Wind & Wildfire

A Mages of the Wheel Prequel

De: J.D. Evans

Narrado por: Tim Campbell, Caren Naess

He is the future sultan, a man who wields brutal magic and only knows how to be what they’ve made him. She is a commoner, a woman who champions the vulnerable and treads where she does not belong.

Dilay Akar is the daughter of a judge. By day, she trains the wealthy in magic, and by night, she breaks the Sultan’s laws. But even those closest to her do not always appreciate what she is striving for, or believe that she can achieve it.

Omar Sabri is the Sultan’s tool, flaying minds open to obtain their secrets and truths. Everyone who looks at him sees only the prince—or the monster. Even he cannot see the man beneath the power and the position.

When Omar secretly enlists Dilay’s help in controlling his magic, it sets off a chain of events that will reshape Tamar for generations to come. Dilay will have to choose between the familiar and the powerful; between people she cares for, and whether to hurt one to help many.

The Wheel turns for balance in all things, and where love springs, may also spring hate.

©2020 J.D. Evans (P)2023 Podium Audio

Great story and narrator!

I loved getting to learn about Naime’s parents. The narrator did another incredible job honoring the character’s personalities!

Better than expected

I wasn’t hesitant to read a prequel when I was already engrossed in the main story. That worry, however was unfounded and unnecessary. This prequel does contain tons of hints, breadcrumbs and Easter eggs for the plot of the main series. At the heart, however, is another stirring romance filled with trial and triumph as the wheel demands. J D Evans is an author of remarkable talent.

Read first or after book 1

I read this after book 1 and it was satisfying. The author has a knack for romance but be prepared for a slow burn. I enjoyed this book as much as the others.

Wow!

What a wonderful story! Amazing setting. Wonderfully original magic system. A forbidden romance. Excellent storytelling!

Ooooph - one of the best in the series so far.

Wow. This love story. It was everything. I think this is tied with book 1 for best in the series so far.

One of my very favorite books!

Not gonna lie…this is like my fifth read through of this amazing book!!!! (And I think I’ve written almost as many reviews for it). I honestly do not think I could love this story any more! It is one of those books I listen to when I need a little pick me up…a little happiness in the form of words, magic, and romance…a most perfect escape!!!

Delay is the daughter of a judge, a low born noble straddling the line between the lower class and the nobility, a young woman pushing into a man’s world as a teacher at the university…and a criminal teaching the young lower class and voids…and she yearns to be more and do more.

And…Omar…well…Omar is a crown prince with a secret…a secret of magic that is out of control and leaves him unable to touch or be touched by anyone…ever…without bloody and debilitating reactions for both parties. All he wants is to live a normal life…if only he could find a way to control the veritor magic that controls him. And has for the last 14 years.

But…soon Omar and Delay’s lives will become intertwined in ways in which neither could have expected.

This story is pure Romance and Magic! Control and Intent! Political Intrigue and Fighting for what is right even if it means breaking the law! Forgiveness and Loss! And I LOVE every last word of it!!!

The characters are just FANTASTIC and IMPECCABLY WRITTEN!!! To be completely honest with you…Omar is undoubtably my very very favorite MMC in Indie Fantasy! He is the most delicious combination of bookish hero, delightful cinnamon roll, and tortured soul and I just love him! So! Very! Much! Then you have Delay who is just intriguing and determined and completely altruistic. She doesn’t mind breaking all the rules as long as she can right that wrongs of Temar. I aspire to be a Delay type person…although…i can admit I am no where near as lovely and awesome and wonderful as she. Then you have the villains…oh the villains…whom you love to hate with every fiber of your soul. Who make you cringe…then sympathize…then…fill you full of all the loathing and hate…yes…Evans wrote the villains just right. They are the friends and enemies that are just so real because they are those people that could really step from the pages and walk among us. They are characters with manorisms…hopes…beliefs…desires…and evil in them…and they could easily be real. Yes…these characters are some of the best I’ve ever read!

The world building, as in all of The Mages of the Wheel Series, is absolutely top notch! Evans is a veritable genius to have developed her world filled with a Middle Eastern Flare, based around the Wheel, with it’s complex and yet intriguing magic and lore, and all of the different roles in society.

Then there is the Romance…oh yes…the romance…Evans is a master when it comes to writing unique and delicious romance. This story is a tad more on the slow burn side of things but once the fire is lit it turns into an inferno! Yes…there is a bit of on the page s3x. But for this story the spice is just so well written and I would argue that it is entirely necessary for the development of both Delay and Omar’s characters, as well as to the story itself!!!

Now this was an audio reread so I just must mention the amazing job the narrators performed. I’ve always been a fan of Tim Campbell so it isn’t at all surprising that he performed amazingly. But I also absolutely adore Caren Naess. I really do not think Evans could have asked for better narrators!!! Their performances are just *Chef’s Kiss*

So if you love a great story filled with intriguing magic, deep and interesting world building, some of the most unique and completely realized characters I’ve ever read, and a delicious romance that balances perfectly between slow burn, intense, and spicy, you NEED to read Wind & Wildfire!

Pretty good

I put off reading the prequel because I already knew that they don’t really get a happily ever after, at least not for very long. But I saw a post on Reddit where everyone said that it was their favorite book in the series so I started it. And I did enjoy it a lot. It hooked me enough to keep going with the series and read the next book on KU.

Incredible story, brilliant narration

My expectations were low for a prequel but omg this might be my favorite book in the series. The character development, the magic system, the relationship dynamics are all done so beautifully.

I read this after book 3 which was perfect.

Such a special series

This entire series has stolen my heart. The writing is so beautiful— the world created, the believable and nuanced characters, the unique system of magic…the romance. I love everything about it.

On top of that, the narration is SO well done. My favorite of any audio book I’ve listened to.

My favorite book series!

I’ve never enjoyed a book series more. The way the author wrote with detail and emotion made me feel absorbed in the story. The world building is more intricate than any other book I’ve read but is done so well I never got lost or confused. The way magic and characters personalities are intertwined make both more complex and beautiful. I can’t wait for the author to release more books!