What do you think?
Rate this book
Spellbinder #2
Fire Raiser
Bestseller Melanie Rawn plunges down the back stairs of the old South into a dark world of family secrets and the international flesh trade that lies underneath the surface of small town politics and romance. Holly McClure and Evan Lachlan have survived the fiery beginning of their romance and left Manhattan for Holly’s ancestral home to raise their children. Evan’s the county Sheriff; Holly is still a trouble-making Spellbinder trying to manipulate her family as if they were characters in one of her novels. But something’s not right in Pocahontas County. Churches are being burned down in mysterious arsons with a taint of magic on them. Sheriff Lachlan suspects that they have something to do with the new owners of the old Westmoreland plantation, now a very upscale Inn, but even if he could find proof, it’s going to be hard to bring a case of Black Magic before a Judge -- even in Pocahontas County, where witchcraft is the family business of all the oldest clans.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
3 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Rawn
77 books1,238 followersMelanie Rawn received a BA in history from Scripps College and worked as a teacher and editor before becoming a writer.
She has been nominated for a Locus award on three separate occasions: in 1989 for Dragon Prince (in the first novel category), in 1994 for Skybowl (in the fantasy novel category), and again in 1995 for Ruins of Ambrai (in the fantasy novel category).
She has been nominated for a Locus award on three separate occasions: in 1989 for Dragon Prince (in the first novel category), in 1994 for Skybowl (in the fantasy novel category), and again in 1995 for Ruins of Ambrai (in the fantasy novel category).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 30, 2010
Sigh. I wanted to like this book. I really did. "Spellbinder" was pretty good, though neither book compares with Rawn's Sunrunner or (STILL uncompleted) Exiles series. This book, however, was clearly a "middle book" very open-ended, heading for a trilogy.
I honestly had a problem with the constant sociopolitical screed in reference to gay rights that the book featured, in my opinion, at the expense of story. I actually agree with Rawn's politics on this issue; I'm a member of the LGBT community myself. But this book just beats you over the head with the "IT'S ALRIGHT TO BE GAY AND STILL BE A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF SOCIETY" message. Honestly, I also thought the message was just a little behind the times. The gay characters weren't struggling with societal acceptance, recognition of their relationship, or anything of that nature. Rather, the main gay character was still struggling with being gay, coming out, and even attempting a healthy relationship. This was a character who was a WITCH, and who grew up with positive gay role models. I just found it a little unrealistic for 2009, though to be fair, the action takes place in rural Virginia, which is not the most gay-friendly place.
Still, for it's relentless preachyness at the expense of story, for sketchy plot development, for unbelievable characterization, for waaayy to many "Ladyloves and Lachlans," and for continuing to ignore the 12-year-overdue finale of the Exiles trilogy, I can only give this book 2 stars.
I honestly had a problem with the constant sociopolitical screed in reference to gay rights that the book featured, in my opinion, at the expense of story. I actually agree with Rawn's politics on this issue; I'm a member of the LGBT community myself. But this book just beats you over the head with the "IT'S ALRIGHT TO BE GAY AND STILL BE A FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF SOCIETY" message. Honestly, I also thought the message was just a little behind the times. The gay characters weren't struggling with societal acceptance, recognition of their relationship, or anything of that nature. Rather, the main gay character was still struggling with being gay, coming out, and even attempting a healthy relationship. This was a character who was a WITCH, and who grew up with positive gay role models. I just found it a little unrealistic for 2009, though to be fair, the action takes place in rural Virginia, which is not the most gay-friendly place.
Still, for it's relentless preachyness at the expense of story, for sketchy plot development, for unbelievable characterization, for waaayy to many "Ladyloves and Lachlans," and for continuing to ignore the 12-year-overdue finale of the Exiles trilogy, I can only give this book 2 stars.
February 23, 2009
Read from 1/15 to 1/20. I liked the first in this series, but I found this novel to be a huge disappointment. The plot didn't really get started until more than halfway through the book, with the interim filled with tirades about gay rights and slams against the Bush administration. I am of the opinion that I shouldn't be able to tell an author's political leanings by reading their fiction. Clumsily written and badly plotted... not what I expected from Rawn.
September 1, 2012
Ostensibly, this is a mystery story about a series of church fires in Holly's hometown, which Evan, as the acting sheriff, is investigating. We are also introduced to Holly's cousin Cam, back from international travel helping other countries write their constitutions, and Jamey, the new district attorney. Coincidentally (or not so, as it happens), Cam and Jamey have a past--an unconsummated attraction from their time together at Yale. If the book had stuck to those two storylines exclusively, it would have been rated much higher. Unfortunately, entirely too much of the book was consumed with expressing decidedly liberal views on the subjects of abortion, homosexuality, bible-thumping, slavery, the military in Iraq, and about every other hot button topic you could possibly think of. Thrown in with that were long dissertations on jealousy and what does and does not define a mature romantic relationship. While I did not disagree with the majority of the more enlightened viewpoints expressed by the main characters, it's just not the kinda thing I want slammed into the middle of my urban fantasy. Proselytizing is not conducive to maintaining a rip-roaring adventure vibe, and if it was there for character building, then it could have been accomplished much more succinctly. The other problem, especially in the beginning, is that there are a number of jumps backwards and forwards in time. Some were easy to follow. Some (very few) were marked by dates, so after scratching my head a bit, flipping back and forth a few times, and finally catching on to what the dates were telling me, I was able to figure out what had happened. Some had no warning at all--not even a chapter break to warn you that she was done with her scene from 8 months ago and was now back to present time. It was really annoying. Honestly, the only reason I rated the book as high as I did is that I genuinely like Rawn's stories--I just wish I didn't have to weed through them so hard to find the really good parts.
February 9, 2010
Liked Jamey and Cam as characters go, both separately and as a couple. If Gib and Erika could have been more annoying and insufferable, I'm not sure how. Thankfully, they never resurfaced after the cocktail party. I could hope they'd taken a dip in the pool to cool down, I suppose, but they'll resurface, no doubt, in the next installment. The baby twist was just plain silly -- they could piece together the cause of the fires but not figure out whose baby this was? And the preaching got pretty heavy-handed all around -- Jamey, you trust the good witches of the east or you don't. Cam, you need to open yourself up to love...this is the real one, the one and only, blah, blah, blah... And no one would destroy someone's political career over their private life because they'll only judge on their good works? Really? What country are we discussing again? Not to mention, did we need the repeated reminders that it's so horrible to traffic humans? Does she really think she's going to get an argument to the contrary? Honestly? This started as a 3 and I'll read the next one, but now that I've re-read my commentary, I had to downgrade it to a 2. Just had to.
June 8, 2010
I completely understand why so many on Amazon dissed this book, but I believe they missed the point. This is a contemporary, paranormal fantasy rather than a typical Rawn epic fantasy. In that genre, it's an excellent read. The main character is "talky," yes, but I know people like that, and it's perfectly normal in my world.
As far as the novel goes, it fits perfectly in the series as a great continuation from the first novel. It introduces fun characters, brings the story further, and it's a fun, fast-paced read. The individual character's storylines are real, and give them depth and--for lack of a better word--character.
The plot made me incredibly curious, and I can't wait to see the third novel in the series.
As far as the novel goes, it fits perfectly in the series as a great continuation from the first novel. It introduces fun characters, brings the story further, and it's a fun, fast-paced read. The individual character's storylines are real, and give them depth and--for lack of a better word--character.
The plot made me incredibly curious, and I can't wait to see the third novel in the series.
May 7, 2009
This latest from Melanie Rawn about some modern day witches in Pocohontas County and their run in with both a arsonist and a nasty enemy is bogged down with too much discussion of philosophy, the romantic history of the characters some gay and some straight and flashbacks that slow the story down to a near crawl. So when we finally get to the magic we have been bored to tears. Plus the whole secret with Bella being hurt was just dumb.
I liked Spellbinder, but this novel was just not as good.
I liked Spellbinder, but this novel was just not as good.
August 2, 2013
I enjoyed the story plus revisiting characters from the previous book, and being introduced to new ones. I loved the banter and relationships between the different characters, and would happily read more of this series if it was written. Very much an ensemble story, rather than focusing on just Holly and Evan.
January 28, 2019
I read a bit, put it down thinking that it hadn't grabbed me, but I'd probably finish it. I got to page 60, then thought: 'Why should I care about these people? Why should I care about some fairly minor property damage crime spree?' I couldn't find an adequate answer to those questions, so DNF. Maybe it's a book where it's absolutely mandatory to read--and like--the first book in the series (and if so, there should be a disclaimer about that on the back).
October 4, 2018
I wouldn't call this book a sequel. While it has the same characters and world, and it is a full length novel, it is more of an interesting addendum to the original. I felt like the concepts explored here were interesting, and worthy of inclusion, but as done in this boo, they just didn't feel complete.
March 15, 2018
This shouldn't even been labeled as a Urban Fantasy. They talk more about stem cells and cloning then magic, vamps, werewolves etc
August 29, 2023
I liked the story but I thought there was too much information about characters that weren't important to the story. Very little about the fire starter or her abilities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2010
I struggled to remember, as I slogged my way through Fire Raiser, just what it was I liked about the first volume in the series (Spellbinder). I've enjoyed Melanie Rawn's work for many years, and while Spellbinder was a definite departure for her, on its own merit it was a decent book.
Spellbinder had its flaws, but there was a real story there, with suspense and romance and sex that integrates magic with the real world skillfully, one that kept me reading all the way through. Ah - so that's what Fire Raiser was missing!
Rawn even points it out in her short Author's Note, where she states that the character of Jamey in the book was unplanned, but he appeared on the scene with "something of an agenda" and refused to go away.
Yeah, tell me about it.
With Jamey comes an attempt at crafting a gay male relationship along the lines of Holly and Evan's rocky road in the first book. Now that Holly and Evan are happy with each other (delighted, actually, as we are repeatedly reminded), Jamey and Cam appear to have this book's conflicted relationship. The problem here is twofold.
First, I simply didn't buy the relationship. Page after page is devoted to explaining Cam and Jamey's history, but for all the explanation it doesn't hold up. I know gay men in healthy relationships and I know gay men who've been in troubled relationships, and none of them look as neurotic and mismatched and Cam and Jamey. They go from smoldering glances at one another's gorgeous bodies to barely speaking and back again with no warning or motivation. Rawn may know what gay relationships look like, but I couldn't tell - if Fire Raiser is any indication, she has no knack for portraying them on the page. For a woman who has built up some of the most believable and interesting male/female romances I've ever read, this came as something of a disappointment.
The problem with Cam and Jamey may have a deeper root than that, though. They may be casualties of The Author Who Has Something To Say (patent pending). Here comes the "agenda" Rawn mentioned - Cam and Jamey's relationship shows up very conveniently, as the book circles again and again back to the issue of gay rights and how poorly homosexuals are treated. It's an issue Rawn deals with hamhandedly, with characters who are so hateful they're almost laughable, and dialogue that sounds more like it came out of a high school debate tournament than an adult conversation.
Unlike Spellbinder, where the story is bound to magic, in Fire Raiser it feels tacked on and convenient at best. The characters from the first book, including Evan and Holly, are relegated to spectators and commentators more than anything, and don't seem to really do much in this story. Without the conflict that made them interesting in the first book, this bunch of witches seem strangely mundane.
Oh - but the story? There is one, but it starts late and is given short shrift. Slowly revealed over the course of a long cocktail party that starts the book (no joke), a series of mysterious church fires has stumped local police and witches alike, and the solution is a mess. The plot tries to weave human trafficking in with a magical undercurrent, largely unsuccessfully. Another "issue," this one dealt with via a clumsy attempt at perspective shift halfway through the book and a slipshod connection to the characters. Again, Rawn had something she wanted to say and tried to work it into the story, losing both in the process.
I don't mind Rawn's politics. Gay rights? I support them, and have for years. Human trafficking? Undeniably evil. I agree with much of what she was trying to say, but I vastly dislike how she tried to say it. There are stories to be told around these themes, and they could be gripping, shocking, meaningful, heart-rending and maybe even mind-changing.
Fire Raiser is not one of those stories. Instead, it's a sub-par novel and a disappointment from a writer who has given me reason to expect far better.
Spellbinder had its flaws, but there was a real story there, with suspense and romance and sex that integrates magic with the real world skillfully, one that kept me reading all the way through. Ah - so that's what Fire Raiser was missing!
Rawn even points it out in her short Author's Note, where she states that the character of Jamey in the book was unplanned, but he appeared on the scene with "something of an agenda" and refused to go away.
Yeah, tell me about it.
With Jamey comes an attempt at crafting a gay male relationship along the lines of Holly and Evan's rocky road in the first book. Now that Holly and Evan are happy with each other (delighted, actually, as we are repeatedly reminded), Jamey and Cam appear to have this book's conflicted relationship. The problem here is twofold.
First, I simply didn't buy the relationship. Page after page is devoted to explaining Cam and Jamey's history, but for all the explanation it doesn't hold up. I know gay men in healthy relationships and I know gay men who've been in troubled relationships, and none of them look as neurotic and mismatched and Cam and Jamey. They go from smoldering glances at one another's gorgeous bodies to barely speaking and back again with no warning or motivation. Rawn may know what gay relationships look like, but I couldn't tell - if Fire Raiser is any indication, she has no knack for portraying them on the page. For a woman who has built up some of the most believable and interesting male/female romances I've ever read, this came as something of a disappointment.
The problem with Cam and Jamey may have a deeper root than that, though. They may be casualties of The Author Who Has Something To Say (patent pending). Here comes the "agenda" Rawn mentioned - Cam and Jamey's relationship shows up very conveniently, as the book circles again and again back to the issue of gay rights and how poorly homosexuals are treated. It's an issue Rawn deals with hamhandedly, with characters who are so hateful they're almost laughable, and dialogue that sounds more like it came out of a high school debate tournament than an adult conversation.
Unlike Spellbinder, where the story is bound to magic, in Fire Raiser it feels tacked on and convenient at best. The characters from the first book, including Evan and Holly, are relegated to spectators and commentators more than anything, and don't seem to really do much in this story. Without the conflict that made them interesting in the first book, this bunch of witches seem strangely mundane.
Oh - but the story? There is one, but it starts late and is given short shrift. Slowly revealed over the course of a long cocktail party that starts the book (no joke), a series of mysterious church fires has stumped local police and witches alike, and the solution is a mess. The plot tries to weave human trafficking in with a magical undercurrent, largely unsuccessfully. Another "issue," this one dealt with via a clumsy attempt at perspective shift halfway through the book and a slipshod connection to the characters. Again, Rawn had something she wanted to say and tried to work it into the story, losing both in the process.
I don't mind Rawn's politics. Gay rights? I support them, and have for years. Human trafficking? Undeniably evil. I agree with much of what she was trying to say, but I vastly dislike how she tried to say it. There are stories to be told around these themes, and they could be gripping, shocking, meaningful, heart-rending and maybe even mind-changing.
Fire Raiser is not one of those stories. Instead, it's a sub-par novel and a disappointment from a writer who has given me reason to expect far better.
May 11, 2013
I'd give it a 2.5 -
This is the first Melanie Rawn book I’ve read and I am not sure what to think. Essentially it’s supposed to be a supernatural mystery with a bit of romance. I liked the concept of a family of witches with various powers, vampire and werewolf friends, etc. However, the author’s execution on this particular book made for a confusing read (too many points of view with too many flashbacks and a lack of clarity on the time frame) along with way too many liberal “preaching” rants. While I don’t disagree with the author’s opinions, they should season – not overwhelm – the flavor of the story. Like spices, a little goes a long way, too much obliterates the intent of the meal. There’s only one long spiel I’d keep in (Jamey’s discussion of our collective civil obligations pp.164-166 in paperback). It’s beautifully written and the only appropriate speech because it is when he’s supposed to be giving a speech! *ugh*
I was confused because the main characters seemed tangential. Apparently this book is a follow up to Holly and Evan’s love story in Spellbinder, but the author would have better served her characters by focusing on the love story between Cam and Jamey and let Holly and Evan be in the background.
The magic was interesting and the supernatural staircase inside Westmoreland was a great twist. Cam’s magic was often funny and Jamey’s reactions as he’s tossed into the midst of this magical family were excellent and reasonable. I wished for a better ending for “Natasha” but I’m glad her daughter will be cared for.
Overall the book was a bit disjointed and definitely needed editing, but I’d still read it again and perhaps I will find it to be clearer after re-reading. I’m curious enough to read the prequel and I might try her other books, but this story disappointed me on many levels.
This is the first Melanie Rawn book I’ve read and I am not sure what to think. Essentially it’s supposed to be a supernatural mystery with a bit of romance. I liked the concept of a family of witches with various powers, vampire and werewolf friends, etc. However, the author’s execution on this particular book made for a confusing read (too many points of view with too many flashbacks and a lack of clarity on the time frame) along with way too many liberal “preaching” rants. While I don’t disagree with the author’s opinions, they should season – not overwhelm – the flavor of the story. Like spices, a little goes a long way, too much obliterates the intent of the meal. There’s only one long spiel I’d keep in (Jamey’s discussion of our collective civil obligations pp.164-166 in paperback). It’s beautifully written and the only appropriate speech because it is when he’s supposed to be giving a speech! *ugh*
I was confused because the main characters seemed tangential. Apparently this book is a follow up to Holly and Evan’s love story in Spellbinder, but the author would have better served her characters by focusing on the love story between Cam and Jamey and let Holly and Evan be in the background.
The magic was interesting and the supernatural staircase inside Westmoreland was a great twist. Cam’s magic was often funny and Jamey’s reactions as he’s tossed into the midst of this magical family were excellent and reasonable. I wished for a better ending for “Natasha” but I’m glad her daughter will be cared for.
Overall the book was a bit disjointed and definitely needed editing, but I’d still read it again and perhaps I will find it to be clearer after re-reading. I’m curious enough to read the prequel and I might try her other books, but this story disappointed me on many levels.
May 16, 2012
This book took FOREVER to really go anywhere as an entertaining novel. I know the cover copy has "political" in it but I expected it to be worked in with the plot, not sledgehammered at the reader for at least half the book. I ended up skimming for quite a while, trying to avoid putting the book down altogether. It didn't start getting good until about the 3/4 mark, when the political stuff took a backseat for a minute and the magic stuff came out.
I never did get rewarded for my sticking it out for fifty pages of how gays are treated...I was hoping that it was character building, but it really didn't build any. Maybe it was supposed to show how Cam and Jamey were "meant to be" way back in college but there really wasn't anything there except a surface attraction...yet they were supposed to be in love with each other for twelve plus years? Even when they were reunited there didn't seem to be much there...except that they had been pining for each other all this time. But WHY?? I still don't know. I felt like it was similar to meeting the eyes of someone from across a crowded room and suddenly deciding you're going to spend the rest of your lives together just based on that glance. Surface attraction does not equate to "meant to be".
Other than perhaps a (small) handful of amusing lines thrown throughout the book, I am still waiting for the "funny" that is mentioned in the cover copy. The book was not funny except perhaps in how ludicrous it was.
If I had not read Spellbinder prior to this book I never would have picked it up. Having read Spellbinder was the only reason I kept sticking it out with this one. Too much sledgehammering and soapboxing. Ugh. I would never recommend this book to anyone.
I never did get rewarded for my sticking it out for fifty pages of how gays are treated...I was hoping that it was character building, but it really didn't build any. Maybe it was supposed to show how Cam and Jamey were "meant to be" way back in college but there really wasn't anything there except a surface attraction...yet they were supposed to be in love with each other for twelve plus years? Even when they were reunited there didn't seem to be much there...except that they had been pining for each other all this time. But WHY?? I still don't know. I felt like it was similar to meeting the eyes of someone from across a crowded room and suddenly deciding you're going to spend the rest of your lives together just based on that glance. Surface attraction does not equate to "meant to be".
Other than perhaps a (small) handful of amusing lines thrown throughout the book, I am still waiting for the "funny" that is mentioned in the cover copy. The book was not funny except perhaps in how ludicrous it was.
If I had not read Spellbinder prior to this book I never would have picked it up. Having read Spellbinder was the only reason I kept sticking it out with this one. Too much sledgehammering and soapboxing. Ugh. I would never recommend this book to anyone.
June 20, 2013
Black magic, rituals, and everyday life in a small town set the tone for this excellent paranormal fantasy.
Evan Lachlan and his wife Holly McClure, a witch, have moved from Manhattan to her hometown in Virginia to raise their young children. The town is known for having the most witches in one place in the entire country. Most of the oldest families’ business is witchcraft. Holly is a spellbinder, and appreciates that Evan has opened his mind to the magic in her family.
Evan is the county sheriff, and is investigating a series of arson in the area. Someone is burning down churches and using magic to activate the trigger. Evan suspects it may have something to do with the new owners of the Westmoreland plantation. It has been recently renovated and opened into an upscale inn.
Looking for proof, Evan and Holly attend a fund raiser at the plantation. Not long after their arrival, they are left gasping at the magic that fills the air. Using magic, Holly’s cousin Cam finds a doorway not visible to the human eye and they all rush into the room. But unfortunately, there is no exit out and something sinister and dark is on the other side.
An action-packed thrilling fantasy bursting at the seams with magic, FIRE RAISER is a bewitching tale. Melanie Rawn draws the reader in from page one and doesn't let go until the final climax. Fantasy and paranormal lovers alike will enjoy FIRE RAISER. I certainly did!
Evan Lachlan and his wife Holly McClure, a witch, have moved from Manhattan to her hometown in Virginia to raise their young children. The town is known for having the most witches in one place in the entire country. Most of the oldest families’ business is witchcraft. Holly is a spellbinder, and appreciates that Evan has opened his mind to the magic in her family.
Evan is the county sheriff, and is investigating a series of arson in the area. Someone is burning down churches and using magic to activate the trigger. Evan suspects it may have something to do with the new owners of the Westmoreland plantation. It has been recently renovated and opened into an upscale inn.
Looking for proof, Evan and Holly attend a fund raiser at the plantation. Not long after their arrival, they are left gasping at the magic that fills the air. Using magic, Holly’s cousin Cam finds a doorway not visible to the human eye and they all rush into the room. But unfortunately, there is no exit out and something sinister and dark is on the other side.
An action-packed thrilling fantasy bursting at the seams with magic, FIRE RAISER is a bewitching tale. Melanie Rawn draws the reader in from page one and doesn't let go until the final climax. Fantasy and paranormal lovers alike will enjoy FIRE RAISER. I certainly did!
March 26, 2010
Unfortunately my library didnt have the first in this series so I probably missed a few threads along the way.
Initially I found it hard to get into - I was sick at the time so not at my sharpest and what threw me most was Evan Lachlan being referred to as either name - it took me a while to figure out it was the same person (since Evan and Lachlan are both common first names - and I was feverish lol) There were also a lot of flashbacks that were pretty jarring but I eventually found a rythym and ended up enjoying the story.
I enojoyed Evan and Holly's banter and i liked watching Jamey and Cam's relationship develop.
It tackles some pretty serious issues - child trafficking, child prostitution, homophobia and gay rights but since I agree with Rawn's agenda on all counts I was happy to see such prosaic issues have a place in a novel of this genre which is pretty rare.
The magic is not as center stage as I had initially expected but there are some interesting magical concepts.
There are a few threads left dangling, for the next novel I assume - I hope to get my hands on the first of the series before I pick up the next.
Initially I found it hard to get into - I was sick at the time so not at my sharpest and what threw me most was Evan Lachlan being referred to as either name - it took me a while to figure out it was the same person (since Evan and Lachlan are both common first names - and I was feverish lol) There were also a lot of flashbacks that were pretty jarring but I eventually found a rythym and ended up enjoying the story.
I enojoyed Evan and Holly's banter and i liked watching Jamey and Cam's relationship develop.
It tackles some pretty serious issues - child trafficking, child prostitution, homophobia and gay rights but since I agree with Rawn's agenda on all counts I was happy to see such prosaic issues have a place in a novel of this genre which is pretty rare.
The magic is not as center stage as I had initially expected but there are some interesting magical concepts.
There are a few threads left dangling, for the next novel I assume - I hope to get my hands on the first of the series before I pick up the next.
December 2, 2010
You know there's something wrong when the biggest suspense in a book involving witches, magical arsonists, human trafficking, and forced impregnation, is whether the two gay men will get together. Though there is action that starts halfway through the book, it takes a 120 page party, political commentary, unrelated social encounters, and kiddie chocolate fingers to get there. (You think it's hard to believe in magic--try suspending disbelief when the mom LETS her chocolaty children smear huggy finger marks all over her chic new dress.)
Rawn's earlier fantasy novels are great, especially the highly unusual The Golden Key, where the magic is created through paintings. (Warning to young women: this book hinges on premarital relationships between ruling parties, though I do not remember graphic description.)
I didn't realize until I started this review that Fire Raiser is book two of a series. The question now is, do I pick up book one or not? If I do, I'll let you know all about it.
Rawn's earlier fantasy novels are great, especially the highly unusual The Golden Key, where the magic is created through paintings. (Warning to young women: this book hinges on premarital relationships between ruling parties, though I do not remember graphic description.)
I didn't realize until I started this review that Fire Raiser is book two of a series. The question now is, do I pick up book one or not? If I do, I'll let you know all about it.
April 16, 2016
If you love Melanie Rawn's other books, you'll be disappointed. While Spellbinder was fairly mediocre, I did like it. However, I am wishing I read something else instead of wasting my time on Fire Raiser.
The plot had a lot of potential which was never reached. Instead, we're treated to the main character launching into political rants relevant to events 7-8 years ago, as well as certain hot-button topics. Despite the fact I lean the same direction, the excessive ranting in the form of dialogue was not connected to the plot in any way - it was a major distraction. Had I not been quite comfortable in the bathtub, I would have set it down and found something else to read.
While Spellbinder was not up there with Rawn's other books, I gave it a lot of leeway as it was a significant detour from her other works.
It is very rare that I rate a book one star. Fire Raiser was nothing more than Rawn using a short-story plot line as a medium for her own political rantings.
The plot had a lot of potential which was never reached. Instead, we're treated to the main character launching into political rants relevant to events 7-8 years ago, as well as certain hot-button topics. Despite the fact I lean the same direction, the excessive ranting in the form of dialogue was not connected to the plot in any way - it was a major distraction. Had I not been quite comfortable in the bathtub, I would have set it down and found something else to read.
While Spellbinder was not up there with Rawn's other books, I gave it a lot of leeway as it was a significant detour from her other works.
It is very rare that I rate a book one star. Fire Raiser was nothing more than Rawn using a short-story plot line as a medium for her own political rantings.
February 27, 2011
I love most of Melanie Rawn's books. Spellbinder was a departure from her previous lands of magic, but it was a decent read. But I struggled through Fire Raiser. I normally plow through a book that size in a couple of nights (this took well over a week). It was very preachy, and by the end, I felt I had been inundated with propaganda rather than told a story. And yes, I get it, Holly is totally in love with her husband and vice versa. You don't need to club me over the head with it.
Its at least halfway through the book before you encounter the Fire Raiser. It was unsatisfying to know the lineage of the baby without knowing if the main characters understand who it is. And the ending was too neatly tied up. Everyone gets what they wanted, whether they knew it or not. That is definitely not typical Melanie Rawn style.
Its at least halfway through the book before you encounter the Fire Raiser. It was unsatisfying to know the lineage of the baby without knowing if the main characters understand who it is. And the ending was too neatly tied up. Everyone gets what they wanted, whether they knew it or not. That is definitely not typical Melanie Rawn style.
March 27, 2010
This is a book that is in desperate need of a ruthless editor. There is a plot, eventually. But the first half (Two-thirds? Too much!) of the book is chock-full of Rawn's standard overly-twee romance... And the politics. Dear lord, the politics. I agree with her (or her characters) and even I found this part completely overwhelming and overly preachy. If she really wants to write about politics so badly, maybe she should have started a blog instead.
I always found Rawn's greatest strength to be her world-building, which is pretty thin on the ground in this series. The Diviner is coming in August, and here's hoping that a return to form comes with it.
I always found Rawn's greatest strength to be her world-building, which is pretty thin on the ground in this series. The Diviner is coming in August, and here's hoping that a return to form comes with it.
June 22, 2009
i READ THIS BOOK IN TWO DAYS. I HAD ENJOYED SPELLBINDER A GREAT DEAL AND HAD LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS BOOK. I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED AND HOPING THAT THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BOOK IN THE FUTURE. THERE IS A LOT OF POLITICAL/SOCIAL COMMENTARY BUT I AM FROM MASSACHUSETTS SO IT DID NOT BOTHER ME. I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH HER EARLIER BOOKS SO WAS NOT EXPECTING ANYTHING THAT THIS BOOK MIGHT NOT BE.
January 20, 2015
I actually liked this one better than the first, but I feel as though there are some considerable gaps in this storyline that plague me--what about the room at woodhush? Holly has to figure out about the kid!! who is the Russian guy? how does her parents murder tie in to all this? in other words, I need the big picture now!! there had better be a third or so help me...;)
April 19, 2013
Some books can stand alone even though they are part of a series. This one does--sort of. Parts were very confusing, and I felt like I only had a fraction of the story. There were references to a backstory that it felt like the author wanted me, the reader, to know--and I didn't. That being said, I really enjoyed the story, and am now actively looking for the first book in the series.
June 21, 2013
a lot better than Spellbinder, makes a few very interesting points about relationships (a lot of it is common sense, but the type of common sense you don't really notice until it is pointed out. Written by Rawn, it is a lot more beautiful to real than a self-help book), still a little disjointed, upsetting that the series was cancelled just when it gets interesting
September 28, 2013
Defintly not as good as her first and second book in the series of Exiles. It was my first urban fantasy and I was not impressed. The writing was good. The story line was fine. The characters were great, the best part. I think it lacked passion, imagination, something in books that is unwritten, or not consciensely written.
August 20, 2010
This would have been a good book if Ms. Rawn had been able to refrain from using it as a vehicle to snarl at the readers who were upset (and Internet-vocal) about her failure to finish the Exiles series.
September 19, 2010
This book was absolutely captivating and other than it interfered with me getting things done until it was finished, I was very sorry to see it end. I've got it in paperback and would be glad to lend it to anyone as I probably won't reread it this year!
November 13, 2012
I want Melanie Rawn's books to all be as good as the Dragon Prince books, but they're not...but I still this one entertaining. I just think her first book series was so amazing that I automatically compare all her other books to the Dragon Prince Trilogy..but nothing will ever match up.
June 15, 2016
I just could not get into this book. I tried but the way it would go back to the past and then back to present day was very confusing to me. Maybe if I had read the other book first it would have been better. I finally just gave up and quit reading it.
March 1, 2009
Modern day witches in Virginia! Fun, and funny. Great characters who share my political viewpoints.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews