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Fire Within #1
Fire Within
Fiona Ember’s life has been shattered to pieces. After an assassination attempt gone awry, her friends are dead, she’s lost her magic, and she’s now imprisoned by the magician she just tried to kill. To make matters worse, she learns he’s the infamous Auspex, who possesses the gifts of precognition and mind-reading, and who’s known for his deadly and unyielding reputation.
Resigned to torture and execution, Fiona is surprised when the Auspex offers her a chance to live—but first, she will need to demonstrate the value he’s seen in her future. Fiona must discover what he wants from her quickly, before his patience runs out.
Thousands of miles from home and alone in enemy territory, what are Fiona’s hopes of impressing the Auspex and reclaiming her life and magic? And what happens when she starts being drawn unwittingly into his dangerous and mysterious plans?
Resigned to torture and execution, Fiona is surprised when the Auspex offers her a chance to live—but first, she will need to demonstrate the value he’s seen in her future. Fiona must discover what he wants from her quickly, before his patience runs out.
Thousands of miles from home and alone in enemy territory, what are Fiona’s hopes of impressing the Auspex and reclaiming her life and magic? And what happens when she starts being drawn unwittingly into his dangerous and mysterious plans?
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2020
44 people are currently reading
725 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 23, 2020
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
Fiona Ember and a group of Flame clan members take part in an assassination attempt on one of the most powerful members of the Water clan, the Auspex. Fiona finds herself captured and stripped of her magic. She is given the option to live and demonstrate her value or be executed. The Auspex can see the future and alludes to a future which will be beneficial for both of them. Can Fiona play her part and survive in enemy territory in order to get her magic back?
What I liked about this book
The idea of the clans and the magic - the way this is presented is really quite unique and interesting.
The writing - Ella's writing is structured, coherent and easy to read.
The character development - the characters are really well developed. Their personalities and motivations are described perfectly so that you gain a clear picture of who the characters are.
What I didn't like
The theme of slavery throughout the book - I think this statement speaks for itself.
The lack of action - about the first three quarters of the book is world, character and relationship building. This is of course necessary but i just wish there was a bit more action sprinkled throughout the book.
Despite the things above, I found myself drawn into the book and routing for the relationships. I intend to read the next one to find out how the story moves on.
3.75 stars
✮✮✮✭
Find this review and others on my blog
July 11, 2020
Just not for me. I'm sure others will enjoy it. It's not badly written. The grammar, editing, general construction are all good. The story flows well enough, you get a sense of the characters, the environment, the world. It has a decent conclusion. It just wasn't what I like in a book. I really try to avoid saying bad things, especially since I got this for free in a giveaway, presumably so I would review it. But in case anyone else out there thinks this is a story about warring magical clans, developing magical abilities, or deep look into what our world would be with magic in it - it's not. It's entirely a very slow-burn YA romance, with the barest touch of magic. The magic was mentioned mostly in a cosmetic context, how beautiful it looked, or how imposing, as an enhancement to a character's appearance. The main character was supposedly 29, but she comes across more like 15. She vacillates between weepy despondency laying on the floor to saying stupid, snarky things. Everyone else behaves like teenagers also. Everyone is young, gorgeous, wears designer brands, and looks amazing all the time. The romance is pretty believable, actually, given how super hot the guy is, and the fact that he can read minds. But instead of being about attraction, it's trying to be about love. In one week. With the guy that killed her best friends a week ago. And doesn't get past holding hands. Which, by the way, she does with the guy's teenage right hand man as well, since they are instant best friends. So - this could have been a sensual bomb between prisoner and smoking hot, mind reading warden, in a brutal world run by violent magical clans. But it was more of a high school romance, complete with gym class, eating in the cafeteria, and run-ins with the school bully and bitchy ex-girlfriend. Like I said, not badly written, not what I enjoy, but I'm sure others will.
August 16, 2020
“Lamb,” he said, leaning close to speak in my ear, “I want you to stop worrying so much about your future. Sleep well. Things are not nearly so dire as you believe.” - Nicolas Demaris
.
I have to say that my rating 4 stars to this book is not entirely for the plot or the writing..... Which at times felt repetitive and drawn out.... The main reason I give this book four stars is because of it's characters..
.
They might seem cliché at times and they are but they still were very lovable and I enjoyed every single scene with some of them......
.
The story was about the struggles of the protagonist, Fiona Ember, who is taken hostage after a botched assassination....
.
She finds herself in the company of enemies, struggling to make peace with the death of her friends, her family abandoning her to die and the fact that she must play nice with her enemies if she wants to make it to the next day.....
.
The protagonist voice was for the lack of a better word repetitive at times..... Like she'd think the same thing again and again and have the same panic attacks and granted she was in fear for her life.... But it was annoying at times....
.
And the main male character, Nicolas was an enigma... I wish we'd learned more about him....
.
.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
.
I have to say that my rating 4 stars to this book is not entirely for the plot or the writing..... Which at times felt repetitive and drawn out.... The main reason I give this book four stars is because of it's characters..
.
They might seem cliché at times and they are but they still were very lovable and I enjoyed every single scene with some of them......
.
The story was about the struggles of the protagonist, Fiona Ember, who is taken hostage after a botched assassination....
.
She finds herself in the company of enemies, struggling to make peace with the death of her friends, her family abandoning her to die and the fact that she must play nice with her enemies if she wants to make it to the next day.....
.
The protagonist voice was for the lack of a better word repetitive at times..... Like she'd think the same thing again and again and have the same panic attacks and granted she was in fear for her life.... But it was annoying at times....
.
And the main male character, Nicolas was an enigma... I wish we'd learned more about him....
.
.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 11, 2024
This was a decent character driven UF series with a strong slow burn romance subplot. It was a solid offering!
We got a single POV story that we joined just as our lead character Fire Clan Mage Fiona Ember’s life goes awry. Her team were sent on an assassination mission to eliminate a group of rival Water Mages. They failed and Fiona, the only survivor of her Fire Clan team, ends up a captive of the Water Clan Mages. She expects torture and execution but instead her Water Clan interrogator, the notorious Auspex who possesses the gifts of precognition and mind-reading, offers her a chance at life. She just has to prove she can offer the value to him that he sees in some of her possible futures!
It was a pretty fun tale. The Auspex had a terrible reputation but it was, mostly, a front so it was pretty easy to root for both him and Fiona as he coaxed her over the trauma of losing her team and with basically living life as a captive with the constant threat of slavery and death hanging over her if she does not live up to the terms of their deal.
The tale was a tad dark and Fiona did have to push through some trauma and anxiety but that was balanced out by the core group of characters being pretty likeable and easy to root for once everybody got over the awful way Fiona got introduced to them and by the found family and slow burn romance elements offering a good bit of positivity to the story.
All in all this was a fun tale. Nothing special but definitely very readable and I’ll press right on with the second book in the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Ali Dane did OK with the audio.
We got a single POV story that we joined just as our lead character Fire Clan Mage Fiona Ember’s life goes awry. Her team were sent on an assassination mission to eliminate a group of rival Water Mages. They failed and Fiona, the only survivor of her Fire Clan team, ends up a captive of the Water Clan Mages. She expects torture and execution but instead her Water Clan interrogator, the notorious Auspex who possesses the gifts of precognition and mind-reading, offers her a chance at life. She just has to prove she can offer the value to him that he sees in some of her possible futures!
It was a pretty fun tale. The Auspex had a terrible reputation but it was, mostly, a front so it was pretty easy to root for both him and Fiona as he coaxed her over the trauma of losing her team and with basically living life as a captive with the constant threat of slavery and death hanging over her if she does not live up to the terms of their deal.
The tale was a tad dark and Fiona did have to push through some trauma and anxiety but that was balanced out by the core group of characters being pretty likeable and easy to root for once everybody got over the awful way Fiona got introduced to them and by the found family and slow burn romance elements offering a good bit of positivity to the story.
All in all this was a fun tale. Nothing special but definitely very readable and I’ll press right on with the second book in the series.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Ali Dane did OK with the audio.
July 29, 2022
DNF Gave up 60% in
If you are wanting a strong female character, this is not your book. Fiona seems to spend the whole time whispering and moving "tentatively" (all those words so overused in the book it actually became white noise). She flinches endlessly and throws up constantly and drowns in shame and guilt and tears. I understand grief. I'd understand practicality. This is meekness and cowardice to a nauseating level. Damsel in distress and victim personality are just the tip of the iceberg. She has almost no personality. She occasionally makes a sarcastic comment which the males condescendingly refer to as fire. Honestly, she has no fire and not much in the way of spine. She's got a need to be special and rescued and made important by men. The sexism is unreal; all these men around to tell her she's pretty and unique and protected. Blah blah blah. For someone who is 29, she acts like a preteen raised in an abusive household. Yeah, she's had bad things happen but abuse isn't one of them. At least until she gets captured. Her complete lack of fight, and her constant fear of those around her while endlessly seeking their approval and happiness (despite that she's a prisoner and they killed her friends) was just gross. Co-dependent and completely unable to think for herself. Good news though, she aces falling apart.
The most unfortunate piece is that the entire story is told from her perspective and we spend WAY too much time in her head. There is tons of telling rather than showing, making the world building clunky. The amount of dialogue is pretty limited; both dialogue and her mind seem stuck on repeat. Everything is said multiple times for no apparent reason. The book could be cut in half with the removal of all the repeated phrases and discussions. I honestly began skimming pretty early on because it became boring to reread the same stuff over and over again.
If you want a damsel in distress story with a little magic, lots of guilt and self loathing, and Stockholm syndrome, this is for you. If you want a warrior and some personality, I suggest you skip.
If you are wanting a strong female character, this is not your book. Fiona seems to spend the whole time whispering and moving "tentatively" (all those words so overused in the book it actually became white noise). She flinches endlessly and throws up constantly and drowns in shame and guilt and tears. I understand grief. I'd understand practicality. This is meekness and cowardice to a nauseating level. Damsel in distress and victim personality are just the tip of the iceberg. She has almost no personality. She occasionally makes a sarcastic comment which the males condescendingly refer to as fire. Honestly, she has no fire and not much in the way of spine. She's got a need to be special and rescued and made important by men. The sexism is unreal; all these men around to tell her she's pretty and unique and protected. Blah blah blah. For someone who is 29, she acts like a preteen raised in an abusive household. Yeah, she's had bad things happen but abuse isn't one of them. At least until she gets captured. Her complete lack of fight, and her constant fear of those around her while endlessly seeking their approval and happiness (despite that she's a prisoner and they killed her friends) was just gross. Co-dependent and completely unable to think for herself. Good news though, she aces falling apart.
The most unfortunate piece is that the entire story is told from her perspective and we spend WAY too much time in her head. There is tons of telling rather than showing, making the world building clunky. The amount of dialogue is pretty limited; both dialogue and her mind seem stuck on repeat. Everything is said multiple times for no apparent reason. The book could be cut in half with the removal of all the repeated phrases and discussions. I honestly began skimming pretty early on because it became boring to reread the same stuff over and over again.
If you want a damsel in distress story with a little magic, lots of guilt and self loathing, and Stockholm syndrome, this is for you. If you want a warrior and some personality, I suggest you skip.
November 10, 2021
Absolutely excellent!! I'm immediately staying the next book after this one took up all my time when I could squeeze in a few pages, and all my thoughts in the moments I couldn't read! 😊
Recommended: yes!
For people with time because you won't want to stop reading, for a fascinating and creative world of magic, for a blend of modern with magic, for a new-life kind of story, for action and emotional conflict
Thoughts:
This book STARTS after an assassination attempt, which is what most stories would dramatically culminate with. So be assured that what follows is indeed even more epic than that, and continues through the series.
I was so hopeful that I would enjoy this, and I did even more than I expected. It was the kind of book where I squeezed in a few more pages as I was brushing my teeth, or falling asleep in bed, or right before I had to start work for the day. Any free moment, I was reading it, and any non-free moment, I was thinking about it. Read this in a day or two (would've been one session if it were the weekend!).
My biggest draw is the magic. It's set in modern day, with Fiona a regular adult who happened to learn magic is talk and pivot her life into it. The different branches of magic are almost elemental, but without being so cut and dry. Water and Fire, sure those clans are pretty clear. But smoke? Meteor? Wild? Verdant? I can't wait to learn more about them!
Fiona admittedly spends a LOT of this book depressed and ready to die or otherwise give up trying. And yet it never felt whiny. She kept trying, and kept getting beat back down, and yet kept trying. Her musings made me shed a few tears because of how much I empathized with her. So I love her as a character, 100%. I found it really easy to root for her.
If you're wondering if this is enemies to lovers, don't expect that. There are shades of it as they start understanding their new relationship, evolving from assasin & target, to captor and slave, to who knows what. Ultimately it's about Fiona's impending punishment and her growth and learning of those around her.
Thanks to Booksirens and Ella M Lee for a free copy! This is my honestly delighted review.
Recommended: yes!
For people with time because you won't want to stop reading, for a fascinating and creative world of magic, for a blend of modern with magic, for a new-life kind of story, for action and emotional conflict
Thoughts:
This book STARTS after an assassination attempt, which is what most stories would dramatically culminate with. So be assured that what follows is indeed even more epic than that, and continues through the series.
I was so hopeful that I would enjoy this, and I did even more than I expected. It was the kind of book where I squeezed in a few more pages as I was brushing my teeth, or falling asleep in bed, or right before I had to start work for the day. Any free moment, I was reading it, and any non-free moment, I was thinking about it. Read this in a day or two (would've been one session if it were the weekend!).
My biggest draw is the magic. It's set in modern day, with Fiona a regular adult who happened to learn magic is talk and pivot her life into it. The different branches of magic are almost elemental, but without being so cut and dry. Water and Fire, sure those clans are pretty clear. But smoke? Meteor? Wild? Verdant? I can't wait to learn more about them!
Fiona admittedly spends a LOT of this book depressed and ready to die or otherwise give up trying. And yet it never felt whiny. She kept trying, and kept getting beat back down, and yet kept trying. Her musings made me shed a few tears because of how much I empathized with her. So I love her as a character, 100%. I found it really easy to root for her.
If you're wondering if this is enemies to lovers, don't expect that. There are shades of it as they start understanding their new relationship, evolving from assasin & target, to captor and slave, to who knows what. Ultimately it's about Fiona's impending punishment and her growth and learning of those around her.
Thanks to Booksirens and Ella M Lee for a free copy! This is my honestly delighted review.
January 4, 2022
I received a copy of this book from Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR: This book had potential and the worldbuilding showed promise, but the writing was juvenile, the characters were inconsistent, and the plot and pacing were disappointing. This should be marketed as a YA slow-burn romance (think Twilight, where the whole "vampire" thing is secondary to the love story) and not as a fantasy novel about warring magic clans.
Fire Within had a lot of potential. The worldbuilding was good, and the magic system was well-described and a little different from some other things I've seen. The first two chapters were exciting and got me hooked.
And then the next 23 chapters fell flat. It didn't get exciting again until the last 3 chapters.
The main character, Fiona, is inconsistent. In the first two chapters, she's clever, capable, and fierce. Even when captured, and when all hope seems lost, she refuses to give up and uses her extensive magic and combat training to try to save her own life. When we're introduced to her backstory much later in the book, we're shown that she's motivated, fierce, and persistent. But very little of the behavior we see from her in the time covered in this book (about a week) is reflective of that. She spends most of her time crying, shivering, puking, and sleeping. She needs one of the men in the story to hold her hand or have their arm around her for her to do ANYTHING.
Despite her being essentially a prisoner of war, she acts like an entitled brat. Examples:
1. At the end of chapter 6, she mouths off to Nicolas's lieutenant, just a day or two after she killed his friend, and he hits her. In the opening of chapter 7, she yells at Nicolas, her captor and another friend of the man she killed, for letting him hit her.
2. In chapter 21, she mouths off to another commander within the clan while she's supposed to be pretending to be Nicolas's slave. Nicolas told her plainly the part she needed to play and what would happen if she didn't. So when she mouthed off, he hit her. Later she screams at him and has a complete meltdown over how that action shattered all the fragile trust she'd managed to extend to him, even though she knew exactly what would happen and why, and she was the one who broke the rules.
Nicolas wasn't exactly a realistic character, either. The whole book just felt like a love letter to this too-perfect man; unbelievably powerful, wealthy, handsome, charming, and kind. He treats Fiona with a ridiculous amount of kindness and gentleness after she tried to kill him, going so far as to torture his own friend for hitting her when she mouthed off to him. He does nothing but dote on her, literally begging her not to fear him, worrying over whether she's eating and sleeping enough, and buying her anything he thinks will make her comfortable.
Even with Nicolas behaving this way, Fiona spends 23 chapters terrified for her life and going back and forth on whether she thinks he's going to kill her or not. My theory is the author needed SOME sort of conflict to fill these chapters, since nothing else was really happening.
I have more I could say about the characters, but I want to move onto the plot.
****SPOILER ALERT****In the beginning of the book, we learn that Fiona's clan has betrayed her. I was shocked when I read that and excited to read about the surely scandalous plot within her clan that basically sent her on a suicide mission and then took away her magic so she couldn't possibly save herself. But the book barely mentions it again. Fiona doesn't even struggle internally with it, which is irritating because she struggled internally with insignificant things for the entire book. Too much of this book was just Fiona up in her own head, and no action.
****END OF SPOILERS****
Beyond that, the writing style was a bit juvenile. It was okay, probably fine for middle grade and maybe even young adult, but as an adult reader, I took issue with several things.
1. Excessive adverbs weighing down the story.
2. Rather than immersive descriptions, the author relies too much on phrases like "his tone was professional," "his expression was playful," and "I felt awkward."
3. Rather than showing us what characters are thinking or how they're feeling, the author uses Fiona to tell us. "His look was clearly a silent command," "I could see how well they got along together," "It was obvious they'd worked together a long time."
4. The author relies too much on the same descriptions and gestures throughout the book. I noticed her characters were often annoyed, and a quick ctrl + f in my PDF told me some version of that word was used 46 times in 208 pages. The characters "studied" each other, or objects, about a hundred times in those 208 pages. There was so little variety that it felt tedious.
5. The book is from first-person POV, but does some head-hopping. Fiona knows things she couldn't possibly know just from observations she's made, and "I could tell by their tone" and "His expression told me..." are used to cover this up.
Overall, I was disappointed. I really wanted to like this book, and I really was excited by the first two chapters, but the rest was tough to get through. I know this is the first in a series, and it might get better, but I doubt I'll ever know.
TL;DR: This book had potential and the worldbuilding showed promise, but the writing was juvenile, the characters were inconsistent, and the plot and pacing were disappointing. This should be marketed as a YA slow-burn romance (think Twilight, where the whole "vampire" thing is secondary to the love story) and not as a fantasy novel about warring magic clans.
Fire Within had a lot of potential. The worldbuilding was good, and the magic system was well-described and a little different from some other things I've seen. The first two chapters were exciting and got me hooked.
And then the next 23 chapters fell flat. It didn't get exciting again until the last 3 chapters.
The main character, Fiona, is inconsistent. In the first two chapters, she's clever, capable, and fierce. Even when captured, and when all hope seems lost, she refuses to give up and uses her extensive magic and combat training to try to save her own life. When we're introduced to her backstory much later in the book, we're shown that she's motivated, fierce, and persistent. But very little of the behavior we see from her in the time covered in this book (about a week) is reflective of that. She spends most of her time crying, shivering, puking, and sleeping. She needs one of the men in the story to hold her hand or have their arm around her for her to do ANYTHING.
Despite her being essentially a prisoner of war, she acts like an entitled brat. Examples:
1. At the end of chapter 6, she mouths off to Nicolas's lieutenant, just a day or two after she killed his friend, and he hits her. In the opening of chapter 7, she yells at Nicolas, her captor and another friend of the man she killed, for letting him hit her.
2. In chapter 21, she mouths off to another commander within the clan while she's supposed to be pretending to be Nicolas's slave. Nicolas told her plainly the part she needed to play and what would happen if she didn't. So when she mouthed off, he hit her. Later she screams at him and has a complete meltdown over how that action shattered all the fragile trust she'd managed to extend to him, even though she knew exactly what would happen and why, and she was the one who broke the rules.
Nicolas wasn't exactly a realistic character, either. The whole book just felt like a love letter to this too-perfect man; unbelievably powerful, wealthy, handsome, charming, and kind. He treats Fiona with a ridiculous amount of kindness and gentleness after she tried to kill him, going so far as to torture his own friend for hitting her when she mouthed off to him. He does nothing but dote on her, literally begging her not to fear him, worrying over whether she's eating and sleeping enough, and buying her anything he thinks will make her comfortable.
Even with Nicolas behaving this way, Fiona spends 23 chapters terrified for her life and going back and forth on whether she thinks he's going to kill her or not. My theory is the author needed SOME sort of conflict to fill these chapters, since nothing else was really happening.
I have more I could say about the characters, but I want to move onto the plot.
****SPOILER ALERT****In the beginning of the book, we learn that Fiona's clan has betrayed her. I was shocked when I read that and excited to read about the surely scandalous plot within her clan that basically sent her on a suicide mission and then took away her magic so she couldn't possibly save herself. But the book barely mentions it again. Fiona doesn't even struggle internally with it, which is irritating because she struggled internally with insignificant things for the entire book. Too much of this book was just Fiona up in her own head, and no action.
****END OF SPOILERS****
Beyond that, the writing style was a bit juvenile. It was okay, probably fine for middle grade and maybe even young adult, but as an adult reader, I took issue with several things.
1. Excessive adverbs weighing down the story.
2. Rather than immersive descriptions, the author relies too much on phrases like "his tone was professional," "his expression was playful," and "I felt awkward."
3. Rather than showing us what characters are thinking or how they're feeling, the author uses Fiona to tell us. "His look was clearly a silent command," "I could see how well they got along together," "It was obvious they'd worked together a long time."
4. The author relies too much on the same descriptions and gestures throughout the book. I noticed her characters were often annoyed, and a quick ctrl + f in my PDF told me some version of that word was used 46 times in 208 pages. The characters "studied" each other, or objects, about a hundred times in those 208 pages. There was so little variety that it felt tedious.
5. The book is from first-person POV, but does some head-hopping. Fiona knows things she couldn't possibly know just from observations she's made, and "I could tell by their tone" and "His expression told me..." are used to cover this up.
Overall, I was disappointed. I really wanted to like this book, and I really was excited by the first two chapters, but the rest was tough to get through. I know this is the first in a series, and it might get better, but I doubt I'll ever know.
December 1, 2020
Potential
I liked the style of writing.
But it was quite repetitive at times. The main character was also pretty weak, in my opinion. Sure, they called her brave and she overcame obstacles, but, man, did she ever need encouragement and some crazy hand holding to do anything.
The book seemed like it could've taken place over a longer span of time, instead of the week it did.
A decent amount happened during that time but some of the time it didn't feel like it was much at all.
It was an interesting idea. The execution was interesting, although I do feel like it could've been slightly better, but I think that's really just because I didn't like the main character.
Pretty quick read.
I liked the style of writing.
But it was quite repetitive at times. The main character was also pretty weak, in my opinion. Sure, they called her brave and she overcame obstacles, but, man, did she ever need encouragement and some crazy hand holding to do anything.
The book seemed like it could've taken place over a longer span of time, instead of the week it did.
A decent amount happened during that time but some of the time it didn't feel like it was much at all.
It was an interesting idea. The execution was interesting, although I do feel like it could've been slightly better, but I think that's really just because I didn't like the main character.
Pretty quick read.
June 6, 2022
Ugh
I started skimming by the 20% mark. This book didn’t hold my interest at all. I didn’t feel like there was a plot. Also, the main character seems to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She was the captive of a multilingual, shapeshifting, mind reading, powerful magician who told her to do exactly what he said or else. She stepped out of line one time, and he hit her so hard she started bleeding heavily. He then told her that she should be grateful he merely hit her instead of killing her or letting another person kill her. And she’s attracted to this guy. The book was mostly just her learning more about this guy. I did not like the book.
I started skimming by the 20% mark. This book didn’t hold my interest at all. I didn’t feel like there was a plot. Also, the main character seems to be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. She was the captive of a multilingual, shapeshifting, mind reading, powerful magician who told her to do exactly what he said or else. She stepped out of line one time, and he hit her so hard she started bleeding heavily. He then told her that she should be grateful he merely hit her instead of killing her or letting another person kill her. And she’s attracted to this guy. The book was mostly just her learning more about this guy. I did not like the book.
August 29, 2020
For more reviews head to my blog, Chantel Speaks
“Your heartbeat calls to me like lightning calls to distant thunder”
Being a skeptic of finding well-written Urban Fantasy, I'm a complete sucker when I find a good one. I naively started reading Fire Within not realising how engrossed I’d become. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong, Fire Within is an Urban Fantasy involving warring magicians and clans living amongst us. It is a somewhat intriguing and action-packed read.
Flame magician Fiona Ember is sitting in a prison cell after a failed assassination attempt on Water Clan Commander, Nicolas Demerais. Her Flame clanmates are dead, and she is waiting for her own inevitable execution. Nicolas is an enigmatic Water leader who sees visions of the future, he sees a possibility in Fiona’s if she lives. She’s given a choice - join Water or die.
She slips into an uneasy truce with Nicolas as he introduces her to her possible new life, where she’ll need to earn the trust of those around her. Fighting always between life and death, Fiona needs to measure whether or not what Nicolas is offering her is real, or if he’s just playing with a Flame prisoner before her inevitable execution. Leaning into this unsteady trust and going more deeply into the world of Water, Fiona begins to see the possibilities ahead of her.
“Magic was a drug. It caused pain, but it also eased it. It brought darkness but also light. It destroyed, but it also created. Heartache was the price, but no one minded paying it for the power they received in return”
Fire Within hooked me almost from the get-go. The magical system is intriguing especially as the reader comes to understand the unique experience of each clan magic. Knowing the volatile nature of Flame, I was curious about how Fiona would react to Water. I had suspicions early about what would happen here, and was eager to see her magic unfold.
Lee deals with the pacing and the build-up between all the characters well, not going too fast nor too slow. I really appreciated this, as I’m not the biggest fan of insta-love. The pace is well suited to what Fiona is dealing with, and the plot itself. This book is the first part to a series, and it gives you just enough to delve into the world more deeply in subsequent sequels.
What I really liked was how Fire Within dealt with the individual backstories of a lot of the main characters. There is an idea of rebuilding after trauma here, of picking up where you are and finding a new family and a new life. There is also an assurance that you’re allowed to do that, that you just need to be vulnerable enough take those first steps. We see Fiona hesitantly taking those first few steps throughout the book, and as a reader I loved seeing that unfold.
This is a solid first part to a series, especially if you’re a Fantasy reader who’s not looking for too heavy a read. I’m looking to pick up the sequel soon and can’t wait to see where Fiona goes next.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
“Your heartbeat calls to me like lightning calls to distant thunder”
Being a skeptic of finding well-written Urban Fantasy, I'm a complete sucker when I find a good one. I naively started reading Fire Within not realising how engrossed I’d become. Set against the backdrop of Hong Kong, Fire Within is an Urban Fantasy involving warring magicians and clans living amongst us. It is a somewhat intriguing and action-packed read.
Flame magician Fiona Ember is sitting in a prison cell after a failed assassination attempt on Water Clan Commander, Nicolas Demerais. Her Flame clanmates are dead, and she is waiting for her own inevitable execution. Nicolas is an enigmatic Water leader who sees visions of the future, he sees a possibility in Fiona’s if she lives. She’s given a choice - join Water or die.
She slips into an uneasy truce with Nicolas as he introduces her to her possible new life, where she’ll need to earn the trust of those around her. Fighting always between life and death, Fiona needs to measure whether or not what Nicolas is offering her is real, or if he’s just playing with a Flame prisoner before her inevitable execution. Leaning into this unsteady trust and going more deeply into the world of Water, Fiona begins to see the possibilities ahead of her.
“Magic was a drug. It caused pain, but it also eased it. It brought darkness but also light. It destroyed, but it also created. Heartache was the price, but no one minded paying it for the power they received in return”
Fire Within hooked me almost from the get-go. The magical system is intriguing especially as the reader comes to understand the unique experience of each clan magic. Knowing the volatile nature of Flame, I was curious about how Fiona would react to Water. I had suspicions early about what would happen here, and was eager to see her magic unfold.
Lee deals with the pacing and the build-up between all the characters well, not going too fast nor too slow. I really appreciated this, as I’m not the biggest fan of insta-love. The pace is well suited to what Fiona is dealing with, and the plot itself. This book is the first part to a series, and it gives you just enough to delve into the world more deeply in subsequent sequels.
What I really liked was how Fire Within dealt with the individual backstories of a lot of the main characters. There is an idea of rebuilding after trauma here, of picking up where you are and finding a new family and a new life. There is also an assurance that you’re allowed to do that, that you just need to be vulnerable enough take those first steps. We see Fiona hesitantly taking those first few steps throughout the book, and as a reader I loved seeing that unfold.
This is a solid first part to a series, especially if you’re a Fantasy reader who’s not looking for too heavy a read. I’m looking to pick up the sequel soon and can’t wait to see where Fiona goes next.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2020
Firstly, I would like to thank BookSirens for the free copy of this book for my honest review.
I am not an emotional person. I have never been. In truth, I find I only truly understand such things when I read, and occasionally through film.
This book made me emotional, or rather I reacted to the emotions of Fiona. She is a character with very strong emotions, very strong views and opinions and worries and I found that her anxieties resonated somehow with me. It is not altogether that often that I find myself moved to such a degree as I was with Fire Within.
It was written in such a way that it is an emotional journey. It is a harrowing rollercoaster of emotions that you must partake in as Fiona comes to terms with her situation with the man she was sent to assassinate and what the future holds for her.
Though most would consider this book fairly uneventful, there is quite a bit of action to be had in it, even if the primary focus is character driven rather than action oriented. All of the characters that you are introduced to in the course of this story feel very real - which isn't always the easiest thing to do when writing a fantasy story. They are all extraordinary, some more than others, but even in the face of that Fiona is exceptional.
The interspersed smattering of languages here and there throughout the book were never imposing or uncomfortable. Casual Cantonese, though not usually something familiar to the average English-speaking reader, was presented in such away that it was fairly easy to understand the words that were conveyed - at least in intention, if not always in direct meaning. This is done with any of the other languages that are presented - though primarily the two that come up most are Cantonese and French. There have been novels in the past that shove alternate language terms down the reader's throat and expect them to understand or get a dictionary and look up the words themselves, and those were never stories I enjoyed. While, yes, it might be a bit of hand holding to explain every non-English word; it is also the job of the author to convey their story in such a way that it is accessible to the reader. Fire Within does an excellent job of showcasing that a novel can have other languages presented in it and not be like slogging through a language lesson just to understand context or what is happening in the story.
I wasn't sure what to think of this book when I first picked it to read. I thought the synopsis seemed interesting enough, but I was pleasantly surprised by the writing. I think that it was the emotional portrayal that Fiona put forth that drew me in, so much so that I read this book straight through in one sitting.
If you enjoy dramatic stories, or stories that are more character driven, I urge you to give Fire Within a chance. You may just be pleasantly surprised, too.
I am not an emotional person. I have never been. In truth, I find I only truly understand such things when I read, and occasionally through film.
This book made me emotional, or rather I reacted to the emotions of Fiona. She is a character with very strong emotions, very strong views and opinions and worries and I found that her anxieties resonated somehow with me. It is not altogether that often that I find myself moved to such a degree as I was with Fire Within.
It was written in such a way that it is an emotional journey. It is a harrowing rollercoaster of emotions that you must partake in as Fiona comes to terms with her situation with the man she was sent to assassinate and what the future holds for her.
Though most would consider this book fairly uneventful, there is quite a bit of action to be had in it, even if the primary focus is character driven rather than action oriented. All of the characters that you are introduced to in the course of this story feel very real - which isn't always the easiest thing to do when writing a fantasy story. They are all extraordinary, some more than others, but even in the face of that Fiona is exceptional.
The interspersed smattering of languages here and there throughout the book were never imposing or uncomfortable. Casual Cantonese, though not usually something familiar to the average English-speaking reader, was presented in such away that it was fairly easy to understand the words that were conveyed - at least in intention, if not always in direct meaning. This is done with any of the other languages that are presented - though primarily the two that come up most are Cantonese and French. There have been novels in the past that shove alternate language terms down the reader's throat and expect them to understand or get a dictionary and look up the words themselves, and those were never stories I enjoyed. While, yes, it might be a bit of hand holding to explain every non-English word; it is also the job of the author to convey their story in such a way that it is accessible to the reader. Fire Within does an excellent job of showcasing that a novel can have other languages presented in it and not be like slogging through a language lesson just to understand context or what is happening in the story.
I wasn't sure what to think of this book when I first picked it to read. I thought the synopsis seemed interesting enough, but I was pleasantly surprised by the writing. I think that it was the emotional portrayal that Fiona put forth that drew me in, so much so that I read this book straight through in one sitting.
If you enjoy dramatic stories, or stories that are more character driven, I urge you to give Fire Within a chance. You may just be pleasantly surprised, too.
September 23, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It doesn’t bode good for Fiona as a Fire clan when she is captured by the Water clan. And how ironic it is, two opposite elementals in magic. In this story I follow Fiona’s journey trying to figure out who Nicolas is. She is his slave now, and if she doesn’t do what she is told, her journey would end right there. As the days goes on as captive, she is trying to figure out who he is. Will she still be alive at the end of this week?
There is so much feeling poured into this epic tale that I had to shed some few tears. It is an emotionally journey with lots of surprises even if the story mostly focusses of what is going on in the apartment of Nicolas. It is a tale of courage, friendships, hardships and a life through trial and error. It is an open story with an open ending, where anything can happen if you set your mind to it. There is sometimes an underlying playfulness and tenderness shown by some of the men she encounters as the members of Nicolas’s group.
As where it all takes place, Hong Kong, it is one of my favorite places, so that is why enjoyed this so much. Also, the world building between the magical clans is a pleasure to read, with the clans having their own distinctiveness. Even more impressing is the mix between the magical world and the outside modern, but non magical world. We all need some magic in our world and this tale gives an opportunity to give all that.
It was such an emotional rollercoaster with enough action, that I couldn’t put down the book. It is absolutely a must read and I will look forward to continuing the story between Fiona and Nicolas.
It doesn’t bode good for Fiona as a Fire clan when she is captured by the Water clan. And how ironic it is, two opposite elementals in magic. In this story I follow Fiona’s journey trying to figure out who Nicolas is. She is his slave now, and if she doesn’t do what she is told, her journey would end right there. As the days goes on as captive, she is trying to figure out who he is. Will she still be alive at the end of this week?
There is so much feeling poured into this epic tale that I had to shed some few tears. It is an emotionally journey with lots of surprises even if the story mostly focusses of what is going on in the apartment of Nicolas. It is a tale of courage, friendships, hardships and a life through trial and error. It is an open story with an open ending, where anything can happen if you set your mind to it. There is sometimes an underlying playfulness and tenderness shown by some of the men she encounters as the members of Nicolas’s group.
As where it all takes place, Hong Kong, it is one of my favorite places, so that is why enjoyed this so much. Also, the world building between the magical clans is a pleasure to read, with the clans having their own distinctiveness. Even more impressing is the mix between the magical world and the outside modern, but non magical world. We all need some magic in our world and this tale gives an opportunity to give all that.
It was such an emotional rollercoaster with enough action, that I couldn’t put down the book. It is absolutely a must read and I will look forward to continuing the story between Fiona and Nicolas.
September 10, 2021
Series Review Books 1-3:
The Fire Within series was an unexpected delight from a new author and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban or traditional fantasy. Stick with it past the first novel to see the story flourish.
In the first novel the author is finding her literary legs and the story moves more slowly than in later books. I enjoyed how Fiona’s grief was realistic, it popped up at random times whenever she was reminded of a loved one she had lost. I also liked that she wasn’t immediately plucky, I feel like most people in that situation would be understandably terrified.
The second and third novels move faster than the first, with all of our loved and established characters revealing new aspects of themselves and their personalities. Like most other reviewers here, Daniel is my favourite character. The way he and Fiona interact throughout the novels humanises all of the other characters.
Overall what I disliked
· Fiona did spend a lot of time crying and reacting strongly to situations that I didn’t feel warranted it. I understand that this emotion grounded her character and gave you a lens through which to view others, but I thought this could have been done with less crying.
· Some of the family dynamics that are part of books 2 and 3 felt a little forced to me.
Overall what I liked
· All of the novels were engaging and enjoyable to read. Even when the story was progressing slowly I wanted to know what happened to the characters. This is very much a character driven narrative.
· I enjoyed that not everything was easy and the characters had to struggle as regular people with some situations. Power does not fix personality flaws or insecurities, and sometimes being powerful makes things more complicated.
The Fire Within series was an unexpected delight from a new author and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys urban or traditional fantasy. Stick with it past the first novel to see the story flourish.
In the first novel the author is finding her literary legs and the story moves more slowly than in later books. I enjoyed how Fiona’s grief was realistic, it popped up at random times whenever she was reminded of a loved one she had lost. I also liked that she wasn’t immediately plucky, I feel like most people in that situation would be understandably terrified.
The second and third novels move faster than the first, with all of our loved and established characters revealing new aspects of themselves and their personalities. Like most other reviewers here, Daniel is my favourite character. The way he and Fiona interact throughout the novels humanises all of the other characters.
Overall what I disliked
· Fiona did spend a lot of time crying and reacting strongly to situations that I didn’t feel warranted it. I understand that this emotion grounded her character and gave you a lens through which to view others, but I thought this could have been done with less crying.
· Some of the family dynamics that are part of books 2 and 3 felt a little forced to me.
Overall what I liked
· All of the novels were engaging and enjoyable to read. Even when the story was progressing slowly I wanted to know what happened to the characters. This is very much a character driven narrative.
· I enjoyed that not everything was easy and the characters had to struggle as regular people with some situations. Power does not fix personality flaws or insecurities, and sometimes being powerful makes things more complicated.
July 15, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really, genuinely enjoyed this book! I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately, on the hunt for unique and awesome magic systems, and this one definitely hits that mark. The plot itself feels very political fantasy, the clan system interweaving throughout, and it's something I find myself more and more intrigued by as time goes on, wanting more out of it. That said, this book definitely feels like it's more setup than an actual overarching story yet; however, being the first book of four, I can somewhat understand it.
The characters, aside from one, are awesome too! I like Nicolas and Daniel a lot, Daniel more so, and I want to learn more about the rest of the characters in the group. The character I didn't particularly enjoy, unfortunately, is Fiona. I spent most of the book just being confused by her reactions; and being the main character and the voice of the book, that's why it loses a star for me. I'm generally pretty interested in the type of protagonist who can fight for herself and has a lot of energy, but acting the way she does for her age seems a little... Childish sometimes. She comes across younger than she is, I would've guessed 23-25 rather than almost 30, and it shows.
I can 100% get past that, and did very much enjoy myself here, but I found myself wanting more out of here. Here's to the next one getting some character growth!
I really, genuinely enjoyed this book! I've been reading a lot of fantasy lately, on the hunt for unique and awesome magic systems, and this one definitely hits that mark. The plot itself feels very political fantasy, the clan system interweaving throughout, and it's something I find myself more and more intrigued by as time goes on, wanting more out of it. That said, this book definitely feels like it's more setup than an actual overarching story yet; however, being the first book of four, I can somewhat understand it.
The characters, aside from one, are awesome too! I like Nicolas and Daniel a lot, Daniel more so, and I want to learn more about the rest of the characters in the group. The character I didn't particularly enjoy, unfortunately, is Fiona. I spent most of the book just being confused by her reactions; and being the main character and the voice of the book, that's why it loses a star for me. I'm generally pretty interested in the type of protagonist who can fight for herself and has a lot of energy, but acting the way she does for her age seems a little... Childish sometimes. She comes across younger than she is, I would've guessed 23-25 rather than almost 30, and it shows.
I can 100% get past that, and did very much enjoy myself here, but I found myself wanting more out of here. Here's to the next one getting some character growth!
July 2, 2020
I loved that this book was so unique. I have so many good things to say about it:
We are immediately thrown in to the middle of the action with our main character and dealing with the aftermath. Everyone Fiona knows is dead and she is likely next; she acted appropriately freaked out and traumatized, which was not quickly overcome, her responses seemed normal and relatable. 1 chapter in, I was enthralled. All 3 of the main characters seem like full, well rounded people.
This is really a character driven plot, with action as bookends to the story. I'm shipping that there was a slow burn romance in this book. I am invested in the romance plot, it is the hill I will die on, and if it doesn't happen in book 2, I will read until book 20 or start writing fan fiction if I have to.
The magic world makes sense, it is simple to follow, and I am not left with any major world building questions.
Bad things:
I have to wait for book 2
I know it's not a priority when you think you're going to be killed, and I'm sure someone else is feeding her, but can we go pick up her cat?
Warning: Slavery is a main plot point in this novel, there are no scenes of aggressive violence related to the slavery.
I received a complimentary advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
We are immediately thrown in to the middle of the action with our main character and dealing with the aftermath. Everyone Fiona knows is dead and she is likely next; she acted appropriately freaked out and traumatized, which was not quickly overcome, her responses seemed normal and relatable. 1 chapter in, I was enthralled. All 3 of the main characters seem like full, well rounded people.
This is really a character driven plot, with action as bookends to the story. I'm shipping that there was a slow burn romance in this book. I am invested in the romance plot, it is the hill I will die on, and if it doesn't happen in book 2, I will read until book 20 or start writing fan fiction if I have to.
The magic world makes sense, it is simple to follow, and I am not left with any major world building questions.
Bad things:
I have to wait for book 2
I know it's not a priority when you think you're going to be killed, and I'm sure someone else is feeding her, but can we go pick up her cat?
Warning: Slavery is a main plot point in this novel, there are no scenes of aggressive violence related to the slavery.
I received a complimentary advanced review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 6, 2020
I read the Fire Within recently. It was excellent. A solid 4.5 stars. It took me a while to really commit myself to the book. For some reason I just couldn’t get past the first couple of pages. Finally, I sat down, and made myself get through the first few pages.
Boy, was I glad I did. This book was superb. It had romance, magic, and interesting main characters (although the female mc was a little repetitive. She seemed so weak in comparison to Nic.) Fire within had tension (both romantic and platonic) , subterfuge, political mysteries, magical mysteries, and and exciting plot.
Seriously though, this book had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would come next. It is a must read, a can’t miss book.
My favorite character was definitely Dan, a sort of supporting character. That guy stole my heart, with his pretty easy-going personality, and how he grew to really care about Fi, and help her even though she had wronged him and his group. Every time his name showed up on the page, I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do next (plus who doesn’t love a guy that cooks for enjoyment, and cooks well.)
Read it!!!!! I know I am so thrilled to have given this book a chance to steal my heart.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Boy, was I glad I did. This book was superb. It had romance, magic, and interesting main characters (although the female mc was a little repetitive. She seemed so weak in comparison to Nic.) Fire within had tension (both romantic and platonic) , subterfuge, political mysteries, magical mysteries, and and exciting plot.
Seriously though, this book had me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would come next. It is a must read, a can’t miss book.
My favorite character was definitely Dan, a sort of supporting character. That guy stole my heart, with his pretty easy-going personality, and how he grew to really care about Fi, and help her even though she had wronged him and his group. Every time his name showed up on the page, I couldn’t wait to see what he was going to do next (plus who doesn’t love a guy that cooks for enjoyment, and cooks well.)
Read it!!!!! I know I am so thrilled to have given this book a chance to steal my heart.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 23, 2020
***MAJOR SPOILER FREE***
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am happy to say that I can give Fire Within a solid 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because the story, writing, and setting were great. I quite liked the main character, Fiona. She felt very real, with real emotions. She thought about everything, and was careful with her actions, but she was no perfect Mary Sue.
The male main character/love interest (I won't spoil it and give out his name) is mysterious and aloof, but he and Fiona have a lot of chemistry. I was a little dissappointed that the book didn't advance the romance very much, but I can see it going somewhere in book two. There's a spark there and some hints of it, but this book was mostly focused on Fiona's path into the Water Clan and whether she'll be able to succeed with that or not.
The first part is a bit of a slow burn, but it's full of engaging dialogue that keeps you interested. The rest has developments with new characters, intrigue, and some action at the end. It never felt boring, and the characters are what kept me interested.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am happy to say that I can give Fire Within a solid 4.5 stars, but I'm rounding up because the story, writing, and setting were great. I quite liked the main character, Fiona. She felt very real, with real emotions. She thought about everything, and was careful with her actions, but she was no perfect Mary Sue.
The male main character/love interest (I won't spoil it and give out his name) is mysterious and aloof, but he and Fiona have a lot of chemistry. I was a little dissappointed that the book didn't advance the romance very much, but I can see it going somewhere in book two. There's a spark there and some hints of it, but this book was mostly focused on Fiona's path into the Water Clan and whether she'll be able to succeed with that or not.
The first part is a bit of a slow burn, but it's full of engaging dialogue that keeps you interested. The rest has developments with new characters, intrigue, and some action at the end. It never felt boring, and the characters are what kept me interested.
July 4, 2020
Overall, I liked this story. However, I have to say, it is a SLOOOWWWW start. I’m quite big on character development, but in this book, that’s almost all that happens. We start after a big battle, and the first 80% (no, I’m not exaggerating; my kindle app told me) of the book was the main character deciding if she was going to be ok. Then, some good action. I’m hoping the next book (because there HAS to be the rest of the story now!) is all action and story progression!
BUT...the world building is clever (although no explanation of why non-magical people are unaware they of all of this going on around them), the characters are interesting and have potential, and I’d like to see where this goes. So I will read the second book, although I would have preferred that 80% to be more like 50%, so that the action was at least the last half of the book. I admit to getting a bit tired of the main character’s self pity!
I received an advanced review copy For free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
BUT...the world building is clever (although no explanation of why non-magical people are unaware they of all of this going on around them), the characters are interesting and have potential, and I’d like to see where this goes. So I will read the second book, although I would have preferred that 80% to be more like 50%, so that the action was at least the last half of the book. I admit to getting a bit tired of the main character’s self pity!
I received an advanced review copy For free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2021
I discovered this author on Reddit and had to give it a shot. I liked the novel but didn't love it.
If you want a character-focused, well-written novel about a woman (Fiona) being acclimated in an opposing group (Water clan), put this one on your list. If you're looking for a plot-driven novel with a strong magic system and plenty of magic throughout, you may want to skip this unless you're willing to commit to the trilogy.
What I liked most about this book was the interactions between the characters and just how well the author crafted an easily to follow prose. I didn't find myself getting lost and having to reread.
The main characters, Fiona, Nicolas, and Daniel all had great dialogue throughout though they were a bit one-dimensional.
The primary problem to the story for me was I had no idea where it was going. There was a lack of foreshadowing so you're just reading along hoping something happens to reveal the whole point of the story. The ending felt rushed compared to the exposition in the rest of the story.
If you want a character-focused, well-written novel about a woman (Fiona) being acclimated in an opposing group (Water clan), put this one on your list. If you're looking for a plot-driven novel with a strong magic system and plenty of magic throughout, you may want to skip this unless you're willing to commit to the trilogy.
What I liked most about this book was the interactions between the characters and just how well the author crafted an easily to follow prose. I didn't find myself getting lost and having to reread.
The main characters, Fiona, Nicolas, and Daniel all had great dialogue throughout though they were a bit one-dimensional.
The primary problem to the story for me was I had no idea where it was going. There was a lack of foreshadowing so you're just reading along hoping something happens to reveal the whole point of the story. The ending felt rushed compared to the exposition in the rest of the story.
July 21, 2020
I received this book for an honest review. Well this book started out with a bang! It starts with a botched assassination attempt with only one surviving member of the four person kill team. The survivor - Fiona is a magician with the Flame Clan in a world where magic is something you have to work for. Fiona is taken hostage to the rival Water Clan by the person she was sent to assassinate. Fiona goes through her mourning of her fallen team mates with fear in her heart. Will she be executed out right or will she be tortured first? She finds she has been abandoned by her Clan. This devastates Fiona. She is completely broken by this. But there is hope. Perhaps. She is given an out. If she cooperates..... Fiona continues to live in fear but starts to wonder if maybe...... This was a fantastic read and a real page turner. I enjoyed this book from start to finish and I am very much looking forward to the next book.
November 16, 2021
This book was confusing to me. I really liked the premise and plot, and most of the characters, BUT the pacing left me… unsatisfied.
The main character was weak. She has powerful detection skills, but can’t read a person’s intent to save her life. Most of the book is her on the floor in a terrified dazed or throwing up and lying on the bathroom floor. The author hints at “magic withdrawal “, which might explain some of it, but not really. You only get a glimpse of the MC’s backstory at the 65% mark and I feel the author guards her secrets too close, not letting us take a peak at all.
I am rating this book a 3 star, because the last 30% of the book was really good, and that being said I will be reading the second book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character was weak. She has powerful detection skills, but can’t read a person’s intent to save her life. Most of the book is her on the floor in a terrified dazed or throwing up and lying on the bathroom floor. The author hints at “magic withdrawal “, which might explain some of it, but not really. You only get a glimpse of the MC’s backstory at the 65% mark and I feel the author guards her secrets too close, not letting us take a peak at all.
I am rating this book a 3 star, because the last 30% of the book was really good, and that being said I will be reading the second book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 11, 2020
Liked:
* the magic system
* the dialogue
* the setting (setting a story in Hong Kong? I never)
* the male love interest (at least I hope he's the love interest, see below)
* that the main character has a male best friend (at least I hope so, see below)
Didn't Like:
* main character's thought process was a little dragging
* not enough romance! I was alway on edge thinking there'd be more but there wasn't
This is a series so I'm hoping there will be romance with the main male character and that the male best friend will stay a best friend and the author isn't setting up a love triangle or bait-and-switch. I want to read the next one and will probably reread this one sometime, so five stars. If you don't like slow burns, this might be a four star or three star for you.
* the magic system
* the dialogue
* the setting (setting a story in Hong Kong? I never)
* the male love interest (at least I hope he's the love interest, see below)
* that the main character has a male best friend (at least I hope so, see below)
Didn't Like:
* main character's thought process was a little dragging
* not enough romance! I was alway on edge thinking there'd be more but there wasn't
This is a series so I'm hoping there will be romance with the main male character and that the male best friend will stay a best friend and the author isn't setting up a love triangle or bait-and-switch. I want to read the next one and will probably reread this one sometime, so five stars. If you don't like slow burns, this might be a four star or three star for you.
August 28, 2023
Not only did I read the book but I listened to the audiobook. This review is on both.
I love a great story. I with a good plot, intriguing character building, some world building, and interesting relationships building. This story has all that. Although i did want to shake the FMC a few times, i understand this is part of her character building. The writing is fantastic. It pulled me in from the beginning. I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Adding the audiobook to my reading is one of my favorite things to do. It makes the movie in my head more dimensional. Brings the characters to life. And Ali does this perfectly! She has such a soft sweet voice. So easy to listen to. I could listen to her even with a migraine!! Cause I did!
I love a great story. I with a good plot, intriguing character building, some world building, and interesting relationships building. This story has all that. Although i did want to shake the FMC a few times, i understand this is part of her character building. The writing is fantastic. It pulled me in from the beginning. I can’t wait to see where she goes from here.
Adding the audiobook to my reading is one of my favorite things to do. It makes the movie in my head more dimensional. Brings the characters to life. And Ali does this perfectly! She has such a soft sweet voice. So easy to listen to. I could listen to her even with a migraine!! Cause I did!
July 1, 2020
A contemporary world where magic is common you have it in you or you gain it. However there is a flawed system slavery is common among mortals versus immortals. Also you can gain immortality by joining a magic elemental clan like a gang. However in Fiona Embers world magic is everything it helps her live a life that she likes. Until she meets other people that influence it which help her get quite interested in it.
Who can see the future the past and present when it is constantly changing every decision you make and others? Who does it effect more?
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review in exchange.
Who can see the future the past and present when it is constantly changing every decision you make and others? Who does it effect more?
I received an advanced review copy for free and I am leaving this honest review in exchange.
July 28, 2020
Pleasantly surprised.
I got this book in kindle unlimited, so my expectations were a bit low, but it was actually pretty good.
The book started with a botched assassination attempt by a series of fire magic users.
I will say that the into left me a bit excited for some nice action sequences, sadly most of those are missing. The middle of the book mainly focuses on our main characters feelings. Cool magic guru turned into mortal prisoner and her coping with that. If you are wanting action, not so much there for you. The entire book spans about a 2 week time frame, so a lot of dialogue and introspection.
I got this book in kindle unlimited, so my expectations were a bit low, but it was actually pretty good.
The book started with a botched assassination attempt by a series of fire magic users.
I will say that the into left me a bit excited for some nice action sequences, sadly most of those are missing. The middle of the book mainly focuses on our main characters feelings. Cool magic guru turned into mortal prisoner and her coping with that. If you are wanting action, not so much there for you. The entire book spans about a 2 week time frame, so a lot of dialogue and introspection.
September 5, 2020
Picked this up on Kindle Unlimited and didn't have high hopes but it surprised me. I will admit that, at first, I wasn't certain I would continue but there was just something captivating about the story. It has great magic, really consistent and unique, which always gets me interested. And the characters all had a lot of chemistry. I liked every single interaction between Fiona and Nicolas as well as her interactions with others. It was a slow burn, but it ramped up enough from about the midway point and came to a pretty action-packed ending. Some stuff came together in the story that felt satisfying to reveal.
June 11, 2021
Fire Within by Ella M Lee is a great first book in the series. Fiona ends up a captive of an enemy clan when an assassination attempt goes wrong. She is the only survivor of her team and quickly finds herself having to prove her worth to a Water clan commander in order to survive.
Fiona spent a lot of time moping and being depressed about her situation rather than being strong and fighting for her survival and I felt like she would have been more relatable had she been more feisty and stronger in herself.
I enjoyed the story and it's twists and would definitely like to continue the series to see where Fiona and Nicolas relationship goes.
Fiona spent a lot of time moping and being depressed about her situation rather than being strong and fighting for her survival and I felt like she would have been more relatable had she been more feisty and stronger in herself.
I enjoyed the story and it's twists and would definitely like to continue the series to see where Fiona and Nicolas relationship goes.
November 22, 2021
Perseverance was needed for this book. It was hard to like the female lead Fiona Ember as she was perpetually in a state of panic or in bed with a head injury. The story panning out around her and the world building were good though and once some of the mysteries were resolved it was starting to get more interesting, but that’s just when it ended.
Fiona’s relationship with Nicholas is ambiguous at best but seems like it will develop in later books.
Overall it’s a promising storyline and I might read more if the female lead develops.
I received this as an arc and am leaving this review voluntarily
Fiona’s relationship with Nicholas is ambiguous at best but seems like it will develop in later books.
Overall it’s a promising storyline and I might read more if the female lead develops.
I received this as an arc and am leaving this review voluntarily
September 18, 2020
So enthralled. I loved this first book, I was so NOT disappointed in the 2nd installment! The storyline is concise, beautifully written, and developing the world and characters with amazing finesse. I am totally enamored. At first I was a little unsure if I liked the developing relationship between Nicholas and Fiona, but it’s won me over completely. The twist at the end...didn’t see it coming at all!! Love, love, love.
I’m starting the 3rd book now and I really want to savor it, I am not patient when I’m this involved, but nope I can’t wait!! Mrs. Lee is quickly climbing my Urban Fantasy author ranks!
Thanks to Booksirens and the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I’m starting the 3rd book now and I really want to savor it, I am not patient when I’m this involved, but nope I can’t wait!! Mrs. Lee is quickly climbing my Urban Fantasy author ranks!
Thanks to Booksirens and the author for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2022
I received a copy of this novel from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to to the author Ella M Lee for the book.
Slow burn fantasy romance that had gripping opening chapters and gripping closing chapters. Lots of self-reflection in this one, but it was worth it to see a heroine who didn't immediately become the best person in the world the moment she was introduced. I'll pick up the next one because this one isn't quite a cliffhanger but it leaves off as things get interesting.
Slow burn fantasy romance that had gripping opening chapters and gripping closing chapters. Lots of self-reflection in this one, but it was worth it to see a heroine who didn't immediately become the best person in the world the moment she was introduced. I'll pick up the next one because this one isn't quite a cliffhanger but it leaves off as things get interesting.
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