Like my sister I really disliked the ending. What got me more was a certain lack of grace to the writing. The beginning felt rigid and overly short for the amount of emotion it was trying to convey. The ending fell flat as well since I honestly did not care about the truth of the world.



I didn't realize until about halfway through the book that this is not only the author of a short story I didn't enjoy that greatly (Unveiled), but also that the short story tied into this series.

Well color me shocked.

Many of the reasons I didn't enjoy Unveiled were only exacerbated in this book. I felt so little connection to any of the characters. Wolfe builds a sort of shallow emotional bridge in the first few chapters--Zara's father being taken, being forced to live at the castle, watching someone be tortured--that felt more off putting then relatable. Then there's Devlan who was your basic run of the mill tortured sort with a deeper agenda. And Sebastian who swung from pretty okay hapless sort to malevolent creeper with very little transition between.

There was very little subtlety. The synopsis makes it seems as if Zara has this big decision to make, but really its not for her. She's pretty firmly decided on her course of action (after Devlan makes it clear her original plan to escape is at best suicidal) and the few token moments of 'Maybe this could work' are unconvincing. When the Rebels finally enter her realm of possibilities the outcome was inevitable. ( )

I say it over and over again but I love Trisha’s writing. Fireblood was no exception.

I loved the tie-in to the Arthurian legends. Of course there are so many different versions but this book reminded me a bit of the movie Camelot. If you’ve never seen it, it’s an oldie but goodie. To sum it up. Arthur(Sebastian) loves Guinevere (Zara) who loves Lancelot (Devlan). Lancelot and Arthur were tight until what Arthur considered ultimate betrayal. In order to keep order and uphold his rule he sacrifices Guinevere but there is that thought that he did it knowing Lancelot would save her. Crazy so off course. I could see a lot of similarities that those basic roots in the this story. Not exactly the same but I like how the spirit of it was infused in there. I also thought it was completely interesting that this is a dystopian world. Nuclear war has mutated and destroyed the outside world and these people now live in a protected dome. King Hart however enamoured with the Arthurian Era makes everyone live by that standards. Were talking dressing and talking like it.

I always love Trish’s characters. Especially her female ones. They are always tough chicas who can handle themselves. Zara is no exception. Although she’s a little green in the beginning she develops into a more aware and skilled fighter. She learns that being impulsive is not always the best route and sometimes it takes a little patience for your situation to change.

Trish is also great at creating sexual tension. I was like damn Zara just grab and kiss him already!!!

I love an understated villain. The one that you count out until they manage to surprise you. King Hart loomed and intimidated but how threatening was he really. What about his son Sebastian. Is he good, bad, hot. I don’t know!! I love that he stays intriguing throughout the majority of the book. What’s really going on inside his head.

Hello Devlan will you be my hunky knight in shining armor. I like Devlan because he has that pensive, strong, been to hell and back thing going for him. He also is sensible to Zara’s not always so sensible ideas. Plus he really seem to value his beliefs and his duty. Now what one considers their duty does not always coincide with what everyone else thinks it is.

This was a good dystopia in a way that made you almost forget that’s what it is. Which is the point of the world Hart has created. Not only that what Hart is protecting the people from is actually real. It’s not all sunshine and lollipops on the other side of the wall.

Trisha has done it again. Kick ass characters, swoon worthy romance, and an intricate plot with side characters that are fully fleshed out.
I loved the setting of this one. It is unlike anything I have read really. It is set in the future, a dystopian society that is based on Camelot, with knights, dresses, older speech patterns, tournaments and the like. Zara is the main character and she is chosen to be the new princess, but she wants no part, because although the society is "peaceful", the king rules harshly, with violent and deadly broadcasted punishments for those who disobey.
Zara is such a strong character, but she has and knows her limits, and I really appreciated that about her. She is new to the court, being raised on a farm, and that makes her relatable, because I have no idea what I would do if trusted into politics, it would be out of my league. But I love how easily she learns and adapts to situations whether court girls with their claws out, to learning to ride a horse or be in combat. She has such a pure heart, she wants to see the best in everyone and she brings that out in people. I also appreciate that she gets emotional. She doesn't deny that part of herself, she knows it is a part of her and that showing them isn't a weakness, but a show of strength.
As she plots her escape, she gains help learning to ride from the first knight, and her guard Devlan. I loved him from the minute I met him, with his wit, charm, broodiness, and his protective nature. I love their exchanges, and like Zara, I wanted to know the secrets he harbored. And little by little we find them out, and it only makes me want to know more about him and fall for him all the more.
The swoon factor is definitely present in this one, and like I have come to expect from Trisha, the romance leaves me breathless, and wanting more.
Sebastian, the prince is a story of himself. I go from hating, to thinking that he has a soft side that can be coaxed out, having hope for him shattered, to pity. The whole range of emotions because he really is a complex character, and being raised by a harsh ruler has left him with a mean streak, but there are also traces of wanting more for the kingdom but the two sides battle which is what leaves me so conflicted.
The rebels are surprises all around in this one, and they are the beacon of hope, but they also have their problems and people that like Zara, it is hard to trust even though they are against the king for their own reasons. But Devlan is there, and they uncover to her some shocking truths, not only about the depth of the evil from the king, but things about her past, and who she is.
The story gives me a good ending, nail biting, and action filled for sure, but it fit the story perfectly, and I am anxious to see how the series will continue.

Bottom Line: Absolutely amazing, brilliant setting, wonderfully developed characters and heart-pounding romance and action. ( )

FIREBLOOD seemed to me to be a book that was trying to do too much, trying to fit in too many of the popular tropes. It was post-apocalyptic since it took place after a war that devastated the Earth. It was dystopia because the enclosed world where all the remaining humans lived was ruled by a despot. There was an attempt at the requisite YA love triangle. And there was the sort of intrepid heroine who came off to me as wishy-washy.

For some unknown reason, Prince Sebastian decides to make Zara Dane his chosen bride. He has never met her. She is more interested in hiding her father's illness because all citizens with the Virus are taken away to die. Her first instinct is to escape. Where she might escape to remains in question as the humans are confined to a rather small dome separating them from the outside wilderness.

When Zara meets First Knight Devlan Capra her plan changes. Now, I am not sure why she is so attracted to him given that he blows hot and cold toward her and puts his duty ahead of her. However, compared to Prince Sebastian who is cruel and who attempts to force Zara to be intimate, he looks good. Still, Zara believes that she sees some kindness in Sebastian and thinks that she can influence him to change things when he is king.

When Zara learns that her father isn't dead but has been sent to the outside world to help provide the power for the city, Zara joins the rebels who want to defeat the evil King Hart and free all those Taken. Naturally, this gently reared girl who measures all of 5'2" turns out to be a natural at physical warfare defeating knights who have trained for years after only a few weeks of practice - practice taught by Devlan. Spending time with Devlan makes her love him more but she is still torn between him and the vision she has of a kinder, gentler Sebastian.

I had difficulty connecting with any of the characters and thrown out of the story frequently by the numerous coincidences that drove the plot. People who need one more dystopia might enjoy this story. I found it lacking something for me. ( )