A Promise of Fire

By: Amanda Bouchet

Narrated by: Mia Barron

Length: 14 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

The perfect pause-resisting romance debut for fans of Game of Thrones.

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 she battles her captor at every turn.

Although up for the fight, 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.

©2016 Amanda Bouchet (P)2016 Recorded Books

Really good start to the series :)

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story and start to the series. I really liked both Cat and Griffin and enjoyed their beginning. This story takes place in an alternate reality that has a heavy basis in the Greek mythologies...it was a very interesting concept and I liked it.

Cat is from the country of Fisa, a place that she escaped in order to save her life and/or sanity. She hid in a travelling circus acting as a soothsayer and has been with them for the past 8 years. Cat has magical abilities (and a destiny that's tied to her being the Kingmaker) and people would be after her for her abilities so she keeps who and what she is secret, even from her friends.

Griffin is a the non-magical second-in-command of the country of Sinta (he pretty much took over the country and put his sister in charge of it with him as her second). He won the country away from the magical rulers and the commoners seem happy with the new leaders. The magical elite don't like the new rule and Griffin is on a mission to seek out people with magic that he can hire to help him.

In his searching, Griffin comes across Cat and is relatively sure she's the Kingmaker. He watches her for a while before approaching her and when he does approach, he asks her (as a soothsayer) to read his companions and tell him if they're all loyal. Griffin already had his doubts about one of the men and Cat's ability to gain the truth convinces Griffin that he's found the right woman. Griffin uses a magical rope to bind Cat to him and kidnaps her to take her back to the ruling seat of Sinta. Cat is pissed to be captured and won't listen when Griffin and his men try to win her over to work with them instead of being a prisoner. The thing is, even though Griffin knows that Cat is the Kingmaker, that's not the only issue. Who Cat is, is as big of a secret as what Cat is (the Kingmaker) and she wants to escape because if anyone found out who she is and where she's located, all hell would rain down on anyone with her.

Cat tries to stay pissed at Griffin and his men but she soon finds that she likes them...although she still insists that she hates Griffin because he's the one keeping her against her will. They do run into some issues on the way back to the Sinta ruling seat but manage to get past them and in doing so, Cat finds herself feeling even more comradery with Griffin and his men. They make it back to the castle and Cat finds the new rulers of Sinta to be vastly different than the rulers of Fisa. Griffin's family is actually nice....maybe a bit too nice if they're going to be the ruling family. Cat is a bit annoyed by this but soon finds herself becoming protective and doing what she can to help Griffin's family learn what they need to to continue their reign. Griffin continues to pursue Cat and with reluctance, Cat starts to respond and eventually they come together. There are more troubles that pop up but Griffin and Cat are able to get past them and end the story heading toward a HEA together (but there are still some unresolved things that will need to be addressed in the following books).

This was a really enjoyable story. I really liked Cat. I got a little annoyed about her tendency to push Griffin away because she's convinced that she can't be with anyone without risking them. Considering I'm 95% sure who she really is, I can understand her fears but I think she needed to be open to the possibilities since the Gods seemed to be on her and Griffin's side. Griffin was a really good hero. I wasn't thrilled that he kidnapped Cat but I really can't think of any other way he could gotten her on his side and outside of that, he was great. Overall, I really liked this new world and the characters in it. I'm looking forward to more books in the series and would definitely recommend this one. :D

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Almost Didn't Finish... Awful

What disappointed you about A Promise of Fire?

Oh BOY, where do I begin? I normally don't write reviews because I'm not adept at it BUT I will try .....
The story was simply awful. Started off promising and just kept getting worse and worse with awful plot devices. The main character Cat is supposed to be this badazz "Kingmaker" but she falls to pieces over the roguish Griffin/Beta, who kidnaps her for his "own use".
It started off interesting enough. Cat the southsayer trying to escape and stay hidden, but it turns out Cat conveniently has (or is able to get) god-like powers, is able to steal magic, can ride dragons, call gods for help, is a trained killing machine, is a southsayer and related to the God Poseidon & MORE.... it was all a bit too much IMO. And it all comes out in the nick of time fashion, very deux ex machina.
Cat also has body issues *eye roll* ( it's as if the author had an idea board and said I'm going to put ALL of these things in ONE BOOK) and she remarks on her weight, in a annoying and obvious way.
The romance was nauseating. I don't get all the 5 stars and I'm not referring to the kidnapping part. Griffin makes remarks about her weight, and how he thought she was OLDER and he's glad she's YOUNGER and not experienced. Oh yea, joy! And Cat, the same badazz magic stealing, dragon riding, God-like heroine, melts and swoons. Her inner dialogue about how she never imagined she'd hear those words or have someone say those words is pathetic. Several chapters of the last 1/2 of the book were about Cat & Griffin going back n forth kissing. IDK if the author was trying to convey a build up of sexual tension or what, but Cat went from sounding like 20'syr, to a middle school'r not wanting to kiss, wanting to kiss, not wanting to kiss. Throw in the cliche jealous ex-girlfriend with every cliche'd phrase out there, and you complete the "Romance". Barf.
The ending was inane and it didn't surprise me.
NO! I will not continue this series, I BARELY finished this. AWFUL! Save your credits, $

37 of 40 people found this review helpful

For Lovers of Fantasy and Romance

This book doesn't disappoint. I read reviews before buying and did notice as others did that the Narrator isn't as apt with male voices but it didn't greatly distract from my enjoyment. I've always loved romance novels but ironically as an adult discovered I love fantasy too. Unfortunately I usually have to go the YA route to get the world building I've come to love but often those lack the grown up passion I desire in romantic story telling. This book gives you both! It is Awesome!

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Great start to a new series

Any additional comments?

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2
Wonderful!! This was an excellent start to Ms. Bouchet’s Kingmaker Trilogy. I am already excited for the next two books in this series. A Promise of Fire kept my attention from page one. I just loved Cat. She is a mystery that slowly unravels as the story goes on. But with each mystery solved another one takes it place. Griffin is the perfect match for the very feisty Cat. Griffin is a bit of a jerk in the beginning but like Cat he is full of surprises.
I also love a book where you not only fall in love with the main characters but the secondary characters too. I can’t wait to see what happens with Cat, Griffin and the whole Beta Team!!!

I also had the pleasure of listening to A Promise of Fire on audio. I love finding new narrators to listen too. Mia Barron does a pretty good job narrating this book. If there was one item I can say that took me a bit to get use to was Griffin’s voice. It was not what I originally had thought that Beta Sinta would sound like. But after a few chapters I got use to Ms. Barron’s interpretation of his voice. I will be picking up the second book on audio also (as long as they don’t change narrators. It is the quickest way to look me as a listener)

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley & SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Graphic Sex

Be warned- the second half of the book has graphic sex, lots of it. I couldn't finish the story, when sex gave her back her "life force" I quit reading. It got dumb. Plus, the narrator really needs to develop her male voices, they all sounded the same and like a girl with a cold. This book could have been really good, I'm sad the plot had to rely so much on sex and I won't be reading the next one. 😕

17 of 20 people found this review helpful

I'm not a big fantasy reader...but now I'm a convert!

Loved this exciting fantasy romance that has elements of magic and steeped in Greek mythology. I loved the battles scenes and I'm always a sucker for enemies to lovers romance. I am excited for the sequel! Great performance by Mia Barron!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Love it!!

I personally did not love the reader. I thought at times she could have used more emotion in her voice. But the story is so good you don't even care!!! I can't wait till book two come out in January!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Hot!

This book was hard to put down to the extreme. I have to say, it was the hottest kind of hot (like Death Valley in midsummer with an electric heat blanket, hot!).

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Finally, sex is not in every other chapter!

What made the experience of listening to A Promise of Fire the most enjoyable?

I must confess I still enjoy a good story. And with failing eye sight I have grown found of audio books. But it is getting harder and harder to find authors who do not moonlight as soft porn sellers.

The story was really good and the ending gave just enough for you to want to find out more about these characters. The female lead was a bit inconsistent with "I want him...I don't want him" that got a little old by the end of the book. However, I loved the male lead staying dominant without abuse or over the top violence. However, I would enjoy it more when we get to hear what he is thinking as well sometimes. Most of the time the female lead just rambles on and on.

What other book might you compare A Promise of Fire to and why?

Fantasy land stories but with a lot more dialog from the male lead.

Have you listened to any of Mia Barron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No this is my first book with her and she was great. I loved the variety of her male voices.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did. I only stopped to go to work and come back home to continue the story.

Any additional comments?

I am sure I am not the only book lover who's taste are a bit too mature for the first love and growing pains of most fantasy stories and would prefer not to have sex take up half the book. This was a great example of what I want to have in a story. Narration included.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Eclectic Fantasy

It's a strange mix of modern speech mixed with greek mythology. Though it all flows together well. Great story, good pacing. One weird thing is the heroine is strong but in no way a Mary Sue, where as the Hero is very much a Gary Sue. Hopefully he's fleshed out in the future.