Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
In Six Words: A dark, dangerous, sexy paranormal historical
Links
Kristen Callihan – Website | Twitter
Amazon – Paperback | Kindle
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Synopsis
Once the flames are ignited . . .
Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family’s fortune decimated and forced her to wed London’s most nefarious nobleman.
They will burn for eternity . . .
Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it’s selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can’t help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn’t felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.
My Thoughts
This is a book that I heard a lot about before I ever picked it up. For just this reason, I was decidedly nervous about it. When I have expectations, I expect to have them met. WHO DOESN’T? I am pleased (PLEASED) to say that this book lived up to the hype. It was dark, gritty, mysterious, and full of fun.
A very big part of the allure was trying to figure out what had happened to Archer, what sort of supernatural critter he was and what sort of supernatural ability this translated to. All these little hints are dropped and I kept examining them up and down to figure things out. It was fantastic. It kept me on the edge of my seat. Throw in the undeniable attraction between Miranda and Archer, the dark and deadly secondary characters (Helllllo, Ian!), and the horror of what the bad guy was capable of and you have a book that kept me captivated from beginning to end.
This is a tough review to write without giving too much away. I’ll just say that I’m usually not a big fan of people lying to their significant other but the reasoning behind the lies worked for me. The reasoning behind so much of what happened here worked for me. I am absolutely intrigued by the world building and what the future holds for this series. More, I say. MOAR!
On a completely random note, I am ENTHRALLED by this cover. It’s so very, very purty!
Amanda @ On a Book Bender October 17, 2012 at 8:48 am
I think I already told you this, but I totally bought this book after reading your review. TOTALLY.
Also, it’s your BIRTHDAY. Yay! *throws confetti*
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 17, 2012 at 9:04 am
Yes, you did tell me! It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
*throws more confetti* It’s going to be a downright confetti-riffic day!
Kristilyn (Reading in Winter) October 17, 2012 at 9:16 am
The cover is very pretty!! And it sounds like a pretty good read! And there’s a Diana Gabaldon blurb on the front! SO MANY GOOD THINGS!
*joins in with the confetti throwing*
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 17, 2012 at 9:32 am
*throws shiny, sparkly confetti*
The cover was one that I loved the first time I saw it. So purty! I was impressed by this book all around. Fun with a side of fire!
Jenny October 17, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Um. I really want to know what Archer is now too. I’m not a big fan of keeping secrets, but if the reason for it makes sense and it’s not to play games, then I think I’ll be to good to go with it. I’m thinking this book needs to be introduced to my Kindle. Right now:)
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 17, 2012 at 4:03 pm
You do want to know what Archer is. YOU DO!
I’ve ranted several times about people keeping life altering secrets in books but this one worked for me. So… uhh, take that as you will.
SaraO@TheLibrarianReads October 17, 2012 at 4:13 pm
I was totally drawn to this review due to cover love as well! When it popped up in my google reader I was all, like, “oooh, pretty *click*” I haven’t heard of this book/series though…but since it’s got a pretty cover (I’m shallow) and a great, teaser-y review from you (obviously I’m also very intelligent ;) ) I think I’m going to pick this one up. I need a magic-filled read for the Halloween season…Thanks!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 17, 2012 at 5:05 pm
The cover makes me happpppy! This was such a hard review to write without giving anything away! I kept taking bits of it out and rewriting it so I wouldn’t spoil anything. Yay that it caught your fancy!
Sarah (saz101) October 17, 2012 at 8:00 pm
OMG.
KELLY.
IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY? HAPPY BIIIIIRTHDAY! ♥
Also: OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. SO MUCH. I was seriously surprised at it. I think I expected high-camp, fun, silly, romp, along the lines of Gail Carriger’s Soulless… and I was SURPRISED.
There’s so much… DEPTH. And I was SO invested in the romance and and and *bounces* EXACTLY WHAT YOU SAID!
AND NOW BOOK TWO IS OUT! MOON GLOW! *grabby hands* WANT!
“More, I say. MOAR!”
SECONDED!
♥
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 17, 2012 at 8:36 pm
Thaaannnnnnk you!
I went into it with fears FEARS and I ended up liking it SO MUCH! I kinda loved Ian, too, so I’m excited about book 2!
Amy @ bookgoonie October 17, 2012 at 10:01 pm
It sure is a purty cover.
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 18, 2012 at 8:55 am
It sure is.
Felicia October 18, 2012 at 6:52 am
It was dark, gritty, mysterious, and full of fun…..
This is my favorite combo! Seriously if a book can do all 3 it has me hooked. I will have to give this one a whirl :)
I do love the cover!
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 18, 2012 at 8:56 am
It’s fun, Felicia. FUN! *huggles it hard*
Alexa October 21, 2012 at 2:56 pm
I have heard such awesome things about this from other reviewers that I bought a copy shortly after it released but sadly never got the chance to sit down and read it yet.
I’m so glad that you enjoyed it so much and I can’t wait to see what you think of the second book because sometimes that can help to decide if a series is worth continuing or not.
Thanks for the awesome review
Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal October 22, 2012 at 3:33 pm
You’re welcome! I hope you get a chance to read it soon!