Can blazing passion melt a frosty heart?When the gods breathed life into us, they blessed us with an element. It’s a pity they didn’t care to bless anything else.The Empress of the Throne of Flames is assassinated. Acting as a decoy to protect the next Empress, the undervalued Princess Nymira flees to the north. She must now carry the sacred sword, the symbol of her people, and rejoin the new … her people, and rejoin the new Empress.
It is a mission Mira cannot fail but first, she must traverse the Western wastelands. The journey is perilous and the once sheltered princess finds herself rescued by the Ice Lord, Zorren. He is the leader of the Iceari, the natural enemy to Firelanders.
Zorren is reputed to be a ruthless leader and Mira fights the attraction that blazes between them, resulting in a clash of not only their wills but also their elements. After all, fire and ice don’t mix. Or do they?
This is book one of the new Bride of Fire series. Begin the journey to a mystical world and the adventure and romance that awaits.
Publisher’s Note: This fantasy romance contains elements of danger, suspense, mystery, adventure, and sensual scenes set in an apocalyptic world.
more
Hidden Embers by Jane Burrelli is a fantasy novel about a young woman by the name of Mira. She is heir to the throne, second in line, should something happen to her cousin. War has come to her homeland and she is forced to flee. They are told to separate and that when they are able to meet again they will be reunited. Mira believes that she is being sent to die, but she does what she must. So she goes. While out in the deserted lands Mira is captured and thrown in with other women who have been captured by raiders. Using her unique abilities Mira saves not only herself but the other women as well. One of the women, Isla, her husband and a group of men find them. They are saved but because Mira is a Firelander some of them wish to kill her. Zorren, the leader, steps in. While Mira appreciates his help she wishes to be on her way and about her mission. Zorren knows the dangers of the surrounding lands, but Mira is, true to her fiery nature, hot-headed and impetuous. Zorren feels a spark between them, and so does Mira. Can she stop fighting him to see what lies in front of her?
Hidden Embers is book one in the Bride of Fire series and this book is engaging from beginning to end. The story focuses mostly on Mira but it does branch off to Zorren here and there. Mostly, when the story is told from Mira’s perspective it is told in first person. When it shifts to Zorren it stays in third person for him. I like that both characters are strong and fierce in their own right. Zorren is protective and has a deep kindness to him. Mira is strong and fierce, but she keeps getting into trouble because she wants to do her own thing. I like that for the most part Zorren is very patient with her. He takes the time to try and talk to her and explain things to her.
I don’t have too many issues with this book. There are some minor editorial issues, but nothing major. Mira, I feel at times, is too rebellious. I understand that she has a mission, that she must keep certain secrets, but she could have trusted him more. She nearly gets herself killed more than once with her dogged need to do her. She knows that she doesn’t know the wastelands or any place as well as he does, but she continued to persist in moving forward into danger. When he declares that she is his mate, she fights him on going to the temple. Why?! If it will clear things up one way or another why not be more eager to go? It didn’t make sense to me.
At the end of the day, I truly enjoyed this book. It was hard for me to put down as I was eager to read what was going to happen next. The story ends with lots of questions left unanswered, but I’m hopeful that the next book in this series will answer the questions that are left hanging.
I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I truly enjoyed it and look forward to meeting these characters again.