Smexy Books

Romance and Urban Fantasy Reviews

  • Review Request
  • Contact
    • Smexy Reviewers Profiles
    • New Reviewer Application
    • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • By Genre
      • BDSM
      • Contemporary
      • Erotic
      • Fantasy
      • F/F
      • Historical Romance
      • Historical PNR
      • LGBTQ+
      • M/M Romance
      • New Adult
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Suspense
      • Young Adult
    • By Letter Grade Rating
      • A Reviews
      • B Reviews
      • C Reviews
      • D Reviews
      • DNF Reviews
  • Features
    • New Releases
    • Smexy Deals!
    • Retro Review
    • Weekly Wrap-Up
    • Blog Tour
    • Scenic Sunday
    • To Be Read
    • Guest Post
    • Top Ten/Happy Friday
    • Smex Scene Sunday
  • The Psy/Changeling Channel
You are here: Home / Amanda Bouchet / Retro Review: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Retro Review: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

March 8, 2025 by Angela Leave a Comment

Review originally posted in August of 2016 by Angela at Fiction Vixen.

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet
The Kingmaker Chronicles #1
Fantasy Romance
August 2, 2016 by Sourcebooks

For the last several months I’ve picked up every fantasy and science fiction book that looked even remotely interesting. Always searching for something to capture my attention and leave me edgy and excited for what was to come next. A Promise of Fire did just that. A mix of mythology and magic set in a fantastical world, I was engaged from the moment I read the first word right up until the wee hours of the night when I, bleary eyed and tired, read the last.

Cat has been hiding out in a traveling magical, mystical circus for the last eight years. She works as a soothsayer, although her gifts lie more in the way of truth-telling and guessing. She holds unimaginable power, but desperately works to keep her magical gifts hidden as to not draw unwanted attention to herself. Not even the friends she trusts the most are aware of the truth of her bloody, terrifying past. Underneath her clever disguise and among her loving friends within the circus Cat is safe.

Then while working one day she is confronted by a warlord and his crew. Asked to perform as a soothsayer she is ultimately revealed as a truth teller. This Warlord isn’t just any warlord either, he’s the Beta of the newest ruling faction of one of the three lands in this world. He’s also human and has figured out that Cat is a legendary Kingmaker. With no magical powers, just the strength of their army and the belief that they will do right by their people, Griffin’s family has a tenuous control over their new kingdom, but with Cat they could be so much stronger. So Griffin and his Beta team kidnap her, bind her with a magical rope and head toward home.

Let’s be honest, kidnapping the heroine may not be palatable to some readers and I hope this doesn’t turn you off. Yes, Griffin does remove Cat from her safe place, but oh, what an adventure they have once they get on the road. Cat isn’t a pushover, but rather strong and magically gifted and at times incredibly amusing. Griffin turns out to be steadfast and honorable, ready to defend his family no matter what the costs to himself. As he and Cat, along with his brother and team mates, travel through dangerous lands, they find themselves repeatedly in life or death situations where they must battle their way out. Cat comes through time and again, but with every rescue her staggeringly powerful abilities are revealed, as well as clues to her past.

Cat tries so hard to not become drawn in by the playful protectiveness of the members of Beta team, but she gradually begins to trust and care. She becomes part of the group and then is welcomed with open arms by Griffin’s family. Which pretty much goes against every lesson she ever learned at the hand of her mother. But she just can’t help herself and I truly enjoyed watching her find a new safe place with a new group of people who have her back. She and Griffin have this back and forth, obvious attraction that builds slowly as the story moves forward. You will want them to be together. They felt like two pieces of a puzzle that fit together just right.

A Promise of Fire hit all my buttons. Fantastic world-building? Check. Strong, powerful heroine? Check. Swoon worthy hero? Check. Amazing secondary characters who I can’t wait to get to know better? Check. This looks to be a trilogy and you can bet I am counting down the days until the next release. I highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy romance. Final Grade- A-

Favorite Quote:

“I shiver, rattled by his words. “You’ll regret pledging yourself to me. It will cut your life short.”

“You’re my life now. We’ll live together, or die trying.”

Amazon
Bookshop.org
Goodreads

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • More
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Filed Under: Amanda Bouchet, Angela, Discussion, fantasy romance, Retro Review, Sourcebooks

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to Smexy! If you are reader feel free to use our search feature to find a specific book or browse through our features to find Smexy Deals, New Releases, and book news!

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords,  Booksamillion, and Bookshop,org.

 

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

Angela

Melanie

Jen

Kate

Iby

Kate H.

Sign Up for Daily Emails


Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on Instagram

Top Posts & Pages

  • Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
    Smexy’s Top Ten Favorite Sex Scenes of 2012
  • Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
    Review: Manacled by SenLinYu
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday
  • New Releases- Week of May 5-9, 2025
    New Releases- Week of May 5-9, 2025
  • Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
    Steamy Excerpt from Everything's Better With Lisa by Lucy Eden
  • Review: Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
    Review: Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger
  • Retro Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
    Retro Review: The Bride Test by Helen Hoang
  • Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
    Review: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
  • Smex Scene Sunday
    Smex Scene Sunday
  • Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart
    Review: The Finish Line by Kate Stewart

Disclosure

The majority of the books reviewed at this site have been provided for free by publishers, authors, or other third parties like NetGalley or Edelweiss. Acceptance of a free copy does not guarantee a review or a positive review.

As an Amazon Associate, we do earn from qualifying purchases. We also earn a small commission on affiliate links to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Booksamillion.

Shop our Affiliates!

Amazon

B&N

Apple

Smashwords

Booksamillion

 

Find Our Reviewers

Angela @fv-angela.bsky.social l Goodreads

Melanie @melonreads.bsky.social l  Goodreads

Jen .@thebooknista l Goodreads

Kate  @kateminasian l Goodreads

Iby Instagram l Goodreads

Kate H. @Naranjadia l Goodreads

Copyright © 2025 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d