Promises are meant to be kept and I could not review this book before it got archived. Hence I am now getting back at it. Unfortunately it was not an amazing experience.
Its a huge cast of characters but none feeling layered enough for me to be able to care about their fates. The setting of the town is vivid and well rendered, more than the characters. If you are seeking a captivating mystery with supernatural elements may want to skip this one.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

I ended up dnf-ing this, but I may go back and read the physical book. Something about the narration just did not click with me, and I don’t know exactly what. Which I understand makes this review a bit useless but it’s at least honest

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

I struggled getting into this one. I think it would have been easier for me to do so if I was reading a physical copy of this one, nothing against the narrator who did perfectly fine. I just felt like all of the family members blurred together in audio form.

DNF at 25%. I was really enjoying the story, but as an audiobook I was finding it so difficult to focus and take in the information. It just didn’t really hold my interest while listening.

A.M. Vergara’s “Firefax” is a bit hard to find on Amazon. Search for the author’s full name: Amelia Maria Vergara. Every time I attempted to search by the title, Amazon would autocorrect to “Firefox.” The extra work to find this title is worth it, however, if you are a fan of a certain sort of retro adventure story.

The Firefaxes are assassins. Some work for the family business; some work for spy networks on both sides of the Revolutionary War. One of them knows the secret of the island where the family has been hoarding its spoils of war for centuries, and another spy wants that gold for himself. The rest of the Firefax family must follow their eldest brother to the island, both to save one of their own and to protect their fortune from potential thieves.

This reminded me a lot of the book “The Twenty-One Balloons,” as well as quite a few other novels from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century: “Herland,” “The Mysterious Island,” “The Lost World.” When the earth wasn’t completely mapped out by satellite and there was the possibility of hidden lands full of wealth and adventure. If this is a subgenre of fantasy/ adventure you like, then this would be a good fit for you. I was a bit put off by what sounded like perspective changes in the middle of paragraphs, but maybe on the written page, there are better clues for the readers that a POV switch has arrived.

The narrator did a good job bringing all the characters to life. It was a fun, action-filled story with a good amount of tension and a kick-butt heroine. I would definitely like a follow-up with more adventures from the survivors. I received this book from NetGalley.

I requested this audiobook, but once I got it, I was wary about it. But once I got into it, it kept me intrigued. This family of killers were highly entertaining!

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial Audio, Net Galley and the Publisher for an audio copy of Firefax in exchange for an honest review.

The Firefaxes are the world's oldest and notorious family of assassins. They have been carrying out high-profile killings for centuries and have been well-compensated to do so. The patriarch's death and the return of the cunning prodigal, Murdoch, throw the family into turmoil. Murdoch holds the key to the family wealth hidden on a secret island. Amidst the American Revolution, two intelligence networks vie to locate the legendary treasure and end the war at any cost. .

This book is a compelling exploration of family dynamics. It navigates both the best and worst aspects of familial relationships, weaving a narrative that resonates in the most profound ways. The Firefaxes undergo an intense journey, with the wealth they possess becoming both a blessing and a curse, pushing them to the brink of hell.

The narrative unfolds as a cruel yet beautiful tapestry, blending hope and soul-crushing moments seamlessly. The pacing is relentless, delivering an action-packed rollercoaster of emotions that kept me on the edge of my seat. Vergara masterfully captures the complexities of family bonds, showcasing the lengths the Firefaxes’ are willing to go for each other.

As the story hurtles towards its conclusion, the minimal explanation and unanswered questions create a heart-wrenching farewell. Overall, a captivating and intense exploration of family loyalty, wrapped in a fast-paced narrative that evokes a spectrum of emotions.

Thank you NetGalley and Amelia Vergara for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firefax by Amelia Vergara hasn't even been published yet and I am anxiously awaiting the sequel. The ending wasn't a cliffhanger, but there were enough loose ends that there HAS to be a sequel!

This had some promise at the start, but honestly, all the characters sounded the same. Not because of the narrator, who did a good job, but because of the way they talk. I know almost everyone is related, but the dialogue was stilted and just didn't work for me. I am glad folks liked it. I wanted to like it too.

‘Firefax’ written by Amelia Vergara and narrated by Vas Eli.

Unfortunately, I could not get drawn into this book. I listened to the first few chapters, but was not intrigued. I believe in giving a book a few chapters before I make a call on whether to continue or not. This book just did not capture my interest and attention, even though the summary definitely captured my interest.

Thank you #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial Audio for the opportunity to listen to this early version in exchange for a review. All opinions and thoughts are those of my own. #Firefax #NetGalley

I was not able to download this book, sadly, due to technological issues.

However, I will still give some feedback. This book intrigued me, the cover and genres specifically.

I enjoy fantasy and from what I read of the description, it sounds like a very fun read.

I sadly have to give this a 1 star because I'm not going to fight the app to allow me to listen to this book.

What a disappointing book! I began reading wholly expecting a fast paced, well rounded book set in the past, instead I listened to a slow-paced book with unlikeable characters and a lack of true world building. I struggled to finish and would not have bothered if this wasn’t from Netgalley. What a disappointment! I do believe that my feelings are at least partially made because of the narrator, who I did not care for at all. His inflections were lacking and I found it difficult to tell characters apart or even separate the dialogue from the narration.

Cara was by far the best character and the one I could most imagine in my head, but even she didn’t feel quite real to me. While there was some character development and I did like Cara more by the end, I still did not get as intrigued by her story as I would have liked.

DNF at 25%. I wish I had more time to finish the audiobook, as the narrator did a fantastic job at giving different male voices for several of the male main characters. I could tell that this was a heavy world-building novel and I think I just wasn’t in the right headspace for that during the holiday season.

This is a fantasy without dragons, magic, fae, wizards etc. It is about the Firefax family who are family of assassins. They are known for their skill and ruthlessness. Although one wants to escape the family business and become a priest and the sister has never killed a person.

When the patriarch suddenly dies the eldest son Murdoch returns. He is ruthless, skilled and sarcastic. It is almost a reverse noir book as we see him go from uncaring and vicious to someone who starts to feel. Most of the time you don't know what to make of him or who is the enemy but I couldn't get enough of this morally grey character with a snarky wit. He always seems to know more than anyone else.

There is a mysterious island that holds the Firefax wealth and has a city of Gold. The only one who knows where it is is Murdoch. Since this is set during the revolutionary war, both the British and the Yankees both want the money to fund their side of the war. But no one has ever left the island alive unless they were a Firefax.

The narration was terrific and while so many characters had nicknames that were sometimes hard to follow it was a great story of a truly dysfunctional family trying to find their way. I found myself drawn into the story and while it was brutal and not all the characters survive you see how they evolve as the story moves. It is truly about family and the family dynamics and what the patriarch of the clan created.

Firefax is a very entertaining, fast-paced novel with some action, fantasy, politics, and plenty of family drama.
It also has some cannonball-sized plot holes!
The Firefax family is one of elite assassins that have worked with numerous monarchs and appear to be above any political loyalties, though about 2/3 of the way through it becomes a big rift around which part of the family is loyal to the British and which supports US independence, and we finally understand why the setting is around the American Revolution.
There is also a great amount of time (longer than warranted by slow sea travel) getting to and hiding out on the mysterious island where the family hides their earnings (hard to access if no one knows how to get there!), which is also home to a severe poison and its antidote.
This is full of twists and turns, both sensical and non that keep it mostly moving and entertaining.

I was NOT expecting to like this one…but here we are.

It started out slow…building…with very unlikable characters. Set in the 1600’s.

BUT, as time went on, and we get to see the true beings of these characters (mostly from ONE family), and the love they all (almost all) have for each other, it’s hard not to grow to love them.

Carra, the only sister, as well as Raphael, Henry, Louis, and the feared eldest brother Murdoch are all Firefax’s. One of the most feared surnames!
You see, they are from one of the oldest families…and they are all assassins. Very good assassins…

And they come to find that a fairytale type rumor, that there is treasure hidden far away that belongs to their family, just might be true. And the only one who knows where it is, is among them, but will not give away the secret.
But then again, he just might have to…

There is torture. There is gruesome death….throughout the book. But, there is also LOVE…so much love…

I was really hoping for some miracles, multiple times in the book…but it was not to be. Maybe there will be a sequel?

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocialAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, which was released already.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#Firefax by #AmeliaVergara.

Follow me for all my upcoming reviews and previews @ #BookReviewsWithElaine on FB & @ #BookReviews_with_emsr on IG.

Happy Reading!! 📖📚

This was a super fun listen. It’s a book with a wealth of plot twists and evidence that’s hiding in plain sight. There are plenty of interesting characters with lots of different personalities, the writer did an excellent job of making each one unique and giving them a chance to develop and for us to learn their motives. Lots of action and the time period is very fun. I definitely recommend book, there’s a lot to love about it. A great and interesting take on the ‘city of gold’ type story. The narrator was excellent and did a great job with the characters too. Thank you for the ARC!

Assassins, sibling rivalry, sibling loyalty, medieval setting, and a hint of magic.
This novel is not your normal historical fiction. Circa about the 1700s, the Firefax family is attempting to restore their status and take us along on this rollicking adventure. In Firefax, the characters are revealed with all their flaws and strengths, and I loved them. Settle in with your favorite beverage and escape into this novel.

Firefax
AM Vergara
Firefox---“a dangerous family.”
The is the mid to late 1700s. The Colonies are fighting the British for their freedom.
Generation after generation the Firefax family are all assassins. They are well paid for their services.
Robert Firefax, the father, was killed in an accident. Murdoch, the oldest Firefax brother, returns home after years of being absent. The family had no idea where he was or if he was still alive. Murdoch is a cruel man with enemies that have followed him home. There is an island where gold is hidden. Only Firefox knows where it is located; Murdoch has no plans to share the location.
Two secret factions are determined to locate the island and its hidden wealth both are groups connected to the American Revolution.
I began this book with great expectation. It had all the makings of a great read. The more I read the slower the pace seemed to go. I didn’t connect with the characters. The plot has great potential, but it fell short.
Thank you, Netgalley for the review copy of this book. My reviews are always my unbiased opinions.