Veena’s review of Cursed by Fire (Immortal Brothers, Book 1) by Jacquelyn Frank
Fantasy Romance published by Ballantine Books 24 Feb 15
This is a brand new series featuring the first of what will be four immortal warriors who defied their gods to gain immortality. For their transgressions, they were punished in various horrific ways worse than death ever could be. Dethan, the hero of this story, is chained in hell and doomed to burn in flames that flay his flesh while his immortality keeps him alive. Poor tortured hero, but there’s a lovely damsel who’ll succor and heal his wounds, plus capricious gods added to the mix. Sounds like a story totally up my alley…
More than the torture of being burned, Dethan’s biggest regret is that the price of his ambition is shared by his brothers, who are suffering their own torture in different corners of hell. When he’s given a chance by the goddess of conflict to be freed of his captivity in exchange for building an army and converting people to her worship, he seizes it. He still burns but only for a few hours every night, while he moves around during the day making enemies, gathering supporters, and forming an army.
Selinda is a damaged princess and heir to the kingdom where Dethan emerges from the mountain that houses hell. Her suitor or finace is an evil troll who’s killed and enthralled his way to the right hand of the King. Selinda is a very interesting mix of strength and weakness. She has a personal strength born of her deformity and yet she bends for love of her father and brother to the detriment of her people. I enjoyed how Ms. Frank portrays the plight of a country under weak leadership and how they blossom and believe when a strong leader shows them possibilities.
As the story unfolds, it is, for the most part, predictable. The romance between Dethan and his princess flowers under the cover of darkness as he goes about unifying the common downtrodden people in the kingdom into an army and outwitting her betrothed. She bandages and succors his burns every night as she dreams of romance and standing up for herself without daring to hope for a positive outcome.
Dethan will definitely prevail in his quest, because, before his punishment, he’d challenged the very gods and won and so a small, badly ruled kingdom is child’s play for him. It’s also clear that there’s no real future for him and Selinda, because he’s the champion of the gods. I leave it to the reader to discover how he’s to find a resolution around his dilemma.
I am definitely on deck to read the next book, but I am a bit disappointed in how predictable and unoriginal this story turned out to be.
Grade: C
Summary:
For centuries, Dethan has been trapped in a fiery inferno for defying the gods and snatching the power of immortality. Condemned to have his battle-hardened body licked by flames only to regenerate and be consumed all over again, Dethan has lost all hope—until the Goddess of Conflict appears. She will release him from torment—if he’ll use his power and strength as a warrior to raise an army and defeat a fierce enemy faction of gods.
Free to live as a man once again, Dethan meets Selinda—heir to the throne of Hexis—and his thoughts quickly turn from the conquest of cities to the conquest of this headstrong beauty. Betrothed to a cruel, calculating powermonger, Selinda needs a champion, and so Dethan enters into another bargain: If she will share her bed—and her body—with him, Dethan will save her city from destructive forces within and without. As the lovers ignite a searing passion, Dethan will risk all—even the wrath of the Goddess of Conflict—for a chance to make Selinda his forever.
No excerpt available.
