CANR
WORK TITLE: Heart on Fire
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.amandabouchet.com/
CITY: Paris
STATE:
COUNTRY: France
NATIONALITY: American
LAST VOLUME: CA 404
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Holds an M.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer and novelist. Former English teacher.
AWARDS:Orange Rose Contest Winner, Hot Prospects, Golden Claddagh, Golden Pen, and Magic Moments, all Romance Writers of America contests, all for A Promise of Fire.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Amanda Bouchet is a writer who has a master’s degree in French and previously taught English. She grew up in the New England area of the United States, where she “spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head,” commented a writer on the Amanda Bouchet Website. She now lives in Paris, France, with her family.
With her debut novel, A Promise of Fire, Bouchet begins the “Kingmaker Chronicles” trilogy. The protagonists, Cat (Catalia Fisa) and Griffin, are lovers in the making. The former is an oracle and kingmaker, while the latter is a Beta Sinta warlord. Discussing the beginning of the trilogy in an online Here Be Magic interview with Jeffe Kennedy, Bouchet remarked: “The whole story really sprang from the heroine, Catalia Fisa. I kept thinking about her and constructing her physically and emotionally in my head. Strong but damaged, cynical but innocent, brave but scared—she’s full of contradictions. … The hero, Griffin, needed to draw Cat out of hiding, steer her toward the fate she’d been trying to avoid, and completely destabilize the relative safety she’d found in being emotionally alone.” The author added: “I actually set out to tell a fantasy with a bit of romance and ended up with a romance with a lot of fantasy! I was aiming for something along the lines of Maria V. Snyder’s Poison Study series, which I enjoyed very much. I’m a lifelong fan of the romance genre, though, and I like a good, steamy read. Once I had Cat and Griffin on the page together and sparks were flying, their emotional arc became just as important to me, if not more so, as the larger fantasy plot.”
Indeed, A Promise of Fire is set in a magical world and features multiple characters with magical powers; yet it is the budding romance between Cat and Griffin that drives the story. When Griffin receives a prophetic dream from Poseidon, he learns that Cat is an oracle and kingmaker who is hiding her gifts and working in a traveling circus. Griffin goes in search of Cat, hoping to convince her to use her powers to bring down the rule of the Magoi. Sparks fly between Cat and Griffin from the moment they meet, even though that meeting is essentially a kidnapping: Griffin forcibly removes Cat from the circus. Despite this, Cat is persuaded to join Griffin and his cause.
Lauding the novel in Smart Bitches Trashy Books online, a critic declared: “I cannot, in good conscience, promise that this will be the last time you hear me talk about this book because I am obsessed. I will also go on record to say that, so far, this is the best book I’ve read in 2016. I want to read it again. I want the next book immediately.” The critic added: “I can say, without a doubt, that A Promise of Fire is going on my keeper shelf. I want more of these characters and I want more of this world. I cannot remember the last time I wanted to both savor and devour a book, and Bouchet’s writing is so engaging and magical that I wish she had some sort of backlist I could dive into for the next few months.” An online Obsessive Book Nerd reviewer was also impressed, announcing: “As badly as I wanted to get to the finish line, I was thrilled it was taking me longer to read because it was just oh, so good. A Promise of Fire was the perfect blend of romance and fantasy. I can’t wait for next book.”
Cat’s true identity has been revealed to all in Breath of Fire: she is not only an oracle and kingmaker but also the second heir to the Fisian throne. Griffin, however, is upset by the latter news. Nevertheless he overcomes his feelings, as his love for Cat is bigger than royal politics. After repairing their relationship, Griffin and Cat join up with the Beta Team and engage in the fight to unite the realms. Unfortunately, Griffin and Cat must battle Andromeda and her powerful forces. This is a daunting task, especially since Andromeda is Cat’s mother.
The novel fared well with critics, though not without reservations. Online All about Romance writer Melanie Bopp remarked: “I was flipping pages breathlessly waiting to see how the fights would turn out. Breath of Fire suffers a bit from middle-book-syndrome, but overall I enjoyed it. There was so much that needed to happen to get from the end of book one to the beginning of book three that the end result was a bit convoluted and a little messy. Even so, I’m definitely looking forward to book three!” Offering stronger applause on the One Way or an Author Web site, a columnist stated: “I was completely enthralled by the world and characters that Bouchet writes about. Cat and Griffin remain couple of my heart, while the rest of the cast also pulled on my heartstrings like no other. THEY’RE ALL SO DEAR TO ME. The political maneuvering is always accentuated by a dose of action, making it a never-boring moment in the book. There was a perfect blend of romance, storyline, action, and character development.” The columnist advised: “Definitely pick this one up for a fun time if you’re up for spitfire and stubborn main characters, immense amounts of graphic action, and a thrilling romance that will keep your toes curling.”
Heart on Fire, the third novel in the “Kingmaker Chronicles” trilogy, finds Cat and Griffin facing the gargantuan task of uniting the realm. In the background looms the dreaded prospect of a final conflict with Cat’s powerful but mentally deranged mother. At the other end of the spectrum, Cat has many things to be thankful for: the solid love of her husband, Griffin; the fact that she’s expecting the couple’s first child, a daughter they call “Little Bean” who has already proven to possess great power; and assistance from the gods. However, Cat also discovers that the gods have not been above meddling and interfering. Eventually, however, the stress and losses Cat faces sends her to the misty valley of Tartarus, where doomed souls such as Prometheus spend their eternal lives. To emerge victorious, Cat must fully accept her magical abilities and find a way to escape from a gloomy mystical realm designed to hold condemned gods, then take the final steps necessary to defeat her cruel mother and bring peace and reunification to the realm.
“Fans of Bouchet’s ‘Kingmaker Chronicles’ will welcome the stunning conclusion to the trilogy,” commented Ilene Lefkowitz, writing in Booklist. A Kirkus Reviews writer concluded: “Bouchet’s stunning ‘Kingmaker Chronicles’ trilogy ends the way it began, with creativity, brilliance, and a breathtaking balance of heart-pounding adventure and heart-wrenching emotion.”
In an interview on the Jennifer Estep Website, Bouchet discussed what it is that most appeals to her about writing in the fantasy genre. “In fantasy, there are endless possibilities. As a writer, I can literally make up anything I want. How fun is that? But there is also a base to fantasy literature that incorporates things that stir me as a reader and writer—the loyalty and kinship of a band of warriors on an epic quest, the trials, the adventures and battles, the heartbreak and suffering, and the ultimate payoff of good triumphing over everything else.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, December 1, 2016, Ilene Lefkowitz, review of Breath of Fire; November 15, 2017, Ilene Lefkowitz, review of Heart on Fire, p. 33.
Kirkus Reviews, June 15, 2016, review of A Promise of Fire; November 1, 2017, review of Heart on Fire.
Publishers Weekly, July 4, 2016, review of A Promise of Fire; November 28, 2016, review of Breath of Fire; November 13, 2017, review of Heart on Fire, p. 44.
ONLINE
All about Romance, http://allaboutromance.com/ (January 14, 2017), Melanie Bopp, review of Breath of Fire; (February 18, 2018), Caroline Russomanno, review of Heart on Fire.
Amanda Bouchet Website, http://www.amandabouchet.com (January 14, 2017).
Eater of Books! Blog, http://eaterofbooks.blogspot.com/ (December 24, 2017), review of Heart on Fire.
Here Be Magic, http:// herebemagic.blogspot.com/ (November 9, 2016), Jeffe Kennedy, author interview.
Jennifer Estep Website, http://www.jenniferestep.com/ (January 1, 2018), Jennifer Estep, interview with Amanda Bouchet.
Kingmaker Chronicles Website, https://www.kingmakerchronicles.com (February 18, 2018).
Obsessive Book Nerd, http://www.obsessivebooknerd.com/ (January 14, 2017), review of A Promise of Fire.
One Way or an Author, https://onewayoranauthor.wordpress.com/ (December 19, 2016), review of Breath of Fire.
Smart Bitches Trashy Books, http://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/ (August 8, 2016), review of A Promise of Fire.
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
A French master's graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaBouchetAuthor/
Twitter: @AuthorABouchet
http://www.amandabouchet.com/
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests, including the Orange Rose Contest and the paranormal category of the prestigious Golden Pen.
A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter! For updates and exclusives sign-up for Amanda Bouchet’s newsletter.
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests, including the Orange Rose Contest and the paranormal category of the prestigious Golden Pen.
A French master's graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For updates and exclusives, sign up for Amanda's newsletter (you can easily unsubscribe at any time).
Guest author: Amanda Bouchet talks about Heart on Fire …
January 1st, 2018 • Posted in About Books, Guest blogs
Today, I am pleased to welcome USA Today bestselling author Amanda Bouchet to my blog. Amanda is the author of the Kingmaker Chronicles epic fantasy romance series.
Jennifer: Welcome, Amanda! Please tell readers about your new book, Heart on Fire.
Amanda: Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer! Heart on Fire is the final book in the Kingmaker Chronicles, a fantasy romance trilogy that began with A Promise of Fire and then Breath of Fire. In this final part of the story, Cat and Griffin continue their quest to reunite the three realms of Thalyria and go through difficult and sometimes terrifying trials as they fight to overthrow the last and most powerful of the land’s vicious leaders—Cat’s own murderous mother.
Jennifer: This is the third book in your Kingmaker Chronicles series. Can you tell us a little about the series?
Amanda: The books are set in a fantasy world based on ancient Greek mythology. The gods, legends, and mythical creatures we know as stories are an actual part of the characters’ reality, and the gods play an active role in the affairs of men. There are two types of people in Thalyria, those with magic and those without, an imbalance that has led to power abuse and conflict. Griffin is a warlord without magic but with a burning desire to overthrow the exploitative, brutal magical class. Cat is a powerful Magoi in hiding from her own people. For years, she’s been carefully avoiding her own magic and the cruel royals who would capture and use her for it. The moment he sees her, Griffin knows that Cat can help him accomplish his goals. Unfortunately for him, Cat wants nothing to do with him or his grand design for Thalyria, especially if it means exposing the secrets she’s been guarding for years. But Griffin isn’t letting her get away from him anytime soon—or possibly ever. Sparks fly, wills clash, and adventures begin!
Jennifer: What appeals to you about the fantasy and romance genres?
Amanda: So much! In fantasy, there are endless possibilities. As a writer, I can literally make up anything I want. How fun is that? But there is also a base to fantasy literature that incorporates things that stir me as a reader and writer—the loyalty and kinship of a band of warriors on an epic quest, the trials, the adventures and battles, the heartbreak and suffering, and the ultimate payoff of good triumphing over everything else. All of that is actually really close to what appeals to me in romance, too. I need that happily ever after in the end, but that doesn’t mean that getting there is easy or trial-free. Conflict and difficulties inevitably arise, but they only make the positive outcome for the romance all the sweeter. In both instances, it’s the journey that counts.
Jennifer: What inspired you to write the Kingmaker Chronicles series?
Amanda: It was the heroine, Cat! She got into my head and wouldn’t get out, even though I was writing a different story at the time. She was extremely vivid, very sarcastic, and absolutely demanded to get on the page. She wasn’t a fully-formed character in my head, though, so once she got her claws into me, I had to brainstorm about what would make her different, what was going on in her world, and who her love interest would be. For the setting, I think I must have had “Greek-ness” in the back of my mind from being half Greek myself and familiar with the mythology. Tapping into my own heritage was a way to introduce gods, monsters, and magic into the books while keeping the terminology familiar for readers. In a way, it streamlined the world building and left more room for the romance and adventure.
Jennifer: What are some of your favorite fantasy and romance books/authors and why?
Amanda: With so much talent out there, it’s hard to pick only a few. For fantasy, the first that comes to mind is J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter books. To me, they were sheer brilliance, with so much cleverness and imagination. Also, J.K. Rowling gave us Hermione, who showed us that it’s cool for girls to be smart and not be shy about it. And she gave us Harry, who didn’t always need to be the smartest or the best, as long as he was loyal and brave. In romance, I’m a huge fan of historicals, and I’ll buy and read anything by Julia Quinn the day it comes out. I love the humor, dry wit, and complicated path to love. To combine both fantasy and romance, Kresley Cole is a definite favorite. I’ve been reading her Immortals After Dark series since the very beginning, and they never fail to sweep me off into the adventures of the characters, make me laugh out loud, and make my heart pound from the steamy love scenes.
Jennifer: Have you always wanted to be a writer? What got you started on your writing journey?
Amanda: I didn’t always imagine being a writer, but I have been making up stories in my head for as long as I can remember. I didn’t actually start writing anything down until about a dozen years ago, though. After I graduated from college, I moved to France and pretty quickly married the man I’d met while studying abroad. That left me with an American degree in French, living in France, and no career plan. I spent a number of years in jobs I didn’t really enjoy before deciding to start writing with the goal of publication in mind. I had plenty of imagination, but no practice at all in writing down a full story from beginning to end. It took a lot of writing, some starts and stops, and maybe five years before I hit on the story I really wanted to polish and try to sell. That was A Promise of Fire. I spent a long time self-editing the manuscript before querying it to literary agents, but once I started the querying process, everything went very fast.
Jennifer: What’s next for you? What are you working on?
Amanda: Right now, I’m working on a new trilogy that I like to describe as Robin Hood meets Star Wars. It’s a futuristic romance where the captain of a rebel spaceship gets herself into deep trouble and needs a little help getting out. The problem is—who can she trust? And when she turns to a stranger for aid, it could mean losing her freedom, or her heart. The series is tentatively called Endeavor, and the first book should come out in early 2019. I’m loving writing something totally new for now, but I do plan on returning to the Kingmaker world to tie up some loose ends. There are secondary characters whose stories still need to be told.
Thank you so much for having me as a guest on your blog!
ALL ABOUT AMANDA
Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.
A French master’s graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.
Visit Amanda’s website, or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
GIVEAWAY TIME
Amanda is generously offering up one signed, print bundle copy of the three books in the Kingmaker Chronicles. This giveaway is open to those 18 and older. This giveaway is open internationally. To enter, use the form below.
Heart on Fire
Ilene Lefkowitz
Booklist. 114.6 (Nov. 15, 2017): p33.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* Heart on Fire.
By Amanda Bouchet.
Jan. 2018.41 Bp. Sourcebooks/Casablanca, paper, $7.99 (9781492626077).
Fans of Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles will welcome the stunning conclusion to the trilogy. Expanding on the world built in A Promise of Fire (2016) and Breath of Fire (2017), this entry delivers breathtaking romance, riveting action, mythology, and high-stakes political games. Cat and Griffin embark on the seemingly impossible task of uniting the realm, with the final battle looming ahead between Cat and her psychotic mother, Alpha Fisa. The journey to unification shapes the novel as a quest fantasy, but there is much more. Cat's fragile hold on her own role as Elipis, the Hope, is tested as she discovers that the gods have been in her life in roles of both influence and manipulation. As she wrestles with these realizations and their implications, she leans on her rock, Griffin, to help guide her on the long road ahead. Griffin and Cat's love eclipses the doubts that arise as they face combat, loss, new magical creatures, and more. Cat has come a far way from her days hiding in the circus as a soothsayer to become a powerful, kick-ass woman, and Bouchet continues to not only set the bar for fantasy romance but to crash over it.--Ilene Lefkowitz
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Lefkowitz, Ilene. "Heart on Fire." Booklist, 15 Nov. 2017, p. 33. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A517441771/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=d9268bdc. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A517441771
Heart on Fire
Publishers Weekly. 264.46 (Nov. 13, 2017): p44.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
* Heart on Fire
Amanda Bouchet. Sourcebooks Casablanca, $7.99 mass market (416p) ISBN 978-1-49262607-7
Bouchet's relentlessly intense conclusion to her Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy (after A Breath of Fire) goes unabashedly big with a plot involving the fate of the world of Thalyria and the direct involvement of the Greek pantheon, but its best moments deal with one-on-one conflict. Fans will swoon for the escalation of mutual devotion between Catalia--a powerful Magoi of the bloodline of Titans and Olympians, central to "a Power Bid that could reunite the realms," and now also "the personification and spirit of hope"--and "domineering ... overprotective ... and deliciously jealous" warlord Griffin. Their romance justifies the divine orchestration of their match and amplifies their possessiveness-fueled sexual heat. Family is a primary theme: Griffin's army's importance wanes as Cat's sadistic mother rises as a formidable enemy, using mind control and psychological torture as her most powerful tools, and Griffin's protectiveness surges as Cat's pregnancy with "Little Bean," their already-powerful daughter, increases the risk of personal loss. A notable lack of practical governing detail may frustrate fans of fantasy politics, but Bouchet's series ends strongly with a hopeful vision of leadership balanced with divinity and humanity. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Heart on Fire." Publishers Weekly, 13 Nov. 2017, p. 44. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A515326004/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=3763c13b. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A515326004
Bouchet, Amanda: HEART ON FIRE
Kirkus Reviews. (Nov. 1, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Bouchet, Amanda HEART ON FIRE Sourcebooks Casablanca (Adult Fiction) $7.99 1, 2 ISBN: 978-1-4926-2607-7
Cat and Griffin continue their divinely orchestrated odyssey to unite the three realms of Thalyria through tragic losses and dangerous obstacles.
Having pledged her heart, body, and soul, as well as every magical and material weapon at her disposal, to her husband, Griffin, Cat is pleased with their progress in overthrowing the violent, capricious, and self-interested governance of the magic class in the three regions of Thalyria. "He took Sinta with an army....Then we took over Tarva together, with our own blood, sweat, and agony." Now they are turning their sights on Fisa, Cat's own homeland, ruled by her vicious, power-hungry mother. Griffin and Cat lost a cherished ally in their battle for Tarva, and they'll lose two more before they can march on Fisa, sending Cat into a tailspin of emotions that lands her in Tartarus, the misty valley that houses doomed souls like Prometheus and Tantalus. Cat has a lot to live for: she's carrying her first child, she loves her husband and her new family, she's the embodiment of hope for the people of Thalyria. But first she must save herself from the harrowing prison ostensibly designed to last forever, and in order to do that, she has to embrace her magic and step into the full glory of who she is, learning to forgive herself and to believe she is worthy of everything good she has wrought. Then she must confront her mother with all the magic, strength, self-possession, and compassion she has learned along the way and step fully into her destiny as the queen of a united Thalyria, with King Griffin by her side.
Bouchet's stunning Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy ends the way it began, with creativity, brilliance, and a breathtaking balance of heart-pounding adventure and heart-wrenching emotion.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Bouchet, Amanda: HEART ON FIRE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Nov. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A512028672/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=05c0d550. Accessed 9 Feb. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A512028672
Sunday, December 24, 2017
Review: Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet
Book Three of the Kingmaker Chronicles
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Date: January 2, 2018
Rating: 2 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
Who is Catalia Fisa?
With the help of pivotal figures from her past, Cat begins to understand the root of her exceptional magic, her fated union with Griffin Sinta, and Griffin's role in shaping her destiny.
Only Cat holds the key to unlocking her own power, and that means finally accepting herself, her past, and her future in order to protect her loved ones, confront her murderous mother, and taking a final, terrifying step--reuniting all three realms and taking her place as the Queen of Thalyria.
What doesn't kill her will only make her stronger...we hope.
What I Liked:
Heart on Fire was not a fun ride for me. It wasn't all bad, but it definitely wasn't all good. I found myself more annoyed with the book than anything else, despite enjoying parts here and there. The book felt lackluster compared to the previous two books - in fact, I think it's safe to say that the series went straight downhill after book one. Book two was good but not as good as book one... book three lacked a lot of quality.
In this sequel novel, Cat and Griffin must defeat Cat's mother once and for all. But to do so, Cat must reach into her powers and control them, which she has yet to do. The kingdom of Thalyria is in her hands. If she can't find control, everything falls.
Things I liked... I enjoyed the romance. Griffin and Cat are a strong, solid pair, and this book proves that they are good for each other and good together. There are moments when Cat is afraid of how much the Gods interfered with their lives to direct their fates, but nothing ever comes between Griffin and Cat. I love how devoted they are to each other - it's absolutely not one-sided, not by far. Their trust and respect for each other really grows and strengthens in this book.
I adore Griffin, though he seemed to be a little one-dimensional in this book (i.e. only obsessed with Cat's safety and well-being). On the one hand, this is great theoretically... on the other hand, the man should have other priorities and interests. I love Griffin, with his strength, loyalty, and warrior/warlord overprotective, dominating nature, but I wish he had more to him besides being up Cat's a**. Boys today have hobbies like video games and sports. Griffin needs hobbies. I still love him. He's my favorite character of the series. But. One-dimensional.
The pacing of the story is good - I never got bored and I rolled right along to the end. I didn't necessarily like the story but I had no trouble getting through the book. So that's a plus! The author's writing has improved with each other. (I can't say the same about other things).
Cat is something I will talk about in the next section. I couldn't stand her. However, I will say that I'm glad she finally realized her potential and got over herself (girlfriend has been moping and wallowing for the entire series).
Hmmm, I thought there was more that I liked. I'll have to reconsider my rating. I didn't even really like the ending!
What I Did Not Like:
I could not staaaand Cat. I understand that the author was trying to portray her as feminist and strong and kickbutt and blah blah blah but Cat came across as very self-centered and self-involved in this book. Everything was about her, especially with the amount of wallowing and self-pitying she was doing. Throw in the fact that she is suuuuuper special on all fronts and we have a girl with a massive ego! Take it down a notch, sweetie! I don't like it when male protagonists have huge egos. I like it just as little when female protagonists have huge egos.
And on that note -- why is it that Cat has every single special power conceivable? She has the powers of the Gods, just because? How is it that she is so magical and powerful and a special snowflake? I didn't understand this - it seemed like a lot of deus ex machina. Cat had absolutely no flaws when it came to her abilities - abilities kept manifesting and manifesting and again, it seemed to be a lot of deus ex machina. I wasn't buying the whole "hard to kill" thing. I wasn't buying the "child of the Gods" thing. It seemed like a lot of luck and a free-for-all when it came to Cat claiming abilities left and right.
Back on the whole egoistical thing - please explain to me why Griffin was so wholly and utterly obsessed with Cat and only Cat. The man lived and breathed for her - I don't understand why? It was beyond obsession - I mean, he was literally created for her therefore he is her puppet? Like I said in the previous section, men tend to have hobbies... why is Griffin only focused on Cat? Isn't he the one conquering realms, leading his (royal) family, etc.? He seemed so one-dimensional because his priority was only Cat, and that to me is FAKE. Not sexy.
Seguing into my next complaint - WHY is Cat the queen of Thalyria and HOW is she such. I don't understand. She literally does N O T H I N G for Thalyria (other than face her mother three times in the book and hesitating every single time and letting her mother the evil witch escape every time). Everyone else fights for Thalyria, dies for Thalyria, goes to the ends of the earth for Thalyria, but Cat... Cat lets everyone do the work for her. Instead, she drags Griffin on some merry quest to find a magic potion that will magic help her control her powers... meanwhile her powers are utter crap and when they find the potion, it doesn't work (you'll see what I mean). Cat. Is. Useless. The author elevated Cat to Queen (and put her over Griffin even though he is King) because that's the ~feminist~ way to write fiction these days -- bulls**t. Cat has no experience being a royal and no business being a queen. She. Is. Useless.
Let me repeat: U S E L E S S.
The author has YET to address Kato's trauma from book two! Helloooo, the man went through rape and we don't see any kind of PTSD or lasting emotional or mental impacts? Did he just magically forget about the experience? There is no mention of it, and Kato pretty goes about his business as usual. This is TERRIBLE storytelling. You can't put a fairly "main" character through some serious trauma and NOT ADDRESS IT.
The ending was awful! It was one of those endings in which the war is over and la dee dah, the book is over! Everyone lives happily ever after! Never mind that they are uniting three realms, which is ALWAYS very peaceful and happy. Sure, Jan.
This book was a mess.
Would I Recommend It:
I actually do not recommend this book. I mean, don't leave the series hanging, if you've read books one and two. If you've only read book one, I would recommend stopping there. Book one is the best of the series. Book two is okay but not amazing. Book three is crap and a big mess. Of course, these are my opinions. I'm pretty upset that the series is concluding badly (for me), with this mess of a book. There was a distinct lack of quality, and I think that comes from a lack of experience and a desperate needs to force a "feminist" character with feminist themes into the book. Instead we have a Mary Sue that gets all the credit but does no work.
Rating:
2.5 stars -> rounded down to 2 stars. I tried! I really did. This series had so much potential. Now I'm glad I didn't preorder the book because I would have surely cancelled the preorder. I'm not sure I'll read anything by this author again - maybe? Maybe not.
Heart on Fire
Amanda Bouchet
Buy This Book
Oh, what a letdown, when a series starts off so strongly (I nominated Bouchet for debut author of the year in 2016) but can’t stick the landing. Cat Fisa, married to the warlord Griffin, has made progress overthrowing the corrupt Alphas ruling her land, but the biggest challenge of all remains: Alpha Fisa, Cat’s powerful and vicious mother.
Cat and Griffin are still solid. I like practical, competent Griffin and his unwavering love for family and faith in Cat, but I wish he’d had more to do than just be Cat’s rock amidst her flailing quest for confidence. Cat, meanwhile, has legitimate mental and physical (her unreliable god-given powers, her pregnancy) issues to work through, but does them in such an over-narrated and navel-gazing way that it becomes annoying. Also, I question the idea that people called their fetuses ‘Little Bean’ before ultrasounds and embryology.
The biggest problem in Heart on Fire is pacing. The first chapter begins with a confrontation in which Piers, Griffin’s brother, hates Cat sufficiently to summon the war god Ares to take Cat away permanently. Obviously, Cat doesn’t want to go to endless war, but Ares has to have the soul of one of the people present. Identities are revealed – it turns out people Cat knew were gods in disguise – in a way that starts to feel silly, like Scooby-Doo (“The monster was the goddess Demeter all along!”). It takes FIVE CHAPTERS of talking and mental narration by Cat for this one issue to be resolved the way anybody with two brain cells will predict from the moment Piers casts his spell. The whole book is this way – 418 pages of words; under 200 pages of content. It’s ironic that a stretch of time of the book is set in Tartarus, the Greek afterlife of unchanging torment (and even more ironic that that’s the most interesting section of the book).
Now that we are in literal deus-ex-machina territory, that becomes problem two. Once gods enter a plot, not just setting plans in motion but walking among the mortals, the actions of the characters start to feel less purposeful. Every problem the characters face could be solved by gods, so why don’t they solve them? (Don’t worry, they’ll justify themselves at length). When the gods DO resolve issues, as when Ares reveals a new power to Cat, that’s a problem too, since we need to know why the gods didn’t act earlier. Ares says Cat “wasn’t ready” for her power before. That’s a cop-out made lamer by the fact that she wasn’t ready when he DID show it to her. Plus, they argue about it while Griffin is literally trapped in a burning building, which is a perfect example of how everybody in this book but Griffin needs to shut up.
There is one satisfying, well-crafted fight scene, but the main ending to the conflict with Cat’s mother is weirdly anticlimactic. There’s something to like about the boldness of that – playing off of our expectations for a showdown – but the novel is so flawed that it reads less like ‘interesting subversion’” and more like ‘this author has lost control of this book’.
Heart on Fire is annoying rather than awful, and if it hadn’t come from a series I’d had such good experiences with, it might have scored higher. Disappointing always hurts me as a reader more than bad-with-no-expectations. I can’t help but wonder if the author spent a long time on her début and then rushed things once she was under contract. Regardless, “rushing” is what you, as a reader, will be doing. The most compelling reason to read this book is closure, and while it’s good for Cat and Griffin, supporting characters are left so unresolved (and some don’t survive) that yet another dimension of reading becomes frustrating. If you really want to see the ending, get it from the library and skim.
Book Details
Reviewer : Caroline Russomanno
Grade : C
Sensuality : Warm
Book Type : Fantasy Romance
Review Tags : The Kingmaker Chronicles