#BookReview – “Firelight” by Kristen Callihan

Blurb

Once the flames are ignited . . . 

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.

Review

In book one in the Darkest London series, Miranda Ellis’s crooked father lost the family fortune, so she has no choice but to steal in order to survive. Then her father forces her into a marriage with Lord Archer, a wealthy man rumored to have a violent temper. Miranda can create fire from just thinking about it, and though she’s determined to never let Archer know about it, she’s prepared to use it to protect herself if need be.

Benjamin Archer hides his face behind a mask due to a mysterious accident from years earlier. People shun him, believing he’s a monster and a murderer, and he prefers that fear and scorn to pity. He marries Miranda, believing she’s the one person capable of accepting and understanding him for whom he truly is, but he still refuses to show her his face and share his secrets with her.

Wow. This couple just downright refused to communicate. Both of them had huge secrets, and neither of them trusted the other well enough to share those secrets. This became really tiresome after a while. Though they formed a strong friendship and genuinely liked one another, their romance felt forced because of the lies and tension constantly wedging between them. The one and only sex scene is at the end of the book, and I would’ve preferred more.

The plot itself was very entertaining, but the pacing was a little slow. A masked villain is parading around London, killing noblemen, and shifting the blame on Archer.

The secondary characters were fun. I’m very interested in Miranda’s sisters, in particular Poppy and her husband Winston.

There were some typos, but nothing major. I enjoyed Ms. Callihan’s voice and smooth, lyrical writing style. I also enjoyed the world building, and I look forward to reading more books in this series.

3 Stars

Disclaimer – I borrowed this book from the library. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.