A Birth of Fire

A Shade of Vampire #69

by Bella Forrest

Welcome to Book 1 of Season 9, the beginning of a brand new story...

It's been a year since GASP brought Ta'Zan's reign of terror to an abrupt end. A year in which all The Shade's residents have enjoyed a much-deserved break. Relationships have blossomed. Babies have been born. And peace has settled throughout the realms.

What lies in store next for our Shadian crew?

It begins with a fire and a mystery... and will lead to a journey unlike any they've experienced before.

Your Shade family awaits you.

Buy now!

*Beware of spoilers in the reviews below that are without spoiler alerts*

Genres: Vampires, Fiction, Paranormal Romance

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2018

About the author

UPDATE MARCH 11, 2024:

BELLA IS BACK!

*** New, updated online store at https://BellaForrest.com

*** New books coming soon

*** Possible Film/TV series coming soon

*** Stay up to date by joining our e-mail list at https://BellaForrest.com/join

###

Bella Forrest is a lover of fantasy, romance, action, and mystery infused stories with twists you don’t see coming. She has sold over fifteen million books since her first novel was published in 2012.

Check out her website for a full list of her books: https://BellaForrest.com

Official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BellaForrest...

Here's a list of some of Bella's books:

DARKLIGHT

Darklight (Book 1)
Darkthirst (Book 2)
Darkworld (Book 3)
Darkblood (Book 4)
Darktide (Book 5)
Darkbirth (Book 6)
Darkfall (Book 7)
Darkwilds (Book 8)
Darkhunt (Book 9)

A LOVE THAT ENDURES (Trilogy)
A Love that Endures 1
A Love that Endures 2
A Love that Endures 3

HARLEY MERLIN AND THE SECRET COVEN

Harley Merlin and the Secret Coven (Book 1)
Harley Merlin and the Mystery Twins (Book 2)
Harley Merlin and the Stolen Magicals (Book 3)
Harley Merlin and the First Ritual (Book 4)
Harley Merlin and the Broken Spell (Book 5)
Harley Merlin and the Cult of Eris (Book 6)
Harley Merlin and the Detector Fix (Book 7)
Harley Merlin and the Challenge of Chaos (Book 8)
Harley Merlin and the Mortal Pact (Book 9)
Finch Merlin and the Fount of Youth (Book 10)
Finch Merlin and the Lost Map (Book 11)
Finch Merlin and the Djinn's Curse (Book 12)
Finch Merlin and the Locked Gateway (Book 13)
Finch Merlin and the Forgotten Kingdom (Book 14)
Finch Merlin and the Everlasting Vow (Book 15)
Finch Merlin and the Blood Tie (Book 16)
Finch Merlin and the Legend of the Luminary
Persie Merlin and Leviathan's Gift (Book 18)
Persie Merlin and the Door to Nowhere (Book 19)
Persie Merlin and the Witch Hunters (Book 20)
Persie Merlin and the Dying Song (Book 21)

THE CHILD THIEF

The Child Thief (Book 1)
Deep Shadows (Book 2)
Thin Lines (Book 3)
Little Lies (Book 4)
Ghost Towns (Book 5)
Zero Hour (Book 6)

HOTBLOODS

Hotbloods (Book 1)
Hotbloods (Book 2): Coldbloods
Hotbloods (Book 3): Renegades
Hotbloods (Book 4): Venturers
Hotbloods (Book 5): Traitors
Hotbloods (Book 6): Allies
Hotbloods (Book 7): Invaders
Hotbloods (Book 8): Stargazers

THE GENDER GAME

The Gender Game (Book 1)
The Gender Secret (Book 2)
The Gender Lie (Book 3)
The Gender War (Book 4)
The Gender Fall (Book 5)
The Gender Plan (Book 6)
The Gender End (Book 7)

THE GIRL WHO DARED TO THINK

The Girl Who Dared to Think (Book 1)
The Girl Who Dared to Stand (Book 2)
The Girl Who Dared to Descend (Book 3)
The Girl Who Dared to Rise (Book 4)
The Girl Who Dared to Lead (Book 5)
The Girl Who Dared to Endure (Book 6
The Girl Who Dared to Fight (Book 7)

A SHADE OF VAMPIRE

Season 1: Derek & Sofia’s story

Books 1 to 7

Season 2: Rose & Caleb’s story

Books 8 to 16

Season 3: The Shade continues with a new hero...

Books 17 to 24

Season 4: A Clan of Novaks

Books 25 to 32

Season 5: A Dawn of Guardians

Books 33 to 41

Season 6: A Gift of Three

Books 42 to 50

Season 7: A Call of Vampires

Books 51 to 59

Season 8: A Voyage of Founders

Books 60 to 68

Season 9: A Birth of Fire

Books 69 to 77

Season 10: An Origin of Vampires
An Origin of Vampires (Book 78)
A Game of Death (Book 79)
A Veil of Dark (Book 80)
A Bringer of Night (Book 81)
A Circle of Nine (Book 82)
A Bender of Spirit (Book 83)
A Memory of Time (Book 84)
A Shard of Soul (Book 85)
A Break of Seals (Book 86)

Season 11: A Shade of Mystery
A Shade of Mystery (Book 87)
An Isle of Mirrors (Book 88)
A Sanctuary of Foes (Book 89)
A Ruler of Clones (Book 90)
A Gate of Light (Book 91)
A Dawn of Worlds (Book 92) ➜ Coming soon!

Reviews

[Shrabani Pattnaik · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG! Its Steampunk!
When we imagine there's nothing more, Bella brings it all out to life!
**********SPOILERS AHEAD************

I am actually happy that this time we don't have a direct Novak badassery. I mean I know it's basically about Novaks but when you expand an universe, you can't just focus on just one family.
Now, I would like to divide this review into Goodies and Baddies okay?
Goodies :-
1. New Characters: The main focus is now on a diversity of characters. We know every season brings new generation forward but this time since last three seasons, we are not directly skipping to new generation rather staying with new characters.

2. Bringing out old ones: I am glad that we get to see, Riza-Aisha and Horatio Drizan's daughter as a lead. She was last mentioned during Taeriel's naming ceremony two seasons ago. Then there's Eva-Azazel and Tamara's daughter. It was actually a great point to introduce her since we were bitching over her off swoon engagement with Draven. But now, she's something new and better

3. Dividing The siblings: I know it's kind of cliche but I get a sense of Deja Vu when Miss Forrest did a thing similar in season 2 and 3. Rose and Ben's arcs were divided independently with each siblings leading two different seasons. I felt the same with Elonora and Varga. Since in season 8, we found Elonora as the titular character, this season has Varga as the leading. It provides enough space for a character to develop and make it's point.

4. First time No Novaks! : I know, it's all the o'er might Novak Clan, but this book has actually no Novak headlining which is a first. Plus it actually kind of good. We have been reading all the Novak cargo since the beginning and somewhere it was losing it's momentum. But this is a breach which could really provide other non-Novak characters to shine!(I know Amelia Novalic is Kiev friggin Novalic's neice but she's way distant from Novaks)

5. Introduction of a New Theme: For what I've read about the world of Cerix, it feels to me like that the civilization is currently under Steampunk time. The description of the buildings and appliances. This is one of the best placements which an author can make. Season one we found a normal bubbling romance, Season 2 we had adventure while in season 3 we had sort of mystery/thriller more. Season 4 felt more like an apocaltyptic scenerio which Season 5 generated a sense of Historical Sci-fi?. Season six was like an alternate dying earth them while Season 7 gave me Conquest of Gaul Feeling(Figure of Speech Guys!). Season 8 was of course an Sad Utopia scenerio and this time we have Steampunk!

Bonus! - Aida, Jovi and Dimitri finally shifted and I loved Aida's POV again !

Baddies

1. Everyone is BEAUTIFUL: This part actually kind of picks me. Every character is beautiful, gorgeous, handsome....tall. UHH! It's actually making me imagine that everyone is a fairy here.

2. We Know who's going to end up with whom: This part also annoys me. Come on! At first sight everyone has eyes for their soulmate. And it's predictable that who is going to end up with whom!
Raphael likes Amelia who blushes and shrugs off. Eva has been exchanging glances with Varga(Prince to Queen, huh?). Riza is all over tall Herakles who only has eyes for her. AND Taeriel, our titular character immediately has attention for gorgeous Innalia(She's new BTW). It doesn't makes any sense and this has been going on for seasons now.

3. Explaining 2 with example: In season one, Sofia had fallen for Derek, but she also had feelings for Ben Hudson and then along came Kiev Novalic. It actually generated a thrill and gave Sofia's character the power to choose who she truly loves and why where as we got our own shippings! Similarly, during season 5, Ruby had Ash and in some way we could say Varga(Another guy whom she named her son). This made her character more exiting that Hazel's.
Take the other side, Ben meets River, Victoria meets Bastien, Aida and Field, Serena meets Draven, Vita meets Bijarki, Harper gets Caspian, Scarlett and Patrick, Caia and Blaze, Elonora and Nevis, Kailani and Hunter and UHH! they all make up at the first sight!

4. Live longer: Well since everyone has ridiculous long lives(not explained why), everyone is going on great-great-great.........I feel you Aiden.

5. Thing's little crowdy here: Since MCs are not dying with new generation popping more babies. Things are really going to get crowded now with more names introduces and terms.

I shall end my review there because it's just one book. I will edit bit more after reading the following ones!!!

[Mikayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

A great read and enjoyed it thoroughly. It has some similarities to it our reality too. Can't wait to read the next book.

[Karen Bicknell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so waiting for this finale and it was not a disappointment. There were ppl lost but we were not put through the heartache of loosing any of the main ppl we have grown to love, the family has grown with the birth of several children, and several others we learned are expecting. But with all the good news, the great news was Dereck taking down Ta'zan and o the satisfaction in doing so. A yr later all is doing well, and we can look towards the next chapter in our Shadians lives.

[nat _lovestoread · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!! 😯

A new season starter with a fantastic, unexpected plot!!!... Bella Forrest keeps surprising me, every time a season ends and I think there would be nothing better, here is Bella proving me wrong again and again... The fire fae are going insane, causing bewilderment among our GASP team, who assemble a team to look into the case, which soon enough proves to be much more complicated and full of secrets than they thought... With old and new MC, this season promises a lot of action and, of course, romance, as attraction start its way amoung our new crew... Can't wait to see the new couples development within each book, as well as the uncover of more mysteries and secrets as they digh deeper into the old history of this new planet they had to travel to... Loving this new season!!! ❤️🤓

[Denise Esh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love where this story is going. Of the main characters in this book, only one is a Novak (Varga) and the rest are other characters we are either just learning about, or characters we grew to love in other stories who are playing a much more major role in this story. I love the Novaks, however, I also love so many of the other characters and I'm so grateful to see them being featured. I am truly interested in seeing how the tie that has been building with the Hermessi in the last two stories ties into this one. In just the first part of the story, we have learned so much more about them and I LOVE it. Can't wait to see where this all goes and I am really looking forward to learning about the characters being introduced from Cerix.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With most books that continue on like A Shade of Vampire, constantly introducing new characters, I tend to lose interest. When I started this one I thought to myself, this is it.... this is where Bella loses me. But after getting a couple chapters in, she snagged me once more. She has a way of instantly drawing the reader in, even when the main characters change around. Also, I thought okay Bella this is predicable, they’re all going to get trapped on some other planet... gasp ends up prevailing... etc! She threw me for a loop with this so far, it’s the same but so different! I love how her imagination works!

[Maria Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One year later...

Life is going great for everyone. More babies too! Strava is doing wonderful and growing. But things cant stay like that forvever and strange things start happening to the fae and too many deaths to go with it. So a group is put together to investigate. Their investigation only leads to more trouble and a new planet. I'm loving the dynamic in this new group. The boys especially. I'm also eager to see how the relationships flourish between the possible new couples.

[Marisol Acevedo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adventure.

This book is not as intense as all the others. I’m sure it’ll get there. This one brings you in tune with all the new characters. Serna, Darek, Tareal, Rafael and a few others are still in the forefront as is GASP, the new generations have emerged and are eager and ready.

The Fire Fae are in trouble, The Hermessi’s are going nuts and it’s up to GASP to figure it all out!!

Sounds like another wild asentiré just ready to take off!!

Off to the next.

[Adriana Baxter · Rating 5 out of 5]

And here we are new season and great beginning i am loving the mystery i can’t wait to continue reading this story last season was just beyond amazing i can’t wait to see how this season will turn out to be! Which it seems it’s going to be crazier and a lot more romance! Yassss bella forrest you are genius 🖤

[Heather Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited to start a new season! We get to see some characters we met last season with a sprinkle of new. I am beyond excited to see new romances bloom, and new enemies taken down. It's time to explore new worlds with GASP! The second I read the last word, I was craving the next book. Great work (again), Bella.

[chritine tullock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the books

I really enjoy reading this series. When I tell people I am on book 69 of something they laugh and say what??? Seriously it is amazing we get to experience different people throughout generations! Also new species all the time. I always look forward to a new adventure in the shade you never know what will happen!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good story it's just this time it was alot slower to me then it started getting faster towards the end. This is 69th book in this series I highly recommend it so I think 1 of 69 I thought was slow is a great story. No way would 1 book stop me from reading this series. Another mystery I can't figure out.

[Sherri Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable great reading this series

I really enjoyed this book and loved all the characters. It's amazing how the crew of GASP amazed me no matter how or where what with them, even with it only a year has passed since Ta'zan that this crew can't catch a break without something happening. Can't wait to see what will happen next.

[Tonya Crownshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This particular book in this series has more mystery than most of them.

I have to say..of all the books in theis series..this one is one the more interesting ones. There is more mystery to this one. Out of the characters (which i love all of them] this one seems a little less cookie cut story and more original.

[Marcy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The finale we were all waiting on was so worth the wait.... through all the sadness and emotional rollercoasters, we are given humor and shown love and the opportunity of even more new characters from some of our loved ones expecting and having babies! Thank you for another wonderful book Bella 🙌🙌

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the new characters. And the new journey

Love raphael and harackles both are funny
Can't wait what the next journey has hold of the gasp team.
And how the love story will begin, obstacles

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hermessi

Awesome read fast paced and lots of action and mystery,magic and talk about some twists and turns wow the storyline and interaction between the characters are fabulous love the new characters and secrets abound on Cerix.

[Brittanie Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another start to a great SoV season

Can’t get enough of this series. Each season brings on new species, and colorful characters to keep things interesting. Love following the Novak clan through the universe.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book 69... Can't wait for next book by Bella Forrest #70.

GASP on a mission to find out who is responsible for the killings of the firefae. Going to different planets within the realms to find answers but more destruction is following them from galaxy to galaxy.

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shade 69

This is definitely a different twist on these stories. I had to go back to see who is who. In this one it's about the fire faes and how their bodies are used to destroy. Now let's see what this new crew can do. What an imagination this writer has

[Kayan Sherrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a little slow but still enjoyable to read. Love getting to know these fairly new GASP members and looking forward to getting to ready know them. like all Bella's books in this series there is action, mystery and adventure to keep you tied to the book until you finish it.

[Lisa Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This could get interesting

Building on from the previous series this book brings a new twist to light .. Are they really the wonderful elemental forces or is there a.sinister story no one knew about

[Andie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual Bella does.not disappoint and if you're a fan of the ASOV series already you'll slide right into the continuing storyline!

If your just getting started lucky you! You have over 60 books in this series alone! How exciting!!

[Judy Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to start of. Bella's new season of the shade of vampire series, new characters, plus we still get to read about our favorites from the past. Love this book and I can't wait to get started on the next book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read as usual.

This next series is going to epic! I love Raphael and Herk! Curious as to what they will find and what is going on.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

ASOV 69

Another excellent storyline. I'm enjoying the characters this season is going to mainly be about. A new galaxy and new world that hold's a lot of unknows.

[Gemma Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant new series

This is a great new series of shade books, I love the characters and looking forward to reading what happens xx

[Elizabeth Choi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

What a amazing start to a new season!I can't wait for the next book! The book draws you in and you can feel,smell and see the images in your mind. That you Bella Forrest!

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new arc

The young ones get to flex their strength and solve a new mystery. We see the find actions laid for this next arc, a new planet and people, and new allies and enemies.

Bring it on!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Season 9 is starting out good with new adventures and new characters! I can't wait to see what happens next!!