the case with this book. It was fun to read, but it felt more like a second book in a trilogy than anything else. It didn't feel like there was a proper resolution. It's just development.

It's still not a bad book, and a more accurate rating might be 2.5, but it felt a bit boring.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely world creation; I like how the magic slowly unfolds throughout the two books. I appreciate the underlying racial tensions in the books and how those are impacting each of the main characters.

The dings:

* The books could use more editorial oversight. There are errors and inconsistencies throughout.
* The love interest is a touch forced.

[Diamond Cowboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written but definately not my forte.

[Jared Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Cato's "Call of Fire" is the second book in a series that started with "Breath of Earth," and it delivers in much the same way that "Empire Strikes Back" delivered after "A New Hope." It is darker, broader in scope, and takes the characters deeper, all while maintaining the adventurous tone of the original.

The heroine of the series, Ingrid Carmichael, is a geomancer, a mage who derives power from seismic activity, but as established in the first book, she has extraordinary powers that go far beyond what any geomancer should be able to do. In this book, she tracks down the reasons behind this while also exploring the extent of her powers. Without giving anything away, her powers are way cooler than expected! Think Luke discovering you can use The Force to lift an X-wing from a swamp.

But what is a heroine with a villain?

Ingrid's "Darth Vader" is the devious and menacing Ambassador Blum, a shapeshifter who has been pulling the strings of history toward her ends for a long time. With a magical ring that protects her from physical harm and the weight of the allied governments of the US and Japan, she is an implacable force. She also has plans for Ingrid, not-so-nice plans.

Ambassador Blum is so powerful that Ingrid stands no chance against her alone. She needs allies. So she seeks out the help of another Ambassador, Theodore Roosevelt!

Yes, that Theodore Roosevelt.

Roosevelt was mentioned in the first book, but his appearance marks the first historical figure we see "on stage" in the series, and it is a pure delight for anyone who knows about TR. He comes into the story and his larger-than-life personality fits in seamlessly with the magical alternate history Cato has created.

The alternate history element of the books remains the most engaging piece to me. The adventure is thrilling. The magic is fun. But you can feel a unique heft to the setting as a result of Cato's historical research. There is a simmering race war developing against the Chinese immigrants in the background of the story that quickly becomes central to the drama, and the core of it was plucked from history. Cato mentions in an afterword that it was her intent to awaken interest in this piece of America's story, and she succeeds. You can't help but read "Call of Fire" and wonder what of it is taken from true events and what of it is made up.

All told "Call of Fire" is a fun, fast read that explores themes of how our heritage shapes our lives, how race defines us, and how Theodore Roosevelt is awesome.

Recommended for people who enjoyed Orson Scott Card's "Alvin Maker" series, but wished it had more airships and Japanese mythological figures.

**Note: I requested and received an Advanced Review Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worldbuilding is the best thing about this series. It's so creative and exciting. In a world in 1906 where the United States is allied with Japan to form the United Pacific, Abraham Lincoln was never assassinated among other alternate historical events, power comes from crystals filled with energy bled off the earth, and magical creatures of all sizes from pixies to elementals roam, our protagonist is on the run from sinister forces who would use her incredible powers to wreak destruction upon an already conquered China.
All of our four main characters are unique within their world and therefore valuable to their enemies and allies. Ingrid Carmichael is the world's only known female geomancer, someone who can draw upon the power of the earth to work magic but whose pain can create devastating earthquakes. Ingrid discovers more about her heritage in this book and learns that her dark skin and ability to communicate with magical creatures is a result of being one-quarter Hawaiian via her father, who before he died claimed to have been the scion of a human and the volcano elemental Pele. Ingrid isn't sure what to believe when she gets this piece of news. Her young friend Lee Fong is the last living descendant of the deposed Chinese emperor and the hope of his people to resist the genocide the United Pacific plans to bring against them. Cy Jennings is a gifted engineer, a pacifist on the run from the army who would force him to turn his genius to ever-more-destructive weapons. Fenris is a reclusive airship builder happier with his beloved machines than people. Together on one airship, the four make a tempting target.
Complicating matters is their determination to bring their combined skills to bear to prevent the Chinese genocide planned by the sinister Ambassador Blum. As an immortal Japanese fox spirit and with the magic granted to her as an Ambassador of the United Pacific, Blum has unlimited resources and is nearly invincible. The four plan to thwart her however they can manage, with the secret assistance of Ambassador Teddy Roosevelt and Ingrid and Lee's mentor Sakaguchi-san (if they can locate either of them). And they have to do it without waking Tacoma, the elemental sleeping within Mount Rainier, or Seattle may follow San Francisco in being devastated by an epic disaster.
Whew! Exciting, right? This isn't a soft book and there is a lot of mob violence, coldblooded murder, prejudice and the aforementioned threat of genocide. The characters spend most of the book in some form of peril, so if you were looking for a relaxing read, this is not it. There is some romance but it is a subplot at best. I can't wait to see the location Ingrid and her little band have fled to next and what answers to their troubles they might uncover there.

[K. Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, actually

Call of Fire picks up where Breath of Earth left off: with Ingrid wounded, Cy care-taking, and Fenris obsessed with the aerial ship, Palmetto Bug. They are fleeing the devastation of San Francisco, and the loss of Chinatown. First stopping in Portland where Cy and Ingrid are separated from Lee and Fenris, and then to Seattle.

We get some answers in this book as to why Ingrid has such a powerful geomantic connection to the earth and to the yokai creatures in the mountains, volcanos and fault lines. We also get some...er...developments on the Cy-Ingrid front culminating in a post-bath scene that was just so darn cute.

There's lots of elegant description of decidedly non-elegant devastation.

"Debris flecked the dirt street around them. Bits of wood flamed like torches while jagged shards of glass reflected nearby conflagrations like thin puddles of captured flame."

There's a war going on between several different factions, the Russians, evil Ambassador Blum's soldiers, the United Pacific, and the Chinese they are oppressing. Most of the book is pretty much Cy and Ingrid escaping or trying to rescue someone in the midst of devastation/tanks attacking them. At one point, whether they were in Seattle or Portland kind of became meaningless, since I was a bit confused by them constantly escaping. (and going after Sakaguchi and Lee constantly) However, they do it differently each time, and one thing Cato excels at, which is being consistent with the consequences Ingrid endures for each escape and making her pay the cost. I appreciate that.

I also appreciated the way Ingrid and Cy have to navigate their relationship as Ingrid is a person of color. There are real world consequences for what they are allowed to do by society in public, and complications that bring up a variety of racial issues.

I also enjoyed the touches of Japanese culture: legs like udon noodles, moshi moshi to catch a kitsune trickster, authentic Japanese phrases. None of it was distracting or jarring, and none of it seemed thrown in there just for "coolness factor" but functioned as a considered part of the world-building.

Can't wait to find out what Ingrid will do next now that she's (possibly temporarily) escaped from Blum, but lost Sakaguchi and Lee, and needs to recuperate.

[William Bentrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of Fire by Beth Cato

Repeating my self from my previous review. An alternative world setting in 1906 provides the scene. Women are treated in a despicable fashion that sadly was pretty much true in that time period's reality. One of the things I liked about this book was that Cato based her story on actual events and actual mores. That certainly doesn't detract for the fantastical elements imbued in both the setting and the characters.

Cato did her homework. The basis of her discrimination was sadly accurate. History frequently ignores events that are either embarrassing or politically sensitive. Genocide has plagued reality on all together too many historical occasions.

If you haven't noticed by particular bias in past reviews, I will draw note to the fact that I enjoy fictional butt kicking females as well as surrounding myself in day to day life by accomplished strong women. I have a section on my blog in an homage to strong women.

Ingrid and Cy have recognized their mutual attraction and there is more sexual tension in this book than previous books. Blum, the vile villainess is hunting Ingrid while Ingrid hunts her friends, two polarized hunts though, one good and one evil. Fenris continues to fuss over Bug, their airship. Teddy Roosevelt has a larger role in this book and his goals are not quite the same as Ingrid’s. Ingrid discovers new things about her power and suffers from it’s use.

War, violence and prejudice are all addressed in this volume even more so than the previous book.

Fenris, Jennings and Lee accompany and support her adventures, all of whom have deep dark secrets of their own.

Cato has crafted a world that I like even better than the Clockwork world. My reviews of several her books are below.
Wings of Sorrow and Bone
The Deepest Poison
The Clockwork Crown
The Clockwork Dagger

I highly recommend.

[jammaster_mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great and disturbing alternate history/urban fantasy book and series!

In this book we follow Ingrid as she escapes the earthquake and fire that engulfed San Francisco. She is trying to find her mentor and figure out her powers without causing death and destruction along the way. Ingrid also wants to keep her friends and traveling companions safe on the journey while attempting to stop Ambassador Blum and save the Chinese people from genocide. Oh, and exploring her feelings regarding Cy Jennings who is also very interesting in staying hidden from the United Pacific military.

This is a middle book to a trilogy and there is a little bit of drag to the story. You know that things are just going to get worse in this book and nothing is likely to be resolved. Yes, that is a bit frustrating but the exploration and expansion of Ingrid's power in this book is really compelling. It keeps the story going and very much kept me engaged. I also greatly appreciate the examples from history that Ms. Cato used to create the darker aspects of the story. The Chinese in America were treated horribly. The Japanese were very interested in taking over China and committed great atrocities against the Chinese people over the years. Racial hatred and segregation based on skin color has a long history throughout the world. At the same time Ms. Cato manages to instill some hope and a glimmer of a better future. I am looking forward to the next book to see where the story goes from here!

[AliceAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads-Giveaway, and this is my honest review.

I thought this book was amazing. All of the characters continue to grow, becoming more morally gray as the story takes them deeper into the war between the U.S./Japan and China. Ingrid is a black female geomancer, in an alternate-history world, where that's not supposed to be possible. It is 1906, so she also has to deal with all the social injustices of that time period. She continues to grow in her earth powers, and has to deal with the consequences of her actions, something that doesn't happen all that often in fantasy books. Cy is a delightful character, and I absolutely adore him as the love interest, which is totally consensual. Woot! Fenris is wonderful as well, a female who dresses and acts like a man, and is Cy's best friend, as well as an excellent mechanic. Lee is an enterprising young Chinese boy, who has to deal with so many problems because of his race, which is absolutely heartbreaking. We also got to see more of Ambassador Blum, who is quite the villain. My favorite parts are with the fantastics, such as the phoenix, qilin, and the sylphs. The world-building is excellent, and the plot moves along rapidly. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series, and would highly recommend this book/series.

[Kimber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed "Call of Fire" by Beth Cato very much, and look forward to the next installment in this series eagerly. The characters have continued to be interesting and engaging, the world building still amazing, and the plot and overall story arc has kept me on the edge of my seat, so to speak — I've stayed up far too late on several occasions while reading, just as I have with the first in the series!

Even though it's sometimes difficult to read, because I have a very vivid imagination, the racism and social interactions between the different factions of government, military, and those caught between them is very well written. I don't think I would enjoy this series as much, if not for the excellent portrayal of the main characters and the magical aspects of this world, because those other ugly parts of this world keep bringing up very real reactions inside me, but then, that is definitely a sign of the talent of this writer. However, please don't be put off by this; I've said before that I am something of a wuss (read as 'marshmallow').

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but only if you read the first one, because this is a big, broad story with so much depth, creativity, and feeling, that you won't want to miss a single bit.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've taken issue with the way many steampunk novels avoid the troublesome cultural issues of the time they're glorifying. Even though this series takes place in a timeline altered from true history, it manages to address a very real problem at this time in American history—the plight of Chinese immigrants. Breath of Earth introduced an extreme version of real events with the invention of the United Pacific, a cooperative union between the United States and Japan (with an eye toward empire-building and the complete destruction of China). Call of Fire expands on this theme.

While this book doesn't maintain the break-neck pacing of the first, it does take time to examine culture and show us a bit more about this world. I also really enjoyed getting more info on the fantastics, which are magical creatures based on fae and other creatures from mythology. All these elements added together, and combined with a magic system that's fun and different, make for a great series so far.

[Jeremy Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Cato's sequel to her wonderful "Breath of Earth" is every bit as delightful and creative as the first book. Cato continues to explore a world built around an original magical concept, in which 'geomancers' harness and channel the subterranean energy of the Earth in order to protect humanity from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. It is a colorful alternative history in which the United States is allied with Japan and savage war and occupation rage in a dying imperial China, and the story is based in the geologically active Pacific Northwest. Cato's heroine, Ingrid Carmichael, is a fully realized character with both power and autonomy, and Cato has stepped up the pace of Ingrid's adventures by engaging her in a breathless chase via airship up from San Francisco to Portland and then Seattle.

"Call of Fire" is truly a wonderful story, deserving of a wide readership.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of Fire begins the morning after Blood of Earth. The earthquake that nearly killed Ingrid and destroyed much of San Francisco has the crew of the Palmetto Bug fleeing north in the aftermath of the battle with her Ingrid's own father.

In Seattle, the group attempts to regroup and heal with the help Ambassador Theodore Roosevelt. Ingrid searches for any hint of her father's past and her own, unknown, history and stay one step ahead of her enemy, Ambassador Blum. Relationships change and deepen.

Secrets are revealed and new mysteries unfold as the five friends attempt to evade capture and retain their freedom in a world spiraling towards madness.

Absolutely fantastic read. This book is definitely worth every one of its five stars. I had trouble putting it down, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[M.E. Garber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful read, full of historical fact and fantasy combined. While dealing with many uncomfortable subjects, this book kept me turning pages as I sympathized with the protagonist and her friends so much. In addition, here in Book 2 of the series, we get more information on Ingrid, the protagonist, and her previously-unknown background, and are treated to watching her learn and grow in her magical, geomantic skills. (PS--I really loved Tacoma.)

The settings are wonderful, the "motley" assortment of protagonist's friends and allies are easy to cheer for, the conversations going on are engaging, and the fantastic creatures are, um, fantastic! Both historical fantasy *and* secondary world fantasy fans will both really dig this series, and its unique takes on a historical era not much seen recently.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Cato has continued to flesh out a steampunk story that seems to effortlessly blend in actual history with an alternate reality. A world that utilizes earth energy to power engines, aircraft and tanks. A world where those who hold the power to harness this energy are at risk to be pawns in the quest for national and world domination. Her characters are multi dimensional, authentic, smart and creative yet still very much human with torn loyalties and vulnerabilities. I have very much enjoyed learning about this world and am looking forward to the next two novels.

[Ollivier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book was already very interesting with a fascinating alternate history where men (and a woman) could influence (or be influenced by) the terrible power of earthquakes. Add to this some big political plots and you get an excellent book.

The second one goes even deeper and describe even more good things about this universe including monsters and deities. We get more information about geomancy and ambassadors and much more stuff. This is a really awesome book and series I recommend to everyone.

Well done. Looking very much forward to the next one next year (groan!) :)

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ingrid continues to run from enemies who are trying to capture her for her powers while trying to find out the truth about her parents and her powers.

This was a good book - the magic system was innovative, the characters very real, and the action constant. I didnt read the first book, but was able to jump right in.

*I got this book through GoodRead's Giveaways - an excellent source of interesting books!

[Septentrion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth cato is growing into a wonderful author. There was nothing I didn't like in this book. The plot is well designed, with surprises and heartaches aplenty.I wonder how Beth Cato is going to deal in the next bookwith what happened to Ingrid. It souhld be interesting. I like the characters a lot, too. They're brave but not stupidly so. They can make decisions based on rational thought even though it breaks their hearts. I've had a wonderful time reading this book.

[hesione · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really, really appreciate how the book depicts not only the violent abuse of the Chinese under American hands, but also how the Japanese and their belief in racial superiority caused them to do acts of extreme evil in China proper, among other places. I love how even-handedly the author treated all the characters, morally grey for their own very understandable reasons.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew I had read the first book in this series and remembered absolutely NOTHING about it except that there was earth magic and a main character. So, you know, I wasn't actually wrong about anything.
It's still a really cute series. The main characters don't annoy me and the romance is handled very well.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of Fire beautifully continues this complex alternate history of America. While I usually have a lot of trouble with second books in what I assume is a trilogy, the continuous action and marvelous characters made this one a pleasure. I adore all of the characters, particularly Fenris, Cy, and Ingrid. Evan the villainous Blum is intriguingly complicated! Can't wait for the next one.

[Kiwi Carlisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series seems to be getting more complex as it goes on--now we have the prospect of meeting gods as well as earth spirits and legendary creatures such as dragons and qilin. It's sometimes a bit hard to read what Cato puts her protagonist through in the name of story, but I'm still hooked.