Breath of Fire

Starred review from November 28, 2016
Bouchet ramps up the excitement in her second Kingmaker Chronicles fantasy romance (after A Promise of Fire) with high-intensity passion; adrenaline-fueled battles of wits, magic, and might; a host of magical creatures; and enough politics and world-shaking to keep readers eager for the final volume. Catalia Fisa is the “impetuous,” “reckless,” and “terrifyingly selfless” Lost Princess, inheritor of the bloodline of the gods. She has become both the lover of Sintan warlord Griffin and a key piece of his strategy to unite the three realms of Thalyria under a single ruler. But her powerful, sadistic mother, Andromeda, stands in their way at every turn. Bouchet treads gently as she develops the larger-than-life aspects of her setting, and godly support and oracular wisdom build dramatic tension around the idea of fate without falling into deus ex machina. Griffin’s good intentions make his possessive alpha jealousy feel loving, Cat’s sharp tongue and personal insecurities balance her magical powers, and the emotional complexity of the relationships among their fellow fighters supports a feeling of camaraderie that makes the fight scenes really work. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary.

The second book in Bouchet's Kingmaker Chronicles picks up where the first left off: Cat is racing heedlessly into danger with Griffin at her side trying his best to keep her safe. But the stakes are much higher this time as they battle to unite the warring kingdoms of Thalyria, and Mia Barron reflects that in her dramatic narration. Gods, humans, and magical creatures populate the story, and Barron gives them all appropriate voices. The occasional contemporary idiom feels slightly at odds with the setting, but fans will anxiously await the conclusion of this mythology-inspired trilogy. K.M.P. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine