SHES DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD...

Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny before she could even comprehend what it was. She's torn between protecting her newfound loved ones and sheltering them from her past and future.  

This is the 2nd book into the series and I had my doubts that this would be as good as the first. It exceeded every expectation I ever had, literally I was sobbing 5% in. There was never a dull moment with Cat and Griffin assembling their forces at Sinta in preparation for the Power Bid. Whilst the book itself is action packed, it is also highly emotional. We receive greater insight into Cat's childhood and who she really is (if you hadn't already guessed) as well as the reasons behind her concealing her identity. 

For me, the most unique aspect of this book is Cat's voice. She is far removed from the damsel-in-distress trope, in its place she is fearless, reckless, self-sacrificing, sarcastic, and untrusting. She operates constantly in defence mode and it is mainly with Griffin that she lets her guard down. 

Griffin, Griffin, Griffin. You had me in that first book and then you lost me nice and early in the second. Catalia's 'secret' is unearthed early on in the novel and to say Griffin handled it poorly is giving him credit he doesn't deserve. I have a love-hate relationship with 'alpha' heroes because too often they cross the line from alpha to abuser and Griffin was definitely toeing this line. He does apologise and, to a degree, redeems himself but I always struggle with forgiving characters who use their dominance to intimidate their partner. 

Back to the storyline, it was action from start to finish with less focus on the romantic aspects the previous book emphasised. From braving the ice plains, to battling mythical creatures, to confronting the mother of all evil (ok not her name but accurate still), there was never a dull moment and I was enraptured from start to finish. 

10000% recommend this to any fantasy/romance fans or anyone who loves a fearless heroine who is undoubtedly stronger than her male counterpart.

“It’s time to be the person you were meant to be, Cat. You don’t just have to make decisions and stand by them now. You have to live with them.”

I am raising my hands in thunderous applause for Breath of Fire as Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy continues its awesomeness-beyond-measure! It is truly a wild, action-packed read and it utterly blew me away. Magical creatures abound along with mythological gods and prophecies! My heart was in my throat most of the book.

Breath of Fire takes up right where A Promise of Fire ended with Cat in her villainous power-hungry mother’s sight as Cat is recovering from her near-death experience with a knife to the gut. As the story opens, there is trouble in paradise as long-held secrets are revealed and Griffin is blindsided. Cat runs, but she can’t run far because she is physically bound by the verbal pledge she made binding herself to him. That’s just the beginning. Hold on to your seats as we embark on an epic quest, visit with the oracle, become participants in the deadly Agon Games, fight epic battles and more. Of course, things don’t always go according to Plan A or Plan B. Is there a Plan C?

Catalia Andromeda Eileithyia Fisa “Cat” is coming more into her own. She’s learning to use her powers and to trust in others, most especially Griffin and the rest of the Beta Team and with her connection with the gods. But, she’s still holding dear more secrets – secrets predicting a dire future.

Griffin is awesome! He’s strong and has all the faith in the world in Cat even when she doesn’t. The two clash over his protectiveness and I have to give him credit. He’s really trying to do better.  I laugh at their names for each other; Your Growliness, Your Logicalness, Your Nakedness… This powerful alpha couple connects not only with hot sex but with such intense passion that they are still coming to terms with it.

Supporting characters are not ignored and they face plenty of challenges on their own. B-Teamer Kato plows on no matter what’s thrown at him. I will never forget his snake or what he had to do to please the goddess! Another B-Teamer Flynn and Princess Jocasta are grappling with their own attraction. Carver, B-Teamer and brother to Griffin, is fighting his own demons and my heart goes out to him.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Breath of Fire:
 
 I shortened my name to Cat for a reason – as in Cataclysm.
--- 

  I make a show of smoothing down my hair – a lost cause at this point. “Ah, that. It’s getting to the stage where it deserved a name. The Knotted Nest? The Twisted Tresses?”
 “What about the Terrible Tangle?”
 I nod. “That has serious possibilities.”
 “The Matted Mess?” he suggests.
--- 

  He’s barely finished himself inside me when my release hits. My thighs tense. The breath stalls in my lungs, and then I kick back my head and let out the loudest, throatiest, and most breathless moan in the history of all history, going boneless in a blissful rush.
 “Gods, I missed you,” Griffin rasps, holding me as I throb around him.
The high-impact tremors fade into sweet, lingering aftershocks. I look up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. My lips part, but no words come out. Even the drag of frosty air over my kiss-swollen lips is almost too sensual to bear.
Griffin quirks a dark eyebrow, looking smug. “That was easy.”
 I grin, falling in love with him all over again. “Then do it again.”
--- 

  Kato looks ill. “I… It… Me…” He stares at the massive snake. “Big.”
 I squeeze his arm. “Don’t worry. You’ll speak in complete sentences again soon.”

Do yourself a huge favor and read this series in order. I can’t imagine jumping into Breath of Fire without having first read A Promise of Fire. You won’t be sorry. Each book is superb reading.

Breath of Fire is a great high fantasy with a swoony romance! Seriously, if you enjoy epic romantic fantasies with kickass heroines and Greek mythology overtones throughout, you really, really, really need to check out this series! I especially love that this author doesn’t leave readers dangling with cruel cliff-hangers. THANK YOU, AMANDA! Believe me, even without a cliffhanger, you will be excited for the next installment! I can’t wait for Heart of Fire, the conclusion of this trilogy which will release Fall 2017!



Suggested Reading Order: 
A Promise of Fire (Book 1)
Breath of Fire (Book 2)
Heart on Fire (Book 3, coming Fall 2017)

This is a link to the review my contributor Hope wrote for the blog - it has been shared on all social media and is scheduled to share again later this month

Breath of Fire starts with a bang as Cat's long-kept secrets are finally out in the open. But now that, that is done, it's time to keep Sinta safe from the possibly invading Tarvan royals. To do that, Cat, Griffin, and Beta Team will have to travel within reach of the Fisan throne which puts Cat in the sights of her mother. But the group quickly realizes that they'll can't just sit behind a blockade and await attack. If they want to succeed they'll have to bring the fight to Tarva. 

I was pretty startled with the abrupt way the story began, and after the fact, despite the fight it caused between Griffin and Cat, I was honestly relieved that Cat's secrets were finally revealed because I was hoping Amanda Bouchet would have already done that by the end of the first book A Promise of Fire, and was a little disappointed that she didn't. I think because to readers the fact that Cat is the long-lost Fisan heir was so obvious, I thought any subterfuge to keep this fact from coming out in the open in the story, was just silly. I probably would be singing a different tune if her identity had been a complete secret from us readers as well. 

After we moved past this, I was not sure what to expect from the remainder of the story. Mind you, I absolutely loved A Promise of Fire, so this one had a lot to live up to, which I kinda think was going to be an uphill battle from the beginning. Plus, it's the middle book in a planned trilogy, and I think it the way it fills those shoes is very apropos. 

Looking back on the story in its entirety, I felt like it took awhile to find its footing. We have our cast of characters going on various "quests" to get the help they need for Sinta, which taken on their own are compelling and kept me reading, but I didn't feel like they fit together as a whole very well. The spaces between felt like a lot of filler to me as the group finds the Oracle on the Frozen Lake, and after a ton of assistance from various Gods, are sent to Mt Olympus on the hunt for an object to gain them the help they will need in Sinta. I almost felt like this journeying was a way to capture that feeling from the first book after Cat was kidnapped and the group worked their way back to Sinta and were facing many obstacles along their journey back. 

It may sound a little muddled, but that's because I feel it was, not until past the halfway mark when the group decides to enter a gladiatorial tournament did my ears perk up and was I completely invested in the story. I always love a good tournament storyline as I love when our characters get to flex some muscles and show opposers what's up. I would have been a happy camper had this storyline taken a more primary spot in the book. 

Now, on to some other things. I liked the upping of the steamy romantic moments between Cat and Griffin. I liked seeing their relationship move to that next level. But, on that note, there were times it bordered on too much. Almost. I was almost at the point where I was thinking they needed to back off a little because there were other things going on that were slightly more important than them having sex....again. 

Amanda Bouchet also decided to add another plot twist (much like Cat's secret familial past), which was, again, extremely obvious from the get-go. I kinda liked the reversal in that last time Cat was privvy to her own secrets, but this time around it seems as though everyone but Cat was in the know. I will say that I was glad we get the revelation of said plot twist by the end of this book and we don't have to wait for another somewhat pointless reveal in the next book Heart on Fire. 

I know a lot of this review seems in the negative. So why 4 stars? There were enough good pieces of story that invested me in the book, even if I think, put together, they don't really mesh. The gladiator tournament was fantastic. I loved that the Greek Mythology that has been utilitzed so far in this series has been some that I've never read before instead of falling on those stories more universally known, Breath of Fire continues along in that same vein. And, the secondary character really stole the story for me this time around. We learn more about Beta Team as well as Griffins sisters. Get more glimpses of their lives and things they've been through, or those they have possibly pined for, for years. So despite a bit of a clunky feel for me, I'm still really looking forward to the next / last book. Great things were started in the beginning and I'm hoping we're being led to an awesome conclusion, which I can't help but feel will show Cat finally having some long-standing confrontations.

5 Wine Glass #Review for Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Linda's Thoughts:

 “It’s time to be the person you were meant to be, Cat. You don’t just have to make decisions and stand by them now. You have to live with them.”

I am raising my hands in thunderous applause for Breath of Fire as Amanda Bouchet’s Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy continues its awesomeness-beyond-measure! It is truly a wild, action-packed read and it utterly blew me away. Magical creatures abound along with mythological gods and prophecies! My heart was in my throat most of the book.

Breath of Fire takes up right where A Promise of Fire ended with Cat in her villainous power-hungry mother’s sight as Cat is recovering from her near-death experience with a knife to the gut. As the story opens, there is trouble in paradise as long-held secrets are revealed and Griffin is blindsided. Cat runs, but she can’t run far because she is physically bound by the verbal pledge she made binding herself to him. That’s just the beginning. Hold on to your seats as we embark on an epic quest, visit with the oracle, become participants in the deadly Agon Games, fight epic battles and more. Of course, things don’t always go according to Plan A or Plan B. Is there a Plan C?

Catalia Andromeda Eileithyia Fisa “Cat” is coming more into her own. She’s learning to use her powers and to trust in others, most especially Griffin and the rest of the Beta Team and with her connection with the gods. But, she’s still holding dear more secrets – secrets predicting a dire future.

Griffin is awesome! He’s strong and has all the faith in the world in Cat even when she doesn’t. The two clash over his protectiveness and I have to give him credit. He’s really trying to do better.  I laugh at their names for each other; Your Growliness, Your Logicalness, Your Nakedness… This powerful alpha couple connects not only with hot sex but with such intense passion that they are still coming to terms with it.

Supporting characters are not ignored and they face plenty of challenges on their own. B-Teamer Kato plows on no matter what’s thrown at him. I will never forget his snake or what he had to do to please the goddess! Another B-Teamer Flynn and Princess Jocasta are grappling with their own attraction. Carver, B-Teamer and brother to Griffin, is fighting his own demons and my heart goes out to him.

Following please find a few of my favorite quotes from Breath of Fire:
 
 I shortened my name to Cat for a reason – as in Cataclysm.
--- 

  I make a show of smoothing down my hair – a lost cause at this point. “Ah, that. It’s getting to the stage where it deserved a name. The Knotted Nest? The Twisted Tresses?”
 “What about the Terrible Tangle?”
 I nod. “That has serious possibilities.”
 “The Matted Mess?” he suggests.
--- 

  He’s barely finished himself inside me when my release hits. My thighs tense. The breath stalls in my lungs, and then I kick back my head and let out the loudest, throatiest, and most breathless moan in the history of all history, going boneless in a blissful rush.
 “Gods, I missed you,” Griffin rasps, holding me as I throb around him.
The high-impact tremors fade into sweet, lingering aftershocks. I look up at him with heavy-lidded eyes. My lips part, but no words come out. Even the drag of frosty air over my kiss-swollen lips is almost too sensual to bear.
Griffin quirks a dark eyebrow, looking smug. “That was easy.”
 I grin, falling in love with him all over again. “Then do it again.”
--- 

  Kato looks ill. “I… It… Me…” He stares at the massive snake. “Big.”
 I squeeze his arm. “Don’t worry. You’ll speak in complete sentences again soon.”

Do yourself a huge favor and read this series in order. I can’t imagine jumping into Breath of Fire without having first read A Promise of Fire. You won’t be sorry. Each book is superb reading.

Breath of Fire is a great high fantasy with a swoony romance! Seriously, if you enjoy epic romantic fantasies with kickass heroines and Greek mythology overtones throughout, you really, really, really need to check out this series! I especially love that this author doesn’t leave readers dangling with cruel cliff-hangers. THANK YOU, AMANDA! Believe me, even without a cliffhanger, you will be excited for the next installment! I can’t wait for Heart of Fire, the conclusion of this trilogy which will release Fall 2017!

Breath of Fire

4 Stars
Amanda Bouchet

Synopsis: 

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD... 
BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a warrior queen to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world―for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin risk sacrificing everything they've fought for. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or die trying.

I really enjoyed this! It’s a solid fantasy romance. My favorite part was getting to know this world more. Cat, Griffin and the Beta Team travel all over the realm on epic adventures. As a result the reader gets a more in depth look at Thalyria…how it’s made up, it’s history, it’s people. Bouchet wove together a well developed, complex world steeped in mythology and magic and I loved it!

I LOVED the Beta team! They are more like a family than anything else and I just love their friendship, loyalty and commitment to each other and their cause. We got to peel back some layers on all of them and I loved that! Even the minor characters were interesting and intriguing.

The pacing was fast and the storyline was packed with adrenaline, action, drama, emotion, SHIPS!! All of it!
“Even in sleep he’s not letting me go.” *sigh :) *
While I really enjoyed the pacing, and the storyline had me quickly turning pages, it did kind of fall in to somewhat of a predictable pattern and cycle of events. 

The initial blow out fight also left a bad taste in my mouth. The way it happened, things that were done during…and then the way it wrapped up was too quick and clean for me. If the alpha, possessive, overbearing male is a complete turn off for you then this series is probably not for you. BUT if you don’t mind that and enjoy action, and adventure, and steaminess then this right up your ally!

Overall I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait for the next one!!

I received an advanced digital copy of this title from Netgalley. This is no way shapes my opinion of the book. Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I fell in love with the Kingmaker Chronicles while reading A PROMISE OF FIRE, BREATH OF FIRE would have had to be pretty awful for me to not like the series anymore. BREATH OF FIRE was NOT awful and in fact was just as engaging, adventurous and action packed as book 1!

The beginning chapter just about broke my heart, but it didn't last long and my heart was mended in time for Cat's next adventure. We didn't know a whole lot about Cat when we started reading PROMISE OF FIRE. Her past was slowly revealed and by the end you know who she is. BREATH OF FIRE continues to reveal things about her. There is still a little bit of mystery to her, but I felt like I really knew her by the end of BREATH OF FIRE. 

Cat and Griffin's relationship has grown a lot the past two books, but again, BREATH OF FIRE brought them to an even higher level. They truly work as a team and have each others backs at every turn. I also love the relationship that Cat has with Griffin's family and friends. They have become her family and friends and it really shows in every interaction and situation. Amanda Bouchet did a phenomenal job in making the supporting characters just as important to the story.

If you loved the action in A PROMISE OF FIRE, you will love it in BREATH OF FIRE. Lots of adventure and danger at every turn forcing the characters to fight for survival. The ending was epic. I didn't want to put the book down the entire time I was reading and the ending made me want the next book even more. There is going to be one heck of a showdown ahead and I will be reading it as soon as I can get my hands on book three!

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I can’t do this book.  I requested it on Net Galley having heard many positive reviews of the first book, and having realized that when I like romance, it’s in the Fantasy-Romance sub-genre.  I bought the first one to read before this one and found it ok.  I quite liked the first half, with the circus, the magic, the escape, but I lost a lot of interest once they arrived at the Sinta castle.  This book starts at the Sinta castle with our hero having a big violent tantrum (I’m not into that), and the heroine being emotional and mopey and just generally selfish and stupid (not into that either).  The fantasy elements seem really clumsily handled and poorly developed.  There are some really good fantasy romances out there, so I know this balance can be done well.  I realize this is a galley, so there will be some work done, but SERIOUSLY, it’s a mess right now.  I slogged my way through 20% and was trying to work out how much of the book I needed to read since this is a book I received for review and wanted to give the book a fair chance.  But I decided that as I wouldn’t have read farther if this was just for me, I’m taking it as a sign to not recommend the book, nor to waste any more time on an unrewarding read.

Breath of Fire picks up immediately after A Promise of Fire ends and it really throws us in at the deep end when Griffin reacts rather badly to finding out one of Cat's biggest secrets. I have to admit I was more than a little disappointed with the way he reacted mainly because he's known all along that she has some pretty big skeletons in her closet and she's never tried to hide that from him. There are some very emotional scenes between them and I was worried for a minute we were going to end up having a long and drawn out argument that continued for half the book but luckily that didn't happen and I loved that they were able to resolve things quite quickly.

I could understand why Griffin was upset because he felt she didn't trust him but at the same time it was easy to see why Cat found it difficult to be upfront with him, she was terrified of losing him because she didn't think he'd want her when he found out about her background. Anyway, they're both fighters who will do whatever it takes to get what they want and they have a very passionate and fiery relationship so it doesn't take long for them to work things through and be able to move forward.

There is a lot going on in this book, we get to spend time with not just Cat and Griffin but also Griffin's family and the rest of his band from the first book. I love that everyone has a role to play and that it isn't always Cat and Griffin working together, sometimes they have to go in different directions to achieve their goals but they trust each other enough to play their part and keep themselves alive until they can be reunited. Griffin probably struggles with that more than Cat does but he does have faith in her abilities even if he wants to be the one to protect her and have her back as much as possible. I just think it's great that they're learning together and they're all involved in the decision making.

Cat has a pivotal role in the series and it's a role she never really wanted and certainly didn't ask for. Griffin is initially the one who is pushing her in that direction but once she starts to think things through she realises how inevitable it is. There is plenty of action along the way and they have to watch out for meddling gods who are sometimes more of a hinderance than a help but it's definitely fun to see what they get up to. This series has definitely become a favourite and I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on the final book, Heart on Fire.

Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Breath of Fire opens a few months after A Promise of Fire with some really intense scenes, both emotionally and physically. But I felt like that intensity devolved into Cat and Griffin acting like horny teenagers any time they weren't in battle. Even though there's sort of an explanation for it by the end, I felt like the author tried to fit three books worth of sexy time into this one. Maybe some people thought there wasn't enough in book one and she overcompensated?

Despite that, there are still lots of things I like about Breath of Fire. It reveals some new aspects of Cat's magic, which I always find interesting. I love the supporting cast, and Cat really makes the case for the Beta Team being her family now. And my favorite thing is definitely the gladiatorial games in the second half of the book. Part of me would have liked the whole story to be set to there, but that would really emphasize the parallels to the Kate Daniels series, and probably not in a good way.

The Greek myth influence is much more prominent in this book, with a quest for items from the gods, a labyrinth and familiar monsters. In the first book in the series, I liked the fact that the familiar mythology made it easy to follow. But now I feel like the gods are way too involved in the story. Cat almost completely lacks agency since a prophesy determines her course and her friends convince her to just accept her destiny. She decides to trust the gods and just go along with whatever happens. Just like in the first book when she was kidnapped, she seems to use the circumstances as an excuse not to be responsible for her own actions. And it's hard to root for a hero whose success is not their own.

This is a story with lots of action, of both the sword and the sexy variety, which is something I usually love. But it's also one of those books where the more time I spend thinking about it, the more things I find that bother me. Like the fact that the big surprise at the end was not a surprise at all. Still, I'm invested in this world and the characters and I want to see what happens next. I'll definitely be checking out book three this fall.

Secrets are revealed and tempers fly in the second part of the Kingmaker's Chronicles. This book starts off right where the first book ended. This book is action packed and filled with passion. The Beta Team's strength is put to the test. Will they come out on top? Read to find out!

Amanda Bouchet’s BREATH OF FIRE is a thrilling addition to the Kingmaker Chronicles.  Catalia Fisa and Griffin continue their adventure to unifying the realms.  This mythological fantasy is suitable for young adult audiences.  

I loved this story.  Amanda Bouchet does an amazing job with both her character development and plot.  She is extremely creative and does an incredible job with visualization in the story. 

Cat is a wonderful heroine.  She is the runaway princess, Beta to the Fisan line. She is powerful and clever.  She is concerned about her prophecy thinking the worst, instead of the possible positive outcome.  I love Griffin.  He is brave and idealistic.  He cares about his people.  Due to their very different upbringings, Cat and Griffin have some epic misunderstanding.  However, the two have amazing chemistry and rule well together.

I really enjoyed the plot. I love the mythological aspect of the story. Their visit to the Ice Plains and to see the Chaos Wizard was entertaining. I thought their entering the Agon Games was creative.  The story had a sort of gladiator/Hunger Games feel.  BREATH OF FIRE was full of action and suspense.  It had exciting twists.  I would love to see The Kingmaker Chronicles turned into movies.  I cannot wait for the next book, HEART ON FIRE.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Breathe of Fire is the second book in the Kingmaker series and takes place moments after the end of book one A Promise of Fire. One reason to buy this book ANGRY Griffin, as he is scary and delicious. Another is the monsters and mayhem filled adventure, as Bouchet weaves Greek Mythos with her own world building to give her narrative life, danger and spin tingling adventure. This sequel surpasses the first in pure andreline, as it is a high octane thrill ride. Bouchet ripped my heart out in the first chapter! Griffin and Cat together are terrific but Griffin pissed off and Cat devastated is nuclear, and this all happens in the first couple chapters!
The adventure of this fantasy book is riveting and very fast paced, but it is the relationship between Griffin and Cat that kept me reading. This is a relationship driven book, even with all the action and danger, the caring and devotion is paramount. Bouchet doesn't fill her book with place holder or cardboard cutout characters, as she made me care deeply about every character in this book, as each is detailed and fully formed. Each character's emotional depth is a vast pool to be explored thanks to the authors fantastic writing.

The character Cat is becoming one on my favorites characters along with Kate Daniels, Merit, Mercy Thompson, MacKayla Lane, Charley Davidson, and Cat Crawfield. Many characters have applied to be in my golden circle, but until now the door has been bared. Cat has knocked down the door and taken a seat at the table with my most loved gals. Most of my gals have parents issues that play a large role in their stories, so Cat is right at home with her Mommie problems.  Her lover Griffin is having a drink with the Curran and guys in the back room, boast on who is the fiercest gal of all.  Guys like Griffin and the lovers of my golden circle don't care about the fairest in the land they care about who can kill the monster with just the right amount of flair.

Breathe of Fire is Bouchet's sophomore year fantasy book, but she is setting herself up to be both the star quarterback and homecoming queen in the fantasy romance genre.  If you love fantasy novels  written from the female character's point of view, that include a sexy strong alpha male, then this book is a must buy that need to be devour.

Phew!! What a ride these two books have been-almost nine hundred pages of pure adrenaline, angst, and adventure. This high fantasy world filled with ancient Greek Gods, awe-inspiring magic, and battles against impossible odds will have you completely spellbound. I'm not even sure where to start with this review, I'm still kind of reeling and trying to absorb everything that Bouchet has brewing for Heart on Fire. While Promise of Fire remains my favorite so far, Breath of Fire was incredibly addictive. It's a book about change, and discovering your path and purpose. These characters, Cat especially, will evolve quite a bit and grow into a strong conviction of what the fates decree she will become:

Harbinger of the end.
Destroyer of realms.
Messenger of unity and peace.

What I loved about book one was the angst, mystery, and uncertainty between Cat and Griffin. And then there's Cat! Cat was one of the most reckless fearless heroines I've ever come across with a will of steel, and a biting tongue of a cynic. She's defiantly sarcastic, and sometimes so stubborn you just want to grab her and shake her until her teeth rattle. But she's also a woman who has survived hell and back, and lives every minute of her life in defense mode. She's prickly and untrusting for a reason, but the end of book one sees her finally discovering a new family to fight beside her, to fight for. And to finally give her fragile heart and trust to one deserving man. Griffin, Beta Fisa.

Conquerer.
Lover.
Fierce protector.

He's a powerful warrior who's deeply, madly dead-set on making this woman his in every sense there is. Which brings me to my first issue with the story. Chapter one starts us out with his abrupt discovery of the colossal secret Cat has been hiding. And to be blunt: though I understood his reaction, I didn't care for his actions or understand them. At all. Griffin is pure alpha, and he has a massive temper which he displayed in the previous book. BUT...he never turned that on Cat. As much as she provoked him (it was A LOT) he never snapped and crossed the line, not once. I didn't feel as if it fit his character to have taken out his anger on her and lose his control to that degree.

Demolishing everything in their bedroom in a fit of rage, pushing her against the wall, and grabbing her arms in a punishing grip to the point of hurting her...just why? Yes, he left and pulled himself together before apologizing, but it started things off on a discordant note for me.

I moved past it, because it was brief and Griffin was quickly adapting to the new situation that Cat's identity brings. As the Kingmaker, he always knew she would be sought after for her ability to detect lies, steal other's magic, and use invisibility. Powers like hers are rare and invaluable, but her enemies are also the most feared in the land. Once he accepted her dishonesty, he never wavered for a moment in his resolve to stand beside her, even if his life depended on it.

Whereas book one was peppered with more romantic angst, this book was more action packed once it picked up its momentum. They braved the Ice Plains, battled towering creatures, fought enemies with powerful magic, and survived things that lesser mortals never would have dreamed of attempting. But they soon realize that the Gods are in their favor and with Olympus on their side, anything is possible. Cat has lived with dread and a lack of hope for years thinking she would be the harbinger of doom to Thalyria. But she soon comes to learn that her future has a completely different path than she had ever imagined. Once she believes, truly believes, there is no stopping her and this group of men who would lay down their lives for her. But it's not an easy transition for her to step into her new role of leadership.

There were a couple of moments in the last half of the book towards the end that forced me to lower my rating, as much as I had been enjoying the book. A revelation about Cat that I'm sorry, no way, no how could that ever be possible. My jaw dropped and I could NOT believe my eyes. I realize that this is a fantasy book, but it was too far for me.

As well, as much as I fell in love with Amanda Bouchet's incredible talent for writing action sequences that play out like the finest choreographed battle, the Agon Games stretched on much too long for my patience. That could have been much briefer in my opinion and still have had a hell of an impact.

There are so many unresolved threads that promise to tie into a shocking conclusion. The beta team had some very surprising developments and revelations that I can't wait to see be resolved. Or even better...they won't be resolved and these men will get a chance for their own full stories to be told. Though this book wasn't a full, enthusiastic five stars, I still highly recommend this series to anyone looking for fantasy that will have you on the edge of your seat desperate for more. How deep do these books draw you in? It's fathomless, and once you start, you won't escape.

The first book in Amanda Bouchet's Kingmaker trilogy was very, very good. Considering how much I enjoyed the first book, it's hard to admit how much I struggled to get through the second book. That's not to say Breath of Fire is bad, it just seemed repetitive to me. While Cat and Griffin move forward in terms of recognizing their role to play as it's been dealt by the gods, I found their repetitive. This couple continue to have the same fights and make-ups throughout the whole book, and quite frankly, I found that to be tedious to read about. Luckily, there's quite a bit more to the story than their relationship and that is what keeps readers engaged. Now that Cat and Griffin are on relatively solid ground relationship wise, I'm anticipating where the author will take things in the final book. And as the Bouchet introduces new characters and tidbits of familiar character's past, I become more and more curious to see where the author will go when this trilogy is over. Bouchet has created an engaging world fraught with magic and suspense, and while the second book didn't quite hit the mark for me, it captures the same spirit of the first book which is sure to please fans.

This is going to be something of a quick review, not because Breath of Fire isn’t good (it is) or complex (it’s that too) but because it’s very much a second book in a trilogy. It’s hard to explain how the plot progresses without going through and describing the first book all over again, and it’s hard to talk about what happens without spoilers. Breath of Fire takes the characters we met in A Promise of Fire and takes them on a journey, both literal and figurative, setting them up for the big, explosive finale. I’m incredibly excited to see where this series is going and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book.

That said, there are some issues with the pacing. The first scene starts pretty abruptly from the end of the last book and it left me scrambling to catch up, emotionally. I’d suggest rereading the first books and going right into this one. The emotional tone and intensity felt a little out of the blue. Again, I think this book works best in the context of the trilogy, not as a standalone.

One I things I love about this book and this series is that Cat and Griffin are both badass warriors, but Cat has powers Griffin can’t dream of. She has more blood on her hands than he can imagine. She’s haunted by her past and her capacity for violence. Griffin is noble, comes from a supportive, loving family, and represents all that is good and right and worth fighting for. His role is to convince Cat that there is power in love, in family and domesticity.

…in other words, a complete 180 from most other romance novels out there. Hell, it’s a reversal of most literature out there. The only comparable relationships I can think of are Katniss and Peeta in the Hunger Games and Mako and Raleigh in Pacific Rim. Griffin’s role is as her supporter, and I am not going to get sick of that anytime soon.

Breath of FIre moves fast, with so many fantasy tropes and battle scenes, that I almost wished the book was longer, to pace it out a bit. And I never feel that way! I’m always on the side of edit, edit, edit, chuck the descriptive paragraphs, give me action, and yet with this book, it definitely feels likes something could have been cut or there could have been more thrown in. I think it’s paced like a romance, but I want it to be a bigass doorstopper fantasy book, with a romance running through it? Eh, I think this is pickiness on my part.

Pickiness or no, this series is one of the more exciting things I’ve read over the past year, and I am so excited to see it continue.

2.5 stars. Blasted. Gah. I wanted to love this so much.

I'm willing to bet most who pick up this series will love it. It's either lusty romance (way too much for me) or pure bat shit crazy action on every page. SO much happens and there's rarely a dull moment. 

I read the first book and didn't hate it though I personally felt it was full of relationship issues (oh lordy don't get me started.) I guess with this type of genre though- these possessive and purely physical relationships are very common. I'll admit that there is *finally* more to Cat and Griffin's relationship in this one.. but yikes.. not everything was solved. The beginning made me cringe MAJOR TIME. Aside from that, I had high hopes for the world and what might transpire because of Cat's past and big secret. That didn't play out or cause the conflict I was hoping it would (don't get me wrong- it does come up big time but just not in the way I wanted it to.) 

Unfortunately this one fell flat for me. Again- it wasn't that it was boring. I just think the world was entirely too strange for me (it's greek mythology on a whole new level) and I wasn't into the romance or smut. I'm just not into controlling, obsessive, brooding dudes. Griffin does have some redeeming qualities but meh. The action scenes were just... weird. If you're into movies like Clash of the Titans and such and don't mind some very.....strange creatures and occurrences... you might be fine with it. 

Amanda's writing was actually pretty good and she gave Cat a big personality but I felt like it was a bit overdone. What I did like though were the side characters... Griffin's family and friends were a great addition. They were my favorite part of the novel. 

Anyway, a huge thanks to the publishers for sending me an advanced copy!

Avec cette suite, on démarre sur les chapeaux de roue; Griffin apprend et comprend enfin que Cat est bien plus que la Faiseuse de roi, elle est Beta Fisa, fille de l'Alpha Fisa, la grande méchante de l'histoire et forcément, Griffin prend plutôt mal le fait que Cat lui ai caché quelque chose d'aussi gros. Après une bonne dispute et un rabibochage rapide sous la couette, on entre dans le vif du sujet, à savoir défendre Sinta et attaquer Tarva. 

Le premier tome a introduit le monde de l'auteure ainsi que la relation naissante de Griffin et de Cat. Dans ce deuxième tome, on plonge plus profondément dans les mythes grecs avec l'Hydre de Lerne, la toison d'or, le fil d'Ariane, des créatures mi-homme mi-cheval et plus encore, j'ai littéralement adoré la façon dont l'auteure a mixé son histoire avec les mythes ! La relation de Griffin et de Cat s'intensifie et on a bien plus de scène de sexe que dans le tome précédant (mais il y a une explication à ça, ouf!). Kato, Flynn et Carver ont aussi droit à leur coup de projecteur et on en apprend plus sur eux, sur leur passé et leur relation avec d'autres personnages mais il reste encore des mystères et des secrets à dévoiler et Amanda Bouchet a l'art et la manière de susciter la curiosité et la frustration qui nous donne envie de faire un bon dans le temps pour avoir la suite. 

J'ai lu ce deuxième tome sans m'arrêter, en quelques heures, il y a beaucoup plus d'action, plus d'émotions, plus d'aventure, beaucoup plus de tout quoi et c'est vraiment pas de refus.

En bref, ce deuxième tome est un peu en dessous du premier tome puisque j'avais adoré la découverte du monde de Cat ainsi que la mise en marche du couple Cat/Griffin. Cependant, il reste un coup de cœur et j'ai encore une fois hâte de découvrir la suite et fin.

(A more developed review online on my blog is coming soon)

"Harbinger of the end. Destroyer of realms."

FINAL DECISION: Exciting and filled with adventure, BREATH OF FIRE represents the continued growth of Cat as she matures.  She and Griffith evolve both as a couple and in their dream of unifying the realms.  This book doesn't conclude the story, but there is plenty new hear to keep readers more than satisfied.

THE STORY: In this second book of the Kingmaker Chronicles trilogy, Cat Fisa is running from her destiny. She has found the man she loves, a non-magical warlord, Griffith, who believes deeply in her, but the magical Cat has kept a secret.  She is subject to a prophecy that Cat believes means that she will destroy the world. As secrets are revealed, the characters begin their journey towards what might be the fulfillment of the prophecy.

OPINION: A world with magic and Gods that remains incredibly human, this second installment of the Kingmaker Chronicles finally reveals much of Cat's past. Readers of the first book will know that Cat has gained the favor of the Gods and has incredible (if inconsistent) magic.  She falls in love with the non-magical Griffith who is immune from magic and conquered the realm of Sinta (one of the three realms).  Now the two have forged a partnership and Griffith sees the possibility of building a better world with Cat by his side.  As PROMISE OF FIRE ended, Cat still had secrets she was keeping.

Cat's past and her secrets are revealed in this book.  Finally readers can understand her journey. Cat remains selfless, reckless and an amazing fighter. In this book, she matures with the support of Griffith.  I love their relationship because Griffith is entirely willing to be by Cat's side and support her even if he struggles with his own need to protect her.  Even better, he is willing to stand by her while she learns to lead rather than taking the lead himself. Griffith is a rare and amazing alpha male character who is not threatened by a strong woman but rather is willing to be anything that she needs.

Cat remains her prickly, sarcastic, cynical self in this book even as the shell around her has broken as to Griffith.  Readers can be assured (mini-spoiler) that this book doesn't do the expected by breaking these two apart during this book in order to create another romantic arc.  Instead, these characters go deeper into their connection with one another.  By the time this book ends, their relationship seems pretty unbreakable.

The development of the relationships in this book are more subtle than in the first book (although there are some pretty big and important moments that don't disappoint) but there is also non-stop action.  From the very first page, this book thrusts readers into battles, and challenges and political struggles.  There is a lot of ground to cover here but by the time the book ends, the direction the characters will be taking is clear and much has been accomplished.  One of the things I really like about this series is that each of the first two books is a discrete adventure (with many sub-adventures) but there is still an overarching story that leaves much adventure to come in the concluding book in the series.

We also are treated to more information about the other characters in the series.  The members of Team Beta have their own journeys in this book (although Cat and Griffith remain the focus).  I am hoping that some of their stories will also be resolved in the concluding book because they are adorable as well.  By the time this book ends, the member of Team Beta are fleshed out and each has a unique romantic problem of their own.

A thrilling adventure from beginning to end, this book will definitely satisfy those who enjoyed the first book of the series.

WORTH MENTIONING:  This book is part of an interconnected trilogy with the same characters.  This book does not resolve the issues in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  BREATH OF FIRE is the second book in the Kingmaker Chronicles.  This book is meant to be read as part of the trilogy and should be read after the first book in the series PROMISE OF FIRE.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

Amanda Bouchet weaves an intricate story where Greek Gods are not myths but are revered and worshipped. Cat “Catalia” Fisa doesn’t see herself as a hero, even though she is distantly related to a God. From the moment Griffin locked eyes on her, he knew Cat was destined to change the world.  Cat, known as the Kingmaker, wasn’t buying into that fantasy, and with the horror of her upbringing, figured that she was more likely to bring about the worlds destruction. But in Breath of Fire, she learns the truth about her heritage and the role her Gods are determined she’ll play in vanquishing her worlds darkness.

I love how Amanda Bouchet has artfully created another Greek heroine in the same vein as Hercules and Achilles. As with all heroes, the tasks she is given to complete are fraught with danger, but it is her love for Griffin and her friends and new family that gives her the courage to keep moving forward, facing mythological creatures as if they are every man’s backyard pet. Her c’est la vie attitude about the gifts she is given by Persephone, Hades, and the rest helps to make her story real, and not just one big fantastical tale.

Both of the books in this series are in my top 10 favorite books this year. Her love affair with Griffin is so spine tingling, and her humility and fears are so real, that I was eager to turn every page while at the same time wanting to never get to the end of the book. Luckily, there will be a third book in this series to be released in 2017. If you haven’t read A Promise of Fire, the first in this series, pick it up, buy it, check it out. You will savor Ms. Bouchet’s writing style and fall in love with these characters just as I have.

i received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review.