A Promise of Fire

Our Review

A PROMISE OF FIRE starts out in first person present tense, the story told from feisty Cat Fisa’s point of view. She’s a soothsayer in a circus, and she has some real magic she hides behind face paints and a snarky personality. She’s currently telling fortunes in a province filled with Hoi Polloi–non magic users. She’s not very noticeable, and that’s just fine with her, blending into the crowd. Until a warlord with extraordinary strength and perception catches her eye and won’t look away…

And so begins the wild ride that is PROMISE OF FIRE, a book that kept me glued to the pages from first to last. The characters are well-drawn, the world building incredibly vivid, and the plot fast-paced yet perfectly moderated. The prose seems effortless, and the world felt so organic to the storytelling that it felt as if the author had actually been there.

The book is filled with magic-users and the Hoi Polloi–people of no magic, like the current Sinai reigning family, whom the heroine will grow to know very well. Mythology runs through this book, pieces of Greek myth glued to the imagination Bouchet lets stream in abundance. I haven’t been so thoroughly entertained in ages,and I never wanted the story to end.

Cat, the heroine, is funny and strong, yet vulnerable. The author shows the depth of her character in so many ways. Cat’s tragic past has shaped her, and her powerful future will not be denied, because the oracles and Gods don’t lie. She’s the Kingmaker, and no matter how far she runs, she can’t escape her own truth.

Then there’s Griffin, a swoon-worthy, brooding hero with a sense of humor and adventure that’s not only engaging, but enthralling. His chemistry with Cat is undeniable and builds as the trust between them grows. The author did a tremendous job showing the protagonists on their journey toward a deeper understanding, never forcing the relationship but letting it blossom with a consistency that perfectly fit the story.

The secondary characters are fully-fleshed and terrific. I loved Griffin’s men, his family, and Cat’s circus family. I’m dying to see where Bouchet takes book two, and I can only hope it’s half as good as PROMISE OF FIRE. New author Amanda Bouchet has made me a desperate fan,and I’m barely biding my time until BREATH OF FIRE comes out in January 2017.

If you’re looking for a magical book with heart, romance, adventure, and characters who stay with you long after the book ends, try PROMISE OF FIRE. You won’t be disappointed, unless you feel the wait is too long for book two! The Kingmaker Chronicles is sure to be a huge hit and well-worth the praise-worthy buzz it’s already getting far and wide.

A RECOMMENDED READ!