Shannon C.’s review of Touch of Fire by Maria Zannini
Fantasy romance ebook released by Samhain Publishing 20 May 08

I really wanted to love this book. I have been complaining a lot that I don’t find a lot of fantasy romances do nearly a good enough job convincing me of the worlds that the books inhabit, so I was thrilled to finally find a fantasy romance set in a world that I loved visiting. Unfortunately, the heroine, fire fae Leda, got on my nerves, which made it hard for me to really enjoy the book as much as I’d have liked.

Leda, a mage (they’re called fae here) has control over the element of fire. She’s been assigned by her clan’s leader to find an ancient alchemist’s bible. In order to do this, she must entrust herself to Grey Hawk, a savage Plainfolk man, who is equally determined that Leda *not* get the book. They go off on an adventure that will put them in perilous danger and change their lives forever.

I’ll start out by waxing enthusiastic about what I loved, which in this case was the world-building. We get a pretty huge reveal that explains how the world here works, which I thought was really neat. (I can’t reveal it here because you should be as surprised as I was.) Anyway, Ms. Zannini has constructed a believable society around this premise, and I was never left at any point questioning some of the things she takes for granted. This society brings with it prejudices that are hard to shake, and I really liked that Ms. Zannini has both of her characters needing to overcome those prejudices.

The plot was action-packed. It was a teeny bit episodic, but so often fantasy and science fiction stories are, so I didn’t particularly care. Each event led smoothly into the next, with no side trips down unnecessary tangents.

With a great setting and an equally compelling plot, I wish I’d liked the characters. Leda in particular bothered me because she holds onto her prejudices a lot longer than Grey does, and I really hate the tendency that authors have in general to force the heroine to remain the unbending, frigid one in order to prove their points. I thought Grey was fairly sweet after his initial distrust of Leda, and she treated him like shit. And then there’s the way that Leda treats Seelie, a simpering, brainless young woman who wants to be trained as a mage. Leda acknowledges that Seelie’s an idiot and is perfectly content to order her around and put her down whenever possible. After a while, it got really irritating and just made me dislike her more.

I didn’t particularly find Grey to be a memorable hero, either. I thought he was very sweet, and I loved his sense of honor and his reluctant protective feelings toward Leda, but beyond that he’s sort of bland. And possibly because I disliked the heroine and was meh about the hero, the romance didn’t work very well for me.

Books like this are hard to grade, because what I liked, I really really liked, and what I disliked I disliked very much. I really think that Ms. Zannini is someone to watch for, and hopefully next time I will like her leads better.

Grade: C

     Summary:

     Between mage and man lies fire.

     Leda has been ordered by the House of Ilia to use her fae gifts to find an alchemist’s bible, no matter what the cost. In a world where technology has been replaced by Elemental magic, this book is more dangerous than any spell or potion.

     A ragged scrap of parchment is Leda’s only clue and it leads her to the last man known to have had the book—a savagely handsome ex-soldier turned scavenger. Greyhawke Tams. He’ll serve her needs nicely, in both her quest, and her bed.

     The last thing Grey remembers is a bar brawl leaving him flat on his face. When he awakes, his situation hasn’t improved. He’s been bound in service to a contemptuous little fire mage with luscious curves and a deceptively innocent face. Grey’s not fooled—he’s hated the Elementals ever since he lost his younger brother to their brutal rites of passage.

     But something about Leda tangles his brain faster than any woman he’s ever known. And soon it becomes clear she needs more than his “services”. A barbarous overlord wants that book and he’s willing to shatter Leda—body and spirit—to get it.

     She needs his protection. Whether she wants it or not.

     Warning: Sex, sin and sauciness abound. This just in: Virgin butter not only helps nervous young virgins on their wedding night, it makes a damn fine hair liniment too.

     You can read an excerpt here.