Veena’s review of A Promise Of Fire (The Kingmaker Chronicles, Book 1) by Amanda Bouchet
Fantasy Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 02 Aug 16
An author’s imagination is truly the only limit in a fantasy, and Ms. Bouchet definitely exercises hers fully with the big, bold strokes she paints in her debut novel. Cat Fisa escaped her horrific childhood and psychopath mother for anonymity as a circus performer, until Griffin, a non-magical warlord, kidnaps her. Amongst his friends and family she sees a completely different life from anything that she could have imagined. But clearly having lived as long as she has, she knows it’s short lived and idealists like Griffin and his family can’t survive amongst the political machinations of the world they live in. Dear readers, as experienced world travelers, how do you think it turns out?
Griffin has been spying on Cat long before he makes his acquaintance with her to confirm that she is the legendary Kingmaker he needs to secure his sister’s throne and fulfill his ambitions. This world they live in is divided into several kingdoms peopled with those who have magic (Magoi) and those who don’t (hoi polloi). Griffin and his family are hoi polloi who have accomplished the feat of defeating the magoi who ruled the kingdom of Senta and establishing their rule under his sister. He needs Cat and her magic to hold and strengthen their position.
Cat is definitely not happy with the turn of events that has her leaving the only family she’s ever known and heading into the unknown with four strangers, one of whom has her tied to him with a magical rope. She fights with all she has and yet when chance presents her with an opportunity to escape, she finds herself strangely reluctant to use it. It certainly does not have anything to do with the fact that she’s slept better than she ever has in close proximity to Griffin. Horrors of horrors, Griffin’s family with their sweet innocence burrow into her heart, even as she fights to keep them at a distance. She’s loud, obnoxious, and definitely fights Griffin hard before succumbing to his rough charm that I almost want to deck her myself.
The author weaves in many adventures as the group heads from where they kidnap Cat to the capital city of Senta, where Griffin’s family lives and his sister rules. The gods, Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus, take a hand in her and Griffin’s fate as she stands up to dragons, armies of men she destroys in split seconds, and saves Griffin at the cost of her own life.
For someone who wants to stay hidden and fade into the background, her exploits are the stuff of legend and will definitely bring her the kind of attention she wants to avoid. I’m interested to see how the story will progress since there is at least one more book in this series.
Grade: B
Summary:
“I can say, without a doubt, that A Promise of Fire is going on my keeper shelf…I cannot remember the last time I wanted to both savor and devour a book.” ― Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
KINGDOMS WILL RISE AND FALL FOR HER…
BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP ITCatalia “Cat” 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.
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.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
