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Carra

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Carra is Currently Reading

Carra is currently reading

Prince Material (Prince Pact, #2)

by Nora Phoenix (Goodreads Author)

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May 11, 2026 06:05PM

Carra is currently reading

Mastering the Flames (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, #4)

by S.J. Himes (Goodreads Author)

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Reading for the 5th time

read in October 2019

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Carra said: " This series has so far been riveting and kept me hanging on every word. After three books focused primarily on Angel and Simeon, it’s time for Angel’s brother Isaac to take center stage—and it turns out his story is just as fascinating, just as consu This series has so far been riveting and kept me hanging on every word. After three books focused primarily on Angel and Simeon, it’s time for Angel’s brother Isaac to take center stage—and it turns out his story is just as fascinating, just as consuming, and just as exciting as his brother’s was.

It’s one thing to be bonded to a vampire like Angel is to Simeon. It’s quite another thing altogether to develop a connection with not just a City Master, but with a vampire as old as Constantine Batiste. We not only get to see the relationship between Isaac and Constans (as Isaac gets to call him) evolve, but we also get a look at some of the inner workings of the clan as well as Constans’s connection between the clan members. Plus there’s the added intrigue of finding out just what Constans is capable of thanks to his age and standing.

Constans is an excellent complement to Isaac, something we see more and more of as the story progresses. I really liked how they naturally came together as if there was no question of the bond forming between them (quite literally)…much to Angel’s chagrin of course. But it would be difficult to argue against Isaac and Constans being together given how easily they gravitated to each other, and how innate their pairing was.

The author not only delivered on the relationship aspect of the story with a gradual but still intense buildup, but once again gave readers a compelling conflict in the sorcerer world to threaten what the characters hold dear—something that is complicated by a tie back to Constantine before he became a vampire. Bet that piqued your interest ;-)

Do you need to read the other books in the series first before starting this one? Well, I suppose you could get away without it, but you’d lose out on the incredible world building and backstory for the characters. There’s also one particular scene with Isaac and Constans that you’d miss out on that plays into their relationship development. So take my advice and read the books in order (don’t worry, it’s not going to be a hardship for you).

This story has only been out a couple of weeks as of the time I’m writing this review, and I’ve already read it twice…so the fact that I’ve given Mastering of the Flames 5 stars shouldn’t be a shock. SJ Himes is uniquely talented in writing M/M urban fantasy, something that is on full display once again in this book. Get ready for some sweet and spicy romance, some nasty baddies who keep on coming, and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Eroch gets some page time that might leave you all “awwww” inside. Oh yes…let’s not forget this story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content, and some serious subject matter regarding Isaac’s alcoholism. ...more "

Oct 24, 2019 06:04PM · see review