A Promise of Fire. Amanda Bouchet

Published:Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date: August 2nd 2016
Format: Paperback
Pages: 420
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Own book
Rating:
             

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

How do you find a new author to read? Well I read a few lines from Nalini Singh on Facebook I think saying how much she enjoyed A Promise of Fire. I sit up and take notice because I like Nalini Singh's writing so why wouldn't I like a reading recommendation from her.

I look the book up on Goodreads - five people I follow rate it a four or five. Another plus. So I order it and now I've read it and.... loved it. It says on the inside cover of the book ....

       If you like....

Cool world building * A Kick Ass heroine * Pulse pounding adventure * snappy banter * An uber-alpha male warlord hero...   

YOU'LL LOVE THE KINGMAKER CHRONICLES.

Like Bobbi Dumas at Kirkus Reviews I turned up my nose a bit as I started reading. In the first person and present tense. I hate that.... or do I. By the second page I couldn't have cared less, I was totally engrossed in this new world.

All of the above is true, and if you like that and enjoy a good fantasy novel this just could be one for you. Cat is a heroine that could be related to Percy Jackson. She seems to have the Greek gods on her side and has an awful lot of magic to boot. She is rather chary of family, her mother has to be hands down one of the worst. So when Cat first meets her circus family and then Griffin's family, please excuse her for being more than a little sceptical. 

Griffin's family is newly taken over a country, one of three, and they are proving to be a new kind of ruler. Ones who actually want to rule rather than grab all the power. But in no way are they weak.

If you listen to audiobook, Kimba over at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer recommends A Promise of Fire on audio.  Its not available to me where I live but if it were I'd listen to it soon!  Thank goodness I am lucky enough to have the second book for review. It comes out in January but I'll be reading it sooner rather than later!