#BookReview – “Fired Up” by Jayne Ann Krentz

Blurb

More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession-fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.

Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts - just the beginning, he believes - of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp's dreamlight.

Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. It doesn't take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.

Review

In book one of the Dreamlight Trilogy (an Arcane Society spin-off), private investigator Chloe Harper comes from a family of brilliant forgers who make their living in shady, underground deals. Needless to say, the Harper family steers clear of the secretive, rule-making Arcane Society (a mysterious psychic research organization) and Jones and Jones (a paranormal investigation agency that primarily works for the society).

Jack Winters avoids them as well. As the direct descendent of Nicholas Winters, a powerful alchemist and the enemy of fellow alchemist Sylvester Jones (the Arcane Society’s founder from the 1600s), Jack is one of three destined men to be affected with the Winters Curse. If he turns into a monster as part of the curse, J&J will kill him, no questions asked. As a dreamlight reader, Chloe can save him before he loses control of his new unwanted talent, but to do so, they have to find a mysterious lamp that can harness their combined powers into a weapon.

Jack and Chloe were awesome together. They formed a fast friendship before they jumped into bed, and it was enjoyable seeing them both grow as people and as a couple.

I liked this book, but it jumped around a lot. If I hadn’t read the previous Arcane books, I probably would’ve been confused. Not only did Jack and Chloe have trouble with the lamp and the so-called curse, they also had to deal with Nightshade, a renegade paranormal group out to enhance their psychic abilities through a dangerous drug.

For some reason, Ms. Krentz wrote this trilogy backwards. I like the fact that the ongoing mystery of the Burning Lamp and the Winters’ family curse takes place in three different time periods (all under different author names), but the layout is odd. The contemporary story comes first, the historical one is second, and the futuristic story is third. In this modern day story, there were references and spoilers about the couple from the historical book, but most readers (me included) probably wouldn’t have read that story yet.

This book seemed to drag a little in the middle and could use a light edit (for example, Chloe’s last name is Harper, but it’s written as Winters in one scene). The best parts were with Fallon, the head of J&J, and I’m so happy to see the set-up for his story. As this trilogy stands, I’m definitely interested in reading the other books.

3.5 Stars

Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. 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.