#EarlyReview: Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Breath of Fire: "Cat" Catalia Fisa and Griffin

(Kingmaker Chronicles #2)

Expected publication: January 3rd 2017 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Summary:

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD...

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a girl to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world-for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin must embrace their fate together. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or not at all.

Review:

So I’ll start by prefacing that I LOVED the first book in the series, so I was nearly salivating to get my heads on the second installment. I'm not ashamed to admit that I begged Sourcebooks for a review copy of this book. I think I did a little dance when I got approved. : )

So, did this book live up to my high expectations? I’d say it did a pretty damn good job. The beginning threw for a loop for a minute, I even had to go back and re-read the last chapter of the first book to make sure I didn't miss anything but don't worry about that, I jumped the gun and all was explained shortly after. There were a couple of things that were built up in the first book that ended up being a bit anti-climatic when revealed in book two but I didn't even really mind too much.  

This book was so action packed you barely have time to come up for air between one battle scene and the next. I’m kind of left wondering if you compare how many time Kate from the Ilona Andrews - Kate Daniels and Kit from this series on how many times they almost die… who would win? They are both fierce women and exceptional fighters and magic users but they can both be pretty reckless when it comes to protecting the ones they love. Poor Griffin is always watching the women he loves run into impossible situations but somehow they both always make it out of the situations.

In the previous book I had mentioned that the use of the Greek gods threw me off but I had read somewhere that the author is of Greek descent so now that I know why she chose to use these particular gods it makes more sense to me and it no longer bothered me. In this book we also see some budding romances and I truly hope Griffins sisters get what they want! They turn out to be pretty fierce little things and my money in on them!

If you are a fan of urban fantasy, even tho I think this book qualifies as high fantasy I really think UF readers will love this series. So I would highly suggest taking a chance.

**Thank you Sourcebooks for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was provided.

Review: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

A Promise of Fire: “Cat” Catalia Fisa and Griffin

(Kingmaker Chronicles #1)

Summary:

From Goodreads.com

KINGDOMS WILL RISE AND FALL FOR HER…

“Cat” Catalia Fisa lives disguised as a soothsayer in a traveling circus. She is perfectly content avoiding the danger and destiny the Gods—and her homicidal mother—have saddled her with. That is, until Griffin, an ambitious warlord from the magic-deprived south, fixes her with his steely gaze and upsets her illusion of safety forever.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Griffin knows Cat is the Kingmaker, the woman who divines the truth through lies. He wants her as a powerful weapon for his newly conquered realm—until he realizes he wants her for much more than her magic. Cat fights him at every turn, but Griffin’s fairness, loyalty, and smoldering advances make him increasingly hard to resist and leave her wondering if life really does have to be short, and lived alone.

Review:

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet… I could tell I was going to like this book just from the authors first name *wink wink*... is the first in a highly recommend new series called the Kingmaker Chronicles.  I had been hearing about this book figured I’d give it a try someday but when Nalini Singh recommends it in her monthly newsletter you move it up on your TBR pile and thats exactly what I did. I do not regret this move in the least as I really enjoyed this book. It’s quite long for a typical romance at 448 pages which allows for really in depth world building.

You can all but envision the landscapes as you are traveling along with Cat and Griffin.  They spend several weeks on the road. The world building was captivating and the characters interesting. Each character had a fully developed personality, even ones that you never technically met. We don’t meet the queen of Fisa technically but you definitely know that she is a mommy dearest and will never win mother of the year.  

Cat is awesome! She is totally kick ass, has a full arsenal of kick ass skills including magic not related to Kingmaker skills.  On top of her kicking ass skills, she’s snarky and funny. She gives Griffin and his guard tons of shit for kidnapping her and I like that while she left with them to protect her “family” she never lets them forget she is not happy about it.  I think one of my favorite parts is when she accidently get intoxicated. It’s quite funny. Griffin, is a warlord and he never lets Cat forget that. Against all odds he won his new kingdom against the magic users and this is the first that has ever happened. Now he has to hold his territory and to do that, he needs Cat’s skills; whether she wants to or not. Griffin knows he’s attracted to Cat but as they continue to travel it develops into more, even in Cat wants to deny it.

This tale was action packed and quite steamy for an Urban Fantasy like book. Or is it Fantasy no Urban. Who knows. Whatever it is, I liked it. There is a lot of mythology which I always enjoy but I was a bit confused why the author chose to use existing Greek Mythology in a fantasy world. I kept drawing parallels between this fantasy world and the real world. Maybe she was trying to give us something familiar among all the new but I would have liked to see some made up Gods instead of the Greek Gods. But that is my personal opinion, I’m sure many others will have no problem with this at all.   

Review can also be seen on Brazen Babe Reviews