I love this series and cannot wait for the next book! This book has a little bit of EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love, love, love it!

Breath of Fire, by Amanda Bouchet

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  romance, paranormal and fantasy

Back when reviewing book one I wrote “This is one of those fantasy reads that can cross age limits, being suitable for teens and YAs, as well as those like me long, long past that. Its a fascinating story with enough romance to keep me hooked, for me that gives a story something special, and some cracking magic.
Its not a historical LotR type fantasy, but one that brings in Olympus and the Greek Gods and Goddesses.”
Book two has all that and more.

The story continues with the main characters facing death and disaster from humans and magical creatures alike, in their Quest to bring peace and end the reign or terror and raise up the standard of living for all the citizens, not just a favoured few living off the backs of the rest.
Its easy when faced with the kind of destiny they’re looking at and the sucess they’ve had so far to let the power go to their heads.
Cat, Griffin and friends aren’t like that though, Cat’s background gets revealed and we know already just how much she’s been through in her short life.
Griffin comes from the other side, the non-magical folk, ones that do the hard manual work and are always subject to the whims of their rulers. He has a vision though and its aligned with that of higher powers who seem to favour his ideas. Cat is central to his and their quest for a new regime, for peace, for fairness for all. They want a world with a hopeful, peaceful future for all the citizens, a world free of torture, slavery, all the things imposed on the non magical folk that currently provide enjoyment for a favoured few.

I love the relationship progression, Griffin is so protective of Cat and yet doesn’t try to stop her from doing what she needs, encouraging her when she faces her very natural fears.
Once more they face Gods and Goddesses, (and Kato gets to find that you can have too much of a good thing!) fierce, deadly magical creatures, as they take the next step in their journey.

Its a fabulous book, that touch of romance lifts in from just a fantasy read and beings in the personal side, and yet sensual though it is it never overtakes the story, never overshadows the magic that’s happening around them.
They’re learning a lot about each other too, becoming a tight knit team, learning to trust each other fully. Griffin has had their trust and pledge for a long while but now Cat’s in the team and they look to her as a leader too. She and Griffin both have their own specialities, and when needed they’re happy to let the other take point, lead, make the tough decisions.

Back in 2014 I read a YA story that I felt would be perfect for film. The Paper Magician trilogy has since been snapped up by Disney, and I think this trilogy too would be perfect for the big screen. Its got so much in it, the romance thread  which I love is just enough for those like me who enjoy that angle, but won’t put those off who profess not to enjoy “romance”, the magic is fabulous, gripping, exciting, almost bloodthirsty at times but without too much horrific descriptions  ( they made me queasy, I’m a wimp, I know) and welded throughout is the message of fairness, of taking into account the effects of things all all members of society, of morality, kindness, and there’s a very clear Right and Wrong barrier in behaviour.

This read follows book one quite closely in release time, which is great, the story is still fresh, sadly though part three isn’t due out til Jan 18 :-( Still, it’s definitely one for my keepers file for re-reading right through all three books.

Stars: Five, terrific read, more magic and mayhem, with romance and Right on Cat and Griffin’s side.  

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I enjoyed the plot and the characters of the this book. The only thing I didn't really like were the romance scenes, and I missed the verbal sparring between Cat and Griffin- in this book there were tenser interactions. I enjoyed the first book much more. However, the advancement in the plot and how Cat plans to confront her mother/family is exciting. Getting to understand the other characters and Cat's history was one of the best parts of this book. And the Greek mythology started to shine through in this book. The battle near the end of the book was a memorable event and the revelation at the end was delightful and surprising.

This is an outstanding continuation of the Kingmaker Chronicles by Amanda Bouchet. This author has developed an interesting niche mixing mythology with fantasy romance... at least I haven't seen any other books where Olympians and Titans are integrated into a high fantasy realm. I like it! If you read my prior review, you will know that I was missing some world building. I'm happy to say that , in this installment, we got some backstory that really helped beef up the mythology aspect. It was interesting to see how the Olympians were integrated into the history of the realms.

So Catalia Fisa is Beta Fisa, the lost princess, a Kingmaker and she is now magically bound by her vow to her lover Griffin, Beta Sinta. In A Promise of Fire, I liked that Cat was a kickass heroine, but I had a problem with her immaturity. We started off Breath of Fire with a rip-roaring fight between Cat and her lover, Griffin, where he was a huge ass but that short-lived in the context of the story. I was afraid this was a plot contrivance to make Cat more likable... but I have to say that it certainly worked! The emotionality (made that word up) of the argument and Cat's response got to me and drew me in. But it was not for nothing... Cat's character has grown leaps and bounds. All that immaturity is gone and she is maturing into a responsible and authoritative future leader, while still keeping some of her saucy personality. I enjoyed seeing her demeanor and decision-making ability grow to match her courage and determination.

Griffin is maturing as well. The relationship between him and Cat is no longer on rocky ground and they grow closer and stronger with each turn of the page. Griffin's determination and sense of responsibility matches (and sometimes outpaces) Cat's. There were definitely many times in this book where he had to loosen his hold on those alpha male instincts and hope for the best as Cat was going into danger.

Action abounds in Breath of Fire. There was tons of fighting and fantastical creatures that kept me enthralled from early on in the story. I still wish there was a little more world building and development of the fantasy aspects. There are a lot of titles being thrown around for Cat without a clear explanation of what those destinies entail. From what I gather, the Kingmaker aspect is just being able to divine truth from lie, but its very rare and one only appears every 200 years or so. We haven't learned why that's the case... or what these other new titles mean. But I am looking forward to finding out as we continue the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Sourcebooks Casablanca.

Just keeps getting better!

It’s the rare book that can fire your imagination and have you on the edge of your seat throughout. Rarer yet is the second book that can take the building heat and set it on fire in the reader’s imagination. Whether it’s the danger, action, adventure, suspense, epic fantasy or the brewing romance between the main characters, Breath of Fire continues to capture you and suck you into the magical world Ms. Bouchet has penned.

While a prophecy has kept Cat running from one possible destiny, she and Griffin have determined to make their own path by embracing her role as the kingmaker. But embracing the role doesn’t mean things are going to be smooth sailing. In fact, life is anything but. Prepare for a wild ride into the magical realm of the ice floes where mythical creatures abound. Catapult into the deadly competitions of magic and might. A kingdom is to be won and the world yet to be conquered.

Breath of Fire had me from the get-go. Now I’m sitting impatiently waiting for the next book in the series. If you love epic romantic fantasy you’re going to love this series. Truly keepers.

NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2
Again, another amazing story from Ms. Bouchet. I am so in love with the world and her characters both good and bad. Breath of Fire picks up shortly after the end of the events in A Promise of Fire. So many things happen in Breath of Fire that will make you love the characters even more than you did before. But I will say that I think Kato my be my favorite of Beta Team. Cat & Kato form an amazing friendship in this story that at times broke my heart. Seeing Kato behind that wall of ice *tears*. While sad I think it might have been my favorite part of the book.
I so can not wait for the next book in this series. I do truly hope that Ms. Bouchet will continue this world. Because Kato, Flynn and Carver all need their stories told!! Oh and the girls too!!! Oh I can’t wait for Heart on Fire.
Again I let the very talented Mia Barron read this amazing book to me!! I really can’t wait to jump into the next book with her. If you are an audiobook fan I would suggest listening to the sample and judge for yourself.
But whether you buy in paper, ebook or audio you really really really need to read this series. Ms. Bouchet’s take on mythology is epic!!

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.

While I still enjoyed BREATH OF FIRE, there were a couple problematic issues with the representation of healthy relationships and sexual assault that prevented me from loving it – and made me deeply uncomfortable the more I thought about it.

Cat Fisa, extraordinarily gifted magic user and favourite of the gods, is back at the forefront of the action when her lover Griffin brings her into his plans to unite the three kingdoms in hopes that they will establish a new, effective, and fair ruler. Of course, Cat has to confront her own dark personal history before any of that can happen…starting with mother dearest. When Griffin finds out what Cat’s been hiding about her family he completely loses his head by screaming, damaging things, and even roughly grabbing Cat. This scene really unsettled me, especially since when the couple makes up Griffin states that his behaviour was unacceptable and Cat just explains it away. It was unacceptable, and I thought it felt very out of place for the story.

To unite the kingdoms, Cat and Griffin need to overthrow corrupt rulers while protecting the borders of Sinta. This requires quite a bit of travel across the lands, and provided readers with a deeper look into Bouchet’s ancient Greece inspired world building. This was a welcome development, since I loved the world building in the first book, and in BREATH OF FIRE we get even more twists on Greek mythology, including an appearance by the Hydra and even a herd of ipotane. It was especially fun to watch the guys from Beta Team, Griffin’s right hand men and Cat’s new friends, navigate the Ice Plains and all the magic they hold. These guys aren’t exactly familiar with the capriciousness of the gods and their gifts, so it made for some pretty hilarious moments.

Unfortunately, just like in classic mythology, the gods in BREATH OF FIRE can be cruel…and one character in particular suffers the consequences. He is drugged and raped by the handmaiden of a goddess (off page), and his trauma is only briefly commented on. Cat was clearly disturbed by the event (and obviously the survivor was too) but only only a few scenes later, there's an explicit love scene between Cat and Griffin. The whole thing just felt really sloppy and it left a bad tasted in my mouth. In my opinion, Bouchet didn’t treat the topic with the seriousness and respect it deserves. Hopefully this will be further addressed in the third book.

From my review it probably sounds like I thought this was a bad book, but I think it's the opposite: it's a good book that was dragged down by the poor handling of sensitive issues. BREATH OF FIRE has everything that fans liked about the first book: great world building, a compelling main character, amazing dialogue, and a romance worth rooting for. However, the problematic representation of relationships and sexual assault really soured it for me and I just couldn’t get into this one the same way that I could with A PROMISE OF FIRE. If you’re someone who’s sensitive to these issues, then you will most likely struggle with this book.

I'm excited to see where Cat and Griffin's story goes, but these issues have definitely cooled my love for the series.

Bouchet's fantasy series is surprisingly, and enjoyably, adult - the sex scenes are not what you'd expect from a classic high fantasy, but they blend perfectly well with the magic and adventure. It's a welcome change from the subtle hints that the genre often uses. I was desperate to read more of Cat and Griffin's adventures after the first book, and thankfully I didn't have to wait long for this one, but now I'm desperate for the next one! Bouchet's writing is evocative, her world building is enchanting, and her characters are full of life and realism despite their not fitting into our dull reality.

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me despite the fact that the first one held my attention quite well and despite some problematic tendencies was interesting and fun to read.
The way how this relationship escalated in the very first chapter made this book unbearable to read for me. Griffin turned into an awfully possessive and clingy person with zero chill, a person who smashes a room and shows extremely violent behavior. Cat turned submissive and so in love that she isn't questioning the validity of what is going on.
Aside from the fact that it was very easy to put two and two together to figure out who Cat really is, not only is Griffin contradicting himself with his "hot and cold" behavior but he's also acting very violently. And what does Cat do? She blanches, blames herself and goes to sleep it off because she's still tied to Griffin by a promise that is binding for her but not at all for him. He can do what he wants and she must spend the rest of her life next to a man she loves but who deemed her unworthy. But oh no, turns out she just misunderstood and then he comes to claim her back and also turn this into a saucy smutty scene with him spanking her naughty ass because she went out of a room he trashed to sleep it off in the first place.
Ugh, no thanks. Even I have my limits.

This is book two of the Kingmaker and I've arrived to the party late only hearing about this series through netgalley. My thought of from reading it almost as a stand alone.

An action packed, knife wielding romance about a young woman overcoming her past and finding a true love that is more powerful that she ever thought possible. Where fighting for what you believe in may change for the better. You just need to believe.

Each character is strong in their own way and vital for the outcome. To succeed they need everyone ~ no one person can drive change. Griffin's unwavering belief in Cat, that she can and will change the world for the better if she just had a faith in herself. Cat's strong need to protect those she loves and she realises that she would sacrifice herself to save Griffin. The rest of the team believes that any danger they may face is worth it for the chance of a better world. A kingdom ruled by the justice and not the greedy.

We see Cat struggle with her belief that she is the "harbinger of the end", that she will destroy Griffin and so she hid her fears. She's forced to face those demons and in doing so Griffin is able to change her opinion that yes she'll bring the end but the End of destruction currently in place. That she brings hope and salvation.

We see a visual change for Cat, she's now full of hope and her life is going to change even more. Jocasta has developed in this instalment. She has purposes and will fight for her beliefs alongside her brothers.

This plot driven read has you moving briskly from event to event. Each turn of the page opens to another action packed scene. The fast paced event-driven plot creates a build up of tension. Will our motley crew succeed in their endeavours? And what will it cost them? In this case, a lot blood will be spilled and death is inevitable.

Breath of Fire for me was a turbulent read, it had some ups and down for me. In parts the sex scenes seem unrealistic, obviously in the situation tension will be high. It's a life and death situation there will be sexual tension.

The author explores the mythical era of Greek gods but with a slight twist. We see Cat the far far distant removed granddaughter of Zeus fulfil a prophecy with the support of her ancestors. Breathe of Magic is ALL about the greater good, the need to create a better world, to conquer the evil of the world.

Disclaimer! I was granted an ARC copy of this through NetGalley. That has in no way influenced my review.

<B>Spoiler warning! </B>This is the second book in <I>The Kingmaker Chronicles</I> and as such this review may contain mild spoilers both for the first book in the series, <i>A Promise of Fire</i> and for the beginning of this book. If you're new to the series, start with book one. If you like going in not knowing anything, come back and read this review once you've finished the book.

Griffin has discovered the truth about Cat's parentage and past and is none too happy about it. After throwing one hell of a tantrum, he seems very surprised when Cat has retreated to her old room in the barracks, believing that he can no longer stand to be near her. After revealing the full truth of her past to him, they reconcile most ardently and then begin to consider what to do about the upcoming Power Bid in the region. Cat is the rightful heir of Fisa and knows that at some point, she has to confront her tyrannical and sadistic mother and end her reign once and for all. The third country in the region, Tarva, are making overtures towards invading Sinta and Griffin and his family need to figure out what to do to protect themselves until they can further consolidate power.

Cat suggests recruiting the aid of magical creatures to guard their borders. In order to do so, they first have to go see a Chaos Wizard and then complete a dangerous and elaborate quest in a maze in the ice caves in the mountains. Only Cat and Cato, one of the other members of Beta Team are allowed into the caves. Griffin, Carver and Flynn have to wait outside. Cat has been granted Ariadne's thread, which will never run out, so she and Cato can find their way back out, but inside the caves, they have to face a number of challenges and Cat comes to discover new and surprising gifts granted to her by her godly protectors.

Once they've survived the maze and Artemis' challenges, they have to travel to actually persuade the giant centaurs they want to recruit to join their cause. This involves trying to outsmart a hydra and another set of challenges. When they finally do make it back to Sinta, it's clear that the best way to gain access to the Tarvan capital and its royals is by competing in and winning a hugely popular bloodsport tournament, held every four years. The winners are granted an audience with the Tarvan rulers. Gaining access to the palace could allow Beta Team to usurp power without having to go to war. The tournament is fiendishly difficult, however, and it's going to take a lot for them to win.

<i>A Promise of Fire</i> was one of my favourite books last year and combined an interesting and elaborate fantasy world, complete with a lot of influence from Greek mythology, with a satisfying, slow-burning romance. One of the few things that annoyed me about the book was that Cat had yet to tell Griffin about her mother and her true identity when the book ended. Extremely frustratingly, Bouchet chooses to have Griffin discover the truth between books, so to speak, off-page and not from Cat directly. He is absolutely livid, throws the mother of all temper tantrums, completely trashes their bedroom (to the point where he cleaves their bed in two with his sword) and generally manhandles and yells at Cat (who is still recovering from a near-death experience), acting completely at odds with the character we got to know in book 1.

When Cat is hurt and heartbroken and leaves to take refuge in her old room in the barracks, believing Griffin to be so disgusted with her and her family legacy that he can no longer love her, she is surprised to find that when she wakes up from a long, healing sleep, he has been frantically looking for her since she disappeared and wonders why she would leave him. Having read the preceding chapters, I am totally with Cat - confused about Griffin's mercurial turnaround and sudden declarations of eternal devotion and crazed possessiveness. What follows is several chapters of slightly uncomfortable love making, as it's clear that Griffin really needs to assert his dominance over Cat (or something). This beginning really threw me off and made me wonder if I was reading the same writer.

Luckily, the book got better again, with Cat getting over some of her deeply held trust issues and confessing the truth about her past and her abilities to Griffin's entire family. She and Griffin then take Beta Team and go off to fight/recruit mythological monsters and you get more of the road trip feel that worked so well in the first book. Yet during Cat and Cato's ordeals in the ice caves, there was another misstep that made me feel uncomfortable and which I've seen described in other reviews as likened to male rape, and I find I have to agree. <B>Event specific spoilers to follow!</B>

Artemis the goddess is attended by a very skilled archer, who insists that in order for them to succeed in their quest, Cato has to service her (and possibly the goddess). If he refuses, it's quite clear that the archer will kill both him and Cat, so it's not like he's able to give clear and unforced consent here. It is later described how he was pretty much drugged with an aphrodisiac and had to provide his sexual services for the best end of two days, while the goddess Artemis watched them the whole time. The whole incident has clearly not been very enjoyable for him, but is just glossed over, as the female archer was really hot, after all (as it often is in other popular media too, season one of Orphan Black springs to mind - if the woman is hot enough, consent is probably not required from the man).

<B>Spoilers over!</b>

With the beginning of the book, and this storyline leaving a bad taste in my mouth, I still enjoyed much of the book. Even so, the plot felt more disjointed in this book than in the previous one, jumping around a lot more, from challenge to challenge. While I appreciate the author skipping out on all the boring transport bits, it got a bit frenetic at times.

Apart from his initial flip into bizarro Griffin, our hero is mostly very supportive of his incredibly powerful lady love. As is often the case with very alpha dudes, there is a lot of assertions of "Mine!" in a way that I've never found guys to need to do in real life, but so often happens in these kinds of stories. Once assured that Cat loves him just as much as he does her, though, he seems perfectly comfortable with her magical and political legacy and ceding power and authority to her, as she is clearly the one prophesied to overturn the current (and pretty shitty world order) and unite the three countries into one new super-realm. At the beginning of the book, he gets a bit bull-headedly protective, but this too changes and he mostly lets Cat do what she does best, which is kick ass.

Cat grows a lot more comfortable with the idea that she can be a ruler without being like her crazy, psychopathic mother and that the prophecies about her doesn't necessarily spell out doom and apocalypse, just a much needed revolution with power being wrested from those who abuse it. The three countries need more benevolent rulers and she and Griffin can do a lot of good, if they succeed in their mission. Having learned the hard way not to make any attachments, she comes to accept that she can love and trust Griffin, his family, Beta Team and her found family at the circus, without being worried that they'll reject her because of her psycho mother or her scary powers. Becoming more comfortable with accepting affection and support from others also makes her more confident and skilled.

I hope that the final book of the trilogy has less of the things that seriously bothered me in this book (and that nearly reduced my rating to 3.5 stars) and more of what made the first book so good. Sadly, <i>Heart on Fire</I> is not out until January 2018, so I'm in for quite the wait.

<B>Judging a book by its cover:</b>Yet again a cover that focuses on the strong female protagonist (and not any of the many dudes of the story), I still think it's sad that they appear to have changed cover models, so the woman portraying Cat looks completely different. Nonetheless, she's wearing leather armour and looking impressively muscled, while holding a sword and trailing fire. I'm assuming the heavy use of blue mist is meant to evoke the ice caves where a dramatic part of the novel takes place. I don't like this as much as the first one, but it's still better than a LOT of fantasy covers out there.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel. This in no way influenced my review.

Two fantasy series captured my attention and imagination this year. Kingmaker Chronicles being one of them. After A Promise of Fire, I was dying to get my hands on a Breath of Fire. Doubts entered my mind, it is the second book in the series. It is the sophomore book for the author, will it beat the curse? Why oh why is it going to take a year to get my hands on this book? I finally get to open before release date only during the holidays (oh no, I have to put it down). Even when I was emerged in the festivities my mind would wonder to what Griffin and Cat were up to. Several times I had sneak in a chapter or two- this was way difficult as the Hubby’s side of the family is 27 people deep (yes that is only his siblings, their children and his parents). I can say without a doubt that Cat and Griffin slayed the sophomore curse.

In A Promise of Fire, Cat and Griffin’s love was a simmering fire, slowly working its way to a steady burn. In Breath of Fire, it is a roaring fire that at times got out of control. Griffin has trouble controlling his emotions where Cat is concerned. Cat has trouble trusting in fate, the gods and love. Who can blame her, especially with how she grew up. Cat is still as fierce as ever in this book, it is Griffin that shows restraint. Not only for when Cat is in danger but also with Jocasta- his little sister. He understands that both woman need the freedom to decide the best course of action for them. He also gets that both woman have to protect the people they love. This made him ten times hotter in my book.

The tasks that they are about to embark on due to the Power Bid in play put them and all they love in danger. The journey through the Ice Plains, the Chaos Wizzard, what Kato has to do, even the Ipotane (think Centaurs on steroids), and the Agon Games will capture your imagination. The book is written with such detail that it is as if a movie plays as you frantically read the words on the page. This is one that is difficult to put down as each chapter is a new adrenaline rush.

There is more story for the other members of the Beta Team all of which have become part of Cat’s family. Kato is always the first to deliver, and the first to understand where Cat is coming from. Will he ever find love, or will he always just be a pretty face. Carver’s story in particular is heartbreaking and yet Jocasta his little sister stated something that made me think that there is even more there. What is it though? Speaking of Jocasta, her and Flynn need to figure things out and sooner rather than later.

After finishing this epic read, I of course looked online for when the next one releases. Heart on Fire is set to release in the fall of 2017, which is way too far away. I don’t know who I am more excited to read about Cat and Griffin’s journey to reunite the kingdom or the Beta’s team response to love. Regardless it is nice to see Greek mythology sprinkled through the series. The best part being that the gods/goddess are not jerks as of yet. Breath of Fire is an epic tale of love, power, and doing what is right for all of humankind.

My Rating 5 out of 5 stars

Favorite Quote “Unexpected mercy, romance, mystery….They appeal to even the most fickle and violent of hearts.”

Other People
Kato- member of Griffin’s team
Flynn- member of Griffin’s team
Carver- Griffin’s brother, part of his team
Jocasta- Griffin’s sister

Just as amazing as book 1. If you didn't read book 1, I strongly recommend you grab it first because this picks up right where the other book left off and you don't get much back story to explain anything.

I've always been a sucker for Greek Mythology, and this story weaves it in beautifully. Our main lady, Cat, is a direct decedent of Zeus. She has this not-too-arrogant manner to her. Don't call her a hero, goddess, or queen, but she'll always be right in an argument (and know it). I found it endearing, like I wanted to be her BFF. Griffin is still just as hot as in the first story. There are so many layers to the tale and characters. I don't read a lot of strong fantasy novels, but this still captivated me with the descriptions and dialog and I never felt out of my element. I highly recommend this series.

I voluntarily chose this book for review, which did not sway my opinion at all.

I could not wrap my mind around the disjointed way this book was written. It starts off with Griffin trashing his bedroom with Cat there and stalking off. Then she leaves to heal her broken heart in another room. He comes back and says she got it all wrong. I don’t think so. From there we go on one action packed adventure scene to the next full of violence and thrills. But it felt like just scenes linked together. Certainly scenes that were interesting but really didn’t feel like a cohesive story. I kept setting this book aside because it just wasn’t holding my interest. It took me forever to finish.
This book got a rating of 3 from me because if you are really into the Greek myths and like Game of Thrones then this book is “okay”. But for me personally it rated a 2 “disappointing".

No second-book slump here, though I'm wearying of the long descriptions of battle. Still, this is a very enjoyable number two in a series, with action, sexy times, and just enough love to keep it from feeling gross (for me; YMMV). Also, I'm not sure about the politics of this situation, but okay. It's good enough that I don't care THAT much.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Digital ARC!

When I read A Promise of Fire last year I knew I'd need to read the sequel. I wasn't the most impressed by this first book but the story itself had a lasting effect. The author's take on Greek mythology is refreshing and intriguing making you want more.

Breath of Fire was full of unrelenting challenges for the characters. They're thrown into one dangerous situation after another with the pacing never letting up. The story itself consists of serious do-or-die scenarios but the unexpected humour at the most inappropriate of times made all the dangers bearable. So much happens in this book and it was just a breeze to read.

Cat is the main reason I enjoy this series. Her ability to crack jokes and make light of the scariest of situations has me laughing all the time. Her inner monologues are laugh out loud hilarious. Though like Griffin, I was not impressed by her recklessness. She kept throwing herself in direct paths to danger like she wanted to get hurt. I understand she has the Gods on her side but she really could use more caution and be more considerate to the people that care deeply for her.

The romance in Breath of Fire was still a bit cheesy. Cat and Griffin's feelings (lusty or otherwise) were a little over the top for me. I will say however, I love the way he motivates and encourages her. Griffin's a great influence even if he's way too bossy and unyielding at times. Ms. Bouchet cranked up the heat scale in this second installment. The sexy scenes between Cat and Griffin were flaming hot. I'd say it even bordered on erotic. I didn't mind though there was one extremely predictable plot twist I saw very early on in the book. We're left till the end for confirmation but it was honestly too obvious to miss.

My second favourite thing about this series is the characters. While Cat and Griffin are the centerpiece on the table the secondary characters are no side dishes. Carver, Kato, Flynn and Jocasta all have their share of turn in the spotlight. Whether it's a simple conversation or random outbursts, there's so much more to them. With the addition of new characters, I'm excited to see what kind of new dynamic might spring up.

I love how beautifully Ms. Bouchet ends the story. She leaves us with the promise of more without dangling a cliffhanger in our face. There's life. There's hope. I'm definitely going to be there to witness both growth!

A blend of Greek myth and original fantasy romance makes this series a tasty treat. The Kingmaker Chronicles launched hard and fast with the first book and I had high hopes for more gritty adventure and sparkling character interactions with Breath of Fire, the second leg of the story and I indeed got that.

At this point, I would caution anyone who wishes to read the series that it might be best to skip my review until after reading the first book as there will be some series spoilers involved in discussing this second installment which really shouldn’t be read out of order.

Breath of Fire leaps right back into the fray of Cat and Griffin’s tempestuous courtship when Griffin discovers the truth about Cat’s identity as the Lost Princess. She fears her dishonesty might have pushed him too far on top of learning that the neighboring kingdom of Tarva has designs on conquering their own. Cat and Griffin decide on a bold plan to defend Sinta so their Beta patrol group heads out on a quest to acquire the perfect border defense. Their journey is fraught with danger as is the test the gods put to them. Even more truths become known as the group learns more about themselves and each other. Cat is terrified that each new revelation will be enough to drive Griffin away and he is strained, but mostly trying to keep her impulsiveness and lack of trust in check.

And then the real danger confronts them…

Wow, this one did not let up. The action was palpable and had me holding my breath and flying through the pages as did the tension caused by Cat and Griffin’s circumstances and relationship. More reveals and I could see how this one was like a chess game moving players into position for the end of the game. The gods favor Cat and their group, but yet even their interference barely keeps them alive and pushing forward with the goal of uniting the warring kingdoms.

Those who read my review of book one, A Promise of Fire, know that I was somewhat on the fence about Cat because her behavior and personality felt younger than she really was. This feeling continued and even grew stronger which made the abundance of sexy time feel weird to a certain extent. Cat is more impulsive and pulls a lot of stubborn-stupids in this one. She’s lucky more than right which I guess isn’t a big deal except others are affected by her choices, too. The redeeming factor is that Cat is self-aware and learns from her mistakes. There is also a reveal at the end that shows there is a valid reason for a great deal of Cat’s behavior and forced me to re-assess and lose some of my ambivalence toward her character.

As to Griffin and the others of their family and friends group, they are solid secondary characters. Each has their own backstory and ongoing plot thread that weaves around Cat who is the focal point. I love the cast of characters the author has assembled to go on adventures and journeys with Cat. They work together as a team and they work as a motley crew of underdog friends.

The villains and conflict set against Cat and the others is powerful and tough so that there were no easy wins. This series relies on the Deus Ex Machina literary device (a god or god figure introduced into a story to resolve the conflict) which generally is a no-no, but I actually thought it worked fabulously with this story in particular. I think this is because the author doesn’t try to sneak it in just to cover a weak moment in the plot, but the reader knows all along as does Cat that she’s got big-time back-up when things go awry. I grew to highly anticipate the danger moments just to see what the watching gods would do to aid Cat.

Cat and Griffin’s tested and tried relationship deepens. I felt that there were probably more sex scenes than necessary particularly under the circumstances, but there were also pivotal moments when they make the choice to hold together and be a couple. Cat wants to pull away and spare Griffin just as he wants to keep her out of danger, but both know deep down that they must push forward together. There are changes in this one and I appreciated how strong and courageous Griffin had to be to not just fight, but sometimes to stand strong and let Cat fight and go it without him. He stood beside her when the time came for her call the shots.

In the end, I am left well-satisfied with this installment and waiting (im)patiently for the next part of the Kingmaker Chronicles story. Fantasy Romance fans who like spice and strong action really need to pick up this book/series.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Sequels. I have a complicated relationship with them, especially if I loved the first book. A Promise of Fire was one of my favorite books this year. It had everything that I wanted out of the book, a sizzling romance, witty characters and a fantastic fantasy world. I couldn’t wait to pick up Breath of Fire when I came into possession of a copy and I’m thrilled to say that yes, this is a sequel that lives up to the first book.

Feisty Cat is back in Breath of Fire, in her full sarcastic glory. I love this girl and her growth and journey throughout this sequel only solidifies my love for her. I like that she’s a heroine that makes mistakes, but she’s also willing to learn from all her mistakes. She had that perfect combo of strength and vulnerability that I absolutely love in fantasy heroines. Though I love it when Cat is kicking butt, I love it even more when she shows her more emotional side, and you see that a lot in Breath of Fire, as she slowly struggles and comes to term with the fact that she has to face a villain who is out to get her and her loved ones. Cat is still as stubborn as ever and there are moments that had me going, “What is she doing?!” as she risks her life, but that’s who Cat is, and that’s not something that’s going to change for a long time.

Alongside Cat, was the gruffy, sexy and oh so swoony, Griffin, who continues to make me melt. As Cat’s partner, we get to see a lot of the guy in Breath of Fire, and I loved every scene with this protective, loving guy. The romance in Breath of Fire was just as steamy as in A Promise of Fire. Actually, I think it was better, because their bond and trust in each continued to strengthen. I will say that there was one scene at the beginning that I really could have done without, because it left a sour taste in my mouth. View Spoiler » Even with that uncomfortable scene, I enjoyed the progression of their relationship. I especially liked that they were a couple that worked through the obstacles that they faced as a team.

Breath of Fire was also amped up on the fantasy elements and the plot. We learn more about the Greek-mythology-inspired world that Bouchet has crafted, as well as more background on Cat’s lineage. The plot too had a different tone to it compared to its predecessor, in that the stakes were much higher and there was more of an adventurous element to it, with more landscapes explored. I loved it all! I was also pumped that we were back with the rest of the secondary cast, who were just as lovable as always. Kato, especially, is at the center of this sequel, and he goes through hell and more, but throughout it all, his love and respect for Cat and Griffin was palpable. I sincerely hope that we will get to see the rest of the Beta Team get a happily ever after too.

Breath of Fire ends on an interesting revelation about Cat, that I’m actually not 100% sure how I feel about yet, but I am looking forward to reading the finale in this trilogy next year. Amanda Bouchet has easily become a favorite author with this debut series, and this sequel in particular, is proof of just how much talent she has to offer the fantasy romance readers.

“Breath of Fire,” book 2 of the Kingmaker Chronicles Trilogy begins where book 1 “A Promise of Fire” left off. Cat’s secret out of the bag turned out to be a new beginning instead of the end of her love affair with Griffin.

But, that love comes with a price and the price is a journey to the most dangerous part of the realm. And though they have a very small chance of succeeding, their success in this first quest means they must go to a do or die challenge that can change the world or end it.

To Cat, it is a matter of damn if she does, and damned if she doesn’t. So, does she really have a choice? And will Griffin agree?

Hard to put down once you start, “Breath of Fire” appeals to fantasy readers who are fans of A Game of Thrones. Amanda Bouchet might be a new name in the genre, but she definitely is catching the attention of the very discerning sci-fi/fantasy fans.

“Breath of Fire” is Rated M for Mature due to violence and sexual content.