ARC Review: Heart on Fire by Amanda Bouchet

“the friendships and the romance, the new world that Bouchet has created have all combined to give us a fantastic new voice in fantasy romance.”
~ Under the Covers

It’s come to that time that all bibliophiles both eagerly anticipate…and yet dread. The last book in the series. After faithfully following a series we finally get to see the peak of the action; finally see how it all ends; see who ends up with who; see if our favourite character finally reaches their full potential and see the dastardly villain be smote down by our hero or heroine. Which leads me to HEART ON FIRE, you see all of the above and more. Kind of. Lets take it point by point:

Peak of the action…

Bouchet has definitely delivered a book with some action in it, both magical and with good old fashioned fisticuffs. However, between the exciting action scenes there’s an awful lot of naval gazing and pondering of what it all means. Honestly, it got a bit tiresome. Cat couldn’t seem to take any action without having a deep philosophical conversation with herself about whether she’s turning into her evil mother or contemplating how much she loved Griffin. It slowed the pace of the book and even worse than that; it was boring and repetitive.

How it all ends (no spoilers)…

There is a nice satisfying conclusion to the trilogy, all of which seems to happen in the last 5%. So, if you get to 90% and are wondering if this is really the last book, as I did, keep reading!

Who ends up with who…

Okay, I may have lied a little about this one! We all know Cat and Griffin are solid and I loved seeing their relationship develop to the deep abiding love they have one another. However, now that they’re sorted I want to see what happens with their friends and family! There are lots of hints at couplings, but nothing conclusive. Which gives me hope! I can’t be the only person keeping my fingers crossed for a spin off series, right?

Character reaching their full potential…

Does Cat finally stop the incessant monologue in her head about what kind of person she is…whether she’s too ruthless…too closed up…too damaged and actually get on with it? Yes she does. Cat has come a long way since book one and  her character growth is one of the things I like about this series. So, although she may not be my favourite heroine I have enjoyed taking this journey with her.

Villain smiting…

Ha! I am giving no spoilers…you will need to read it to see what happens and if/how the evil queen is defeated. I think we all know the answer to that one. However, it’s not always the destination but the journey that’s important and although the ending is ultimately predictable (or is it?!) that doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the ride.

Conclusion…

This particular book wasn’t my favourite of this trilogy, there was too much talk and not enough action for my tastes. The series as a whole though has been great, the friendships and the romance, the new world that Bouchet has created have all combined to give us a fantastic new voice in fantasy romance. I can’t wait to see what Bouchet brings out next, but whatever it is, I know I will be picking it up, especially if it is a spin off!

What did you think of our review?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!

[about-author author=”Amanda Bouchet”]

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