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Firelight
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Firelight
Unavailable
Firelight
Audiobook11 hours

Firelight

Written by Kristen Callihan

Narrated by Moira Quirk

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

London, 1881

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.

A Hachette Audio production.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 31, 2012
ISBN9781619694170
Unavailable
Firelight
Author

Kristen Callihan

Kristen Callihan is an author because there’s nothing else she’d rather be. She has written New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestsellers. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Magazine’s Seal of Excellence and was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, Best Book of Spring 2012 by Publishers Weekly, and Best Romance Book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she’s not writing, she’s reading.

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Reviews for Firelight

Rating: 3.904692005278593 out of 5 stars
4/5

341 ratings42 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Absolutely wonderful! An excellent story, well thought out plot and characters you care about. The full evil of the nemesis is shadowed as well as the identity of the killer. I recommend this to the 18+ crowd due to some very descriptive love scenes. Happy reading.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I found this book rather confusing, but I think book two might make more sense?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    3.5 stars rounded up. There were some parts when the characters were kind of dumbly keeping secrets and my interest waned, and I could generally see things a mile off. But at other points I enjoyed watching these two together, they had some sweet moments, and were generally likable.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reread March 2018 for a BR with Bubu, Isabella, & Joanna....enjoyed it just as much...or more bc as usual b-r enhance my enjoyment.


    Original:
    More please!

    This was deeply romantic and powerful. The mystery and suspense elements were engaging and well done. I'm glad I read Ember first, because this on its own may not have made me care about the hero enough. I did, however, and found this to be a fantastic book to binge on
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Great book. Amazing narration. I love Moira cleary and how she really plays into each character.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    What can I say it has been the most breathtaking storyline and with all tormenting suspense, on the edgy emotion and wanting that keeps, the reader at heart pulsing pumps and? Almost with many expectations and nerve pulsing of what might happen next. Great story with the beautiful, ending I enjoyed this writer works of art and entertaining storytelling. Impressive love finds me give the writer five starts because of her imagination when it comes to her way of expressions.
    Rate as 1 out of 5, I wouldn't say I liked it at all Rate as 2 out of 5. I did like it that many rates as 3 out of 5, I thought it was Okay Rating as 4 out of 5, I liked Rate as 5 out of 5, I loved it. , selected Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (2/5)

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! Great book. Lots of build up and suspense. Characters are realistic.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It catches your interest right from the start can’t wait to hear the rest

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very strong heroine in this one! Loved that she ended up saving the day in the end.

    Wondering what sort of paranormal creature Archer was about drove me crazy.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Yes! I can tell this is gonna be a new favorite series! I marathon'd this audiobook on a solo road trip and it made the miles slip by unnoticed. On to the next!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Just an amazing blend of historical romance and paranormal genre!!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    First Impression: Amazing! Kristen Callihan’s debut novel is an exciting take on the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale, complete with a kick-butt urban fantasy heroine. It blended my favorite genres of romance – paranormal, historical, Gothic, mystery & suspense.What Really Worked: I was drawn in by the enthralling story, but the characters were equally fantastic. The sparks ignite between Miranda and Archer when they meet in a dark alley. He thinks she needs rescuing from a couple of street thugs, but Miranda can handle herself quite nicely, thank you very much! Miranda is blessed (or cursed) with a supernatural ability. She is a fire starter, something that has caused great grief for her family, so she does all she can to keep it secret. Archer has a secret of his own, one he keeps hidden underneath a mask. They go their separate ways that night, but Archer returns 3 years later to ask for her hand in marriage. Miranda’s father pressures her to accept. She resists at first, but there’s something about this strange man that compels her to marry him.This was a well-crafted story with many layers. When a string of murders occur in London, fingers point to Archer as he is somehow connected to each victim. As the story progresses, more clues are revealed about Archer’s past and what lies beneath his mask. This book was a page-turner for sure!I loved both main characters. Archer was the perfect tortured hero, strong (and intimidating) on the outside but emotionally vulnerable and lonely on the inside. And, of course, Miranda was the perfect heroine to save him. She was clever and tough, and very headstrong (to Archer’s chagrin). The dialogue between them was skillfully written. Their verbal sparing was very entertaining.What Didn’t Work So Much: The only thing would be that I wanted to know more about the origins of Miranda’s unique “gift.”Final Thoughts: Loved it! FIRELIGHT has reignited my love of the paranormal romance genre. (No pun intended.) Read it now…what are you waiting for?Source: Free copy from the publisher
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book got just about everything right! The whole story was woven wonderfully into a sizzling hot romance and a great read. Part paranormal romance, part historical and lots of action, mystery, and suspense! To top it all of it even has a stunning cover! What didn't this book have? How about not a dull moment.

    Daisy is a great character, bold in a time when women were supposed to be timid. She says what is on her mind and I liked that about her. She is just coming out of mourning for her husband, who really mistreated and abused her (and left her penniless), and wants to start living her life on her own terms.

    When Daisy is attacked, Ian Ranulf rescues her and takes it upon himself to keep her safe. Ian has spent the last few decades running from his past and denying who and what he is. Both characters seemed so lonely in their own ways, that I really wanted everything to work out for them, and the attraction between them is apparent from the very beginning. I loved reading through and watching the sparks fly!

    The story was fast paced, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next, with just the right amount of mystery & suspense. There were a couple of times in the book where something would happen that I just didn't see coming at all, and I always love it when a book can surprise me!

    I didn't read the first book in this series before starting this one, and I didn't have any trouble keeping up. I always recommend reading books in order, but this one does well as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this books so much, I didn't want to put it down, and don't be surprised if you see a review up soon of book #1, Firelight. Anyways, I loved it and can't wait to read more from this author!

    4 1/2 out of 5 Stars

    ***ARC provided by NetGalley***
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not sure where I first saw this but after several years I've finally got a chance to read this (and I'm looking forward to the sequel). Miranda Ellis is plagued by fire, it cost her father his warehouse and she feels a lot of guilt for it. One day her father tells her that he's improved his fortune by agreeing to her marriage to Lord Benjamin Archer, who is a mysterious man who wears a mask all the time. She agrees, under some duress, but when she meets her husband she feels an attraction she can't explain.As the relationship progresses they discover more about each other while someone, is killing Lord Archer's friends, Lord Archer is a prime suspect but the tangled web of magic and murder will be a challenge to them both to unravel.I enjoyed the read, I did want to learn more about Miranda and about the world they live in.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The wonderful world alone is worth a high rating, but the great characters and romance make this a perfect read as far as I'm concerned. What a fantastic series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    4 ½ Stars

    Firelight is the first book in the Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan.

    When a friend told me “you have to read Firelight, I know you are going to love it.” I say ok, I’m gonna add it to my TBR and I did, but then another friend said the same thing, and later another one, by then I knew I have to read Firelight ASAP and not leave it waiting in my TBR with so many other books ‘I’m gonna read someday’. Being honest I’m very glad I let my friends bullied me into reading Firelight sooner rather than later.

    The blurb is pretty explicit, I won’t add more to it, I think in this case you need to read Firelight and discover the rest of the story for yourself.

    I really love Miranda, she is not a lady in distress or anything like that, she is strong, smart, determined and loyal but at the same time she is a bit susceptible because she is different from others, she uses her beauty in a manner to distract others for her real self but if you really know her you will see that under the facade of strong and in control woman she wears there is also a vulnerable person that blames herself for things out of her control.

    Lord Archer is not your typical tortured hero, he’s a lot more. He suffers from a curse and has dedicated his life unsuccessfully in finding a cure. Because of his curse he is forced to hide behind a mask, that mask also marks him as different and makes him feel undesired and undeserving. Despite his mask and his sometimes gloomy attitude Lord Archer is charming and caring, and the more we know him the easier is to see the real man under the mask and what a man he is.

    The romance between Miranda and Lord Archer felt completely real and possible; they are two characters that complement each other perfectly and it’s easy to understand why they fell in love with each other. The chemistry between them is clear since their first encounter and their romance builds page after page, same with the sexual tension, getting to a point that you will be eagerly turning pages faster and faster waiting for their next encounter, next sweet words and dying for a simple touch between them. When we finally get what we been waiting for the feeling of rightness and satisfaction we are left with is completely worth the wait.

    The secondary characters are also well written and interesting and you can’t help yourself but want to learn more about them. Miranda’s sisters are very unique characters, I’m sure there is more to them that the few glimpses we see. Lord Archer’s friends and not so good friends are also very intriguing. I’m glad next installment of this series will be Lord Ian and Daisy’s book.

    Firelight was a very nice and entertaining book, it has a good pace, even though it stalls a bit in the middle but not for long, soon after it picks up the pace again grabbing you and entangling you anew in its story. The well-written and smartly developed plot with the help of a gothic setting makes of this debut book an even more enthralling read.
    As I said before I’m very happy my friends bullied me into reading this book, now it’s my turn to tell you this is a book you must read. Firelight is a book that will appeal to historical, paranormal, and urban fantasy lovers, that means all of you.
    I’m planing to read in the following days the prequel of this series called Ember and needless to say I’m looking forward to August 1st to the release of the next installment of this series, Moonglow.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I enjoyed this wonderful story immensely! The author manages to keep you totally involved while withholding key facts. Not an easy feat, I'm sure. I can't wait to read the next in this series!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A 3.5 really. I was in the mood for a paranormal romance & so I decided to begin this series. I liked it. I didn't love it & I'm not exactly sure why. The characters were well done & the story was well written but something just did not rivet me. Possibly it was that I kept wanting to know more about why Miranda had her power & where it came from. That was huge for me & it's never much addressed. She has it & always has & that's it. M'mkay. And then there's Benjamin (Archer). By the time it's revealed what exactly he is, I honestly didn't care as much. It was a long time coming for that one. I suppose he's the more important between he & Miranda so that's why this all revolves around him. I don't know. I did like all of the murderous mystery tied into that quite a lot. I think I was so preoccupied with that that I didn't get swept away by the romance (though it was well done & they had good banter & conversations between them that made it work). I'll continue the series because I'm interested in the world the author's given.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a dark, almost gothic novel (though it's set in the late 1800s). I really enjoyed the strength of both main characters, as well as the premise of the story.

    I didn't like how many secrets they kept, however. This is a personal pet peeve. I want the main characters to spend the novel working together toward the same goal, not working against each other trying to hide things or keep secrets. Though I understood the reasons they were reluctant to share, I became frustrated because they continually got angry at the other for not sharing, when each of them were guilty of hiding something.

    All-in-all, I really enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the series. I only wish they had opened up sooner (plus, I hate being kept in the dark).
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While there were parts of this I really enjoyed the author kinda lost me about half way through. I think she dragged out the unveiling a little too long and spelled out some of the details a little too much. It was an ok read. 3 and a half stars.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Full Review to be posted soon:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE - Romantic, atmospheric and refreshing take on the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. I am not a huge fan of gothic toned romances because they tend to feel over-wrought and dreary but this was a vivid and memorable romance which had a fantastic heroine and hero. I also loved the slow build up of the romantic tension and their first kiss! ZOMG <3 so much! It really cements the love story and I found it one of the most romantic romances I've read in awhile. The twists on the tropes was also another wonderful factor and I adored the ending which had the heroine who saved the day which really puts a twist on most romances.
    I highly recommend it because it was a wonderful and refreshing pnr historicals. Kristen Callihan - you have promoted yourself as an autobuy author for me!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    love this book. love Archer. I went into it with no idea what the paranormal elements were, and that made it so much more fun. This book was different from anything I've read. This is the kind of story I long for and rarely find.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As a fan of both historical romance and urban fantasy, I can't express how excited I was to find FIRELIGHT's unique blend of these two genres. Gothic and sexy as my heart could desire, with a butt kicking heroine coming into her own power.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Firelight
    4 Stars

    Excellent characterization, an engaging story and an intense romance but needs more world building.

    Miranda is a strong, intelligent and independent heroine with a backstory that has definite potential. She is very likable, particularly in her loyalty to Archer. However, my one small caveat is that the origin and nature of her fire gift is not sufficiently explained.

    Archer is an enigmatic hero with a tortured air and mysterious secrets that only add to his appeal. Unfortunately, after the build up surrounding his physical deformity and social ostracism, the ultimate revelation is anti-climactic.

    The plot is well-paced and exciting with some interesting twists and a really nasty villain. There are, however, a number of loose ends that are left hanging, such as the involvement of Miranda's brother-in-law in the investigation and McKinnon's role in the events. Moreover, while Miranda and Archer's romance is intense and steamy, it progresses far too rapidly from a couple with a virtually non-existent acquaintance to one that is deeply in love and willing to sacrifice their very lives for each other.

    Overall, an exciting beginning to what looks like an intriguing series, and the information that I find lacking may appear in the novella that precedes this book.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Just can't get into this book!

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I will have to say I was thoroughly shocked. I am one that has never been a fan of books that date back so far. For this one starting in 1881 - I must say I was quite impressed with not only the way it was written, but the story line itself. This book has everything. A leading man who hides his disfigurements with a mask. A leading woman with a tongue about as sharp as mine. And the family dynamic. I WISH I had sisters as crazy as that! :)Most of the time when someone hears the words "forced to marry," you pretty much know it's not going to end well. Miranda and Archer's story is somewhat different from that. Archer and Miranda met 3 years before this story begins.. Although Archer seems to be the only one who remembers this encounter. He ask her father for her hand in marriage and this is where the story picks up.You have Archer, a man full of many secrets, who is fighting against everything to find a cure to fix his disfigurement, all while trying to figure out who is killing off all these people and framing him as the suspect! Then you have Miranda, who is struggling with her own abilities, falls for the man behind the masks and stands by him through everything that is to come.The dynamic between the two of them is so amazing that I didn't want the story to end! Between fighting their affections for each other, figuring out who is behind this secret society and the murders taking place, to just simply living, this book covers everything. Emotion and emotion just pours out of the pages and you feel yourself connecting with the subjects of the story! I believe there is something in this book for everyone! :)

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book thrilled me like none other since I first discovered Anne Rice ten years ago. Archer is the love child of Anne Rice's Lestat and Phantom of the Opera's Eric, surrounded by mystery and charm. The author guides us through the thoughts and anguish of lovers divided by hidden secrets, yet so in love that they risk everything for one another.Although Miranda and Archer are attracted to one another upon the first meeting, they are so hesitant to act on their feelings that I found myself yelling at the characters for taking so long to hook up.The romance blossoms steadily, perhaps a bit too slow, but the plot line propels at a constant speed. Archer is framed for a series of murders, and though he proclaim he is innocence of the crimes to Miranda, he refuses to explain anything to her. So, she must discover the truth behind his connection on her own and with the help of some shady characters.I honestly was surprise when I discovered who the murderer was, and then smacked my head for missing all the clues.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This may be my new favorite genre if I could figure out where the hell it falls. Part Gothic Romance, Part Historical, Part Paranormal, Part Mystery, Part Fairy Tale Retelling. It all adds up to = Pure Awesome.Seriously, I've never seen elements of so many of my favorite things in one place, except for maybe if you include the breakfast I like at IHOP with the stuffed French toast and the bacon and the hash browns (great, now I'm hungry). Firelight is like that breakfast for me. Only instead of feeding my hunger, it's fed my soul. Ha. So corny. You'd never know I was a writer. This book has turned me into a babbling idiot. I'm practically tripping over myself in the bookstore to shove it into people's hands. And I don't work at the bookstore. I'm assaulting strangers. Kristen Callihan started with a simple premise, a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale. Then she set it at the end of the 1800's in London with an incredibly masculine, enigmatic, and swoon-worthy Beast. Then she gave us a kick-ass Beauty with some sort of fire-controlling superpower. And then to top it off, like the whipped cream tops my French toast, she added a murder mystery. Viola! Just like that, I'm sated and couldn't be happier. I feel like this book (or at least my poorly executed food metaphor) has caused me to gain five pounds. As with any novel I love, Firelight has a smoldering hero in Lord Archer. He's charming and witty, bruised but not broken, challenging, and amazing and awesome and—see, incoherent babbling. Let me summarize and simply tell you that I adore Archer. Of course, I also adored Beast in the Disney version of Beauty and the Beast. He's my favorite prince. I was rather distressed when he changed back into a human at the end. I liked him better large, hairy, and a bit surly.Anyway...Firelight is a spellbinding debut that will light a fire within you, burning you and leaving you begging for more. Callihan is a master of sexual tension. My lip still hurts from biting it the entire time I was reading. It was pure torture. And the funny thing is, I'm not really a big romance reader, but she's made me think I've been missing out all these years. Highly recommended. Not just to romance readers, but to readers like myself who love to mix our genres.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I fell in love with the lovebirds' story and here I thought that the historical romance genre is dead, KCallihan might just revive it singlehandedly with this series. I also love the myth she employed as well as picking Beauty and the Beast as the base for her story. Like I previously mentioned, the supernatural elements are not as prominent as my usual reads but I hardly noticed it. This is more like a love story and Miri and Archer's special powers just added fiery color to the background. Callihan focused on the attraction and their love-hate relationship than their powers which worked well for me.I just found it hard to follow some of the events because it would shift from one scene to another without breaks or much preamble. I'm not sure if this has been corrected in the final book because the one I have is an ARC but I'm hoping that it has been rectified.

    1 person found this helpful

  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    DNFGot about 2/3 of the way through (with the help of frequent skimming) before I realized all the tension this book provoked in me was due to annoyance rather than interest. The characters were shallow and the insta-lust/insta-love baffled me. The phrasing is frequently awkward or downright nonsensical. The plotting was fine, but the pacing seemed rushed given the Gothic tone the author seemed to be aiming for. Overall, it gave me the feeling of Michael Bay trying to do historical romance with vague paranormal elements. Not to my taste.

    1 person found this helpful