#DFRAT Guest Review: Firelight by Kristen Callihan

This is one of those historical romances with some fantasy thrown in that I wasn’t sure I would like. Yet it sounded mysterious enough that I couldn’t resist, and I’m glad I decided to read it. From the first, the reader is thrown into the dark environs of a London that the fancy regencies don’t allow to claim too much room–it really isn’t about fancy parties and the gilt-edged life of the ton. Yet Lord Archer is worth about $72 million and so he has few financial worries. And his new bride, Miranda Ellis Archer, has the best that life has to offer from minute one. Yet there is a dark side to all the characters in this book, not the least of whom are a group of very old men who are Lord Archer’s compatriots and who, one by one, are murdered in gruesome fashion. Miranda knows in that way a person knows things about someone who is loved deeply, and she knows that Archer holds some hefty secrets close to his chest. Her curiosity takes her into the bowels of the London stews, but she is at home there–that’s one of her secrets–and she fears that as she gets closer to Archer’s secrets he will ultimately learn hers and reject her. As she falls more deeply in love with her husband, her fear of his eventual rejections grows as well.

This is a novel about two extremely lonely people who are attracted to one another in ways that are understandable–she’s beautiful and he’s mysterious behind his mask and with his fat bank account. Yet both of them somehow perceive that the other is made of stern stuff, even while they fear that they will lose one another if the truth is ever fully revealed. Lots of emotional paradox, it would seem. But there is also some dark magic here and the novel is so skillfully written that even for a long-time mystery reader like me, it was not apparent at all who was the protagonist here–who was really out to do Lord Archer in–and who was slowly snuffing out the lives of all his old buddies. There are some unlikely players in the story–background though they may be, but they give substance to Miranda’s life and help to understand just a little bit about her. Her sisters also help the reader to understand that Miranda’s “gift” — she is what some paranormal writers call a “Firestarter” –is of long standing and has been a curse of sorts on the family. Ultimately it may be the one aspect of the story that makes it all come out happily.

This is a beautifully written historical romance and it was a joy to read. The darkness of the story–the gothic feel to it all–was very similar to some of the gothics of the 40’s and 50’s that were some of my favorite books when I was growing up. Daphne Du Maurier and Anya Seton were two of my favorite authors then along with Edgar Allen Poe. This novel would fit in with some of those novels very well. The romance is far more overt, however, as today’s readers tolerate far more eroticism than in that time decades ago. But put it all together and you have an absolutely fabulous read and one that will entertain and keep the reader plastered to their chair and to each and every page. I also might add that there were lots of emotional ups and downs for me as I read this story. I could feel Miranda’s loneliness, her sense of just not being allowed to share in Archer’s life, of loving him but fearing that she wouldn’t be able to live with new knowledge, of wondering if her belief in him was wishful thinking. But I think readers will also feel Archer’s sense of desperation, of fear that all hope for the future and especially one of happiness with Miranda was a pipe dream and his sense of being foolish to even think that such a future could be his. At first I was really irritated with his come-closer-get-away kind of behavior toward Miranda, but when the reader gets deeper into the story, it is apparent that he constantly vassilates between a sense of hope and hopelessness.

This is a delightful read and one that I am so glad I read. I hope that those who like the genre of romance mixed in with dark magic set in historical context will get this book and enjoy it as much as I did.

The series:

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.

This book is available from Forever. You can buy it here or here in e-format.