The whole book is this way – 418 pages of words under 200 pages of content. It takes FIVE CHAPTERS of talking and mental narration by Cat for this one issue to be resolved the way anybody with two brain cells will predict from the moment Piers casts his spell. Identities are revealed – it turns out people Cat knew were gods in disguise – in a way that starts to feel silly, like Scooby-Doo (“The monster was the goddess Demeter all along!”). Obviously, Cat doesn’t want to go to endless war, but Ares has to have the soul of one of the people present. The first chapter begins with a confrontation in which Piers, Griffin’s brother, hates Cat sufficiently to summon the war god Ares to take Cat away permanently. The biggest problem in Heart on Fire is pacing. Also, I question the idea that people called their fetuses ‘Little Bean’ before ultrasounds and embryology. Cat, meanwhile, has legitimate mental and physical (her unreliable god-given powers, her pregnancy) issues to work through, but does them in such an over-narrated and navel-gazing way that it becomes annoying. I like practical, competent Griffin and his unwavering love for family and faith in Cat, but I wish he’d had more to do than just be Cat’s rock amidst her flailing quest for confidence. Cat Fisa, married to the warlord Griffin, has made progress overthrowing the corrupt Alphas ruling her land, but the biggest challenge of all remains: Alpha Fisa, Cat’s powerful and vicious mother.Ĭat and Griffin are still solid. A Homeric trilogy not to be missed.Oh, what a letdown, when a series starts off so strongly (I nominated Bouchet for debut author of the year in 2016) but can’t stick the landing. 'Amanda Bouchet closes out her epic Kingmaker Chronicles with a tale both sweeping in its world building and poignant in its emotion. 'A thrilling conclusion to an epic tale! The final Kingmaker book delivers with both heat and heart-loved it!' -Jeffe Kennedy, award-winning author of The Pages of the Mind

'I love these books!' -Chloe Neill, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cat will steal your heart.' -Jennifer Estep, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author 'Magic, action, romance-everything I love in a series. 'Readers should take note! Heart on Fire is a fantastic conclusion to a spectacular series. 'Fans will swoon.Bouchet's series ends strongly with a hopeful vision of leadership balanced with divinity and humanity.' -Publishers Weekly STARRED Review 'Delivers breathtaking romance, riveting action, mythology, and high-stakes political games.Bouchet continues to not only set the bar for fantasy romance but to crash over it.' -Booklist STARRED Review 'Bouchet's stunning Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy ends the way it began, with creativity, brilliance, and a breathtaking balance of heart-pounding adventure and heart-wrenching emotion.' -Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review

Heart of fire amanda bouchet