REVIEWED by J.A. Kenney

Review: 4.50 Stars

Summary:

Through the Fire is book 1 in the Daughter of Fire Series by Michelle Irwin.

Evie has spent her life on the run.  After her mother’s death, she and her father fled and have been in hiding ever since. But after only a few weeks in their newest town her high school crush, Clay, exposes her as “other” a non-human.

Clay and his family are members of a secret but powerful organization The Rain, who seek out, and kill all non-humans.

Her father reveals that her mother was murdered, and that Evie will always be hunted because of what she is.  They leave again, never staying any place too long, and living “off the grid” to avoid detection.

When Clay tracks Evie down years later, she believes he has come to kill her. Yet, his real purpose risks her life, her heart, and both their families.

Positives: 

This was the FIRST New Adult Book I have enjoyed since the age category was created. I’m a finicky YA reader with only a handful of books that I can call favorites, and before this book I thought NA was not for me.  This one changed my mind.

This book took my breath away.  It was intense, dark, painful, and perfectly combined the coming of age story expected in New Adult with action and adventure.

Evie is a UNIQUE, the only use of that particular mythical creature as a main character in a paranormal I can bring to mind. I hesitate to spoil the surprise, but she IS a new and different creature.

The Fae (Fairies) in the book are also portrayed in a very unique and interesting way as they have butterfly like wings, and live in an invisible castle in New York’s Central Park.

Evie and Clay’s forbidden romance had so many twists and turns I lost track.  The emotional impact was greater than any book I’ve read in a LONG time. I can honestly say I started crying on about page 50 and practically never stopped.

The feel and pace of the book reminded me of the later books in The Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead in particular Shadow Kiss.

Negatives: 

The book had an ALMOST Urban Fantasy vibe, and while I LOVE that some fans of Paranormal Romance might not.

The love story was angst ridden and broken with long absences.  As might be expected under the circumstances the main character has a couple of sexual relationships with other characters during these breaks. While this was done very well, and was not at all offensive to me, romance purists might find it objectionable.

Finally, this is the first in a romantic series about a single couple (Think Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost), not a stand alone romance novel.  There is no Happily Ever After or even a Happily For Now ending. The ending is a cliffhanger, with an emotional uptick, but no resolution. To me this isn’t an issue but I know some readers want an easy and clear ending.

Overall:

Might be the best book I’ve read this year. It was sad, happy, fun, stressful, and just a great emotional roller-coaster ride.

The paranormal aspects were unique and interesting.  The world different and exciting.  And at last the romance VERY angsty, passionate, and emotionally charged.

Michelle Irwin has redefined NA for me, and that is a great accomplishment in and of itself!

Keep Reading!

J.A. Kenney

Genre: New Adult Paranormal Romance

Publication date: October 31, 2014

Length: 224 Pages

Blush Quotient: Red

Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair review.