The Muse of Fire

by Carol M. Cram

Abandoned at birth, the grandly christened Edward Plantagenet rises from London’s Foundling Hospital to take charge back stage at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, only to be blind-sided when he rescues Grace—a young woman escaping an abusive father.

Grace finds an outlet for her passions as a Shakespearean actress, becoming ensnared by intrigues and setbacks that mar the pathway to stardom she craves.

Set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Old Price Riots of 1809, Grace and Ned find common purpose in a quest that threatens to tear both their worlds apart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, 19th Century

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2018

About the author

Carol M. Cram is the author of five novels including her latest "The Choir", an historical novel set in Yorkshire in the 1809s.

In her beautifully wrought novel, The Choir, set in 1890s England, Carol Cram deftly composes a lyrical portrait of courage, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of music. This story is rich with history and heart, and will remain with you like a favorite song.  (Herb Williams-Dalgart, author of The Jingle Boys and The French Girl's War

Cram has also written a contemporary novel ("Love Among the Recipes" that received a Publishers Weekly starred review and three award-winning historical novels about women in the arts. "The Towers of Tuscany" was published by Lake Union Publishing in 2014. The novel was awarded the Chaucer Award (Chanticleer Reviews) for best historical fiction and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Review. "The Towers of Tuscany" tells the story of a woman painter in fourteenth century Italy. "A Woman of Note" was published in 2015 by Lake Union Publishing and was awarded the Goethe Award for Best in Category (Chanticleer Reviews) and Editor's Choice by the Historical Novel Society. The novel is set in Vienna in the 1830s and tells the story of a woman composer. Carol's third novel, "A Muse of Fire" (Kindle Books & New Arcadia Publishing 2018) received a Bronze for Best Historical Fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards and the Goethe Award for Best in Category. Set in 1809 in London, the novel delves into the riotous world of early 19th Century theater.

Carol is podcaster and travel blogger. She hosts The Art In Fiction Podcast on which she interviews novelists inspired by the arts. Her travel website Artsy Traveler (www.artsy-traveler.com) features artsy travel experiences throughout Europe, North America and beyond.

Carol has enjoyed a great career as an educator, teaching at Capilano University in North Vancouver for over twenty years and authoring fifty-plus bestselling textbooks on business communications and software applications for Cengage Learning. She holds an MA in Drama from the University of Toronto and an MBA from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She and her husband, painter Gregg Simpson, share a life on beautiful Bowen Island near Vancouver, Canada.

Reviews

[Magdalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the great joys of reading historical fiction is learning more about historical events and characters. True, you're reading a historical work and not a non-fiction book. But, a well-researched book can make history come alive.

I knew nothing about Old Price riots of 1809 and it was interesting reading about how the people rose up against the rise of the ticket prices when the new theater was finished build after the old one was destroyed in a fire. And they thought the riots would end after a couple of days, but it didn't.

The book, however, starts off before the riots and we are introduced to Ned and Grace, the main characters. Ned finds Grace on the streets after she has run away after being attacked by her drunken father. He takes her home and she learns that he's at the theater, working backstage. This meeting will change her life, as her passion for theater grows and she finds a life away from her father.

There are several things about this book that I liked. Like for instance that the meeting of Ned and Grace isn't the start of a great romance between them. Instead, they become close friends. Grace instead form an attachment with another man. It's more of a way for her to be free from her father and I can understand her predicament. I was, however, a bit confused about why the man in question wanted to marry him since there wasn't much feeling between them in my opinion. Ned instead had his heart set on Olympia an actress that also becomes Grace's friend. I liked Olympia, she's one of those minor characters that swoops in and brightens the plot. Looking back do I wonder if I did not like Olympia better than Grace. Grace never really becomes a character that I rooted for. And, there is a turn in the story that just felt odd when it came to her and her love life. So, Ned and Olympia, those are the people that I felt most for.

I will end this review by saying that I quite enjoyed reading this book and I'm looking forward to reading more from Carol M. Cram.

[Angela (Books of a Shy Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find more reviews on my blog: Books of a Shy Girl.

The Muse of Fire is a historical fiction novel about the Old Price Riots which happened at the Thatre Royal, Covent Garden, in 1809. The protagonist is Grace, a girl from the upper middle-class, who has been living in London with her father since her mother’s death. One day, after he hits her, she escapes from home and meets Ned, a guy who works at the theater.

I really liked how Carol Cram interwove history with the story she wanted to tell. I also appreciated all the descriptions of the true events that happened in the book.

The only thing that I didn’t particularly liked was how everything seemed left to fate and that there were so many coincidences.

After living all her life according to what her father wanted, Grace finally decided to follow her dreams, even though it meant living and leading an insecure life. I loved her growing arc, we get to know her fears and hopes.

Ned is another character I enjoyed reading about. He was kind and intelligent, always there to help Grace. I was inspired by his affection and love for his best friend Alec, who betrayed him, but Ned still cared for the man with whom shared all his childhood

The writing style was very good, plus the history was well portrayed, and I give this book 4 out 5 stars.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my stars, this book! Can I give it a standing ovation? Or throw roses at it? Or…what did people do back then when they enjoyed a theater performance…propose! Can I propose to this book, please?

This is my first experience reading work by Carol M. Cram and it will most certainly not be my last. I began this book last night before bed, read way (way) past my bedtime, picked it up again before even getting out of bed and just turned the last page about fifteen minutes ago. (It’s just after lunch as I write this.) I couldn’t put it down to save my life. (I have three piles of laundry on my bed to attest to this.)

Muse of Fire follows the stories of Grace and Ned, in early 1800’s London. Ned works at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, in charge of everything behind-the-scenes. When he runs into an injured Grace on his way home from work one night, what follows is a strong friendship and an exciting new future for Grace.

I loved the absolute heck out of this book. (Also, I have a serious crush on Ned. Which meant that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Olympia’s. But, I digress…)

Carol M. Cram brought the sights, sounds, excitement and chaos of the theatre to vivid life for her readers. I could easily picture everything that the author portrayed in detail, moving from scene to scene with ease. And the characters! Don’t get me started. (Actually, do. Do get me started. It’s why I have this blog.) Let’s start with Ned, since I’m going to marry him someday. (Sorry not sorry, Olympia.) Ned had a hard start to his life, and an even harder time trying to make it in London. But he worked hard, and had the biggest heart. I loved his friendship with Grace, and his big-brother protectiveness of her. As for Grace, I loved that the author didn’t make her a bombshell beauty. Grace’s strongest features were her grit and intelligence, her determination to take control of her future. I loved her strength. Olympia was great too, but don’t tell her I said so. I even found myself rooting for Percival!

The book concluded nicely. Not with a “happily-ever-after” so much as a “this-is-real-life” ending. All the loose ends tied up well, and I found myself very happy for my new favorite characters. I miss them terribly already, and wish most desperately that Ned and Grace’s story could continue. (Dear Ms. Cram…)

Everything that makes a book fantastic…literally everything…is present in Muse of Fire. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming (like, total nuh-UH moments). The story was deep and full of emotion, fast-paced and epically written in every way. A huge, huge, huge recommend for lovers of incredible historical fiction.

[Polly Krize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1800s London, this tells the story of Grace, who wishes to become an actress on the London stage. With many things against her, she must depend on friends and acquaintances to give her the support she needs. Well written and sympathetic, an enjoyable read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace bolts from her London home late one night after her father comes home drunk and hits her. Still blaming Grace for her mother's death, Grace has become the unwilling scapegoat. However, the streets of 1800's London are not a friendly place for a lady at night. Grace is found by Ned, a stage manager at the nearby Theatre Royale. Ned graciously helps Grace recover over the next few days. During their stay together, Grace tells Ned of her interest in the theatre and how she and her mother would recite lines. Ned allows Grace to sit backstage and watch a performance before she must leave and face her father once more. Before Grace goes, an opportunity arises for Grace to be in the Chorus of a show. Grace falls in love with the theatre and finds the strength to part from her father's household. Upon hearing the news, Grace's father writes her out of his will. Soon, with help from Ned, Grace finds her place among the acting troupe. Although, just as Grace begins to rise, the theatre burns down and when it is rebuilt and hike in prices results in a riot at theatre every night. As Grace and Ned deal with the Old Price riots, they also uncover a mystery dealing with Grace's mother and Aunt.

The Muse of Fire transported me directly to London's Theatre scene in the early 1800's. I was taken with the historical detail, I had never heard of the Old Price Riots and were surprised to learn that they were very real and just as comprehensive as described. I also enjoyed that some of the actors, actresses and directors were also taken from history. The thoroughness in describing how backstage operations at the theatre worked was entertaining as well, from costuming to props, fly rigs and makeup, to orchestras and prompters the liveliness and excitement of live theatre is revealed. Grace and Ned's characters were complete and well thought out. Both had interesting histories and good backbone. From the beginning I wondered what their relationship to one another would be and I was pleased to see how they ended up. I loved Grace's direct nature and willingness to endure. Ned is exceedingly kind and able to use his wit to his advantage. The mystery and drama created by Grace's Aunt, Father and cousin Percival was exciting and unexpected, creating just as much drama as the stage. Overall, another rich and exhilarating historical fiction from Carol M. Cram.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[ABCme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actions speak louder than words. From the moment Grace enters the scene, I'm hooked. She pulls me right in and leads the way. This fierce little lady accidentally lands herself a job she could never have imagined. The start of a delightful adventure. Then bad luck strikes. London 1809, rowdy crowds and smelly people. Theatreland transforms into a scene of Shakespearean beauty with nightly fights lasting many weeks. Will this city still be Grace's place of dreams?
Muse of Fire is a well written fast paced read with a constant flow of indepth characters. It also tells the story of the Old Price Riots which, having lived in London for many years and visiting the theatres frequently, I knew nothing about. Live and learn, that's what's so great about historical fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Kindle Press for the ARC.

[Mary Yarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace’s mother used to say that London was the centre of the world—sanctuary for the very best and worst of humanity.
How wrong she had been.

When Grace flees into the night, she has no thought as to where she would go, only that she could not stay where she was. Since her mother’s death, Grace’s father had become a stranger — the *invisible spirit of wine has seduced him and, like that devil, he hits out with his fists only to later deny it. The streets of London seemed like a better place than staying at home. But London during the night was different than London during the day. For when the inconsistent moon takes flight, the worst of humanity skulks out of the shadows.

It was by chance that Ned stumbled upon Grace. He may talk rough and live in poverty-stricken surroundings, but he is honest. And, above everything else, kind. Ned will not leave Grace, broken and bleeding as she is, to face a cold and dangerous night on London’s streets.

Under Ned’s watchful care, Grace recovers from her ordeal. To her delight, Grace discovers that she and Ned share a common passion — the theatre. And while Grace has only ever dreamt of being an actress, Ned works at the illustrious Theatre Royal, in Covent Garden. Grace would give up everything to walk the boards and perform in a play by her favourite playwright — William Shakespeare. Perhaps destiny was at work, or perhaps, at last, Grace was the master of her fate...

From a desperate escape into the night to the end of the Old Price Riots of 1809, The Muse of Fire by Carol M. Cram is the unforgettable story of a young woman who takes her destiny into her own hands and becomes an actress.

Cram takes us behind the scenes of the Theatre Royal, and what goes on is far more sensational and entertaining than any play —even one of Master Shakespeare’s! The Muse of Fire is a nuanced portrait of life and theatre in the Georgian era. It has everything Shakespearian enthusiasts could want — there is the absurdity of a Shakespeare comedy, but also the poignancy of his tragedies. This book does not gloss over the poverty of the thespians, nor does it take anything away from what it must have been like for those who lived during this time.

With a careful eye on the opulence of the era, and at the other end of the scale, the poverty, Cram has written a fabulous backdrop for her characters, and she has breathed life back into the Theatre Royal. I adored the characterisation of both Grace and Ned. Grace is all alone in the world since her mother died, and it isn’t until Ned stumbles upon her that she realises that all this time she has been living half a life, and although she has only been to the theatre once, her mother had installed a love of Shakespeare in her, and now that Grace has trodden the boards, there is a fire within her that refuses to be quenched. Grace really came into her own through the course of this book. She is a likeable heroine, but also a courageous one who is determined to live her life how she wants to live it. I thoroughly enjoyed watching her journey unfold. However, it was Ned that closed the deal on this book for me.

Ned grew up at the Foundling Hospital in London, but inauspicious beginnings did not hamper his success, and he is now the stage manager at the Theatre Royal. Ned loves the theatre, he loves his job, and he is secretly in love with Olympia, a young and talented actress. Ned cares for Grace as he does with everyone. He is a wonderful protagonist and one I enjoyed reading about very much.

Although Grace and Ned are fictional characters, there are a host of historical figures in this book. I thought Cram’s portrayal of Mr John Philip Kemble was sublime. Kemble is larger-than-life in this story. He certainly is a force to be reckoned with. Likewise, I thought Cram’s depiction of the Old Price Riots of 1809 captured the very essence of this time. Wonderfully written and masterfully portrayed.

Cram is certainly a vivacious storyteller and her fast-paced narrative made this book not only utterly irresistible but next to impossible to put down. When I thought I knew where Cram was heading with the story, there would be a sudden plot-twist, and the story headed in another direction. This is a book that will keep you guessing. I absolutely loved it!

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

*“O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil.”
Shakespeare, William — Othello Act 2, sc. 3 (first performed 1604, published 1622).

[Edye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carol Cram’s Muse of Fire is a fascinating work of fiction beautifully woven into actual historical events of early 1800s London. The story, set in the Theatre Royale, Covent Garden, with all its glamour and grandeur, plays out against the backdrop of a behind-the-scenes cast of multi-faceted characters that make up the grit and glory of life in the theatre.

Protagonist Grace is not the sort of young woman we may associate with this time in history: a wife or daughter bound to home and family. Grace has dreams and a determination to follow them. Despite the emotional and physical cruelty of her father and the unkindness of her cold and dismissive aunt, Grace is passionate about a future on the stage. Not only does she have dreams, she has the feisty determination to bring those dreams to fruition.

Muse of Fire is a story told through the voices of Grace and Ned (Ned is the stage manager at Theatre Royale) and as the stories from Grace’s family’s past become unraveled, hidden truths are exposed. As long-buried secrets are revealed, we see that both Grace and Ned’s lives and their histories have deep roots beyond the glamour of the stage and the tumult of theatre life.

Cram’s keen attention to detail takes the reader through some surprising doors and places us in the centre of the action. We see the “velvet curtain, gold tassels, thick pile rug and chairs upholstered in light blue” as though we are there. We feel the flames both inner and outer as the beloved Theatre Royale, Covent Garden burns to the ground in 1808. We feel and fear the rage of the protesters during the infamous Old Price Riots.

Ultimately, Muse of Fire is a tale of love and friendship, a story set in the golden era of theatre in London’s 1800s. Grace’s journey toward reaching her dreams and becoming free from the mystery of the past is fuelled by her unrelenting passion. Though Grace’s path is fraught with obstacles and bitter truths, hers is a story of love, redemption and the triumph of a passionate spirit over any and all adversity that may stand in her way.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace has been living in London with her father following her mother's death. One day, he hits her and she escapes and meets Ned, who works at a theater. Grace finds an outlet for her emotions as a Shakespearean actress. She finds herself caught up in the intrigues and setbacks that mar the path to the stardom she craves so terribly. I really enjoyed learning about the Old Price Riots as Carol M Cain told the story of Ned and Grace. I had never heard of this incident so it was interesting reading about how the people rose up against the increasing ticket prices in the theater replacing one that was destroyed by fire. The theater owners thought that the riots would end after a few days, but they didn't. Cain manages to thread the historical facts of this dramatic episode while showing how the relationship between Ned and Grace progressed from friendship to more. I liked that they weren't instantly in a relationship or attracted to each other. They started off as friends. Ned initially had his sights set on a friend of Grace's, Olympia. In many ways, I thought Olympia was a dynamic character and, at times, struggled with trying to find myself rooting for Grace. I found myself relating to both Ned and Olympia a lot more.

I received a copy of The Muse of Fire from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Thank you Netgalley for an early reader copy)

Grace Johnson has a secret in her past that she does not know about. After the death of her mother she leaves her abusive father and moves out on her own in London, where she ends up working in the theater as a Shakespearean actress. She and young Ned, a street child, work together to survive and thrive in the rough and tumble world of London theater. Together they survive riots over the price of tickets, a fire in the theater, the dangers of a young woman living alone in London. Eventually Grace learns about the secret she didn't know, but has shaped her life in unexpected ways.

The Muse of Fire is a well written interesting book, although I liked The Tower's of Tuscany better. Carol Cram tackles interesting subjects based on historical fact, and places young women into situations that are not typical for women in that time period. I love how her characters surmount tremendous difficulties to reach what they seek.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at page 109. This book failed to grab me in any way. At about page 75, I had to check if this was written for a younger audience, as the writing was fairly sophomoric. The characters are flat and uninteresting, and the story is one that's been told many times: young girl leaves home of origin to fulfill a dream, and is aided by new friends. Unfortunately, beyond that, there wasn't much in this book to endear itself.

[Rbwriter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book but certainly not my last in the trilogy written by Carol Cram. This was a fun read perfect for my afternoons on my deck I recommend this book for those who enjoy reading historical based fiction great characters a good story to follow. I look forward to reading her other books.

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Cram's historical fiction. Not only does she write compelling stories, which she does, but she also lets readers know the historical facts (as they are known) on which the fiction is based. It's wonderful. On top of that, she tells us much about the lives of women--constraints and possibilities-- in the eras about which she writes.

[Helen Hollick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs

"The research is brilliantly done, rarely intrudes on the story and makes it feel authentic."
shortlisted for Book of the Month

[Mary Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I love history, but am at a point in my life where I like to learn "the easy way." Historical novels are what I choose to read, especially the ones that have accurate information about the era. This book filled the bill.

[Kristen McDermott · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of this book appears in Historical Novels Review 84 (May 2018):

Romance meets backstage drama in a novel that is long on plot twists but a little short on emotionally believable characters. Grace Johnson, a pragmatic but extremely naïve beauty, flees her abusive father in the first page and meets the usual unpleasantness in the dark alleys of 19th-century London. She is rescued by Ned Plantagenet, the young stage manager of the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden, who is as improbably chivalrous as his name implies. She is welcomed into the company as a chorus girl just in time to join the company’s summer tour to Bath.

Readers expecting Late Georgian social satire will find that Grace is a heroine more in the Brönte vein — conflicted, prickly, and prone to having inappropriate feelings for ineligible men. She also has the misfortune of joining John Kemble’s celebrated company just as it experiences the devastating 1808 fire that destroyed the Theatre Royal, followed by the Old Price Riots that delayed the reopening of the rebuilt Theatre for months. Grace’s personal life is no less chaotic, as she clings to her dream of acting in spite of a malicious aunt, disinheritance, a marriage of convenience, family shame, and a predatory leading man. It’s an entertaining read for the first half, before the reader begins to tire of the paper-thin characters, but Cram is a good storyteller and knows how to propel her plot past coincidental meetings, unnecessary secret-keeping, and the frustrating stubbornness of her heroine, to a satisfying close.

[Teaser Addicts Book Blog/ PR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book against an Honest review.

My Own Stars Ratings
1☆- Sorry This Was NOT For Me
2☆- Could Of Been Something Good
3☆- Good Enough For More
4☆- WHAT was THAT
5☆- LOVED- A Masterpiece For Me

MY RATING: 3 1/2 ☆☆☆

Historical fiction is my favorite reading genre so when the opportunity to read and review this book came up, i was so intrigued with the blurb that i just needed to read it.

I was really happy with the book.
The writing is rich and detailed.

The story really brings you into old England and makes you part of history.

The reason why i rated it 3 1/2 is only because i would of liked a little more intrigue. A little "punch".

Still a really good book that will entertain you.

Will absolutley read other books from this Author.