Nocturnal Book Reviews

The Fire Lord's Lover has been on my wishlist for absolute ages because of the unique premise of this book, - alternative history, 18th century England, where mad Elven Lords rule 7 separate realms. Magic, court poisons, intrigues, and hello? Assassins. Need I say more?

The fantasy elements in this book are superb. Little servant girls of Dominic's young wife have slight hint of elven blood in them which gives them their own unique talents. One girl can find anything which is lost in the castle. Another is a weaver, she weaves Cassandra's hair and even makes her a cloak from her dreams and hopes.

Cassandra's talent is dancing which she uses in her assassin skills, for what is a fight if not another kind of a deadly dance? Dominic himself is a pretty complicated and realistic character who doesn't want to care about his young wife because his mad and cruel father tortures and kills everyone Dominic ever got close to in order to gain power over his bastard son.

My problem with this book is not the sum of its fantasy parts but the love story which follows all the usual conventional tropes of a romance novel. I wanted more of that wonderful world development, more dialogues with the wise dragon, dangerous mood swings of paranoid Mor'ded, Dominic's father, more war and adventures, than emphasis on how I feel and how you feel...

For a fantasy with romantic elements Kathryne's work is lacking but for a romance with elements of fantasy she nails it. I guess, it all depends on your expectations.

I do recommend this book, but I'm undecided whether to continue with the series or not.

P.S. love the cover which reminds me of the portraits from that era, - dainty but alluring.